bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emiratisation: drawing UAE nationals into their surging economy
Authors: Al‐Ali Jasim
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine Emiratisation and its antecedents from the perspective of national policy impacting private sector organisations' cultures, working conditions and job specifications.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative and quantitative survey covers a sample of 20 executives or their peers in human resource management of large enterprises and relevant authorities in the public sector.

Findings

Barriers to Emiratisation were found to include low standards of education and skills of potential employees, inadequate English, and a lack of trust by employers in the work‐readiness of United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals. From individuals' perspectives, it was reported that the nationals considered that the private sector offered little career opportunity and low wages in comparison to the public sector.

Research limitations/implications

This analysis may be viewed as a preliminary step to identify and prioritise the issues affecting Emiratisation. The paper's findings should be assessed from two perspectives. First, the key informants were from one region only, the Emirate of Dubai; and second, that this regionalism reflected on the breadth of companies approached to join the study. Thus, the findings of the present paper may be seen as preliminary in nature, and are intended to stimulate further research interest in factors impeding Emiratisation: government policy, organisational effectiveness and applicant preparedness.

Originality/value

To place Emiratisation in context, the literature on social capital predictors was examined to identify dimensions in the social fabric of the UAE and draw out parallel phenomena as themes for this study. With a paucity of Gulf literature on this theme, this paper augments social capital literature by analysis of opinion of business and public sector executives, illustrated by data drawn from the fields of banking and insurance in the private sector.
The normative ideas that underpin welfare‐to‐work measures for young people in Hong Kong and the UK
Authors: Dam Sam Yu Wai
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the similarities of the normative ideas underpinning the welfare‐to‐work measures for young people in Hong Kong and the UK. These normative ideas include the two respective Governments' views on their ideal model of the relationship between individual and society, and Etzioni's and Confucian ideas on how people's attempts to fulfill social obligations can reduce moral deficits. It is believed that the study of these issues contributes to the examination of the ethnocentric bias in the analysis of social welfare and different ways that non‐Western governments organize social welfare in response to foreign ideas.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper starts by discussing the ethnocentric bias in the study of social welfare. Then it examines the similarities of the normative ideas of the welfare‐to‐work measures for young people in Hong Kong and the UK, and discusses how the examination of these similarities helps us understand the ethnocentric bias in the analysis of social welfare.

Findings

The paper shows the ethnocentric bias arising from over‐emphasizing the differences between the ways in which social welfare is organized in Western societies and non‐Western societies, and the ethnocentric bias arising from taking for granted that people in non‐Western societies passively accept the dominance of Western models in shaping the development of their social welfare system, even if it appears that Western ideas share many similarities to their indigenous ideas.

Originality/value

The paper shows different types of ethnocentric bias in the analysis of social welfare and different possible ways that non‐Western governments could organize social welfare in response to foreign ideas.
Social theory and emotion: sociological excursions
Authors: Powell Jason L. , Gilbert Tony
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Using the distinction between “private problems” and “public issues” derived from Mill's “sociological imagination”, this paper aims to assess how diverse social theory approaches problematise and define the ways in which social life is shaped and organised with regard to “emotions”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's approach is theoretical and novel in the interpretation of an under‐development theme in social theory, namely, that of emotion.

Findings

The paper found, on viewing differing sociological approaches, how emotion shifts the focus of our attention away from the idea of individual, private worlds of emotion to the wider context of social relations and the way in which language is used with power to identify subject positions.

Research limitations/implications

This is a general literature.

Originality/value

This is an original paper as it is the first time diverse sociological theories have been pulled together to evince an understanding of what we understand by the concept, experience and symbol of “emotion”.
Broader rationalities and alternative forms of organisation
Authors: Faifua Denise , Harding Sandra
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that the legacy of instrumental rationality has had a profoundly impoverishing effect on rational accounts of organisation, and that even though non‐rational accounts move beyond instrumental rationality, they remain tied to economist assumptions. The paper outlines the broader Weber and Habermas's model of rationality, and demonstrates its application.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on verbatim quotes from a sampling of 35 in‐depth interviews, the paper reveals the range of very different rationalities expressed in the social relations of work, of four very specific types of organisation: a bureaucracy, an entrepreneurial unit, a producer co‐operative and a worker co‐operative.

