bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting turnover intentions
Authors: Perryer Chris , Jordan Catherine , Firns Ian , Travaglione Antonio
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between organizational commitment, perceived organizational support (POS) and turnover intentions. The objective is to identify practical as well as theoretical implications of the relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

This research was undertaken via a questionnaire in a large Australian public sector organization.

Findings

The interaction between POS and organizational commitment was a significant predictor of turnover intention. Employees with low levels of commitment, but high levels of support from the organization, are less likely to leave the organization.

Research limitations/implications

This is a cross‐sectional study, using self‐reports for independent and dependent variables.

Practical implications

As POS was found to influence turnover, this provides an avenue of approach for managers struggling to retain valuable employees whose commitment alone may not be enough to prevent them from leaving.

Originality/value

The paper examines the impact of POS, a neglected variable in the study of turnover intention, and in particular in its interactive effect between commitment and turnover.
The performance impact of business process standardization: HR case study insights
Authors: Muenstermann Bjoern , von Stetten Alexander , Laumer Sven , Eckhardt Andreas
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to enhance the understanding of business process standardization and how it contributes to generating business value. This research is a step towards a solid theoretical framework around business process standardization.

Design/methodology/approach

A single case study conducted in a global operating company is completed. Standardization of a certain business process (in this case the recruiting process) is shown to contribute to business value.

Findings

By standardizing its recruiting process, the company was able to reduce the “time‐to‐hire” from 92 to 69 days and the overall costs of the recruiting process by about 30 percent. The quality of the applicant data has clearly improved. Clarity and transparency of the recruiting process could be increased, while the administrative expense within the human resources (HR) departments in the distinct business locations could be reduced significantly.

Research limitations/implications

As with every case study, the generalizability of these findings is limited because the results are based on a single case only and because the focus has been solely on one process – the recruiting process – and did not include other business processes.

Practical implications

The case study can be useful for any company that intends to standardize its recruiting process. Clear indications of how to achieve business value out of process standardization are given.

Originality/value

The paper provides a clear definition of what business process standardization is and how it can lead to increased business value. Clear indications of how to achieve increased business value by business process standardization are provided for practitioners.
The role of robotics in non‐destructive testing
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to provide a review of the uses of robots in non‐destructive testing (NDT).

Design/methodology/approach

Following a brief introduction, this paper considers the uses of robotic NDT, with an emphasis on applications in certain key industries. While some development activities are considered, the emphasis is on existing systems rather than research and reference is made to a selection of commercial products.

Findings

It is shown that robotic NDT finds limited uses in most of the industries using conventional NDT methodologies. These include oil and gas, offshore and shipping, petrochemicals, aerospace and power generation. In some instances, financial benefits arise from their use while in other cases the use reflects access difficulties or the hazards associated with testing.

Research limitations/implications

Applications in the nuclear power industry is not considered but will be covered in a subsequent article. Remotely operated vehicles, which are not considered to be true robots, are also excluded.

Originality/value

This paper provides details of NDT robots and their uses in a selection of key industries.
The simultaneous algorithm and the best interpolation function for trajectory planning
Authors: Rubio Francisco , Valero Francisco , Lluís Sunyer Joseph , Garrido Antonio
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve the trajectory planning problem of industrial robots in a complex environment.

Design/methodology/approach

A simultaneous algorithm was presented in which the trajectory was generated gradually as the robot moves. It takes into account the presence of obstacles (to avoid collisions) and differential constraints related to the dynamics of the robotic system. The method poses an optimization problem that aims at minimizing the time to perform the trajectory when several interpolation functions are used.

Findings

A new approach to solving the trajectory planning problem in which the behaviour of four operational parameters (execution time, computational time, distance travelled and number of configurations) have been analyzed when changing the interpolation functions, therefore enabling the user to choose the most efficient algorithm depending on which parameter the user is most interested in. From the examples solved the interpolation function that yields the best results has been found.

Research limitations/implications

This new technique is very time consuming due to the great number of mathematical calculations that have to be made. However, it yields a solution.

Practical implications

The algorithm is able to obtain the solution to the trajectory planning problem for any industrial robot. Also, even mobile obstacles in the workspace could be incorporated at the same time as the robot is moving and creating the path and the time history of motion.

