bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Servant leadership versus transformational leadership in voluntary service organizations
Authors: Schneider Sherry K. , George Winnette M.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The major purpose of this research is to test the application of two leadership models to a voluntary service club. Servant leadership was predicted to better explain the attitudes and commitment of service organization members than transformational leadership. Both leadership styles were hypothesized to be mediated by empowerment.

Design/methodology/approach

At eight clubs of a national voluntary service organization, it was investigated whether transformational and “servant” leadership were positively related to club member satisfaction, commitment and intentions to stay in the club. A sample of 110 participants completed either a printed or an online survey on the leadership style of their current club president and their attitudes toward the club in general. The club presidents completed the leadership surveys.

Findings

While perceptions of transformational leadership and servant leadership styles were highly correlated, servant leadership was identified as a better predictor of the voluntary club members' commitment, satisfaction, and intentions to stay. Club members' perceptions of empowerment mediated the relationship between servant leadership and satisfaction, commitment, and intentions to stay in the volunteer service organizations.

Practical implications

Leaders of service clubs may wish to adopt a servant leader style. These servant leaders may find it practical to provide empowering experiences to encourage volunteers to perform service club activities effectively. More generally, leaders who provide volunteers with positive, meaningful experiences may be able to maintain their interest in their volunteer positions.

Originality/value

It is believed that this is the first paper to compare directly servant versus transformational leadership in a voluntary organization.
Patient satisfaction, managers' climate orientation and organizational climate
Authors: Ancarani Alessandro , Di Mauro Carmela , Giammanco Maria D.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper, in the context of hospital wards, is to test a model in which the ward manager's orientation towards a given organizational climate contributes to determine the climate perceived by medical and nursing staff, and this, in turn, has an impact on patient satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the study is cross‐sectional. The manager's climate orientation, employee perceptions of organizational climate, and patient satisfaction questionnaires were administered to ward managers, medical staff, and inpatients in 57 wards belonging to ten public hospitals in Italy. The hypothesised model was tested using two‐level structural equation modelling.

Findings

Different climates impact on patient satisfaction in a different way. Evidence was found that a human relation climate augments patient satisfaction. Ward managers' orientation on specific organizational models is matched by the actual climate perceived by medical and nursing staff. Comparison between alternative nested models shows that there is evidence in favour of the mediating effect of climate between the managers' climate orientation and patient satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the paper is the cross‐sectional nature of the data set, which does not allow for definitive conclusions on the direction of causality links.

Practical implications

Understanding the link between climate and patient satisfaction may guide hospitals towards a more conscious selection of the appropriate organizational model.

Originality/value

The contribution of the present paper to the extant literature is twofold. First, it verifies whether the ward manager's climate orientation is matched by the organizational climate as perceived by subordinates. Second, it investigates the mediating role that organizational climate plays between ward managers' orientations and patient satisfaction.
Coordination of physicians' operational activities: a contingency perspective
Authors: Broekhuis Manda , Pieter van Donk Dirk
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of three different dimensions of customer‐induced uncertainty and task uncertainty on the mix of physicians' coordination practices.

Design/methodology/approach

An improvement and research project are combined resulting in 16 case studies in different departments from one university hospital. The paper relies mainly on patient data from hospitals' registration systems and on 140 dialogues between two physicians reflecting on their coordination practices.

Findings

Hospital units rely on time‐structured oral communication supplemented with feedback in cases of high levels of input variety, whereas severity of illness and service intensity increase the use of unstructured oral coordination practices. High levels of customer‐induced uncertainty reduce coordination by standardization of work processes. Supplementing verbal communication with written medical records has become an inherent part of coordination practices. Non‐surgical units rely mostly on time‐structured meetings, whereas surgical units use both time‐structured and unstructured meetings to deal with customer‐induced uncertainty.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical part of this paper is limited to hospital units that are functionally organized. A further refinement and extension of measures for the contingency factors could help to better understand coordination practices.

