bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient change management for the flexible production of the future
Authors: Stanev Stilian , Krappe Hardy , Abul Ola Hischam , Georgoulias Konstantinos , Papakostas Nikolaos , Chryssolouris George , Ovtcharova Jivka
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to introduce an innovative methodology to support manufacturing changes in the foundation of flexibility measurements and evaluations and to integrate this in the companies' internal as well as companies' cross‐organisational processes of change management.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach consists of two phases: first, a consistent systematics for the production systems flexibility evaluation is presented; second, the change processes are analysed and quantified flexibility indicators are integrated to support the decision – making process.

Findings

The application of the methodology in manufacturing environments has demonstrated that consideration of flexibility in the production and its integration into the manufacturing change processes has a great potential.

Originality/value

The originality of this work is in the integrated approach to consider flexibility as support for the change management. In particular the integration of quantified flexibility measurements into the change processes comes out to be the real innovation of the project.
A conceptual framework for analysing risk in supply networks
Authors: Keow Cheng Seu , Hon Kam Booi
Published: August 2008

Purpose

Sharing of risk benefits supplies network collaborations. The complex mix of heterogeneous collaborators in supply networks, however, also increases the complexity of the risk profiles of inter‐related components within these networks. For a given network collaboration, several structures of network relationship are possible, with each carrying distinctive risk implications. This paper seeks to develop a conceptual framework for analysing the differential risks in alternative network structures.

Design/methodology/approach

To capture the structural significance of inter‐organisational dependency in networks, alternative typology of network relationships is formulated using agency theory. Basic constructs were developed for analysing risks in supply networks, with configurations ranging from the single‐principal, single‐agent to the complex multi‐principal, multi‐agent scenarios.

Findings

The study finds that dynamics of risk in network systems depend not only on the typology of networks, but also on the functional role of each collaborator inherent in the network through agreements on supply and incentives, and supply performance.

Originality/value

The proposed framework provides a structured approach for identifying and assessing risk dynamics and their differential impacts on different levels of supply networks. It provides insights into the dynamics of risk events and identifies network configurations that are vulnerable to different levels of risk.
Accreditation program design: a survey of supply chain professionals
Authors: Larson Paul D.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report results of a survey in support of re‐designing the Purchasing Management Association of Canada (PMAC) professional accreditation program, the Certified Professional Purchaser (CPP).

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was developed, embedded in e‐mail messages via hyperlink, and transmitted to the PMAC membership. The questionnaire included 54 topics, tools and techniques for supply chain management (SCM). Over 2,000 PMAC members commented on CPP program design, by returning the questionnaire electronically. Data analysis culminated with a principal components analysis of the 54 items, from which seven distinct components emerged.

Findings

The paper finds that PMAC members lack a common view of SCM. While 63 percent have adopted a broad SCM perspective; 37 percent have a more narrow perspective. However, the most important topics for supply chain professionals are robust across the perspectives. These topics pertain to general managerial skills (e.g. communication, leadership and relationship building); rather than specific functional or analytical tools and techniques.

Research limitations/implications

While the current study focuses exclusively on Canadian supply chain professionals, it would be very interesting and worthwhile to expand this research to other geographic locations.

Practical implications

A renewed CPP program, taken out of the somewhat narrow and tactically‐oriented purchasing area – and into the broader and more strategic SCM space, seems to be in order. The survey provides valuable information to support design and development of this new program.

Originality/value

Based on electronic survey returns from more than 2,000 supply chain professionals, insights are gained into various perspectives on SCM, along with important knowledge (topics, tools and techniques) for effective SCM.
A “genomic” classification scheme for supply chain management information systems
Authors: McLaren Tim S. , Vuong David C.H.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper has the objective of demonstrating a more structured and useful method for evaluating functionality of enterprise software packages such as supply chain management information systems (SCM IS). Existing taxonomies have limited utility for software selection and analysis due to the variation and overlap in functionality found in modern enterprise systems.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative analysis of over 1,800 pages of SCM IS documentation and independent analyst reports is used to identify relevant SCM IS functional attributes in the seven most widespread SCM IS packages. Pattern matching and coding of constructs is used to iteratively build a hierarchical taxonomy of SCM IS functionality.

Findings

The taxonomy developed describes 83 major functional attributes that form five top‐level categories: primary supply chain processes, data management, decision support, relationship management, and performance improvement. The codes representing supply chain processes agree with the widely used Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) process model, although the terminology was not used consistently in vendor and analyst documents.

