bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“The Health Education Juggler”
Authors: Engelund Gitte , Møller Hansen Ulla , Willaing Ingrid
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore educator competencies and roles needed to perform participatory patient education, and develop a comprehensive model describing this.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data collection in the qualitative study proceeded through two phases. In the first phase, 28 educators were involved in exploring educator competencies needed to perform participatory, group-based patient education. The paper used qualitative methods: dialogue workshops, interviews and observations. In the second phase, 310 educators were involved in saturating and validating the insights from phase one using workshop techniques such as brainstorming, reflection exercises and the story-dialogue method. A grounded theory approach was used to analyse data.

Findings

– A model called “The Health Education Juggler” was developed comprising four educator roles necessary to perform participatory patient education: the Embracer, the Facilitator, the Translator and the Initiator. The validity of the model was confirmed in phase two by educators and showed fit, grab, relevance, workability and modifiability.

Practical implications

– The model provides a tool that can be used to support the focus on “juggling” skills in educators: the switching between different educator roles when performing participatory, group-based patient education. The model is useful as an analytical tool for reflection and supervision, as well as for observation and evaluation of participatory, group-based patient education.

Originality/value

– The study proposes a comprehensive model consisting of four equally important roles for educators performing participatory, group-based patient education.
Effect of interventions to improve adolescents’ nutrition knowledge in China
Authors: Wang Dongxu , Chang Chun , Stewart Donald , Ji Ying , Shi Yuhui
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to improve adolescents’ nutrition knowledge and to examine the effect of interventions component to improve adolescents’ nutrition knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study design was multi-factorial with repeated measures, at two points in time, of dependent samples from three schools, which were randomly selected from 15 middle schools in Miyun County, Beijing, and then randomly assigned to control school or intervention school. The instrument for baseline survey was a 14-item and for follow-up survey was a 26-item, self-administered, structured questionnaire, designed in Chinese.

Findings

– Students’ nutrition knowledge improved significantly in intervention schools after intervention compared with controls. The extent to which students felt that peer support activities were helpful and that what they learned in class about nutrition was helpful, was related to their resultant level of nutrition knowledge.

Originality/value

– To the authors’ knowledge there have been no previous studies which explore the effect of specific intervention components on levels of nutrition knowledge among adolescents.
Thermal and hydrodynamic performance analysis of charged jet in electrospinning
Authors: Ren Zhongfu , Kong Fanzhi , Kang Yongxiang , Kong Haiyan
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to theoretically investigate the thermal and hydrodynamic performance of the flow pattern of fluid in the charged jet. The flow pattern includes laminar flow in which all fluid layers move at different accelerated speeds, and shear forces between the fluid layers give rise to friction forces. This is a favorable condition for the parallel arrangement of the branches on polymer molecules.

Design/methodology/approach

– The dynamic mechanism of the flow pattern is conducted through analyzing the forces acting on the charged jet. The differential equation obtained in the analyzing process has the solution designating the laminar flow pattern of the fluid in the charged jet.

Findings

– The fluid in the charged jet flows in laminar pattern, which is favorable to the parallel arrangement of the branches on polymer molecules.

Research limitations/implications

– Although the flow pattern is conveyed by means of the simple condition of uniformly accelerated motion, it has the similar effect on the arrangement of the polymer molecules in general conditions, such as non-Newtonian fluids and non-uniformly accelerated motions.

Originality/value

– The laminar flow introduced by this paper to the charged jet implies anisotropic properties of the electrospun nanofibers.
Numerical solutions of singularly perturbed convection-diffusion problems
Authors: Geng Fazhan , Qian Suping , Li Shuai
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to find an effective numerical method for solving singularly perturbed convection-diffusion problems.

Design/methodology/approach

– The present method is based on the asymptotic expansion method and the variational iteration method (VIM). First a zeroth order asymptotic expansion for the solution of the given singularly perturbed convection-diffusion problem is constructed. Then the reduced terminal value problem is solved by using the VIM.

Findings

– Two numerical examples are introduced to show the validity of the present method. Obtained numerical results show that the present method can provide very accurate analytical approximate solutions not only in the boundary layer, but also away from the layer.