Originality/value

It gives a new tool for solving the trajectory planning problem and describes the best interpolation function.
Robotic cleaning system for glass facade of high‐rise airport control tower
Authors: Wang Wei , Tang Boyan , Zhang Houxiang , Zong Guanghua
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a robotic cleaning system for applying on the glass facade of the control tower at the Guangzhou Airport, in Guangzhou, China.

Design/methodology/approach

Four similar robotic cleaning systems are designed for a reversed cone‐shape glass facade at the top of the control tower. One system is composed of a robot moving along and cleaning the facade, and an automatic conveyer positioning, securing, supplying energy and water to, and recycling the dirty water from the robot. An on‐board controller enables the system to work in a remote control mode or a fully automated mode under the supervision of an operator.

Findings

This paper presents how to integrate the attaching, moving, cleaning and securing functions into one robotic system for the high rise glass facade, and focuses on the kinematics, the control and sensor system and the cleaning navigation. In particular, the real time control method of the vacuum in the cup is discussed to ensure high cleaning quality and security.

Research limitations/implications

Since the cleaning system proposed in this paper is a custom‐built one, the generalization of its design idea should be tested in other applications.

Practical implications

The paper includes the implications for the development of automatic cleaning system for the high‐rise buildings with reversed inclining glass façade.

Originality/value

The robotic cleaning system described in this paper is the first fully automated cleaning machine for the reversed inclining glass facade in China. It works effectively and reliably on the control tower of the Guangzhou airport.
Paris and fashion: reflections on the role of the Parisian fashion industry in the cultural economy
Authors: Montagné Villette Solange , Hardill Irene
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Towards the end of the nineteenth century Paris was the global capital of art and fashion. Today it remains a key hub in the global cultural economy. Male and female artists/designers develop new products and production techniques and marketing techniques are used to gain an international reputation. The top designers are embedded in a supportive milieu of cooperative competition, where ideas are exchanged and resources accessed. The purpose of this paper is to draw on archival documents to examine the privileged role cities have played as centres of cultural and economic activity, with specific reference to Paris and haute couture.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a case study approach, accessing data from a number of sources including secondary sources and grey literature, the analysis of archival material, and in‐depth interviews with key stakeholders in examining the role of Parisian haute couture.

Findings

Parisian haute couture developed using the system pioneered in the nineteenth century by the Englishman Charles Worth. Their ideas inspired fashion trends globally, and this persisted for over a century. The salons tended to be owned at least partially by the artist/designer. The most successful designers based their reputations on a specific and well defined fashion innovation. A further strategy adopted by couturiers was the use of subsidiary lines of products to offset uncertainties in the market for fashionable clothing, the principal one being perfume.

Originality/value

The paper links the work of French and Anglo‐American writers on the cultural economy, and highlights, using case studies, the pivotal role Paris has played in shaping global fashion trends since the nineteenth century.
Parental leave: from perception to first‐hand experience
Authors: Tremblay Diane‐Gabrielle , Genin Emilie
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Paid parental leave for both mothers and fathers has fed countless debates. Four years after the implementation of a new parental leave policy in Quebec, this paper aims to assess how parental leave is perceived in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from employee surveys carried out in a municipal police service, the paper employs analysis of variance techniques to compare the perception of parental leave within two groups of respondents: those who had gone on parental leave and those who had not.

Findings

The findings highlight significant differences between the perceptions of parental leave entertained by the respondents who have taken it up and those who have not yet experienced parental leave.

Social implications

Analysing these differences has produced extremely interesting findings: adopting a public policy is not sufficient; organisations need to make employees feel supported in taking parental leave if they really want the policy to achieve the targeted results.

Originality/value

Paid parental leave is relatively new in Europe and almost non‐existent in North America and few studies have been carried out to measure their perception in the workplace. This research shows how important it is to follow the use of the policy to make sure that it does not have negative impacts for those who use it.
Quality of life: a reappraisal
Authors: Sousa Gomes Maria Cristina , Luís Rocha Pinto Maria , Gomes dos Santos Gabriela
Published: August 2010

Purpose

With this reappraisal, the purpose of this paper is to present a reflexion on and discussion of the concept of quality of life (QL) with the intention of delimiting its meaning and application within the scope of the research project entitled “Costs and benefits of urban dispersion on a local scale”.

