bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design managers, their organisations and work-based learning
Authors: Norman Caroline , Jerrard Robert
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– Designers’ careers can be compromised if they are unable to understand the business context they operate in and cannot communicate effectively across other disciplines. Where governments are calling for an increase in design management skills, design careers can limit the opportunities for the development of such skills. Universities have an opportunity to support designers’ professional development through work-based learning (WBL). The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of the above.

Design/methodology/approach

– A case study, based on the master’s in design management (the business side of design) at Birmingham City University, investigates designers’ learning styles, their early career experiences and the challenges they face due to their lack of business understanding. Participant narratives are developed from in-depth interviews and describe professional progress through WBL.

Findings

– The paper finds WBL lends itself to the experiential nature of designers’ learning and skills acquired through WBL can have significant influence on design managers. The case study provides evidence of designers gaining insight into the business perspective and developing communication skills through specific elements of “professional learning”.

Research limitations/implications

– The small case study deals with the UK and Europe, however, implications for the universal and international aspects of practice remain.

Practical implications

– The paper considers the importance of design management skills to designers’ careers and the opportunity for designers to acquire these skills through universities via WBL.

Originality/value

– Unique experiences highlight the value brought about through non-linear educational and professional pathways, indicating novel joint policies for higher education and employers.
Student perceptions of barriers to networking with employers
Authors: Caldwell Elizabeth Frances , Cattermole Christine
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the usefulness of the concept of the “implied graduate” to explain the difficulties which students report when engaging with local employers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The “implied graduate” is an analytical concept that aims to bring together assumptions about what a graduate should be like. In this paper the concept has been used to analyse interview data collected from students after they took part in an employability project at a small Higher Education (HE) campus in a Further Education (FE) College.

Findings

– The students in this study reported significant issues with continuing to engage and maintain contact with the employers they met during the project. For many, this was the first time they had met graduate level employers and so felt inexperienced in how to approach networking with them. It seems that some of the offers for future contact made by the employers were aimed at an “implied graduate” and, as such, the students struggled to fulfil those expectations.

Originality/value

– This paper sheds light on the difficulties that HE in FE students face in engaging with graduate employers. These issues are likely to contribute to the well-established, but unexplained, differences in employment outcomes for students from diverse backgrounds.
Management competencies anno 2025: consequences for higher education
Authors: Ropes Donald
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a business-university collaborative research project that looked to define lower management competencies in the year 2025, specifically for complex, knowledge-intensive organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was done together with a large local airport. Data were gathered by a team of five researchers using focus groups and interviews with 47 employees from 15 different business units. Data were analyzed using thematic and summative content analysis.

Findings

– The author found that in order for employees to be effective in a learning organization, they will need to be able to switch between roles. Roles are a combination of fundamental and functional competencies. The former are relational in nature and needed to function throughout the broader organization. The latter are knowledge-related and needed to perform-specific functions.

Research limitations/implications

– Limitations are linked to the generalizability of the results and the fact that the research was organization centric, meaning broad societal changes that might affect individuals’ attitudes and in turn their attitude toward work were not considered. This research does, however, raise some important issues about working effectively in complex organizations and the role higher education has in preparing students.

Practical implications

– Curricula designers in higher education can use the findings to help adapt their current approach to teaching and learning.

Originality/value

– Most work on defining competencies for curricula development fails to delineate between fundamental and functional competencies. There is also little empirical work on how roles can be developed.
Do ISO standards favour logistics provider efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability? A Slovenian perspective
Authors: Bajec Patricija , Tuljak-Suban Danijela , Krmac Evelin
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the prevalence of the application of standards and their positive influence on the efficiency and competitiveness of Slovenian logistics service providers. Moreover, an analysis was also done on the relationship between the adoption of the environmental standard and greater concern for the environment.

Design/methodology/approach

– A small sample analysis was done using a combination of statistical methods and an abductive approach. A χ2 analysis was utilized to test the hypotheses.

Findings

– Many benefits were indicated. However, a positive relationship between quality standards and efficiency, as well as competitiveness, was not confirmed. In addition, the implementation of ISO 14001 quality standards was found to have no effect on the higher investment in environmental protection.

