bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Le bal dans l’Espagne franquiste : le jeu de l’amour mais pas du hasard
Authors: Nattiez Laura
Published: November 2017

Si, à première vue, le bal peut être associé à un moment de festivité frivole pour la jeunesse, il est, en fait, un espace de mise en scène particulière du soi qui offre un angle fécond d’analyse des normes de comportements genrées et du fonctionnement du marché matrimonial de la première moitié du xx e  siècle. En récoltant des récits de vie dans différentes régions espagnoles, nous avons été surprise de constater que toutes des femmes nées dans les années 1930 évoquaient cet événement en se remémorant leur jeunesse. L’étude des entretiens révèle que le bal est le premier espace de contact mixte afin de permettre la rencontre entre les futurs conjoints. Compte tenu de l’enjeu, l’attitude des jeunes femmes est strictement normée et contrôlée par le personnage incontournable du chaperon.
Affirmation et contestation du genre dans les lycées professionnels
Authors: Depoilly Séverine
Published: November 2017

À partir des données d’une enquête ethnographique conduite dans trois lycées professionnels de proches banlieues parisiennes relativement ségréguées et paupérisées, cet article se propose d’analyser la manière dont s’agencent, dans les espaces scolaires, les relations entre pairs du même sexe et du sexe opposé. Nous montrerons d’abord que ces relations sont conditionnées par un jeu d’assignations identitaires genrées rappelant les filles et les garçons à un ordre du genre traditionnel. Puis, nous considérerons, à partir de situations de terrain en plusieurs points similaires, certaines des formes, même partielles, de déplacement, de renversement, de subversion de cet ordre du genre notamment mobilisées par les filles.
Pain Associated With a Subconjunctival Cefazolin-Lidocaine Mixture in Retinal Surgery:A Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Mak Michael Y. K. , Yan Peng , Park Jonathan , Joshi Lavnish , Warder Daniel , Lee Cassandra , Gulamhusein Husayn , Devenyi Robert G. , Lam Wai-Ching
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this randomized, single-masked clinical trial is to explore whether cefazolin mixed with 2% lidocaine can reduce pain.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Patients naïve to ophthalmic surgery were randomized to subconjunctival injection of either a 0.5 mL cefazolin-balanced salt solution (0.3 mL cefazolin and 0.2 mL balanced salt solution) or 0.5 mL cefazolin-lidocaine solution (0.3 mL cefazolin and 0.2 mL 2% lidocaine) during retinal surgery with a retrobulbar block. Pain scores were obtained at the start of surgery, middle of surgery, before and after cefazolin administration, and postoperatively.

RESULTS:

A total of 54 patients were recruited; 44.6% were male, and the mean age was 60.1 years ± 13.5 years. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups' operative characteristics or pain scores at each study time point.

CONCLUSION:

In pars plana vitrectomy with or without phacoemulsification and intraocular lens insertion, subconjunctival cefazolin mixed with lidocaine conferred no added analgesic benefit.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2017;48:881–886.]
Idiopathic Retinal Vasculitis, Aneurysms, and Neuroretinitis Syndrome Presenting With Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion
Authors: Zacharia Jennifer A. , Chin Adam T. , Rebhun Carl B. , Louzada Ricardo N. , Adhi Mehreen , Cole Emily D. , Moreira-Neto Carlos , Waheed Nadia K. , Duker Jay S.
Published: November 2017

Idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) is a rare syndrome affecting the retinal and optic disc vasculature. Diffuse retinal ischemia, macular edema, and neovascularization may lead to bilateral vision loss. The authors report a case of a 36-year-old woman presenting with branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) in her right eye who was subsequently diagnosed with IRVAN syndrome. She was treated with panretinal photocoagulation for peripheral retinal ischemia and pars plana vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage. She later developed a BRAO in her left eye. This case demonstrates that BRAO may be a presenting feature of IRVAN syndrome.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2017;48:948–951.]
An Initial Framework to Develop a Mobile Five Human Senses Augmented Reality System for Museums
Authors: Rodrigues João M. F. , Cardoso Pedro J. S. , Lessa Joana , Pereira João André , Sardo João D. P. , de Freitas Marco , Semião Jorge , Monteiro Jânio , Ramos Célia M. Q. , Lam Roberto , Esteves Eduardo , Figueiredo Mauro , Gonçalves Alexandra R. , Gomes Miguel , Bica Paulo
Published: November 2017

