bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Young New Zealand shoppers' brand perceptions and ethnocentricity
Authors: Shergill Gurvinder S. , Rosmala Yuli , Parsons Andrew G.
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate young New Zealand shoppers' ethnocentricity and brand perceptions by extending the research of O'Cass and Lim. The paper does this by looking at the relationship between ethnocentrism and brand choices, and by investigating whether young New Zealand shoppers have different price and brand‐user image congruency perceptions for local and foreign brands.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of six hypotheses were tested using data gathered from a mall intercept survey of 208 respondents aged between 16 and 25 years. The shoppers were measured through a series of Likert‐scale questions from the O'Cass and Lim study, the Shimp and Sharma CETSCALE items, and a range of demographic characteristic items.

Findings

Young New Zealand shoppers are about mid‐level internationally in terms of ethnocentrism, and ethnocentricity does not have an influence on their perceptions of brands. Price perceptions and self/brand user congruency perceptions are important to young New Zealand shoppers, and these are different for local versus foreign brands.

Practical implications

Foreign brands do not suffer from ethnocentricity but they do have a distorted (high) price perception amongst young New Zealand shoppers, suggesting a need for marketing aimed at dispelling this misperception. There is also a lack of congruency with brands, indicating that more active promotions with stronger and more distinct brand images are required.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to examine young New Zealand shoppers in any context, and is the only study to link young New Zealand shoppers with other international studies of ethnocentrism and brand perceptions. While adding to the understanding of brand perceptions it also provides practitioners with insights into young shoppers' perspectives on international brands.
The history of New Zealand shop trading hours
Authors: Kennedy Ann‐Marie
Published: June 2010

Purpose

This historical narrative aims to analyse the changes in shop trading hour laws in New Zealand, to explore the reasons behind the acceptance of Sunday trading. It compares New Zealand's experience with the USA and the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

A historical methodology was used in this paper. Historical methods used to collect the data which form this historical narrative include document analysis, literature reviews and in‐depth interviews.

Findings

The narrative uncovers that New Zealand more closely mirrors the experience of the UK with Sunday trading laws, however, less emphasis on religious aspects of the law may have contributed to New Zealand's acceptance of the law before the UK.

Research limitations/implications

The historical narrative focuses on New Zealand with a less in‐depth discussion of the USA and the UK. Further historical narratives into these other countries would allow for a deeper comparison between countries.

Originality/value

Sunday trading is seen as out of the ordinary in many parts of the world and New Zealand was one of the earliest countries to introduce it. This paper explores how New Zealand came to introduce Sunday trading after the USA, but before its forebear – the UK.
Atmospheric cues and their effect on the hedonic retail experience
Authors: Ballantine Paul W. , Jack Richard , Parsons Andrew G.
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of atmospherics in the creation of an hedonic retail experience by comparing the perceived differences between a retail environment attempting to provide an hedonic experience and one with a more utilitarian focus.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative methodology was employed, using protocol analysis and in‐depth semi‐structured interviews that were conducted with ten participants.

Findings

The paper highlights several atmospheric cues and their influence on the hedonic retail experience. The first category of cues – attractive stimuli – were those cues that attracted attention, exciting the participant and eliciting approach behaviours. The second category – facilitating stimuli – included those cues that were necessary in order to facilitate product engagement.

Originality/value

The paper provides a broad categorisation of atmospheric cues, providing factors that shop designers can be aware of when creating a store with the hedonic experience in mind.
Magic from social networks that talk to management: four cases
Authors: Sugarman Barry
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand how social networks can help to produce the “magic” of extraordinary results for organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

In this exploratory study four cases (from published reports) are compared in order to illustrate different management approaches to utilizing the power of networks.

Findings

Social networks can be central to a strategy for organizational transformation (OT), as in three of these cases. They can also be fundamental to a firm's mode of organizing from its inception business and permanently, as in the second case (W.L. Gore). The three cases illustrate several approaches to connecting social networking with management's OT strategies. An important difference exists between informal, autonomous networks and networks that “talk” to management.

Research limitations/implications

These cases illustrate what is possible, not what is typical. All four cases involve social networks already aligned to official goals. This exploration of networking in the service of OT suggests some hypotheses but cannot rigorously test them.