Research limitations/implications

– This study is limited by its local aspect (Slovenia), small sample size and its focus on just quality standards and their external factors. Future studies should be extended to the countries of eastern Europe and should further examine the relationship of internal factors as well as the relationship between the adoption of quality standards and the supply chain.

Practical implications

– A survey is essential not just for the Slovenian industry but also for the wider logistics industry as well as for government authorities and standards providers.

Originality/value

– This is one of the first papers written to analyse the effects of quality standards on international logistics service providers and the first paper that has explored the impact of standards on Slovenian logistics service providers.
Business intelligence competence, agile capabilities, and agile performance in supply chain
Authors: Sangari Mohamad Sadegh , Razmi Jafar
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the role of business intelligence (BI) in achieving agility in supply chain context by examining the relationship between BI competence, agile capabilities, and agile performance of the supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

– A theoretical framework is developed drawing on the resource-based view, the dynamic capabilities perspective, and the competence-capability relationship paradigm, as well as an extensive review of the literature. Structural equation modeling is employed to analyze the data collected from Iranian manufacturers in the automotive industry.

Findings

– The empirical results support the conceptualization of supply chain BI competence as a multi-dimensional construct comprising managerial, technical, and cultural competence, and confirm that it is a key enabler of supply chain agility in terms of both agile capabilities and agile performance. The results also provide support for partial mediation of agile capabilities on the relationship between BI competence and agile performance of the supply chain.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a response to the identified need for empirical evidence on the benefits derived from BI, especially in the supply chain context. It also contributes to the existing supply chain agility literature by providing insight into the value and role of BI in enhancing agile capabilities and performance in the inter-organizational supply chain.
Perceived competencies required for container shipping logisticians in Singapore and South Korea
Authors: Thai Vinh Van , Yeo Gi-Tae
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– Managing container shipping logistics requires people with good competencies, especially in the time of new challenges. The purpose of this paper is to validate a new framework of competencies for container shipping logistics professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

– The competency framework was proposed through a comprehensive literature review process followed by in-depth interviews with senior maritime logistics executives both in Singapore and South Korea. It contains three groups of business-, logistics- and management-related competencies, with each group further being classified into generalist and maritime-specific skills and knowledge. A confirmatory survey was also conducted in both countries. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software and thematic analysis technique.

Findings

– It was found that all competencies proposed in this framework are important and perceived to contribute to work performance of container shipping logisticians. Findings also revealed that those competencies related to management are more important and can contribute to work performance of container shipping logisticians more than those of logistics and business nature.

Originality/value

– The proposed and validated framework is original as it is the first framework for container shipping logisticians. This lays the background for future research on competency-based education and training programs for logisticians in container shipping logistics and other sectors of the maritime supply chain. Findings of this research can help senior management identify important competencies which are critical for container shipping logisticians to acquire, and design subsequent training and education programs accordingly.
The interplay of different types of governance in horizontal cooperations
Authors: Raue Jan Simon , Wieland Andreas
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– Over the last decades, horizontal cooperations between logistics service providers (LSPs) have become a well-established organizational form and their use is expected to grow even further in the future. In spite of this increasing importance of horizontal LSP cooperations, little research has been done to reveal how to govern these relationships successfully. Particularly, the role of contractual governance and its interplay with operational governance mechanisms remain to be investigated. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research analyzes the influence of contractual governance on the effectiveness of two types of operational governance (a formal and a relational type). It relates contractual governance and operational governance to two major outcome dimensions of horizontal cooperations between LSPs (cooperation-based firm performance and cooperation-based learning) and uses multivariate statistical methods.

Findings

– The results reveal that contractual safeguarding is able to partly replace process formalization when aiming for better cooperation-based firm performance and complement process formalization when aiming for cooperation-based learning. At the same time, relational capital is always complemented by contractual safeguarding independently from the desired cooperation outcome.

Originality/value

– This is the first study analyzing the role of contractual safeguarding in horizontal cooperations between LSPs. It shows its interplay with operational governance mechanisms, and, thereby, not only considers a relational type of operational governance, but also a formal type.
How do consumers process online hotel reviews?
Authors: Kim Ellen EunKyoo Kyoo , Lee Chung Hun
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how consensus and sequence of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) presented on online hotel review Web sites affect consumers’ attitudes toward the company and intention to stay at a hotel.