The Mobile Five Senses Augmented Reality System for Museums (M5SAR) project aims to development an Augmented Reality mobile system for museums. Museums are amazing places, where it is important to sensorial augment as much as possible the visits, permitting to see, ear, touch, smell, and taste all the interesting objects there exist. Also fundamental is that visitors with different profiles (child, adult, expert, etc.) can have different experiences when visiting the same object. In the M5SAR system, the visitor uses its smartphone to select the object(s) to explore, and the user interface adapts on-the-fly to the object(s) and user's profile. Simultaneously, when integrated, a paired hardware device allows the extension of the augmented reality system to the human five senses, complementing the visual and auditory information about the objects. This chapter presents the initial framework to develop a five senses mobile adaptive museum system.
Applying an Augmented Reality Tool to the Camino de Santiago in Portugal
Authors: Pereira Miguel Nuno , Otón Miguel Pazos , Cotos José M. , Remoaldo Paula Cristina
Published: November 2017

This chapter focuses on an Interactive Guide of the Portuguese Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago) created by using an Augmented Reality application. This application was developed specifically for the section of the Portuguese Route to Santiago that crosses the municipality of Barcelos (Northwest of Portugal). The Guide has the geo-information needed for the Pilgrim, in the passage by the municipality of Barcelos to Santiago, and can be accessed through a smartphone. The pilgrim will have at his or her disposal a set of interactive geo-information about Barcelos. At the level of interactivity with the user, each of these points of interest in the Guide will be signaled by a portrait done by a painter from Barcelos (monuments) and universal graphic icons (other geo-information).
A Framework Supported by Modeling and Virtual/Augmented Reality for the Preservation and Dynamization of Archeological-Historical Sites
Authors: Figueiredo Mauro , Bernardes João Pedro , Rodrigues José I. J. , Gonçalves César
Published: November 2017

This chapter presents an approach for the preservation and exploration of the archaeological-historical information using the most modern methods of Building Information Modelling (BIM) together with virtual and augmented reality adapted to archaeology. It was made a survey of the archaeological site using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and laser scan to obtain accurate information of existing structures which is stored in a BIM model. By using BIM methodologies, all existing information is organized in one place, shared and preserved for future memory. This 3D model is used to virtually reconstruct the Milreu archeological site, bringing this ancient Roman villa to life again, and supports the virtual reality platform and augmented reality tourism application for mobile devices, used for the promotion of the archaeological site, in an innovative way, in order to ensure a high degree of satisfaction to regular visitors and attract new public, looking for the visits to the archaeological-historical site to become a memorable experience.
Architecture, Tourism, and Technological Innovation in the Jesuit Mission of São Miguel, Brazil
Authors: César Pedro de Alcântara Bittencourt , Altmman Julia Luise , Peccin da Silva Caroline , Tronca Bruna , Trentin Michele Pinheiro
Published: November 2017

The contemporaneity demands a better relation between the object and the subject. In this article, it is expected to understand how has been developed this bond of Jesuit architecture and its understanding by the visitor. In this way, it is searched to explore the touristic technological means in Missões Guaraníticas. It questions the use of technology to a better extent of dissemination of local and cultural legacy - existing architecture. The methodology presents an exploratory research of technological platforms of information. It is noticed that its use increases tourism, favoring the culture and history of the region, besides promoting accessibility, reducing the social and physical barriers. The technology helps to preserve and disseminate the historical importance of the site. New information media has influenced and has increased the tourism, stimulating the local trade, and also it encourages the preservation of historical heritage. The approach of historical study of the region / country has great potential for increasing interest in historical architecture and culture.
Gastronomy in Cultural Tourism
Authors: Romero-Charneco Maria , Casado-Molina Ana-María , Alarcón-Urbistondo Pilar
Published: November 2017

Cultural tourism consumers seek advice and recommendations from others before making buying decisions. The mobile instant messaging (MIM) boom could create a channel not only for social communication but also for information about cultural tourism and specifically the choice of restaurant. In this research we study which channels are most used by consumers when asking for gastronomic recommendations and, in particular, the factors behind the use of MIM as the preferred channels when obtaining tourist information. For this, an online survey was carried out with a sample of 393 individuals in Spain and descriptive statistical techniques were applied to the processing and analysis of the data. The results obtained show that: (1) its use is determined by its instantaneousness and permanent availability; and (2) people use it due to a lack of knowledge about the area.
Isle of the Dead
Authors: Handayani Bintang , Korstanje Maximiliano Emanuel
Published: November 2017

