bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do financial markets care about social and environmental disclosure?
Authors: Murray Alan , Sinclair Donald , Power David , Gray Rob
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore whether there is any relationship(s) between social and environmental disclosure and the financial market performance of the UK's largest companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Two data sets were used in the study. The CSEAR database of UK companies provided the social and environmental disclosure component. The second data were the stock market returns earned by the largest UK companies as listed byThe Times1,000. A series of statistical tests was performed to examine whether any relationship could be detected in either the cross sectional or longitudinal data over a period of ten years.

Findings

No direct relationship between share returns and disclosure was found. Neither had such a relationship been expected, in keeping with the prior literature. However, the longitudinal data revealed a convincing relationship between consistently high(low) returns and the predilection to high(low) disclosure. There is no single convincing theoretical explanation as to why this might be.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates the importance of examining a range of hypotheses on longitudinal data when other research suggests that any relationships are unlikely to be unstable year on year. More significantly, this paper is motivated not by a concern to understand better how investors' already‐high returns may be bettered, but rather to explore how the alleged potential of financial markets to contribute to social responsibility and sustainability might be engaged.
Public sector accountability and commercial‐in‐confidence outsourcing contracts
Authors: Barton Allan D.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept, need and requirements for accountability in the public sector, and how the use of outsourcing activities on a commercial‐in‐confidence basis negates the accountability requirement and can lead to inefficiency. This thereby negates the major benefit claimed for outsourcing.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a normative approach based on political science and economic theory to analyse the concept of accountability and its ramifications. It uses the redevelopment of a public football stadium as a case study to illustrate the consequences of commercial‐in‐confidence outsourcing.

Findings

The postulated consequences are confirmed by the case study.

Research limitations/implications

Information about potential problems generally becomes available only after the event when it is too late to correct the problems. However the analysis and empirical evidence have important implications for policy making to curtail the practice.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the importance of freely available information concerning public sector operations to help ensure efficiency in resource use. It is the public sector counterpart to Adam Smith's “invisible hand” which brings about efficiency in private sector markets.
The actual implementation of accruals accounting
Authors: Connolly Ciaran , Hyndman Noel
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To ascertain the principal benefits and drawbacks that have been experienced in implementing accruals‐based resource accounting in the UK public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

In a unique study, which presents case research of the Northern Ireland experience within the wider UK context, semi‐structured interviews were held with key actors involved in the implementation, maintenance or oversight of resource accounting in Northern Ireland. This paper looks at the operation of a newly introduced system through the eyes of those who are in a position to understand and evaluate the impacts (accountants).

Findings

It finds that the actual implementation of accruals accounting is very different, in effect, in cost and in terms of timing, to that presented in pre‐implementation government publications. The result is a complex, expensive system that has provided few benefits to date. What is found is a story of overoptimistic claims and obfuscation of costs. The very best that could be suggested from this research is that a lengthy continuum of accounting change is underway.

Research limitations/implications

This research is a case study within the wider UK public sector and therefore any generalizing of the conclusions beyond the Northern Ireland context should be undertaken with care. However, although Northern Ireland departments are relatively small compared with Westminster departments, there are significant similarities between the modes of operation of all departments within the UK (whether in Westminster, Scotland or Wales). Furthermore, both the implementation of resource accounting and the challenges that it presents are common to all public sector bodies in the UK.

Originality/value

Gives some thought‐provoking arguments into the benefits and drawbacks of implementing accruals‐based resource accounting in the UK public sector which will provide interest to those in the field.
On James Bond and the importance of NGO accountability
Authors: Unerman Jeffrey , O'Dwyer Brendan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set out key issues in the academic study of non‐governmental organisation (NGO) accountability, and to introduce papers appearing in this special issue on NGO accountability.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a discussion paper exploring key issues theoretically.

Findings

The paper finds that there are many aspects of NGO accountability which should be explored in greater depth in future studies. Several other issues have been examined in the papers in this special issue of Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal.

Research limitations/implications

There is a possibility that the issues explored in this paper, and the other papers in this special issue, will lead to a considerable growth in academic studies in this area.

Practical implications

The paper is a contribution to the growing debate on NGO accountability.

