bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of clustering tendency for the design of cellular manufacturing systems
Authors: Bashir Hamdi A. , Karaa Samir
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Without reliance on results obtained from applying a cell formation method, this paper aims to describe a simple quantitative approach to testing whether an underlying pattern of relationships exists between machines of a given system, such that the machines may be rearranged into manufacturing cells. It also aims to support the approach by an index for measuring the clustering tendency.

Design/methodology/approach

The eigenvalues of the similarity coefficient matrix and Kaiser's rule are used to: detect the number of clusters existing in the part‐machine matrix, and derive an index for predicting the goodness of the best possible obtainable cell formation.

Findings

The results of applying the proposed approach and the clustering tendency index to problems of different sizes taken from the literature have proven that both the approach and the clustering tendency index are powerful in performing the feasibility assessment and in predicting the right number of manufacturing cell to be formed.

Practical implications

This study is of considerable value to practitioners because it provides them with a powerful yet very easy to apply approach for assessing the feasibility of adopting cellular manufacturing in early stages of design. Another characteristic of this approach is the possibility of using it as a decision support tool for practitioners who opt to use a cell formation method which requires specifying the number of cells in advance. Moreover, the approach does not require any special software package, since it can be easily performed using several available software packages such as MATLAB and Mathematica.

Originality/value

A methodology for evaluating the adaptability of a system to cellular manufacturing has been proposed in a previous study. However, the methodology used is complex and uses a certain degree of subjectivity. In contrast, the proposed approach is simple and completely quantitative. Furthermore, a new index for measuring the clustering tendency is presented.
Multi‐response optimisation using Taguchi method and super ranking concept
Authors: Besseris George J.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a simple methodology in solving multi‐response optimisation problems by employing Taguchi methods and a non‐parametric statistical technique.

Design/methodology/approach

There is a continuous interest in developing effective and statistically sound multi‐response optimisation methods such that they will provide a firm framework in global product and process improvement. A non‐parametric approach is proposed for the first time in a five‐step methodology that exploits Taguchi's fractional factorial designs and the concept of signal‐to‐noise ratio in data consolidation. The distinct feature of this method is the transformation of each response variable to a single rank variable. The subsequent incorporation of the squared ranks for each of the investigated responses issues a single master‐rank response suitably referred to conveniently as a “Super Rank” (SR) response, thus collapsing all dependent product characteristic information into a single non‐dimensional variable. This SR variable is handled by standard non‐parametric methods such as Wilcoxon's two‐sample, rank sum test or Mann‐Whitney's test eliminating at the same time multi‐distribution effects and small‐sample complications expected for this type of experimentation.

Findings

The proposed methodology is tested on already published data pertaining a design problem in the electronic assembly technology field. The case study requires six‐factor simultaneous optimisation of three response variables. A second example is analyzed by the proposed method focusing on the optimisation of a submerged arc‐welding process problem due to a group of five factors. The Mann‐Whitney's test contrasts the effects of factor settings one‐to‐one on the SR response in order to assign statistical significance to the optimal factor settings.

Research limitations/implications

The application of this methodology is tested at the same time in a real three‐response optimisation case study where each response belongs to different optimisation category.

Practical implications

The methodology outlined in this work eliminates the need for sophisticated multi‐response data handling. In addition, small‐sample considerations and multi‐distribution effects that may be inherent do not restrict the applicability of the method presented herein by this type of experimentation.

Originality/value

This investigation provides a new angle to the published methods of multi‐response optimisation by supporting Taguchi's design of experiments methods through a multi‐ranking scheme that leads to non‐parametric factor resolution.
Socially responsible capitalism
Authors: Sweetbaum Henry
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to raise questions and contribute to discourse around the topic of socially responsible capitalism with specific reference to the need for a considered approach between the necessity to foster an entrepreneurial risk taking environment to create a vibrant economy and the need for a balanced yet rigorous regulatory environment. The paper specifically addresses the pro‐active role that academia should be encouraged to play in advising government and stake holders as to how to achieve the optimum position.

Design/methodology/approach

The address juxtaposed personal insights and observations drawn from many years as an international businessman with my analysis of the events of the past 75 years (from the great depression to the current credit crises) together with legislation such as, The Glass Steagall Act 1933; The Securities Act 1933; The securities Exchange act 1934; The Fair Labor Standards Act 1938 and The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1997.