Research limitations/implications

The approach described enables richer classification schemes to be built that will better distinguish between the wide‐ranging functionality found in modern enterprise information systems.

Practical implications

Selection and analysis of SCM IS is difficult due to the functional overlaps in different systems. The approach described enables a more structured, detailed, and useful analysis of an organization's current or proposed information systems.

Originality/value

This paper contributes a novel approach for conceptualizing and analyzing complex information systems using hierarchical rather than traditional flat taxonomies.
A measurement system for managing performance of industrial clusters
Authors: Cesar Ribeiro Carpinetti Luiz , Cardoza Galdámez EdwinVladimir , Cecilio Gerolamo Mateus
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to present and discuss a conceptual model for performance measurement and management of a cluster based on the concepts of the Balanced Scorecard and other models.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper was based on a case research as the field research methodology for theory testing and refinement.

Findings

The proposed model adequately captures the perspectives of performance management of a cluster, emphasizing the importance of measuring leading and lagging dimensions of performance such as collective efficiency and economic/social results.

Research limitations/implications

Research is still at an early stage and applications of the model need to be carry on further so as to review and validate it.

Practical limitations

Absence of a culture of decision making based on analysis of information and lack of resources may create some difficulty in using metrics for a cluster of SMEs.

Originality/value

The paper proposes applying the concepts and techniques of business performance management and measurement to manage performance of clusters of companies, offering a new approach on how to improve the collective efficiency of a cluster.
Competitiveness of Visegrad countries
Authors: Kadeřábková Anna
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to examine issues surrounding the competitiveness of the Visegrad countries that have recently joined the European Union, and in particular, to analyse a set of structural indicators that help assess the degree to which they are meeting the terms of the Lisbon agreement.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach taken is to examine and analyse published economic and associated performance data.

Findings

The Visegrad countries lag behind in many of the structural indicators and thus have progress to make in raising their competitiveness to general European levels. There are also some surprising areas where these counties are in advance of general European levels – such as in technical education.

Practical implications

The paper suggests areas where governments might intervene to improve longer‐term competitiveness.

Originality/value

The paper performs a useful analysis of available data to highlight key policy areas and issues.
A simple dynamic clustering approach to achieve energy efficiency for wireless sensor networks
Authors: Lee Giljae , Kwon Yoonjoo , Seok Woojin , Lee Minsun
Published: August 2008

Purpose

Recent wireless communication and electronics technology has enabled the development of low‐cost, low‐power, and multi‐functional sensor nodes. However, the fact that sensor nodes are severely energy‐constrained has been an issue and many energy‐efficient routing protocols have been proposed to resolve it. Cluster‐based routing protocol is one of them. To achieve longer lifetime, some cluster‐based routing protocols use information on GPS‐based location of each sensor node. However, because of high cost, not all sensor nodes can be GPS‐enabled. The purpose of this paper is to propose a simple dynamic clustering approach to achieve energy efficiency for wireless sensor networks (WSN).

Design/methodology/approach

Instead of using location information of each sensor node, this approach utilizes information of remaining energy of each sensor node and changes in the number of cluster head nodes dependent on the number of sensor nodes alive. Performance results are presented and compared with some related protocols.

Findings

The simulations described in the paper show that both residual energy of each sensor node and changing cluster head nodes depending on the number of sensor nodes alive are very critical factors to obtain performance enhancement in terms of lifetime and data transmission. Especially, in some special environment, the proposal has better performance than GPS‐enabled protocol.

Originality/value

The paper is of value in proposing a simple dynamic clustering approach to achieve energy efficiency for WSN.
Acquisition actions in Australia: a test of acquisitions theory
Authors: Malone Christopher B. , Ou Zicheng
Published: August 2008

Purpose

To examine Australian corporate acquisitions data in the context of contemporary acquisitions theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical analysis using event study procedures.

Findings

The study of Australian acquisitions shows that domestic acquisitions are more likely to produce favourable market responses for acquirers than foreign direct investment actions. Companies with recent upwards price momentum are also more likely to engage in successful acquisitions. However, the relative “valuation” of acquirers appears to be unimportant in the Australian acquisitions process. The results are linked to the smaller, more isolated, nature of the Australian economy.

Research limitations/implications

A long horizon event study methodology could be used. Alternative treatments could be used to assess relative value and competitive advantage. Other smaller isolated markets, similar to Australia, could be considered.