Practical implications

The paper offers hospitals in‐depth understanding of how customer‐induced uncertainty and task uncertainty affect physicians' coordination practices.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the knowledge on medical coordination from a contingency perspective. Further, the paper contributes to alternative methodologies in terms of data gathering as dialogues between organizational members are the main data source.
The impact of user‐perceived e‐procurement quality on system and contract compliance
Authors: Brandon‐Jones Alistair , Carey Sinéad
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Whilst e‐procurement has significant potential to reduce the purchasing costs of an organisation, the realisation of these savings requires user compliance. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which user‐perceived e‐procurement quality (EPQ) (operationalised through the dimensions of professionalism, processing, training, specification, content, and usability) influences both system and contract compliance.

Design/methodology/approach

User perceptions of EPQ were examined in four UK organisations using survey data from 274 respondents.

Findings

Strong evidence was found of a positive relationship between user‐perceived EPQ and both system and contract compliance. System compliance was most strongly influenced by professionalism and content dimensions, whilst contract compliance was most strongly influenced by processing, specification, and content dimensions.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected from e‐procurement users in four organisations, which may limit the extent to which findings can be generalised.

Practical implications

User perceptions of e‐procurement provision significantly influence system and contract adoption. Practitioners should pay attention to management of different dimensions of perceived quality as they may have different effects on both contract and system compliance.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to empirically assess the relationship between user‐perceived EPQ and compliance. Its findings challenge the assumption that the monopolistic dynamics common within internal services, such as e‐procurement provision, are sufficient to ensure compliance. Dissatisfied individuals invariably find ways to circumvent mandatory systems and contracts.
The impact of country culture on the adoption of new forms of work organization
Authors: Cagliano Raffaella , Caniato Federico , Golini Ruggero , Longoni Annachiara , Micelotta Evelyn
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims at understanding the relationship between the adoption of new forms of work organizations (NFWOs) and measures of country impact, in terms of national culture and economic development.

Design/methodology/approach

The adoption of NFWO practices is measured through data from the fourth edition of the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey, while Hofstede's measures are adopted for national culture, and gross national income (GNI) per capita is used as an economic development variable. Multivariate linear regression is applied to investigate relationships, using company size as a control variable. A cluster analysis is utilized to identify groups of countries with similar cultural characteristics and to highlight different patterns of adoption of NFWO practices.

Findings

The authors show that it is possible to explain different patterns in the adoption of NFWO practices when considering company size and cultural variables. GNI is instead only significant for some practices and does not always positively influence the adoption of NFWO. On the other hand, cultural variables are linked to all the practices, but there is no dominant dimension to explain higher or lower NFWO adoption.

Research limitations/implications

Results are limited because only Hofstede's cultural variables are used and manufacturing performance is not considered. Therefore, it is not possible to discriminate between more or less successful NFWO variations.

Practical implications

This paper provides managers with insights on how to take into account cultural variables when transferring organizational models to different countries.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to previous studies showing the importance of including several contextual variables, country impact in particular, in the study of operations management.
Service delivery system design: characteristics and contingencies
Authors: Ponsignon F. , Smart P.A. , Maull R.S.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore and empirically investigate the characteristics and contingencies of service delivery system design.

Design/methodology/approach

Informed by the service strategy triad, a single embedded case study was designed to explore empirical data on four target markets, four service concepts, and on the design characteristics of the corresponding four service delivery systems. Data were collected in a market‐leading organisation in the business‐to‐business sector within the power industry. The service delivery systems comprise processes that sell electricity contracts and processes that bill against those contracts.

Findings

First, the findings indicate what design characteristics are contingent upon the degree of customisation of the service concept. The authors show how this contingency has implications for the extents of employee skills, employee discretion, task routineness, automation, and for front office (FO)‐back office (BO) configurations. Second, the authors challenge the consensus that low customer‐contact processes are designed for the purpose of efficiency. Third, the findings contradict Metters and Vargas who state that it is not possible to have different FO‐BO configurations in a single organisation.

Research limitations/implications

While there are major interactions between the four service delivery systems supporting each individual service concept, this paper does not examine the trade‐offs between the various possible designs of these service delivery systems.

Practical implications

The paper emphasises the importance of considering the complexity of the service offering, the customer relationship strategy, and of taking a process‐orientation to address service delivery system design.