Findings

The paper outlines two ideal sets of findings, ideal in the sense that in two of the organisations the rationalities, social relations of work and associated outcomes fit well with the Weber and Habermas model of instrumental strategic action and social strategic action.

Research limitations/implications

This study shows the potential for broader rationality as it plays out in the workplace. The notion of workplaces that free workers to contribute in socially strategic ways points to new approaches to management and organisation.

Practical implications

The paper offers practical insights into social relations built on co‐operation, moral judgement and communication.

Originality/value

The power of the idea of broader rationality is that being more rational, i.e. attending to more than a narrow impoverished view, provides the prospect of action advancing the social and the economic in a profound way.
Strategic brand management decision: the case of Sony Ericsson Walkman
Authors: Uggla Henrik , Verick Hira
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to review Sony Ericsson's brand management decision to leverage a brand from the Sony portfolio in their cellular phones.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on data from Sony Ericsson and brand portfolio theories.

Findings

The results reveal that the function of the Walkman brand has changed from a sub‐brand strategy that initially protected the Sony brand against potential failure of the extension via a graveyard brand with outdated product categories into a brand driver defining the category of Sony Ericsson's premium MP3 player cellular phones.

Practical implications

The paper provides strategic brand management insights and thinking underlying the Sony Ericsson brand portfolio strategy and how new product categories can subvert incumbent brands.

Originality/value

This paper is of particular value to anybody seeking to understand brand‐based business development, including business managers, brand managers and academic researchers.
Interview with Max Mckeown
Authors: by Ruth Young Interview
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to interview Max McKeown is a strategic advisor who has been elected to the Customer Service Hall of Fame, been nominated as a “Star of Human Resources” by Personnel Today.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent interviewer.

Findings

Max McKeown is a strategic advisor for four of the five most admired companies in the world and has extensive knowledge on several subjects, which include innovation, engagement, human potential, customer experience, marketing, team building and competitive advantage.

Originality/value

The paper provides strategic insights into why the most original minds in business win.
Work experiences, satisfactions and psychological well‐being of female and male managers in the hospitality sector in Turkey
Authors: Burke Ronald J. , Koyuncu Mustafa , Fiksenbaum Lisa
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore gender differences in the work and career experiences of female and male managers and supervisors in the hospitality and tourism sector in Turkey. There is a belief that women tend to be disadvantaged in this sector as few women occupy the senior executive positions and those that do receive less pay. In addition, managerial and professional women in Turkey, in general, are less likely to achieve senior executive positions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports research examining the work experiences, work and career satisfactions and psychological well‐being of females and males in managerial and supervisory positions in the hospitality and tourism sector in Turkey. Data were collected in 12 five‐star hotels operating in the Mediterranean and Agean region.

Findings

The paper finds, in answer to the research question – do female and male managers working in the Turkish hospitality and tourism sector report similar personal and work situation demographic characteristics, stable personality traits, work experiences, job satisfaction and levels of psychological well‐being – that the answer was Yes.

Originality/value

The paper is of value in pointing out that although its findings are positive, hospitality and tourism organizations still need to make efforts to support the career aspirations of their female managers and supervisors, and suggests elements which have proved useful in supporting women's career success and advancement.
Mentoring and preferences: a diagnostic survey for equal mentoring opportunity
Authors: Okurame David E.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine mentoring experiences and preferences aimed at creating equal mentoring opportunity for male and female employees in the Nigerian work setting.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from 140 randomly selected managers (70 males and 70 females).

Findings

Results revealed that mentoring occurrence is entirely informal and more males compared to females served as mentors. Respondents commonly reported and preferred career‐related benefits of mentoring. An examination of preferred mentor gender indicated a significant relationship between gender of respondent and that of preferred mentor and protégé. Concern for positive interaction reflects frequently mentioned reasons for this preference among men and women. The preferred qualities of a mentor often cited by respondents were those which enable a mentor to deliver career functions while reverence was the most mentioned protégé quality. The distribution of male and female respondents differed on some of the preferred qualities.

