bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing the leaders of tomorrow in Abbey, part of the Santander Group
Authors: Dytham‐Ward Michele
Published: July 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the development of senior leaders within Abbey, part of the Santander Group. A strong leadership pipeline is essential to feed the succession plans into the executive roles; it is a critical strategic goal to ensure the continued health and strength of the bank. The paper aims to examine the introduction of a development and mobility process designed to achieve this goal and maximise the internal talent at the senior leader level (the “Band D” population).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the six stages of the Band D development and mobility process. It covers how each stage is implemented within the organisation, from one‐to‐one interaction with line managers, through to the provision of targeted development opportunities. It explores the critical vehicle of the development and mobility committee; in which Band D leaders are individually “presented” by a sponsoring director. The potential outputs of the committee include on‐job and formal development opportunities and functional or geographic role moves across the bank. The paper also examines the critical next steps.

Findings

The paper highlights the qualitative successes of key elements of the new process. It also shows how the process is tracked through key performance indicators to measure the link between the investment and the delivery of tangible business benefits.

Originality/value

The paper gives a practical insight into a structured process for developing talent.
RX for excessive turnover: lessons in communicating a vision (part 1)
Authors: Appelbaum Steven H. , Carrière David , Abi Chaker Marwan , Benmoussa Kamal , Elghawanmeh Basim , Shash Suzanna
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate causes of high staff turnover among production workers at a large‐scale retail case meat processor.

Design/methodology/approach

Three hypotheses were developed to investigate six independent variables as possible factors of high job turnover. The research is based on a two‐step process consisting of a literature review and field research. The literature review served to establish empirical links among the variables and construct an appropriate questionnaire for the field research. The field research consisted of 38 employees (out of 475) completing a 41‐question survey. Individual interviews were also conducted with 20 of the 38 respondents. The paper is an empirically based case analysis.

Findings

The results demonstrate that the employees' organizational commitment affects employee turnover. The findings also suggest that organizational commitment can be improved through increased effective communication between management and employees and ensuring that the organization's vision is shared and understood by employees. The link between job satisfaction and turnover was not supported by the research.

Research limitations/implications

Sample size was affected due to the limited availability of employees during production hours. Increased sample size would allow further investigation within specific departments and shifts. Additional research could also have been done on how the company's HR policy mandated from their US head office fits the needs of a Canadian based workforce.

Originality/value

The paper provides insight on the causes of employee turnover and low organizational commitment. The paper recommends four actions to address communication and vision sharing to improve organizational commitment and ultimately turnover.
Business administration training seminar for public sector executives: implementation and evaluation
Authors: Katharaki M. , Prachalias C. , Linardakis M. , Kioulafas K.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The paper aims to define the mission, characteristics, objectives and evaluation processes concerning a specific training seminar entitled “Business administration for public sector executives”. Furthermore, the research intends to underline the evaluation criteria, set by trainees and training officers as necessary in order to maximize the seminar's overall impact on all those involved.

Design/methodology/approach

The seminar was organized by the University of Athens, Greece, in order to contribute to the continuing education of public sector executives in the field of business administration. The educational methodology was based on adult education principles and the evaluation included the preparation, development, and delivery phases. The seminar's effectiveness was assessed based on predetermined criteria and parameters using methods such as questionnaires, comments, observation and team discussions.

Finding

Through this process the seminar's strengths and weaknesses were revealed by making use of quantitative analysis methodological tools, such as statistics and econometric prototypes. The trainees' overall response to the seminar was “measured” and the results proved the high‐calibre structure and content of the seminar sessions. The trainees stated that the seminar offered key essential knowledge and aided in skill development; furthermore, they expressed their willingness to attend further lifelong‐learning seminars.