This essay aims to explain the phenomenon and effect on tourism of the Balinese cemetery in the village of Trunyan, where the dead are not buried. It is a narrative enquiry combined with critical theory largely grounded in the scholarship of dark tourism and communication theory, coupled with content analysis of the online community's reviews from the TripAdvisor website. The study indicates that (1) connectedness to death suggests the existence of spirituality needed by people, at the same time indicating understanding of mortality; (2) social connections developed as a result of visiting Trunyan cemetery not only bring self-awareness and awareness of others, revolving around intrapersonal communication about spirituality and interpersonal communication among members of the online community, but also illustrate the development of dark tourism and conceptualise the role of tourists in building authentic experience as the essence of a death site's brand image.
The Increasing of the Regional Development Thanks to the Luxury Business Innovation
Authors: Giacosa Elisa
Published: November 2017

Innovative business models in a large and medium-sized luxury sector have not been widely discussed in the literature in terms of their impact on the regional development. Present publication is therefore aimed at filling this gap and to verify if innovative solutions and regional development may be linked to achievement of the competitive advantage. The benefits deriving from analysis conducted are: i) improved management of innovation strategies thanks to business model developed and ii) increase of consumer awareness about advantages of innovative products. For the purposes of research, a qualitative approach has been used. Only multiple internationally-recognized companies of large and medium dimensions have been considered due to their innovative business orientation passed down from one generation to the next.
Italian Tourism Sector as an Example of Entrepreneurship and Growth for Companies
Authors: Giacosa Elisa , Giovando Guido
Published: November 2017

The tourism sector constitutes a part of “tourism, leisure and communication” macro-sector. The companies that belong to this sector run their activity in various areas, however, the present contribution refers only to some of them, that is to hospitality and catering, travel agencies and entertainment. In this context, current research has therefore two objectives: 1) assessment if the tourism sector can be considered as an example of entrepreneurship and growth for Italian companies; 2) identification of key drivers within the tourism consumption trend. Thanks to a qualitative and quantitative method, it emerged that the tourism sector can be considered as an example of entrepreneurship and growth for Italian companies. It is justified by the features characterizing a certain region, such as climate, nature, culture and tradition that are in harmony with the companies' heritage. In addition, the sub-systems introduced in the present research have big influence on the inputs which in the same time impact the companies operating in the tourism sector.
Factors Affecting Internationalization Degree of Higher Education Institutions in Portugal and Spain
Authors: Sousa Marina Amorim , Palacios Tomás Bañegil , Martínez-Azúa Beatriz Corchuelo
Published: November 2017

The aim of this study is to evaluate the degree of internationalization of Iberian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the factors that influence their internationalization process. The study begins with the contextualization of the HEI internationalization process through a brief historical synthesis and the establishment of the levels of analysis of this process, to focus, in more detail, the organizational level. To this end, it is supported in an organization dimensions model to define the components of the internationalization process and the data collection by questionnaire. The results were processed for each of its components, and the degree of internationalization was obtained by calculating the mean values of the components total. The study concludes that the Iberian HEIs have an interesting level of internationalization, which is higher for institutions with more than 5.000 students, with simultaneous focus on teaching and research, conferring the master's and doctor's degrees.
Green Entrepreneurship in Transitional Economies
Authors: Gao Yang , Tsai Sang-Bing , Zhang Shuo , Li Guodong
Published: November 2017

With environmental pollution, climate change and resource scarcity being serious global issues, green entrepreneurship is increasingly seen as an approach to simultaneously address economic performance, environmental impact and social responsibility. As green entrepreneurship needs to consider both venture performance and social responsibility, it will be subject to legitimacy constraints at the institutional level. Especially for transition economies in different countries, institutional uncertainty is a key factor. Better green performance can be easily achieved if green startups have a higher level of legitimacy. However, against the background of transitional economies, the increase in institutional uncertainty will damage the promotion of political legitimacy and make the enterprises subject to political legitimacy constraints lose their green performance. Overall startups in different industries need to develop green actions under the pressure of institutional constraints, and governments also need to improve policies and regulations quickly.
Cultural Implications for Student Engagement in Online Learning
Authors: Paracha Samiullah , Takahara Toshiro , Jehanzeb Sania
Published: November 2017

The main goal of this research is to investigate how learners with different cultural background differ in their interaction style and visual behavior in multimedia-enhanced education, more specifically between groups from the African vs. Asian regions. The researchers conducted a controlled eye-tracking experiment to explore and evaluate the visual behavior of African, Afghan, Japanese and Chinese learners when scanning through different online multimedia contents. The analysis of their eye-gaze patterns and heat-maps revealed significant differences in terms of learners' interaction style, gender, color, text or multimedia preferences. This cross-cultural investigation collectively contributes towards effective use of multimedia technologies in education that ultimately increases learners' engagement and retention.
Student Engagement Practices for Computer Science Students in Online Learning Environments
Authors: Mavromoustakos Stephanos , Kamal Areeba
Published: November 2017