Design/methodology/approach

– This experiment used a 2 (consensus: high/low) × 3 (sequence: positive-negative, neutral, negative-positive) between-subjects design. A total of 165 usable data samples were gathered. Both consensus and sequence were manipulated.

Findings

– The study revealed that the review consensus overrides the impact of the review sequence such that when review ratings are substantially consistent, consumers’ attitudes and intentions to stay at a hotel are not influenced by the sequence of reviews.

Research limitations/implications

– Other variables such as prior experience with the hotel or biases toward the hotel can affect consumer reactions to such online reviews. Future studies need to reflect on such variables that can moderate or mediate the impact of eWOM consensus and sequence.

Practical implications

– Our findings suggest that the online consumer review summary information should be used to control the customer message process and when consumer reviews conflict, managers should take note of the sequence in which consumers read the reviews.

Originality/value

– This paper adds to the body of scholarly research related to consumer information processing and further demonstrates how individuals integrate opinions from several reviews, especially in the online context.
Innovation in property management
Authors: Thompson Bob
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine innovation in the context of property and asset management (PAM) and define a clear interpretation of the term that can be applied generally. Second to propose an organisational framework in which stakeholders in PAM can behave more innovatively.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper takes the form of a literature review and application of third party research.

Findings

– There is a clear need for stakeholders to behave innovatively. Innovation is primarily cultural and is disruptive by design which is uncomfortable for a mature industry like PAM.

Research limitations/implications

– This is an examination of existing literature and research. It sets up a need for empirical research on the behaviour of PAM stakeholders.

Practical implications

– PAM stakeholders need to change their culture to enable innovation to flourish.

Originality/value

– There is little published research on PAM.
The changing nature of the workplace and the future of office space
Authors: Harris Rob
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to outline key changes happening within occupier businesses that will have a medium- to long-term impact upon the demand for office space and, ultimately, the property investment market.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on survey work undertaken for the City of London Corporation as well as direct experience in advising corporate occupiers on their accommodation needs.

Findings

– The findings suggest major changes taking place in the demand profile of office occupiers, in terms of both quantitative and qualitative demand for space.

Practical implications

– There are a number of practical implications arising from the findings, not the least being the need for investors to consider the appropriateness of current standards for base building design and fit-out in contemporary offices.

Originality/value

– The paper presents the output of primary research and consulting and is therefore of an original nature. Its value lies in the fact that the findings reflect the actual experiences and plans of corporate occupiers and can be taken as reliable indicators of future demand for office space.
Energy performance certificates in the context of sustainability and the impact on valuations
Authors: Turley Martin , Sayce Sarah
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The Government of UK is committed to reducing Green House Gas emissions by 80 per cent based on the 1990 levels, by 2050. In order to achieve this reduction, the UK Government, along with their European counterparts, have implemented various directives and incentives, which progressively and incrementally are intended to move them towards this target. One such directive is the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which sets the policy for achievement. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper seeks to examine the complexities of these changes when considered against the real world use and operation of buildings, most particularly at lease end. It explores the inter-relationship of landlord and tenant at lease expiry and renewal.

Findings

– It argues that the Energy Act regulations might have significant impact on the actions of landlords and tenants; both in advance of and shortly after the lease is determined.

Practical implications

– One of the key mechanisms contained within this directive for the reduction in emissions is the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An EPC must be produced where a building is being constructed, rented or sold. EPCs rate buildings on their asset energy performance and in conjunction with building regulations are becoming increasingly more stringent to achieve targets. Regulations under the Energy Act 2011, due to take effect from April 2018, will mean that it will be unlawful to let or re-let a building which fails to reach minimum energy performances standards, currently defined as an E rating; further it is intended that the regulations will extend to all lettings from 2023.