Practical implications

Social networks can create, contain, and convey much of a company's intellectual capital and can control much of its potential for “magical” improvement. The basic principles of OT (developing a learning organization) apply here.

Originality/value

The comparative study of four cases is fruitful but rare. Network literature mostly consists of single cases and surveys at a distance.
Evidence‐based administration for decision making in the framework of knowledge strategic management
Authors: García Del Junco Julio , De Reyna Zaballa Rafael , García Álvarez de Perea Juan
Published: June 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to present a model based on evidence‐based administration (EBA), which aims to facilitate the creation, transformation and diffusion of knowledge in learning organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical framework is proposed based on EBA and the case method. Accordingly, an empirical study was carried out in two organizations to illustrate the value of the framework.

Findings

Results show the goodness of this framework applied to learning organizations, both at the individual and the group scale.

Research limitations/implications

The present study provides a basis for further research in the joint application of EBA and the case method.

Originality/value

A new field of future research is open, applying learning from the medicine field, which has theoretically been suggested in managerial science. Managerial implications are also very important.
The role of corporate governance in R&D intensity of US‐based international firms
Authors: Herrmann Pol , Kaufmann Jeffrey , van Auken Howard
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of corporate governance and internationalization on research and development (R&D) investments in US‐based international firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws from agency theory to examine the influence of corporate governance mechanisms and internationalization on R&D intensity by the use of longitudinal data from 1991, 1994, 1997, and 2000 in a sample of large, manufacturing US firms with international operations.

Findings

The paper finds that CEO total compensation is positively associated with R&D intensity, whereas equity voting power, insider ownership, and duality are negatively associated.

Research limitations/implications

The findings regarding insider ownership confirms agency theory, in that agents will tend to make decisions to maximize their own utility and thus would be expected to reject R&D investments. In terms of duality, the augmented discretion that CEOs assume when they also hold the chairmanship position may reduce the monitoring function of the board, making it easier for the CEO to avoid engaging in short‐term risky ventures. Additionally, CEOs are likely to demand larger salaries when faced with risky decisions because their employment stability and reputation are at stake.

Practical implications

Boards concerned with firm innovation should focus their decisions on CEO salaries on total compensation rather than on short‐term performance. Total compensation may motivate CEOs to commit to R&D investments that lead to innovations despite the risk of failure and detrimental impact on short‐term profits. Firms should be cautious in granting ownership to board members. Although ownership often stimulates commitment to strategic decisions, over‐involvement of board insiders may result in risk aversion, leading to decreases in R&D efforts.

Originality/value

This paper extends the literature by integrating agency theory and organization learning in a comprehensive framework, showing that governance and internationalization play a significant role in firm R&D intensity.
Ownership structure, corporate governance and corporate performance in Malaysia
Authors: Anum Mohd Ghazali Nazli
Published: June 2010

Purpose

Following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the Malaysian Government introduced new regulations on corporate governance, recognizing the importance of restoring market confidence. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of the implementation of these new regulations on corporate performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Regression analysis was performed to examine factors influencing corporate performance. Ownership structure was represented by director ownership, foreign ownership and government ownership, and corporate governance was proxied by board size and independence. Corporate performance was measured by Tobin's Q.

Findings

Using data from the year 2001 annual reports of 87 non‐financial listed companies included in the composite index, the results showed that none of the corporate governance variables was statistically significant in explaining corporate performance. Nonetheless, two ownership variables, namely the government as a substantial shareholder and foreign ownership, were statistically significantly associated with Tobin's Q.

Research limitations/implications

The regulations on corporate governance were implemented in 2001, perhaps it was too early to analyze results for the financial year 2001 as regulatory changes may take a few years before it could be expected to show positive or intended results.

Practical implications

An implication of this finding is that regulatory efforts initiated after the 1997 financial crisis to enhance corporate transparency and accountability did not appear to result in better corporate performance.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies which investigates the impact of regulatory actions on corporate governance on corporate performance immediately after its implementation.
Stakeholders‐oriented banks and bank performance
Authors: Behery Mohamed H. , Ibrahim Eldomiaty Tarek
Published: June 2010

Purpose

This research paper aims at examining the relationship between the relatively strong banking industries and the values of stakeholder systems. The authors compare international successful stock markets systems such as the US and the UK with successful stakeholder systems such as Japan, Germany, and most of continental Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

The issue of the banks' compatibility to support the stakeholder's interests is examined by two separate questionnaires designed and tested for the issues of reliability and validity. The questionnaires are addressed to two groups in the banking industry: corporate loan managers; and finance directors.

