bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring archetypal change: the importance of leadership and its substitutes
Authors: Starke Frederick A. , Sharma Gita , Mauws Michael K. , Dyck Bruno , Dass Parshotam
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the process of transformational organizational change that occurred over time in a small manufacturing firm using the conceptual framework of organizational change and archetypes.

Design/methodology/approach

This longitudinal study – which is based on six cycles of interviews with all members of the firm over a two‐year period – examined how the change attempt was perceived by the strategic leadership, middle‐level managers, and lower‐level employees.

Findings

The findings suggest that the pace of archetypal change is influenced by organization members' experience with, and capacity to, assimilate the change; that, sequentially, new structures and systems are implemented prior to new interpretive schemes; and that unresolved excursions are non‐linear. These findings question the conventional wisdom about the importance of leadership in sustaining organizational transformation. Most notably, it was found that most of the archetypal change occurred after the initiating change agent (a new CEO) had left the firm and been replaced by the previous CEO who did not support the proposed changes.

Originality/value

The paper offers the first longitudinal study to examine the issue of substitutes for strategic leadership. In addition to two new substitutes that should be considered at this level of analysis – information systems and interpretive schemes – the data also point to the impact of collective action by mid‐level supervisors and employees.
Studying institutional work in organizations
Authors: Bjerregaard Toke
Published: February 2011

Purpose

In order to provide new and other directions to institutional studies in organization theory, Lawrence and Suddaby forward the notion of institutional work of actors aimed at maintaining, changing and disrupting institutions. The purpose of this paper is to further theory and method in studying the institutional work of people in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Methodological insights from the ways in which theories of human agency in institutional contexts have co‐evolved with field study methodologies are analyzed in related fields of research, particularly in sociology and anthropology.

Findings

The ways have been analyzed in which social theories of human agency in institutional contexts and field methodology have co‐evolved in an inter‐disciplinary perspective. The analysis shows how field methodologies may provide inspirations to theory and method in studying institutional work.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest that institutional organization research may prosper by grounding the study of institutional work on ethnographic methodologies.

Originality/value

This paper contributes methodological inspirations to studying organizational actors' work with accomplishing change and stability, which constitutes a comparatively underexplored line of inquiry in organizational institutionalism.
Different experiences of socio‐cultural integration: a European merger in Mexico
Authors: Łupina‐Wegener Anna A. , Schneider Susan C. , van Dick Rolf
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Building on social identity theory, the purpose of this paper is to present a study on the socio‐cultural integration process in a merger of two European pharmaceutical subsidiaries in Mexico. The paper investigates antecedents of perceived threat to pre‐merger identities in an officially claimed “merger‐of‐equals”.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed‐methods approach was adopted comprising semi‐structured interviews (with 37 interview partners) and standardized employee surveys with 890 respondents.

Findings

Findings indicate that identity of the new organization was largely shared among members of the different subgroups. Though the employees considered their pre‐merger identities to be at stake (as demonstrated through the interviews), this experienced threat was not very strongly expressed in the survey. In fact, the sub‐groups were able to maintain distinctiveness, acknowledge the value added of each group, and had access to resources.

Research limitations/implications

The main study limitation concerns the fact that this research was conducted using a cross‐sectional design. It would be interesting in future research to observe the processes as they unfold over time.

Practical implications

The paper's findings may help managers and change agents to understand that within merger partners, subgroups exist and different concerns in terms of their identity may emerge.

Originality/value

The results shed light on how shared identity in the new organization can successfully develop despite different perceptions of the integration process of members from the acquired and the acquiring groups. In contrast to past research findings on M&As, positive results were achieved despite contradictory perceptions of integration process of members of the acquired and the acquiring groups.
Reclaiming rare listening as a means of organizational re‐enchantment
Authors: Tyler Jo A.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a reclaiming of the potency of Rogerian listening in organizations. The paper views listening after Rogers, the father of active listening, as a process with potential to re‐enchant organizations and the people who comprise them, in a move away from the popular view and professional training that fosters instrumentalized listening that deadens organizations and crushes the spirit of individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a text analysis using iterative coding processes and constant comparison. A total of 12 web sites focused on “active listening” in business contexts were analyzed for overlap and divergence with Rogers' descriptors and essential conditions for active listening.