Originality/value

This paper extends current understanding of service delivery system design characteristics and contingencies. The authors show how design characteristics are contingent on the service concept. Research propositions are formulated to emphasise this contingency. Additionally, we report findings which challenge existing FO‐BO design theory.
Theoretical versus actual product variety: how much customisation do customers really demand?
Authors: Stäblein Thomas , Holweg Matthias , Miemczyk Joe
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to challenge the common claim of “infinite variety” being demanded in the marketplace by measuring not just how much variety theoretically could be produced, but how much is actually demanded by the customer. To this effect, the authors propose and validate market‐based variety measures with empirical data and in a second step, extend their analysis by applying these measures and empirically testing the impact of variety mitigation strategies, such as postponement and options bundling.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyse production and sales data of 226,106 passenger cars, comprising of three models of one vehicle manufacturer sold across four global market regions. The theoretical variety is compared with actual variety for each model‐market combination, and these data are linked to actual production and sales records.

Findings

The authors propose and validate product variety measures based on actual customer orders, and empirically demonstrate how these measures can be used to assess the impact of late configuration and option bundling strategies, and find that these are generally valid, but that their applicability is contingent upon the respective variety distribution profile.

Research limitations/implications

Analyses are developed within the context of a single firm and industry, although an attempt was made to counter this weakness by considering models from the volume, niche and premium market segments.

Practical implications

The paper highlights how actual variety differs from theoretical variety in practice, which in turn co‐determines the effectiveness of mitigation strategies applied by firms.

Originality/value

The paper's main contribution is to propose and empirically test a set of novel measures of product variety: the average repetition ratio and a specification Pareto curve, both of which complement and enhance one's understanding of product variety and its impact on manufacturing and distribution systems.
Equal opportunities in transition?
Authors: King Allen Douglas , Barry Jim , Berg Elisabeth
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the attitudes of women and men in relation to gender‐appropriate domestic responsibilities and equal opportunities in the changing context of neo‐liberalism.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on results from an empirical investigation involving 1,731 questionnaires investigating the attitudes of women and men in a town in the north of Sweden.

Findings

The tentative conclusions suggest that even if they appear to co‐exist in contradictory ways, ideas of gender‐appropriate domestic responsibilities and equality of opportunity are in the respondents' minds, alongside neo‐liberal notions of individualisation. The prevailing attitudes in respect of gender suggest that women and men make apparently free “choices”; the influence of age on attitudes to gender issues is also considered.

Originality/value

This paper considers neo‐liberalisation and its impact on gender equity in Sweden, a country with a strong reputation for gender equity and a tradition of collective, inclusive social democracy, somewhere we would be unlikely to find its embedded presence. Using a quantitative self‐reporting approach to attitudes relevant to the choices made by men and women, the study raises questions about gender‐appropriate domestic responsibilities and equality of opportunity in a country that has been and continues to be regarded as one of the most gender‐friendly in the world and likely to be resistant to the influence of neo‐liberalism. The implications are explored, with the evidence indicating the presence of neo‐liberalism co‐existing, albeit perhaps uneasily, with traditions of equality of opportunity and attitudes to gender.
Comparisons of cognitive ability and job attitudes of older and younger workers
Authors: Brough Paula , Johnson Greer , Drummond Suzie , Pennisi Shannon , Timms Carolyn
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Advancing knowledge about effectively managing the ageing workforce and ensuring economic sustainability for a growing retired cohort is a recognised priority for organisational health researchers, employers and governments. The purpose of this paper is to test social perceptions that older workers' cognitive performance and job attitudes compare adversely to their younger colleagues.

Design/methodology/approach

The research assessed samples of older and younger workers in objective tests of cognitive abilities and subjective job attitudes. An opportunity sampling method was employed to recruit a heterogeneous group of participants in Australia (n=172).

Findings

No significant differences in cognitive ability between the groups were identified; older workers were as cognitively skilled for their job as their younger colleagues. No significant group difference for perceptions of social support, job commitment, job satisfaction or turnover intentions was identified.

Research limitations/implications

The cross‐sectional research design adopted by this research prevented a more detailed examination of the data in terms of causal relationships. While the cognitive testing provided objective rather than subjective data and, therefore, is not as susceptible to response biases such as common method variance, the small sample who undertook the cognitive testing is acknowledged as a research limitation.