Originality/value

The paper sets an agenda for research into NGO accountability.
Microfinance: accountability from the grassroots
Authors: Dixon Rob , Ritchie John , Siwale Juliana
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to use an accountability framework to explain the emerging tensions in accountability and how an intended bottom‐up approach became progressively supplanted. This paper is set within an emerging Zambian microfinance organisation moving into crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of semi‐structured interviews were conducted with key local microfinance specialists, managers and accountants, clients and past and current loan officers. Live observation of the client‐loan officer interface and internal meetings provided triangulation on accountability relationships in the midst of crisis. Data were analysed using NVIVO, a qualitative computer software package.

Findings

The findings show that tensions between vertical and horizontal accountability in practice can be directly translated into heightened pressure and stresses on both the non‐governmental organisation (NGO) and its loan officers, which constrain overall accountabilities to other stakeholders and disguise other potential dysfunctions.

Research limitations/implications

This study focussed on accountability at the grassroots in microfinance NGOs with a social mission. It reveals potential for further personal, community and socially constituted accounting research within microfinance in particular.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the literature on NGO accountability. It will be of value to researchers and practitioners seeking to gain a better understanding of not‐for‐profit organisations whose goals are not primarily wealth creation. It also gives details on under‐researched areas in accounting, namely NGOs and poverty reduction, and practices in Sub‐Saharan Africa.
Research, audit and quality improvement
Authors: Paxton Roger , Whitty Paula , Zaatar Ali , Fairbairn Andrew , Lothian Jane
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to clarify the distinction between research and audit, and propose appropriate regulatory arrangements for audit and related activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The methods used were literature reviews and conceptual analysis.

Findings

Research and audit overlap in various ways, but differ in terms of their purposes and the risks likely to be encountered and distinguished, along with a third related category of activities called quality improvement.

Practical implications

Appropriate regulatory arrangements are proposed for audit and quality improvement activities. Using these should ensure appropriate ethical standards and risk management, while avoiding the time‐consuming over‐regulation that occurs when projects are unnecessarily submitted to the ethical scrutiny appropriate for research projects.

Originality/value

Gives suggestions and information that could be of great value in spreading service improvement.
Conceptual design of an e‐health strategy for the Spanish health care system
Authors: González Marvin E. , Quesada Gioconda , Urrutia Ignacio , Gavidia José V.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to describe the design and development of an e‐health strategy for the Spanish health care system. Using quality function deployment and benchmarking analysis as an analytical model, a strategy in e‐health care is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

This article uses the case of a Spanish community to build a general framework for e‐health system development. Based on a multi‐disciplinary literature, and the specific needs of a community, the process of e‐health system development is analyzed and reduced into a series of phases that form an integrated method. Best practice managerial techniques are adapted to the healthcare industry and the inter‐relationships between them are mapped in a theoretical model that results in the desired outcomes.

Findings

This analysis produces a road‐map to e‐health system development consisting of several phases: analysis of the current situation of the system and determination of objectives; collection and analysis of customer expectations; development of an action plan through cross‐evaluation of customer and system needs; cost and strategic analyses; and evaluation and control systems. Managerial implications are provided.

Originality/value

The strategy proposed in this article is a prototype and an ongoing study in the Castilla‐La Mancha community.
Barriers to accepting e‐prescribing in the USA
Authors: Smith Alan D.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