Originality/value

The use of international corporate acquisitions data, from Australia, supports both Competitive Advantage Theory and Market Driven Acquisitions Theory. There is little evidence to suggest that Cheap Capital motivates a large number of acquisition actions. The results are linked to the smaller, more isolated, nature of the Australian economy, and show that recent price momentum and the location of the investment are important. This latter finding suggests a form of market segmentation still prevails.
A framework of assessable mutual fund performance
Authors: Wu Cheng‐Ru , Chang Hsin‐Yuan , Wu Li‐Syuan
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper tries to find how investors evaluate mutual fund performance, not only based on both quantitative but also qualitative criteria.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts the modified Delphi method and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to design an assessment method for evaluating mutual fund performance.

Findings

The most important criteria of mutual fund performance should be “mutual fund style,” following is “market investment environment.” This result indicates investors' focus when they evaluate the mutual fund performance.

Research limitations/implications

The AHP assumes the criteria are independent between each other. However, in many real cases, the criteria to evaluate the funds' performance may not be independent. Therefore, the authors recommend correlation between each criterion can be considered in the future research.

Practical implications

When making investment decisions, investors should be more concentrate on gathering information of mutual fund style. As for mutual fund issuers, they could also leverage these results to communicate with their clients in more efficient way.

Originality/value

This study presents a framework of assessable mutual fund performance where the AHP were employed for finding the both tangible and intangible key criteria of performance evaluation.
The strategic motives behind firm's engagement in cooperative research and development
Authors: Bai Yiping , O'Brien G.C.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The aim is to investigate and group the strategic motives that firms engage in cooperative R&D by exploring a new method.

Design/methodology/approach

Four theories are adopted to explain the motives and they are cited as the base to categorize the motives into four factors. A survey questionnaire of participants in the aluminum industry is used to examine the empirical prevalence and clustering of these different categories of strategic motives. Factor analysis is used to test this measurement modeling.

Findings

The results of the confirmatory factor analysis support this grouping of strategic motives as reliable and valid method. Research limitations/implications – The techniques used in this study when applied to group other motives or other similar issues could produce useful information in business and management research. Moreover, the theories employed in this research can help in hypothesis development and the relationship test between the factors and the formation of R&D alliances.

Practical implications

The incentives such as strategic motives and the formation of R&D alliances studied in this paper can be used to investigate how they might be related to the aluminum or any other industry characteristics.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the modeling of measurement model in management by exploring a new method.
Management and national development in Kenya: toward a normative framework
Authors: Shrestha Nanda R. , Smith Wilbur I. , McKinley‐Floyd Lydia , Gray Kenneth R.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a normative framework focusing on the need to enhance the roles of the four fundamental environmental forces of management – socio‐demographic, techno‐economic, politico‐institutional, and cultural. The objective is to create a business climate of certainty so that Kenya can achieve its goals of national and private sector development and of elevating its global competitiveness in terms of foreign direct investment and exports.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses secondary data to describe Kenya's development goals, its current level of private sector development, its position in the global economy, and the historical and cultural dimensions of its management practices. Against that backdrop, the article combines systems thinking and broad‐based reasoning to develop a normative management framework for policy makers and for domestic and international business managers. After using data to describe Kenya's status with respect to the four environmental forces, the article explains how Kenya – through reforming private and public institutions and implementing enlightened national development polices – could shape its management system and its prevailing climate of uncertainty in order to enhance its competitiveness in the present global economy.

Findings

The paper concludes that, if Kenya takes policy actions necessary to redirect and enhance its environmental forces, it would improve the efficacy of its resource management system and reduce the uncertainty inherent in the system. This would also promote openness to international trade and business and reduce the “cost” and other real or perceived barriers to business in the country to world levels, leading Kenya to become more competitive in the present global economy in terms of both increased foreign investment and export. As a result, Kenya should experience higher levels of private sector development, economic growth, and employment and, consequently, reduced poverty and higher standards of living for its citizens.