Research limitations/implications

Though based on a self‐report instrument, findings imply that mentoring preferences of males differ from those of females.

Practical implications

A training and policy intervention should be considered to enhance delivery of mentoring and create equal opportunity for male and female employees.

Originality/value

Mentoring is currently being canvassed as a mandatory human resource tool in the Nigerian work setting. Empirical guidance on fostering the relationship in ways that create equal opportunities for male and female employees however, remains elusive due to a lack of research in this direction. This study narrows this gap in literature and contributes empirical information that equips management to better deal with the gender issue in mentoring. Beyond the Nigerian environment, it serves as a basis for advancing equal opportunities in mentoring, especially for Africans. This addresses shortcomings in the scholarly scope of reference journals which has a dearth of African empirical findings on mentoring.
Work experiences of Moldovan women in Italy: bearing the double identity strangeness
Authors: Bodolica Virginia , Spraggon Martin
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore multiple cases of Moldovan women who individually initiated and involved in work arrangements with Italian employers. The main purpose is to examine the international employment experiences of female migrants by identifying the challenges they face in a foreign country and building a comprehensive typology of female migrant workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical work consists of field notes gathered through direct observations and semi‐structured interviews conducted with five Moldovan women while they were still working in Italy. The content analysis of the interviews reveals how Moldovan workers perceive their foreign experience and the ways it influences their personal development.

Findings

The paper suggests that such brain mobility concepts as brain drain, brain waste and optimal brain drain represent the distinguishing characteristics of our interviewees who are citizens of a transitional economy. Imaginary trip, frustrating encounter, identity consolidation and self‐actualization are identified as four consecutive stages through which the self‐initiated migration experience develops over the time. The resulting variations in migrants' behaviours and mind‐sets create a typology of female workers based on their desperateness to migrate (planner vs despairer), their failure to tolerate the frustrating encounter (surrenderer), their attitudes towards personal development (conformist vs rejuvenator) and their ability to transcend their own limitations (highflyer). The paper describes the double identity strangeness along with other aspects which differentiate self‐initiated experiences from expatriate assignments.

Research limitations/implications

The use of a limited number of case studies prevents concluding whether and to what extent the findings apply to all female migrant workers from other transitional economies. This limitation could be clarified in a future study on larger samples of female respondents involved in self‐initiated employment arrangements in Italy or in other developed countries.

Practical implications

At the organizational level, the findings allow employers and human resource managers in the destination country to distinguish different types of migrant workers and better understand their particular needs in order to facilitate their intra‐firm integration.

Originality/value

Using a gender analysis highlighted in the international migration literature, this research makes a contribution towards creating a solid knowledge base on Moldovan migrant women – a widely underexplored group of migrant workers – and their involvement in labour market processes in Italy.
Gender and diversity research in the Southern Management Association
Authors: Brown Jo Ann E.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This report summarizes research on gender, diversity and related topics presented at the 2007 Southern Management Association (SMA) conference in Nashville TN.

Design/methodology/approach

The SMA is a regional affiliate of the Academy of Management. SMA's annual conference promotes its mission of advancing the research, teaching, learning and practice of management.

Findings

Diversity topics were scheduled throughout the conference and included in five of the eight tracks. One symposium was devoted to deep‐level diversity.

Originality/value

The papers presented at the SMA conference highlight the growing interest in and variety of diversity research.
Structural engineering in the new millennium: opportunities and challenges
Authors: Haldar Achintya , Mehrabian Ali
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Structural engineering as a part of civil engineering has over 5,000 years of distinguished history, as documented in this paper. An attempt is made in this paper to define structural engineering as it exists at present, then some historical structures are identified.

Design/methodology/approach

The advances of structural engineering are discussed in chronological order, encompassing the development of the concept, analysis, the use of innovative construction materials, and construction. The developments which necessitated the change of design philosophies are presented, and the current status of structural engineering is discussed in terms of several specific topics. Opportunities and challenges in the new millennium in structural engineering are then presented in terms of education, service to society, and research.

Findings

In the past, structural engineering always met the challenges it faced. It helped to improve our quality of life, and its role in society is not expected to change in the near future.