Findings

The findings show that finance directors share with the corporate loan managers the concerns of corporate stakeholders' interests and the importance of shareholders and creditors as complementary sources of financing. Regarding the stakeholders' effects on banks performance, the results show that: banks' support to shareholders interests is positively associated with banks profitability and liquidity, banks support to suppliers' interest is positively associated with banks' profitability, capital adequacy, and asset quality, banks' support to the creditors' interest is positively associated with bank's liquidity. Banks' support to unions, suppliers, and government relations is positively associated with bank's liquidity, and banks' support to corporate employees and managers is positively associated with bank's asset quality. Overall, the results conclude that banks' performance is positively associated with their orientations toward fulfilling corporate stakeholders' interests.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are limited to the banking industry in the UK only.

Originality/value

This research paper contributes to the literature in terms of presenting empirical evidence that the theoretical relationships of stakeholder management are supported by the banking industry as viable financial institutions.
Establishment of an experience value model
Authors: Lin Wen‐Bao
Published: June 2010

Purpose

Previous research is mainly devoted to value connotations obtained from the physical environment, rather than the effect on experience value from the perspective of customers' self‐efficacies and involvement. This paper attempts to combine multivariate statistical analysis and nonlinear fuzzy neural network model for data analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

Convenience sampling was adopted to investigate the employees from dozens of hi‐tech enterprises in the Hsinchu science‐based Industrial Park and Tainan Science‐based Industrial Park.

Findings

Customers' involvement levels have a positive effect on experience value; customers' positive moods have stronger positive effect than negative moods; customers' experience value may vary due to different environmental atmospheres and self‐efficacies.

Research limitations/implications

The investigation for the employees of a hi‐tech industry may deduce different implications due to various parent samples or sampling errors. So, subsequent research may perform a comparison of different regions or industries. Only 179 out of 500 samples are collected in this research. The relatively low‐recovery rate is attributed to the inclusions of numerous items in the questionnaire. This paper discusses transversely the predisposing influential factors of experience value.

Practical implications

The empirical results show that the fuzzy neural network model could measure the relationship of variables more accurately and also eliminate the existing restrictions, making it suitable for social science sectors such as business management.

Originality/value

Previous researches highlight the experience value of playfulness in the tourism industry, but little attention has been paid to the combination of education and playfulness along with self‐efficacy.
A multi‐agent approach for provisioning of e‐services in u‐commerce environments
Authors: Sanchez‐Pi Nayat , Manuel Molina Jose
Published: June 2010

Purpose

Taking into account the importance of e‐commerce and the current applications of AI techniques in this area, this research aims to adequate the design of a multi‐agent system for the provisioning of e‐services in u‐commerce environments. This proposal is centred on the methods of evaluation in a u‐e‐commerce environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The multi‐agent systems (MAS) approach is based on an MAS model developed for AmI that has been redesigned to support u‐commerce. The use of a recommendation system, previously developed by the research group, is suggested for this MAS. The methodological proposal centres on the evaluation of this type of system.

Findings

The evaluation of this type of system is the principal problem of current research. Therefore, this is the main contribution of the paper.

Research limitations/implications

The different evaluation methods that are proposed, whether qualitative or quantitative, offer the possibility of measuring the added value that the context can give to the use of e‐services in different domains of application. Qualitative evaluation should consider the customer as a central piece in the system. In addition, quantitative methods should objectively evaluate the contribution of context to the application.

Practical implications

At present, there is no single method for evaluating the benefits of different u‐commerce systems, so a new method needs to be found based on these techniques.

Originality/value

The research proposes an MAS designed for u‐commerce domains, analyzes the capacity of trust management techniques in this environment, and proposes several evaluation methods to show the benefits of context information in the use of e‐services. Several real developments are described to show the different applications of MAS in u‐commerce and how evaluation is carried out.
Using linguistic incomplete preference relations to cold start recommendations
Authors: Rodríguez Rosa M. , Espinilla Macarena , Sánchez Pedro J. , Martínez‐López Luis
Published: June 2010

Purpose

Analyzing current recommender systems, it is observed that the cold start problem is still too far away to be satisfactorily solved. This paper aims to present a hybrid recommender system which uses a knowledge‐based recommendation model to provide good cold start recommendations.