Originality/value

– This paper looks at the inter-relationship of landlord and tenant at lease expiry and renewal with the proposed directives on EPCs.
The impact of financial development, economic growth and energy consumption on environmental degradation
Authors: Sehrawat Madhu , Giri A K , Mohapatra Geetilaxmi
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of financial development, economic growth and energy consumption on environment degradation for Indian economy by using the time series data for the period 1971-2011.

Design/methodology/approach

– The stationary properties of the variables are checked by ADF, DF-GLS, PP and Ng-Perron unit root tests. The long-run relationship is examined by implementing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag bounds testing approach to co-integration and error correction method (ECM) is applied to examine the short-run dynamics. The direction of the causality is checked by VECM framework and variance decomposition is used to predict exogenous shocks of the variables.

Findings

– The empirical evidence confirms the existence of long-run relationship among the variables. Financial development appears to increase environmental degradation in India. The main contributors to environmental degradation are: economic growth, energy consumption financial development and urbanization. The results also lend support to the existence of environmental Kuznets curves for Indian economy.

Research limitations/implications

– The present study suggests that environmental degradation can be reduced at the cost of economic growth or energy efficient technologies should be encouraged to enhance the domestic product with the help of financial sector by improving environmental friendly technologies from advanced economies.

Originality/value

– This paper proposes to make a contribution to the existing literature through examining the relationship between financial development and environmental degradation in Indian economy during 1971-2011 by employing modern econometric techniques.
The latrine ownership ladder
Authors: Obeng Peter Appiah , Keraita Bernard , Oduro-Kwarteng Sampson , Bregnhøj Henrik , Abaidoo Robert C. , Konradsen Flemming
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the latrine ownership ladder as a conceptual policy framework to enhance sanitation uptake in low-income peri-urban areas.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper draws from literature and a case study in a Ghanaian peri-urban community to highlight the challenges that undermine sanitation uptake in low-income peri-urban areas and the prospects of various levels of facility sharing as conceived in the latrine ownership ladder approach.

Findings

– The authors argue that the infrastructural and other socio-economic challenges of low-income peri-urban areas prevent some households from acquiring their own latrines. For such households, a more responsive approach to latrine promotion and prevention of open defecation would be the recognition of shared ownership regimes such as co-tenant shared, neighbourhood shared and community shared, in addition to the promotion of household latrines. The paper identifies provision of special concessions for peri-urban areas in policy formulation, education and technical support to households, regulation and enforcement of sanitation by-laws among complimentary policy interventions to make the latrine ownership ladder approach more effective.

Originality/value

– The paper provides an insight into the debate on redefining improved sanitation in the post-2015 era of the Millennium Development Goals and offers policy alternatives to policy makers in low-income countries seeking to accelerate the uptake of improved latrines among peri-urban and urban slum dwellers.
Quality governance in maritime oil transportation: the case of the Baltic Sea
Authors: Gritsenko Daria
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how change is brought about in quality governance of Baltic maritime oil transportation.

Design/methodology/approach

– This qualitative case-study sought to understand the underlying mechanisms of quality governance. The paper analyzed versatile empirical material (including expert interviews) to uncover how a particular constellation of public and private, binding and voluntary, internal and external quality standards impacted the process of institution building for quality management in Baltic oil shipping.

Findings

– The paper shows that emergence of quality practices in oil shipping is associated not only with the development of shipping industry as a whole, but also with the dynamics within the energy value chain. The findings suggest that alignment between rules and incentives is specific to a combination of given natural, political and economic contexts as well as physical infrastructure which set applied limitations upon the governance process and, eventually, impact the set of quality governance mechanisms available for use.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper shows that collective action is contextually-bound, thus the mechanisms of quality shipping governance can essentially differ from one locality to another. This implies that local solutions can be found to problems conventionally identified as global.

Practical implications

– Paper’s findings question the applicability of “one-size-fits-all” approaches to policy-making and calls for more targeted regulation. The research also stresses the role of technical modernization in prompting actual change in regards to quality practices.

Originality/value

– This research claims that transition to sustainable transportation systems requires institutions that are capable of linking actors and contexts in a way that balances supply and demand for quality.
Cooperation of local governments and enterprises to support the provision of sustainable transport infrastructure
Authors: Górka Kazimierz , Szyja Paulina
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assessment of actions for sustainable transport based on analysis of projects in selected major Polish cities carried out in cooperation with the motor industry and power sector enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

– Analysis of projects in selected major Polish cities.