Originality/value

The paper has provided an over‐view of this important profession – from ancient history to the present day. Based on research over several decades it offers a prediction of the direction in which this profession and the academic research that underpins it is likely to take in the future.
Traditional cob wall: response to flooding
Authors: Forster Alan M. , Medero Gabriela M. , Morton Tom , Buckman Jim
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The influence of flood conditions upon traditional cob construction is little understood. This paper aims to investigate the ability of cob materials to resist flood situations and documents basic failure mechanisms. This work also seeks to investigate the wettability characteristics of cob materials utilising environmental scanning electron microscopy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes the form of a literature review and case study underpinning laboratory experiments.

Findings

Cob walls that are suitably compacted, straw reinforced and are composed and manufactured of the correct materials appear to have the ability to resist total failure when subjected to initial flood conditions, however, the duration to which these structures will remain intact has still to be ascertained, and testing is ongoing. A correlation appears to exist between the rate of cob material's compaction and the duration to which the structural integrity of the walls was retained when the samples were submerged in water. In addition, the use of straw reinforcing increased the duration to which the wall could be submerged before failure. Un‐reinforced cob walls that were submerged in simulated floodwaters, exhibited an undercutting pattern of deterioration prior to failure. The materials for cob construction exhibited both hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics. This would have an influence on the material's ability to saturate and dehydrate, and also have an impact on moisture transfer mechanisms. Unsaturated cob wall/samples developed surface tension between hydrophilic surfaces and this is believed by the authors to increase inter‐particle bond strength within the material by the suction effect.

Originality/value

This paper is believed to be the first preliminary investigation into the effect of flooding on cob structures. Additionally, it utilises environmental scanning electron microscopy to reveal information about the surface characteristics of the materials and uses wettability studies to assess the hydrophilic and hydrophobic nature of the aforementioned.
On the safe evacuation of occupants in multiplex facilities
Authors: Hassanain Mohammad A.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to investigate approaches pertaining to the safe evacuation of occupants from multiplex facilities during fire emergencies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes the published literature for the purpose of identifying the frequent causes of ignition in multiplex facilities and examining the set of factors that render multiplex facilities to be high‐risk facilities in fire emergences. The paper then describes the set of prescriptive international building regulations for the means of egress in public assembly facilities, as being the thresholds of the minimum safety levels that are acceptable to society; and presents a set of proposed guidelines for facility managers to observe in their day‐to‐day operation of multiplex facilities.

Findings

The paper has established that multiplex facilities are high‐risk buildings in fire emergencies. The role of facilities managers in the operation and maintenance stages of multiplex facilities has been discussed for the purposes of achieving safe evacuation of occupants and improved crowd management.

Originality/value

This paper provides for a better comprehension of the roles of design professional and facility managers involved in the design and operation of multiplex facilities in the provision and maintenance of adequate means of egress in such facilities.
Preferences of older people for environmental attributes of local parks
Authors: Alves Susana , Aspinall Peter A. , Ward Thompson Catharine , Sugiyama Takemi , Brice Roger , Vickers Adrian
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This study aims to examine the environmental attributes relevant to older people's preferences for neighbourhood open spaces. It also aims to explore the association between the relative importance of different environmental attributes and personal and social characteristics in a sample of older people covering a range of geographic locations in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

Choice‐based conjoint analysis (CBC) was used to obtain responses from a sample of 237 older people (60 years +) living in the UK. A total of 13 environmental attributes were identified from earlier qualitative and quantitative studies. Participants were asked to choose a preferred park from a pair of hypothetical neighbourhood parks differing on four of the attributes presented in a questionnaire. The questionnaire included 14 such tasks.

Findings

The results suggest that older people preferred a neighbourhood park which is without nuisance, has cafes and toilets, many trees and plants, light traffic en route, wildlife to watch, and is well maintained. Analyses also reveal that whether or not people live alone, and their functional capabilities in getting around, make a difference in the way they place importance on attributes.

Practical implications

The findings can assist those involved in designing and managing outdoor environments to identify salient environmental attributes and prioritise interventions aimed at improving access to, and use of, outdoor spaces for older adults. The approach aids understanding of what is likely to maximise preference and use of open spaces in different segments of the older population.

