bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An hp‐adaptive finite element model for heat transfer within partitioned enclosures
Authors: Pepper Darrell W. , Wang Xiuling
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and employment of an hp‐adaptive finite element method (FEM) algorithm for solving heat transfer problems in partitioned enclosures, which has attracted the attention of both experimental and theoretical researchers in recent years.

Design/methodology/approach

In the hp‐adaptive FEM algorithm presented here, both the element size and the shape function order are dynamically controlled by an a posteriori error estimator based on the L2 norm; a three‐step adaptation strategy is used with a projection algorithm for the flow solver.

Findings

Simulation results are obtained for 2D and 3D natural convection within partitioned enclosures. Results show refined and enriched elements that develop near the partition edges and side walls of the enclosure, as expected. The heat transfer between the heated and cooled side walls is reduced in the presence of a partial partition.

Research limitations/implications

The Rayleigh numbers were set to 105 in the 2D case and 103 in the 3D case. Efforts are underway to apply the hp‐adaptive algorithm to partitioned enclosures at much higher Rayleigh numbers, including comparison with available experimental data.

Practical implications

Heat transfer within partitioned enclosures occurs in many engineering situations: heat transfer across thermo pane windows, solar collectors, fire spread and energy transfer in rooms and buildings, cooling of nuclear reactors and heat exchanger design.

Originality/value

The hp‐adaptive FEM algorithm is one of the best mesh‐based algorithms for improving solution quality, whilst maintaining computational efficiency. The method shows considerable promise in solving a wide range of heat transfer problems including fluid flow.
Adaptive finite element methods in geodynamics
Authors: Davies D.R. , Davies J.H. , Hassan O. , Morgan K. , Nithiarasu P.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an adaptive finite element procedure that improves the quality of convection dominated mid‐ocean ridge (MOR) and subduction zone (SZ) simulations in geodynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

The method adapts the mesh automatically around regions of high‐solution gradient, yielding enhanced resolution of the associated flow features. The approach utilizes an automatic, unstructured mesh generator and a finite element flow solver. Mesh adaptation is accomplished through mesh regeneration, employing information provided by an interpolation‐based local error indicator, obtained from the computed solution on an existing mesh.

Findings

The proposed methodology works remarkably well at improving solution accuracy for both MOR and SZ simulations. Furthermore, the method is computationally highly efficient.

Originality/value

To date, successful goal‐orientated/error‐guided grid adaptation techniques have, to the knowledge, not been utilized within the field of geodynamics. This paper presents the first true geodynamical application of such methods.
The adoption of value‐based management in large UK companies
Authors: Cooper S. , Crowther D.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

In the 1990s, a growing number of companies adopted value‐based management (VBM) techniques in the UK. The purpose of this paper is to explore the motivations for the adoption or non‐adoption of VBM for managing a business.

Design/methodology/approach

An interview‐based study of 37 large UK companies. Insights from diffusion theory and institutional theory are utilised to theorise these motivations.

Findings

It was found that the rate of adoption of VBM in the sample companies does follow the classical S‐shape. It also suggests that the supply‐side of the diffusion process, most notably the role played by consultants, was an influence on many companies. This was not, however, a sufficient condition for companies to adopt the technique. The research also finds evidence of relocation diffusion, as several adopters are influenced by new officers, for example chief executive officers and finance directors, importing VBM techniques that they have used in organizations within which they have previously worked.

Research limitations/implications

It is quite a small scale study and further work would be needed to develop the findings.

Practical implications

Understanding and theorising the adoption of new management techniques will help understand the management of a business.

Originality/value

This research adds further evidence to the value of studying management accounting, and more specifically management accounting change, in practice. It shows the developments in the adoption of a new technique and hence how a technique becomes accepted in practice.
Outsourcing decision under Utopian environment
Authors: Ray Amitava , Sarkar Bijan , Sanyal Subir
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to develop and demonstrate an outsourcing decision model in which constraint resource prevents the throughput of the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated model is proposed by incorporating the weighted product model (WPM) of AHP in estimating the priority of each product in a multi‐product constraint resource environment. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of this model. The outsourcing decision model compares four alternatives: Standard cost accounting, standard theory‐of‐constraints (TOC), LP analysis and an original solution.