Originality/value

– The combination of the asymptotic expansion method and the VIM is applied to singularly perturbed convection-diffusion problems.
NLP promotes personal development and professional success
Authors: Cassidy-Rice John
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to detail the practice and successes of John Cassidy-Rice, of NLP Excellence, a neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) trainer who delivers a wide range of NLP programs to help people to achieve both personal development and professional success.

Design/methodology/approach

– Focuses on the science behind NLP and the various techniques used by the trainer to instill confidence, improve communication and help subjects to achieve both personal and commercial success. Includes the story of one individual who used NLP to influence his own power of thinking, and that of those around him, to bring about positive change.

Findings

– Showcases how an in-depth understanding of people’s values, the communication tools they use and the language they use can help business owners and managers to achieve their goals.

Practical implications

– Reveals that, through unlocking how the brain programs itself, and the study of the various patterns of the brain, people can learn how to engage more effectively with members of their own teams, their clients and prospective clients. This can help them to influence and inspire others and ultimately to improve productivity and profitability.

Social implications

– Demonstrates how, as a training tool, NLP enhances personal and professional development, with techniques increasingly being adopted in the commercial world to help companies to gain a significant advantage over their competitors as well as instill confidence and improve morale among the workforce.

Originality/value

– Reveals, in a case study, how NLP helped to transform the life of a single individual.
Design for mutual transformation between outdoor wear and camping tent
Authors: Zhen Wang Wei , Wang Yan , Lian Yu Shu , Sun Lin , Liu Jing , Min Wei Xiu
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– In view of high consumption situation of raw materials in the apparel industry due to unique and diversified style, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the application of pattern transformation between clothing and tent, explore the feasibility of extending multi-functional product and provide experimental demonstration for realizing 5R (Reduce, Reevaluate, Reuse, Recycle, Rescue) design goal of garment product.

Design/methodology/approach

– According to the results of market research, in order to make single product have the functions of both outdoor couple clothing and simple tent, the planar patterns of clothing and tent are compared and transformed to make them compatible with each other, then the removable multi-functional design and technique processing are adopted.

Findings

– It was found that outdoor clothing and tent with similar application occasions and raw materials could realize the assumption of multi-functional product. Their combination has the functions of both clothing and tent by wearing and assembling.

Originality/value

– By means of this transformation design, the diversification and enjoyment of garment styles and functions can be realized. This helps to improve the energy efficiency of raw materials and accessories by increasing the frequency of product reuse and sharing. In addition, the enjoyment design of products also helps to lead and promote ecological consumption.
Axillary odour build-up in knit fabrics following multiple use cycles
Authors: H. McQueen Rachel , J. Harynuk James , V. Wismer Wendy , Keelan Monika , Xu Yin , Paulina de la Mata A.
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Fibre content can influence the intensity of odour that develops within clothing fabrics. However, little is known about how effective laundering is at removing malodours in clothing which differ by fibre type. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a selected cotton fabric differed in odour intensity following multiple wear and wash cycles compared to a polyester fabric.

Design/methodology/approach

– Eight (male and female) participants wore bisymmetrical cotton/polyester t-shirts during 20 exercise sessions over a ten-week trial period. Odour was evaluated via a sensory panel, bacterial populations were counted and selected odorous volatile organic compounds were measured with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection. Analysis occurred both before and after the final (20th) wash cycle.

Findings

– Findings showed that laundering was effective in reducing overall odour intensity (p0.001) and bacterial populations (p0.001) in both cotton and polyester fabrics. Odour was most intense on polyester fabrics following wear, not just before, but also after washing (p0.001); although, no differences in bacterial counts were found between fibre types (p>0.05). Chemical analysis found C4-C8 chained carboxylic acids on both types of unwashed fabrics, although they were more prevalent on polyester.

Originality/value

– The findings suggest that the build-up of odour in polyester fabrics may be cumulative as important odorants such as the carboxylic acids were not as effectively removed from polyester compared to cotton.
Influence of terry fabrics structure and finishing on yarn pull-out behaviour
Authors: Petrulyte Salvinija , Velickiene Asta , Petrulis Donatas
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the resistance to pile loop extraction of terry fabrics regarding the pile height and impact/finishing.

Design/methodology/approach

– Fabrics are manufactured by changing the pile height and applying impact/finishing procedures. The resistance to pile loop extraction are determined. The factorial designs are made. For informative experiment the linear type of regression are analysed. Yarn pull-out behaviour in terry fabrics is discussed.

