bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crime fighting in the twenty‐first century?
Authors: Fitzpatrick David
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to examine the Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (the Act), in particular, the sections of the Act that establish the serious organised crime agency (SOCA) and to anticipate the effectiveness of the Act against organised and serious crime in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology employed is to examine Parts 1 and 2 of the Act, in light of the response of concerned professionals to the Act's passage through Parliament, concerns expressed both in the press and in legal journals, and to critically examine the novel features of the Act from the perspective of a professional who has worked in this same field (organised and serious crime) in Hong Kong for more than 20 years.

Findings

The Act is to be welcomed, in particular, gathering the investigative and intelligence functions of the police, customs and immigration service in one body SOCA, an elite limit to assist other UK police forces and law enforcement agencies. The introduction of statutory mechanisms to promote the co‐operation of defendants as potential witnesses is also to be welcomed. However, it is feared that the investigative powers created will be ineffective as the judiciary are not directly involved and the powers that are given to SOCA will be easily evaded by ruthless or experienced criminals.

Originality/value

It is hoped, the paper will promote interest in SOCA when it is “rolled out” operationally in April 2006. It is also hoped that SOCA will be appreciated from the outset as only a half‐hearted adoption of the US organised crime “model”. The UK has decided not to use telephone taps as a source of evidence, nor has it granted effective investigative powers to SOCA. Furthermore, there has been no comprehensive clean‐up of the present confusion of objectives that is so obvious in the sentencing policy as it concerns offenders who commit serious crime or are involved in organised criminal behaviour in the UK.
Disclosure in Switzerland – a summary
Authors: Ringgenberg Cecile
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Seeks to summarize the arguably complex situation of disclosure in Switzerland in view of the rules on professional and banking secrecy.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used is practical experience, law, jurisprudence and earlier publications by the author and others.

Findings

Nothing new is found, but what is new, is to find the rules of disclosure, in its penal and civil aspects, in one place and in a summarized practice‐oriented manner and not dispersed in different parts of Swiss law.

Research limitations/implications

A future paper should cover the topic of disclosure on the national and international level between authorities, in particular penal, anti‐money laundering and surveyance of financial markets authorities, and not only, as it is in the present articles between authorities and individuals. The exchange between authorities is based on a complex set of rules dispersed in different parts of Swiss law.

Practical implications

This paper has practical implications, as it is addressed to the foreign legal practitioner, who needs to know what are the exceptions to the prohibition of disclosure based on the protection of the private sphere under Swiss law. A future extension of the paper would deal with what information he can get through the exchange of information between the authorities of his country and the Swiss authorities.

Originality/value

What is new is to find the rules of disclosure in one place and in a summarized practice‐oriented manner.
In the shadows of the EFCC: is the ICPC still relevant?
Authors: Foluso Arowolo Oluseye
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To demonstrate how the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) can sustain relevance in the bid to check corruption despite the encroaching regulatory intervention of the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

An analytic approach; to make the case that the ICPC is still relevant in the regulatory scheme as a dedicated agency to corruption issues in Nigeria, the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2004 are reviewed and the structure of the ICPC is examined. The powers and functions of the ICPC are highlighted with the sole intent that the opportunities which exist for the ICPC to be relevant within the current regulatory scheme can be identified and analysed.

Findings

Whilst the risk of competitive regulation persists, there is a persuasive case for retaining the ICPC as a separate agency dedicated to the fight against corruption.

Practical implications

To challenge the ICPC to change the focus of its regulatory activity from prosecution to prevention through the adoption of forensic strategies that would strengthen private and public institutions and reduce opportunities for corruption.

Originality/value

This paper offers a measure of clarity on the regulatory scope of the EFCC and ICPC in the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes.
Property brands, human capital and Tobin's q
Authors: Hägg Claes , Scheutz Curt
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to discuss the impact of property brands on the value for shareholders in the real estate and high tech industries.

Design/methodology/approach

The theory of Tobin's q is used as a tool in the analysis, which is also based on anecdotal empirical evidence.

Findings

We can formulate the hypothesis that property brands are even more interesting to high tech and professional firms compared to traditional real estate firms.