Findings

The numerical results show that the proposed model is superior and more realistically optimizes resource allocation and measures the performance of the model.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to the production processes that do not have multiple constraints.

Practical implications

This research is applicable to the companies which produce multi‐products in a situation in which market demand exceed the company's production capacity.

Originality/value

This is the first time that the WPM of AHP/TOC has been used to maximize the product throughput. Instead of calculating $return per constraint minute, it decides the priority of product that maximizes the product throughput in the constraint resource environment. It makes a significant contribution to the manufacturing organization where one can compare the financial performance of the organization by selecting the right decision model.
Evaluating the performance of open source software projects using data envelopment analysis
Authors: Wray Barry , Mathieu Richard
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a model of the relative performance of open source software (OSS) projects.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper evaluates the relative performance of OSS projects by evaluating multiple project inputs and multiple project outputs by using a data envelopment analysis (DEA) model. The DEA model produces an efficiency score for each project based on project inputs and outputs. The method of producing an efficiency score is based on the convex envelopment technology structure. The efficiency measure quantifies a “distance” to an efficient frontier.

Findings

The DEA model produced an index of corresponding intensities linking an inefficient project to its benchmark efficient project(s). The inefficiency measures produced an ordering of inefficient projects. Eight projects were found to be “efficient” and used as benchmarking projects.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to only security‐based OSS projects. Future research on other areas of OSS projects is warranted.

Practical implications

The result of this research is a practical model that can be used by OSS project developers to evaluate the relative performance of their projects and make resource decisions.

Originality/value

This research extends the work of previous studies that have examined the relative performance of software development projects in a traditional development environment. As a result of this research, OSS projects can now be adequately benchmarked and evaluated according to project performance. An OSS project manger can effectively use these results to critically evaluate resources for their project and judge the relative efficiency of the resources.
A test of interventions for security threats from social engineering
Authors: Workman Michael
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Recently, the role of human behavior has become a focal point in the study of information security countermeasures. However, few empirical studies have been conducted to test social engineering theory and the reasons why people may or may not fall victim, and even fewer have tested recommended treatments. Building on theory using threat control factors, the purpose of this paper is to compare the efficacy of recommended treatment protocols.

Design/methodology/approach

A confirmatory factor analysis of a threat control model was conducted, followed by a randomized assessment of treatment effects using the model. The data were gathered using a questionnaire containing antecedent factors, and samples of social engineering security behaviors were observed.

Findings

It was found that threat assessment, commitment, trust, and obedience to authority were strong indicators of social engineering threat success, and that treatment efficacy depends on which factors are most prominent.

Originality/value

This empirical study provides evidence for certain posited theoretical factors, but also shows that treatment efficacy for social engineering depends on targeting the appropriate factor. Researchers should investigate methods for factor assessment, and practitioners must develop interventions accordingly.
Knowing is doing
Authors: Choi Namjoo , Kim Dan , Goo Jahyun , Whitmore Andrew
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically validate the conjectural relationship between managerial information security awareness (MISA) and managerial actions toward information security (MATIS).

Design/methodology/approach

A model is developed and the relationship between MISA and MATIS is tested using a large set of empirical data collected across different types and sizes of enterprises. The hypotheses of the research model are tested with regression analysis.

Findings

The results of the study provide empirical support that MATIS is directly and positively related to MISA.

Research limitations/implications

The R2, an estimate of the proportion of the total variation in the data set that is explained by the model, is relatively low. This fact implies that there are other constructs in addition to MISA that play a crucial role in determining MATIS. The paper suggests that intention to act and the risk‐cost tradeoff of the MATIS are other possible constructs that should be incorporated into future research. The conceptual model employed as a theoretical basis also suggests that other factors such as the environment in which an organization operates (e.g. industry) also plays a major role in determining information security decisions independently of MISA. Other possible limitations include the use of secondary data in the study.

Practical implications

The results indicate that developing strategies to raise an organization's MISA should impact MATIS and thus improve information security performance.