Practical implications

The criteria set forth by trainees and training officers alike could pave the way for a new approach to lifelong learning/training seminar design, implementation, and evaluation in the short‐term future.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the assessment criteria that offer meaningful insight into the participants' perceived level of seminar‐related satisfaction and can potentially be utilised for the design of future seminars.
Green management and financial performance: a literature review
Authors: Molina‐Azorín José F. , Claver‐Cortés Enrique , López‐Gamero Maria D. , Tarí Juan J.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to carry out a literature review of the quantitative studies that have analyzed the impact of green management on financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

An examination of the literature was undertaken to review the quantitative studies that analyze the influence of environmental management on financial performance. A total of 32 studies were identified, examining the environmental variables used, the financial performance variables, the statistical analyses, and the main findings obtained by these studies.

Findings

Results are mixed, but studies where a positive impact of environment on financial performance is obtained are predominant. In addition, the findings show that the set of firms, industries and countries are varied. Some studies use environmental management variables and other works employ environmental performance variables, and regression analysis prevails.

Research limitations/implications

The study does not consider studies that analyze the influence of environmental management on environmental performance. Implications for future research are suggested.

Practical implications

The paper offers interesting implications for managers, pointing out that a real commitment to green management may result in a positive influence on financial performance.

Originality/value

The findings are derived from an exhaustive literature review of quantitative studies that have studied the green management‐financial performance link. In addition, ideas for improving future research in this field are provided.
Why and how to adopt green management into business organizations?
Authors: Lee Ki‐Hoon
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and investigate the process of green management adoption in small and medium‐sized enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the qualitative methods of case study, in‐depth interviews and document analysis to collect data from two companies, one in the acoustic equipment, the other in the electronics industry.

Findings

The paper finds that the extant literature in the field of business and management has largely ignored green management practices within small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). The study finds that SMEs can make themselves greener by making strategic and organizational changes. For greener management, the factors of organizational structure, innovation capability, human resources, cost savings and competitive advantage can influence organizational change. The outcomes of the case studies confirmed this. The paper argues that further research is needed in order to identify how management practice might reduce negative sustainability impacts. The paper argues that such research can benefit from the methodological and theoretical insights of other disciplines.

Originality/value

The paper is of benefit to academics and managers by providing a new way to consider green management and strategies of SMEs. Since green sustainability is obviously challenging to all companies, to increase understanding of how to cope with green management is necessary, but has been rarely researched in SMEs.
Climate change basics for managers
Authors: Wittneben Bettina B.F. , Kiyar Dagmar
Published: July 2009

Purpose

This paper sets out to tackle the issue of climate change from a business perspective. It seeks to discuss why it is important to take climate change considerations into account in business decisions, how this can be done and what further action is required from managers and business scholars.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes ways of reducing emissions and adapting to climate change that can be implemented by any business. As an illustration, the proposed climate strategy of a large European utility company, RWE, is provided.

Findings

There are numerous ways to reduce emissions within business operations, along the supply chain and surrounding product usage and disposal. Climate‐proofing operations is also becoming increasingly pertinent to businesses.

Research limitations/implications

New ways have to be found yet in order to take emission reductions to a more ambitious level by altering patterns of production and consumption.

Practical implications

The paper discusses how businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and anticipate changes in the physical and political environment related to climate change.

Originality/value

The paper is of value to managers who, today, are expected not only to reduce emissions from operations, but also to gain an awareness of the physical, political and social risks stemming from the impacts of climate change.
Factors influencing the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions in companies world‐wide
Authors: Prado‐Lorenzo José‐Manuel , Rodríguez‐Domínguez Luis , Gallego‐Álvarez Isabel , García‐Sánchez Isabel‐María
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyse different factors behind the disclosure of corporate information on issues related to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change world‐wide.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis carried out was performed in two stages: analysis of the data obtained through content analysis and analysis of the factors that influence the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change using a dependency model, a multiple linear regression. Several variables were introduced to represent the size of the companies, leverage, return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and Market‐to‐Book ratio. Also, other dummy variables have been incorporated: Kyoto Protocol, activity sector in which the company operates and inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

Findings

The results obtained show a direct relationship between corporate size, its market capitalization and the disclosure of information in addition to proposed Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators on greenhouse gas emissions. Conversely, an inverse relationship between ROE and disclosure is detected.