Design/methodology/approach

Hybridizing a collaborative system and a knowledge‐based system, which uses incomplete preference relations means that the cold start problem is solved. The management of customers' preferences, necessities and perceptions implies uncertainty. To manage such an uncertainty, this information has been modeled by means of the fuzzy linguistic approach.

Findings

The use of linguistic information provides flexibility, usability and facilitates the management of uncertainty in the computation of recommendations, and the use of incomplete preference relations in knowledge‐based recommender systems improves the performance in those situations when collaborative models do not work properly.

Research limitations/implications

Collaborative recommender systems have been successfully applied in many situations, but when the information is scarce such systems do not provide good recommendations.

Practical implications

A linguistic hybrid recommendation model to solve the cold start problem and provide good recommendations in any situation is presented and then applied to a recommender system for restaurants.

Originality/value

Current recommender systems have limitations in providing successful recommendations mainly related to information scarcity, such as the cold start. The use of incomplete preference relations can improve these limitations, providing successful results in such situations.
Privacy‐preserving data‐mining through micro‐aggregation for web‐based e‐commerce
Authors: Navarro‐Arribas Guillermo , Torra Vicenç
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to anonymize web server log files used in e‐commerce web mining processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper has applied statistical disclosure control (SDC) techniques to achieve its goal. More precisely, it has introduced the micro‐aggregation of web access logs.

Findings

The experiments show that the proposed technique provides good results in general, but it is especially outstanding when dealing with relatively small websites.

Research limitations/implications

As in all SDC techniques there is always a trade‐off between privacy and utility or, in other words, between disclosure risk and information loss. In this proposal, it has borne this issue in mind, providingk‐anonymity, while preserving acceptable information accuracy.

Practical implications

Web server logs are valuable information used nowadays for user profiling and general data‐mining analysis of a website in e‐commerce and e‐services. This proposal allows anonymizing such logs, so they can be safely outsourced to other companies for marketing purposes, stored for further analysis, or made publicly available, without risking customer privacy.

Originality/value

Current solutions to the problem presented here are very poor and scarce. They are normally reduced to the elimination of sensitive information from query strings of URLs in general. Moreover, to its knowledge, the use of SDC techniques has never been applied to the anonymization of web logs.
Ku band microwave studies of fritless strontium hexaferrite thick films
Authors: Kulkarni D.C. , Puri Vijaya
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to investigate microwave Ku band absorbance, complex permittivity, and permeability of SrFe12O19 thick films by a simple and novel waveguide technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The glass frit free or fritless strontium hexaferrite thick films were formulated on alumina by screen printing technique from the powder synthesized by chemical co precipitation method for pH 11 adjusted during the reaction. The 13‐18 GHz frequency band microwave absorbance of the SrFe12O19 thick films by a simple waveguide method. The complex permittivity and permeability of strontium hexaferrite thick films was measured by voltage standing wave ratio technique.

Findings

SrFe12O19 thick films show high ∼80 percent absorbance in the whole 13‐18 GHz frequency band. The thickness dependant microwave properties of strontium hexaferrite thick films were observed. The real permittivity ε′ lies in between eight and 35 with the variation in thickness of the thick film SrFe12O19. The real microwave permeability μ′ of strontium hexaferrite thick films lies in the range 1.12‐6.41. The resonance type behavior was observed at frequency 14.3 GHz. The SrFe12O19 thick film of thickness 30 μm could be a wide band (∼5,000 MHz) absorber with absorbance ∼87 percent for the whole 13‐18 GHz frequency band.

Originality/value

The complex permeability of strontium hexaferrite thick films was measured by simple novel waveguide method. The high absorbance (∼87 percent) of thick film SrFe12O19 over a broad band ∼5,000 MHz will be useful in achieving RAM coatings required for 13‐18 GHz frequency band.
Structural and optical properties of Alx Iny Ga1−x−y N quaternary alloys grown on sapphire substrates by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Abid M.A. , Abu Hassan H. , Hassan Z. , Ng S.S. , Mohd Bakhori S.K. , Abd Raof N.H.
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the structural and optical characterization of Alx Iny Ga1−x−y N quaternary epilayers, which were grown on c‐plane (0001) sapphire substrates with AlN as buffer layers using plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy technique with indium (In) mole fraction y ranging from 0.0 to 0.1 and constant aluminum (Al) mole fraction x=0.06.