Originality/value

The study provides empirical evidence supporting the unproven link between MISA and MATIS.
An investigation of the association between corporate governance, earnings management and the effect of governance reforms
Authors: Hutchinson Marion R. , Percy Majella , Erkurtoglu Leyal
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of recent corporate governance reforms on the association between governance practices and earnings management.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the impact of corporate governance reforms by using a firm fixed‐effect, cross‐sectional analysis of 200 firms listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) for the financial years ending in 2000 and 2005. This paper examines the association between firms' corporate governance practices and the quality of financial reports as measured by the magnitude of earnings management pre‐ and post‐the governance reforms (CLERP 9 and ASX Corporate Governance Council (CGC)).

Findings

The results of this study indicate that certain governance practices are important in limiting earnings management. In particular, board independence and audit committee (AC) independence, are associated with lower performance‐adjusted discretionary accruals, one commonly used measure of earnings management. However, increasing executive shareholdings provides incentives to manage earnings.

Practical implications

This study is important to investors, academics and policy makers as it demonstrates that governance reforms that encourage firms to adopt better governance practices reduces the likelihood of earnings management.

Originality/value

There is limited research on the association between corporate governance practices or the recent corporate governance reforms (ASX CGC Recommendations and CLERP 9) on earnings management in Australia. This study extends the literature by demonstrating the impact of recent corporate governance reforms on board independence, AC effectiveness and executive directors' shareholding and the association with earnings management.
An overview of accounting restatement activity in the United States
Authors: Flanagan David J. , Muse Lori A. , O'Shaughnessy K.C.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of financial restatements by US companies to help students, professors, and practitioners gain a better understanding of restatements. Data from restatement activity that occurred between January 1, 1997 and June 30, 2002 is presented and relevant literature is cited to discus the players involved in restatements, the causes of restatements and their impacts.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 919 restatement announcements compiled by the General Accounting Office (GAO) that occurred between January 1, 1997 and June 30, 2002 is analyzed. The data and the relevant literature are used to examine the roles of companies, auditing firms, and the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the financial reporting process and show how they are involved in prompting restatements. Literature is also reviewed on the root causes of restatements and their impact.

Findings

The misstatements that lead to earnings restatements are driven by a variety of forces, the most often studied and discussed being deceptive accounting practices by managers. The results of these restatements include a decline in the market value of the firm, an increase in the cost of capital, a loss of reputation for the firm and managers and an overall loss of confidence from investors. Key players in restatements by US companies are the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the restating firms' auditors and the management of the restating firms. Restatements prompted by the SEC tend to be larger than those prompted by other entities. They also tend to involve firms with high profitability before the restatement. The Sarbanes‐Oxley act is the latest significant piece of legislation that impacts financial reporting by firms.

Research limitations/implications

Data on US restatements occurring between January 1, 1997 and June 30, 2002 are presented. Restatements are a continuing, global, phenomenon so studies involving restatements by firms in various countries and from more recent periods would be useful.

Practical implications

This paper provides a useful overview of restatement activity in the USA for any individual looking to become more familiar with the topic. Ideas for future research are presented.

Originality/value

This paper fills a hole in the literature by providing data and citing relevant literature to provide an overview of accounting restatement activity in the USA.
Knowledge management and organization's perception in the United Arab Emirates: case study
Authors: Alrawi Khalid W.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The challenge of knowledge management (KM) is to determine what information within an organization qualifies as “valuable”. Not all information is knowledge, and not all knowledge is valuable. The key is to find the relevant and worthwhile knowledge within a vast sea of information. The main purpose of the paper was to ascertain the meaning managers ascribe to the concept of KM. This study was not intended to build or test theory, but does offer some insights into needed and relevant research in the area of KM.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical seeks sought to determine whether or not CEOs in UAE organizations are capable in managing knowledge to the advantage of the firm. The study sample consists of 102 managers in different organizations in Abu Dhabi/UAE, reflecting their attitudes towards KM.