Social implications

This research has implications for the reduction in unemployment of older workers and directly addresses the social issues of an ageing labour force.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that stereotypical assumptions concerning inadequate performance and low job commitment commonly attributed to older workers are not in fact indicative of all ageing employees.
Gender diversity changes in a small engineering discipline: materials science and engineering
Authors: Bowman Keith J.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish greater understanding of changes in gender diversity at the undergraduate, graduate and faculty levels for a small engineering discipline, materials science and engineering (MSE), and how it may be related to different cultures across the variety of engineering disciplines.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper assesses publicly available data on the demographics of US MSE programs to explore expectations of correlation between increased gender diversity at the graduate level and among faculty versus undergraduate gender diversity.

Findings

The number and percentage of women increased substantially in graduate programs and within faculties whereas the percentage of women receiving bachelor's of science degrees in engineering (BSE) in MSE, and nearly all other engineering disciplines, was significantly lower in 2009 than in 2000. Diversity advances at graduate, postdoctoral and faculty levels in the interdisciplinary field of MSE, and likely other relatively young engineering disciplines, have been achieved via a continuous migration of individuals from other science and engineering disciplines as well as from international science and engineering programs.

Research limitations/implications

The paper does not explore cause‐and‐effect, but rather provides a case study of trends occurring within a specific discipline. When evidence for a “leaky pipeline” is found within one generalized context (i.e. engineering), the assumption has been that every discipline (i.e. MSE, biomedical engineering) within that context has leaky pipelines that must be fixed. Given the present data, such assumptions may be inappropriate and perpetuate an understanding of how to improve gender diversity that is not helpful and, in fact, may be harmful to achieving diversity.

Originality/value

The paper provides an assessment of gender diversity for a smaller discipline and explores applicability of conventional pipeline models for career progression.
The dangers of malware in a library computing environment
Authors: Zimerman Martin
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to point out, to non‐technical library users, the hazards of using the library's public computers.

Design/methodology/approach

The purpose of this paper is to articulate the dangers faced by library users, whether they be students, faculty, or staff. This paper is geared towards education and enlightenment of non‐technical users of public computers.

Findings

There are many hazards to computing, both online and off. Most public computers are not well prepared to cope with worms, Trojans and other malware. There are remedies for a lot of the malware, but as in an arms race it is a matter of catching up with the latest weapon to be presented.

Practical implications

Since public computers are so vulnerable to attack, library IT must be constantly vigilant for the menaces that are present. The paper shows how computers can be protected.

Originality/value

If this can help save one computer's workload by making people aware of the dangers involved, the information is well worthwhile.
Applying web analytics in a K‐12 resource inventory
Authors: Wang Xin , Shen Demei , Chen Hsin‐liang , Wedman Laura
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate how to use a web analytics tool to conduct deep analysis of users' web behaviors. This study aims to focus on examining whether the types of traffic sources and temporal fluctuation influence the web visitors' performance on the web portal of a K‐12 resource inventory.

Design/methodology/approach

One year's data were collected via the Advanced Segmentation function of Google Analytics. To compare visitors' behavior from different types of traffic recourses with the intervention of temporal effect, clickstream data of three visitor segments were collected.

Findings

Traffic sources and temporal effect have been found to influence web site visitors' performance interactively. Search engines seemed good at bringing a significantly large amount of traffic to the eThemes site, but most visitors are likely “information encounters”. However, visitors from direct traffic (bookmark/typed URLs) seemed to visit the eThemes site purposefully – stay for a long time on the site and view more web pages. Additionally, loyal users of the site seemed to employ the eThemes site as an everyday life information source.

Originality/value

This study introduces a strategic approach to study and analyzes web site visitors' behavior longitudinally. The findings of this study contribute to loyal user behavior identification. Empirical evidence has been found to support the correlational relationship between traffic sources, the temporal factor, and Key Performance Identifiers of a site.
RFID: the big player in the libraries of the future
Authors: Zare Mehrjerdi Yahia
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to propose the idea of developing an automatic Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)‐based system for library search and to examine the existing literature to determine whether current technology and developed RFID‐based systems are helpful for building that. To fully understand its key points, adoptions, risks, and benefits, the fundamentals of radio frequency are to be identified and reviewed. Some applications of radio frequency identification in library systems and various industries are to be briefly discussed and four related cases reviewed.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies key benefits and risks of radio frequency identification through review of library literature and case studies. For this purpose, four cases are reviewed from the entire industry and then key features of those cases are matched with the requirements of the big pictures' RFID‐based system to determine the current level of the RFID‐based system development.