Online learning has many challenges, and student engagement is one of them. Computer science students differ from most other disciplines. As a consequence, students typically find it easier to adapt to the new learning environment, but at the same time, they are more demanding on the tools and services offered to enhance their learning experience and engagement. This chapter discusses the various student engagement practices used today and their applicability to computer science students in online learning. The investigation will refer to case studies published and their relation to the concepts presented in this chapter. Computer science student engagement in online platforms is directly associated with positive learning experience from the content and context to interface to the interaction design a course embodies. Finally, a framework of best practices for student engagement for computer science students will be provided.
Detecting Online Learners' Reading Ability via Eye-Tracking
Authors: Paracha Samiullah , Inuoue Ayaka , Jehanzeb Sania
Published: November 2017

Nurturing the motivation to read is an important instructional goal. There can be a number of reasons for a learner to have problems with reading in online learning environments: (1) eyes being unable to scan easily along a line of print; or (2) as a result of concentrating on controlling the eyes concentration, the short-term memory become impaired. The study reported in this chapter used eye tracking method to provide a useful experimental design for exploring reading performance of university online learners. Different eye-tracking experiments were carried out to help informing the teachers to improve the learning environment and be able to do more accurate assessment about what the students were attending to on the screen.
Optimizing Student Engagement in Online Learning Environments
Authors: Goyal Mukta , Krishnamurthy Rajalakshmi
Published: November 2017

In today's scenario, e-learning has become a significant part of the academic environment as well as of the corporate training sectors. Advancement in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTS) has brought new intersection of education, teaching, and learning that defines e-learning. E-learning systems deliver information for education at any time and at any place in an efficient manner. E-learning system consists of course content or learning materials in the form of nodes. These nodes are linked such that users can traverse the other nodes in the hypermedia environment. These learning concepts are available synchronously and asynchronously in different ways of representation. This presents learning materials in a disorganized manner to the learners. Due to this, learners may decline to adapt the learning material or may deviate from their goals. This requires a user model to respond to different needs of a learner. To handle the uncertainty of learner's mind while learning the concepts an intuitionistic fuzzy approach is used.
Always on Guard
Authors: Milyan (Mils) Hills
Published: November 2017

This chapter advances the idea that the modern organization can become immune to a full spectrum of risks by re-engineering its organizational capability and culture. Given the accepted role of people in causing or escalating technical risk – the requirement to achieve ‘always on' socio-technical protection poses a significant challenge. However, an enterprise's human resources offer a massive potential to detect and report risk and there is also substantial competitive advantage available to the organization which develops, integrates, leverages and acts on intelligence gained from a suite of socio-technical sensors and sense-making processes. The human resources and culture of an organization, properly configured, could comprise a powerful innate (constant) and adaptive (active) immune system. The chapter will provide the reader with a framework for how such an immune capability could be integrated into an organization that takes seriously the requirement to be ‘always on' – protected from any form or blend of socio-technical threat.
The Role of Information System Monitoring in Improving System Availability
Authors: Ibrahimović Semir , Bajgoric Nijaz
Published: November 2017

The IS availability is an essential requirement that business presents to its IT departments. Ibrahimovic (2016) concluded that, with a very low investment in “monitoring of the relevant components”, it is possible to achieve a significant improvement in IS availability. This chapter starts with a brief introduction of the IS availability. Authors provide a short definition of BBN modeling and address different aspects of IS monitoring, particularly: network monitoring, server monitoring, application, security and business process monitoring. As main artifact of this chapter authors proposed the monitoring. Since the framework emphases importance of governance and management layer, chapter contains overview of COBIT 5 and ITIL V3 from the IS monitoring aspect. In the final part of the chapter, authors address the challenges that a monitoring tool needs to address in modern information systems, especially but not limited to DevOps, Cloud and Hybrid IT architectures.
Comparative Study of Conjugate Heat Transfer in Uniform and Diverging Cross-Section Microchannels
Authors: Prajapati Yogesh K.
Published: November 2017

This chapter covers single-phase heat transfer analysis in microchannel heat sink relevant to electronic cooling application. In order to estimate the correct heat transfer performance, it is required to consider both, conduction and convection. Hence, conjugate analysis of heat transfer has been considered where both conduction and convection heat transfer are calculated as a part of solution. Two different configurations of microchannels namely, uniform and diverging cross-section have been considered individually on different copper substrate. A copper substrate of dimension 25×0.9×4 mm has been used to generate microchannel. Inlet cross-section (0.4×0.75 mm) of both channels has been kept equal however; cross-section of diverging channel keeps on increasing as width is continuously increasing along the flow direction. A constant heat flux of 250 kW/m2 has been provided from the bottom. Comparative study has been done to analyse the heat transfer performance of both the configurations of microchannels.
Models for Measuring and Reporting of Green Performance
Authors: Caraiani Chirața , Lungu Camelia I. , Dascălu Cornelia , Colceag Florian
Published: November 2017