Originality/value

The paper introduces a normative, broad‐based management framework for national and private sector development in a cross‐cultural context. This framework should prove particularly useful to governments, policy makers, and business managers in countries that are in the early stages of private sector development and who are charged with achieving national development goals and with increasing the global competitiveness of their countries' economies.
Competitiveness of crossbred chicken and its implications for poverty reduction in Eastern Uganda
Authors: Athieno Kato Rose , Shuwu Hyuha Theodora , Mugisha Johnny
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the competitiveness of two enterprise chicken regimes (upgraded and indigenous) in Eastern Uganda for poverty reduction in small farm enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilizes primary data collected using a structured questionnaire from a randomly selected sample of 108 chicken farmers (54 crossbred and 54 indigenous). Econometric methods are employed to analyze the data. Competitiveness is measured using unit cost ratio while the determinant factors are identified by the use of regression analysis.

Findings

The econometric results show that the most critical factors in increasing the competitiveness of the chicken enterprise are: proportion of birds weaned to the total flock, number of chickens reared and farmer's rearing experience. The main conclusion is that in order to increase performance of chicken enterprise and improve income of the rural population, upgrading of indigenous chickens through crossbreeding should be pursued. This approach should put emphasis on improving the management systems which will involve offering an enabling environment for farmers to access credit and markets.

Originality/value

Given the importance of poultry rearing in every household in Uganda, the sub‐sector provides a good entry point for poverty alleviation in this part of Uganda. However, limited information on economic analysis exists and hence the value of this study. The paper identifies a number of variables that must be addressed, if the sector is to play its rightful role in poverty reduction.
Credit risk management system of a commercial bank in Tanzania
Authors: Richard Evelyn , Chijoriga Marcellina , Kaijage Erasmus , Peterson Christer , Bohman Hakan
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual model to be used further in understanding credit risk management (CRM) system of commercial banks (CBs) in an economy with less developed financial sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews existing literature that consists mostly evidence from developed countries. A study model is proposed with amendment to fit Tanzania's environment. This is achieved through the use of both secondary (various relevant documents) and primary (interviews) information from a CB and key management officials dealing with credit management. The selected CB is active in lending, has both foreign and local characteristics in its operations and has been in operation for a relatively longer period.

Findings

The main finding of this paper is that the components of CRM system differ in CBs operating in a less developed economy from those in a developed economy. This implies that the environment within which the bank operates is an important consideration for a CRM system to be successful.

Originality/value

Tanzania, a less developed economy, provides an excellent case for studying how CBs operating in economies with less developed financial sector manage their credit risk. The paper identifies issues to be studied further in order to establish a CRM system by CBs operating in Tanzania.
Evaluation of the level of ICT integration and usage in teachers' curricula in Iranian schools
Authors: Moradi Saeid , Khalkhali Ali
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the level of ICT (information and communication technologies) integration and usage in teachers, curricula in Iranian schools.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for the study were gathered through a questionnaire administered to 160 respondents who were school teachers. In total, 154 questionnaires were retrieved. This represented approximately 96 percent return rate. The data were analyzed quantitatively using SPSS. The core of the questionnaire was analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient statistical tool to determine the significant the level of ICT integration and usage in teacher's curriculum in Iran's schools. One‐way‐analysis of variance ANOVA was employed to test the relationships between variables and respondents' demographic profile (gender, age, qualifications and length of service). The statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Findings

Results showed that there were no significant differences in the overall ANOVA analysis based on the respondents' demographic information. Also, the results of the research showed that respondents were dissatisfied with the level of weak integration and usage of ICT into teacher's curricula.

Originality/value

The α reliability of 0.87 was obtained which shows a strong reliability of the research instrument.
E‐tail constraints and tradeoffs
Authors: Hofacker Charles F.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal how mental models inherited from offline retailing have impeded both the theory and practice of online retailing, and to suggest fruitful areas of research in online retailing.

Design/methodology/approach

The mental models of physical retail suggest physical constraints of various sorts, and yet for the most part, the constraints acting upon the e‐tailer are instead logical, symbolic and cognitive.

Findings

Researchers in e‐tailing could benefit from pursuing a set of interesting issues including assortment, customer‐to‐customer value creation, site design and structure, and the importance of network topology.

Research limitations/implications

There are many new topics in retailing that can be explored by marketers, as long as we are willing to jettison some of our cherished terminology and ways of thinking. In effect, online, the retailing mix becomes human‐centric, rather than focusing on physical components.

Practical implications

The skill sets needed to set up an e‐tailing presence are substantially different than those required for offline retailing.

Originality/value

The paper takes an unconventional view of the retailing literature, literature that goes back to the foundation of marketing as an academic discipline.
Culture, convenience or efficiency
Authors: Heijes Coen
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define and test a supplier selection model for Chinese and foreign banks in China.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 12 reasons affecting customers' choice in selecting Chinese or foreign banks are developed and their respective importance are tested through 2,000 questionnaires which were distributed over the city‐zones of Hangzhou.