Findings

A 30‐minute question and answer session followed the address and allowed for extensive discussion and feedback from the audience. Certain members of the audience continued this discussion and feedback via email.

Originality/value

The Q&A evidenced that the address was considered a catalyst for possible new directions with regard to the topic and presented original ideas within the context of the objectives outlined above.
CSR or RSC? (Beyond the Humpty Dumpty syndrome)
Authors: Lozano Josep M.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has often been presented as a challenge for management. This is due to the fact that the CSR debate has been associated with the business practices that are linked to it. But CSR is also an approximation to the business practices that require us to question the underlying corporate business model. Therefore, as it deals with a company's business model, the term CSR at once reveals its potential and its limitations. The ambiguity of the term “social” and the risk of not combining this with the term “economic” is by no means less significant: neither is the diversity of interpretations and approaches allowed by the term “social”. Using the words of the Lewis Carrol character, Humpty Dumpty, as a metaphor–according to which a word's meaning depends on the power of the person who uses it – the purpose of this paper is to propose a shift away from talking in terms of CSR (corporate social responsibility) to talking in terms of responsible and sustainable corporation (RSC).

Design/methodology/approach

The intention is not to become bogged down with questions of semantics of terminology but, rather, to bring about a change in emphasis. The author intends this to be a means of considering a more relational vision of the company (in other words, a relational corporation), taking as the point of departure the company's relationships with stakeholders. The paper proposes an analysis of the stakeholder relationship which is not reduced to mere relationship management.

Findings

Once these relationships have been established, it can be highlighted how, in each of them, the existence of economic, social and environmental dimensions can be investigated and, as a result, how these dimensions can be integrated into management. This means that the integration process should be translated into a vision of CSR (or, as is suggested, of RSC: responsible and sustainable corporation) at the same time as being a transversal management approach and an axis of corporate identity and of understanding the company as a project.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a change of emphasis regarding the approach to CSR. The aim of the paper is to contribute towards preventing the CSR debate from becoming blocked by debate on the scope of the term “social”. It should be put forward directly in terms of business strategy, in order for CSR not to be reduced to a set of business practices but for it to become part of the vision of the company, leading to the proposal of: responsible and sustainable corporation.
Corporate social responsibility: an avenue for sustainable benefit for society and the firm?
Authors: Gyves Sharon , O'Higgins Eleanor
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to investigate the benefits arising from various corporate social responsibility (CSR) approaches, to determine which approach generated the most sustainable mutual benefit accruing both to the focal firm, as well as to society and the firm's stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

The ethnographic case studies are based on interviews with senior managers from six companies which are members of Business in the Community Ireland, a not‐for‐profit organization comprised of companies which are active about CSR initiatives.

Findings

Results show that for the companies interviewed, CSR initiatives that are voluntary and strategic, as opposed to coerced and/or non‐strategic, generate the most sustainable mutual benefit to the firm itself and its social beneficiaries.

Originality/value

The paper presents a framework to analyze approaches to CSR, using the dimensions of strategic/non‐strategic, voluntary/coerced. The study discovers ways to reconcile the conventionally competing shareholder and stakeholder mindsets. The paper concludes that if firms pursue CSR activities in a voluntary and strategic manner they can satisfy both shareholders' and stakeholders' demands.
Conjectures on systemic psychopathy: reframing the contemporary corporation
Authors: Wexler Mark N.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how and why the emerging literature in clinical psychology on the “successful psychopath” precedes the escalating middle class framing of the contemporary corporation as a monster and points towards an increasingly credible version of systemic psychopathy.

Design/methodology/approach

Discourse analysis is used to isolate three distinct but interrelated argument forms in which the basic assertion is that “the corporation is a psychopath”. All three argument forms insist that the corporation lacks a conscience and point to a toxic schism on the boundary between the organization and its stakeholders or publics.

Findings

In Argument Form I, successful psychopaths enter and rise to prominence in the flexible, hypercompetitive context of the contemporary corporation. Once ensconced within the corporation, in Argument Form II, the psychopath creates the conditions for a scam which, when detected, gives rise to a flurry of breathless and very public corporate scandals. Argument Form III follows from II. In it the rogues and scoundrels – those increasingly caught in the high beams of a corporate scandal – once in positions of power and authority seek out allies, stifle those who would oppose them and begin to legitimize their scams as “business as usual.” Systemic psychopathy emerges when the appeal to “business as usual” conceals scams and supports conscienceless behavior.