The main objective of this chapter is to highlight the potential effects improved social and environmental performance would have on economic performance. The use of adapted managerial tools enables entities to extend the conventional accounting model of performance towards a sustainable/green performance. The comprehensive picture of corporate communication is based on the concept of sustainability and combines three dimensions of performance: economic, social and environmental. This chapter addresses the models for reporting and managing the three aspects of performance evaluation and introduces specific concepts for measurement referring to the Triple Bottom Line performance. Debates are conducted based on an exploratory and interpretive study on social and environmental performance reporting. The correlations with corporate various characteristics are emphasized.
Blending Green With Lean - Incorporating Best-of-the-Breed Practices to Formulate an Optimum Global Supply Chain Management Framework
Authors: Joshi Sudhanshu , Sharma Manu
Published: November 2017

This chapter identifies potential areas in which firms can integrate green into current business practices based on the existing literature. An extensive literature review was conducted to examine research and practice with respect to the concurrent implementation of green, lean, and global supply chain strategies. The applied literature analysis identifies that lean not only serves as a catalyst but is also synergistic for green. Lean is beneficial for green practices, and the implementation of green practices, in turn, also has a positive influence on existing global business practices (Dües, Tan, & Tim, 2013). The chapter provides an assessment of existing academic research on the relationship and links between lean and green supply chain management practices. Existing explanatory frameworks are explored and discussed, primarily based on objectives including: (a) identification processes where lean practices are synergized with a go-green philosophy of business, (b) advocating green practices as an essential element in the lean value chain, and (c) developing a green-lean framework based on existing literature for competitive advantage for business firms.
Linkages in Advanced Manufacturing Strategy
Authors: Narkhede Balkrishna Eknath
Published: November 2017

Manufacturing is crucial for the robust growth of the economy, for exports and for generating substantial relevant employment. Manufacturing is a force multiplier; it means investment in manufacturing yields four times the effect on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. The core manufacturing sector comprises engineering and construction, industrial manufacturing, materials and commodities, chemicals and plastics, and automotive. In today's era of globalization and competition, business excellence is important, which needs coordination between business and manufacturing strategy. Based on a systematic review of published articles from 1982 to 2012, the present paper proposes and discusses a framework which brings together a set of variables related to the manufacturing strategies and advanced manufacturing technologies and the internal contextual factors driving it. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the adoption of manufacturing strategies and it is observed that strategic alignment of competitive priorities with business strategy improves the business performance of the manufacturing organizations.
A Time Dependent Order Level Inventory Model for Beta Deterioration in Two Warehouse Systems
Authors: Patra Soumendra Kumar , Lenka Tapan Kumar , Ratha Er. Purna Chandra
Published: November 2017

An inventory problem for a deteriorating item having two separate warehouses is developed under time value of money, whereby one is an own warehouse (OW) of finite dimension(s) and the other is rented warehouse (RW) of infinite dimension(s). Deterioration rate of items in the two warehouses may be different, which is time dependent and deterioration is in the mean beta distribution form. In this study, shortages and complete backlogging have been considered as the other items, whereby the demand rate of items is linear with time in OW and the same is linear with price in case of RW. Also, the stocks of RW transported to OW in continuous release pattern.
Disclosure for Sustainability
Authors: Ünal Gözde , Çoşkun Ali
Published: November 2017

Besides financial performance, corporations started to disclose their sustainability performances with an increasing awareness on environment. This chapter compares two mainstreams in sustainability reporting, one that relies on guidelines of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the other one that follows the integrated reporting () framework published by International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) while emphasizing mainly the latter one. Sustainability reports prepared in accordance with the  framework aim to provide accountability for business impacts for a niche target audience, which are the providers of financial capital.
The Fit Between External Involvement and Business Environment
Authors: Cai Di , Feng Taiwen , Zhang Zhenglin
Published: November 2017