With the number of prescriptions rising nationally each year, it is surprising that web‐based technology is not fully embraced in the pharmacy industry as an aid to quality‐assuring prescribing processes. Traditional prescription handling is done in a manual fashion with physicians hand‐writing prescriptions for the patients during an office visit, giving the patient the responsibility of taking the prescription to a pharmacy or mailing the prescription to a mail order company for fulfillment. Electronic prescribing (e‐prescribing) has the ability not only to streamline the prescription writing process, but also to reduce the number of errors that may be incurred with hand‐written prescriptions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate these phenomena in the USA. Design/methodology/approach – A number of hypotheses were tested using principal‐components analysis (PCA) and factor analyses. As a result, a total of 55 fully employed, professional and semi‐professional service management and internet users, representing a college‐educated and knowledge‐based sample derived from the metropolitan section of Pittsburgh, was selected. Findings – The six major constructs generated from the factor loadings in descending order of importance were: profit and risk factors, shipping and handling, saving, customer relationship management (CRM) and ethics, age, and awareness. The dependent variable chosen to be regressed against these major independent factor‐based constructs was willingness to purchase prescriptions online. The overall relationship was found to be statistically significant (F=2.971, p=0.015) in predicting willingness to use e‐prescribing options based on the various independent constructs. However, when testing the various standardized beta coefficients in the linear model, only the factor score‐based construct CRM and ethics was found to significantly contribute to predicting the willingness to purchase prescriptions online (t=−3.074, p=0.003). Research limitations/implications – Although this study appears to represent the e‐prescribing process in the USA, the sample size and region studied are only one slice of the general population. Practical implications – Unfortunately, the adoption of e‐prescribing has been difficult to attain owing to numerous barriers throughout the industry. Such acceptance barriers include lack of technology trust, associated system costs, and risk of un‐securing patient health and medical information. Originality/value – This article documents that increasing numbers of pharmacies today are building their IT‐infrastructures to accept electronic prescriptions and it may soon be the preferred method for physicians to write prescriptions. It is with great anticipation that this technology will also enhance the prescription‐writing abilities of prescribing physicians globally, giving them electronic access to patient medical records and resources that will assist them in prescribing the correct drug for the patient.
Consumer evaluation of hospital foodservice quality: an empirical investigation
Authors: Wright Olivia R.L. , Connelly Luke B. , Capra Sandra
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to estimate the relationship between acute care consumers' satisfaction with hospital foodservices, foodservice characteristics, demographic and contextual variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The acute care hospital foodservice patient satisfaction questionnaire was administered to 2,347 patients from 1996‐2001. Regression analysis was conducted to measure the influence of 21 foodservice attributes and seven contextual/demographic items on overall foodservice satisfaction.

Findings

Foodservice satisfaction was strongly associated with variety, flavour, meat texture, temperature, meal taste, and menu staff (p<0.01). Consumers aged 70 years or more rated their overall satisfaction significantly lower than younger consumers (p<0.01), but no statistically significant differences in overall ratings existed for other contextual or demographic groups.

Research limitations/implications

This new foodservice instrument and the methods of analysis may be generalisable, but application is likely to be context‐specific. Further applications of the instrument are required to produce greater confidence in its validity and reliability across different foodservice settings.

Practical implications

Global statements often used in health service satisfaction surveys (e.g. a single rating of “food quality”) provide insufficient information to allow managers to adapt foodservices to suit consumers' preferences.

Originality/value

Detailed information of the kind produced here is required for the formulation of managerial and sectoral policies to improve the quality of health and consumer nutrition care. The findings are noteworthy and, as far as the literature review showed, no previously published study has produced this level of detail on consumer preferences across foodservice attributes or their relationship to overall foodservice satisfaction.
Casting light on the concept of patient satisfaction by studying the construct validity and the sensitivity of a questionnaire
Authors: Biering Páll , Becker Heather , Calvin Amy , Grobe Susan J.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study aims to explore the construct validity and the sensitivity of a patient satisfaction questionnaire for the purpose of gaining a better understanding of the concept, and of issues surrounding its measurements.

Design/methodology/approach

Several statistical analyses were used to study the reliability, construct validity, and the sensitivity of a patient satisfaction questionnaire.

Findings

The study supported the construct validity, high internal consistency, and homogeneity of the instrument. Two factors were found; one consisted of negatively worded items and the other of positively worded items. The negatively worded items contributed more than the positively worded items to the sensitivity of the instrument. Items were identified that contribute little or nothing to the construct validity and/or the sensitivity of the questionnaire.

Research limitations/implications

The effect of wording on the variability and sensitivity of the instrument can be explained both as a consequence of response set bias and with regard to the theories against which two phenomena were being measured – patient satisfaction and patient dissatisfaction. The development of two kinds of instruments is proposed: those that measure patient dissatisfaction and are sensitive to minute changes in nursing care and those that measure both concepts and capture what patients find important in their care.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates how an analysis of the construct validity and the sensitivity of patient satisfaction instrument, can enhance understanding of the concept. It contributes to the debate about whether patient satisfaction and dissatisfaction are opposite ends of the same continuum or two different phenomena that require two different definitions.
Assessing doctors' compliance with guidelines on diabetes management
Authors: Boon Harold Tan Keng
Published: July 2006

Purpose

In 2002 the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) audited doctors' compliance with diabetes clinical practice guidelines in public healthcare institutions and attempted to postulate factors that influenced the degree of conformity. This study aims to address this issue

Design/methodology/approach

A retrospective cross‐sectional chart review of diabetes patient records sampled from hospital specialist outpatient clinics (SOCs) and polyclinics was performed. Childhood, gestational and secondary diabetes cases were excluded. The nine audit parameters used were process measures concerning the assessment of HbA1c, weight, blood pressure, urinary protein, serum creatinine, serum lipids, electrocardiography, retina and feet. Age‐standardised prevalence rate ratios of parameter adherence were calculated. Of the SOC cases, 89 per cent were analysed. Of the polyclinic cases, 94 per cent were analysed.