Practical implications

The findings emphasize that the main quoted companies operating in industries related to greenhouse gas emissions typically reveal information on almost all the GRI core indicators as well as the additional items specifically proposed for this issue. Moreover, the results suggest a trend for companies to utilize information on greenhouse gas emissions as a mechanism that enables them to legitimise themselves with those groups that can be of benefit to them.

Originality/value

The paper has analysed the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and other information of importance to climate change in companies from different countries, some of which have ratified, approved, adhered to or accepted the Kyoto Protocol, and some of which have still not accepted it.
Web sites as tools of communication of a “green” company
Authors: Biloslavo Roberto , Trnavčevič Anita
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is first, to review current literature on corporate identity, image and reputation; second, to analyse the “green reputation” on a sample of Slovene companies based on their web sites and third, to present implications for companies and further research.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis and discourse analysis were used to examine sections of web sites related to sustainable development of 20 Slovene companies representing the pharmaceutical, chemical, energy, food production, retailing, automotive, construction, logistics, sales of oil products and domestic appliance industries.

Findings

The web sites of 20 Slovene companies studied show that all companies present their values about environment protection and social responsibility, which they relate to sustainable development. However, “green” identity is not fully exploited in terms of being used as a distinctive feature of a company and as such it does not sufficiently contribute to gaining competitive advantage for a company.

Research limitations/implications

Although constituted by all relevant Slovene companies, the sample is limited in size. Further research could be done with a larger sample to test the findings. Different tools and media of marketing communication and a stakeholder survey could confirm the importance of the findings and significance for green reputation development.

Practical implications

Senior company management can use the findings from the research presented here as a starting‐point for the development of corporate reputation as a “green” company through appropriate use of corporate communication.

Originality/value

The research paper contributes to the scarce literature on green reputation development, which is almost non‐existent with regard to non‐multinational companies from post‐transition and transition economies. The paper also reveals new findings about the problem of standardisation within “green” marketing communication.
Harnessing time: empowering staff in the workplace
Authors: Sheridan Linda
Published: July 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to describe a staff development activity introduced at a small regional library in Victoria, Australia to assist staff to take more control of their work time. The self‐directed professional activity (SDPA) allows staff to nominate an activity that would benefit them professionally and then provides the support and infrastructure so they can focus on one task for a sustained period of time, free from external distractions.

Design/methodology/approach

This single case study describes the experiences of 11 library staff undertaking the SDPA four times over a two year period, 2006‐2008. The perspective of participants was recorded and analysed using a focus group discussion, personal written reflections and written responses to open ended survey questions.

Findings

The activity achieved its initial aim of providing staff with greater control over their professional time. Staff appreciated having a dedicated time to plan and complete a specified task, which they nominated as a priority, without external interruptions. Difficulties encountered by staff included defining a task or activity that could be completed in one afternoon and resisting the temptation to check e‐mail and answer telephone calls.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size is very small, focusing on one specific work environment, which makes it difficult to generalise about the applicability of this model to other organisations.

Practical implications

The experiences described in this case study illustrate that allowing staff to set their own priorities and minimising external interruptions can assist staff to feel more in control of their time at work.

Originality/value

The paper shows that elements of this approach could be incorporated into any workplace, although it appears to be of greater benefit to workers who must multi‐task in open office environments or to those who must juggle competing priorities.
Managing change: East Asian libraries in transition
Authors: Zhou Peter X.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to discuss the challenges and opportunities that East Asian libraries in the USA are facing in managing change at the beginning of the twenty‐first century and argue that if the microcosm of East Asian collections can be understood, it will be easier to understand the direction in which America's largest research libraries are heading as they move into the twenty‐first century, what challenges they will face and what opportunities they may encounter.

Design/methodology/approaches

Proceeding to examine the current state of East Asian collection in the USA and their transformation, this study offers insight on the larger trends in research libraries and strategies used to cope with change. A case study of the C.V. Starr East Asian Library of University of California, Berkeley illustrates concisely particular measures and solutions.