Research limitations/implications

The hypothesis is based on a theoretical discussion and also on limited empirical examples. Further empirical studies in the area would, therefore, be of great interest.

Practical implications

If the above‐mentioned hypothesis is confirmed in further studies, it could contribute to an explanation of the phenomenon of property brands.

Originality/value

The originality lies in the combination of the real estate and high tech industries and also in the application of Tobin's q to the subject.
Narrative accounting for competence creation
Authors: Bjurklo Margareta
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The present paper aims to explore what type of information is useful for managers and employees in understanding the company and the requirements for particular jobs within the company.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal study was undertaken in a Swedish company. A number of narratives were collected with the help of asking for stories in the context of an interview, critical‐incident technique and recording of spontaneous storytelling.

Findings

The finding in present paper is that narrative accounting is a new way of looking at management accounting. Narrative accounting consists of visualisations and narratives emanating from within an organisation.

Research limitations/implications

The present paper explores an area were few studies have been conducted.

Practical implications

The usefulness of present paper is that practitioners may understand that there is a need for complements to traditional accounting in the context competence creation.

Originality/value

The research shows that narrative accounting is a new way of looking at management accounting.
Employee wellness as intellectual capital: an accounting perspective
Authors: Roslender Robin , Stevenson Joanna , Kahn Howard
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify employee wellness as a further component of intellectual capital and to illustrate how it might be possible to account for it in ways that depart from accounting's traditional focus on costs and valuations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is discursive in approach, considering a range of ideas relevant to visualising employee wellness as intellectual capital and how to account for it as such.

Findings

Employee wellness a component of primary intellectual capital, being something that employees bring to their organisations together with their experience, expertise, know‐how, leadership skills, creativity, etc. It is also a component of secondary intellectual capital envisaged as initiatives designed to promote greater levels of health and fitness among employees. While it is not possible to place financial valuations on employee wellness, individual or collectively, it is possible to develop metrics that will communicate useful information to a variety of stakeholders. In addition, employee wellness is a suitable topic for the development of self accounts by organisational participants.

Originality/value

The paper is an early contribution to a new field of enquiry and seeks to encourage further studies both empirical and conceptual.
New venture creation: evidence from an investigation into Chinese entrepreneurship
Authors: Zhang Yuli , Yang Jun
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study aims to use the Timmons model to identify the pattern of entrepreneurial activity at micro‐level in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a self‐administered questionnaire survey approach, involving a sample of MBA students and general public in China.

Findings

The analysis suggests that personality characteristics, cultural environment and economic environment are external factors influencing new venture creation.

Practical implications

The findings of this study suggest that supportive cultural environment and economic environment is more important for MBA entrepreneurs than for general public to encourage the former to start new businesses as they bear higher entrepreneurial opportunity cost.

Originality/value

The paper extends the macro approach of the GEM China Report to examine entrepreneurial activity in China at micro‐level.
Regional differences in the development of Chinese small and medium‐sized enterprises
Authors: Yang Kaizhong , Xu Ying
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the patterns of and reasons for regional differences in entrepreneurship among Chinese provinces (excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a linear regression model to examine determinants of regional entrepreneurship in China.

Findings

Evidence suggests that provincial differences in entrepreneurship were directly related to local business growth, but not to factors such as level of local business development, urbanisation rate, level of market economy, level of salary and ratio of unemployment. The differences among economic growth in various regions contributed directly to differences in entrepreneurship.

Research limitations/implications

There is a need to determine the spatial patterns of entrepreneurship by using panel data in a more sophisticated econometric model. A further investigation of regional entrepreneurship in China is planned for the near future.

Practical implications

Active entrepreneurship in a region can contribute to the economic growth of the region, leading to more active enterprising activities. It is therefore argued that one of the effective ways to boost entrepreneurship and small business development is to advance the economic growth of a region.

Originality/value

The paper adopts an industrial location perspective on determinants of business growth and its links with regional entrepreneurship.
Innovation and technology transfer in Chinese agriculture
Authors: Xuedong Ding
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper sets out to examine innovation and technology transfers in the Chinese agricultural sector, with a particular focus on the government‐sponsored Science and Technology Transformation Fund.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a case study of the Science and Technology Transformation Fund to illustrate how innovation and technology transfers in the agricultural sector are facilitated.