Design/methodology/approach

The concept of QL contains a significant degree of complexity and multidimensional variables, in addition to the dynamic nature inherent in all social phenomena. The application of this concept at a local level and within the context of the Portuguese socio‐territorial reality requires rethinking the concept through the different authors and approaches, in order to delineate the research process, and guarantee its operationalisation, selecting the social indicators than can serve this purpose, with the intent of gaining a clearer understanding of QL as perceived and evaluated by the people and groups living in various dispersed urban areas.

Findings

From the readings of literature in the field, one can understand the importance of choosing the relevant domains when analysing and measuring QL. As with the choice of indicators, in order to be able to measure the QL, simultaneously, at a local level, the choice of indicators and the delimitation of units of analysis are also fundamental in order to be able to obtain the comparison and real measure of quality of life and not the contingencies of specific contextual characteristics.

Originality/value

The study aims to open a new research perspective in the field of social sciences, more specifically in the areas related to QL and urban dispersion.
Hyper‐local: glocalised rural news
Authors: Baines David
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to interrogate the potential for hyper‐local news websites to support and sustain peripheral rural communities by extending and developing the public sphere(s) in which they engage locally and globally.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretical understandings of communicative spaces, monitorial citizenship and “liquid life” and journalism developed by Jurgen Habermas, Michael Schudson, Zygmunt Bauman and Mark Deuze inform this pilot study of a hyper‐local project undertaken by a UK media corporation. Data sets comprising documentation; news‐website content; interviews with journalists; “knowledge café” exploration of audience interactions and questionnaires are analysed to identify themes and sub‐themes in the production and use of media content.

Findings

The hyper‐local project was found to have been put in place without engaging effective involvement of the community concerned and the initial conceptualisation, predicated on assumptions of an inward focus for the community, did not recognise the importance of communicative networks which both supported sustainability within the group and situated that community in wider social, cultural, economic and media dimensions. As such the project tended to reinforce, or at least, not mitigate, the community's geographical isolation.

Research limitations/implications

This is a small‐scale pilot project exploring new forms of media/community engagement and, while the results can be regarded as indicative, further research is needed to investigate hyper‐local developments in a wider contextual field.

Originality/value

The paper addresses an important but little‐researched emergent issue: “hyper‐local”. It explores in detail some of the complexities that are beginning to be theorised in broad terms and extends understandings of local‐level practices and processes.
Factors influencing the relationship between product modularity and supply chain integration
Authors: Lau Antonio K.W. , Yam Richard C.M. , Tang Esther P.Y. , Sun H.Y.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between product modularity (PM) and supply chain integration (SCI), and to identify factors influencing this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach involving in‐depth interviews on three modular and two non‐modular design projects in the Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta region was conducted. Within and cross‐case analyses were adopted.

Findings

Results support the current view that modular design is related to a loosely coordinated supply chain, whereas integrated design is associated with a tightly coordinated supply chain. However, this relationship is affected and explained by four contingency factors: new module/component development, technological knowledge leakage and creation, project team size and supply chain efficiency.

Research limitations/implications

The paper used a case study approach so the generalizability of the study is limited. This approach, however, enabled us to examine explicitly the relationship between PM and SCI, where empirical research was lacking. The rich content of each case suggested how and why modular design affects supply chain management.

Originality/value

The findings of this paper increase the understanding of the dynamics of modular product design and supply chain management. The paper also explores four contingency factors affecting the relationship.
Ramifications of development projects deemed “state significant”
Authors: Owen Garner Gary
Published: August 2010

Purpose

In conducting a literature review of “state significance” and its meaning in the Australian context, this paper examines the relevant legislative framework under which it operates, with a focus on Queensland. In the process a number of examples in relation to large infrastructure projects are provided. The purpose of the paper is to identify any gaps or issues in relation to state significant projects – particularly that related to definitional matters – and to investigate the consequences of any discretion this gap provides to government, including any impact on their decision‐making.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines the impact of relevant legislative instruments. The Australian state of Queensland is used as a case study example, highlighting – in the case of a declared “significant project” – streamlined environmental impact assessment processes that potentially circumvent certain legislative planning provisions. By way of contrast, smaller, extractive resource projects considered to be of State or regional significance may be designated a “Key Resource Area”, however they remain subject to normal assessment processes under the Integrated Development Assessment System, vegetation management codes, and other regulations.