Originality/value

This paper explains why increasingly, members of the middle class, those who in the past stood behind the corporation, are less than shocked to hear it characterized as a psychopath. The paper concludes with the implications of the intensifying portrayal of the dark side of the corporation for researchers studying the changing relationship between society and business.
Do offshore outsourcing firms in the USA use their investments on corporate social responsibility to alleviate negative attitudes toward offshore outsourcing?
Authors: Tesfom Goitom , Birch Nancy J.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is: to determine how offshore outsourcing firms in the USA are involved in providing assistance to education and training the downsized/unemployed; and to conduct inter‐industry comparisons among offshore outsourcing firms to determine if there are differences in their degree of involvement in assisting education and training the downsized/unemployed.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on a survey of 51 firms in the USA that are listed as major offshore outsourcers and exporters of American jobs in “CNN's Lou Dobbs Exporting America website”.

Findings

The findings show that out of eight areas of corporate social activities included in the survey, offshore outsourcing firms indicated that they were least involved in providing or supporting training programs to the downsized/unemployed. However, we also found that offshore outsourcing firms were highly involved in providing assistance to charities and supporting private and public education.

Research limitation/implications

The response rate in this survey was similar to other response rates for research conducted on similar topics. However, the sample size for the study is relatively small and results from larger sample sizes are required to make empirical generalizations with confidence.

Practical implications

The findings of this study are useful for USA policy makers who are dealing with the negative effects of offshoring. It also provides direction to offshoring firms on how to alleviate negative attitudes toward offshore outsourcing.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to investigate the contributions of offshore outsourcing firms to education and training the downsized/unemployed as part of their corporate social responsibility. Thus, it makes a significant contribution to the literature.
Relevance of data mining for accounting: social implications
Authors: Mraović Branka
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that in a time of globality, companies operate in a business environment in which high speed dictates mutual interactions and, at the same time, requires a radically different approach to data collection, storage, and processing based on an integrated view of the data.

Design/methodology/approach

The author believes that frauds in the corporate environment after the fall of the Berlin Wall have to be investigated through the similarity of models under which citizens are subjugated by means of financial machination by the ruling political and economic elites.

Findings

The innovativeness of data mining techniques is reflected primarily in the radical turn away from the retrospective data access that used to be typical of decision support systems, toward prospective and proactive information delivery. Data mining is a technique offering undeniable benefits by improving the quality of life and making one's life easier, and bringing more order and responsibility into the behavior of institutions. But on the other hand, data mining poses numerous questions relating to privacy, legality and ethics. The trouble is that there is a permanent threat of using data mining applications beyond the limits of its original purposes.

Practical implications

The New Economy, whose driving force is new information and communication technologies (ICTs), requires new accounting practice which directs the measuring system to a pattern which connects the value concept and the action that will generate future profit.

Originality/value

The paper is a plea for proactive company actions aimed at strengthening control mechanisms and internal controls. The future will bring a growing demand for forensic accounting services.
Corporate social responsibility: an attitude of Ethiopian corporates
Authors: Mouly Potluri Rajasekhara , Temesgen Zelalem
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to find an attitude of Ethiopian corporate sector towards corporate social responsibility (CSR). In addition this research analyzed the opinion of employees, customers' as well the general public about the Ethiopian corporate sector's socially responsible actions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviewed the relevant literature of CSR. Through structured questionnaires and in‐depth interviews with 50 Ethiopian companies, this study analyzed CSR towards different interest groups, e.g. owners or shareholders, employees, customers, creditors and suppliers, general public or community at large and government. To cross validate, the researcher also conducted a survey with another three questionnaires to obtain the views of 100 employees, 200 customers and another 200 general public. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel software packages.

Findings

Ethiopian companies expressed 100 percent positive attitude in implementing CSR towards customers, creditors and suppliers, general public and government. However, only 40 percent of companies' were positive on periodical disclosure of information to its shareholders, 80 percent believed in fair wages and security of employment, and 10 percent of companies were negative on meaningful freedom, job satisfaction and humane treatment. Related to the cross validate section, overall 69 percent employees were not happy with companies' policies, 71 percent customers thought they were manipulated and another 75 percent general public were not pleased with CSR from the Ethiopian corporate sector.