Findings

– The dynamics of yarn pull-out process in terry fabrics is estimated through the force-pulling distance curves presented. The resistance to pile loop extraction is determined. All statistical analysis is performed. Appropriate conclusions about the influence of fabrics structure and impact/finishing on yarn pull-out process are made.

Originality/value

– The study developed analysis and empiric mathematical equations suitable for evaluating and designing fabrics with the resistance to pile loop extraction ability required. Assessment of the influence of fabric's pile height and impact/finishing on the yarn pull-out is proposed.
Application of CFPR to fashion design scheme selection
Authors: Lin Chiahsu
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to improve the complicated pairwise comparison problem and the consistency of analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the consistent fuzzy preference relation (CFPR) method is applied to select the best fashion design scheme in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

– The first stage is to review the traditional AHP for fashion design scheme evaluation. The second stage is based on the procedure of CFPR to select the best fashion design scheme. The procedure includes: establishment of the fuzzy preference relation matrix of pairwise comparisons, calculation of criteria weight, and calculation of the evaluation value for ratings of fashion design schemes with respect to criteria. The final stage is to compare the procedures and results between AHP and CFPR for the evaluations of fashion design schemes.

Findings

– For fashion design scheme selection, there are 76 data for fashion design scheme evaluation in AHP, but only 31 in CFPR. Comparing both AHP and CFPR methods, the rankings of the criteria weight are identical and the priority scores of the fashion design scheme are similar. The CFPR is more efficient than AHP, obviously, to solve the inconsistency of hierarchical decision-making problem.

Originality/value

– This paper proposes the CFPR method for the selection of the best fashion design scheme. According to the finding of this study, the CFPR is proposed as a practicable option for solving complicated pairwise comparison problems in fashion design decision.
Experiences and problems with hygiene masks reported by Japanese hay fever sufferers
Authors: Morishima Mika , Kishida Koya , Uozumi Takashi , Kamijo Masayoshi
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– In Japan, one of the countermeasures used to avoid the symptoms of hay fever (HF) is a hygiene mask; however, a mask can cause discomfort. The authors believe that co-occurrence analysis, which has been widely in the sciences, will be valuable to this issue. The purpose of this paper is to identify problems associated with the use of hygiene masks and recommend improvements in their function and comfort. The goal of this study was to obtain information for the development of effective hygiene masks for HF sufferers and therefore, improve their quality of life.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors conducted a survey of university students with HF (n=1,519) to identify problems with hygiene masks. Students completed self-report questionnaires and co-occurrence analyses were used to examine the data from a holistic perspective. Moreover, technical data, relative to the problems of wearing a mask were acquired experimentally using thermal, hygroscopic, and airflow properties.

Findings

– Among Japanese university students, hygiene masks were the most popular countermeasure against HF symptoms. In addition, it was found that wearing a mask was not influenced of the type of symptoms. Most problems were related to the masks’ thermal, hygroscopic, and airflow properties.

Originality/value

– The paper proposed the use of co-occurrence analysis to analyze problems with hygiene masks. Most problems appear to be related to the thermal, hygroscopic, and airflow properties of the masks. Moreover, such phenomena have been experimentally demonstrated.
Stimulating learning about social entrepreneurship through income generation projects
Authors: Yann Ching Chang Jane , Benamraoui Abdelhafid , Rieple Alison
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of income generation projects as a pedagogic method to assess students’ learning about social enterprises. The authors are interested in how and why this innovative approach might improve students’ understanding of the different aspects and attributes of social entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study used thematic analysis of qualitative data comprising the reflective logs of 87 students on an undergraduate entrepreneurship module in a university business programme. The major attributes of social entrepreneurship were identified from a review of literature, and the paper uses the logs to judge whether students had learnt about these attributes.

Findings

– The results show that students developed an understanding concerning social enterprises’ diverse stakeholder environment, market needs, social enterprises’ ideological foundations, resource mobilisation processes and performance measurement – both social and financial. In addition, they developed skills in reflection and self-awareness, communication, empathy and the generation of new ideas.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is limited in that it focused on only one cohort of students, undergraduates. The authors cannot claim that the findings are generalisable to other students or contexts.

Practical implications

– Students are better able to understand the needs and values of social enterprises. However, this is a resource intensive process for educators with implications for curriculum design and management.