Design/methodology/approach

High‐resolution X‐ray diffraction rocking curve (HRXRD‐RC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (EDX), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy have been measured on quaternary Alx Iny Ga1−x−y N thin films at room temperature.

Findings

HRXRD‐RC measurements confirmed that the Alx Iny Ga1−x−y N alloys had wurtzite structure. SEM images, element composition analysis by EDX, provided the evidence to show the existence of defects inside the samples contaminated by silicon from previous growth leading to nonuniformity of the epilayers, which caused decreased in the quality of the samples. PL spectra show reducing of the integrated intensity and an increasing red shift with increasing in content with reference to the ternary sample Al0.06Ga0.94N. The existence of a large amount of nonradiative recombination centers are responsible for the reduced the luminescence and the red shift provided evidence to an increase in composition inside the Alx Iny Ga1−x−y N quaternary alloys. Photoluminescence is used to determine the behavior of the near band edge emission represent the energy band gap of the quaternary films. The energy band gap decreases with increasing In composition from 0.01 to 0.1 mole fraction. This trend is expected since the incorporation of in reduced the energy band gap of ternary Al0.06Ga0.94N (3.529 eV). We have also investigated the bowing parameter of the variation of energy band gaps and found it to be very sensitive on in composition. A value of b=10.95 have been obtain for our quaternary Alx Iny Ga1−x−y N alloys.

Originality/value

This study on quaternary samples described in this paper, clearly indicates that the present of defects due to impurity contaminations has a dominant role in determining the structural and optical properties of Alx Iny Ga1−x−y N quaternary alloys.
Electrothermal modeling of hybrid power modules
Authors: Ayadi Moez , Amine Fakhfakh Mohamed , Ghariani Moez , Neji Rafik
Published: June 2010

Purpose

Power modules including the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) are widely used in the applications of motor drivers. The thermal behavior of these modules makes it important to choose the optimum design of cooling system. The purpose of this paper is to propose an RC thermal model of the dynamic electro‐thermal behavior of IGBT pulse width modulation inverter modules.

Design/methodology/approach

The electrothermal model has been implemented and simulated with a MATLAB simulator and takes into account the thermal influence between the different module chips based on the technique of superposition.

Findings

This study has led to a correction of the junction temperature values estimated from the transient thermal impedance of each component operating alone.

Originality/value

In this paper, an experimental technique of a thermal influence evaluation is presented.
Migration and career success: testing a time‐sequenced model
Authors: Tharmaseelan Nithya , Inkson Kerr , Carr Stuart C.
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The paper seeks to determine whether different aspects of migrant pre‐migration characteristics (human capital and motivation to migrate) and post‐migration behaviour (social integration and career self‐management) predict migrants' post‐migration career success.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employed a survey questionnaire applied to a sample of 210 migrants who had migrated from Sri Lanka to New Zealand. Twenty‐three independent and three dependent (career success – objective and subjective) variables were measured. Sequential multiple regression analysis was applied, mirroring the time‐sequenced theory of career development.

Findings

Overall, migrants' occupational status had declined markedly following migration. Variables representing human capital, social integration and career self‐management perspectives all contributed substantially to explaining variances in career success, especially objective career success, but motivation to migrate did not. Human capital variables were especially influential in determining pre‐migration success, acculturation in the host country and education in the host country in post‐migration success. Effects of career self‐management behaviours on success were relatively small.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation is the cross‐sectional design, and possible non‐generalisability beyond a single migrant group and host country.

Practical implications

The paper discusses implications for migrants, policy makers and future research.

Originality/value

Migration, and interest in research on migrants' careers, is growing. This paper applies a wide range of predictor variables and a logical causal model to predicting migrant career success, indicates significant effects, and points to positive actions that may be taken by government, organisations and migrants.
Enhancing the ties that bind: mentoring as a moderator
Authors: Dawley David. D. , Andrews Martha C. , Bucklew Neil S.
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating role of mentoring on the relationships between perceived organizational support, supervisor support, and job fit on turnover intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains the topics, provides background and discussion of the main concepts. The study uses regression analyses to test the moderating relationships using a total sample of 610 employees split among three separate organizations.