Findings

Several managers expressed concerns over technological issues. These issues related to technical infrastructure and security of data on the internet. The finding was that Knowledge should make a difference in some way, materially or spiritually, and that KM resources will be best employed by organizations utilizing technology as a long‐term investment.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils and identifies needs and offers new thought to individuals in the field of management and information technology.
Competency and performance analysis of Indian SMEs and large organizations
Authors: Singh Rajesh K. , Garg Suresh K. , Deshmukh S.G.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Globalization of markets and increasing expectations of customers have created a turbulent environment for Indian organizations. The purpose of this paper is to study the development of various competencies by small‐, medium‐ and large‐scale Indian organizations under various pressures and constraints.

Design/methodology/approach

For collecting data, a questionnaire‐based survey were conducted. Out of 241 responding organizations, 193 were small‐ to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and 48 were larger organizations. Statistical analysis of data acquired from the survey are done by reliability test, t‐test and correlation analysis.

Findings

Introduction of new technology and identification of market changes have emerged as most important competencies because they are significantly correlated with subjective performance, objective performance and overall competitiveness of organization. Levels of focus given on competencies development by large organizations differ significantly from SMEs.

Research limitations/implications

Findings of the study imply that SMEs should be as proactive as large organizations in making changes in terms of various processes such as development of competencies, human resources, upgrading of technology and awareness about market changes. For validating these results, further case studies are recommended.

Originality/value

This study will help organizations in shaping their competitive strategies for developing competencies as per the market needs.
Using outsourcing for strategic competitiveness in small and medium‐sized firms
Authors: Elango B.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an outsourcing matrix and explains how outsourcing can be used to facilitate strategic innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used in this study is of an explanatory case study. This paper uses secondary data as well as primary data from several interviews with executives, entrepreneurs and industry experts. The combination of the two sources of data ensures a certain level of convergence and completeness in the analysis presented.

Findings

The approach suggested in this paper offers small and medium‐sized firms an opportunity to innovate strategically (i.e. creation of newer services and products) and potentially level the playing field with larger rivals.

Originality/value

This paper offers practicing managers a framework for using outsourcing as a means to compete effectively. Importantly, compared to the outsourcing literature's traditional focus on large firms, this paper is one of the few which takes the perspective of the small or medium sized firm. Additionally, this paper serves as a foundation for theory building and future research on the usage of outsourcing by such firms to enhance strategic competitiveness.
Dealing with organizational inertia: psychoanalytical insight and instruction
Authors: Allcorn Seth , Godkin Lynn
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the concept of communities of practice from a psychoanalytically informed perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The concept of communities of practice is defined, their working described, and negative attributes delineated.

Findings

The paper finds that through the exploitation of basic skills, the development and sharing of a shared language, incorporation of previous relevant experience and current information over time, the community of practice becomes more open. The group is better able to combine existing knowledge with emerging understandings.

Practical implications

Psychoanalytically informed theory is applied to provide alternative insight into communities of practice and how they impede organizational progress.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates how human nature influences the workplace in general and contributes to the working of communities of practice in particular.
Politicians, central banks, and the shape of financial supervision architectures
Authors: Dalla Pellegrina Lucia , Masciandaro Donato
Published: November 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the role of the quality of government on financial supervisory structures in different countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The objectives are pursued by means of econometric tools based on probit and multinomial logit techniques.

Findings

It is found that the quality of government plays a crucial role in determining supervision unification. “Good” policymakers (helping hand types) prefer a unified financial authority while “bad” ones (grabbing hand type) choose specialized or hybrid models depending on how powerful is the central bank.

Research limitations/implications

Research limitations are represented by the endogenous nature of political variables with respect to the supervisory design. Suggestions for future research rely on finding adequate instrumental variables to be included in the empirical analysis in order to address causality issues.

Practical implications

The paper follows a positive approach, explaining why different supervisory structures are observed around the world. As a consequence, it does not provide any normative implication.

Originality/value

Its original contribution can be identified in the first attempt to include political preferences in determining the choice among different regimes of financial supervision.
Compliance risk in Italian banks: the results of a survey
Authors: Birindelli Giuliana , Ferretti Paola
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to highlight the results of a survey on compliance practices in Italian financial institutions (Italian banks and branches in Italy of foreign banks).