Findings

Rogers is almost completely disassociated from his original multi‐sensory conception of listening, which is now reduced to a set of instrumental tips and techniques that help the listener gather data in the interest of achieving preconceived goals. Rarely was Rogers' intention invoked – of understanding in the context of growing a relationship between speaker and listener that was grounded in unconditional positive regard, care, and love.

Research limitations/implications

Though the sample size is limited, it suggests a particular zeitgeist in organizations that inhibits the possibilities of re‐enchantment by shutting down a principle of channel for developing understanding and making connections that can foster novelty and increase collaboration. An awareness of the current reduction of listening being taught in organizations, and the particular ways in which it varies from the richness of Rogers' powerful conception is the first step toward identifying and overcoming the barriers to re‐enchantment at individual and organizational levels.

Originality/value

The prevailing efforts in the literature include listening as one dimension in the broader field of communication skills, and tend to result in recommendations that deepen the instrumental nature of listening in business. This study focuses on listening exclusively, beginning with the origins of Rogers' “active listening,” examining the ways it has been conceptually co‐opted and distorted, as a first step in the process of reclaiming it from the territory of calculated and observable skill.
Cultural influence on loyalty tendency and evaluation of retail store attributes
Authors: Seock Yoo‐Kyoung , Lin Chen
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the cultural influences on young consumers' loyalty tendency and evaluations of the relative importance of apparel retail store attributes in Taiwan and the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured questionnaire was developed to collect the data. Factor analysis was employed to identify dimensions of apparel retail store image attributes. Pillai's Trace multivariate analysis of variance and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were used to examine the hypotheses.

Findings

Results of the study showed that American consumers have significantly greater collectivistic characteristics than Taiwanese. The paper also found that country of residence is a significant and stronger indicator in predicting loyalty tendency than individualism and collectivism dimensions. The results of the study showed that evaluation of the relative importance of retail store attributes was influenced by culture. Among the five apparel retail store attribute dimensions identified in the study, Taiwanese and US respondents' evaluation of the importance of “convenience”, “product” and “information communication” factors of retail store image attributes differed significantly.

Research limitations/implications

The paper may contribute to international retailers' understanding of the similarities and differences between Taiwanese and US markets and in determining the ideal components for these retailers to create an optimized apparel retail store image in two different countries' markets. The findings from the study could serve as an important benchmark for retailing strategy, helping retailers to effectively redesign their apparel stores to attract consumers in different markets and foster consumers' loyal to the company.

Originality/value

Despite the growing internationalization of fashion retailing, this particular sector has attracted little research attention, and no research has been done to investigate the cultural differences of consumers' evaluations of apparel retail store image attributes.
Settling for second best?
Authors: Sparks Leigh
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The paper seeks evaluate to the comparative progress of Asda in the UK since its surprise takeover by Wal‐Mart in 1999. Wal‐Mart expected to become the number 1 retailer in the UK and many commentators saw massive problems ahead for local retailers. These expectations were not met; this paper investigates why.

Design/methodology/approach

Asda's progress is considered through a brief discussion of the company's history to 1999, an investigation of the changes Wal‐Mart subsequently made to Asda's operations, the comparative impact of these changes and then a consideration of the restrictions on impact deriving from organisational, competitive and environmental factors.

Findings

Despite the strong rhetoric on entry, the commercial reality has seen only moderate success for Asda and a widening gap to the market leader, Tesco. Explanation for this includes competitive strategy and reactions, market restrictions particularly in land‐use planning and unwillingness by Asda (Wal‐Mart) to alter their focused store format strategy in line with competitor actions and market directions.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis is at a macro corporate and national level, drawing mainly on published data. Research implications include the rebalancing of considerations of organisational competence and market environment factors on international success. A focus on political and non‐market activities is suggested, though an unwillingness of companies to reconsider strategic directions is also indicted as a key factor.

Practical implications

Implications for national and international strategic decision making at the corporate and governmental levels are identified. Businesses can use the findings to re‐consider their positioning and actions. Reflections on hyperbolic reactions to takeovers might also be provoked.