Social implications

– This study sheds new light on how experiential learning helps to raise students’ awareness of social enterprises.

Originality/value

– This study sheds new light on how experiential learning in the form of income generation projects helps to raise students’ awareness of social enterprises. Its value lies in helping to develop a novel and effective pedagogy for entrepreneurial learning.
A literature review of empirical research methodology in lean manufacturing
Authors: Vamsi Krishna Jasti Naga , Kodali Rambabu
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature on empirical research in lean manufacturing (LM). It provides a critical assessment of empirical research methodology of 178 research articles published from 1990 to 2009.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article reviewed a set of 178 empirical research articles in LM research with respect to empirical research design and its related facets. The 236 empirical research articles which are published in 70 journals during 1990-2009 are collected from four major management science publishers, namely, Emerald Online, Science Direct, Springer Link and Taylor & Francis. In total 178 research articles published in 24 journals are selected for critical review of empirical research methodology in LM. The approach for the critical review of 178 empirical research articles in LM is based on empirical research approach given by Flynn et al. (1990). The critical review discusses the current status of empirical research in LM and future directions.

Findings

– It is concluded from the analysis of the results that: the number of empirical research articles in LM is increasing at a faster pace than ever before; theory building and theory verification articles are equally advanced; the researchers have also unexplored various aspects of empirical research such as importance of triangulation of data, alternate research designs other than survey and case studies; contextual focus is mostly on the manufacturing industry; more focus required on other aspects of empirical research such as collecting the samples from developing and undeveloped countries, larger sample size, longitudinal data collection methods. Finally, it concludes that there is a need of LM frameworks, which gives the stepwise process to remove all kinds of wastes from any organization.

Originality/value

– To the knowledge of the authors, it is the first of its kind attempt to critically review the empirical research articles in LM. The review analysis entirely focussed on descriptive statistics of empirical research in LM. The sample size is one of the unique features of this research as the number of shortlisted articles is 178 in 24 journals published over a time span of 20 years (1990-2009).
Outsourcing decisions – the case of parallel production
Authors: Nordigården Daniel , Rehme Jakob , Brege Staffan , Chicksand Daniel , Walker Helen
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate an underexplored aspect of outsourcing involving a mixed strategy in which parallel production is continued in-house at the same time as outsourcing occurs.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study applied a multiple case study approach and drew on qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews with wood product manufacturing companies.

Findings

– The paper posits that there should be a variety of mixed strategies between the two governance forms of “make” or “buy.” In order to address how companies should consider the extent to which they outsource, the analysis was structured around two ends of a continuum: in-house dominance or outsourcing dominance. With an in-house-dominant strategy, outsourcing complements an organization's own production to optimize capacity utilization and outsource less cost-efficient production, or is used as a tool to learn how to outsource. With an outsourcing-dominant strategy, in-house production helps maintain complementary competencies and avoids lock-in risk.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper takes initial steps toward an exploration of different mixed strategies. Additional research is required to understand the costs of different mixed strategies compared with insourcing and outsourcing, and to study parallel production from a supplier viewpoint.

Practical implications

– This paper suggests that managers should think twice before rushing to a “me too” outsourcing strategy in which in-house capacities are completely closed. It is important to take a dynamic view of outsourcing that maintains a mixed strategy as an option, particularly in situations that involve an underdeveloped supplier market and/or as a way to develop resources over the long term.

Originality/value

– The concept of combining both “make” and “buy” is not new. However, little if any research has focussed explicitly on exploring the variety of different types of mixed strategies that exist on the continuum between insourcing and outsourcing.
Land web application projects in the territory of the Sardinia region
Authors: Garnero Gabriele , Cogoni Alessandro , Corrias Alessandro , Manigas Luisa , Valentina Zedda Stefania
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This article aims to describe how information and communications technology (ICT) has introduced a new approach in the handling of spatial data and related services and how Regione Autonoma della Sardegna, one of the Italian local governments, has been involved in an interesting growth that adopts ICT to provide spatial data and related services to itself and to its territory.

Design/methodology/approach

– This article considers three aspects data and services interoperability and the implications of spatial data delivered through a multi-channel environment; the use of social web as a platform for volunteered geographical information in the public administration environment; and the application of mobile technologies.