Findings

This paper argues for a streamlining of the assessment process in order to minimise constraints acting on state development, in concert with a tightening and clarification of “state significance” definitions – without abrogation of state to federal jurisdiction. The existence of a strategic threat to the delivery of an already over‐stretched infrastructure program is also questioned.

Originality/value

The various meanings of “state significance”, especially in Queensland, and the ramifications for development projects in that state are explored. Various challenges are thus presented to public policy makers.
Evaluation of the urban renewal projects in social dimensions
Authors: Lee Grace K.L. , Chan Edwin H.W.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The paper is a follow‐up to previous studies conducted by the authors. It aims to develop a set of valid and reliable performance indicators for evaluating the social wellbeing of the urban renewal projects carried out in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

Before identification of the appropriate indicators, the paper briefly introduces the most critical socially sustainable factors that should be considered when planning an urban renewal project. Afterwards, it highlights the criteria for the selection of indicators, and develops appropriate indicators and a corresponding point scoring system for six major social design criteria through a comprehensive literature review and with the help of a number of experts from industry and academia.

Findings

By developing relevant indicators, the concerned parties can easily identify whether a renewal project meets pre‐determined planning initiatives and social objectives. Once deficiencies are noted, relevant parties can take immediate action to rectify and refine the design accordingly. It is expected that the social wellbeing of Hong Kong citizens can be assured upon completion of a renewal project – when it has been evaluated against the benchmarks in advance.

Originality/value

By conducting a comprehensive literature review and with the help of a number of experts from the industry and the academia, the paper proposes a set of valid, reliable and representative performance indicators and corresponding point scoring system for assessing the social sustainability of the urban renewal projects.
The UK Research Reserve (UKRR): machinations, mayhem and magic
Authors: Boyle Frances , Brown Chris
Published: August 2010

Purpose

UKRR is an innovative programme that ensures that copies of print journals remain available to the research community indefinitely. At the same time the aim is to free up substantial and valuable space in academic libraries, resulting in significant cost savings. This paper aims to provide an update on this groundbreaking initiative – one year into Phase 2. It seeks to outline the processes and workflows which underpin UKRR and to report early findings.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive account of the UKRR process and methodology is provided, indicating how they support the programme's overarching principles.

Findings

It is still early days in Phase 2 of UKRR, but already interesting data are being gathered. These will inform further analyses.

Originality/value

UKRR is a high profile national programme that is attracting a lot of interest both nationally and internationally. The paper documents a practical example of a shared services initiative in the UK.
Document delivery through domestic and international collaborations: the KISTI practice
Authors: Yoo Suhyeon
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to introduce the KISTI document delivery service, to describe its collaboration with national and international institutions, and to explore the way KISTI develops and extends international cooperation.

Design/methodology/approach

The article describes the work of KISTI and draws on the transaction data of documents delivered by KISTI.

Findings

Resource sharing through national and international cooperation is becoming of increasing importance in Korea. KISTI operates its document delivery service at three levels: inNIDS, netNIDS, and globalNIDS. KISTI is the focal point in Korea for the delivery of domestic knowledge to other countries.

Originality/value

One of the few articles to deal in detail with the services provided by KISTI – the Korean global document delivery service.
Leader empathy, ethical leadership, and relations‐oriented behaviors as antecedents of leader‐member exchange quality
Authors: Mahsud Rubina , Yukl Gary , Prussia Greg
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Leader empathy, ethical values, and relations‐oriented behavior all appear to be relevant for effective leadership, but nobody has examined how all three variables are jointly related to leader‐member exchange quality (LMX). The purpose of this study is to examine these relationships and test a proposed model describing them.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected with a questionnaire from subordinates of leaders in several organizations, and SEM path analysis was used to test alternative models.

