bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monte Carlo simulations for real estate valuation
Authors: Hoesli Martin , Jani Elion , Bender André
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To address formally the issue of uncertainty in valuing real estate.

Design/methodology/approach

Monte Carlo simulations are used to incorporate the uncertainty of valuation parameters. The probability distributions of the various parameters are constructed using empirical data and a simple model is suggested to compute the discount rate.

Findings

The central values of the simulations are in most cases slightly less than the hedonic values. The confidence intervals are found to be most sensitive to the long‐term equilibrium interest rate being used and to the expected growth rate of the terminal value.

Research limitations/implications

Further research should focus on the stability of the model when other portfolios are used and for different periods of the real estate cycle. It would also be fruitful to dig deeper in the relation between capital expenses and property values.

Practical implications

Risk can be assessed by valuers as they can measure the probability that the value of a property be less than a given threshold.

Originality/value

By incorporating uncertainty, the analysis does not yield merely a point estimate of the property's value but rather the entire distribution of values. Also this paper constitutes a contribution to the debate about valuation variation and the margin of error in valuing properties.
Institutional real estate portfolio diversification in Ireland and the UK
Authors: McGreal Stanley , Adair Alastair , Berry James N. , Webb James R.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Few countries have sufficiently long and detailed returns data for real estate to permit sophisticated analysis. This paper aims to examine the potential diversification of private real estate investments using returns data for major regional centres in Ireland and the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

Optimal real estate‐only portfolios are constructed using total returns, income returns and appreciation returns for office and retail real estate in ten cities within Ireland and the UK. The analysis uses IPD data for the period 1984 to 2002. Total return, income return and appreciation returns are treated as separate asset streams in the modelling of portfolios.

Findings

The results show different risk levels; in particular the income stream carries low risk, whereas the capital appreciation element is much more volatile and risky. Optimal portfolios, office or retail, whether income, appreciation or total returns, indicate that provincial markets perform well and are capable of pushing London out of the optimised portfolios.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations stem from the optimal portfolios being based on return series without a consideration of market depth. Future research will seek to construct weighted portfolios.

Originality/value

The paper constructs optimal portfolios for three scenarios: low return; medium return; and high return across sectors, return streams and major regional centres in Ireland and the UK. The results show that regional centres perform well and can exclude London real estate from optimal portfolios.
Religious fundamentalism and terrorism: why do they do it and what do they want?
Authors: Pech Richard J. , Slade Bret W.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This article aims to develop and explore diagnostic frameworks to enhance one's understanding of the religiously‐inspired terrorist. It seeks to examine the relationship between the culture and conditions from which terrorists are recruited, as well as the psychological impact of fundamentalist religious teachings upon the minds of susceptible people.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper synthesises the theories of memetics with structuration to create a diagnostic framework facilitating greater understanding of terrorism and its appeal to those being recruited to its cause. This diagnostic framework assesses the influence and power of selective religious teachings when combined with a culture and history of violence, and their impact on susceptible minds in a fractured society.

Findings

By combining the theory of memetics with structuration theory it is possible to develop a diagnostic framework that examines psychological, cultural, and religiously‐inspired factors driving the phenomenon that has been labelled as terrorism. Memetic theory assesses culture and communication of beliefs, ideas, and thoughts. Structuration theory identifies motives and drives.

Originality/value

The authors conclude that the current terrorism problem bears little relationship to US foreign policy. The concept of a free society will never be fully enacted until the religious and cultural scaffoldings that support terrorism have been dismantled.
Challenges for corporate foresight: towards strategic prospective through scenario thinking
Authors: Ratcliffe John S.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To reflect, first, that the global changes now washing over the people are probably far more profound than is commonly understood, demanding a new mindset on the part of corporate organisations. Second, that this cultural transformation engenders a fresh set of challenges facing the corporate world in tackling the inherent complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity which need a futures‐oriented approach to comprehend and capitalize upon societal change. And third, that this organisational metamorphosis will best be understood, planned and managed through a process of foresight or prospective.

Design/methodology/approach

The particular methodology proposed is that of “prospective through scenarios” which has been developed by The Futures Academy at DIT, and the five formative fields, together with their respective key action areas, have been identified from a review of the relevant recent literature and an evaluation of a number of case studies in which the author has been involved.