Findings

The paper argues that technology transfers in agriculture play an essential role in increasing agricultural productivity as well as farmers' income, fostering agricultural re‐structuring, and speeding up the construction of comparatively well‐off villages. In view of difficulties in agricultural technology transfer in China, it is of great practical importance for the government, following the “Green box policy”, to put the issue on the top agenda and attract more capital from every walk of society to support the ongoing transformation.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates the approaches that the Chinese government has taken to accelerate the improvement of science and technology in agriculture, and outlines the mechanism of science and technology innovation and transformation in China.
Using scorecards to routinely evaluate distribution facility locations
Authors: Gibler Robert R.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present insights into one company's rationale for closing unproductive distribution facilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The reader is given background of the decision‐making process behind transportation mode selection and distribution center selection, then on how these locations can gradually become obsolete. Uses a case study.

Findings

The paper gives examples of how one company identified their key performance indicators and applied them to the facility closure decision‐making process.

Practical implications

Companies can create a rational, efficient and evenhanded approach to the closure of underperforming facilities. Using those same tools, managers can readily identify whether the root cause of good or bad performance stems from the market, or management.

Originality/value

Facility closure decisions are often prompted by the firm's need to reduce losses. This paper proposes using the company's key performance indicators to drive an on‐going evaluation of each facility's performance. Using this approach, companies will be able to identify downward trends and their root causes, rather than making a series of trial and error attempts at fixing the problem.
Corporate real estate as a human resource management tool
Authors: Martin Paul L. , Black Roy T.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how a firm can incorporate real estate strategy with its core strategy, using the workspace to support its human resource objectives. The intent is to examine how important the quality of the workplace is to employees and the resulting impact it can have on productivity, loyalty, satisfaction, and retention in a knowledge industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a survey to gather data on employee opinions about the importance and quality of workplace features. Responses are compared for statically significant differences using ANOVA among groups of employees to determine if opinions differ by sex, position in the firm, and location among newer and older facilities. The results are evaluated in the context of the firm's core strategy and objectives.

Findings

The results indicate that employees at Alston & Bird, LLC, the law firm studied, are satisfied with the overall quality of their workspace. However, differences exist between workers in different positions and among locations. The firm's most valuable workers, the attorneys, appear to be most satisfied. Specialized spaces (day care center, dining room), carry more importance among employee groups the firm especially wants to recruit and retain.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates how workspace initiatives as part of a corporate real estate strategy can support a knowledge firm's core strategy and objectives. It demonstrates how a firm can link corporate and real estate strategies to boost productivity, employee loyalty, employee satisfaction and retention.
Business continuity during facility renovations
Authors: Hassanain Mohammad A. , Al‐Mudhei Ali
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The objectives of this paper are to identify and rate the importance levels of the factors that may affect business continuity during partial renovation of office buildings while being occupied. The paper also proposes a checklist of measures to carry out in order to reduce the impact of renovation works on business continuity.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have analyzed the published literature for the purpose of reviewing the reasons for renovating the workplace, and aspects of planning and scheduling renovation works in occupied facilities. A sum of 24 elements that may affect business continuity during partial renovations of open‐plan office buildings while being occupied were identified. These factors were classified under four categories, including functional, technical, behavioral, and management practice factors. The authors then developed a questionnaire to rate users' perception of importance to each of the identified 24 elements and conducted a survey to evaluate the importance of these elements on business continuity in two office buildings.

Findings

The importance levels of each of the elements were analyzed and reported. The authors also developed a checklist of measures to carry out to reduce the impact of renovation works on business continuity in office buildings.