Findings

The results suggest that mentoring becomes more effective in reducing turnover intentions as employees experience increasing levels of perceived organizational support, supervisor support, and job fit.

Practical implications

The results suggest mentoring can be beneficial to both organizations and individuals. Organizations benefit by improving employee retention. Likewise, individuals benefit through strengthened relationships provided by mentoring and the associated positive outcomes.

Originality/value

The paper makes a contribution to the literature by being among the first to examine mentoring as a potential moderator in the context of perceived organizational support, supervisor support, job fit, and turnover intentions.
Ownership concentration and executive compensation in emerging economies: evidence from China
Authors: Su Zhongfeng , Li Yuan , Li Lin
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The research on corporate governance has different perspectives on the relationship between ownership concentration and executive compensation, and the empirical findings on this linkage are also inconclusive. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of ownership concentration on executive compensation in emerging economies.

Design/methodology/approach

By connecting different perspectives with the characteristics of emerging economies together, this research explores the impact of ownership concentration on executive compensation, and then empirically tests the hypotheses based on the archival data of publicly held firms in China.

Findings

The paper finds that there is no significant relationship between ownership concentration and executive compensation in state‐owned enterprises (SOEs), while there is a U‐shaped relationship in non‐SOEs.

Originality/value

This study not only offers an empirical test of the effect of ownership concentration on executive compensation, but also provides some insights into the debates on the relationship between ownership concentration and executive compensation in emerging economies.
An exploratory and comparative assessment of the governance arrangements of universities in Ghana
Authors: Tetteh Edward N. , Ofori Daniel F.
Published: June 2010

Purpose

Institutional governance has recently attracted significant attention, fuelled by increasing numbers of global high‐profile corporate failures and scandals. In many countries issues have been raised about university governance. In Ghana, university governance has become crucial following the upsurge of private universities in recent years arising out of: increased demand for tertiary education resulting from high population growth; and expanded enrolment at basic and secondary levels, which have far exceeded the capacity of existing institutions. This study aims to explore and assess the governance arrangements of private and public universities in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi‐stage sampling technique was used to select three private and two public universities. An exploratory and comparative approach was used to examine the governance arrangements of private and public universities in Ghana.

Findings

Both private and public universities in Ghana follow the “traditional”, “business”, and “trusteeship” models of university governance, although in different proportions. Additionally, both types of institutions follow the bicameral system of decision making.

Research limitations/implications

Only five of 19 universities in Ghana were sampled. Future research might expand the sample size to test and validate the initial perspectives from this study and also investigate differences between governance arrangements of faith based and non‐faith based private universities.

Originality/value

The paper reports the findings of the first nation‐wide investigation into governance arrangements of Ghanaian universities. It will interest policy makers, university authorities, and other stakeholders in the higher educational sector.
Local corporate ownership and capital structure decisions in Nigeria: a developing country perspective
Authors: Ebel Ezeoha Abel , Okafor Francis O.
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The primary aim of this paper is to investigate the nature, degree and direction of the effects of certain classes of corporate ownership on capital structure decisions among firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 71 quoted companies in Nigeria, the study adopts panel fixed effects regression models to estimate the relationship between financial leverage and corporate ownership, while controlling for some firm‐specific characteristics like profitability, firm size and firm age.

Findings

The study finds that discrimination between indigenous and foreign firms is a major determinant of financial leverage in Nigeria; and that the consistency of empirical results and capital structure theories across countries depends much on the dominant nature of corporate ownership structure.

Research limitations/implications

An attempt to widely generalize the results of this study may be challenged by its relatively small sample. With data from just a sample of 71 firms, the robustness of the country‐, time‐ and company‐ effects may not have been fully captured in the estimation process.

Practical implications

The paper provides necessary platforms, especially to corporate managers, for aligning financing decisions and ownership structure to other structural characteristics such as size, age, and profitability.