Originality/value

Conjoint analysis procedures are some of the best tools available for determining importance or relative value of attributes of complex environments from the user point of view. The CBC analysis has been employed for the first time in this study to explore the relative importance of such attributes of open spaces for older adults.
FM market research review: do we really have the “intelligence”?
Authors: Zhou Moss Qi
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to give a broad review of existing facilities management (FM) market research. It aims to identify the differences and commonalities of the various market research reports, especially the different market definitions used and different methodologies to calculate the size of the market.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the author's collection of UK FM market publications and years of research in this field.

Findings

Surprisingly, none of the current reports use a robust market research methodology and thus this casts doubt on the estimated size of the market and other findings.

Research limitations/implications

This paper only reviews the reports that the author has collected. Therefore, these may not be the latest versions of the publications.

Practical implications

The paper calls for all FM market research agencies to collaborate, to work out a robust market research methodology that can stand up to scrutiny. It also proposes to conduct FM market research from the demand side of the market – to use completely different market segmentations.

Originality/value

This paper tries to warn general FM professionals on quoting market size – all estimates should be treated with discretion.
Air pressure variations at drainage stacks of high‐rise residential buildings
Authors: Wong L.T. , Mui K.W. , Hui P.S.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the air pressure variations in an in‐use drainage stack of high‐rise residential buildings with the probable influence of occupant loads.

Design/methodology/approach

The air pressure variations in a drainage stack of a typical in‐use high‐rise residential building in Hong Kong were correlated to the number of water closet (WC) flushes of the building. In particular, measured diurnal WC flushing patterns of the residential buildings were used to correlate the diurnal pressure variations measured at 16 m above the stack base in a 115 m high, 150 mm diameter fully vented drainage stack of a typical high‐rise residential building of Hong Kong.

Findings

The occurrence of the maximum air pressure in the stack could be correlated with the expected hourly WC flushes of the high‐rise residential buildings with mathematical demonstrations.

Research limitations/implications

There may be high speed transients in the stack (>1 hertz) which was not measured.

Originality/value

The result would be a useful source of reference for the development of control strategies against probable appliance seal loss in high‐rise residential buildings.
Designing facilities management needs into warehouse projects
Authors: Yean Yng Ling Florence , Tekyi Edum‐Fotwe Francis , Thor Huat Ng Moxham
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an investigation of facilities management (FM) needs of warehouse tenants to inform future warehouse design.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines FM needs that must be designed into warehouse projects. It identifies tenants' FM requirements in warehouses; investigates the relationship between tenant satisfaction and performance of different facilities in warehouses; and recommends design and FM practices that warehouse owners should adopt to give tenants value for money. The research involves a quantitative study of tenant requirements for using warehouses. A questionnaire survey was conducted on tenants to find out their important requirements with a structured instrument. The sample was tenants of warehouses in Singapore.

Findings

The results reveal that users' main needs and priority in warehouse operation comprise: incorporating an operations office within warehouses; providing an air well along the loading/unloading bays; ensuring no interruption of electricity supply; providing air‐conditioning to the office; and providing good housekeeping.

Originality/value

The paper provides information that can be the foundation for developing a set of generic tenant FM requirements that could accelerate the design development of warehouses.
Investigating online community portals for enhanced alumni networking
Authors: Barnard Zenia , Rensleigh Chris
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The core purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which web portal technology and online communities could be successfully applied by the alumni offices of higher education institutions in South Africa (using the University of Johannesburg as a case study) to create information‐sharing with and amongst its alumni affinity groups, in order to build and maintain valuable relationships, networks and partnerships.

Design/methodology/approach

This research project falls under Pasteur's quadrant of use‐inspired research. Using quantitative empirical research, a total number of 10,380 questionnaires was distributed to graduates of the University of Johannesburg at the Autumn graduation ceremonies in April 2006, thereby making it a self‐selecting, purposeful (purposive) and convenient sample.