Design/methodology/approach

The survey is carried out through a structured questionnaire, arranged into several sections: general information on the definition and framework of compliance risk, organizational structure, reporting, culture, purpose and tasks of the compliance staff, assessment of the compliance staff performance and of the risk. The survey is mainly developed on two issues: organizational and risk assessment implications.

Findings

It is found that many survey participants are responding positively to regulation developments, since there is a widespread recognition of compliance as a key element for creating value and improving reputation. It is also found that the Italian banks surveyed, whose compliance activities have been usually performed by internal audit, dedicate less attention to compliance matters in comparison with the branches of foreign banks. The institutions interviewed underline the need to have clear guidelines from supervisory authorities, so that they can achieve an effective and efficient management of compliance risk.

Originality/value

This subject has not been analyzed in depth to date. This paper provides a representative view of the management of compliance risk in Italian banks, thanks to the variety of the issues under observation and the size of the sample.
The impact of corporate fairness on the bank‐SME relationship
Authors: Vegholm Fatima , Silver Lars
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The United Kingdom Financial Services Authority's treating customers fairly initiative has drawn attention to a current trend that involves regulators using regulatory principles to enhance the relationship between financial institutions and customers. The term corporate fairness is introduced to facilitate the understanding of the construction of fairness. The purpose of this study is to investigate corporate fairness as a means of achieving customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a sample of 359 small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sweden. LISREL, a structural equation modelling technique, is used to analyse the empirical data.

Findings

The present study emphasises the importance of treating customers fairly in the financial sector. By being embedded in the strategy and structure of the bank organisation, corporate fairness enables individual bankers to act in a relational manner towards their customers, thereby resulting in higher customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

Corporate fairness is a topic usually reserved for consumer research, this study shows the impact of corporate fairness on the SME community. The study shows how corporate fairness is linked to customer satisfaction, and how perceived fairness can be improved.
Coordination and transformation in business processes: towards an integrated view
Authors: Goldkuhl Göran , Lind Mikael
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contrast two views, a transformative and a coordinative view, on business process management (BPM) in order to propose an integrated view.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation has been made with the purpose of developing a synthesis of these two views working as thesis and antithesis. The core of such dialectic approach is to create a synthesis that transcends contradictions of the thesis and antithesis. Pros and cons in the two perspectives have been identified and an integrated process view has been proposed, as well as operationalised into modelling methods. The integrated process view comprises a number of definitions of different process types (business process, assignment process, transformation process and provision process).

Findings

The paper derives characteristics of the transformative as well as the coordinative view. These are used as the basis for pinpointing important characteristics of an integrative view. These characteristics put forward coordination in relation to transformation as well as assignment processes in relation to other types of processes (such as transformation processes and provision processes)

Practical implications

The proposed integrated view has practical implications in the work of modelling, analysing and designing business processes.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is that it presents a complementary view on business processes derived from two existing views. In the paper, coordination aspects are seen as superior to transformation.
Business process improvement: empirical assessment and extensions
Authors: Siha Samia M. , Saad Germaine H.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to survey and analyze current process improvement (PI) approaches, their empirical results reported in the literature, and develop accordingly a conceptual framework and implementation guidelines.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review of the popular business database to search for case studies and empirical research on PI methods was conducted. The empirical evidence on success and failure factors were inferred and tabulated. Based on synthesis of the lessons learned from this empirical evidence along with concepts drawn from economics, and operations management, a conceptual framework is developed.

Findings

It was found that the framework would serve as a diagnostic tool for identification of, and recovering from root causes of problems and inefficiencies faced in business environments. The framework proposed synthesizes and extends earlier PI tools and basic approaches used for mitigating disruptions faced in operations practice. The framework design consists of three main phases: Specify; Analyze; and Monitor closely. Accordingly, it is denoted by SAM.