Findings

– The article represents the summary of recent activities in the Sardinia region and may constitute a paradigmatic example for other realities.

Originality/value

– The research and activities conducted represent a point of view advanced and innovative in the field of territorial sciences and spatial planning on a regional scale.
New images of city through the social network
Authors: Carone Paola , Panaro Simona
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The following paper aims to study the role of Facebook to improve the participation of the stakeholders to the urban regeneration and to identify preferences and create a database. Then great attention is given to the study of the potential of the social network in linking up extremely varied users, favoring also the connection from the web to the real.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology will combine the use of the social networking site Facebook and Checkland’s CATWOE. In this way, heterogeneous and selected groups of stakeholders could have an increasingly active role in the definition of urban strategies of transformations.

Findings

– The stakeholders’ participation is revealed in the choice of criteria, future cities characters and focal points, with the objective to identify some strategies for future sustainable scenarios of development.

Originality/value

– Facebook allows users to access the network of specific realities of the city and to meet and know them, improving the connection among people, thanks to the flow from web to real and vice versa.
Content adaptation for students with learning difficulties: design and case study
Authors: Janeth Lancheros-Cuesta Diana , Carrillo-Ramos Angela , A. Pavlich-Mariscal Jaime
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This article aims to propose an adaptation algorithm that combines the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), a rule-based system, and a k-means clustering algorithm. Informatic tools are very useful to enhance the learning process in the classroom. The large variety of these tools require advanced decision-making techniques to select parameters, such as student profiles and preferences, to adjust content and information display, according to specific characteristics and necessities of students. They are part of the Kamachiy–Idukay (KI), a platform to offer adaptative educational services to students with learning difficulties or disabilities.

Design and Methodology

– The design and implementation of the adaptation algorithm comprises the following phases: utilization of the AHP to determine the most important student parameters, parameter to take into account in the adaptation process, such as preferences, learning styles, performance in language, attention and memory aspects and disabilities; designing the first part of the adaptation algorithm, based on a rule-based system; designing the second part of the adaptation algorithm, based on k-means clustering; integration of the adaptation algorithm to KI; and validation of the approach in a primary school in Bogotá (Colombia).

Approach

– The main approach is the application of computational techniques, namely, rule-based systems and k-means clustering, plus an AHP prioritization at design time to yield a system to support the teaching–learning process for students with disabilities or learning difficulties.

Findings

– The algorithm found several groups of students with specific learning difficulties that required adapted activities. The algorithm also prioritized activities according to learning style and preferences. The results of the application of this system in a real classroom yielded positive results.

Limitations of the research

– The algorithm performs adaptation for students with mild disabilities or learning difficulties (language, attention and memory). The algorithm does not address severe disabilities that could greatly affect cognitive abilities.

Contributions

– The main contribution of this paper is an adaptation algorithm with the following distinctive characteristics, namely, designed utilizing the AHP, which ensures a proper prioritization of the student characteristics in the adaptation process, and utilizes a rule-based system to identify different adaptation scenarios and k-means clustering to group students with similar adaptation requirements.
Broadband access strategies: financing and governance
Authors: Frederiksen John
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to present a number of issues regarding broadband access strategies in the coming years with at least four different competing broadband access forms. Pricing, investment and financing in relation to these issues are presented. The developments of interconnection and Internet governance are also presented.

Design/methodology/approach

– Description of trends for demand and supply for broadband access and the challenges for financing of the necessary investments.

Findings

– The most probable outcome for the coming decade is that a broadband access strategy is very dependent on where you believe the saturation level for the demand of bandwidth from normal residential household will be. Wireline and mobile wireless solutions will probably mainly be complements. Furthermore, there is a challenge for the whole telecommunication sector in relation to financing the necessary investments, because several factors are forcing the profit level in the sector downwards. The ongoing merger of two different interconnection regimes has an impact on the economy for network operators. Finally, the challenge of how to govern the Internet is emphasized.