Originality/value

This research paper serves as a basis for Ethiopian managers to understand the key interest groups and their expectations from the corporate sector and also to be acquainted with the opinions of employees, customers, and general public to assess the social performance of their organizations.
Creating socially responsible systems for holistic development
Authors: Bansal Ipshita , Srivastava Jaya
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to highlight the importance of Gandhi's philosophy for creating socially responsible systems for holistic development.

Design/methodology/approach

It is a qualitative analysis of Gandhi's writings and interpretation of his ideas for the creation of socially responsible systems which will result in holistic development.

Findings

The analysis of Gandhian philosophy brings about a realization that focusing on unidimensional development is detrimental to society. There is a need to integrate various elements of human civilization for the overall happiness of mankind. Gandhi identified the inter‐linkages between various aspects of human life and insisted on creating harmony between them. The authors find that he was against compartmentalization of self and society. Hence, the paper talks about holistic management and the role that organization, social systems and individuals can play in its achievement. His philosophy provides a backdrop against which socially responsible systems can be created.

Originality/value

Though Gandhi's contribution in politics has been widely acknowledged, there is very little work on integration of his philosophy to all walks of life. The paper is original in the sense that instead of dividing his philosophy into narrow segments, it tries to establish the inter‐linkage between the various dimensions of human life.
Organization types and corporate social responsibility reporting in Finnish forest industry
Authors: Tuominen Pasi , Uski Terhi , Jussila Iiro , Kotonen Ulla
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to literature on corporate social responsibility by comparing CSR reporting between co‐operative organizations and listed companies. The authors aim to illustrate whether the different values and principles of co‐operatives and public limited companies result in differences in CSR reporting between these organization types.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the authors introduce the concept of CSR reporting. Second, they extend their framework with some previous literature on co‐operation. Using qualitative methodology, they compare values and objectives as well as communication and reporting of the co‐operative to those of the listed companies. The analyses and the synthesis of CSR reporting and co‐operation literatures provides academics and practitioners with ideas on how to move towards a model of co‐operative CSR reporting.

Findings

Values and principles of co‐operation do not significantly guide the CSR reporting of our case co‐operative. Instead, the issues emphasized in CSR reporting of our case co‐operative and the two investor‐owned companies are mostly related to common concern and the latest course of events throughout the world and the current issues in general. The study also indicates that the case co‐operative (Metsäliitto) falls behind in its CSR reporting to those of the listed companies (Stora Enso and UPM‐Kymmene).

Research limitations/implications

While the study helps to understand the role of organization type in CSR reporting, as such the findings are limited to the context of the study.

Practical implications

The paper provides a good point of departure for students and practitioners interested in CSR reporting and co‐operatives.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, so far the role of organization type (and the related differences in business objectives, values etc.) in CSR reporting has not received much of scholarly attention.
Is socially responsible behavior good business? An investigation of tomorrow's business leaders
Authors: Rodriguez Cano Cynthia , Sams Doreen , Schwartz Joe
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to seek to answer the question as to why socially responsible behavior is good business behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

A two (presence/absence of warning label) by two (potentially hazardous/not hazardous product) experimental design tested four hypothesized relationships.

Findings

It was found that the more favorable attitudes formed when warning labels are present support the notion that consumers recognize and value the stewardship principle. The findings are consistent with the emerging trend toward the triple bottom line philosophy. The difference between 2002 and 2006 for condition 4 (i.e. potentially hazardous with warning label) suggest that market activities (i.e. increase awareness of hazardous products) results in a dilution effect in which weaker inferences are formed from non‐diagnostic information. Research limitations/implications – Clearly, the use of only USA samples provides a limitation in that we cannot address how these issues might vary across nations. Furthermore, moderating variables that might explain some of the counterintuitive findings were not considered in this study. As with all scientific research, bias (e.g. replying with an inaccurate but socially acceptable answer) should be considered when interpreting the findings of this study.

Practical implications

The current research makes two major managerial contributions: it supports the triple bottom line framework which suggests that the value of an organization should integrate economic, environmental, and social activities; and confirms the importance of voluntary labeling as a tool for capturing a competitive advantage.