Findings

Adherence to ECG and foot assessment parameters was poor among SOC cases, while poor adherence to weight and foot assessment parameters was seen in the polyclinics. There was poorer adherence to blood pressure and ECG parameters in the SOCs, but better adherence was seen for weight assessment. Among the SOC cases, Cluster A fared better than Cluster B in ECG monitoring. In the polyclinics, better adherence was seen in Cluster A for urinary protein, serum creatinine, lipids, ECG, retinal and foot assessment parameters.

Originality/value

Based on pre‐existing information on local diabetes care, certain system, physician, patient and guideline factors are postulated to explain clinical practice guideline non‐compliance among doctors.
Pathways, networks and choice in health care
Authors: Keen Justin , Moore Jeanette , West Robert
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to present an alternative to the supply chain model of health care delivery that currently informs most thinking about the design of care processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on arguments from systems theories and public administration, to generate an analysis of the nature of health care processes. It sets out a model of services characterised by treatment and care needs that vary over time, that are inherently uncertain, involve frequent assessment and re‐assessment, and provide patients and service providers with choices about treatment and care. Evidence from an evaluation of intermediate care is used to illustrate the analysis.

Findings

The analysis suggests that both the supply chain and a more network‐like model of health care processes can help us to understand health care processes. The two are complementary.

Research limitations/implications

Largely conceptual in nature. The empirical evidence is taken from one study. The ideas are presented to stimulate thinking rather than to prove an argument.

Practical implications

The conceptualisation of care processes as network‐like has implications for the way in which we think about the design and performance of health care systems.

Originality/value

There have been few publications that seek to use both systems and network approaches to understand health care processes.
Using the balanced scorecard to measure Chinese and Japanese hospital performance
Authors: Chen Xiao‐yun , Yamauchi Kazunobu , Kato Ken , Nishimura Akio , Ito Katuski
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The objective of the paper is to confirm the feasibility and value of using the balanced scorecard (BSC) to measure performance in two hospitals in different countries.

Design/methodology/approach

One hospital from China and another from Japan were chosen and key indicators were selected according to the BSC framework. A comparative hospital performance measurement model was set up using the BSC framework to comprehensively compare hospital performance in two countries.

Findings

The BSC was found to be effective for underlining existing problems and identifying opportunities for improvements. The BSC also revealed the hospitals' contribution to performance improvement of each country's total health system.

Research limitations/implications

Hospital performance comparisons between countries using the BSC depend on the selection of feasible and appropriate key performance indicators, which is occasionally limited by data collection problems.

Originality/value

The first use of the BSC to compare hospital performance between China and Japan shows benefits that not only suggests performance improvements in individual hospitals but also reveals effective health factors allowing implementation of valid national health policies.
HACCP and the management of healthcare associated infections
Authors: Griffith Chris
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Hospital cleaning and healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) continue to attract adverse media attention and consumer concern. Parallels exist with similar publicity relating to cleaning and food safety in the food industry almost 13 years earlier. This paper examines some of the management solutions developed in the food industry, and discusses their application to healthcare delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

The food industry is managing food safety by adopting a dual approach based on pre‐requisite programmes and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP). How these differ is described and how the approaches and terminology can be adapted for use in healthcare is discussed.

Findings

The food industry is moving towards external certification of safety using national and international standards. The HACCP approach, a management tool and a central requirement of these standards, is evolving and there is interest worldwide from the healthcare community. Its application to the decontamination of endoscopes, using conventional HACCP, is presented, as well as suggestions for a simplified format for managing patient‐related procedures. Taking this type of approach to the management of HCAIs could provide greater transparency, reduce infection rates and increase consumer confidence.