Findings and implications

At present the greatest challenge facing research collections, including East Asian collections, is the move from a print tradition to a digital and networked future. The shift is profound: mass digitization, Web 2.0, Library 2.0, and global information networks have already changed the ways research libraries operate, and these ways are multiplying constantly with the adoption of new strategic directions, including resource aggregation on the open web, creating e‐science and e‐humanities enterprises, keeping a healthy balance between cyber infrastructure and in‐house print collections, and collaborating with the commercial sector to create and integrate scholarly resources.

Originality/value

By looking at both the microcosm of East Asian libraries and the macrocosm of large research libraries and their transition, this study demonstrates that as new discovery tools are being adopted and new services offered, research libraries must find new ways to maintain their core values through innovation while moving swiftly in new directions.
Virtually there, almost: educational and informational possibilities in virtual worlds
Authors: Sidorko Peter Edward
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to analyze the educational and more specifically, the library and information opportunities afforded through virtual worlds such as Second Life.

Design/methodology/approach

The article provides an analysis of virtual world opportunities through a review of relevant literature as well as actual applications of virtual world platforms.

Findings

Virtual worlds have the potential to provide a rich learning and information environment. Despite what many see as limitations, virtual worlds can enhance the learning experience if problematic issues are addressed and if expectations are realistic. For libraries, a unique set of limitations are identified.

Research limitations/implications

The limited availability of library presences in virtual worlds prohibits a full scale analysis of the success or otherwise of such projects. Future analyses of virtual worlds, in particular Second Life, will be useful if their pervasiveness increases.

Practical implications

Library managers are alerted to issues and problems surrounding an investment in virtual worlds.

Originality/value

This paper will prove useful to educators and librarians considering investing time and other resources in developing content in virtual worlds.
Intangible assets for academic libraries
Authors: Kostagiolas Petros A. , Asonitis Stefanos
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The aim of the paper is explore issues related to the intangible assets in libraries and provide first results regarding their identification, categorization, valuation and reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the literature for the intangible assets in academic libraries is provided and a number of important approaches related to the management of intangible assets are discussed.

Findings

Library and information services include both tangible and intangible assets. In the economic reality of the twenty‐first century, the intangible assets critically contribute, in combination with the tangible assets, to the overall value and performance of academic libraries. Specific management actions and activities related to intangible assets are required.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes to the discussion of the significance of intangible assets and some initial results are exhibited. The intention of this work however is to stimulate further research on the management of intangible assets in libraries and information services.

Originality/value

A theoretical discussion of intangible assets in academic libraries is provided and a number of issues for their management are raised.
Marketing library services through Facebook groups
Authors: Xia Z. David
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discover whether Facebook Groups are conducive for library marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

Facebook Groups at two major research universities in the USA, along with two global Groups, were analyzed for their activity and membership to examine their performance of effectively promoting library visibility.

Findings

It finds that the success of Facebook Groups can be controlled by the active organization of librarians and by using more general topics to keep discussions alive. It also finds that Facebook Groups should target not only students but also faculty and staff in support of their research and teaching.

Research limitations/implications

By effectively organizing Facebook Groups as useful social networking, libraries can extend their services to more users. The findings of this paper provide insight into a new means of library marketing.

Originality/value

Previous studies on this topic did not analyze the actual activity of specific Facebook Groups. This research is one of the very few, if any, to go into individual groups and examine several important aspects of messages and members in these Groups.
Comparing levels of job satisfaction in the countries of Western and Eastern Europe
Authors: Borooah Vani K.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a comparison of job satisfaction levels between countries of Western and Eastern Europe by first examining the extent of difference between the two sets of countries and then explaining these differences in terms of differences in job characteristics between the countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology employed is to use the estimates from an ordered logit model to decompose the probability of being at a particular level of satisfaction into its “attributes” and “coefficients” parts. The empirical foundation for the study is provided by data for over 20,000 employed respondents, pertaining to the year 2000, obtained from the 1999‐2002 Values Survey Integrated Data File.