Originality/value

No other paper has considered the market level changes in connection with Asda since its take‐over by Wal‐Mart and sought explanations for the relative (lack of) performance. The conclusion, that Asda has not been as successful as reported in the literature and the media, is original.
Where did all the benches go? The effects of mall kiosks on perceived retail crowding
Authors: Kim Jung‐Hwan , Runyan Rodney
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how density conditions caused by multiple kiosks in shopping mall walkways affect shoppers' shopping outcomes based on psychological reactance theory and behavioural constraint theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiment uses a one‐factor between‐subjects design with two levels of density conditions (high vs low). A total of 382 respondents participated.

Findings

The findings of this paper indicate that respondents perceive the environment with kiosks as crowded and this perception of crowdedness negatively affects their approach behaviour, leading to lower intentions to patronise.

Practical implications

Findings provide practical information to mall managers by indicating that kiosks within a shopping mall negatively affect shopper patronage and approach intentions. Thus, mall managers need to pay more attention to the environmental atmospherics of the mall itself.

Originality/value

The paper is the first empirical research which examines how kiosks within a mall affect shopper shopping responses. The findings of this study add to the existing literature by examining how kiosks within a mall impact shoppers' psychological states and subsequently their approach/avoidance behaviours towards the shopping mall and patronage intention.
Heuristics for retail shelf space allocation problem with linear profit function
Authors: Gajjar Hasmukh K. , Adil Gajendra K.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Shelf space is often retailer's critical resource. Growing number of products has posed a challenge to the retailers for efficient allocation of available shelf space to them. The paper aims to consider a retail shelf space allocation problem with linear profit function and aims to develop efficient heuristics to solve this problem.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops three heuristics to solve a shelf space allocation problem. It compares three heuristics with existing heuristic using empirical study.

Findings

In an empirical study of 320 randomly generated instances of problems with size (products, shelves) varying from (25, 5) to (200, 50), it was found that all three new heuristics are competitive with existing heuristic. The best amongst three heuristics found solution with average objective value of 99.59 percent of upper bound in a reasonable central processing unit time.

Research limitations/implications

The linearity assumption of the profit function is based on earlier findings that marginal returns to space first increase and then decrease in an S‐shaped curve. Hence, linearity assumption for profit function is justified by the fact that retails would want to operate on linear (or approximately linear) and more strongly increasing part of the curve.

Practical implications

The proposed heuristics are applied to a case of existing retail store which gave more profit than the current allocation scheme.

Originality/value

The paper proposes new initial constructor and neighbourhood move strategy to develop efficient heuristic. Heuristics proposed in this paper are competitive with existing heuristics.
Managing ethnic conflicts
Authors: Posthuma Richard A.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This themed issue seeks to gather together several papers on the topic of managing ethnic conflicts. This introduction summarizes these papers.

Design/methodology/approach

This introduction gives an overview of the purpose of the themed issue and then summarizes each of the articles. It also provides recommendations for future research.

Findings

The papers and research recommendations involve theoretical, methodological, and statistical issues. A key to understanding success in publishing research in this area is that researchers should use theories, methods, and statistics that match.

Originality/value

This unique themed issue illustrates how ethnic issues are important in understanding conflict management. These articles illustrate how it is particularly important to understand the differences in conflict styles and also the means and methods of participation of constituents and third parties in the field of ethnic conflict management.
An examination of conflict style preferences in India
Authors: Croucher Stephen M. , Holody Kyle J. , Hicks Manda V. , Oommen Deepa , DeMaris Alfred
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This study sets out to examine conflict style preferences in India and the predictive effects of various demographic variables on conflict style preference.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered in India (n=827) among Muslims and Hindus. Conflict was measured using Oetzel's Conflict Style Measure. To answer the research questions, repeated measures ANOVA and multiple regressions were conducted.

Findings

The findings reveal that conflict style preference among Hindus in India differs significantly and that Hindus prefer the integrating and dominating styles, whilst showing the least inclination towards the avoiding and obliging styles. Muslims prefer the integrating and compromising styles and least prefer the dominating and avoiding styles. Analyses of the demographic variables' predictive influence reveal that age and sex are significant predictors for all five conflict styles for both Muslims and Hindus. Education has a mixed predictive influence on conflict style among Hindus and Muslims.

Research limitations/implications

Use of self‐report instruments and the majority of the participants coming from middle‐class backgrounds could limit the generalizability of the study.

Practical implications

The study calls for conflict mediators to consider the influence of group membership and educational level on conflict management/resolution. The research also discusses national/international conflict intervention.