Practical implications

Potential problems in adopting HACCP, including cost and human resource, are discussed.

Originality/value

The HACCP method/approach has previously been mentioned in the medical literature but this paper is one of the few to examine, from basic principles, its infection control application within a broader approach to quality assurance.
Getting value from knowledge management
Authors: Spender J‐C.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Getting value from knowledge management (KM) means managing the way new knowledge is brought to bear on the business's practices, for value is added only through practice – not through talk. Though there are relationships between knowledge and practice, and the purpose of KM is to get more value from the firm's knowledge, knowledge is too loose and slippery a term to afford us a good handle on these matters. The paper proposes a novel typology that distinguishes data, meaning, and skilled practice. Each must be managed differently, though management must integrate all into the business model.

Design/methodology/approach

A non‐empirical theoretical paper clarifying the interaction of different epistemologies or ways of knowing within the business. Different epistemologies are illustrated and discussed at a managerial level, the formal and academic philosophizing is left out.

Findings

The paper shows that KM are not all alike.

Originality/value

Highly original, given very few KM writers address multiple epistemologies and then propose a practice‐based approach to their integration. Despite its theoretical language the paper actually proposes a severely practical approach to real‐world KM.
Similarities and differences between TQM, six sigma and lean
Authors: Andersson Roy , Eriksson Henrik , Torstensson Håkan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

During the last decades, different quality management concepts, including total quality management (TQM), six sigma and lean, have been applied by many different organisations. Although much important work has been documented regarding TQM, six sigma and lean, a number of questions remain concerning the applicability of these concepts in various organisations and contexts. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to describe the similarities and differences between the concepts, including an evaluation and criticism of each concept.

Design/methodology/approach

Within a case study, a literature review and face‐to‐face interviews in typical TQM, six sigma and lean organisations have been carried out.

Findings

While TQM, six sigma and lean have many similarities, especially concerning origin, methodologies, tools and effects, they differ in some areas, in particular concerning the main theory, approach and the main criticism. The lean concept is slightly different from TQM and six sigma. However, there is a lot to gain if organisations are able to combine these three concepts, as they are complementary. Six sigma and lean are excellent road‐maps, which could be used one by one or combined, together with the values in TQM.

Originality/value

The paper provides guidance to organisations regarding the applicability and properties of quality concepts. Organisations need to work continuously with customer‐orientated activities in order to survive; irrespective of how these activities are labelled. The paper will also serve as a basis for further research in this area, focusing on practical experience of these concepts.
TQM with quality perception: a system dynamics approach
Authors: Wankhade Lalit , Dabade B.M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Prevailing information asymmetry in business processes alters the market dynamics. Quality uncertainty ensues from this phenomenon. Philosophy of information economics is implemented to correlate total quality management (TQM) practices in industry with quality perceived by customers. Quality perception, a newly coined term, is discussed at length, along with causal factors. This paper aims to provide a system dynamics framework for quality perception and to investigate the role of the changing level of market‐side enablers on quality perception.

Design/methodology/approach

System dynamics is used for modeling and analysis. To realize the impact of information asymmetry on quality perception, simulation runs are carried out for an Indian case.

Findings

Enablers, such as advertising, word‐of‐mouth, rebate, warranty and guarantee, mitigate the effect of information asymmetry on quality perception, and commensurately translate TQM to market value.

Research limitations/implications

The study of some aspects of information asymmetry and quality perception is attempted. Further study is required to understand repercussions of information asymmetry on the complete supply chain processes.

Practical implications

The model has a practical relevance to implement quality perception enhancement by deciding upon the policy mix.

Originality/value

With quality perception defined and modeled, the paper attempts market orientation to quality paradigm.
Quality management approaches in Irish organisations
Authors: Drew Eileen , Healy Catherine
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The objectives of this study were to investigate the degree to which quality initiatives, including quality standards, have been adopted in Irish organisations and to provide comparisons with survey results of surveys in 1995/1996.

Design/methodology/approach

A national survey was conducted in 2002 of Irish employers in manufacturing/services within the private and public sectors. The questionnaire was sent to 2,487 organisations – 932 questionnaires were returned representing a 34 per cent response rate from the private sector organisations and 47 per cent in the public sector.