Previous studies are inconsistent in their findings about the relationship between external involvement and performance. The authors attribute this inconsistency to the misfit between external involvement and business environment. Drawing the concept of fit between information processing capabilities and needs from information processing theory, they develop the fitting patterns between external involvement and business environment and examine their impacts on performance. Information processing capabilities are measured by the degree of two types of external involvement in the NPD process and information processing needs are assessed based on three dimensions of business environment. Cluster analysis was used to develop the taxonomies of fit between external involvement and business environment. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the impacts of fitting patterns between external involvement and business environment on performance. The results reveal six fitting patterns between external involvement and business environment. ANOVA results show that the fitting patterns between external involvement and business environment are related to both operational performance and business performance, supporting our fit theory.
Skills and Competencies Required for Jobs in Business Analytics
Authors: Leon Linda A. , Seal Kala Chand , Przasnyski Zbigniew H. , Wiedenman Ian
Published: November 2017

The explosive growth of business analytics has created a high demand for individuals who can help organizations gain competitive advantage by extracting business knowledge from data. What types of jobs satisfy this demand and what types of skills should individuals possess to satisfy this huge and growing demand? The authors perform a content analysis of 958 job advertisements posted during 2014-2015 for four types of positions: business analyst, data analyst, data scientist, and data analytics manager. They use a text mining approach to identify the skills needed for these job types and identify six distinct broad competencies. They also identify the competencies unique to a particular type of job and those common to all job types. Their job type categorization provides a framework that organizations can use to inventory their existing workforce competencies in order to identify critical future human resources. It can also guide individual professionals with their career planning as well as academic institutions in assessing and advancing their business analytics curricula.
Exploring the Mediating and Moderating Role of Services Marketing Strategy and Safety and Security Measures in the Tourism Industry
Authors: Mostafa Rania B. , Hefny Lamiaa I.
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating and moderating role of innovative services marketing strategy and safety and security measures in the tourism industry. Data were collected from 104 managers of travel agencies operating in Egypt. Mediation and moderation analysis were carried out to test the research hypotheses using Hierarchical Regression method. Findings reveal that a travel agency's ability to transform its customer orientation and/or innovation orientation into enhanced business performance depends on its ability to offer innovative service marketing strategy. Moreover, this study supported the importance of safety and security measures in improving the firm performance because they strengthen the positive effect of the tourism strategy, namely innovative services marketing strategy on the marketing performance. The research highlights the importance of innovative services marketing strategy and safety and security measures for academics, travel agency's managers and policy makers.
New Product Development and Manufacturability Techniques and Analytics
Authors: Smith Alan D.
Published: November 2017

The following case study evaluates the New Product Development (NPD) techniques utilized by Forest City Technologies, Incorporated (FCT). Through insight gathered via interviews conducted with the company's product development and materials purchasing management teams, and supported by literature, this study attempts to show how Forest City Technologies, Inc. integrates specific components into its product development process to: 1. Meet its NPD goals, and 2. Achieve better supplier and customer relationships. This study focuses on the components of: NPD models employed by FCT, early customer and supplier involvement, NPD-innovation integration techniques, demand change factors during the NPD process, and risk-mitigation strategies implemented by FCT during the NPD process. The study is segmented into three main sections: Introduction to NPD and FCT, the components of FCTs new product development process, and NPD implications on FCTs supplier and customer relationships.
Antecedents of Green Manufacturing Practices
Authors: Dubey Rameshwar , Bag Surajit
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this chapter is to identify green supply chain practices and study their impact on firm performance. In this study, the authors have adopted a two-pronged strategy. First, they reviewed extant literature published in academic journals and reports published by reputed agencies. They identified key variables through literature review and developed an instrument to measure the impact of GSCM practices on firm performance. The authors pretested this instrument using five experts drawn from industry having expertise in GSCM implementation and two academicians who have published their articles in reputed journals in the field of GSCM and sustainable manufacturing practice. After finalizing the instrument, the study then randomly targeted 175 companies from CII Institute of Manufacturing database and obtained response from 54 which represent 30.85% response rate. The authors also performed non-response bias test to ensure that non-response bias is not a major issue. They further performed PLSR analysis to test our hypotheses. The results of the study are very encouraging and provide further motivation to explore other constructs which are important for successful implementation of GSCM practices.
Currency and Interest Rate Effect on Financial Ratios
Authors: Demirel Engin , Turkmen Sibel Yilmaz
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of currency and interest rates on selected financial ratios of technology firms. In a developing country, as an economic indicator, currency and interest rates have crucial impact on technology firms' financial statements. The authors selected financial ratios from seven technology companies that were included in the technology index on Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) between the years 2001 and 2010. Findings suggest that Dollar and Euro-Turkish Lira currency affect the current ratio, Euro-Turkish Lira currency only affects the acid-test ratios and net working capital turnover, and Dollar currency and interest rates both have an effect on total asset turnover. Net profit margin ratio is only affected by interest rates changes. This analysis helps technology sector managers and shareholders to forecast the changing currency and interest rates in order to optimize their financial statements.
The Effect of E-Money on the Non-Financial Performance of Banks
Authors: Nikabadi Mohsen Shafiei , Mousavi Seyed Mahmoud
Published: November 2017