Findings

The results indicated that a leader's relations‐oriented behavior fully mediated the relationship between leader empathy on LMX and partially mediated the relationship between ethical leadership and LMX. Recommendations for future research to verify and extend the results were provided.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study to simultaneously examine the complex relationships among these four different aspects of leadership (i.e. a skill, values, behaviors, and exchange relationship). The authors' measure of ethical leadership minimizes confounding with other constructs, which is a problem in earlier studies. The practical implication is that leader empathy and ethical leadership should be included in leadership selection and development programs.
Comparing telework locations and traditional work arrangements
Authors: Morganson Valerie J. , Major Debra A. , Oborn Kurt L. , Verive Jennifer M. , Heelan Michelle P.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in work‐life balance (WLB) support, job satisfaction, and inclusion as a function of work location.

Design/methodology/approach

Web‐based survey data were provided by 578 employees working at one of four locations (main office, client location, satellite office, and home). Multiple regression analyses were used to identify differences in WLB support, job satisfaction, and inclusion across employees working at the four locations.

Findings

Results showed that main office and home‐based workers had similar high levels of WLB support and job satisfaction. Main office workers reported higher levels of WLB support than satellite and client‐based workers. Additionally, main office workers reported the highest levels of workplace inclusion.

Research limitations/ implications

Data were originally gathered for practical purposes by the organization. The research design does not allow for manipulation or random assignment, therefore extraneous variables may have impacted the observed relationships.

Practical implications

Allowing employees flexibility in choosing their work locations is related to positive outcomes. The authors suggest several practices for the effective implementation of alternative work arrangements.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first to examine the outcomes of telework across locations. It uses a large single organization and a quasi‐experimental design, enhancing the validity of the findings.
Emotional dissonance in call centre work
Authors: Wegge Jürgen , Van Dick Rolf , von Bernstorff Christiane
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate new hypotheses regarding potential correlates and underpinnings of emotional dissonance experienced in call centre work. It is argued that prior attempts to measure emotional dissonance are incomplete because such measures often do not specify which emotions are actually not shown (e.g. faked, suppressed, veiled) during work.

Design/methodology/approach

A field study with 161 call centre agents was conducted. Positive affectivity (PA), negative affectivity (NA) of agents and customer verbal aggression were conceptualized as correlates of emotional dissonance, whereas job satisfaction, health disorders and burnout were assessed as indicators of agents' work motivation and well‐being. To investigate the emotional underpinnings of emotional dissonance the Frankfurt Emotion Work Scales (FEWS) was used and, in addition, agents were asked to report frequency, intensity and “not showing” of 15 separate emotions.

Findings

The results show that emotional dissonance was associated with lower work motivation and well‐being. Moreover, NA and customer aggression correlated positively whereas PA correlated negatively with emotional dissonance. Emotional dissonance measured with the FEWS was significantly related to the frequency of longing, the intensity of anger and the not showing of boredom, affection and anger.

Originality/value

The findings support the construct validity of the FEWS. However, based on correlations with agents' self‐rated ability to perform on a high level and interactions between NA and customer aggression that emerged only when emotion‐specific dissonance measures were analyzed, this paper suggests combining emotion‐specific dissonance measures with the FEWS in future research.
Development of the time management environment (TiME) scale
Authors: Burt Christopher D.B. , Weststrate Alexandra , Brown Caroline , Champion Felicity
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an integrative model of time management, and in particular develop a scale to measure organizational variables which would facilitate and support time management practices. The research also examined whether the time management environment is related to turnover intentions and stress.

Design/methodology/approach

Three studies are reported. Study 1 sampled 262 employees from 20 organizations and these data were used for the initial factor analysis of the time management environment (TiME) scale. Study 2 sampled 205 employees from an aircraft maintenance organization, and these data were used to further refine the factor structure of the TiME scale, to conduct a CFA, examine the relationship between the TiME scale factors and turnover intentions, and to examine the test‐retest reliability of the TiME scale. Study 3 sampled 156 employees across eight organizations, and these data were used to examine the relationship between the TiME scale factors and stress.

Findings

The TiME scale has five factors, and each has acceptable internal consistency and test‐retest reliability. TiME scale factor scores were negatively correlated with both turnover intentions and stress.

Research limitations/implications

The research did not examine the convergent and discriminant validity of the TiME scale.

Practical implications

The TiME scale provides for the assessment of whether an organization's environment is facilitating and supporting its employees' attempts to engage in time management, and can also be used as a measure of transfer climate for time management training interventions.