Findings

Apart from the more detailed findings recounted throughout the text, the main conclusion drawn is that new kinds of corporatism will require the “proactivity” of prospective founded on the “imagineering” of scenarios to shape their future in a changing world.

Originality/value

In identifying some of the “grand challenges facing corporations in the modern world, the article conceives a mind‐set that accepts” that one can shape the future if one first imagines it.
Value‐creating ecologies: understanding next generation business systems
Authors: Hearn Greg , Pace Cassandra
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper sets out to describe and illustrate an emerging shift in the conceptualisation of value creation in business, namely the emergence of value ecology thinking.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines shifts in the understanding of value creation in key business, economic and innovation literature and focuses on developments in creative industries at the forefront of technology and innovation – film, TV, computer games, e‐business, mobile phones – to illustrate how business increasingly creates value through ecologies.

Findings

This paper identifies five important shifts in the conceptualization of value creation by highlighting a growing prevalence in the literature of several ecological metaphors used to explain business processes, namely: the shift from thinking about consumers to co‐creators of value; the shift from thinking about value chains to value networks; the shift from thinking about product value to network value; the shift from thinking about simple co‐operation or competition to complex co‐opetition; and the shift from thinking about individual firm strategy to strategy in relation to value ecologies.

Originality/value

This paper synthesizes emerging trends in the literature in relation to value creation and defines the concept of a value‐creating ecology. In the process it sheds light on the structure of next generation business systems.
As green as we think? The case of the College of Charleston green building initiative
Authors: Owens Katharine A. , Halfacre‐Hitchcock Angela
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to disseminate knowledge regarding the experiences of a student team in implementing a campus‐level sustainability initiative, outlining the strategy to measure the potential impact of this initiative.

Design/methodology/approach

Project design is a case study. Via interviewing and surveys, the study observed student and faculty attitudes, information levels and behaviors regarding sustainability both before and after project implementation. Calculated sustainability scores were calculated for both faculty and students. Data were collected with the intention of understanding first, if any changes occurred in these campus community members, and second, if changes occurred, could the changes be linked to the project.

Findings

Faculty experienced a significant increase in sustainability scores over the course of the project. Faculty interviews were used to glean a rich understanding of attitudes, information and behaviors about sustainability. A building waste audit was conducted to substantiate any self‐reported changes in recycling behavior. In contrast, students experienced either a significant decrease in sustainability scores or an insignificant decrease in sustainability scores. Large‐scale, campus‐wide behavioral changes of individuals did not take place. Some community members showcase sustainable behaviors, but for reasons not definitively linked with this project and its outreach.

Practical implications

This project serves as a stepping stone for other student teams; an opportunity to learn from our successes and mistakes, improving design of similar projects. General information about this type of project was discovered namely faculty and student participants were cooperative and outreach was not as extensive as imagined. The study also suggest future research could benefit from analyzing barriers to sustainable behaviors, addressing these in outreach for a similar project. Evaluating future projects to understand their effectiveness produces increasingly informative research.

Originality/value

This paper looks beyond the initial enthusiasm for conducting campus sustainability projects, shedding light on the ways they may effect the campus community.
For whom is the new information millennium?
Authors: Gorman G.E.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to look into the digital divide in countries where new centres of information technology create wealth and integrate some sectors into the global economy, while millions remain deprived of basic human needs.

Design/methodology/approach

Reports were produced by the UN's Millenium Project and the Gyandoot Project in India which produced action plans to reduce poverty on a local and global basis.

Findings

An effort has been made to achieve results despite the unavailability of information professionals to disseminate information provided to tackle poverty issues.

Originality/value

Gives valid views on information sharing on a worldwide basis.
Classifying client side FM organisations in the United Kingdom
Authors: Kaya Sezgin , Alexander Keith
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To demonstrate the negative results of market sector based classification of client side FM organisations (FMOs) in benchmarking studies, and propose collection of both external and internal organisational patterns as the key characteristics of FMOs.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews with leading consultants, clients and academics on the negative side effects of the current benchmarking studies in FM, followed by a critique of published FM and Organisational management studies to explore the characteristics of FMOs. As a result, it is proposed that characteristics of FMOs depend on its relations to the external and internal patterns.

Findings

It has been found that in literature and practice on FMOs, characteristics related to the internal environment of FMOs are neglected. These characteristics are: hierarchy, specialisation, centralisation, span of control, size, and reporting line. On the other hand, those related to the external environment of FM are widely covered in FM literature. These characteristics are occupancy profile, change, visibility to customers, and procurement options. This paper concludes with the proposition that the external and internal patterns collectively define the characteristics of FMOs and should equally be taken into account.