Originality/value

– The paper provides a new structure for how to analyse the challenges for the telecom operators regarding choice of access strategy, financing of investments and governance.
Antecedents of international mobile Internet tariff type preferences : an empirical study of roaming customers
Authors: J. Gerpott Torsten , Ahmadi Nima
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– International roaming (IR) makes it possible to conveniently use mobile communication services (MCS) such as MI access abroad without switching providers, devices or subscriber identity module (SIM) cards. To increase the intensity of competition in the intra-European Union market for IR services, customers will be enabled to buy IR voice and MI access services separately from their existing domestic MCS, as of July, 2014. Specifically, for separated international MI services providers can choose from three different charge types (use-dependent, flat and combination of flat and use-dependent). The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine customer preferences regarding these tariff types for separated international MI services.

Design/methodology/approach

– Six research questions concerning antecedents of tariff type preferences for separated international MI access services are derived from a literature review. They are empirically addressed by analyzing survey responses obtained for a sample of 496 German-speaking MCS users.

Findings

– Customers who actively seek for IR price information, consider IR services to be useful, exhibit high use intensities of MI services, do not restrict their MI usage when travelling abroad and tend to prefer flat rates to other pricing schemes. In contrast to these rather “active users”, customers favoring strictly use-dependent tariff plans exhibit significantly lower IR price information seeking efforts and comparatively low use intensities of MI services. Pricing schemes with MI allowances are especially liked by customers who are well-informed regarding and satisfied with IR prices, report above average use intensities of MI services, restrict their MI use abroad, are more likely to switch providers and use MCS mainly for job-related purposes.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is based on a German-speaking sample, which deviates from the German adult population. Additionally, the analysis is limited to stated instead of behaviorally revealed preferences for cross-border MI tariff types. Price thresholds influencing whether a cross-border MI tariff is entered into a consumer’s relevant set of offerings are not examined.

Practical implications

– The research suggests that mobile network operators are well-advised to offer a clearly structured menu of a limited number of tariffs directed to the three profiled customer segments. Notwithstanding the advantages of such a set of rate plans, international MI tariff schemes with a data volume allowance appear to be generally beneficial both from a provider and an end-customer perspective.

Originality/value

– To date, little is known about customer preferences concerning the three rate plan categories and on antecedents of such preferences in the field of MI access abroad. The present study takes a first step to narrowing this knowledge gap.
A collective artefact design of decision support systems: design science research perspective
Authors: J. Miah Shah , Kerr Don , von Hellens Liisa
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The knowledge of artefact design in design science research can have an important application in the improvement of decision support systems (DSS) development research. Recent DSS literature has identified a significant need to develop user-centric DSS method for greater relevance with respect to context of use. The purpose of this paper is to develop a collective DSS design artefact as method in a practical industry context.

Design/methodology/approach

– Under the influence of goal-directed interaction design principles the study outlines the innovative DSS artefact based on design science methodology to deliver a cutting-edge decision support solution, which provides user-centric provisions through the use of design environment and ontology techniques.

Findings

– The DSS artefact as collective information technology applications through the application of design science knowledge can effectively be designed to meet decision makers’ contextual needs in an agricultural industry context.

Research limitations/implications

– The study has limitations in that it was developed in a case study context and remains to be fully tested in a real business context. It is also assumed that the domain decisions can be parameterised and represented using a constraint programming language.

Practical implications

– The paper concludes that the DSS artefact design and this development successfully overcomes some of the limitations of traditional DSS such as low-user uptake, system obsolescence, low returns on investment and a requirement for continual re-engineering effort.

Social implications

– The design artefact has the potential of increasing user uptake in an industry that has had relevancy problems with past DSS implementation and has experienced associated poor uptake.

Originality/value

– The design science paradigm provides structural guidance throughout the defined process, helping ensure fidelity both to best industry knowledge and to changing user contexts.
Generating metadata to study and teach about African issues
Authors: Alshameri Faleh , Karim Bangura Abdul
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– After almost three centuries of employing western educational approaches, many African societies are still characterized by low western literacy rates, civil conflicts, and underdevelopment. It is obvious that these western educational paradigms, which are not indigenous to Africans, have done relatively little good for Africans. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to argue that the salvation for Africans hinges upon employing indigenous African educational paradigms which can be subsumed under the rubric of ubuntugogy, which the authors define as the art and science of teaching and learning undergirded by humanity toward others.

Design/methodology/approach

– Therefore, ubuntugogy transcends pedagogy (the art and science of teaching), andragogy (the art and science of helping adults learn), ergonagy (the art and science of helping people learn to work), and heutagogy (the study of self-determined learning). That many great African minds, realizing the debilitating effects of the western educational systems that have been forced upon Africans, have called for different approaches.