Findings

Compared to East European countries, job satisfaction levels were considerably higher in West European countries. Moreover, there was considerably greater inequality in the distribution of job satisfaction in East European, compared to West European, countries. Job satisfaction depended critically on the constellation of job‐related attributes that employees regarded as being “important”. The greater the weight that one placed on the external aspects of a job – pay, holidays, promotion chances etc. – the more likely one was to be dissatisfied. The greater the weight one placed on the internal aspects of a job – responsibility, usefulness, social interaction – the more likely one was to be satisfied.

Practical implications

The methodology and conclusions will be useful to labour economists and to human resource managers.

Originality/value

The reason that West European countries have higher levels of job satisfaction, compared to East European countries could, in part, be because they are better endowed with the “attributes” that promote job satisfaction; it could also, in part, be due to the “coefficient responses” of workers in West European countries, to a given set of attributes, being more conducive to job satisfaction than the corresponding responses of workers in East European countries. This paper estimates the relative importance of attributes and coefficients in determining differences in levels of job satisfaction between the two sets of countries.
Workplace responses to vacancies and skill shortages in Canada
Authors: Fang Tony
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze employer responses to vacancies and skill shortages by adopting certain workplace practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Making use of the longitudinal nature of the Workplace and Employee Survey, a nationally representative sample of Canadian organizations, the paper applies both linear and probit models to examine incidence of positive vacancies and vacancy rates and subsequent adoptions of various workplace practices in response to such vacancies and skill shortages.

Findings

Employers respond to labour and skill shortages in a number of ways, focusing more on short‐term and less costly solutions, such as adoption of flexible working hours and increases in overtime hours, greater reliance on flexible job design and part‐time workers, and implementation of self‐directed work groups and problem‐solving teams. There is no evidence that workplaces would raise employee wages or fringe benefits to alleviate shortages.

Practical implications

In the absence of a well‐developed internal market, firms are likely to continue using short‐term and less costly solutions. Governments should work with firms, workers and their representatives and act strategically to resolve issues of timely identification of skill shortages in order to make informed decisions and put mechanisms in place to address such shortages.

Originality/value

The results are based on a national longitudinal survey and a number of important practical and policy implications are discussed in the paper
Managing cultural diversity and perceived organizational support
Authors: Leveson Lynne , Joiner Therese A. , Bakalis Steve
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between employee perceptions of their organization's management of cultural diversity, their perceived organizational support and affective commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was developed and distributed to a sample of employees working in a large Australian financial institution.

Findings

Analysis of the data shows that, when controlling for perceived organizational support, there is no direct relationship between cultural diversity management perceptions and affective commitment. Rather, the data support an indirect relationship between the two variables via perceived organizational support.

Research limitations/implications

Implications are, first, that managers need to recognize the potential contribution of developing a positive workplace atmosphere for cultural diversity to strengthen employee perceived organizational support, which in turn enhances affective commitment. Second, the research findings underscore the importance of perceived organizational support in linking cultural diversity management perceptions to organizational outcomes, such as affective commitment. Third, managers should not underestimate the influence of initiatives, such as making all employees feel included in the “taken‐for‐granted” informal networks in engendering positive organizational and individual attitudes.

Originality/value

The paper examines cultural diversity management from the employees' (rather than a management) perspective to develop a fully mediated model using organizational support to link cultural diversity management perceptions to commitment. The study reinforces the need to rethink simple relationships between cultural diversity management perceptions and organizational/individual outcomes, to consider more complex models that include important mediating variables to more fully understand the effects of cultural diversity management.
Meeting the challenges of culture and agency change in an academic health center
Authors: Bacigalupo Arnold , Hess James , Fernandes John
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the methods used and the qualitative success of organizational development (OD) supported efforts to alter the culture and enhance agency outcomes of an academic health center.

Design/methodology/approach

Myers‐Briggs, FIRO‐B, and DISC assessments plus consultations conducted by OD professionals determined emphasis should be targeted on people, structure, and processes to create a more strategic and action‐oriented environment. The OD process accomplished: the alignment of managerial and personal styles with job responsibilities; the development of a change ready culture; the initiation of a coaching/mentoring system for individual development; the identification and ownership of core values; the reestablishment of more transparent communications; and the redistribution of power within the institution.