Originality/value

The study is unique because it examines ownership effects on leverage using selected ownership classes; and because it focuses on an economy with harsh corporate operating environment and constrained capital market condition..
Board characteristics and corporate value: evidence from Thailand
Authors: Yammeesri Jira , Kanthi Herath Siriyama
Published: June 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the influence of corporate board structure on corporate value.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected on a sample of 245 Thai non‐financial listed companies to examine the effect of board structure on firm performance.

Findings

The results show that neither independent directors nor grey directors are the significant determinants of improving firm value.

Research limitations/implications

This research was confined to 245 Thai non‐financial listed companies. It would be useful to replicate it using larger samples under different country settings.

Practical implications

The findings provide guidance to top managers in deciding the Board structure as corporate value is also grounded in corporate board structure.

Originality/value

The paper provides far reaching implications for corporate managers about the relationship between Board characteristics and corporate value.
Labor market consequences of accounting fraud
Authors: Hoi Chun‐Keung , Robin Ashok
Published: June 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the research questions: Do executive and non‐executive directors face similar labor market penalties upon revelation of accounting fraud? Are all executive directors treated by markets as a homogenous group? Or, do executive directors who are top managers face stiffer penalties than other executive directors?

Design/methodology/approach

Board membership of incumbent directors in US firms accused of accounting fraud are tracked for three years after the revelation. Two labor market consequences/penalties are considered. Probability of losing internal, own firm board seat is the likelihood that incumbent directors leave the accused firm's board upon accounting fraud revelation. The likelihood of losing at least one external board seat (outside directorship) is also examined. Both univariate tests and multivariate LOGIT regressions are used to conduct the analysis.

Findings

Compared to non‐executive directors, executive directors are more than twice as likely to lose own firm board seat and at least five times as likely to lose at least one outside directorship. Moreover, all executives, top or otherwise, appear to face similar tough penalties.

Research limitation/implications

Accounting fraud is a rare event; this may limit the generality of the findings. Results obtained from a US sample may be applicable to countries with well‐developed capital and labor markets. Results imply that the labor market for directors serves a vital function in the US‐style corporate governance environment; labor market discipline provides at least some incentives for board members, including non‐employee directors and other executive directors, to perform their fiduciary duties.

Originality/value

This is the first study that utilizes a single corporate event to analyze the operation of the labor market across different categories of directors. Also, while studies have examined penalties on top executives there is no evidence that other executives who also serve on the board of the accused firms suffer labor market penalties.
Strategic leadership development program at the University of York
Authors: Johnson Graham
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The Work Foundation has worked with the University of York to deliver a development program for its top 60 leaders designed to address some of the specific challenges faced by a modern university. The program is intended to engage senior leaders in strategic dialogue, to enable them to engage with the complex challenges facing the organization and to embed networks to deliver tangible organizational improvements. This paper seeks to examine this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The program builds on three principles. First, it is deeply integrated into the work environment through the use of strategic improvement idea groups (SIIGs); second, it explores and works with cultural issues; and third, it embraces collective development co‐designed with participants.

Findings

The resultant program has helped York win the “outstanding contribution to leadership” award at the 2009 Times Higher Education awards and delivered a host of benefits to individuals and the organization, including a shift in the culture of leadership towards a collegiate community of leaders.

Practical implications

The co‐creation of the program has meant that it has been owned by the university and the participants and allows the program to live what it teaches. The program embraces the multitude of perspectives that exist in organizations to create more robust, novel and sustainable outcomes.

Originality/value

The co‐created program brings academic and support staff together to work on common issues, recognizing the ability of participants to engage with complex challenges and emphasizing the value of the collective in resolving them. The formation of SIIGs delivers a return on investment.
Leadership brand equity: HR leaders' role in driving economic value
Authors: McLaughlin Virginia , Mott Christina
Published: June 2010

Purpose

This paper sets out to present practical tools for HR leaders to diagnose their organization's leadership reputation and start the process of building economic value by proactively managing their unique leadership brand.

Design/methodology/approach

It is based on research by Oliver Wyman and The Economist Intelligence Unit, carried out in 2008 to 2009 among 153 leaders representing companies with $1 billion+ revenue in 43 countries. The research asked about leadership reputation and its relationship with economic performance and also included 20 in‐depth interviews.

Findings

Organizations with recognized leadership brands outperform others in their industry in three critical areas – revenue, net income, and share price – and the importance of leadership reputation increases even more significantly in a tough economy.