Findings

– All initiatives aimed at making municipal transport more environmentally friendly have been launched by the local governments, in accordance with strategic government documents, acts and other legal regulations. The steps that have been taken are not just intended to improve the quality of the urban environment, but also to streamline transport systems and ensure greater mobility for city dwellers. Enterprises can engage in similar projects mostly by placing their bids in municipalities of transport companies’ public tenders.

Research limitations/implications

– Continuing research in the issue of creating jobs in cooperation between local authorities and companies in implementation of green transport in cities. And as well it is introduction to the further study on ways to achieve the partnership, not only by green public procurement but also sustainable public procurement, and their results.

Practical implications

– In practical issue authors emphasize the potential of innovation domestic producers of environmentally friendly facilities for transport and limited possibilities to cooperation with local authorities, limited only to public procurement and consultations. Taking into account social implications authors emphasize the potential of cooperation between companies and local authorities in creating jobs.

Originality/value

– The new element are information about transformation in public transport in Polish cities based on vehicles, produced by polish company and new project connected with greening up transport. As well important is referring to recent considerations undertaken in the literature and practical examples.
Waste disposal of fresh fruits and vegetables
Authors: Rajagopal Shambavi , Bansal Ipshita
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate consumers’ latent need to serve society by participating in “Go Green Revolution” and the contribution to proper disposal of waste and packaging of fruits and vegetables by the consumer and retailer.

Design/methodology/approach

– The United Arab Emirates (UAE’s) regular customers comprise an expatriate population of 200 nationalities. Primary research attempted to maintain a ratio of this diversity.

Findings

– There is low awareness of effects of disposal of fruits and vegetables and an urgent need for intervention by stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

– This research attempts to provide avenues for further scientific and academic research. Better methods of disposing and faster turnaround from waste to compost should be pursued scientifically. Academic research venues are available for researchers to study methodologies which can be used to educate people. Corporate, institutional and government awareness campaigns specific to disposal of fruits and vegetables should be researched further.

Practical implications

– The paper attempts to analyse the levels of awareness of the general population with respect to disposal of fruits and vegetables. The landfills can be saved from the stench which usually encompasses the area, if fruits and vegetables can be disposed properly. The creation of compost at micro levels can help create a greener earth.

Originality/value

– The research paper focuses on awareness of disposal of fruits and vegetables and its packaging, which is new in the context of the UAE.
Inter-island transport in Fiji powered by renewable energy
Authors: Danbolt Magnus , Fischer Dominique
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– During April-July 2013 the sailing cargo vessel Okeanos conducted a transport research project in Fiji. The vessel sailed regularly between Gau, Suva and Kadavu where transport data were collected. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the transport need in the islands and how a smaller, cheap sailing vessel would perform and meet that need and if it can be economically sustainable.

Design/methodology/approach

– Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji and the Ministry of Public Utilities, Transport and Works, issued a temporary safety certificate and verbally agreed on Okeanos working in a non-commercial capacity for four months. The preparations allowed for 31 days continuous traffic in Kadavu and Lomaiviti area.

Findings

–Okeanos carried 22 tons cargo and 55 passengers during 31 days. The trial shows that sailing time affects the running costs and make route planning essential for a sailing vessel. The results indicate that a sailing operation can be economically sustainable for routes that allow at least two return sails a week. To expand the operation to tourist-passengers willing to pay higher fees would be a more sustainable alternative. Simulations in the appendix with fictive values for transporting goods and passengers illustrate the feasibility of various options.

Research limitations/implications

– Limited permits and licenses allowed only for a short trial. Permits also prohibited the trial to engage in full commercial capacity.

Originality/value

– The study provides a transport trial with measurable outcomes. It can justify further and more extensive trials with alternative transport methods to remote islands and villages.
Dedicated business centers in public libraries
Authors: Macdonald Anne Therese
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not a dedicated business center within a public library acts as a key success factor in a public library’s services to the community entrepreneur.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire survey was sent to 88 public libraries with dedicated business centers, and posted to BRASS-L and BUSLIB-L, for input from public libraries without business centers. Interviews with three survey respondents and one local city official followed.