Findings

The OD process created an environment where performance was valued and rewarded. The institution has experienced record growth in the number of physicians attracted to the institution and in the number of patients served. Operational and fiscal performance measures also achieved record results. Beyond the metrics achieved, the institution developed a high‐performance organization with relationships based upon trust and mutual respect.

Originality/value

OD provides the ability to challenge people in a collegial and a highly competitive environment. Thus, the capacity to continually improve and change is now built into the organization so it can adapt to changes in the external environment.
A study of personality preferences and emotional intelligence
Authors: Leary Myleen M. , Reilly Michael D. , Brown F. William
Published: July 2009

Purpose

For over three decades the Myers‐Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a typology of personality preferences based on Jungian psychology, has been one of the most frequently used assessments in personal and managerial development. Over the last decade attention to the possibility of non‐cognitive intelligence based on emotions has attracted considerable attention in both the academic and practitioner communities. This paper aims to report on an empirical study examining the possible relationships between the dispositional factors measured by the MBTI and elements of emotional intelligence (EI) as measured by the Bar‐On's emotional quotient inventory (EQI).

Design/methodology/approach

MBTI, Form G, and EQI data are collected in a population of over 500 managers and professional workers in an international manufacturing facility. Both categorical and continuous analysis of variance is utilized to test ten hypothesized relationships between personality preferences and EI constructs.

Findings

Results support the relationship between extroversion and the components of EI. Somewhat counter intuitively stress management, the measure of EI that captures an individual's internal focus, is related to extroversion. A positive and significant relationship between a preference for the use of feeling in decision making and an individual's EI is also found.

Originality/value

Despite the fact that the MBTI and the EQI are two of the most widely used instruments in organizational development very few studies have been done on their possible relationship. This is the first relatively large sample study of that relationship. Implications of the interaction of personality preferences and EI in organizational development are described.
Organisational value of healthcare quality awards in Andalusia
Authors: Reyes‐Alcázar Víctor , Sotillos‐González Belén , Torres‐Olivera Antonio
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and describe the symbolic value of quality awards as a key indicator of recognition that public organizations have reached in the scope of quality management and continuous improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a description of the evolution of the three series of healthcare quality awards that have been held to‐date in one of the biggest regions of Europe: Andalusia.

Findings

Theoretical analysis of an instrument conceived as an institutionalised way of recognizing quality assurance initiatives in the Andalusian Public Health System. At the same time, the article focuses on the importance of using a reference model to ensure that the process of assessing the projects is systematic and rigorous and therefore stands as a guarantee of transparency within a public administration.

Research limitations/implications

The ultimate outcome is dependent of the geographical context and the behaviours and perceptions of people that have participated as assessment panels.

Practical implications

The conceptual framework provides guidance on what methodology is used to assess the quality projects (process to allocate projects to assessment panels and assessment criteria required) in a complex healthcare system. It serves as a managerial framework to enhance the continuous improvement in all health‐related services.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to create a structured debate between researchers and healthcare leaders regarding the assessment criteria to evaluate healthcare quality projects.
Does economic growth enhance life satisfaction? The case of Germany
Authors: Frank Björn , Enkawa Takao
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether economic growth enhances life satisfaction. It provides a conceptual solution to the heavily debated Easterlin paradox which states that aggregate income positively relates to life satisfaction in one‐time international comparisons but not in longitudinal analyses. First empirical results are presented for Germany.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study uses path analysis to capture not only direct but also mediated effects of economic growth on life satisfaction. Findings – The paper finds that economic growth does enhance life satisfaction over time. The effect is not direct but mediated via consumer confidence, customer satisfaction, income satisfaction, health satisfaction and job satisfaction. Modeled by consumer confidence, adaptive expectations reduce this effect but cannot entirely compensate for it, as suggested by literature. In addition to this negative compensatory effect which is mediated by customer satisfaction, consumer confidence has a positive direct influence on life satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Since the history of aggregate customer satisfaction measurement is still young, this empirical analysis should be seen as pioneer work. Future research on the Easterlin paradox should utilize future data, model mediated relationships and time lags, and integrate customer satisfaction and consumer confidence.