Originality/value

This study addresses the gap in the literature as to the relationship between voluntary labeling, attitudes, and intentions and provides empirical evidence of the causal relationship.
Voluntary disclosure in Malaysian corporate annual reports: views of stakeholders
Authors: Mohd Ghazali Nazli A.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify “qualitative” factors influencing voluntary information disclosure in annual reports.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi‐structured interviews were held with twenty‐seven market participants in Malaysia to elicit opinions on issues related to voluntary information disclosure.

Findings

Analysis of interview responses revealed that factors influencing voluntary disclosure in annual reports include the quality of management, gaining analyst trust and promoting company shares, good news versus bad news, the existence of other channel of communication, governance structure and market forces.

Research limitations/implications

Some of the “qualitative” factors identified do not appear to be totally independent from one another. Further work using factor analysis can be an avenue for future research on accounting disclosure.

Practical implications

The results also suggest that some companies may be willing to share information to selected interested parties such as analysts during private meetings rather than in a public document such as the annual report. Thus disclosure in a corporate annual report should not be taken as a conclusive measure of a company's extent of voluntary reporting.

Originality/value

This paper is one of few studies which adopts an interview approach to identify “qualitative” factors influencing voluntary information disclosure in annual reports.
The US financial services sector and illegal aliens: financial institutions legally meeting consumer demands – or social responsibility challenged business practices?
Authors: Hemphill Thomas A.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss and evaluate the existing public and business policies which regulate and influence the operating procedures of USA, financial institutions qualifying prospective customers for their financial products and services. The specific focus of the paper is on the controversial issue of whether many of these financial institutions are recognizing forms of identification, such as the individual taxpayer identification number and foreign government‐issued documents, which are either inadequate for this purpose or inadequately secured as a legitimate form of identification.

Design/methodology/approach

By reviewing key USA laws and regulations pertaining to the legal qualification of prospective customers, the author is able to evaluate (based on available evidence) the business practices engaged in by certain members of the financial services sector.

Findings

The use of less secured forms of legal identification are allowing illegal aliens to gain access to a variety of financial products and services, thereby providing an environment conducive to encouraging further illegal entry and supporting residence of this population in the USA.

Originality/value

The paper offers an in‐depth analysis of USA laws and regulations which appear to offer contradictory guidance to financial service companies who are required to legally identify prospective customers of their products and services. Furthermore, while recommending new legislation to harmonize a public policy approach among federal agencies, i.e. to require secure forms of legal identification which are readily available to USA citizens and legal alien residents, the paper also explores how financial institutions are capable of enhancing their corporate citizenship profile and reputation, especially to stakeholder groups concerned with enforcement of immigration laws, by exercising enhanced voluntary business operating policies.
Understandable and functional organizational values: true or false?
Authors: Mattila Merita
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that in many earlier value studies, the emphasis has been in value management: this paper contributes to the value discussion through personnel perceptions in organizations (in different hierarchical levels). The aim is to study value processing more closely at company level and to find out what the phenomenon in practice means to the personnel: how they understand it. There is often said to be a contradiction between official and perceived values among personnel: these are studied further in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative, multiple case study, interviews analyzed by content analysis.

Findings

This paper demonstrates value perceptions among personnel in three case companies and emphasizes the importance of mutual understanding of values in every day life. Personnel perceptions of organizational values are presented; especially the understanding of values as a management tool is studied further: values have to be understood through the own work before they can be really functional.

Research limitations/implications

The quotations are interpreted through content analysis, so maybe another (e.g. discourse analysis) would have given deeper insight. Three different case companies are maybe too little to make any general assumptions.

Practical implications

The need to reach mutual understanding about values among the whole personnel (not just the management) is extremely important in successful value processing. Too often these “soft” issues are forgotten and values are just declared by the management: no real understanding about organizational values exist. The practical implications are presented when suggestions for better values processing are given.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates personnel perceptions in understanding organizational values. It is extremely important to clarify how people understand organizational values, before proceeding to the implementation process. This is too often forgotten in values studies.
Beyond philanthropy: corporate social responsibility in the Nigerian insurance industry
Authors: Obalola Musa
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that given the dearth of literature on how firms in the African continent have embraced and practiced corporate social responsibility (CSR), this study contributes to the CSR literature by examining managers' perceptions about CSR, structural changes to enhance, its implementation, and the pattern of current CSR actions in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used quantitative approach and collected primary data through a three‐part structured questionnaire, from insurance firms operating in Nigeria. The 67 responses received were analysed descriptively and the results presented.