Research limitations/implications

Prepares the background for an exploration of what makes FM organizations similar and dissimilar to each other. The extent of interviews and literature survey is explorative and hence inclusive.

Practical implications

A systematic exploration for comparative FM studies in the UK, and also source of information for FM scholars striving for understanding the context and relationships in client FM organizations.

Originality/value

This paper extends the depth and scrutiny of studies related to FM organizations by investigating both practice and theory and proposes a system that can explain the differences between FM organizations.
The influence of heterogeneous expectations on security prices
Authors: Abraham Rebecca , Harrington Charles W.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to provide empirical support for the Miller model. The paper proposes the use of the ratio of individual to institutional holdings as a proxy for heterogeneous expectations of security returns.

Design/methodology/approach

Both bivariate t‐tests and regression analysis were used to test whether optimistic valuations existed for stocks with high levels of institutional ownership. Data on open short positions were collected and hypothesized to decrease with the level of institutional holdings. High ratio stocks were compared to glamor stocks and low ratio stocks to value stocks.

Findings

For stocks with higher institutional ownership, optimistic valuations dominated resulting in significantly lower future security returns than for stocks with higher individual ownership thereby supporting the Miller model. The results were not sensitive to variations in size, momentum, and book‐to‐market ratios. Further support for the Miller model was provided by the finding that open short positions decreased with the level of institutional holdings. High ratio stocks resembled glamor stocks and low ratio stocks corresponded to value stocks.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to the ultra‐short term period of one month after portfolio creation. Future research should extend it to the three‐to‐five year time horizon.

Practical implications

Ultra‐short term investors should hold value stocks, intermediate three‐12 month investors should hold glamor stocks, and long‐term investors should hold value stocks.

Originality/value

The finding of a new proxy for heterogeneous expectations. The paper also establishes a new methodology for testing the Miller model.
R&D strategy and stock price volatility in the biotechnology industry
Authors: Xu Bixia
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Biotech share price is highly volatile, compared to most other industries. There is limited explanation for what causes such a high volatility. The purpose of this study is to explore how R&D strategies selected by biotech firms affect their share price volatilities. Specifically, the paper empirically investigates the impact of drug discovery and development diversification on share price volatility.

Design/methodology/approach

Regression analysis is applied to observe the effect of R&D strategy on share price volatility. Share price volatility is regressed on the measure of drug discovery and development diversification. Strategies are classified into two categories: diversified vs. concentrated. Meanwhile, other factors that have an influence on share price volatility such as firm maturity, firm size, and book‐to‐market ratio are controlled. For robustness, a return model is also used to further test the effect of R&D strategy, and sensitivity analyses using alternative drug discovery and development diversification measures are performed. Empirical data was collected for publicly‐traded biotech firms from COMPUSTAT, CRSP and Biospace.

Findings

The major finding of this study is the significant impact of R&D strategy in term of drug discovery and development diversification on share price volatility. Firms that have more diversified drug portfolios are associated with lower share price volatilities; and lower stock returns. In contrast, firms that have more concentrated drug portfolios are associated with higher share price volatilities; and higher stock returns.

Research limitations/implications

Future research can explore effects of other aspects of the drug discovery and development as well as other firm attributes on biotech share price volatility. In addition, share price volatility may have impacts on managerial issues such as employee stock option issuance. Such impacts should also be studied.

Originality/value

This study targets a major aspect (i.e. R&D strategy) of the very fundamental value drive in the industry (i.e. drug discovery and development) to shed light on the limited understanding of what contribute to biotech share price volatility. The benefit of produce diversification has been examined in some other industries; however, its benefit is largely unknown in the biotech industry. This study has implications for investor risk assessment and corporate risk management.
Supporting clinical governance in primary care
Authors: Wall Debbie , Gerada Clare , Conlon Maurice , Ombler‐Spain Sharon , Warner Lucy
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To report on the clinical governance work of the NHS Clinical Governance Support Team's, Primary Care Team.

Design/methodology/approach

The review describes the formation of the NHS Clinical Governance Support Team's Primary Care Team and the development of a range of national clinical governance activities, drawing on a case study example.