Findings

Supplier performance in terms of responsiveness is of particular importance in preferring foreign banks, which are seen to have an advantage in terms of professionalism, innovation and client‐orientation. For Chinese banks only one selection reason belongs to an inherent advantage, a large and convenient network, with the other reasons deriving from government's protection and historical conditions. Surprisingly, cultural aspects such as “guanxi” or personal relationship are only of minor importance.

Research limitations/implications

Differentiates customers only by way of age and salary and focuses on the eastern urban population. Another shortcoming is the lack of extended qualitative research.

Practical implications

With the transition of the market for financial services in China customers will have increasing options to choose between Chinese and foreign banks. This paper offers valuable information regarding customer selection processes in China.

Originality/value

With most cross‐comparative research based on standard cultural dimensions, this study focuses on specific behaviour of Chinese customers in selecting services with Chinese or foreign banks, finding cross‐national differences to be less important than the characteristics of the specific market or product. This work also adds to the ongoing research agenda concerning Chinese customers' behaviour and Chinese banking.
Eight paradoxes of the social enterprise research agenda
Authors: Peattie Ken , Morley Adrian
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper summarises key issues arising from a comprehensive research monograph and accompanying discussion paper on social enterprise that reviewed over 150 sources. It aims to provide insight into the future development of the social enterprise research agenda, and how to attract scholars new to the field to contribute to it.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper seeks to identify and address some of the difficulties faced by social enterprise researchers, in terms of defining their field, overcoming institutional pressures that may deter scholars from tackling the social enterprise research agenda and in dealing with some of its complexities.

Findings

In developing the monograph, two key themes were diversity and distinctiveness. Social enterprise is a form of business that is distinctly different to conventional commercial enterprise and that has an extraordinary diversity in organisational form, legal structure, purpose, culture, scale and scope. There are also a number of “paradoxical” elements to the research agenda for social enterprises arising from their “hybrid” nature.

Research limitations/implications

These findings create many challenges for researchers, practitioners and policy‐makers, not least in terms of defining social enterprises consistently, and also in terms of understanding what makes them different to commercial enterprises and what the implications of those differences are.

Originality/value

The insights provided by this discussion should help to resolve and explain some of the debates and conceptual and practical difficulties that have hampered the development of the social enterprise research agenda.
Clinical leadership in UK health care: exploring a marketing perspective
Authors: Willcocks Stephen
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the application of marketing in health care, and in particular to assess its relevance to clinical leadership in the UK NHS.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses a marketing perspective using literature and policy material.

Findings

The paper suggests that a marketing perspective is relevant in the UK NHS. Health service reforms have created a market in which choice and competition are levers for improving performance. Central to this is the notion of patient choice. Marketing is a way of exploring these issues. The paper suggests that there may be resistance to ideas originating from the private sector, and this needs to be overcome.

Practical implications

Marketing offers a framework and a set of techniques with which to improve organisational performance and ensure a focus on quality in meeting the needs of the patient. The new payment‐by‐results funding system ensures that money follows patients. Providers will need to focus on quality to attract patients and track resulting funding streams.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that private sector methods and techniques are relevant in the public sector, although one must take into account differing contexts.
Application of the PSE model for market entry: Ericsson enters the US market
Authors: Pehrsson Anders
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the application of the PSE model (perceived barriers to market entry; strategy competence; entry strategy) for market entry.

Design/methodology/approach

The PSE model is presented and illustrated by Ericsson's entry into the mobile systems market in the USA. Advice on the application of the model is presented.

Findings

The case shows key lessons in entering an international market: the barriers as regards the necessity of adapting the technology to local standards, and the necessity of customer acceptance were perceived as particularly high; there was a high degree of relatedness with Ericsson's core competence, and substantial market experience was gained; and Ericsson preferred organic entry modes regarding its core products such as mobile telephony systems.

Research limitations/implications

The lessons may be subject to tests in broader studies.

Practical implications

In applying the PSE model, management would be advised to choose entry strategy and pay attention to entry barriers, business relatedness, and market experience.