Findings

The survey illustrates the continuing importance of, and reliance upon, standards. Among organisations that had been awarded ISO 9000 certification, 93 per cent believed that it had improved their reputation and 90 per cent that it resulted in better products or services. Nearly two‐thirds of respondent organisations had adopted a total quality approach compared with less than one‐third in 1995/1996. The results demonstrate that total quality organisations did not differ significantly from non‐TQ organisations in relation to having been awarded ISO 9000. However, there were statistically significant differences between TQ and non‐TQM organisations in relation to: a commitment to quality, quality structures, measures to evaluate effectiveness in relation to customers, employees and suppliers, team working, quality assurance systems, use of quality tools and techniques and investment in training.

Originality/value

This study shows that interest and adoption of quality improvement in Irish organisations is growing rapidly, particularly since the mid‐1990s that has marked a distinct period of economic growth in the Irish economy.
Constraints facing small western firms in transitional markets
Authors: Freeman Susan , Reid Imogen
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide an Asia‐Pacific viewpoint of the key constraints associated with large geographic distances for smaller westerns firms entering central and eastern Europe (CEE), described as a turbulent transitional environment.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory study was used within a qualitative methodology, using eight case studies across multiple industries. Semi‐structured interviews were the main method of data collection conducted in 2003/2004. Open, axial and selective coding was used for the analysis to identifying issues.

Findings

Key internal constraints for smaller western firms (mindset of western management and middle management in CEE; and lack of management in CEE with decision‐making authority) related to managements' inability to recognize geographic and psychic distance as major external constraints. Largely overcome by enhancing communication between various functional groups; adapting organizational structure; maintaining frequent communicational; developing partnerships in international joint ventures; finding reliable distributors and commitment from re‐sellers and working with government. While no single international business theory adequately explains this process, there is overwhelming support for the network perspective and international entrepreneurship.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited by small sample size. The explanatory phase is proposed with further western companies, such as the UK, operating in CEE to identify geographic distance, and additional CEE markets to verify dimensions in this environment.

Practical implications

The paper provides a checklist of strategies for overcoming constraints facing managers of smaller firms, entering emerging markets with geographic distance.

Originality/value

Previous studies, using a European or Nordic viewpoint, fail to identify the constraints associated with large geographic distances. This paper provides practical assistance to managers starting out in CEE from the Asia‐Pacific.
Marketing professors: paths and perspectives
Authors: Trindade Bacellar Fátima Cristina , Akemi Ikeda Ana
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to study how marketing professors see their job. How they assess their career paths, the reasons, and motivations underlying their professional choice, their points of view on the practices they employ, and their problems and difficulties, as well as the solutions they have found during the course of their professional development.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is exploratory and qualitative. Grounded theory technique was employed to collect and analyse the data.

Findings

There is a substantial diversity of professional paths and a quest for satisfaction and pleasure associated with the relative freedom and lower stress of the teaching profession, as compared to executive life.

Research limitations/implications

The exploratory and non‐conclusive nature hinder the findings to be generalised and the wideness of the problem making the analysis broad but not deep.

Practical implications

Understand marketing professors and raise some ideas about how to improve teaching performance.

Originality/value

The work should be of interest to academics, professors and educational organizations seeking to improve marketing teaching and learning.
Macromarketing: origins, development, current status and possible future direction
Authors: Shapiro Stanley J.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To familiarize readers with the nature, scope and history of macromarketing and, more specifically, with the European contribution to macromarketing.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a selective literature review and personal observation with a focus on the past, the present and the likely future of macromarketing.

Findings

The paper reports both on the limited degree of emphasis placed on macromarketing by marketing scholars and the reasons why macromarketing has not received more attention.

Originality/value

This paper provides a heretofore missing overview of the nature and scope of an important subdiscipline within academic marketing. The European contribution to macromarketing is discussed in considerable detail. Some personal views on the likely future development of this area are also offered.
Systematic representation and application of a 3D computer‐aided garment construction method
Authors: Petrak Slavenka , Rogale Dubravko , Mandekić‐Botteri Vinko
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To establish a method of transforming the 3D cutting patterns constructed and modelled into 2D patterns, excluding the fabric parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

Three methods have been developed for transforming 3D cutting part segments into 2D segments. They are based on the computer‐based application of the mathematical models developed. The mathematical models differ in their concepts and the application in a particular manner of transforming the 3D segments. Complex spatial matrix transformations have also been developed and used to further transform the 2D segments into the plane of chained 2D cutting pattern segments.