Findings

The Team have been developing appraisal, and revalidation for general practitioners across the UK, supporting front‐line staff in primary care to improve patient experience by embedding principles of clinical governance into day‐to‐day practice, and are providing an online education and training programme to develop primary care managers. It has established links, and worked collaboratively with a range of partners in its activities.

Originality/value

The article provides a summary of the activities of the Primary Care Team and its activities to date. An example of supporting clinical governance in primary care is given in a case study of facilitating an influenza vaccination campaign.
The role of an NHS Board in assuring the quality of clinically governed care and the duty of trust to patients
Authors: Stanton Paul
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide an overview of the change to NHS Clinical Governance Support Team's Board Development Programme.

Design/methodology/approach

The background to the programme, the methods adopted by the Board Team and lessons learned are outlined. Commitment and active support at Board and senior levels are known to be essential for organisational change and, in order to help translate aims into strategic priorities and to implement these into improved services, the Clinical Governance Board Support Team was formed in 2000 as part of the overall NHS Clinical Governance Support Team (CGST). Its members provide advice and support to NHS personnel who are involved in improvements to health care services.

Findings

The team worked initially with Boards of acute NHS Trusts and later with Primary Care, Ambulance and Mental Health Trusts. Among the lessons learned from their own work and the increasing body of research‐based evidence is the importance of the leadership role of the Board in fostering a positive culture of change, enthusing and empowering staff. Other factors are the effectiveness of communication with external organisations, scrutiny of all points of contact with users of the services and involvement of users – patients and carers – at all stages. The Team evolved during the programme, strengthening its clinical base and introducing patients and carers as associates. In order to meet demand and increase capacity of the Team, learning materials have been developed and these and their experiences widely disseminated. An example of success is demonstrated by the progress made by a pilot cohort of Primary Care Trusts.

Originality/value

This review summarises the aims, objectives and progress of the work of the Board Development Programme.
Developing large group working in clinical governance
Authors: Wall Debbie , Dickinson Kathy , Kilbane Jackie , Cummings Dave
Published: July 2006

Purpose – To report on how service changes can be accelerated by working with large groups that represent all parts of a complete healthcare service or care pathway, during specific events, and using well‐defined facilitation techniques. Design/methodology/approach – Case examples are cited from the Clinical Governance Support Team's “protected time” programme and subsequent work, and specific quotes and examples from large group events are used to describe the potential impact of the approach. Findings – Established group facilitation techniques can be adapted for use in the context of a large group representative of a whole clinical system or pathway, to accelerate service improvement. Originality/value – The paper reports on the practical findings from Clinical Governance Support Team group facilitators working on large group events from a number of UK NHS Trusts.
Team Resource Management and patient safety
Authors: Boddington Ros , Arthur Howard , Cummings Dave , Mellor Sue , Salter Denis
Published: July 2006

Purpose – To review three key areas of work managed by the Team Resource Management and Patient Safety Team (TRM), itself part of the Clinical Governance Support Team. Design/methodology/approach – Information has been collected from TRM staff, UK NHS Trust staff, research publications and reports. Findings – As treatment programmes become more complex and health care is delivered by multidisciplinary teams, the quality of care and of patient safety is ever more dependent on effective team working. External support and expertise can be effective in helping clinical teams achieve their full potential. Safety and team work practices from other domains such as aviation can be successfully translated into the work of clinical teams. Specific coaching input can also improve the effectiveness of teams and, where teams are recognised as having difficulty working together, external support in particular approaches and techniques can resolve team working problems. Originality/value – This review summarises the benefits of a healthcare support function which is specifically dedicated to the understanding, supporting and shaping of clinical teams.
Talent development: the new imperative?
Authors: Barlow Liz
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide alternative views on talent development to promote thought.

Design/methodology/approach

Ideas on talent development including succession planning drawn from experience of working with organizations are presented in this article.

Findings

The article finds that talent development is a more complex and fraught activity than many in human resources recognize, and that standardized approaches that assume that talented people are very similar do not work effectively. Talented people need and want to take charge of their own development but with the right support from the organization.

Practical implications

The practical implications of this article are that people need to take charge of their own development and that it should be personalized for each individual.