Practical implications

Decision makers can be altered to both the success factors and causes of failure of different PI approaches, and a framework is provided along with implementation guidelines that help assure practical effectiveness of PI efforts. The guidelines provided for practicing managers comprise two categories: specific; tool‐based, and general; system‐based.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is two fold: first, empirical evidence on the drivers of success and failure of four main PI approaches, were synthesized. These include: six sigma, benchmarking, reengineering and process mapping. Second, based on this empirical evidence, a conceptual framework that guides both the choice and implementation of business process improvement programs is developed. The proposed framework and its implementation guidelines help assure actual effectiveness of PI practice.
Process‐based management
Authors: Carmignani Gionata
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a structured method to apply process management approach following ISO 9001:2000 requirements, clause 4.1.

Design/methodology/approach

The content of this paper is focused on the detailed analysis of the fourth clause of the 2000 edition of norm ISO 9001, and it presents an articulated procedure which can be undertaken by any organization in order to give the best answers to the requirements therein.

Findings

The method described consists in eight steps, with a top‐down approach going from the definition of the macro‐processes of the organization to the definition of the single stages which constitute the activities. An approach to implement quality objectives deployment is implemented. In order to better explain the methodology, a case study is used.

Originality/value

Indeed, it is thought that the content of the fourth clause of ISO 9001, and in particular of paragraph 4.1, represents one of the most important innovations brought in by the new edition which nevertheless, since this paragraph contains requisites oriented more towards method and approach mentality to the quality system and less towards detail and strictly operational prescriptions, has been poorly and erroneously understood, or even deliberately not taken into account. The proposed methodology represents an original guide line to implement process management approach.
Business process modelling, simulation and reengineering: call centres
Authors: Doomun Razvi , Vunka Jungum Nevin
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a flexible framework through which business processes can be modelled, simulated and reengineered in a cost‐effective way.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is mainly based on a review of the literature and the methodology is discussed in the context of a typical call centre business.

Findings

Reengineering business processes involve changes in people, processes and technology over time. In this paper, a flexible business process modelling, simulation and reengineering (BPMSR) approach is presented. Modelling starts with precisely defining model objectives and boundaries, and carrying extensive data analysis. Simulation modelling allows testing and analysis of different scenarios to understand their impact on a broader “system” and evaluate feedback before moving forward with reengineering implementation plans. The need for a flexible and adaptive methodology is stressed to augment efficiency and effectiveness of reengineering cycle.

Originality/value

Flexibility and adaptability in the reengineering cycle are effective to identify early modelling incompatibility and simulation defects. It adds intelligence to BPMSR and accommodates for any technical or process changes that may subsequently arise. This approach is reliable for future process improvement or reengineering endeavours due to its flexible configuration, which can be adapted to both radical or incremental change.
Good computing: a pedagogically focused model of virtue in the practice of computing (part 2)
Authors: Huff Chuck , Barnard Laura , Frey William
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a four component model of ethical behavior that integrates literature in moral psychology, computing ethics, and virtue ethics as informed by research on moral exemplars in computing. This is part 2 of a two part contribution, part 1 having appeared in Vol. 6 No. 3.

Design/methodology/approach

This psychologically based and philosophically informed model argues that moral action is grounded in relatively stable personality characteristics, guided by integration of morality into the self‐system, shaped by the context of the surrounding moral ecology, and facilitated by morally relevant skills and knowledge.

Findings

The model seeks to explain the daily successful (and unsuccessful) performance of moral action by computing professionals and to provide groundwork for a pedagogy that emphasizes ethically effective performance.

Practical implications

The model has significant implications for how ethical action to computer professionals and other design professionals might be taught. It also makes recommendations about what need to be measured to construct a complete picture of sustained ethical action in a profession.

Originality/value

Most accepted models of ethical behavior are unidimensional, emphasizing either principled reasoning or a simplistic model of integrity/character. This model brings together a variety of disparate literatures in the light of its emphasis on sustained moral action in the profession. It thereby provides researchers and educators with a picture of what is needed to construct a complete understanding of moral action in the profession.
Value‐centred interaction design methods
Authors: Knight John
Published: November 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to inform and improve the quality of electronic products and services by outlining an approach to ethically grounded design.

Design/methodology/approach

A number of design disciplines were investigated using desk research and also learning from experience in commercial design practice in the mobile phone, Internet and software industries.