Findings

Two‐dimensional cutting patterns have been defined for the 3D garment model, initially constructed on a computer‐generated body model.

Research limitations/implications

The method has been developed on an example of a 3D garment basic cut construction of a single article of clothing. However, the same principles can be applied and developed for any garment basic cut.

Practical implications

The mathematical models developed can be used in a new computer‐based application for the 3D garment construction and the development of the 2D cutting patterns, matched to individual physical characteristics.

Originality/value

The most outstanding property of the method developed is the possibility of gradual transformation of 3D cuts into 2D ones, with no need to define physical‐mechanical properties of the fabric used and no need to introduce fabric drape. The newly created 2D cutting patterns are of outstanding quality and preciseness.
Tearing and tensile strength behaviour of military khaki fabrics from grey to finished process
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Arunangshu , Ghosh Subrata , Bhaumik Somes
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to report an experimental investigation on the tearing and tensile strength behaviour of military khaki fabrics from grey to finished process.

Design/methodology/approach

Uses three different types of military fabric (3 up 1 down twill), differing in type of constituent yarns (ring/rotor) in order to test their tearing and testing strength behaviour.

Findings

Tearing strength of fabric is found to be very much susceptible to change due to the process variation, while fabric tensile strength is relatively less sensitive. Ring spun yarn fabric shows higher tearing strength compared with rotor spun yarn fabric. However, the difference in their tearing strength reduces substantially as the process approaches towards the finished state. On the other hand, rotor spun yarn fabric exhibits higher tensile strength along the warp. Tearing strength along bias direction is in between warp and weft wise tearing strength; whereas tensile strength is lowest while tested along the bias direction. During the grey to finished process, tear strength falls at bleaching and dyeing, and particularly drops in strength is being more at the dyeing stage.

Originality/value

This study has investigated the tearing and tensile strength behaviour of military khaki fabrics from grey to finished state, developing understanding of the impact of different processes on the tearing strength, so that fabric of the required tear strength can be developed with process modification.
Textile and apparel supply chain management in Hong Kong
Authors: Lam Jimmy K.C. , Postle R.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to review the concept of supply chain management. The typical problems facing with textile and apparel supply chain are short product cycle for fashion articles, long production lead‐time and forecasting errors for fashion items. The Hong Kong textile and apparel supply chain faces additional problems of distance from customers in the US and European markets, long production lead‐times and minimum batch sizes for production, and, recently, elimination of quota restriction in the US market, all of which force them to improve efficiency and enhance competitiveness through supply chain management. Seeks also to provide a selective bibliography for industrial practitioners with sources which can help them develop their supply chain strategies for the fashion market in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

A range of recent published (1993‐2005) works, which aim to provide practical advice are critiqued to aid the individual practitioner to manage its supply chain strategies in Hong Kong. These sources are sorted into sections: supply chain management in Hong Kong, textile and apparel supply chain management in Hong Kong, and problems faced by small and medium‐sized enterprises for textile and apparel supply chain.

Findings

The differentiation of product demands into functional and innovative products helps the supply chain company to employ different supply chain strategies for different products, namely responsive supply chain strategy for innovative products and efficiency supply chain strategy for functional products. These two supply chain strategies are focused on the downstream supply chain aiming at shortening the time to research the market and also to reduce the stock levels in the retailing industry.

Research limitations/implications

This is not an exhaustive list and cases are mainly from the Hong Kong textile and apparel industry, which perhaps limits its usefulness elsewhere.

Practical implications

A very useful source of information and impartial advice for industrial practitioners to develop their own supply chain strategies for the fashion market in Hong Kong. Especially recently with the elimination of quota to the US market, the management of the supply chain is critical.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified information/resources need and offers practical help to industrial practitioners on then supply chain management for the Hong Kong textile and apparel industry.
Improving call centre agent performance
Authors: Shankar Mahesh Vaikalathur , Kasturi Anand
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The study was designed to understand important aspects of the call centre agents' job, from their point of view, and the relationships between these aspects and agent effectiveness as perceived by agents' supervisors.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative data gathering (from 113 agents) involved three methods: critical incidents, behavioural events interviews and focus group interviews. Based on the items thus identified, a questionnaire was administered (n=169) to agents in two call centres, and the results were analysed using factor analysis and correlation analysis.