Originality/value

This article is useful for individuals and organizations in seeking alternative methods of developing talent.
Prediction of swimmability in a brackish water body
Authors: Jin Guang , Englande A.J.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The primary objective of this study is to develop a predictive model that will predict the swimmability of certain areas of a brackish water body (Lake Pontchartrain) based on physicochemical and meteorological conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Samples were collected and analyzed for bacteria indicator organisms at 13 sites along and adjacent to Lincoln Beach for four years. Physicochemical parameters and meteorological data were also recorded. A logistic regression model and an artificial neural networks (ANNs) model were both used to predict whether a lake condition is “safe to swim” or “not safe to swim”, given only physicochemical and meteorological parameters.

Findings

Both models predicted very well the results observed when lake conditions were “safe to swim” (97.7 percent of time the statistical model predicted correctly and an average >99.5 percent of the time for the ANNs model). However, for conditions under which the lake water quality was “not safe to swim”, the statistical model predicted correctly only 5.6 percent of the time. The ANNs model successfully predicted the “not safe to swim” conditions for an average 98.5 percent of the time. However, this percentage decreases to 53.9 percent when ANNs is used for forecasting “not safe to swim” conditions.

Research limitations/implications

The poorer performance of both models for “not safe to swim” conditions is probably due to the fact that most data (84.5 percent) were collected during “safe to swim” conditions. The limited database for “not safe to swim” conditions resulted in a poorer forecasting success rate.

Originality/value

The ANNs model might serve as a useful tool for public beach management with increased data on “not safe to swim” conditions.
An overview of oil pollution and heavy metal concentration in Warri area, Nigeria
Authors: Essoka P.A. , Ubogu A.E. , Uzu L.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine the concentration of selected heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd, and Ni) in oil‐polluted soils of two communities in Warri, Delta state, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Soil auger samples were collected at a depth of 0‐15 cm from four sites. Two soil samples were collected from two sites observed to have had oil spills and also two samples from two sites without oil spillage. The soil samples were analysed using the UNICAM 969 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer to determine the level of concentration of the heavy metals in these sites. Their levels in the oil‐spilled sites are compared with those of the control sites and also with the European community standards.

Findings

The results obtained from this study reveal that the concentration of the heavy metals considered were higher in the oil‐spilled sites relative to the control sites. Similarly, when compared with the European community standards, the concentration is said to be quite significant.

Practical implications

The results indicate that the operations of the oil industry in the study area have not been sufficiently accompanied by adequate environmental protection. To safeguard agricultural land in the area and hence human health, there is an urgent need for government to address the incidence of oil spills in this area.

Originality/value

This paper provides information on the contribution of the oil industry in heavy metals contamination in the Niger‐Delta area of Nigeria.
Empirical study of value‐at‐risk and expected shortfall models with heavy tails
Authors: Harmantzis Fotios C. , Miao Linyan , Chien Yifan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to test empirically the performance of different models in measuring VaR and ES in the presence of heavy tails in returns using historical data.

Design/methodology/approach

Daily returns of popular indices (S&P500, DAX, CAC, Nikkei, TSE, and FTSE) and currencies (US dollar vs Euro, Yen, Pound, and Canadian dollar) for over ten years are modeled with empirical (or historical), Gaussian, Generalized Pareto (peak over threshold (POT) technique of extreme value theory (EVT)) and Stable Paretian distribution (both symmetric and non‐symmetric). Experimentation on different factors that affect modeling, e.g. rolling window size and confidence level, has been conducted.

Findings

In estimating VaR, the results show that models that capture rare events can predict risk more accurately than non‐fat‐tailed models. For ES estimation, the historical model (as expected) and POT method are proved to give more accurate estimations. Gaussian model underestimates ES, while Stable Paretian framework overestimates ES.

Practical implications

Research findings are useful to investors and the way they perceive market risk, risk managers and the way they measure risk and calibrate their models, e.g. shortcomings of VaR, and regulators in central banks.

Originality/value

A comparative, thorough empirical study on a number of financial time series (currencies, indices) that aims to reveal the pros and cons of Gaussian versus fat‐tailed models and Stable Paretian versus EVT, in estimating two popular risk measures (VaR and ES), in the presence of extreme events. The effects of model assumptions on different parameters have also been studied in the paper.
Determinants of dividend payout ratios in Ghana
Authors: Amidu Mohammed , Abor Joshua
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study seeks to examine the determinants of dividend payout ratios of listed companies in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The analyses are performed using data derived from the financial statements of firms listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange during a six‐year period. Ordinary Least Squares model is used to estimate the regression equation. Institutional holding is used as a proxy for agency cost. Growth in sales and market‐to‐book value are also used as proxies for investment opportunities.