This study is to explore the effect of the various aspects of e-money on the non-financial performance of banks. The population included all clients of Bank Mellat in the capital of Tehran, who use e-money services. A random sample of 404 of the clients was selected. Further, to collect data, the researchers developed a questionnaire with a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.891, which was validated by university lecturers and experts in banking and structural analysis. In order to analyze the problem and test the conceptual model of the study, factor analyses of first and second ranks, as well as path analysis were utilized. Throughout the research process, e-money was categorized into card-based and network-based types, and the non-financial performance of banks was measured in three indices of customer satisfaction, diversity of services offered by the banks, and the quality of those services. Findings suggest that e-money affects the non-financial performance of banks and its sub-factors, where the effect is more conspicuous on customer satisfaction and quality of services, compared to service diversity.
Analyzing the Influence of Customer Relationship Management on Firm Performance
Authors: Yadav Brijesh Kumar , Singh Abhijeet
Published: November 2017

Today, companies have come to realize that customers are the foundation of a business and effective relationship management is indispensable for the success of an organisation. Hence, one of the most important objectives of a company is to satisfy its customers as they are the backbone and keep a business running. Moreover, it is being witnessed that customer's needs and buying behaviour have changed considerably. In order to meet ever changing demands, organisations need to adopt customer oriented marketing strategies to gain competitive advantage. Since customers nowadays are becoming more price sensitive and shift loyalty frequently in terms of selecting products and services of any company, it has become very difficult to retain them. As a result, emphasis on long term relationships with customers has gained momentum in businesses. The goal of the present study is to expand the study of customer relationship management (CRM) by investigating the association of dimensions of CRM and organizational performance. The study extends customer relationship management to the hotel industry context. It explores a set of CRM dimensions or constructs that are important for implementing CRM in hotel industry in Indian perspective.
How Smart Operations Help Better Planning and Replenishment?
Authors: Ramanathan Usha
Published: November 2017

This chapter discusses various roles of smart information in Supply Chains (SC) of digital age and tries to answer an important question - What types of collaborative arrangements facilitate smart operations to improve planning, production and timely replenishment? We have conducted longitudinal case studies with firms practicing SC collaborations and also using smart information for operations. Based on the case analysis, the companies are further classified as ‘smart planning' and ‘traditional planning'. Research findings show the importance of aligning SC partnerships based on smart information requirements. These findings are based on case studies of Indian firms with global SC collaboration. We also discuss the role of Big Data for the companies using smart planning.
Institutional Ethnography
Authors: Wright Ursula T. , Rocco Tonette S.
Published: November 2017

This paper introduces institutional ethnography (IE) as a useful and systematic process for examining organizations and work data through the lens of stakeholders, at different levels, and considering the different forces at play. Drawing from ethnomethodology, IE focuses on how everyday experience is socially organized. Ideological shifts have changed the view of research as purely technical and rational to one of social practice embedded in particular cultural, political, and historical contexts. Research has translated into partially unsuccessful practice because it negates individuals' unique experiences based on race, ethnicity, class, and gender, allowing for a monolithic view to become the given reality for all those who live in today's society. Because adult vocational education is practiced in a highly charged political context, amongst a nexus of interconnected and interdependent social processes such as federal and state legislation, program funding and planning, literacy work, and employment training, discourse sets the parameters for a person's ability or inability to navigate the structural and political subsystems that impact learning, teaching, and work. Power is critically important as an analytic focus which crosses boundaries providing researchers a view of social organization that illuminates practices that marginalize.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance
Authors: López-Fernández Andrée Marie
Published: November 2017

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and corporate governance are two distinct concepts that may seem to be isolated in practice. However, there are many parallels to the extent that the latter may define the engagement of the former. As such, it may be argued that corporate governance is essential to the implementation of CSR. Thus, a question arises, are firms' governance policies conducive to the engagement in corporate social responsibility? This study aims to evaluate the dynamics between corporate social responsibility and corporate governance of multinational firms operating in Mexico. Findings indicate that the practice of disclosing corporate social responsibility is more common than the transparent communication of corporate governance; however, the compliance with corporate governance is consistent with that of corporate social responsibility within the analysed firms.
The Role of Women Directors for Malaysian Firms' Performance
Authors: Brahmana Rayenda , Chen Sze-Nee
Published: November 2017