Findings

It is suggested that design “scripts” specific behaviours with either good or bad results. Scripts have a behavioural element and they define the physical, social and individual impact of products and services. This suggests that designers should be aware of the impact design decisions have throughout the product lifecycle. In order to achieve this, three ethical design principles (situated research, reflexivity and participation) are proposed to frame ethical design practice.

Research limitations/implications

It is suggested that measuring impact alone is insufficient to minimise harm caused by electronic products and services. Instead, research should focus on positively informing design through actionable results in the participatory design tradition. Conversely, design needs to accommodate research into measuring the impact of products in order to deliver long‐term benefits to users rather than perpetuating passive consumption.

Practical implications

The paper provides an overview of methods for value‐centred interaction design based on the analysis of alternative approaches to ethical design.

Originality/value

The research in the paper spans a number of related but heretofore separate disciplines pertinent to deepening design thinking. These disciplines are critiqued on the basis of their appropriateness and applicability to an ethical design approach and the concept of scripting, used in traditional design, is applied to interactivity. Lastly, three new principles are proposed for ethically grounded design.
Arabic script language identification using letter frequency neural networks
Authors: Selamat Ali , Ng Choon‐Ching
Published: November 2008

Purpose

With the rapid emergence and explosion of the internet and the trend of globalization, a tremendous number of textual documents written in different languages are electronically accessible online from the world wide web. Efficiently and effectively managing these documents written in different languages is important to organizations and individuals. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose letter frequency neural networks to enhance the performance of language identification.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, the paper analyzes the feasibility of using a windowing algorithm in order to find the best method in selecting the features of Arabic script documents language identification using backpropagation neural networks. Previously, it had been found that the sliding window and non‐sliding window algorithm used as feature selection methods in the experiments did not yield a good result. Therefore, this paper proposes, a language identification of Arabic script documents based on letter frequency using a backpropagation neural network and used the datasets belonging to Arabic, Persian, Urdu and Pashto language documents which are all Arabic script languages.

Findings

The experiments have shown that the average root mean squared error of Arabic script document language identification based on letter frequency feature selection algorithm is lower than the windowing algorithm.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the fact that using neural networks with proper feature selection methods will increase the performance of language identification.
Transforming research case studies into teaching cases
Authors: Štrach Pavel , Everett André M.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to encourage consideration of the multiple factors affecting dual use of case studies for both research and teaching, and conversion between the two types; to encourage development of a case transformation protocol to add rigor to this process.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review with discussion.

Findings

Noting that insularity diminishes the potential contribution of the research underlying either teaching or research cases, this paper advocates establishment of more formalized conversion approaches.

Practical implications

Dual use of case studies can provide economies of scale for academics, conserving time, effort, and funding, but involving greater care and advance consideration of the implications of differences between teaching and research cases.

Originality/value

By highlighting key issues and proposing solutions, this paper advances understanding of the potential for transformation of cases and the importance of advance consideration of their purpose(s).
Constructing participation practice: an ANT account
Authors: Perillo Suzanne
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how participation can be investigated as an open and non‐exclusive sociomaterial practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Framed by translation discourse and a view of the social world as a sociology of associations, participation in organisations is conceptualised as a network building practice. Actor‐network theory (ANT) is used as an analytical method to describe the character of everyday constructions of participation practice related to changes in curriculum and its delivery in an Australian independent school.

Findings

It was found that participation was performed as an uncertain practice. People in relation with technology and other material entities, co‐constructed and re‐constructed multiple participation practices.

Practical implications

For researchers, an ANT account of constructing participation practices provides an additional analytical tool for investigating participation in terms of relationality. The idea of constructing participation as networked practice provides practitioners with a reflective tool for detecting and enabling multiple (and sometimes inconsistent) participation practices.

Originality/value

Compared to participation research approaches that predetermine and predict variables of relevance, this paper is concerned with the everyday management of participation as an uncertain sociomaterial practice. In pursuing a critical line of inquiry, managerialist informed notions of planning, organising and coordinating are not debunked form relevance. Rather, it is proposed that translation and managerial discourses are co‐implicated in complex investigations of participation practice.
Lost in translation? Language, culture and the roles of translator in cross‐cultural management research
Authors: Xian Huiping
Published: November 2008

Purpose

To promote more open discussion on translating data, this paper aims to provide a critical and reflexive evaluation of the problems and issues that the author experienced with regard to qualitative data translation.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on personal experiences of translating Chinese women's narratives into English, the author demonstrates that qualitative data translation may have linguistic, cultural and methodological problems.