Originality/value

Facilities during their life cycle may be renovated to restore or upgrade the functionality of their building elements, or to suit a new function. Renovation works could negatively affect businesses continuity and decrease levels of productivity due to their impact of the technical systems in the building, and the time spent on relocating employees to temporary facilities until the renovations are completed. However, in some cases renovation works could be performed without the need for relocating employees, or the business to be stopped. The paper provides a practical value to building owners and facility managers intending to undertake renovation works during the life cycle of their buildings.
Alternative models for the management of FM services
Authors: Ventovuori Tomi , Lehtonen Tero
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to create a deeper understanding of the make or buy decision process, the criteria for the selection of a certain relationship type, and the differences between alternative relationship types in FM services.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on literature review and qualitative research. Empirical data were collected from both clients and service providers using semi‐structured interviews, practical observations, informal discussions and focus group interviews.

Findings

When FM service activities entail strategically important skills and knowledge and when outsourcing may have a profound effect on the clients' ability to satisfy the end‐users needs, vertical integration is chosen. Respectively, a collaborative approach is recommended in cases where the service is of high importance for the client's or end‐user's business, there is a need to share sensitive or strategic information, the purchasing volume is high or the management of the purchasing situation is difficult because of the complexity of the purchased service package or market conditions. From the relationship management point of view, three different types of relationships (i.e. arm's length relation, operational partnering and strategic partnering) can be recognized in the FM services context.

Practical implications

The sourcing portfolio model, which can be used as an analytical tool to support the selection of an appropriate governance model for different service packages, is introduced. Additionally, the results aid the development of appropriate action plans for the management of different kinds of relationships.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to creating an enhanced understanding of outsourcing decisions and different types of relationships in the FM services context for both researchers and practitioners.
A framework for information services: benchmarking for countries and companies
Authors: Prasad Sameer , Tata Jasmine
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The typology developed in this research allows one to compare a variety of information services around the world. A properly built typology ensures a methodologically‐valid framework.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research typology‐building methodologies developed in social sciences and strategic management are imported to provide an example of how a typology may be built for information services.

Findings

The prescriptive element derived from this framework helps to benchmark countries relative to different information services as a function of their level of development and cultural characteristics.

Originality/value

This research enables managers of multinationals to distribute their information globally by taking advantage of the relative differences among countries.
Central and Eastern European property investment markets: issues of data and transparency
Authors: Adair Alastair , Allen Suzanne , Berry Jim , McGreal Stanley
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to assess issues of data and the extent to which property markets are becoming more transparent in Central and Eastern Europe, discussing stages in the transformation and evolution of markets with reference to sources of real estate information.

Design/methodology/approach

Current perspectives on data sharing and drivers for change in Central and Eastern Europe draw on evidence from structured interviews with key market players in the region. This is supported by a consideration of secondary data sources.

Findings

The analysis indicates that information on stock characteristics, notably offices, has developed since the start of the 1990s but there remains an absence of performance benchmarking in the investment market. Conclusions highlight the significant process of change but identify the need for property investment markets to be more accurately measured and tracked.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations arise from data, in particular restricted time series data, lack of disclosure of data due to their intrinsic value, the perceived benefit of holding a competitive advantage and issues arising from the compatibility between various data sources.

Originality/value

The paper considers the relationship between the availability of market data and the development of properly functioning markets in Central and Eastern Europe; the attributes that have encouraged the development, availability and effective use of property market data; and the impacts of data availability on patterns of property market development in Central and Eastern Europe.
Network connectivity and office occupiers' space decision: the case of Suntec City
Authors: Foo Sing Tien , Ooi Joseph T.L. , Long Wong Ah , Lum Patrick K.K.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper sets out to empirically test the office space choice decision of firms currently occupying offices in Suntec City, Singapore.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data on office space determinants of occupiers in Suntec City office towers were collected via a mailed questionnaire from March to June 2004. Based on a consolidated sample list of 342 firms, 61 responses from the occupiers, which represent a response rate of 17.8 percent, were received.

Findings

Based on the survey results on office space preference of occupiers in Suntec City, the mean score statistics show that image and prestige of an office location and accessibility by public transport are the two most highly ranked factors by the firms.

Research limitations/implications

The selection of Suntec City as a sample case study may help to control the heterogeneity of building factor, but it will also limit the generalization of the findings. However, the results provide support to the deliberate strategies by the management to create a pro‐business environment and also to connect the space through deliberate network effects. The second limitation is the uneven distribution of sample firms by size in the survey.