Findings

Based on the literature study, the results of the empirical research and the case study, the final conclusion made from this research project is that an online community portal can enhance to a large extent the networking of alumni in the South African higher education sector. In addition, the research data collection instrument is transferable to a number of other higher education settings. In particular, the user‐centric information resource questions provide useful insights into alumni information‐seeking behaviour and needs.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the University of Johannesburg Alumni being used as a case study for this research project, the research findings are tailored for implementation by this entity. However, the processes that were followed for this research project in terms of conducting a needs analysis with regard to the information needs of the alumni target audience and the types of questions that were posed could be guiding principles for other South African higher education sector (SAHES) institutions that want to develop such a tool for managing their alumni's information needs. In addition, the framework for the study predicts continuing alliances among academic services, placement services, library services, and fund development on higher education campuses.

Originality/value

The paper should prove useful to other academic institutions since it develops a helpful tool to assist in managing alumni networking behaviour, needs and resources.
The digital library as an enterprise: the Zachman approach
Authors: Abdullah Abrizah , Zainab A.N.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the needs of digital library stakeholders and how a collaborative digital library might be designed to meet these needs. The collaborative digital library has been conceived to support secondary school students' information needs in conducting school‐based projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the Zachman Framework for Enterprise Architecture as the approach to investigate the user requirements and define the digital library organization, resources, processes, technology and information flows In applying the Zachman Framework and to holistically control the study, the case study approach and multiple data collection techniques were adopted.

Findings

Information obtained from these data gathering techniques helps to populate the requirements of the top three layers (18 cells) in the Zachman Framework to ascertain the design details of the digital library's scope, business and system model. The framework requires the abstraction of the characteristics and features of the digital library based on Zachman's six dimensions – motivation, data, people, process, place and time – as well as explains their structures and processes from the perspectives of the planner, owner and designer of the digital library.

Originality/value

The paper is of significance in the field of collaborative digital libraries, since the perspectives and dimensions established from the framework comprehensively capture the user needs and context of use, and help ensure that everything relevant to the digital library enterprise is covered.
Digital divide and economic development: case study of sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Mutula Stephen M.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the nexus between the digital divide and development and discusses attempts being made at continental, regional and country levels to bridge the digital divide in sub‐Saharan Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

An analytical and comparative approach of global e‐readiness, digital opportunity, and information society indices is applied to infer the status of the digital divide in sub‐Saharan Africa.

Findings

The paper finds that there is a link between bridging the digital divide and economic development. However, there is as yet no unanimity as to whether the digital divide is narrowing or widening in developing countries including those in sub‐Saharan Africa. Nevertheless, countries in sub‐Saharan Africa are making tremendous strides, especially in infrastructure development and mobile phone connectivity, to bridge the digital divide.

Research limitations/implications

An empirical study is needed to determine the impact of the surge in infrastructure and policy development in sub‐Saharan Africa with regard to bridging the digital divide.

Practical implications

Hitherto, attempts to measure the extent of the digital divide between and within countries have largely relied on e‐readiness rankings and have rarely used other relevant indices that are available, such as e‐government, information society, and digital opportunity indices. The use of a wide range of indices to infer the breadth and depth of the digital divide between sub‐Saharan Africa and the developed world would provide a clearer picture of the extent of the divide.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that several tools other than e‐readiness ranking can be used to measure the breadth and depth of the digital divide. The paper brings to the fore the importance of addressing sub‐Saharan Africa's digital divide peculiarities using extraordinary interventions.
Enhancing literary electronic books with logical structure: electronic work
Authors: Martínez‐Prieto Miguel A. , de la Fuente Pablo , Vegas Jesús M. , Adiego Joaquín , Cuesta Carlos E.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to present the concept of electronic work, such as an e‐book integrator of concerns (logical structure, appearance and functionality), for representing literary texts available in electronic heterogeneous environments.

Design/methodology/approach

From the generic description of an e‐book and the descriptive requirements of the BiDiLiC project, the concept of electronic work is presented. These requirements involve a descriptive markup policy (based on TEI‐Lite) which defines the text's logical structure and is used for integrating the other concerns associated with the text: functionality and appearance. Finally, the article presents an example showing the integration of the previous concepts to achieve a functional implementation of the electronic work.