Findings

– One of the biggest challenges for studying and teaching about Africa in Africa at the higher education level, however, is the paucity of published material. Automated generation of metadata is one way of mining massive data sets to compensate for this shortcoming.

Originality/value

– Thus, the authors address the following major research question in this paper: What is automated generation of metadata and how can the technique be employed from an African-centered perspective? After addressing this question, conclusions and recommendations are offered.
Applying and theorizing institutional frameworks in IS research
Authors: DeVaujany François-Xavier , Carton Sabine , Mitev Nathalie , Romeyer Cécile
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper investigates how Information Systems (IS) researchers apply institutional theoretical frameworks. The purpose of this paper is to explore the operationalization of meta-theoretical frameworks for empirical research which can often present difficulties in IS research. The authors include theoretical, methodological and empirical aspects to explore modalities of use and suggest further avenues.

Design/methodology/approach

– After an overview of institutional concepts, the authors carry out a thematic analysis of journal papers on IS and institutional frameworks indexed in EBSCO and ABI databases from 1999 to 2009. This consists of descriptive, thematic coding and cluster analysis of this textual database, this combined qualitative and quantitative method offers a unique way of analyzing how operationalization is carried out.

Findings

– The findings suggest three groups of publications which represent different methodological approaches and empirical foci: “descriptive exploratory approaches,” “generalizing approaches,” and “sociological approaches.” The authors suggest that these three groups represent possible patterns of the use of “meta” social theories in IS research, reflecting a search for disciplinary legitimacy. This helps us analyze papers according to how they use and apply theories. The authors identify the “organizing vision” and the regulatory approach as two institutionalist “intermediary” concepts developed by IS researchers. Furthermore, the authors find that institutional theoretical frameworks have been used in “direct,” “intermediary” or “combined” conceptualizations. The authors also confirm the dynamism of the IS institutional research stream, as evidenced by the increase in number of articles between 1999 and 2009, and identify a maturation process of the IS field in investigating a social theory.

Originality/value

– The evolution the authors identify in the application of institutional theoretical frameworks in the IS field reveals conformity in methodological, theoretical and empirical terms. By identifying these patterns, it becomes possible to understand institutional reasons for their existence and legitimacy; and to propose other avenues of exploration in future IS research, such as combining different theoretical lenses in institutional frameworks. The methodological contribution is to provide an innovative methodology which helps describe categories and levels of institutional theoretical frameworks used, leading to the identification of gaps and proposing further avenues of research.
Internet banking adoption in India
Authors: Kumar Sharma Sujeet , Madhumohan Govindaluri Srikrishna
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the factors influencing adoption of internet banking in urban India.

Design/methodology/approach

– A model has been proposed based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). The proposed model is referred to as extended TAM and is better suited to identify and quantify the important factors that influence adoption of internet banking technology in India. Primary data relating to the variables affecting technology adoption and demographic profile are collected using a questionnaire survey. Data were collected from 344 individuals who are either current/prospective internet banking users. Structural equation modeling was used to identify the important factors affecting internet banking technology adoption.

Findings

– The factors of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, social influence, awareness, quality of internet connection and computer self-efficacy are primary determinants of the attitude toward the use of internet banking in urban India. The attitude toward the use of internet banking can be used to predict the intention to use internet banking systems by users.

Practical implications

– This research enables internet banking service providers in urban India to design new service offerings or modify current service offerings to achieve higher adoption rates in internet banking.

Originality/value

– The paper investigates the adoption of internet technologies by banking users by proposing an extended TAM model that is more appropriate to capture the issues related to adoption in urban India. The paper is of value to researchers in the area of technology adoption and banking service providers in urban India.
Rewards for failure: an explanation for anomalous executive remuneration
Authors: Gill Suveera
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The present paper aims to question the rationale of paying a high remuneration to executives who are presiding over loss-making companies. The neoclassical wage model asserts that the remuneration of executive directors is positively related to their company’s financial performance. However, evidence suggests that executives can obtain a higher level of personal compensation regardless of how the company performs.

Design/methodology/approach

– The relationship between executive remuneration and performance for viable but loss-making Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)-listed companies has been studied for 2009-2011. The paper examines the determinants of the level of executive remuneration as well as discerns the strength of the remuneration–performance relationship, both at the overall and across various board hierarchical levels, using the JM sensitivity and HL elasticity models.