Originality/value

The TiME scale addresses a gap in the time management literature. It has considerable applied value, and along with our integrative model should allow for the development of a more complex understanding of the time management process.
“Staying native”: coproduction in mental health services research
Authors: Gillard Steve , Turner Kati , Lovell Kathleen , Norton Kingsley , Clarke Tom , Addicott Rachael , McGivern Gerry , Ferlie Ewan
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a recent experiment in research coproduction in an evaluation of service planning at a London Mental Health NHS Trust. The paper aims to consider whether members of the research team who have themselves been users of mental health services are able to contribute to the research process as “experts by experience”, or if their experiential knowledge is “colonized” within the academic research team.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative, comparative case study approach was adopted, using structured observations and semi‐structured interviews. Researchers' reflective accounts and a reflective focus group were employed to explore the process of coproduction.

Findings

The paper concludes that, far from “colonising” expertise by experience, the experiment builds local capacity in research coproduction and usefully informs a service planning process that reflects the priorities and concerns of a range of stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

The paper describes a small, local experiment in research coproduction and so findings are limited in their scope. However, the study demonstrates an effective methodological approach to evaluating, empirically, the impact of coproduction on the health services research (HSR) process.

Practical implications

The paper demonstrates the potential for repeated exercises in coproduction to build capacity in collaborative approaches to both HSR and service planning.

Originality/value

The involvement of experts by experience is increasingly a policy requirement in the domains of both health service planning and HSR in the UK. There are very few empirical studies that evaluate the impact of that coproduction.
Changing chains
Authors: van Hoek Remko , Johnson Mark , Godsell Janet , Birtwistle Andy
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Many supply chain reconfiguration programs are launched each year. Despite a wealth of knowledge existing in the general management domain, there has been little work within the supply chain management domain on change. That which does exist deals with change to a technical – as opposed to non‐technical – system. This leaves out many of the social and behavioral aspects of change. This paper aims to address this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper synthesized the general management and supply chain literature on change to create a framework to explore change within three supply chains. A multiple case study approach was adopted for the research. Longitudinal and quasi‐longitudinal data were gathered and template analysis utilized to explore the cases contexts and the design choices they made in each of the change programmes.

Findings

In all three cases, the change is non‐linear and required re‐planning and learning throughout the change effort to build the capacity and capability for change. In all three cases, the success of the change is facilitated through the use of cross‐functional teams.

Originality/value

Change leaders were involved in the research through co‐authorship and a unique set of cross‐case lessons learned were generated. The framework used in the analysis incorporates considerations previously ignored in the supply chain literature, including the non‐linear, non‐processual nature of change.
Mitigation of supply chain relational risk caused by cultural differences between China and the West
Authors: Jia Fu , Rutherford Christine
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to add a cultural‐relational dimension to the supply chain risk management (SCRM) literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Inter‐firm learning and cultural adaptation literatures are reviewed, missing themes identified and a conceptual model proposed.

Findings

The authors define the problem of supply chain relational risk (SCRR) and explain the cultural differences between China and the West, which form a subset of SCRR. They then propose cultural adaptation as the solution to this problem. Two missing themes are identified concerning the process of cultural adaptation between China and the West and the causal relationship between cultural adaptation and partnership performance.

Research limitations/implications

This is a conceptual paper based on secondary data.

Practical implications

Cultural differences between China and the West impact the relational risks facing Western buyers and their Chinese suppliers. To create a mutually beneficial partnership, it is necessary for both parties to understand the cultural differences and the process of cultural adaptation. Ultimately, the paper will help firms mitigate the relational risks associated with cultural differences.

Originality/value

The paper extends prior work in the area of SCRM by adding a relational‐cultural dimension. With a view to mitigation of SCRRs, the authors develop a conceptual process model, which describes a relationship‐building process incorporating cultural adaptation for the creation of a mutually beneficial partnership, which features a hybrid cultural interface.
Teaching supply chain and logistics management through commercial software
Authors: Sweeney Donald , Campbell James , Mundy Ray
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and teaching of graduate courses providing in‐depth experiential learning employing commercial supply chain management software. The benefits of teaching such courses are described, the challenges in offering such courses are identified, and some solutions to overcome the challenges are offered.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiences of the authors in developing and teaching supply chain management courses utilizing commercial software provided a basis for discussing the benefits and challenges associated with teaching students the management of modern supply chains using commercial decision‐support software.