Findings

The overall results indicate a strong support for social responsibility and the translation of this support into action through involvement in some community based projects. Evidence from the study also suggests that social responsibility is still largely perceived as a philanthropic gesture.

Research limitations/implications

The study only covers insurance firms operating in Lagos state. Furthermore, only one response represents the view of a firm, hence the need to exercise caution in generalizing the results.

Practical implications

Since the results suggest the readiness of the Nigerian insurance firms to go beyond the traditional view of profit and shareholders' wealth maximization, there must be a consistency between this posture and their actions.

Originality/value

The study provides an insight into perceptions about corporate social responsibility in the insurance industry, in a developing country and in Africa, which to the best knowledge of the author, have not been done before.
Exploring multicultural discourse in information technology documents
Authors: Piazza Carolyn L. , Wallat Cynthia
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The primary purpose of this paper is to illustrate strategies college students learn to practice in their analysis of multicultural documents located through use of the internet.

Design/methodology/approach

Students explored a variety of meanings for diversity within and across texts readily available in public databases. Using linguistic devices (forms and functions of discourse) as language resources, and following a propositional analytic scheme, students compiled samples of text from online documents.

Findings

Evaluation of these compilations at the end of the course demonstrated that students can use conceptualizations of language forms and functions to identify representations of multicultural, and can identify attributions of the phenomenon of diversity using conceptualizations of science as propositional structures.

Originality/value

The value of this conceptual paper has been articulated: In what ways can projects that attempt to connect multicultural education and technology facilitate college students' critical engagement with diversity topics and issues?
Discrimination in legal practice
Authors: Cavanagh Jillian , Fisher Ron
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This research aims to extend the traditional cultural divide between male and female lawyers by examining contradictory workplace policies that discriminate against the work and education of female auxiliary workers within general legal practice in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses membership categorisation devices, an ethnomethodological approach, to analyse two policy statements which are in common use in Australian legal practice.

Findings

The research finds that the statements, which are a merge of policy and procedures, are fundamentally contradictory. Whilst one prohibits and represses any discrimination against women, the other does not provide educational opportunities for employees, predominantly women, at the auxiliary level of employment. As a result female auxiliary workers are marginalised and their career prospects are diminished.

Practical implications

Policies guiding work and education in Australian legal practice reinforce a culture of gender‐based discrimination. It is argued that espoused policies need to reflect policies in action by providing career opportunities for women auxiliary workers.

Originality/value

The research challenges the notion that espousing a policy of equal opportunity leads to women receiving the same educational opportunities as men in Australian legal practice. The research shows the importance of understanding how job category has cultural and gendered meanings.
Culture‐aware collaborative learning
Authors: Economides Anastasios A.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

In a collaborative learning environment there will be many learners with diverse cultures. These learners should be supported to communicate and collaborate among themselves. The variety of the communication and collaboration tools and modes available to each learner would depend on his/her personal cultural background. The purpose of this paper is to suggest the adaptation of the collaborative learning environment to the learner's cultural profile. So, first it aims to present learner's models with respect to his/her cultural characteristics. It also aims to present the various communication and collaboration tools and modes that would be available to the learners. Then, each learner has at his/her disposal the appropriate communication and collaboration tools and modes according to his/her cultural characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

The cultural models of Trompenaars and Hampden‐Turner, as well Hofsted are modified relaxing the dualism of their dimensions. The modified models are used in a collaborative learning environment. The various attributes and types of communication and collaboration among learners and teachers in a collaborative learning environment are also identified.

Findings

This paper presents learner's cultural models across several cultural dimensions. Each cultural dimension weights differently. Also, a learner may not belong strictly to a cultural extreme of a dimension, but he/she may have characteristics from both cultural extremes of each dimension. Based on a learner's cultural profile, different communication and collaboration tools would be available to the learner.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the learner's profile, either the adaptation engine, or the teacher, or the learner him/herself may select the appropriate communication and collaboration tools and modes for the particular learner. Designers, developers and evaluators of collaborative learning systems may benefit from these learners' cultural models and the communication and collaboration attributes. For example, they may create collaborative learning systems with flexible communication and collaboration attributes that provide to each learner personalized communication and collaboration tools according to his cultural profile.