Originality/value

In many office space choice studies, building and accessibility factors were invariably found to be significant determinants of office location. In this study, non‐location and network connectivity factors were included in the empirical tests, and they were found to be significant in influencing office space decision of selected clusters of firms in a building.
Futures studies in the European Union's new member states
Authors: Colson Aurélien , Corm Mounir
Published: July 2006

Purpose

In May 2004, ten new member states joined the European Union (EU). Although these countries have experienced very different historical and political systems, they face a shared future. This paper seeks to answer the question: how do they analyze this future?

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers approaches in the new member states including forecasting, strategic planning, foresight and futures studies – and highlights the link with public policies. The second part of this paper offers a detailed presentation of the main players involved in futures studies in each of these ten countries.

Findings

All of the new member states have begun to develop competencies in analyzing the future. This is particularly remarkable in the former Communist members states. Connections between the institutions of foresight are still limited, however, and fostering relations between foresight and other agencies across the EU is a significant challenge for the future.

Originality/value

Provides an insight into the state of futures research in the new member states of the EU.
Spectrum for the next radio revolution: the economic and technical case for collective use
Authors: Forge Simon , Blackman Colin
Published: July 2006

Purpose

New technologies challenge the traditional view that the radio spectrum must be tightly controlled and the new orthodoxy that a market‐based approach is the most efficient way to manage the spectrum. This article aims to make the case for collective use of the spectrum.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on a range of literature, both technical and economic, as well as the authors' opinions to describe the economic context, market and other models for spectrum allocation, technological advances in signal processing, and the way forward for assessing future spectrum management policy, with particular reference to Europe.

Findings

Technical advances, from research in the commercial domain and from release of military research, combined with the increasingly important economic need to facilitate innovation in new radio technologies, demand a debate on a new approach to spectrum management policy.

Originality/value

The paper brings together the economic and technical arguments in favour of collective use of the radio spectrum and will be of value to academics, business and policy makers.
The radio spectrum: opportunities and challenges for the developing world
Authors: Wellenius Björn , Neto Isabel
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine current trends in spectrum management and implications for developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper summarizes the findings of an extensive review of recent literature on spectrum management. It addresses three questions: What is the case for spectrum management reform? What is the current debate on spectrum management all about? Why does this matter to developing countries?

Findings

Traditional spectrum management practice has led to technical and economic inefficiencies as well as obstacles to technological innovation. Two alternative approaches are being tried, one driven by the market (spectrum property rights) and another driven by technology innovation (commons). Practical solutions are evolving that combine some features of both. Although these changes are mainly taking place in high‐income countries, they are deeply relevant to developing countries as well.

Practical implications

Improving traditional administration of the spectrum in many developing countries would yield significant benefits, but governments may wish to consider moving straight into property rights or commons approaches. Countries at an early stage of building up spectrum management capacity may benefit from adopting new solutions from the start. These may be especially well suited for low‐ and middle‐income countries.

Originality/value

The paper offers a concise overview of major current trends in spectrum management, against which the responses of developing countries can be examined. The paper is extensively annotated and includes a selection of references, many of which are accessible online.
Improving shared service implementation: adopting lessons from the BPR movement
Authors: Ulbrich Frank
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To reveal similarities between the business process reengineering (BPR) and shared service approaches, in order to improve outcomes of shared service implementation processes through lessons learnt from previous BPR projects.

Design/methodology/approach

As the focus of this paper is primarily theoretical, the paper starts out with a literature review of developments in the BPR and shared service movements. Similarities between the two change alternatives are discussed and drawn up.

Findings

The paper concludes by identifying which previously learnt lessons the emerging shared service movement should take into account from the BPR era when implementing shared services.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is primarily based on previous findings from a literature review. To increase insights into the contemporary shared service phenomenon, complementary research in the form of in‐depth case studies are recommended.

Practical implications

Based on the similarities between BPR and shared service approaches, some normative guidelines for the implementation of shared service are given to practitioners.