Social implications

This paper informs individuals regarding the way in which two large religious and cultural groups differ in their approaches to conflict. For a nation that has experienced a history of conflict between these two cultural/religious groups, this paper can help shed light on how to bridge the conflict between them.

Originality/value

There are no studies directly comparing the conflict styles of Muslims and Hindus.
Political information and emotions in ethnic conflict interventions
Authors: Sirin Cigdem V. , Villalobos José D. , Geva Nehemia
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This study aims to explore the effects of political information and anger on the public's cognitive processing and foreign policy preferences concerning third‐party interventions in ethnic conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs an experimental design, wherein the authors manipulate policy‐specific information by generatingad hocpolitical information related to ethnic conflict. The statistical methods of analysis are logistic regression and analysis of covariance.

Findings

The results demonstrate that both political information and anger have a significant impact on an individual's cognitive processing and policy preferences regarding ethnic conflict interventions. Specifically, political information increases one's proclivity to choose non‐military policy options, whereas anger instigates support for aggressive policies. Both factors result in faster decision making with lower amounts of information accessed. However, the interaction of political information and anger is not significant. The study also finds that policy‐specific information – rather than general political information – influences the public's policy preferences.

Originality/value

This study confronts and advances the debate over whether political information is significant in influencing the public's foreign policy preferences and, if so, whether such an effect is the product of general or domain‐specific information. It also addresses an under‐studied topic – the emotive repercussions of ethnic conflicts among potential third‐party interveners. In addition, it tackles the argument over whether political information immunizes people against (or sensitizes them to) the effects of anger on their cognitive processing and foreign policy preferences. The study also introduces a novel approach for examining political information through an experimental manipulation of policy‐specific information.
The Bangladesh approach to the Palestinian‐Israeli struggle
Authors: Handelman Sapir
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to propose a strategy to promote the culture of peace in the Palestinian‐Israeli struggle. The Bangladesh approach to peacemaking offers a dual strategy: conflict management in the Israeli‐Gaza situation and conflict resolution in the Israeli‐West Bank case. The first is designed to reduce the level of violence in intensified conflict. The second intends to build the foundations of a peaceful social order.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops and elaborates the second part of the Bangladesh approach. It offers a strategy to build the foundations for a peaceful social order in the Israeli West‐Bank situation. The paper includes theoretical background, examples from other cases of intractable conflict, and lessons from the “Minds of Peace Experiment” – a simulation of a potential Palestinian‐Israeli public negotiating congress – which was conducted at the University of Missouri‐St Louis.

Findings

The paper presents two competitive models of peacemaking and proclaims them complementary: the political élite and the public assembly. The first intends to reach a peace pact through interactions between political élites. The second intends to prepare the people for a reasonable peace process through the establishment of a major institution for conflict resolution – a public negotiating congress.

Originality/value

The public‐assembly model is new in the Palestinian‐Israeli experience. The paper offers a program to create the conditions for establishing a major Palestinian‐Israeli public assembly: a public negotiating congress. It is the first time in the history of the struggle where ordinary people are intended to be substantially involved in the negotiating and the peacemaking process.
Women inSulha– excluded yet influential
Authors: Pely Doron
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to locate, describe and analyze the mechanism and impact of women's informal role within the formally male‐onlySulha– a prevalent, inter/intra‐communal dispute resolution process practiced by Muslim, Christian and Druze Arabs in Israel and in many other regions of the Middle East and the Muslim world. Furthermore, this paper seeks to explore the way men's formal roles and women's informal roles interact within theSulha's strict patriarchal settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The first section of this paper uses interviews, participant observation and existing literature to locate, describe and analyze the specific ways in which women informally participate in and impact on theSulhaprocess. The second section uses a questionnaire, interviews, existing literature and analysis to examine the attitudes of men and women regarding women's current and future roles inSulha.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that the formal (male‐only) visible part of theSulhaprocess coexists alongside a significant, yet mostly invisible, informal contribution of women – at each stage of the process. Furthermore, the paper shows that both men and women are cognizant of the informal role women play inSulha, and that both men and women are open to a possible future expansion of the role of women inSulha, including into formal roles.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the need to seek and evaluate informal, sometimes invisible, yet significant contributions of women to traditional dispute resolution processes in strict patriarchal cultures.
Transformation: next generation technical services at the University of California Libraries
Authors: Medeiros Norm
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to feature an interview with Brad Eden, Associate University Librarian for Technical Services and Scholarly Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Eden discusses the University of California Libraries' Next Generation Technical Services initiative.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper notes changes necessary to transform technical services for the new digital realm.