Findings

– Fifty-seven per cent of all respondents felt that a dedicated business center is very essential or essential to the services provided to the entrepreneurial community. The services most often offered were workshops/seminars/classes, counseling sessions by collaborative agencies and one-on-one research sessions with librarians. The majority of responding libraries collaborated with a community business agency (80 per cent). Fifty-one per cent spend between 6 and 20 hours/month on the collaboration.

Research limitations/implications

– Since 2007, many of the dedicated business centers in public libraries have closed or been consolidated with other sections and services of a public library. This should be further studied. Further research on librarian expertise in market and industry research is recommended.

Originality/value

– This study updates the business services associated with public libraries business services since the push in the late 1990s for public libraries to be more active in community economic development.
Engaging with entrepreneurs in academic and public libraries
Authors: Hoppenfeld Jared , Malafi Elizabeth
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how academic and public libraries support entrepreneurial researchers and, in doing so, demonstrate impact and share best practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors discuss their own experiences as academic and public business librarians who support entrepreneurs. They do so by revealing the main services they provide to this unique user group and presenting examples from their own institutions. They also present what is done at other libraries by way of a literature review and an informal survey.

Findings

– After navigating the landscape of business librarian support of entrepreneurs, many commonalities were found among the types of support offered. Most libraries in this study collaborate with a business incubator, center for entrepreneurship, office of economic development or small business development center in some fashion. Numerous outreach and networking efforts were found that had positive effects on the local and national economies. Although public and academic libraries have different base user groups, both types of libraries serve current and potential entrepreneurs, as well as students, who are looking for similar data in the same kinds of resources.

Originality/value

– Although specific examples can be found in the literature, little has been published that provides an overview of the entrepreneurial services and resources provided at numerous libraries of different types as well as resulting impact. This paper fills this gap and should provide new ideas to librarians of all kinds wishing to reach entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneur assistance
&
economic development in Florida libraries
Authors: Franks Janet Elaine , Johns Carol
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to identify essential resources that entrepreneurs need; to determine which resources and services are available at public libraries in two Florida counties; and to suggest additional ways for public libraries to increase their value and visibility among the business community.

Design/methodology/approach

– Information was gathered using structured and open-ended questions, using the Qualtrics survey technology provider, to obtain both quantitative and qualitative responses. Library administrators were contacted to identify relevant library staff to participate in the survey. Pasco County Library System administrators agreed to distribute the survey to their staff. Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative administrators provided email addresses of staff selected to participate. Web sites of the libraries, their counties, and their partners were also examined for additional information.

Findings

– The results suggest that the libraries are able to satisfy most of the requests of entrepreneurs. One exception was consulting, which was not consistently available, according to respondents, but could be offered at the library by business service organizations. Suggestions for promoting library business resources were proposed, based on survey responses and the websites of the libraries, their counties, and their business service organization partners.

Research limitations/implications

– This research studied key public librarians and staff employed at Pasco and Hillsborough counties in Florida. Some of the resources identified as useful for entrepreneurs in these counties may not be generalizable to communities outside the state of Florida, or outside the USA. Additionally, the survey did not explore what is not being done or what could be done if the libraries had more resources.

Practical implications

– This study provides information on the resources and services that public libraries provide entrepreneurs. It also offers suggestions for libraries to become more valuable and visible to their local business community.

Social implications

– As entrepreneurs and small businesses contribute substantially to economic development, public libraries that provide assistance to them help their communities prosper.

Originality/value

– This study is a collaboration between an academic reference librarian with a recent MBA degree, and an Entrepreneur Services Manager and Florida SBDC Center Director, who together provide a unique perspective and interpretive value toward promoting economic development.
Practical approaches to compliance for entrepreneurial uses of licensed databases in libraries
Authors: Aagaard Posie , Arguello Natasha Z
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide practical guidance to business librarians in academic and public libraries for applying essential concepts of licensing electronic resources in entrepreneurial contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is an outcome of a preconference presentation on licensing business resources, based on the practical experience of the authors in licensing and vendor negotiations. It also presents results of the preconference presurvey, gauging awareness among business librarians about licensing concepts and concerns about the usage of licensed databases by entrepreneurs.