Findings

The results show positive relationships between dividend payout ratios and profitability, cash flow, and tax. The results also show negative associations between dividend payout and risk, institutional holding, growth and market‐to‐book value. However, the significant variables in the results are profitability, cash flow, sale growth and market‐to‐book value.

Originality/value

The main value of this study is the identification of the factors that influence the dividend payout policy decisions of listed firms in Ghana.
Impact of e‐commerce in lowering operational costs and raising customer satisfaction
Authors: Kumar Sameer , Petersen Palo
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Much research has been done on how e‐commerce has allowed companies to integrate business processes and reduce operational costs. The intent of this study, however, is to understand how e‐commerce has affected companies' abilities to serve the customers' needs and to raise their level of satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Exploratory data analysis and logistics regression were used to analyze data collected from a multi‐industry company survey. The analysis showed that companies have been able to improve the level of service they can provide to their customers with e‐commerce.

Findings

The research showed that there is a direct correlation between the use of e‐commerce and improved customer service. In particular, e‐commerce has improved the availability of information, reduced processing errors, reduced response times, lowered costs of services, and has effectively raised customer satisfaction and the level of service that customers expect to receive.

Practical implications

The research revealed, that many businesses are making the transition to integrated e‐commerce business operations. This is being done with the expectations of lowering operational costs and also significantly improving the level of their service offerings.

Originality/value

The study is unique in terms of applying logistics regression approach to multi‐company data across various industries to analyze the impact of e‐commerce on the service aspect of business operations. It also addresses the research question – whether e‐commerce use in a business effectively raises the level of customer service and overall business operation to a more desirable quality.
A model of knowledge processes in a manufacturing company
Authors: Jambekar Anil B. , Pelc Karol I.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The core purpose is to offer a framework that integrates key insights from the literature on knowledge creation, learning and problem solving in conjunction with mapping of customer needs into a closed loop model of knowledge processes in a manufacturing environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on review of literature on knowledge creation and synthesis of a conceptual model that connects the life‐cycle of knowledge and know‐how with core product and business processes of a manufacturing company. Specification of requirements and design of a managerial dashboard are illustrated with a case of a medium‐sized manufacturing company.

Findings

The paper presents properties of knowledge and know‐how creation processes in manufacturing environment and proposes the integrated model of those processes. Furthermore, the paper recommends a four‐stage approach that can be utilized to create a firm‐specific knowledge management system. The model is applied for design of a managerial dashboard system for manufacturing company.

Research limitations/implications

Although the model conceptualized is generic, it will benefit from additional applications in different manufacturing settings. Further research has been planned.

Originality/value

For practising managers, the model facilitates productive thinking to integrate knowledge and know‐how generation that is a consequence of business problem solving and knowledge accumulation and dissemination infrastructure. A new integrated model of those processes is proposed and used for the design of the managerial dashboard.
Qualifound – a modular tool developed for quality improvement in foundries
Authors: Santos Gilberto , Barbosa Joaquim
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Castings defects are usually easy to characterize, but to eradicate them can be a difficult task. In many cases, defects are caused by the combined effect of different factors, whose identification is often difficult. Besides, the real non‐quality costs are usually unknown, and even neglected. This paper aims to describe the development of a modular tool for quality improvement in foundries, and its main objective is to present the application potential and the foundry process areas that are covered and taken into account.

Design/methodology/approach

The integrated model was conceived as an expert system, designated Qualifound, which performs both qualitative and quantitative analyses. For the qualitative analyses mode, the nomenclature and the description of defects are based on the classification suggested by the International Committee of the Foundry Technical Association. Thus, a database of defects was established, enabling one to associate the defects with the relevant process operations and the identification of their possible causes. The quantitative analysis mode deals with the number of produced and rejected castings and includes the calculation of the non‐quality costs.

Findings

The validation of Qualifound was carried out in a Portuguese foundry, whose quality system had been certified according to the ISO 9000 standards. Qualifound was used in every management area and it was concluded that the application had the required technological requisites to provide the necessary information for the foundry management to improve process quality.