Findings

The electronic work covers the requirements of classic literary texts, while still allowing other types of texts to be represented easily. For this purpose, a robust logical structure based on TEI is defined, which offers an interchange norm for information stored in an electronic form. This representation, developed in XML, allows the logical structure of the text to be described generically, facilitating the integration (around it) of the service's functionality, as well as adapting its appearance for use in heterogeneous environments, such as the internet.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a new approach for interacting with electronic content. This approach is presented from conceptual basis to functional representation by way of theoretical reasoning and innovative technology.
Business administration students' perception of usability of the Business Source Premier database
Authors: Oulanov Alexei
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The current article is a research study examining user perception of the usability of an online information system used by business administration students. The online database which it aims to examine is Business Source Premier, which is incorporated in a larger platform of databases called EBSCO. The findings of this research will help with the efficient management of this information service as well as improve the application of this database in an academic library setting.

Design/methodology/approach

Convenience sampling procedure was used for recruiting participants. The entire class of 22 students taught at Medgar Evers College of CUNY participated in this survey. Users evaluated this database using Oulanov's usability tool, which entails the following eight criteria: Affect, Adaptability, Control, Helpfulness, Efficiency, User Effort, Measures of Effectiveness, and Retrieval Features.

Findings

Business Source Premier was rated highest in terms of efficiency. Some improvement might be necessary to increase the helpfulness of the system. User effort is another usability criterion that scored lower than the others. Other usability components, including affect, adaptability, control, measures of effectiveness, and retrieval features, were rated highly. The overall performance of Business Source Premier is high and possible paths for improvement are likewise offered.

Originality/value

This case study provided usability assessment of an online business information system used by business administration students, identifying its strong and weak points. This investigation showed that Business Source Premier is efficient and effective tool for conducting research in the field of business administration.
The influence of traditional reading habits on the construction of digital libraries in developing countries
Authors: Songhui Zheng
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the traditional reading habits of library users which were ignored when digital libraries were constructed in developing countries. It provides advice on how to solve the problem of the reading habits of library users in developing countries and how rapidly needs of readers with libraries are adopting alternatives to locally held print sources in order to meet the traditional reading habits.

Design/methodology/approach

Through reading and studying the related reference materials and literatures by searching in CNKI and checking web sites, the paper provides general tactics on how to develop digital libraries in developing countries. The paper first analyzes the definition and features of the digital library, and is followed by an introduction to libraries in developing countries, confronted with the problems caused by traditional reading habits. Before discussing digital resources and their applications, a brief introduction is presented to the development of digital libraries in mainland China.

Findings

The functions of digital libraries in developing countries are seriously diminished due to traditional reading habits. Libraries in developing countries should offer comprehensive services and take due account of the needs of the traditional readers when developing digital libraries. For many years, documents that the library has collected have mainly been various kinds of printed materials. Printed documents are an advantage of the library for traditional users because digital documents cannot totally replace them. It is also unnecessary to digitize all the collected documents of the traditional library. As digital libraries are developed, traditional libraries must continue to provide an excellent service in meeting the needs of users with traditional reading habits.

Originality/value

This paper provides some observations and insights into the design and development of digital libraries in developing countries. All of the above attracts the attention of the digital library in developing countries to the traditional users. To try to get the most appropriate architectural space, facilities and management, efficient service, comfortable environment and modern equipment to enable the libraries to offer the fastest information service for all the readers, the traditional users or modern users.
Can I help you? Implementing an IM service
Authors: Hvass Anna , Myer Sue
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a case study evaluating the introduction of an instant messaging (IM) reference service.

Design/methodology/approach

During November 2006, an IM chat service was introduced at the University of Teesside in the UK. A review of the literature informed the introduction of the new service. An evaluation of the service, based on usage statistics and impressions from staff and students, has been taking place.

Findings

The paper finds that it is possible to set up an IM service without the need for the purchase of hardware or software. There have been some issues fitting the IM service into the existing range of help services, and there are concerns about the relatively small number of queries, although usage of the service is growing. But users of the service have been delighted with it.

Research limitations/implications

The IM chat service has been in operation for only four hours per day, Monday to Friday, with limited marketing of the service. It is not known how much more popular a more extensive service would be.