Findings

To make library systems functional and successfully operational RFID solutions can be used to reduce operating costs through decreasing the labor costs, enhancing automation, improving tracking and tracing, and preventing the loss of materials under any circumstances.

Originality/value

The proposed automated RFID‐based system is a novel idea by itself. Owing to the fact that better management of books and materials becomes possible, materials are not lost, theft is avoided, and patrons are served on time and correctly.
CERIF compatible data model based on MARC 21 format
Authors: Ivanović Dragan , Surla Dušan , Konjović Zora
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to observe all data from the Common European Research Information Format (CERIF) data model that can be described using bibliographic standards and move those data to a data model of bibliographic standard.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of the CERIF data model and the MARC 21 format has shown that some elements of the CERIF data model could be mapped to the MARC 21 bibliographic record. A CERIF compatible data model based on the MARC 21 format is proposed. The data model was created using PowerDesigner CASE tool. The proposed data model is represented using a physical data model in the conceptual notation that is adopted in the literature for representing the CERIF data model.

Findings

A CERIF compatible data model based on the MARC 21 format is proposed. The proposed model contains all the data from the CERIF2008 data model. The central part of the proposed model is MARC 21 data model that is used as a replacement for 27 entities of the CERIF data model, including all their attributes as well as part of the attributes in entities related to organisational unit. The mappings between attributes of entities of the CERIF data model and the data model of the MARC 21 format are described.

Research limitations/implications

The CERIF compatible data model based on the MARC 21 format does not support all restrictions on data types, which are defined by the CERIF data model. This means that such restrictions have to be controlled by software.

Practical implications

The central part of the proposed CERIF compatible data model is a data model of MARC 21 format. It means that most of the data are modelled according to bibliographic standard, which is very widespread worldwide. This implies that the proposed CERIF model can be easily implemented within the existing library infrastructure. In addition, the proposed model can be used for other purposes, such as the evaluation of scientific research results, generating bibliographies of researchers, and institutions, the citations etc. A research management system based on the proposed model is implemented. Also, this system is verified and tested on data about published results of researchers employed at University of Novi Sad, Serbia.

Originality/value

A new data model compatible with the CERIF data model is proposed. The basic idea is to map part of the CERIF data model related to published results of scientific research to some well‐known bibliographic standard. It was shown that this part of the data model could be mapped to the MARC 21 data model. It can be mapped to data models of any other MARC standards in a similar way.
Opportunities and risks for libraries in applying for European funding
Authors: van Hooland Seth , Vandooren Françoise , Méndez Rodríguez Eva M.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to analyse the opportunities and potential risks for libraries applying for European support to fund projects regarding digitisation or availability of their already digitised content. The European Commission has a range of specific funding programs devoted to access, use and preservation of digital cultural heritage, so libraries and other “cultural institutions” holding European heritage are the natural applicants for this kind of calls. Sometimes, however, they do not know how to apply and fully understand the advantages and commitments involved. This paper aims to help libraries to understand European funding programs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper has complementary experience with respect to applications and participation in EU‐funded projects, as well as the evaluation of proposals and the reviewing of approved projects. Apart from the lessons drawn from the personal experiences of the paper, the content is based on the most recent documentation and information about the Call For Proposals (CFP) made available by the European Commission.

Findings

Competition among proposals for European funding in the context of Digital Libraries (DLs) has grown considerably over the last few years. Therefore, it is essential for potential applicants to ensure the quality of their proposal by matching its content to the objectives of the Call and meeting the relevant evaluation criteria. In addition, the scope of the proposal needs to be embedded within the long‐term research and management strategy of the institutions applying to ensure both a successful application procedure and maximum sustainability of the project.