Originality/value

The paper presents a successful application of an informatics tool on quality improvement in foundries.
Perceptual non‐intrusive speech quality assessment using a self‐organizing map
Authors: Mahdi Abdulhussain E.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to propose a new non‐intrusive method for the assessment of speech quality of voice communication systems and evaluate its performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The method is based on measuring perception‐based objective auditory distances between the voiced parts of the output speech to appropriately matching references extracted from a pre‐formulated codebook. The codebook is formed by optimally clustering a large number of parametric speech vectors extracted from a database of clean speech records. The auditory distances are then mapped into equivalent subjective mean opinion scores (MOSs). The required clustering and matching processes are achieved by an efficient data‐mining tool known as the self‐organizing map (SOM). The proposed method was examined using a wide range of distortion including speech compression, wireless channel impairments, VoIP channel impairments, and modifications to the signal from features such as AGC.

Findings

The experimental results reported indicate that the proposed method provides a high level of accuracy in predicting the actual subjective quality of the speech. Specifically, the second version of the method, which is based on the use of bark spectrum (BS) analysis, is more accurate in predicting the MOS scores compared with its first and third versions (which are based on BS analysis and mel frequency cepstrum coefficients (MFCC), respectively), and outperforms the ITU‐T PESQ in a large number of test cases, particularly those related to distortion caused by channel impairments and signal level modifications.

Research limitations/implications

It is believed that the prototype developed of the proposed objective speech quality measure is sufficiently accurate and robust against speaker, utterance and distortion type variations. Nevertheless, there are still possible directions for further improvements and enhancement. In general there are three areas that could be pursued for further improvements: widening the coverage of speaker variations of the system's codebook; formulating and using a perceptual speech model that provides true speaker‐independent representation of speech; and implementing the proposed measure as a stand‐alone system, preferably for real‐time applications.

Practical implications

Being an output‐based method, the proposed method can be employed for monitoring and assessing telecommunications networks under both live traffic conditions and off‐line evaluation.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper is the introduction of a new output‐based, non‐intrusive method for the assessment of speech quality that is sufficiently accurate and robust. To the best of the author's knowledge, no reliable output‐based objective speech quality assessment method has to date been reported or formally recognised.
The impact of organisational culture innovation on the adoption of IS/IT: the case of Libya
Authors: Twati J.M. , Gammack J.G.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study sets out to explore the impact of organisational culture innovation on the adoption of information systems (IS) in Libya's oil and banking sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a structured survey questionnaire based on Cameron and Quinn's Organisational Culture Assessments Instrument (OCAI), 400 questionnaires were administered to middle and top management employees in more than 15 government and public organisations in Libya's oil and banking sectors.

Findings

The findings showed that there is a relationship between organisational culture innovations and the adoption of IS. The findings also showed that there are no differences in the organisational culture type between the two sectors covered in this study.

Originality/value

The findings imply that organisational culture innovations are influenced by other factors, which are worthy of investigation. The future implications of this research are also discussed.
IT innovation adoption in the government sector: identifying the critical success factors
Authors: Kamal M.M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to acquire underlying knowledge of how IT is adopted in private sector organisations and further explore what factors impact its adoption (optimistically and pessimistically).

Design/methodology/approach

An interpretive and qualitative multiple case study approach was selected to test and validate the conceptual model empirically. The selection of the interpretivism viewpoint in the context of this research is to understand how government organisations adopt new technologies and support their decisions and actions. The interpretive research methodology is related to data gathering and generating solid descriptions and interpretations and further allows theory building. Through a multiple case study strategy, factors influencing EAI adoption in the government sector are investigated. In doing so, various data collection methods such as interviews, documentation, and observation are adopted.

Findings

The author identified 42 critical success factors (CSF) for IT innovation adoption. These factors provide sufficient understanding of their importance when adopting an innovation (technology). The author exploits these factors further when developing a conceptual EAI adoption model and also presents a taxonomy of the IT innovation adoption process. This taxonomy is an eight‐stage adoption process based on studying 11 IT adoption models. Simply acquiring or adopting a technology is not sufficient – in order to obtain the anticipated benefits, IT must be deployed and used appropriately by the organisation and its intended users. However, this taxonomy would further assist in identifying factors affecting IT innovation adoption at each stage of the adoption process.