Findings

Incorporating commercial software in university programs presents a myriad of challenges and therefore is rarely done. However, providing students with in‐depth knowledge of commercial logistics and supply chain management software improves their understanding of supply chain issues and provides a key differentiator in the marketplace. Modeling real‐world supply chains using commercial software enhances student's education by providing relevant experiential exposure to real‐world problems and decision‐support tools.

Originality/value

The observations of the authors in developing and teaching courses in supply chain management utilizing commercial software afford a unique viewpoint and roadmap for others regarding teaching supply chain management in academic environments.
Efficiency versus value maximisation in co‐manufacturing relationships
Authors: Ryals Lynette J. , Humphries Andrew S.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper examines two co‐manufacturing relationships, which were efficient with the aim of understanding why they were not value maximising.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilises a methodology designed by Wilding and Humphries and based on Williamson's organisation failure framework. Using a case study approach, it is applied in a new context to provide insights into the dynamics within two co‐manufacturing relationships in the food‐manufacturing industry.

Findings

The relationships are judged as operationally efficient by both sides but frustrations and conflicts have emerged over time, leading to a real danger of relationship breakdown. These problems are caused by failure to involve co‐manufacturing partners in strategy discussions, shortcomings in relationship management, and lack of recognition of partners' developing capabilities.

Research limitations/implications

The paper challenges the transaction cost economics (TCE) focus on efficiency in the context of co‐manufacturing relationships and advocates a relational perspective to value maximisation.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that an undue focus on operational efficiency in the management of close, long‐duration co‐manufacturing relationships may result in a reduction in innovation and a failure to maximise value.

Originality/value

The paper provides empirical support for arguments in favour of dynamic efficiency, rather than the static efficiency implied by TCE. These findings are of great importance to companies engaged in strategically important co‐manufacturing relationships, as they demonstrate how “negative spiral behaviours” can develop.
Analyzing hotel star ratings on third‐party distribution websites
Authors: Denizci Guillet Basak , Law Rob
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to examine hotel star ratings on selected third‐party distribution websites, taking Hong Kong hotels as the sample.

Design/methodology/approach

Star rating information from 11 online distribution websites was retrieved and analyzed for all hotels in Hong Kong.

Findings

About 60 percent of the hotels were found on at least six of the selected distribution channels, and only 24 percent of the hotels have consistent star rating across different distribution channels. Results of data analysis indicated that consistent star rating becomes more difficult to maintain as the number of distribution channels used increases.

Research limitations/implications

Findings of the study are limited to the selected hotels and electronic distribution channels. Still, the online distribution channels represent some of the most widely used electronic distribution channels.

Practical implications

Findings of this research will be of use to hotel managers and guests for better understanding the standard, in terms of star ratings, of hotels.

Originality/value

Despite the importance of hotel star ratings on consumers and the hotel industry, prior studies in the existing hospitality literature rarely examined the difference of hotel stars. This novel study should, thus, make a meaningful contribution to knowledge development.
Effect of price discount frames and levels on consumers' perceptions in low‐end service industries
Authors: Nusair Khaldoon , Jin Yoon Hae , Naipaul Sandra , Parsa H.G.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of price discount frames and price discount levels on consumer perceptions about the quality of the service product, the value of the discount, their purchase intentions and their willingness to spread the word of mouth about the discount savings across different types of services.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses an experiment design method using three interesting variables: discount format, discount level and service industry type. The experiment included four different types of low‐end price service levels: restaurants, hotels, mailing services, and retail services.

Findings

The findings indicate that price discount frames and discount levels do affect consumers' perceptions on the value of the discount, the quality of the service, their intention to purchase and their willingness to engage in WOM advertising.

Practical implications

The practical implication for service firms that want to use price discount promotions to encourage sales and increase revenue is that they should carefully consider the price range and the value or quality of image they intend to signal when using these different price discount frames and the service they are selling to determine the discount level to use.