Originality/value

The article turns a theoretical model into advice that is valuable for companies when they formulate international strategies. The case shows a practical model application.
A holistic approach for production outsourcing
Authors: Ray Amitava , Sarkar Bijan , Sanyal Subir
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and demonstrate an outsourcing model in which constraint resource prevents the throughput of the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes an integrated model by combining the Hurwicz criterion, the theory‐of‐constraints (TOC) and linear programming (LP) into a single evaluation model in a multi‐product constraint resource environment. A case study is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of this model. The decision model compares four alternatives: standard cost accounting, standard TOC, LP analysis, and our own solution, which is an approach that combines TOC, LP, and the Hurwicz criterion.

Findings

The numerical results show that this model is superior and more realistically optimizes resource allocation and measures the performance of the model.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to the production processes that do not have multiple constraints.

Originality/value

This is the first time that the integrated model comprising of Hurwicz‐TOC‐LP model has been used to maximize the product throughput. Instead of calculating $ return per constraint minute, this method decides the priority of product and resource center that maximizes the product throughput in the constraint resource environment. It makes a significant contribution to the manufacturing organization where one can compare the financial performance of the organization by selecting the right decision model.
The role of stakeholders in town centre management: guidelines for identification and analysis
Authors: de Nisco Alessandro , Riviezzo Angelo , Rosaria Napolitano Maria
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the identification of stakeholders involved in town centre management (TCM) projects and the main areas of intervention according to their interests and needs.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed framework is tested in the town of Benevento, Italy. On the basis of stakeholder theory, key stakeholders were interviewed according to the different kinds of linkages they had with the TCM organisation.

Findings

Results from the paper support a stakeholder‐based approach to the development of TCM projects. In addition, a set of categories is proposed to define and evaluate the overall town centre offer.

Practical implications

The proposed framework can be used by cities or towns for the evaluation of the role of different public and private stakeholders in TCM projects, and for the assessment of their “stake” in the town centre.

Originality/value

Despite the need to promote a partnership approach between the public and private sectors having been recognised as a vital ingredient for the implementation of TCM, literature is still lacking which provides clear guidance for stakeholder analysis. This is one of the first papers to propose a theoretical framework addressing this issue.
Space and place – Imperial War Museum North
Authors: Shaw Jonathan , Squire Scholes Ben , Thurgood Christopher
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore the Imperial War Museum North, located in Salford, and how it relates to both consumers and the wider area.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilising the work of Edward Soja, the authors aim to understand how his work serves to facilitate a greater understanding of both the museum itself as a space, and the role the physical place plays in the context of the local surroundings.

Findings

It is found that, the role of the museum is as a form of “culturally led regeneration”, in line with Soja's notion of “thirdspace”.

Originality/value

The paper will appeal to those who are concerned with town planning, urban regeneration and the role of museums in contemporary space and place.
R&D expenses and firm valuation: a literature review
Authors: Anagnostopoulou Seraina C.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the literature on R&D expenses and subsequent firm valuation and to briefly highlight some gaps and implications for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is a review of studies on R&D and valuation between 1978 and 2007. The valuation issues have been grouped into general topics identified among the overall volume of research: economic characteristics, actual and forecast firm performance, capital structure, risk, and other topics which do not fit into the previous categories.

Findings

The paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the literature findings on a variation of valuation topics useful for internal and external users of financial statements of firms intensive in R&D investments. It sheds light on certain literature limitations and thus guides the users of financial statements regarding to which issues they should pay attention when analysing the financial statements of firms intensive in R&D.

Research limitations/implications

Existing research on R&D and valuation focuses mainly on the USA and UK and therefore raises issues of generalisation of the results.

Practical implications

The paper provides a useful guide for the users of financial statements of R&D intensive firms, since it provides information on possible consequences of these expenses regarding a variety of valuation issues.

Originality/value

The paper fills an information gap by addressing a range of valuation issues on R&D and offers relevant information guidance to the users of financial statements.
Here today, but what about tomorrow?
Authors: Adair Erickson Robin , Roloff Michael E.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on three organizational support factors that could potentially improve organizational commitment among downsizing survivors.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 2,751 employees, a secondary analysis of employee survey data examined the hypotheses that customer service orientation (CSO) and equity would moderate the strength of the two‐way interaction between perceived organizational support (POS) and perceived supervisor support (PSS) when predicting organizational commitment among downsizing survivors. In this way, the impact of CSO (H1) or equity (H2) would be stronger when POS and PSS were low. A third hypothesis (H3) examined whether survivors' organizational tenure was positively related to organizational commitment.