Findings

The task force chaired by Eden recommends several changes to traditional processes, three of which are central to achieving transformative change.

Originality/value

The paper offers readers insights into the means by which a large consortium under severe financial constraints is attempting to achieve cost‐savings and value‐added services through system‐wised collaboration.
The golden mean
Authors: Fox Robert
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This column aims to explore the consequences of making uninformed technology decisions in the context of strategic planning for digital library environments.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the consequences of making uninformed technology decisions.

Findings

This column recommends a balanced approach for funding digital library initiatives.

Practical implications

Given the rapidly changing landscape of the information highway, it is difficult especially for decision makers in library organizations to plan well for digital initiatives. Cutting edge services such as cloud‐based computing offer a mirage of hope in many instances and need to be carefully scrutinized before the first penny has been allocated from a library budget.

Originality/value

This column prescribes a cautionary note for digital libraries of the twenty‐first century. While many vendor‐based services (such as “software as a service”) are initially attractive, vendor lock‐in and lack of control over critical library services can prove fatal.
Understanding agile project management methods using Scrum
Authors: Cervone H. Frank
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to define and describe agile project management using the Scrum methodology as a method for more effectively managing and completing projects.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a general overview and introduction to the concepts of agile project management and the Scrum methodology in particular.

Findings

Agile project management using the Scrum methodology allows project teams to manage digital library projects more effectively by decreasing the amount of overhead dedicated to managing the project. Using an iterative process of continuous review and short‐design time frames, the project team is better able to quickly adapt projects to rapidly evolving environments in which systems will be used.

Originality/value

This paper fills a gap in the digital library project management literature by providing an overview of agile project management methods.
A survey of Koha in Australian special libraries
Authors: Keast Don
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the adoption of the open source library management system, Koha, amongst Australian special libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The spread of Koha in Australian special libraries and the opinions of Koha users on the system have been examined by a survey distributed to all known Australian Koha users. A case study of the Greater Western Area Health Service (GWAHS) library network is also presented, demonstrating many of the practical issues involved in the decision to convert to an open source system.

Findings

The main reasons given for conversion to Koha were practical economic grounds, coupled with dissatisfaction with conventional library systems. Libraries found the conversion to Koha reasonably trouble‐free. Satisfaction ratings on most aspects of Koha performance were “above average” to “good”. Library expectations of value for money and overall cost savings appear to have been realised.

Research limitations/implications

The sample of responding libraries (46.67 per cent of all Koha libraries found) included hosted and non‐hosted installations, and a representative mix of health and non‐health libraries, including three from the tertiary sector. Results were consistent across all groups. Many Koha installations have commenced operation since 2008, and a more comprehensive survey should be undertaken in the future, when the long‐term effects of open source adoption are more evident.

Practical implications

Koha has proved well suited to small health libraries, and the GWAHS experience has been successfully replicated amongst many other Australian special libraries.

Social implications

The switch to open source has enabled many libraries to greatly enhance services to remote users. Financial restrictions which prevented many libraries establishing a web presence have been overcome by open source, resulting in greatly increased contact with library clients

Originality/value

Results of the first survey of Australian Koha users are presented. A case study of the first Australian health library network installation of Koha is also included.
An example of inter‐university cooperation for implementing Koha in libraries
Authors: Espiau‐Bechetoille Camille , Bernon Jean , Bruley Caroline , Mousin Sandrine
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to show how three university libraries (Rhône‐Alpes, France) decided to switch their proprietary software for the Open‐ILS Koha, with particular focus on how they organized themselves to pool their technical skills, human resources and costs.

Design/methodology/approach

The chronological approach permits one to show how the three libraries first installed Koha, then tested the software, wrote common specifications and finally determined which developments could be carried out in‐house and which required outsourcing to a software specialist.

Findings

The paper provides information for acquiring knowledge and expertise in an Open‐ILS, and to minimize costs by cooperating.