Findings

– Results for univariate and multivariate analyses highlight that both the remuneration–performance sensitivity and elasticity are weak. Further, factors such as ownership structure, risk and industry class moderate the remuneration–performance elasticity. It seems that it is only the lower rung of executive directors whose cash remuneration gets adversely affected with the performance of the company.

Originality/value

– The paper offers valuable insight into the complexities relating to the remuneration performance relationship by putting forth a multi-theoretical perspective. The fact that executives are drawing a whopping remuneration while their companies continue to report disappointing results suggests that a catalytic role has to be played by the government so as to ensure that executive remuneration policies and practices are consistent with the company’s long-term objectives and control environment.
Indian and US consumer purchase intentions of cloud computing services
Authors: Ratten Vanessa
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to focus on consumer’s perceptions of ethical and innovative aspects of cloud computing services. Cloud computing is a technological innovation that more consumers are adopting because of its mobility and accessibility in storing data. While there has been an increased awareness of cloud computing by consumers, there is limited research about the factors influencing consumers to purchase cloud services.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study uses the technology acceptance model and the social cognitive theory as the theoretical frameworks to understand how perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, ethical self-efficacy, innovation self-efficacy, performance expectancy and privacy impact purchase intention of cloud computing services. Research hypotheses are developed from the literature and tested by a survey questionnaire in India and the USA.

Findings

– The results of the analysis suggest that consumers in India and the USA are affected by similar factors when deciding to purchase cloud computing services, but differ in expectations about performance.

Originality/value

– This study utilizes Indian and US consumers to compare purchase intentions of technological innovations showing that there are more similarities than differences towards ethical and consumer innovativeness in both countries.
The dependence structure in credit risk between money and derivatives markets
Authors: Wu Weiou , G. McMillan David
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the dynamic dependence structure in credit risk between the money market and the derivatives market during 2004-2009. The authors use the TED spread to measure credit risk in the money market and CDS index spread for the derivatives market.

Design/methodology/approach

– The dependence structure is measured by a time-varying Gaussian copula. A copula is a function that joins one-dimensional distribution functions together to form multivariate distribution functions. The copula contains all the information on the dependence structure of the random variables while also removing the linear correlation restriction. Therefore, provides a straightforward way of modelling non-linear and non-normal joint distributions.

Findings

– The results show that the correlation between these two markets while fluctuating with a general upward trend prior to 2007 exhibited a noticeably higher correlation after 2007. This points to the evidence of credit contagion during the crisis. Three different phases are identified for the crisis period which sheds light on the nature of contagion mechanisms in financial markets. The correlation of the two spreads fell in early 2009, although remained higher than the pre-crisis level. This is partly due to policy intervention that lowered the TED spread while the CDS spread remained higher due to the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis.

Originality/value

– The paper examines the relationship between the TED and CDS spreads which measure credit risk in an economy. This paper contributes to the literature on dynamic co-movement, contagion effects and risk linkages.
Stock price movement around the merger announcements: insider trading or market anticipation?
Authors: Jain Pawan , A. Sunderman Mark
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the stock price movements for existence of informed trading prior to a merger announcement for the companies listed on the emerging markets of India for the period from 1996 to 2010.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study applies several event study methodologies and regression analyses to analyze the stock price movement surrounding a merger announcement. The paper divides mergers in two different types: industry merger cases and non-industry merger cases and in two different time periods: recession and boom.

Findings

– The results show that the information held only by insiders’ works its way into prices. The paper finds strong evidence of insider trading in the case of industry mergers and mergers during recessions.

Practical implications

– The results from this study have immediate policy implications for India and other developing markets as the paper provides the type of mergers and time periods when merger announcements are more susceptible to insider trading.

Originality/value

– The paper extends the literature on mergers and insider trading by analyzing firms trading on a developing capital market, which, unlike the developed markets, is characterized by inadequate disclosure and a weaker enforcement of securities regulations. The results support this notion and recommend Indian securities market regulators to tighten the lax regulations. In addition, the author document the divergence in price reaction to the merger announcements for different types of mergers: industry mergers and non-industry mergers, as well as for mergers during different market conditions: recession vs booming capital markets.