Practical implications

This paper proposes the adaptation of the collaborative learning environment to the cultural characteristics of the learner. Future research may assign the specific communication and collaboration tools to each particular learner's cultural profile.

Originality/value

This paper proposes the adaptation of the communication and collaboration tools and modes that are used by a learner in a collaborative learning environment to the learner's cultural characteristics. First, the paper presents new cultural models of a learner. Then, it presents the communication and collaboration attributes and types that would be used by the learners in a collaborative learning environment. A learner would have at disposal the appropriate personalized communication and collaboration tools.
Complaints and perceptions of failure recovery in buffet restaurants
Authors: Lu Hsu Jane , Wei‐Ting Chiu Vikki
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Complaint handling has the great influence on customer retention and provides a chance for businesses to improve service quality. This study intended to reveal the complaint actions of adolescent customers and perceptions of failure recovery in buffet restaurants with a linkage of family communication patterns.

Design/methodology/approach

A consumer survey was administered in the metropolitan area of Taipei. Quota sampling procedure was applied following the age and gender distribution of the population between the ages of 13 and 19. Consent from parents was obtained prior to the survey.

Findings

Based on the results of the study, adolescent customers with high concept‐ and high socio‐orientation were prone to complain for dissatisfaction. Private actions were preferred by adolescent customers to express dissatisfaction, followed by using the internet or through actions of parents. For service recovery, adolescents preferred to have discounts, followed by free desserts. The results indicated that adolescents were more straightforward and they wanted to have compensations immediately. Furthermore, service recovery satisfaction showed a positive relationship with repeat purchases. Adolescent customers who were satisfied with service or food compensations would be likely to have repeat purchases. Nevertheless, adolescents who were unsatisfied with the service or food recovery did not totally cease purchasing.

Practical implications

Buffet managers should give inducements to encourage adolescents to complain spontaneously. Buffet managers may offer discounts for the current consumption rather than coupons for next patronage. Adolescent customers with concept‐ and socio‐orientation will provide useful information for buffet managers to improve their service quality.

Originality/value

This study provides new insights into the area that has not been studied exclusively, complaint behavior of adolescent customers in buffet restaurants.
Cultural distance and subsidiary roles in knowledge transfer in MNCs in China
Authors: Qin Cindy , Ramburuth Prem , Wang Yue
Published: October 2008

Purpose

A major challenge faced by MNCs is how to manage knowledge transfer between headquarters and subsidiaries located in dissimilar cultural contexts. While the impact of culture on knowledge transfer has been widely acknowledged, an important gap in the literature is how cultural distance (external variable) and subsidiary roles (internal variable) interact in impacting on knowledge flows in MNCs. The purpose of this paper is to present an integrative model to advance understanding of the interaction between cultural distance and subsidiary roles in the knowledge transfer process within MNCs.

Design/methodology/approach

An environment‐strategy‐performance framework is developed based on a review of extant literature. A case study is used to substantiate the framework. It was conducted in an MNC in China and involved in‐depth interviews with expatriate and local managers.

Findings

Knowledge transfer in MNCs is influenced by external context (cultural distance) and internal mechanisms (subsidiary roles). The direction and magnitude of knowledge flows is related to the strategic roles of the subsidiary and is influenced by cultural distance. Negative impacts are evident where cultural distance is large, with positive impacts where cultural synergies occur. Changes in Chinese cultural values impacting on knowledge transfer are also evident.

Originality/value

The conceptual model combines internal resource and external environmental perspectives. It links literature on cross‐cultural management, subsidiary roles and MNC knowledge transfer. Furthermore, it explores linkages between culture and knowledge transfer, cultural distance and subsidiary roles, knowledge transfer and subsidiary roles. The model is operationalised in a China‐based case study.
Guanxi, knowledge and online intermediaries in China
Authors: Davison Robert M. , Xiaojuan Ou Carol
Published: October 2008

Purpose

In China, online intermediaries have become increasingly influential in the last few years, notably in the business‐to‐business (B2B) domain. However, little research has considered the impact of these intermediaries on either the tacit knowledge or the guanxi that are so central to Chinese business processes. In this paper, authors investigate this impact, as well as the consequent shifts that are taking place on B2B platforms, focusing on the case of Alibaba, China's largest online business intermediary.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory case‐study approach is employed in this paper. The authors have comprehensive investigated Alibaba's trading platforms and associated technologies. They have also engaged 15 Alibaba users (buyers and sellers) from seven different countries/territories in semi‐structured interviews and use the interview data to supplement the own findings.