Originality/value

The proposed conceptual IT innovation adoption model is a contribution to theory. This model presents a detailed list of factors that impact IT adoption in government sector organisations. The author conjectures that each factor within this model signifies its importance and must be considered by organisations while adopting innovation (technology). The taxonomy of the IT innovation adoption process is another contribution. This taxonomy is developed by studying 11 IT adoption models as presented in this paper. This taxonomy identifies the pre‐adoption and post‐adoption stages of an adoption process. Further in this taxonomy, the author identifies stages where the organisation is impacted, i.e. the pre‐adoption stage and post‐adoption, where individual adopters are impacted.
Linking environmental activity and environmental disclosure in an organisational change framework
Authors: Tilt Carol Ann
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Over the past decades, a plethora of papers have been written describing organisations' reaction to pressure on them to change their practices regarding the natural environment. These papers can broadly be classified into two groups, those research papers interested in organisations' activities and strategies to deal with environmental issues, and those concerned with the external reporting or disclosure of information regarding organisations' effects on the environment. What appears to be missing in this research is very much detailed analysis of the link between these two areas. This paper aims to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper, while calling for empirical work to be carried out to investigate this link further, discusses the assumptions made about this link in previous research and then theorises what our expectations for this link might look like given our current knowledge of reporting practices, and the abundance of reporting frameworks and guidelines that currently exist.

Findings

The paper augments a model developed by Gray et al. in 1995 that suggests a hierarchy of responses to environmental pressures, within the context of organisational change. The augmentation adds an accounting element to the model by considering the reporting that organizations may undertake depending on their location in the change process.

Research limitations/implications

The model provides a basis for investigation of the link between organisational change as a result of environmental pressures, and reporting. The paper suggests a number of future research projects, using the model as a basis for empirical investigations.

Originality/value

This paper extends an existing model to produce a comprehensive framework that provides a basis for further investigation of the relationship between accounting (albeit a broad definition of accounting to include environmental reporting) and organisational change.
Rethinking creativity in the accounting profession: to be professional and creative
Authors: Al‐Beraidi Abdullah , Rickards Tudor
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate creativity within the context of a more regulated accounting functional area (audit and tax) and a less regulated non‐accounting functional area (consulting). Accordingly, this research aims at developing insights into how current cultural assumptions may have to change, if professional challenges requiring more creative behaviours are to be successfully addressed.

Design/methodology/approach

Six literature‐derived hypotheses were formulated to be quantitatively tested using a self‐report inventory.

Findings

The findings showed that the less regulated functional area reported higher scores on creativity, intrinsic motivation, creative team factors and transformational leadership. The findings suggested that such differences could not be explained by personal education/aptitude variations, and could be a consequence of more support for creative behaviours, a significantly different form of transformational leadership, and also weaker structural constraints on creativity.

Research limitations/implications

The work has examined constructs at the level of professional work groups, while it has raised issues at the far wider level or professional cultures. Researchers acknowledge that such broader findings are of an exploratory nature. The new scales were adequately reported to be reliable and valid, but further assessment is needed. Further studies and efforts are essential to raise awareness in professional bodies of the importance of the issues of creativity, motivation, and leadership.

Practical implications

The work has implications for tailored training and development of accounting professionals. Case evidence from “best‐practice” accounting departments would help challenge the beliefs that creative change is impossible.

Originality/value

The research suggested a new paradigm in which accounting professionals can be adaptively creative “within the task” and innovatively creative “around the task” as appropriate means of change and development of services in accounting offices, as this is theoretically feasible and empirically could be proved.
Motivation for activity‐based costing implementation
Authors: Agbejule Adebayo
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how different motives for implementing activity based‐costing may affect the implementation process. It focuses on the factors that affect different stages of the implementation process.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses case studies of two different business units of the same company which approached ABC implementation with different motivations. It is informed by administrative theory and institutionalist framework which draws on concepts from both old institutional economics and new institutional sociologists theory.

Findings

The paper shows how administrative and institutional factors affect different stages of the ABC implementation process and that the importance of success factors for implementation may depend on the level of implementation stage, and motivation for change. For instance, the quality of information system is very important at the adaptation and infusion stage.

Research limitations/implications

The paper uses case studies that focus on two types of motivation for change. Further research work is needed that would examine other types of motivation for adopting accounting innovation to support the findings.

Practical implications

The empirical evidence results of this study can provide guidelines for companies either planning or implementing ABC.

Originality/value

The theoretical framework developed suggests that administrative theory reveals the practice (action) involved in the implementation, whereas institutional theory reveals the broader (macro) factors which shape the internal (micro) processes of implementation.