Originality/value

This paper fills a gap in process‐oriented research by comparing BPR and shared service approaches in order to reveal similarities, which in turn enables practitioners to draw on pre‐existing research findings in their present shared service projects.
Strategic alliance of small firms in knowledge industries
Authors: Chung Q.B. , Luo Wenhong , Wagner William P.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To propose a framework with which to study the efficacy of strategic alliances of small firms in knowledge industries, with an emphasis on research design to examine the issues surrounding the phenomena.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework is developed that consists of four constructs, namely conditions, roles and contributions, learning, and efficacy. Details of the constructs are explained.

Findings

Management consulting industry proves to be a fertile research ground to study strategic alliances with regard to firm size. Through an illustration, it is shown that the proposed framework can be put into practice to investigate relevant research questions.

Research limitations/implications

The framework has limited generalizability to situations where the clients of the knowledge‐intensive service are not clearly defined up front.

Practical implications

Knowledge industries will benefit from developing taxonomy of expertise. Client firms may benefit from encouraging small firm to form strategic alliances.

Originality/value

The contribution is threefold; identification of the interplay of firm size and the practice of alliance formation in knowledge industries as a viable research topic; a framework with which to examine the efficacy of strategic alliances of small firms in knowledge industries; and proposing to expand the knowledge management research beyond intra‐firm learning.
Six sigma for service processes
Authors: Antony Jiju
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper attempts to demonstrate the power of six sigma, a disciplined approach to improving product, process or service quality, in the service industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the basic features that characterize six sigma followed by a simple methodology for six sigma applied to service operations. The paper also illustrates a set of tools and techniques used within six sigma for service process performance improvement. Key success factors for the implementation of six sigma in service organisations and the factors for selection of winning projects are also addressed.

Findings

The paper draws the point that six sigma is not same as other quality initiatives such as TQM due to various misconceptions among many quality practitioners with these two philosophies. There are also limitations of six sigma and these are outlined and discussed.

Originality/value

Although six sigma has been successfully implemented in many manufacturing industries, its application in the service sector is still comparatively limited due to various constraints. This paper presents the potential areas where six sigma could be exploited in service functions.
Potential pitfalls of process modeling: part A
Authors: Rosemann Michael
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper summarizes typical pitfalls as they can be observed in larger process modeling projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The identified pitfalls have been derived from a series of focus groups and semi‐structured interviews with business process analysts and managers of process management and modeling projects.

Findings

The paper provides a list of typical characteristics of unsuccessful process modeling. It covers six pitfalls related to strategy and governance (1‐3) and the involved stakeholders (4‐6). Further issues related to tools and related requirements (7‐10), the practice of modeling (11‐16), the way we design to‐be models (17‐19), and how we deal with success of modeling and maintenance issues (19‐21) will be discussed in the second part of this paper.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is a personal viewpoint, and does not report on the outcomes of a structured qualitative research project.

Practical implications

The provided list of total 22 pitfalls increases the awareness for the main challenges related to process modeling and helps to identify common mistakes.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the very few contributions in the area of challenges related to process modeling.
An international comparison of operator‐driven business models
Authors: Kallio Jukka , Tinnilä Markku , Tseng Anne
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to understand the success factors of mobile operators.

Design/methodology/approach

Explores the business practices of leading carriers in Japan, South Korea, China, Europe and the USA.

Findings

The paper finds several common characteristics in the more successful markets including a handset design and quality of service that are aligned with the operators' service concepts, effective billing systems, reasonable prices, and targeted marketing strategies. While these internal factors can be easily copied by a mobile operator, it is found that there are additional, external factors such as the existing customer base and its preferences, government policy, technological constraints and value chain dynamics that can greatly affect the transferability of a mobile operator's business model to another market.

Research limitations/implications

The findings present opportunities for further research including the possibility of developing a new theory into which factors are more difficult to transfer and why.

Practical implications

The practical implications of this paper are that operators who wish to pursue profitable business models need to take into account the factors of a successful business model and which ones are easily transferable in their respective markets and which ones are not.