Findings

– For-profit goals of entrepreneurs using library e-resources lead to concerns among business librarians about compliance with non-commercial clauses of library license agreements and potentially to unnecessary restrictions on patrons’ database use. License agreements of business e-resources are likely to have more restrictive terms of use because of perceived value of their intellectual property by vendors, a wider range of content types and clauses carried over from commercial license agreements. Business librarians generally have only basic awareness of licensing concepts. Because of organizational silos, special terms of use sometimes are not clearly conveyed from the licensing staff to librarians who work directly with entrepreneurs.

Practical implications

– The paper proposes a definition of entrepreneurial uses of licensed e-resources and practical approaches to manage compliance risk.

Originality/value

– The paper provides a practical framework for business librarians to assess compliance with license agreements in the context of entrepreneurial uses.
Q/A on teaching credit classes for entrepreneurship research
Authors: Watstein Sarah Barbara , Scanlon Mary G. , Cramer Steve
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the question and answer (Q/A) to provide an opportunity for two seasoned academic business librarians to share their experiences with courses in entrepreneurship in their universities.

Design/methodology/approach

– Question and answer.

Findings

– The evolving business school curricular landscape, and especially an increase in courses in entrepreneurship, presents unique opportunities for engagement, visibility and centrality for academic business librarians.

Originality/value

– Entrepreneurship is increasingly valued in today’s world. To be successful, entrepreneurs must successfully deal with and navigate a highly complex information landscape. Academic business librarians are positioned to help student, faculty and future entrepreneurs alike learn the skills to successfully traverse this landscape.
Supply chain alignment for improved business performance: an empirical study
Authors: Skipworth Heather , Godsell Janet , Wong Chee Yew , Saghiri Soroosh , Julien Denyse
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to explain how supply chain alignment, which remains a major challenge for supply chains, can be achieved and its implications for business performance (BP) by testing the strengths of the relationships between previously identified enablers, supply chain alignment and BP.

Design/methodology/approach

– A literature review develops hypotheses on the relationships between enablers, alignment and BP. A survey of medium-to-large UK manufacturing companies was conducted where the sample comprised 151 randomly selected companies, and the response rate was 56 per cent. Partial least square regression was used to test the hypothesis.

Findings

– Two types of supply chain alignment are defined – shareholder and customer – but only customer alignment (CA) has a direct positive impact on BP, while shareholder alignment (SA) is its antecedent. Top management support was shown to be an enabler of both shareholder and CA, while organisation structure, information sharing and performance measurement system enabled SA, while internal relational behaviour enabled CA.

Research limitations/implications

– Supply chain management research lacks knowledge on exactly how supply chain alignment can be achieved and what BP implications it has. This research provides a tested conceptual model to address this gap.

Practical implications

– The refined conceptual model provides precise guidance to practitioners on how to improve BP through supply chain alignment.

Originality/value

– Whilst the strategic management literature emphasizes the importance of SA, this study reveals another crucial alignment – CA – and shows its direct positive impact on BP.
IT, outsourcing, real estate, and China: an old economy business leader’s take on boom sectors in India
Authors: Prabhakar Guru Prakash , Saran Pankaj
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

– This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Findings

– Leaders should have a broader- and longer-term vision; they cannot afford to be bogged down with day-to-day work of their organization. They do refrain from micro-management and think of the bigger picture.

Practical implications

– The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations.

Originality/value

– The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.
Temporal dynamics of plant–soil feedback and root‐associated fungal communities over 100 years of invasion by a non‐native plant
Authors: Day Nicola J. , Dunfield Kari E. , Antunes Pedro M.
Published: July 2015

Pathogens can accumulate on invasive plants over time, which could lead to population declines. The time required for these dynamics to occur is unknown and seldom addressed. Furthermore, no study has assessed plant–soil feedback while characterizing plant pathogen and mutualist root fungal communities in the context of invasion time.