Originality/value

This paper is valuable to low‐end service marketers that seek to use price discount promotions to encourage sales and increase revenue.
In defence of hospitality careers: perspectives of Zimbabwean hotel managers
Authors: Mkono Muchazondida
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Most of the research on hospitality jobs has focused on the least enjoyable aspects of hospitality careers, while overlooking its “upside”. This paper aims to look at the “love” side of what could be described as a love‐hate relationship that hospitality managers share with their jobs.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used qualitative interviews with 83 hotel managers in 23 registered hotels belonging to the three‐ and four‐star categories in Zimbabwe.

Findings

The most liked attributes of hospitality management careers among Zimbabwean hotel managers were found to be: interacting with people from various countries, cultures, and lifestyles; working in a “nice” environment; perks; challenging work; stimulating work; glamour/prestige; the global nature of the industry and associated mobility; opportunities for networking with various groups of people; growth opportunities; dynamic and exciting nature of the industry; ability to apply individual creativity; and working with a diverse workforce.

Research limitations/implications

The use of a Zimbabwean sample means that findings cannot be generalised for the worldwide hospitality industry.

Originality/value

The research rebalances the assessment of hospitality work by looking at the often overlooked “upside” aspects of hospitality careers.
Not another study of great leaders
Authors: Ng Wilson , Thorpe Richard
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature and process of leadership in a mid‐sized, family‐controlled bank in Singapore in order to understand how it grew and developed under family control.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on distributed leadership as a theoretical framework in exploring how a major corporate acquisition was conceived and undertaken to advance the bank's growth and development. Data were obtained through structured interviews with managers based on a three‐part discussion protocol following a pre‐interview questionnaire.

Findings

An “extended” system of leadership involving different levels of managers is developed that successfully completed the acquisition and produced significant growth from the combined businesses.

Research limitations/implications

Based on a single case, the paper does not claim that the observed phenomena are typical of mid‐sized family‐controlled businesses (FCBs). However, for scholars, the paper suggests how studying leadership practice in such FCBs may produce insights that challenge the popular view of an all‐powerful family leader by substituting a more nuanced perspective of a collaborative leadership system that facilitates entrepreneurial activity down the firm.

Practical implications

For managers, the study suggests how deeply developed collaboration among different levels of managers may produce competitive advantage for FCBs that seek further growth and development.

Social implications

It is suggested how further research of the growth processes of mid‐sized FCBs may maximize the value of entrepreneurial opportunities for their “extended” family of stakeholders, specifically for their customers with whom FCBs typically enjoy close relations.

Originality/value

The paper fills an empirical gap in the literature on competitive, mid‐sized FCBs by articulating a process in which a unique competency is developed for their ongoing survival as a family‐controlled enterprise.
Multi‐objective flow shop scheduling using hybrid simulated annealing
Authors: Dhingra Ashwani , Chandna Pankaj
Published: August 2010

Purpose

In order to achieve excellence in manufacturing, goals like lean, economic and quality production with enhanced productivity play a crucial role in this competitive environment. It also necessitates major improvements in generally three primary technical areas: variation reduction, equipment reliability, and production scheduling. Complexity of the real world scheduling problems also increases with interactive multiple decision‐making criteria. This paper aims to deal with multi‐objective flow shop scheduling problems, including sequence dependent set up time (SDST). The paper also aims to consider the objective of minimizing the weighted sum of total weighted tardiness, total weighted earliness and makespan simultaneously. It proposes a new heuristic‐based hybrid simulated annealing (HSA) for near optimal solutions in a reasonable time.

Design/methodology/approach

Six modified NEH's based HSA algorithms are proposed for efficient scheduling of jobs in a multi‐objective SDST flow shop. Problems of up to 200 jobs and 20 machines are tested by the proposed HSA and a defined relative percentage improvement index is used for analysis and comparison of different MNEH's based hybrid simulated annealing algorithms.

Findings

From the results, it has been derived that performance of SA_EWDD (NEH) up to ten machines' problems, and SA_EPWDD (NEH) up to 20 machines' problems, were better over others especially for large sized SDST flow shop scheduling problems for the considered multi‐objective fitness function.

Originality/value

HSA and multi‐objective decision making proposed in the present work is a modified approach in the area of SDST flow shop scheduling.