Originality/value

The paper is unique in that we compare the business models of mobile operators across five different countries.
A collaborative supply chain management framework
Authors: Mohamed Udin Zulkifli , Khan Mohammad K. , Zairi Mohamed
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper presents issues associated with the needs of collaborative supply chain management (CSCM) and proposes a planning stage of a CSCM framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed planning stage of a CSCM framework incorporates issues of organisation profile, internal functional strategy and supplier‐customer strategy. The gauging absence of prerequisites (GAP) analysis technique which embedded in the knowledge‐based system is proposed in the planning stage to analyse the gap between the current and the desirable position (benchmark) for an effective implementation in organisation.

Findings

The planning stage framework provides information specifically for designing a CSCM by focusing on the organisation capability and business processes and discussed the important issues in planning a CSCM for business organisations, specifically for a manufacturing environment.

Research limitations/implications

Further research could be carried out to capitalise the framework for improving the CSCM.

Practical implications

The proposed planning stage of a CSCM framework enables the chain members to identify key factors or issues for CSCM development.

Originality/value

The new aspects of the proposed CSCM are firstly, the proposed planning stage model is supported by a KBS approach. Secondly, the use of GAP analysis technique and finally, the planning stage framework provides information and issues for the design stage of CSCM framework.
The new library user in Sweden
Authors: Kyrillidou Martha , Persson Ann‐Christin
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To examine how the library user emerges in the context of the LibQUAL+™ application in Sweden in 2004.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the following aspects: how the information control dimension is depicted in the results of the Swedish participants; how the information control dimension compares between the Swedish implementation and other libraries; the ”new user” as he emerges from the comments that support the notion of the self‐sufficient, independent, and autonomous information seeker at Lund University; and the new users as reflected in the linguistic translation issues of the LibQUAL+™ survey instrument in Swedish.

Findings

Library users in Sweden have indicated that the information control dimension is an important one to them and this is the one dimension where libraries are not faring well. This finding is replicated in other non‐Swedish libraries. In terms of the comments provided, 372 LibQUAL+™ comments (most of them in Swedish) were analyzed and they all show the importance of self‐sufficiency. Last, the LibQUAL+™ translation in Swedish revealed that the “new” library user wants a library survey that articulates library issues in a more modern language and not the traditional and more conservative Swedish diction – in other words, the expectation for modernization is also reflected in the actual phrases used in the survey instrument.

Originality/value

Contributes to the field of in‐depth cultural studies and qualitative analysis in the different contexts where the “new library” users are encountered, to understand both the similarities of the “new” users across contexts and the unique aspects and circumstances they face in the context of their traditional encounters with the library.
Cognitive map‐based web site design: empirical analysis approach
Authors: Chang Lee Kun , Chung Namho
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study proposes a new approach to an adaptive web site design using the cognitive map (CM).

Design/methodology/approach

The responses from 134 questionnaires were used in order to compute the causality coefficients of the CM objectively. In addition, using the evaluations of 64 college students with regard to three typical web sites, reference criteria were built that could be used by web site designers to determine the best web site design, given constraints and requirements. On the basis of the CM and two scenarios, a web site design simulation was performed.

Findings

The results showed that the proposed approach could be used effectively to analyze web site design in an adaptive and practical manner when the market situation is constantly changing.

Originality/value

The implications of this article will help decision makers predict the chain of effects that could result from changes in part of the web site design factors, before actually making those changes to a web site. Also, since the CM permits all related web site design factors to be viewed in a single interrelated diagram and organized into an adjacency matrix, decision makers can perform a number of what‐if simulations in accordance with changes in the intended design factors to see whether such changes would lead to maximal objectives (or target nodes).
Design and implementation of an online information literacy module
Authors: Mutula Stephen , Kalusopa Trywell , Moahi Kgomotso , Wamukoya Justus
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present findings of the design and implementation of an online information literacy module to first‐year students at the University of Botswana.

Design/methodology/approach

The study population consisted of 103 first‐year students in the Department of Library and Information Studies. The population was divided into three equal groups of 34, 34 and 35, respectively, and each assigned a two‐hour slot in the smart computer laboratory weekly for five consecutive weeks, to cover five information literacy topics online. Each group was assigned a tutor who received assignments online and graded them. Each topic was followed by questions for students to answer.