We used a plant–soil feedback study and 454 pyrosequencing to investigate pathogen accumulation over 100 years on a highly invasive plant in eastern North America that shows localized declines,Vincetoxicum rossicum(Apocynaceae).

We collected soil from five sites representing each of four invasion periods ofV. rossicumacross Ontario, Canada (old,c.100 years; intermediate, 50–60 years; young, < 12 years; and uninvaded), and grewV. rossicumin these soils in a glasshouse study. Our hypothesis was that plants grown in soils invaded for longer periods of time would experience less positive feedbacks compared to those grown in more recently invaded or uninvaded soils. We collected roots ofV. rossicumfrom the invasion periods and performed 454 pyrosequencing targeting fungi. We hypothesized that the abundance and richness of fungi that are known plant pathogens would be higher in roots from older invasions compared to more recent invasions.

Contrasting with our hypothesis,V. rossicumexperienced overall growth promotion due to soil biota, regardless of invasion period.Vincetoxicum rossicumroots were colonized by a large number of fungal taxa, including many known plant pathogens or mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. However, we found no evidence of pathogen accumulation in older invaded sites in terms of species composition, richness or abundance.

Synthesis. Our consistent results in the glasshouse and the field highlight the strength of combining high‐throughput sequencing data with plant–soil feedback experiments. We showed that the roots ofVincetoxicum rossicum(Apocynaceae) were colonized by many fungal taxa, but found no evidence for changes in plant growth or accumulation of fungal pathogens with longer invasion time. High pathogen loads may not lead to concurrent declines in invasive plants. Plant invasions, as demonstrated byV. rossicum, may be unpredictable in their ability to accumulate pathogens capable of leading to population declines.
Slow Change at the Top: ‘Old Hands’ and ‘Accidental Executives’ in New South Wales Local Government
Authors: Smith‐Ruig Theresa , Grant Bligh , Sheridan Alison
Published: July 2015

Scholars and practitioners alike have recognised that an increased role for women leaders in Australian local government would strengthen the sector, yet little research to date has examined the career paths of non‐elected officials. This article combines the gender in organisations literature with career theory to examine the career paths of 16 general managers (GMs) in New South Wales. We found that half the participants had linear career paths based entirely within local government and half had boundaryless careers originating outside the sector. This second cohort consisted overwhelmingly of women. Nevertheless, a high incidence of happenstance characterised both career types. Several participants saw themselves pitted against a gendered (i.e. male) group of ‘old hands’ who were resistant to change being driven by ‘accidental executives’, a high proportion of whom were women. The findings have implications for a sector attempting to attract and retain skilled staff, particularly women.
Status and perspectives of detection by low‐dose computed tomography or computed radiography in surgical patients with lung cancer, based on a five‐year study
Authors: Lai Yutian , Shen Cheng , Wang Xin , Du Heng , Chen Dali , Tian Long , Zhou Xudong , Che Guowei
Published: July 2015

Background

A retrospective study involving 502 lung cancer patients who had received pulmonary resection from 2009–2013 was conducted in order to compare the clinical characteristics of patients whose diagnosis was detected by low‐dose computed tomography (LDCT) and computed radiography (CR).

Methods

Two groups were established, based on the method of detection: the LDCT group included 172 lung cancer patients; the CR group included 330 lung cancer patients. The evolution of proportions of patients in urban and rural regions was also analyzed, according to detection method.

Results

The percentage of patients with stage I was higher in the LDCT group than in the CR group (77.3%, 133/172 vs. 53.6%, 177/330). The incidence of postoperative complications within 30 days was significantly lower in the LDCT than in CR group (25.0% vs. 33.6%). The proportion of patients detected by LDCT or CR in urban regions was constantly higher than in rural regions (with an increase of 13.0% vs. 5.9%); the proportion of LDCT‐detected patients in urban regions was constantly higher than in rural regions (with an increase of 8.7% vs. 5.9%).

Conclusions

LDCT contributes to a higher proportion of early lung cancer diagnoses and a lower incidence of postoperative complications in surgical patients. The proportions of patients detected early and by LDCT have both increased steadily during the last five years. These two trends are more pronounced in urban compared with rural patients.