Findings

H1 and H2 were partially confirmed, indicating that CSO compensated most when PSS was low and that equity compensated most when POS was low among downsizing survivors. H3 was not confirmed as no positive correlation was found between survivors' increased organizational tenure and organizational commitment.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was drawn from one US organization and, because this was a secondary analysis, established scales could not be used for some constructs. Most of the variance in the exploratory factor analysis was on the first factor, POS.

Practical implications

Organizations should make every attempt to maintain or increase survivors' CSO and equity in order to improve organizational commitment. In addition, organizations cannot necessarily rely on their longer‐tenured employees to stay committed after a downsizing.

Originality/value

The study uncovered two previously unknown findings regarding the importance of CSO and equity to the organizational commitment of survivors.
Validation of the four‐factor Team Climate Inventory in Greece
Authors: Chatzi Sofia C. , Nikolaou Ioannis
Published: August 2008

Purpose

Innovation among team members has long been an area of interest to social scientists, and particularly to industrial/organizational psychologists. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factor structure of the Team Climate Inventory (TCI), a multidimensional team‐level measure of team‐working style, in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

The TCI was translated into Greek and administered to a total of 52 work teams (n=236 individuals) in clerical and shop floor working positions employed in a variety of jobs in the public and private sector.

Findings

An item analysis indicated that all original TCI items, except one, should be retained in the Greek version of the TCI. Further analyses yielded high internal consistency both for the full scale and for the four dimensions, and also acceptable discriminant validity among the four scales. An exploratory factor analysis was also successful in extracting the four original factors, accounting for 55.67 percent of the total variance.

Research limitations/implications

The results provided further support for the validity of the original version of the TCI.

Practical implications

It is concluded that the Greek adaptation of the TCI is a potentially useful instrument to measure group climate dimensions that may facilitate work teams' innovative capacity.

Originality/value

The findings provided support for the adequacy of the TCI to measure team climate for innovation in Greece
A data collection system to audit post‐newborn hearing surveillance programme: problems and possibilities
Authors: Yoong S. Y. , Spencer N. J.
Published: August 2008

Background  Guidance documents on post‐newborn hearing surveillance and screen (Sutton et al. 2006; Bamford et al. 2007) indicated the need for a wider system to identify children with hearing loss after neonatal hearing screening. Recommendations were made for systems to be in place for recording screening activity and audit of the school entry hearing screen to provide information on coverage, referral and yield.

Method  This project has two phases:

development of the data collection system for audit;

assess local service performance.

The focus of the work was on data entered into the child health system from children eligible for universal infant and school entry hearing screen. Linking information from a paediatric register of hearing impaired children allowed analysis of birth cohort data related to new diagnoses of sensorineural hearing loss. Available guidelines have not specified gold standards for coverage rates and locally endorsed benchmarks were set at 80% as minimum standards. Analysis of data was carried out on 2003, 2004, 2005, 1998, 1999 and 2000 birth cohorts. The child health system and the paediatric register were the main data sources for the audit exercises. Data extracted were computed for coverage, referral and yield.

Results  Factors and situations contributing to difficulties in establishing a robust system were identified and addressed. Usable information could be obtained to influence current practice. Coverage rates for 2003, 2004 and 2005 cohort were 64.7%, 78.1% and 73.1%. Their respective referral rates were 1.4%, 1.2% and 2.6%. Coverage rates for 1998, 1999 and 2000 cohort were 74.9%, 75.6% and 71.4%. Their respective referral rates were 5.2%, 4.2% and 6.6%. The overall yield from universal screens was low.

Conclusion  Our study showed that it was achievable to collect and analyse data on childhood hearing loss in the context of routine surveillance. There were, however, limitations to analysis of data and findings have to be interpreted with this in mind.
Responsive parenting is associated with improved type 1 diabetes‐related quality of life
Authors: Botello‐Harbaum M. , Nansel T. , Haynie D. L. , Iannotti R. J. , Simons‐Morton B.
Published: August 2008

Background  Improved quality of life is an important treatment goal for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. While previous research supports a relationship between family environment and quality of life, little research has addressed the relationship of parenting style constructs to quality of life in children with chronic disease. The present investigation assesses the relationship of parent responsiveness and demandingness with diabetes‐related quality of life among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Methods  Baseline and 12‐month follow‐up self‐report assessments were collected on a sample of 81 children with type 1 diabetes participating in an efficacy trial of a behavioural intervention to enhance adherence. The sample had a mean age of 13.3 years (SD = 1.7) and duration of diabetes of 7.7 years (SD = 3.7). Multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship of parent responsiveness and demandingness to diabetes‐related quality of life at each time point.