Findings

Researchers and translators should recognize the linguistic and cultural differences that data translation must negotiate. It is argued here that researchers and translators should preserve and highlight cultural differences rather than resembling the dominant values of the target culture by translation. A translator is an integral part of the knowledge producing system. The roles of the translator as both an inter‐cultural communicator and a data interpreter must be acknowledged in the research process.

Originality/value

This paper challenges common assumptions that data translation is merely a technical problem, and that a translator could “objectively and faithfully” transfer meanings of research data from source language to target language.
The simultaneous identification of strategic/performance groups and underlying dimensions for assessing an industry's competitive structure
Authors: DeSarbo Wayne S. , Grewal Rajdeep , Hwang Heungsun , Wang Qiong
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to integrate aspects of the literature on strategic and performance groups and explicitly derive strategic/performance groups which exhibit differences with respect to both strategy and performance, as well as display associations and potential interrelationships between the two sets of variables.

Design/methodology/approach

A two‐way clusterwise bilinear spatial model was formulated (e.g. a scalar products or vector multidimensional scaling model (MDS)) for the analysis of two‐way strategic and performance data which simultaneously performs MDS and cluster analysis. An efficient alternating least‐squares procedure was devised that estimates conditionally globally optimum estimates of the model parameters within each iterate in analytic, closed‐form expressions.

Findings

This bilinear MDS methodology was deployed in the context of strategic/performance group estimation using archival data for public banks in the NY‐NJ‐PA tri‐state area. For this illustration, four strategic/performance groups and two underlying dimensions were found.

Practical implications

Consideration of both strategy and performance data should be employed in describing the heterogeneity amongst firms competing in the same industry.

Originality/value

The paper provides a new spatial methodology to derive strategic/performance groups in any given industry to more completely summarize intra‐industry heterogeneity.
Flexibility in global supply chain: modeling the enablers
Authors: Kumar Pravin , Shankar Ravi , Yadav Surendra S.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and evaluate the relationships among the flexibility enablers and to prepare a hierarchy of these enablers to know their influences over each other in global supply chain. The framework suggests that the priority of enablers in supply chain should be determined on the basis of their driving power and dependency.

Design/methodology/approach

Various enablers used by researchers and practitioners for flexibility management of global supply chain have been identified. These enablers have been classified as strategic, operational and performance‐based enablers. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) is used to establish mutual relationships among the flexibility enablers and to prepare a hierarchy‐based model.

Findings

It has been observed that some enablers having high‐driving power and low dependency are of strategic importance. These enablers require more attention while other enablers based on operations and performances are dependents of strategic enablers.

Practical implications

The index of enablers based on driving power and dependency provides an insight to supply chain managers to make the entire supply chain highly flexible and help them to respond to global uncertainties.

Originality/value

Presentation of enablers in the form of hierarchy using ISM and ranking them into various driving power and dependent categories is a good effort to make flexible global supply chain.
Can Ethical Decision Making be Taught? The JUSTICE Approach
Authors: Lau Cubie , Hulpke John F , To Michelle , Kelly Aidan
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to ask whether ethics can be taught? Can we teach how to make decisions in issues involving ethics? Preliminary results suggest we can.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes how managerial ethical decision making is taught using a tool called the JUSTICE framework. Each letter introduces a decision making criterion: J for Justice, U for Utilitarian, S for Spiritual Values, T for TV Rule, I for Influence, C for Core Values, and E for Emergency.

Findings

It is not known if ethics can be taught, but we now believed we can teach our students learn ways to face managerial ethical decisions. What the JUSTICE model lacks in theoretical underpinning it makes up for in pragmatic results. Students learned (memorized) all seven criteria, and learned to select their three favorites, and then to use the model to decide in numerous cases. It works.

Originality/value

The paper introduces the JUSTICE approach.