Originality/value

This paper suggests a new way to acquire an open‐ILS that meets collective expectations while responding well to institutional needs.
OSS diffusion in Italian libraries
Authors: Tajoli Zeno , Carassiti Alessandra , Marchitelli Andrea , Valenti Fulvia
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Koha is an open‐source Integrated Library System (ILS) developed in New Zealand and deployed for the first time in January 2000 for the Horowhenua Library Trust. Koha is a fully‐fledged software with basic and advanced features. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate a case study of integration of a big Italian consortium specializing in ITC support for libraries and public administration, in the development community of an integrated library system, and to describe the characteristics of CILEA support for this programme.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the main Koha features and functions and what CILEA did in the development community in Italy.

Findings

Koha is a very simple but complete ILS, to be used by libraries of every dimension and kind of specialization. CILEA worked to adapt Koha to Italian libraries and now it is a part of the library community.

Originality/value

This paper shows how Koha has a strong and wide community of librarians and developers. In particular, it is shown to be suitable for all institutions wanting to automate their libraries using a system that allows complete control over data and over the software itself. The authors of this paper are interested in maximizing the diffusion of Koha.
Online social networks and learning
Authors: Greenhow Christine
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This viewpoint essay seeks to argue that young people's online social networking can serve as sites for and supports for student learning in ways not currently assessed.

Design/methodology/approach

The two themes presented are based on a select review of the research literature as well as the author's explorations of young people's online social networking practices within MySpace and Facebook, two naturally occurring, youth‐initiated sites, as well as in an online social networking application designed for environmental science education and civic action.

Findings

Two themes are presented: (1) social network sites can serve as direct and indirect supports for learning, such as providing an emotional outlet for school‐related stress, validation of creative work, peer‐alumni support for school‐life transitions, and help with school‐related tasks; and (2) online social networking can stimulate social and civic benefits, online and offline, which has implications for education.

Practical implications

Currently, social media are largely blocked in schools due to privacy, security, and copyright concerns. In the USA, the National Educational Technology Plan published in November 2010, and recent educational standards, both assume 24/7 access and use of newer web technologies for learning and advocate appropriation of technologies students already use, and prefer to use, for educational purposes. Consideration of how social media, such as social network sites, currently support informal learning may advance one's ability to construct effective social media‐enabled environments for more formal learning purposes.

Originality/value

This paper presents concrete examples of how social network sites, typically seen as a distraction, might be re‐envisioned as supports for revised student learning outcomes.
Building creativity: collaborative learning and creativity in social media environments
Authors: Peppler Kylie A. , Solomou Maria
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Using a systems‐based approach to creativity and a sociocultural constructionist approach to learning, this study aims to highlight how creative ideas emerge within a community and spread amongst its members.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a design‐based approach to research, this study took place within the social media environment, Quest Atlantis. Chat data were collected from 85 participants and screenshots were taken of the virtual architecture designed and built by players in the Quest Atlantis environment, in an effort to explore the nature of creativity and collaborative learning within the context of virtual 3D architectural construction.

Findings

The findings illustrate the rise and spread of creativity in online communities and also point to the social and cultural nature of creativity.

Research limitations/implications

This study, the first of its kind, focuses on how creativity operates within a single community in order to draw implications about digital creativity more broadly.

Practical implications

Implications for designing virtual and physical communities to promote creativity are discussed.

Originality/value

Documenting and analyzing an entire creative system in the everyday world can be a challenging endeavor. Social media, by contrast, offer an opportunity to document, describe, and analyze creativity, extend Csikszentmihalyi's work into the realm of social media and push back on current conceptions of digital creativity.
The CUNY Academic Commons: fostering faculty use of the social web
Authors: Gold Matthew , Otte George
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper sets out to analyze the implementation of an academic social network that connects faculty members, administrators, and graduate students in a multi‐campus university system. Part of a new generation of university‐sponsored virtual spaces that foreground social networking, the CUNY Academic Commons has fostered a growing community of members who use the site to collaborate with colleagues across the system. This paper seeks to describe the processes involved in creating the site and to offer guidance to institutions considering similar projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a case study of the CUNY Academic Commons that is supported by site analytics, usage reports, and public site materials.

Findings

The CUNY Academic Commons has increased awareness of member projects and research interests, built a greater sense of community between discrete campuses, promoted an open culture of sharing, and encouraged collaborative ventures across the system. The site gives members a greater degree of control over the design, presentation, and content of their own web‐based work than is traditionally possible in closed‐source, closely managed university websites.