Originality/value

Apart from the documentation offered by the European Commission and several public reports of consultancy firms, no previous papers have been published which provide an insight into the workflow of the submission and evaluation of proposals for European funding in the domain of Digital Libraries.
Libraries in the digital ecology: reflections and trends
Authors: García‐Marco Francisco‐Javier
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper sets out to address the issue of the impact and evolution of digital libraries and information services using the concept of information ecologies.

Design/methodology/approach

After setting the perspective, digital libraries are explored from their functional logic inside the social subsystem that deals with transferring knowledge in the form of information among people and generations. The current landscape is then presented, which is complicated by the enormous technological shift in course. The concept of information ecology is useful for reducing this complexity.

Findings

Trends affecting modern information ecology in which digital libraries are evolving are studied. Specifically, eight noteworthy processes in this development are analyzed: ubiquity of information management; digital convergence; technological standardization and leverage; the surging of a worldwide space of collaboration, and competition; swift advances in the international division of informational work; the transformation of the physical information units toward the provision of proximity services; the entry of new agents in the field; and the growing emphasis on data management.

Originality/value

The changing environment in the libraries field is explored using the concept of information ecologies. Some of the most important trends in the digital environment are identified and their effect on the social and economical functions of libraries is shown. Information ecology is very complex, with many actors, and libraries have some niches ensured (heritage preservation, proximity services …), though others could be better performed by emerging full‐digital organizations.
Comparative features of integrated library management software systems available in Delhi
Authors: Rai Namrata , Kumar Shailendra
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the progress of library management software and to trace out the characteristics and trends of software with special reference to packages that provide either web interface for some of their modules or total web‐based solutions for all management modules. The paper also seeks to compare services and facilities and technologies incorporated in library automation packages.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports on a survey of software vendors in Delhi, India, aimed at knowing about the different features of the six software packages selected for this study. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire that was circulated among the software vendors.

Findings

A variety of software is available in the software marketplace. However, only a few of them are fully web compatible and support maximum technological features.

Research limitations/implications

The research focuses only on software packages which are available in Delhi.

Practical implications

The comparative analysis of Library Management Software Systems made in this study will be helpful for librarians who are planning to automate their libraries and will also provide help to maintain software that is most suitable to their needs.

Originality/value

No comprehensive survey has been carried out regarding the web interface for Library Management Software Systems in India.
The relationship between ILL/document supply and journal subscriptions
Authors: Bernardini Elena , Mangiaracina Silvana
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the relationship between ILL/document supply and journal subscriptions and to assess recent trends in the ILL service.

Design/methodology/approach

This survey is based on data from the ILL service conducted over the five‐year period 2005‐2009 through the Italian Network for Inter‐Library Document Exchange (NILDE).

Findings

This paper bears out important previous findings that ILL is not used as a surrogate for journal subscriptions. This is supported by the analysis of a broad number of titles and over a wide time‐range. On the contrary, analysis of data transactions, particularly of the most requested journals, can bring about positive effects on new title acquisitions and negotiations with publishers. This paper also shows, at least for Italy, an overall growth and vitality of ILL, in spite of the widespread availability of e‐journals acquired through consortia purchasing.

Originality/value

The paper presents an insight into the relationship between ILL and journal subscriptions in Italy, a country where few studies have been carried out, and none at all for such a large number of libraries and transactions.
How the digital era has transformed ILL services in Japanese university libraries: a comprehensive analysis of NACSIS‐ILL transaction records from 1994 to 2008
Authors: Koyama Kenji , Sato Yoshinori , Tutiya Syun , Takeuchi Hiroya
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify and examine the factors that affected the scale of ILL photocopy requests between Japanese university libraries from 1994 to 2008.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the newly developed conceptual framework to interpret the rise and fall in ILL, more than 10 million requests, sent through a nation‐wide system called NACSIS‐ILL from 1994 to 2008 were quantitatively analyzed.

Findings

The number of photocopy requests for articles in foreign journals started to decrease in 2000, due to the dramatic increase of e‐journal titles made accessible through “Big Deal” contracts that came into effect in 2002 as well as other similar trials prior to it. On the other hand, requests for articles in domestic journals, mostly written in Japanese, continued to increase until 2006. The main factor for this increase was the expansion of journal title coverage in bibliographic databases, which enabled users to retrieve more references. However, requests decreased in 2007, because of advances in digitization in the Japanese academic environment.