Findings

Alibaba is effectively functioning as a substitute for traditional, offline social networks. In the process, it is leveraging and disseminating explicit knowledge critical to all aspects of the purchasing/procurement process, as well as changing the role of guanxi throughout the business purchasing/procurement process. Alibaba is thus engineering radical changes in the way business can be conducted in China.

Research limitations/implications

Experienced researchers of Chinese management have traditionally been wary of ignoring cultural norms, which, in this case, would highlight the importance of both guanxi and tacit knowledge. The shift from tacit to explicit knowledge representation, coupled with a modified role for guanxi, is thus rather unexpected and should lead researchers to query previous assumptions, as well as test new ones, specifically in the area of online B2B transactions, but potentially in other domains where online communications are involved.

Practical implications

Chinese business people are all too aware of the importance of tacit knowledge and guanxi. The potential for this tacit knowledge to be represented explicitly online, coupled with the shifting role that guanxi may play, should be of great interest to those who wish to explore the online marketspace. It may be particularly attractive to newcomers (notably non‐Chinese) to the Chinese market since their own tacit knowledge and guanxi may be less well developed and they may be in a better position to leverage the online platforms.

Originality/value

There is little prior work on Chinese B2B e‐commerce from a guanxi‐based or knowledge management (KM) perspective that builds on the experiences of online buyers and sellers. They chart this area and seek to integrate the two disparate streams of research on guanxi and KM in the context of B2B e‐commerce.
Managing dynamics of inter‐partner cooperation of IJVs in China
Authors: Liang Fan
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the dynamics of IJV inter‐partner cooperation and examines the critical determinants of maintaining ongoing cooperative intern‐partner relationship between IJV partners.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a dataset collected through a survey of IJVs in China. Non‐parametric statistics were used in the analyses to test a series of hypotheses.

Findings

The research finds that inter‐partner cooperation is a comprehensive process and impacted by a series of factors. Appropriate selection of local Chinese partners is critical to a cooperative relationship between IJV partners. In particular, intrinsic capabilities of local partners were found more important than their external advantageous conditions. The technology transfer coupled by the organisational learning of foreign partners also significantly facilitates a cooperative inter‐partner relationship of IJVs.

Originality/value

IJV inter‐partner cooperation is examined from a comprehensive perspective to reveal the dynamics of the cooperation. Critical determinants of inter‐partner cooperation are identified, enhancing our understanding of managing inter‐partner cooperation of IJVs in China.
The Art of War : system of systems engineering perspectives
Authors: Teck Foo Check
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the ancient, 2,500 years old The Art of War by Sun Tzu from a system of systems engineering perspectives. The aim is to show that even for an emerging discipline in engineering the underlying concepts may be much more deeply rooted.

Design/methodology/approach

The author approaches the subject by an in‐depth analysis of recent conceptualizations of system of systems engineering. The author relates by analysis these concepts back to business strategy. He illustrates from his own empirical work how corporate strategy is but an equivalent to “system” of systems. From original writings of Sun Tzu in The Art of War he then develops a generic model of system of systems.

Findings

Ideas in system of systems engineering, an emerging multi‐discipline are far more deeply rooted in history, at least 2,500 years or even more. Using the cockpit of as an illustrative metaphor, the author argues for a research agenda to design an The Art of War boardroom information system.

Practical implications

In this paper, the author argues why in the design of information system, it is useful to take a system of systems perspective. He draws upon the example of cockpit design of aircraft as inspirational design in modeling a futuristic The Art of War boardroom.

Originality/value

In this paper, the author illustrates how cross disciplinary researches between engineering, business and history may be so enriching. That in designing information systems for an The Art of War boardroom it is useful to use metaphorical equivalences. In this case, it is from the informational design of cockpits in fighter aircraft.