Originality/value

The paper will be of interest to academic institutions interested in using social‐networking technologies to strengthen their communities.
Affordances of a scaffolded‐social learning network
Authors: Zywica Jolene , Richards Kimberly A. , Gomez Kim
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the development and use of a scaffolded‐social learning network (S2LN) called Remix World. The local aim is to increase understanding of how Remix World is integrated into programmatic and curricular structures as a way to support learning. The broader aim is to contribute to conversations about learning opportunities that S2LNs afford for participants.

Design/methodology/approach

Remix World was integrated into the Digital Youth Network (DYN) in‐school and after‐school digital arts curriculum. DYN used Remix World to display and comment on media, artifacts and designs, and to post original work. Two of the authors were given accounts on Remix World, where they logged in to respond to comments and note site activities and conversations.

Findings

The data suggest that students across the grade levels regularly used Remix World to post commentary, post media, and critique peers. Students used Remix World across ecologies (home, after school, and school day). Mentors' efforts to integrate the site into their classes increased the number of users and activities on Remix World.

Practical implications

Integrating a media‐based curriculum that encourages critique and production requires some formal feedback and guidelines. It is essential to explore how mentors and teachers pedagogically leverage the students' posts to reach curricular and programmatic learning goals.

Originality/value

This study explores how features and affordances of social networking sites can be redesigned to intentionally support in‐school pedagogical use that promotes transformative communication and the development of critical, new media literacies.
Social videogame creation: lessons from RPG Maker
Authors: Owens Trevor
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Online community sites devoted to RPG Maker, an inexpensive software for creating role‐playing video games, have emerged as spaces where young people are developing valuable competencies with digital media. This study seeks to examine the largest of these communities.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a mix of qualitative methods including a survey, interviews and analysis of the structure of the site. The study uses discourse analysis and is grounded in work on situated learning.

Findings

The study suggests that the site and community are scaffolding young people into deeper understanding of digital production and the development of practical skills, like programming, as individuals take on identities associated with different roles in game design.

Research limitations/implications

This study reinforces the value of research focused on young people's social media creation and also suggests that there is still much to be learned about technologically simple but socially rich platforms like web forums. As qualitative research it does not generate statistical generalizations.

Practical implications

This research suggests three implications for the design of online learning environments focused on media production. Designers should: start with learners' interests and basic skills will evolve; support a diverse range of production roles and identities; and offer simple technical systems that can support sophisticated digital learning communities.

Originality/value

While there is much work on learning in online communities, little of that work has focused on the importance of the role‐taking of young people in those communities and on implications of these spaces for designing online learning environments.
Do social networking technologies have a place in formal learning environments?
Authors: Rosenfeld Halverson Erica
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This viewpoint essay seeks to discuss the promise and perils of integrating social networking technologies into formal learning environments.

Design/methodology/approach

The work is grounded in a new literacies perspective and brings insights from learning in participatory cultures to bear in the discussion of social networking sites in formal settings.

Findings

The paper describes three major design trade‐offs in the use of social networking sites: privacy versus redundancy when participating in an SNS; whether goals for participation are endogenous or exogenous learning goals; and conception of identity in SNSs as holistic versus identity in formal learning environments as uniquely constructed in the learning setting.

Practical implications

These design trade‐offs arise as a result of importing technologies for learners into environments that are better suited to technologies for learning. Therefore, the paper suggests that the goals for learning are more important than the use of any individual technology in the classroom.

Originality/value

K‐16 school leaders and administrators should begin to think like designers rather than policy makers when determining whether and how to meaningfully bring social networking technologies into learning environments.
Dissecting work commitment: the role of Machiavellianism
Authors: Zettler Ingo , Friedrich Niklas , Hilbig Benjamin E.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to refine the concept of work commitment by proposing a dissociation between self‐related work commitment (namely, employees' career commitment) and other‐related work commitment (pertaining more strongly to others such as team members or supervisors). The dissociation is demonstrated empirically through the differential predictive validity of Machiavellianism, which holds when the influence of broad personality dimensions is controlled for.

Design/methodology/approach

Personality characteristics (Machiavellianism and the six factors of the HEXACO model of personality) as well as organizational, supervisor, team, and career commitment of 154 employees were assessed via self‐reports.