Findings

Findings generally revealed that impartation of information literacy through the online mode could improve students' competencies perhaps more than the face‐to‐face instruction approach. Furthermore, respondents preferred a blended instruction approach to a single learning mode. Contrary to expectations, online instruction might not minimise the copying of each other's work among students to a great extent. Finally, online instruction does not necessarily reduce the amount of workload for staff and students, instead more time is needed to design and administer the course.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to first year students in the LIS department. A similar study involving all departments in the University of Botswana would shed more light on the level of information literacy competency among first year students from a cross‐disciplinary perspective.

Practical implications

The major outcome of the study is a re‐usable online information literacy module. The study findings could also be useful in developing interventions to improve the design and delivery of online courses.

Originality/value

Information literacy is a key challenge facing educators all over the world. Case studies such as this provide unique and comparative experiences that advance existing knowledge. For the University of Botswana, the study provides a first insight into the impact of e‐learning on information literacy competency since the implementation WebCT in 2002.
Evaluating authoritative sources using social networks: an insight from Wikipedia
Authors: Korfiatis Nikolaos Th. , Poulos Marios , Bokos George
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an approach to evaluating contributions in collaborative authoring environments, and in particular, Wikis using social network measures.

Design/methodology/approach

A social network model for Wikipedia has been constructed, and metrics of importance such as centrality have been defined. Data has been gathered from articles belonging to the same topic using a web crawler, in order to evaluate the outcome of the social network measures in the articles.

Findings

Finds that the question of the reliability regarding Wikipedia content is a challenging one and as Wikipedia grows, the problem becomes more demanding, especially for topics with controversial views such as politics or history.

Practical implications

It is believed that the approach presented here could be used to improve the authoritativeness of content found in Wikipedia and similar sources.

Originality/value

This work tries to develop a network approach to the evaluation of Wiki contributions, and approaches the problem of quality Wikipedia content from a social network point of view.
Measuring and analysing intellectual assets: an integrative approach
Authors: Litschka Michael , Markom Andreas , Schunder Susanne
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a quantitative assessment model for intellectual capital in companies.

Design/methodology/approach

A brief historical review of former approaches to evaluate intellectual capital construction of a new formula for an intellectual capital value. A possible empirical survey of influence factors on intellectual capital is suggested. Both, taken together, are the grounding of an integrative management model for intellectual capital still to be developed.

Findings

Shows that a quantitative figure for intellectual capital can be found and that such a figure is needed to convince managers and the public of the usefulness of activities to promote intellectual (and especially human) capital.

Research limitations/implications

A quantitative measure can never picture the complete interrelations of organizational development, influence factors on intellectual capital, and performance of employees. The formula can only be a starting‐point for management and further research. Possible management tools are only touched on briefly.

Practical implications

Gives the manager a tool to argue his decisions regarding the promotion of human and intellectual capital. Managers talk about figures and often dislike purely philosophical arguments. Their awareness of the topic can be raised.

Originality/value

Even though there is a growing scientific body of quantitative models for measuring intellectual capital, this paper uses a new approach: the usage of approximation factors for motivation, commitment and job satisfaction in one formula.
A new framework to understand the technological innovation process
Authors: Narvekar Rajiv S. , Jain Karuna
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide a conceptual framework to understand the complex technological innovation process from a cognitive perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐disciplinary literature survey from multiple academic disciplines such as business management, philosophy, and psychology coupled with professional experience was employed to conceive the framework.

Findings

The framework can be a starting‐point for researchers to initiate research in the design of technological innovation systems, change management and organizational restructuring.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this paper is that the framework has been qualitatively validated in two publicly held R&D intensive organizations in India.

Practical implications

Senior managers from industry can initiate competence building using the managerial concepts employed in the framework. By leveraging the intellectual capital of the organization, intellectual property, including new products and processes, can be developed, which in turn improves business performance.

Originality/value

This paper introduced a framework to describe the innovation process. Two new constructs are introduced to account for the complexity and the uncertainty in the innovation process.