This research aims to investigate the role of Women on Board Director on firm performance in Malaysia. We use data for all listed companies in Bursa Malaysia during the period of 2009 – 2013, and find that the proportion of women in top management jobs tends to have positive effects on firm performance, even after controlling for numerous characteristics of the firm and direction of causality. The results show that the positive effects of women in top management depend on the qualifications of female top managers. The results imply the necessity of Women in firm as board directors, because it might induce firm performance.
Human Resources Development Practices and Employees' Job Satisfaction
Authors: Long Choi Sang , Xuan Sia Shi
Published: November 2017

This chapter introduces the relationship between human resource development (HRD) practices and employees' job satisfaction. Employees' job satisfactions have gained tremendous attentions from scholars in organizational study and special focus are given into searching the answer to understand why some people are more satisfied with their jobs than others. In this chapter, the definition and importance of job satisfaction is first discussed followed by exploring HRD theories and models through relevant literature review. Lastly, the relationship between job satisfaction and the four elements of human resource development: i) Training and development; ii) Organization development; iii) Career development; and iv) Performance management are discussed and developing of a conceptual framework.
Reducing Risk Through Governance
Authors: Yeh I-Jan , Chang Ching-Liang , Ueng Joe , Ramaswamy Vinita
Published: November 2017

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of formal governance policy. Many firms have a formal governance policy. Others, however, have no such a policy. This study examines what kind of firm's characteristics that encourage companies to adopt a formal governance policy. Data were collected from Corporate Library. A sample of 3,068 firms from the database of 2010 Corporate Library was analyzed. Results show that when firms have a better financial performance and better corporate governance practice, they are more likely to have a formal governance policy. Specifically, when firms have a better board rating, compensation policy, takeover defense strategy, and accounting practice, firms are more likely to have a formal governance policy.
Important Issues in Software Fault Prediction
Authors: Abaei Golnoush , Selamat Ali
Published: November 2017

Quality assurance tasks such as testing, verification and validation, fault tolerance, and fault prediction play a major role in software engineering activities. Fault prediction approaches are used when a software company needs to deliver a finished product while it has limited time and budget for testing it. In such cases, identifying and testing parts of the system that are more defect prone is reasonable. In fact, prediction models are mainly used for improving software quality and exploiting available resources. Software fault prediction is studied in this chapter based on different criteria that matters in this research field. Usually, there are certain issues that need to be taken care of such as different machine-learning techniques, artificial intelligence classifiers, variety of software metrics, distinctive performance evaluation metrics, and some statistical analysis. In this chapter, the authors present a roadmap for those researchers who are interested in working in this area. They illustrate problems along with objectives related to each mentioned criterion, which could assist researchers to build the finest software fault prediction model.
An Integrated Secure Software Engineering Approach for Functional, Collaborative, and Information Concerns
Authors: Pavlich-Mariscal J. A. , Berhe S. , Algarín A. De la Rosa , Demurjian S.
Published: November 2017

This chapter explores a secure software engineering approach that spans functional (object-oriented), collaborative (sharing), and information (Web modeling and exchange) concerns in support of role-based (RBAC), discretionary (DAC), and mandatory (MAC) access control. By extending UML with security diagrams for RBAC, DAC, and MAC, we are able to design an application with all of its concerns, and not defer security to a later time in the design process that could have significant impact and require potentially wide-ranging changes to a nearly completed design. Through its early inclusion in the software design process, security concerns can be part of the application design process, providing separate abstractions for security via new UML diagrams. From these new UML diagrams, it is then possible to generate security policies and enforcement code for RBAC, DAC, and MAC, which separates security from the application. This modeling and generation allows security changes to have less of an impact on an application. The end result is a secure software engineering approach within a UML context that is capable of modeling an application's functional, collaborative, and information concerns. This is explored in this chapter.
A Framework of Statistical and Visualization Techniques for Missing Data Analysis in Software Cost Estimation
Authors: Angelis Lefteris , Mittas Nikolaos , Chatzipetrou Panagiota
Published: November 2017

Software Cost Estimation (SCE) is a critical phase in software development projects. However, due to the growing complexity of the software itself, a common problem in building software cost models is that the available datasets contain lots of missing categorical data. The purpose of this chapter is to show how a framework of statistical, computational, and visualization techniques can be used to evaluate and compare the effect of missing data techniques on the accuracy of cost estimation models. Hence, the authors use five missing data techniques: Multinomial Logistic Regression, Listwise Deletion, Mean Imputation, Expectation Maximization, and Regression Imputation. The evaluation and the comparisons are conducted using Regression Error Characteristic curves, which provide visual comparison of different prediction models, and Regression Error Operating Curves, which examine predictive power of models with respect to under- or over-estimation.