Findings

Results support the hypotheses that Machiavellianism is related positively to self‐related work commitment (career commitment) and negatively to other‐related work commitment (organizational, supervisor, and team commitment), and explains unique variance in all criteria above the six broad dimensions of personality.

Originality/value

Although meta‐analyses have indicated strong overlaps between diverse work commitment foci, it is argued and shown that there are core differences between self‐related career commitment and other‐related commitment foci. Additionally, Machiavellianism as well as the HEXACO dimensions are investigated as predictors of work commitment foci for the first time.
Battling the war for talent: an application in a military context
Authors: Schreurs Bert H.J. , Syed Fariya
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a comprehensive new recruitment model that brings together research findings in the different areas of recruitment. This model may serve as a general framework for further recruitment research, and is intended to support Human Resource managers in developing their recruitment policy. To highlight its utility, how the model can be applied to describe the recruitment process of the military is exemplified.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is developed based on an extensive search for published studies on employee recruitment and on the efforts of the members of the NATO Task Group on Recruitment and Retention of Military Personnel.

Findings

The model proposes that individuals' cognitions (beliefs, perceptions, expectations) influence job pursuit behavior, via influencing job pursuit attitudes and intentions. Individuals' cognitions are shaped by information about job and organizational characteristics. Job/organizational information can be obtained from sources that are or are not under the direct control of the organization. Finally, several inter‐individual difference variables (e.g. values, needs) are proposed to moderate the relationships depicted in the model.

Originality/value

The model extends previous recruitment models through its integrated focus on both the applicant's and organization's perspective, its recognition of the multiphased nature of recruitment, and its applicability to real‐life recruitment contexts.
Assessing the effects of a “personal effectiveness” training on psychological capital, assertiveness and self‐awareness using self‐other agreement
Authors: Demerouti Evangelia , van Eeuwijk Erik , Snelder Margriet , Wild Ulrike
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This study seeks to examine the effects of a “personal effectiveness” training on both assertiveness and Psychological Capital (PsyCap) that were monitored before and after the training.

Design/methodology/approach

In addition to self‐ratings, other‐ratings were assembled to explore two ways in which they can contribute to the monitoring of intervention effects. To verify self‐reported results, and to predict participants' performance through the use of self‐other agreement.

Findings

Overall, rater and ratee scores showed a similar increase on assertiveness and most components of PsyCap. Self‐other agreement measures showed an increase in agreement for assertiveness and PsyCap after the training. Lastly, the type of relationship between rater and ratee appeared to have significant influence on the consistency between raters, such that agreement was higher for cohabiting partners than colleagues, supervisors or friends.

Originality/value

This study has created a better understanding of the role that the self‐other agreement and PsyCap can play in monitoring intervention effects.
Social capital, team efficacy and team potency
Authors: van Emmerik Hetty , Jawahar I.M. , Schreurs Bert , de Cuyper Nele
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Drawing on social capital theory and self‐identification theory, this study aims to examine the associations of two indicators of social capital, personal networks and deep‐level similarity, with team capability measures of team efficacy and team potency. The central focus of the study is to be the hypothesized mediating role of team learning behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

Hypotheses were tested using questionnaire data obtained from 221 teachers working in 33 teams and data were analyzed using multilevel analyses.

Findings

Consistent with the hypotheses, the results supported the contention that team learning behaviors mediate the relationship between different types of social capital and team efficacy and team potency. Specifically, it was found that, in highly (deep‐level) similar teams, the level of team learning behaviors is higher than in diverse teams, and this is hardly dependent on the extent of social capital based on personal networks. For diverse teams (i.e. teams scoring low on deep‐level similarity) more social capital based on personal networks translates into more team learning behaviors. Finally, it was found that team learning behaviors mediate the influence of social capital on team efficacy and team potency.

Research limitations/implications

The paper's findings suggest that it is important for managers not to focus exclusively on surface level characteristics but instead to attempt to facilitate the development of deep‐level similarity. Organizations can also encourage group social capital by allowing teams to develop a shared history, rather than change membership frequently, and by increasing contact among team members.

Originality/value

The paper examined exchange and identification processes that are important in generating resources to increase the development of team learning behaviors, thereby emphasizing the role of the interpersonal context for understanding how interaction processes between team members shape team learning behaviors and subsequently lead to more team efficacy and team potency.