Research limitations/implications

This research proposes a conceptual model to understand document demand and service patterns observed in nation‐wide ILL services. It also successfully draws a comprehensive picture of ILL in Japanese higher education institutions, based on more than 10 million request records over 15 years, and it shows how the number of ILL requests correlates with the availability of requested journals in electronic form.

Originality/value

This research proposes a conceptual model to understand document demand and service patterns observed in nation‐wide ILL services. It also successfully draws a comprehensive picture of ILL in Japanese higher education institutions, based on more than 10 million request records over 15 years, and it shows how the number of ILL requests correlates with the availability of requested journals in electronic form.
The effect of transactional access/pay per view implementation on interlibrary loan: the case of Murray State University
Authors: Weir Ryan O. , Ireland Ashley
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the development of one transactional access/pay‐per‐view model and its current and anticipated impact on ILL at one US university.

Design/methodology/approach

The services at Murray State University (MSU) are described and the impact of one year of PPV implementation assessed. Some general implications are explored.

Findings

It found that PPV has not yet had a correlative impact on ILL at MSU but this is likely to change as PPV expands.

Originality/value

The paper shows this to be one of a number of empirical studies which are valuable in assessing the impact of PPV as an alternative to the conventional ILL supply of articles.
A survey of interlibrary loans at Rud‐‐er Bošković Institute Library, Croatia, 2003‐2008
Authors: Macan Bojan , Konjević Sofija
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this survey is to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of interlibrary loan (ILL) at the RBI Library in Croatia.

Design/methodology/approach

Various indices were measured including: the percentage of fulfilled ILL requests, the difference between copy and loan requests, the difference between requests fulfilled free of charge and fee‐based and also to calculate the document delivery time. The analyzed data on received ILL requests were gathered via an in‐house‐developed application for ILL called SEND, via which RBI researchers submit their ILL requests to the RBI Library.

Findings

This survey showed a high percentage of fulfilled ILL requests (94.6 percent), but there was also a surprisingly high percentage of cancelled ILL requests, because RBI Library owned the requested documents (21.8 percent). Most ILL requests were copy requests and the analysis of the gathered data showed a trend of acquiring more documents free of charge. Delivery time has decreased in the period of the survey, and in 2008 it was less than six working days for copy requests and approximately ten days for loan requests. The delivery time was shorter for fee‐based requests.

Originality/value

This paper presents a systematic analysis of the ILL service at the RBI Library for a six‐year period (2003‐2008).
The National Union Catalogue of Scientific Serials in India (NUCSSI) on the web
Authors: Mittal Rekha
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the development of the Indian National Union Catalogue for Scientific Serials (NUCSSI).

Design/methodology/approach

The stages in the development of the national union catalogue and software used for database design and development with different computer systems are discussed. The integration of the database with an e‐mail service for routeing of library/user request information is also described.

Findings

It was found that NUCSSI is an ideal access tool and is indispensable in supporting document supply. Regular updating of the database is enhanced with the online access granted to the participating libraries via the internet.

Practical implications

Desktop connectivity to the NUCSSI database through the internet has made it easy to find and obtain a journal/article of interest. User‐friendly interface and powerful search enable easy and improved access to locate a particular journal and its availability in various libraries free of cost. It provides a decentralized document supply system for India.

Originality/value

This article is of significance to librarians, information specialists in India and the international serials community.
Interlending and document supply: a review of the recent literature: 73
Authors: McGrath Mike
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the current LIS literature for document supply and related issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the reading of over 150 journals, reports and websites.

Findings

It was found that the economic situation is generating significant resistance to publisher price rises. Particular attention is paid to patron‐driven purchases of monographs.

Originality/value

This is the only regular review of the LIS literature with document supply in mind.
New insights into consumer confidence in financial services
Authors: Gritten Adèle
Published: February 2011

Purpose

A paradigm shift in consumer confidence has taken place with the worst recession on record forcing people to evaluate their personal and household finances. This paper seeks to explore the extent to which consumer confidence has been tarnished, and how it has evolved post‐recession. It aims to take both retrospective and prospective views on what has changed in the British psyche since the credit crunch, looking at where new confidences have been found and where old confidences have been lost, and hypothesising about the extent to which consumer behaviour will remain constant or further change against a likely backdrop of continuing financial instability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a variety of proprietary quantitative research surveys conducted by YouGov plc.