Practical implications

Economic growth strategies are successful in raising life satisfaction. Governments should not only pay attention to quantitative but also to qualitative growth. Collective optimism can improve life satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study contributes to solving the Easterlin paradox. Unlike the extant literature on the Easterlin paradox, this paper integrates national customer satisfaction and consumer confidence into a sociologic model and explicitly accounts for mediated effects. National customer satisfaction is used to model qualitative aspects of economic growth.
Ethical climate in nonprofit organizations: a comparative study
Authors: Laratta Rosario
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how, by looking within one group of nonprofits, perceptions of ethical climate may differ in the nonprofit sector, both within and between separate country contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

Executive directors in two groups of social services nonprofits in the UK and Japan were surveyed, and several subsequently interviewed, in accordance with the Ethical Climate Scale developed by Agarwal and Molloy.

Findings

The paper finds that perceptions of the ethical climate types relating to “independence” and “law and codes” were polarized, with executive directors in the UK being more likely to base moral decisions on the evaluation of rights, values or principles than on public opinion. In Japan, however, such decisions were predominantly focused on how they would impact on others, both within and outside the organization, in the context of personal responsibility to society and the maintenance of social order.

Practical implications

Social service nonprofits nowadays occupy a major role in the delivery of services which the state used to provide alone. It has therefore become essential for governments to be able to assess the internal culture of nonprofits in order to determine their trustworthiness and reliability, and the best yardstick for this is ethical climate. This research will help state and local government policy makers toward a better understanding of their contractors.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies primarily in the fact that it was the first time that this type of research had compared similar nonprofit organizations in different countries.
Global ageing in comparative perspective: a critical discussion
Authors: Powell Jason L. , Cook Ian G.
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The aims of this paper are to summarise the rapid expansion in the proportion of the elderly across the globe and to highlight the main factors causing this. Specific areas of the globe will be focused on in more detail before the authors discuss some of the key challenges and consequences of global ageing for global society.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a literature review of major trends and implications of population ageing across the globe.

Findings

As a consequence of the global demographics of ageing, societies are being confronted with profound issues relating to illness and health care, access to housing and economic resources including pension provision. We have witnessed an unprecedented stretching of the human life span. This ageing of the global population is without parallel in human history. If these demographic trends continue to escalate, by 2050 the number of older people globally will exceed the number of young for the first time since formal records began, raising questions of the power of the nation state in the context of global ageing and of the changing nature of the global society that is emerging.

Originality/value

This is an original paper that aims at reviewing the major population trends across the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa. The implications of demographic change are grounded in context of global changes that highlight social, economic and political implications of global ageing.
World society, family planning programs and the health of children
Authors: Roberts Wade
Published: July 2009

Purpose

Drawing on world society and policy analysis literatures, the purpose of this paper is to examine the uneven diffusion of family planning programs in the developing world and the subsequent consequences for child health. The study begins by assessing the effect of world society ties on countries' commitment to and capacity for family planning programs. It then examines the impact such programs have on child health inputs and survival.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a cross‐national, quantitative study design on a sample of less developed countries.

Findings

Countries' world society embeddedness is a robust predictor of their institutional commitment to and capacity for family planning programs. Such program efforts are also shown to have a significant impact on child survival rates, mediated by reduced fertility and higher rates of childhood immunization.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should further explore the way in which such programs contribute to and/or serve as a foundation for health infrastructure in developing countries.

Practical implications

This study points to the child health benefits associated with building capacity in family planning programs. Practitioners should take care to appropriately adapt global policy models to local needs and circumstances while allowing local control.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to a growing body of literature on the role of world society (international nongovernmental organization) networks in spreading development policies and programs in the developing world. Going one step further, it assesses the actual impact of one such policy program on children's health.
The opinions of Finnish physicians on social security system
Authors: Saarinen Arttu
Published: July 2009

Purpose

Opinions towards social security reflect the interests and ideologies that individuals have. The earlier population‐based opinion studies of the welfare state can be utilised when we are creating a theoretical background for examining the physicians' opinions but also physician‐specific indicators are needed. The purpose of this paper is to analyse physicians' opinions on social security. Opinions are compared to those of citizen‐level groups.