Results  After adjusting for demographic and diabetes characteristics, as well as diabetes‐specific parent–child behaviours, parent responsiveness was significantly associated with baseline diabetes‐related quality of life (β = 0.23; P = 0.04). This relationship was sustained at 12‐month follow‐up (β = 0.22; P = 0.04) after adjusting for baseline quality of life and treatment group assignment, suggesting that parent responsiveness is associated with improved quality of life.

Conclusions  Findings indicate the importance of a supportive and emotionally warm parenting style in promoting improved quality of life for children with type 1 diabetes. Appropriate parenting skills should be an element of diabetes family management health care.
Injuries among infants treated in emergency departments in the United States, 2001–2004
Authors: Reading Richard
Published: August 2008

.
 
Mack K. A.,
Gilchrist J. &
Ballasteros M. F.
(
2008
)

,
121
,
930
–
937
.
 
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2007‐1731
.

Objective  The objective of this study was to present a detailed examination of unintentional injuries in infants <12 months of age treated in emergency departments.

Methods  We conducted a retrospective analysis of data for infants <12 months of age from the National Electronic Surveillance System – All Injury Program for 2001–2004. Sample weights provided by the National Electronic Surveillance System – All Injury Program were used to make national estimates.

Results  An estimated 1 314 000 injured infants were treated in US emergency departments for non‐fatal unintentional injuries during the 4‐year period of 2001–2004, ∼1 infant every 1.5 minutes. Falls were the leading cause of non‐fatal unintentional injuries for infants. Overall, the patients were more likely to be male (55.2%) than female (44.8%). Contusions/abrasions were the leading diagnosis overall (26.7%). Contusion/abrasion, laceration, hematoma, foreign body and puncture injuries occurred most frequently to the head or neck region. More than one‐third of fractures (37.2%) were to the arm or hand. Bed was the product most frequently noted as being involved in the injury event for every age except 2 and 12 months (car seat was the most frequently noted product at 2 months of age, and stairs were top ranked at 12 months). Product rank changed markedly as age increased.

Conclusions  The influences of the social environment, the physical environment and products change as infants mature in the first year of life; this was substantiated in our study by the shift in the relative importance of products involved in injuries according to month of age. The concept that aspects of safety must adapt in anticipation of developmental stage is critical.
Selective venous sampling for androgen‐producing ovarian pathology
Authors: Levens Eric D. , Whitcomb Brian W. , Csokmay John M. , Nieman Lynnette K.
Published: August 2008

Objective  Multiple diagnostic modalities may be needed to establish the source of excessive androgen production in women. The role of selective venous catheterization in this process has not been established fully.

Design  A study of hyperandrogenaemic subjects and literature review.

Patients  Four hyperandrogenaemic women and an additional 132 previously reported cases with available testing data and a pathological diagnosis were evaluated.

Measurements  Serum androgens, diagnostic imaging and ovarian venous effluent sampling. Criteria to distinguish ovarian tumours from other ovarian conditions and to localize the lesion(s) were evaluated.

Results  Basal peripheral testosterone levels ≥ 4·51 nmol/l (≥ 130 ng/dl) discriminated ovarian tumours from benign causes of hyperandrogenism (sensitivity: 93·8%, 95% CI 85·0–98·2; specificity: 77·8%, 95% CI 66·4–86·7). Single lesions produced higher ipsilateral testosterone concentrations (612·6 ± 162·0 nmol/l; 17 653 ± 4670 ng/dl) compared to contralateral values (26·4 ± 5·2 nmol/l; 761 ± 150 ng/dl). In women with peripheral testosterone ≥ 4·51 nmol/l, a right‐to‐left (R:L) ovarian testosterone ratio ≥ 1·44 correctly identified all 18 women with right‐sided tumours and misclassified two with bilateral lesions; 12 out of 14 women with left‐sided or bilateral lesions had a lower R:L value. When this criterion was combined with a left‐to‐right (L:R) ovarian testosterone effluent ratio of > 15 to identify left‐sided tumours, overall 66% of women were correctly categorized.

Conclusions  Peripheral testosterone concentrations identified ovarian androgen‐producing tumours, and venous sampling could correctly localize 66% of these, suggesting a role for sampling when imaging studies are not revealing.