Practical implications

HR leaders hold a unique position from which to drive leadership brand equity for their organizations. They sit at the intersection of strategy, communication and talent and, as such, have the knowledge, interest and charter not only to improve individual leaders, but also to generate value from the aggregate of leaders.

Originality/value

In a concise and straightforward manner, the paper provides readers with a way to get started in building greater equity for their company through a strategic HR role in managing the organization's leadership brand.
Leading the way towards better business insights
Authors: Davenport Thomas H. , Harris Jeanne G.
Published: June 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to present a best practice guide to using analytics as a tool for leaders at every organizational level to drive their companies towards better decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

The piece is based on the book Analytics at Work by Thomas Davenport, Jeanne Harris and Robert Morison, which was published in 2010.

Findings

Accenture research shows conclusively that high‐performing businesses have a much more developed analytical orientation than other organizations. In fact they are five times more likely than their competitors to view analytical capabilities as being core to the business.

Practical implications

Senior executives are playing a crucial role in moving their organizations towards analytical decision making. Experience shows that, if leaders support analytical initiatives, they are much more likely to succeed. This is partly because of the powerful influence they exert over business culture, and partly because they can deploy the people, money and time needed to develop effective analytics capabilities. That said, senior executives are not the only people needed to build an analytical business. Almost any employee can play a vital role as an analytical leader.

Originality/value

Accenture uses case studies based on in‐depth interviews and thought leadership to demonstrate how individuals at different organizational levels have succeeded in driving their business towards analytical decision making – with impressive results.
Devolving decision making: implications for leadership development
Authors: Chocqueel‐Mangan Jonathan
Published: June 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the implications for the way organizations develop leaders when decision making is delegated closer to the front line.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores this theme using the National Trust as a case study.

Findings

Conventional distinctions between “management” and “leadership” become blurred and potentially misleading when front line managers become more accountable for local performance. In addition, a blend of interventions is required to develop skills at various leadership levels, ranging from technical to personal, and group‐based to individually tailored.

Research limitations/implications

The case study is based on a charity and ignores the implications for fiduciary duties for directors and trustees. In addition, the paper does not include a review of the definition of devolved or delegated decision making. Finally, the case study is ongoing and the final results from the work will not be evident for up to two more years.

Originality/value

Devolving responsibility in a charity is a rare and courageous initiative, given the broad array of stakeholders and level of public scrutiny. Given this challenge, private and public sector organizations can benefit from this experience and identify ways to engage their own stakeholders in the practical leadership development implications of a similar decision.
Trainers – stop conning people that you are providing workshops
Authors: Cunningham Ian
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The aim is to expose shoddy and unprofessional thinking and activity amongst some trainers.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses dictionary definitions and experience to expose linguistic errors by trainers who label their courses as workshops – when they are not.

Findings

The analysis shows that trainers mis‐use the English language in order to promote their courses.

Practical implications

The practical implications for the buyers of learning and development activity is to beware of trainers disguising their courses as workshops.

Social implications

One implication is the waste by organizations on courses that masquerade as workshops – hence reducing practical application and transfer of learning.

Originality/value

No‐one has written on this subject before.
Performance templates: a learning and performance partnership for employee and manager development
Authors: Lyons Paul
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of the article is to offer a brief introduction and description of the performance template approach to training, performance improvement, and employee and manager development. The approach has been empirically examined and has demonstrated effectiveness in learning and performance improvement.

Design

The article is designed to explain what the performance template activity intends to achieve, offer the several steps in the performance improvement process, and to give some practical examples of the approach in the field.

Findings

No specific empirical findings are presented in this article, however, the references provided do contain complete information on the creation and use of the performance template approach in the field.

Practical implications

The performance template (P‐T) approach gives managers and other organization members a means for creating new practices that can assist and inform participants in the areas of knowledge creation, skill building and performance improvement. The P‐T processes do not require any special expertise; a manager can implement the processes on her/his own, although the process is somewhat labor intensive.

Social implications

Social implications of this work are limited to the influence on the quality of life in the organization as the employees and managers have opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of their performance.

Originality/value

Taken by individual segment, the P‐T approach is not new; however, the segments in combination provide a set of processes that when executed skillfully may influence employee learning and performance as well as help managers develop important skills.