Design/methodology/approach

The 2,000 working age physicians' random survey sample was picked from the register of the Finnish Medical Association (n = 1,092, response rate 54.6 percent). The data were analysed using frequencies and multinomial logistic regression analysis.

Findings

Compared to all other citizen‐level groups, the physicians think that the level of social security is too high. Physicians want to target cuts somewhere else than social or health services. Female physicians support higher social security. Young doctors and specialists think more often that social security is too high. Left‐wing political orientation is the clearest predictor of all opinions.

Originality/value

The results are important because physicians are a big and powerful occupational group in the welfare state. The opinions of physicians towards the social security have not been studied in countries with large social security systems or countries where physicians are mainly public sector employees.
An optimal tolerance allocation model for assemblies with consideration of manufacturing cost, quality loss and reliability index
Authors: Mao Huang Yuan , Shiau Ching‐Shin
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an optimal tolerance allocation model for assemblies with consideration of the manufacturing cost, the quality loss, the design reliability index with various distributions to enhance existing models. Results of two case studies are presented.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops a model with consideration of the manufacturing cost, the Taguchi's asymmetric quadratic quality loss and the design reliability index for the optimal tolerance allocation of assemblies. The dimensional variables in normal distributions are initially used as testing and compared with the data from the prior researches. Then, the dimensional variables in lognormal distributions with the mean shift and the correlation are applied and investigated.

Findings

The results obtained based on a lognormal distribution and a normal distribution of the dimension are similar, but the tolerance with a lognormal distribution is little smaller than that with a normal distribution. The result of the reliability with the lognormal distribution obtained by the Monte‐Carlo is higher than that with a normal distribution. This paper shows that effects of the mean shift, the correlation coefficient and the replacement cost on the cost are significant and designers should pay attention to them during the tolerance optimization. The optimum tolerances of components of a compressor are recommended.

Research limitations/implications

The model is limited to the dimensions of components with the normal distribution and lognormal distributions. The implication should be enhanced with more data of dimension distributions and cost of assembly components.

Practical implications

Two case studies are presented. One is an assembly of two pieces and another is a compressor with many components.

Originality/value

This model provides an optimal tolerance allocation method for assemblies with the lowest manufacturing cost, the minimum quality loss, and the required reliability index for the normal distribution and lognormal distribution.
Comparing speed to complete progressively more difficult mobile robot paths between human tele‐operators and humans with sensor‐systems to assist
Authors: Sanders David
Published: July 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect on time to complete a task depending on how a human operator interacts with a mobile‐robot. Interaction is investigated using two tele‐operated mobile‐robot systems, three different ways of interacting with robots and several different environments. The speed of a tele‐operator in completing progressively more complicated driving tasks is investigated also.

Design/methodology/approach

Tele‐operators are timed completing a series of tasks using a joystick to control a mobile‐robot. They either watch the robot while operating it, or sit at a computer and view scenes remotely on a screen. Cameras are either mounted on the robot, or so that they view both the environment and robot. Tele‐operators complete tests both with and without sensors. One robot system uses an umbilical cable and one uses a radio link.

Findings

In simple environments, a tele‐operator may perform better without a sensor system to assist them but in more complicated environments then a tele‐operator may perform better with a sensor system to assist. Tele‐operators may also tend to perform better with a radio link than with an umbilical connection. Tele‐operators sometimes perform better with a camera mounted on the robot compared with pre‐mounted cameras observing the environment (but that depends on tasks being performed).

Research limitations/implications

Tele‐operated systems rely heavily on visual feedback and experienced operators. This paper investigates how to make tasks easier.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that the amount of sensor support should be varied depending on circumstances.

Originality/value

Results show that human tele‐operators perform better without the assistance of a sensor systems in simple environments.