Practical implications

The authors believe that the University of Teesside has introduced a quick and easy way for students to communicate with them, and recommend that other libraries consider IM‐based services.

Originality/value

There is a shortage of publications that report the results of the use of IM for chat, especially in the UK.
E‐government web site enhancement opportunities: a learning perspective
Authors: Huang Jen‐Hung , Huey‐Pyng Shyu Stacy
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This study seeks to develop a framework of analysis that categorizes features of e‐government web site design in a matrix of knowledge‐acquiring process versus learners' values. The proposed framework supports a development plan for a cyber governmental web site that may involve all aspects of a learning process.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework for analysis is first proposed. Data were obtained from 137 part‐time students during a class. Participants were requested to enter the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) web site to learn a subject of their choice in a computer lab. The instruments used for obtaining their opinions were open‐ended questionnaires. Two focus group interviews were also conducted. An iterative analyzing strategy based on grounded theory was employed to obtain the results.

Findings

Analytical results of the data based on the framework reveals many insights. Participants indicated that navigational aids, knowledge contents and other designs related to interactive knowledge sharing are important. Nevertheless, e‐government webmasters often ignore these important features. The proposed framework is a valuable tool for web site development and maintenance.

Originality/value

Although many theories about the usability of e‐government web sites have been proposed, the needs of individual learners have seldom been addressed. Since learning is critical to economic prosperity and social cohesion, the factors that make an e‐government web site supportive for learners should be explored. This study is, to our knowledge, the first to examine an e‐government web site from a learner perspective. Furthermore, this investigation presents a framework that facilitates analyzing and improving e‐government web sites.
Design of a model of publication sharing and harvesting
Authors: Yu Shien‐Chiang
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This study aims to discuss a system constructed to satisfy scholars' personal information management requirements when collecting e‐documents, and to include generation of a citation format that can aid paper writing. The system compiles records and personal publications of specific domains collected by individual scholars to form a knowledge set for other scholars to use as a reference. It not only simplifies the data collection process, but also increases the visibility of scholars themselves, along with their papers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes the mechanism of increasing cited frequency of scholars' publications and aggregating relevant documents. It then enables the design of feasible system structures based on this mechanism to form a knowledge set by combining scholars' publications within specific academic domains. In addition, it expedites the gathering of relevant documents by scholars in order to create an accessible archive for subsequent researchers.

Findings

By way of an effective system for publication sharing, and not merely offering a reference for scholars in other relevant fields, this system can also improve the visibility of scholars' publications and further enhance the cited frequency of publications.

Originality/value

Combining collected documents and personal publications and sharing those with other scholars for reference can establish a highly effective personal research domain. It not only simplifies the data collection process, but also increases the visibility of personal academic works.
Evaluation of information providers and popular search engines on the base of postgraduate students' perspectives
Authors: Riahinia Nosrat , Zandian Fatimah
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This study seeks to examine the postgraduate students of two universities (Tarbiat Moallem and Tarbiat Modares) in Tehran to discover how they use online databases and general search engines.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was carried out focusing on postgraduate students' use of online databases provided by information providers (IPs). A sample population was selected among some postgraduate students, as patrons of central libraries of two universities in Tehran. The study was performed by means of a questionnaire given to the participants. Initially, on the basis of a sample pre‐test multi‐choice questionnaire, four information providers were selected as information hosts that were well known to the sampled students. Afterwards, the main questionnaire was developed and distributed among participants. Both participating libraries had a separate e‐databases hall for postgraduate students, so, when coming to use the online computers to search the databases, students were asked to fill out the questionnaires according to their experiences on using online resources. The study was implemented during October to December 2006 and the sample population were those postgraduate students who used the central libraries' e‐resources in campus during the period.

Findings

The results show that 63.4 per cent of respondents use online databases, followed by search engines (24.3 per cent), and print materials (11.3 per cent). Participants ranked Google as the most favourable search engine. In a comparison to using databases versus search engines, 58.4 per cent of respondents stated that they use online databases for seeking scientific information, while 33.6 per cent use search engines.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies in the fact that it reveals postgraduate students' evaluation of four online IPs that are well known to most of the students in this study.