Findings

This paper provides new insights into consumer confidence, including, but not limited to: demonstrating the harsh realities of more people being in financial difficulty now than 18 months ago, and its impact on confidence; looking at which aspects of household expenditure and budgets have been hardest squeezed, and what that means for short‐ and medium‐term futures; analysing the extent to which the generally lower level of available credit makes consumers more or less reliant on borrowing as a way of life, and the associated impact on confidence and decision making/financial planning prioritisation; exploring the real fears and concerns people have about their future finances; and exploring consumer financial hopes and aspirations in a post‐recessionary climate.

Originality/value

Findings from bespoke research offer hitherto unpublished and statistically valid results on the extent to which consumers have coped with and embraced the aftermath of the recession, and, moreover, how that might manifest itself in terms of future consumer confidence in financial services.
Measuring the financial capability of investors
Authors: Pellinen Antti , Törmäkangas Kari , Uusitalo Outi , Raijas Anu
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide further understanding of the financial capability of mutual fund investors, and compare internet and branch office investors. It seeks to examine mutual fund investors' abilities and awareness of the terms and risks of mutual fund investments using a novel measurement instrument.

Design/methodology/approach

Ability measurement techniques adapted from educational and psychological studies were applied in the paper. Empirical survey data were collected in Finland.

Findings

There were differences between different types of investors in terms of financial knowledge. The channel used by the investors in making investments differentiated the more knowledgeable internet investors from the less knowledgeable branch office investors.

Research limitations/implications

The subjects of the study are the clients of a mutual fund company. Future research could concentrate on examining the consequences of financial knowledge. One interesting question is how the consumers understand their personal financial capability and its role in their lives.

Practical implications

The measures and indicators of financial capability are important evaluative instruments for banks and financial corporations as well as for the authorities involved in evaluating investors' financial behaviour.

Originality/value

The ability measurement technique adapted from education and psychological research proved to be applicable in the field of financial capability measurement.
Financial services and consumer protection after the crisis
Authors: Akinbami Folarin
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the approaches to consumer protection in UK financial services before and after the global financial crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews the literature on behavioural economics and psychology, and uses it as the basis for a critique of the UK's approach to the supervision of financial services firms and the protection of their consumers.

Findings

Non‐interventionist approaches to consumer protection, which are based on the traditional theories of the law and economics movement, have failed. As a result, there is now a shift in thinking towards more interventionist approaches.

Research limitations/implications

By understanding the likely impact of the regulatory reforms the academic research community can assist the regulator to understand the best way to ensure desirable outcomes for users (consumers) of financial services.

Originality/value

The moves to reform UK financial regulation after the crisis have only recently got under way and a lot of the reforms have not been widely debated or written on.
Understanding the consumption process through in‐branch and e‐mortgage service channels
Authors: Coughlan Jane , Macredie Robert D. , Patel Nayna
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The twin aims of this paper are to explore the differences in the consumption process between the traditional in‐branch and web‐based (e‐mortgage) service channels and how the differences relate to any problems identified in the electronic service environment, with respect to information search and product evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

A process‐oriented approach comparing the two service channels (in‐branch vs e‐mortgage) was conducted in two study phases. Data from the e‐mortgage process were collected using protocol analysis with 12 first‐time buyers (FTBs) applying on a website belonging either to a hybrid or to an internet‐only bank. Results of the e‐mortgage process were mapped on to stages of the in‐branch process, which was captured by observation of six FTB mortgage interviews to determine the level of correspondence and emergent issues.

Findings

Support for the FTB in the e‐mortgage process was problematic and service provision was found to be product‐ rather than consumer‐oriented.

Practical implications

The study highlights the importance of design issues in the electronic service environment for creating confidence in the online advice and information available on home mortgages for FTBs.

Originality/value

The paper promotes increased understanding by financial service providers of the characteristics that support the consultative selling process for complex products such as mortgages and inform multichannel retailing.