Findings

Four distinct factors emerged from the analysis: intrinsic motivation (IM,α=0.91), reward/recognition (RR,α=0.56), customer stress (CS,α=0.85) and stress management (SM,α=0.74). IM correlated positively with effectiveness, especially among experienced agents. CS correlated negatively with IM and positively with RR; SM correlated positively with IM.

Research limitations/implications

Some limitations are: self‐reported data, representing one point in time, and with only two call centres. IM and CS present opportunities for further in‐depth study, among frontline employees in general.

Practical implications

The study has many significant practical implications for call centre managers to improve agents' performance by tapping into IM rather than control. Further, higher levels of IM are likely to lead to a less stressed workforce.

Originality/value

Our study has indicated two new and important constructs (IM and CS) that emerged from agents, and established important links between these constructs, and with effectiveness.
Defining relationship quality for customer‐driven business development
Authors: Roos Inger , Gustafsson Anders , Edvardsson Bo
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to compare the company's perception of their business to the customers' dynamic view of their relationships with the same company.

Design/methodology/approach

Customers are interviewed about their perceptions of the relationships. The interviews are analyzed by using SPAT (switching path analysis technique) that divides the relationships into different parts with priority to their relevance for the strength of the relationships.

Findings

Customers who experience triggers in their relationships evaluate their mortgage provider differently than those who do not. The construct that influences the dynamism and the differing evaluations is defined as the trigger function. Three trigger categories are identified and described: the situational, the influential, and the reactional. In order to further verify the dynamic aspect of the customer relationship, evidence of customers' dynamic evaluations and of how the company's own perceptions of the business differ from those of its customers is provided.

Research limitations/implications

Regarding the generalization of the results for services the findings are limited to one industry; the financial.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the understanding of the dynamism in the customer relationships of a housing‐mortgage company.
Why are records in the public sector organizational assets?
Authors: Shepherd Elizabeth
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Aims to explore ways in which records support the mandate and activities of public sector bodies in the UK, in particular compliance with legislation, including the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Design/methodology/approach

Focusing on high profile public enquiries as a trigger for examining the value of records in answering questions of public interest, the article goes on to report on recent research into FOI and records and to comment on the broad legislative and regulatory framework for records management.

Findings

The article concludes that records are an essential element in the accountability of government, in the maintenance of transparent democracies, in the provision of access by citizens to information and in the effective formulation and execution of policies.

Originality/value

Brings together thinking about the organizational value of records in theoretical terms with specific high profile examples of public enquiries and recent legislation.
The importance of records management in France
Authors: de Boisdeffre Martine
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Shares views on the increasing importance of records management in France, which does not have a long history of the concept, and the role of archivists and other information professionals in managing records in the electronic environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a keynote speech which opened an evening conference on records management hosted by the French National Archives at the Hotel de Soubise, Paris on 9 November 2005 attended by many French archivists and members of the ISO TC 46/SC 11 Committee responsible for archives and records management.

Findings

Concludes that different worlds of electronic document management systems and archives must come together, recognising their own strengths and sharing competences to enable more effective information management and add value to historical heritage.

Originality/value

Offers an insight into records management in France where the culture, concept an implementation of this discipline has a shorter history and is less structured than in some other parts of the world.
Document management at the French National Library
Authors: Dhérent Catherine
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To share the experience of developing processes for managing the internal documents of a national library – the Bibliothèque Nationale de France – in a country where records management is still not well known and rarely applied.

Design/methodology/approach

The initiative used the Design and Implementation of RecordKeeping Systems methodology. Its main aim was to ensure that best practice, as outlined in the ISO 15489 standard, was applied to the management of electronic documents just as best practice had been applied to managing paper documents for many years in the National Library of France. Particular requirements were to track the information essential to the managing the Library's affairs, to preserve evidence of it intellectual property rights and to promote the documents which could enable its history to be written

Findings

Highlights the importance of communication, training and using the knowledge and skills of a different specialist staff and the implications of new ways of working for Library staff. Considers future work.

Practical implications

Highlights the crucial role played by the Library's new president and chief executive officer in the success of the project.

Originality/value

This paper is a useful case study of implementing records management processes to manage an organisation's own electronic information where the organisation's purpose is the management of information, much of it published information.