bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Model for formulating competitive strategy: the supplementary health sector case
Authors: Santos Raniere Rodrigues dos , Melo Fagner José Coutinho de melo , Claudino Calline Neves de Queiroz , Medeiros Denise Dumke de
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The implementation of quality in health services should go beyond legal, regulatory and purely technical obligations in relation to carrying out health insurance practices. The purpose of this paper is to present a management model that intends to equip private health care companies in favor of quality development from the use of a model for forming a competitive strategy in the supplementary health sector companies.

Design/methodology/approach

In this approach the proposed model is grounded on guiding procedures for the process of strategy formulation, with a systemic structure that separates in analysis involving the internal and external environment to the organization to verify the strategy that best applies. It is based on prescriptive strategy – the five competitive forces and, with adaptive strategy, the competition arenas.

Findings

Through the proposed model the analytical mechanisms of political-legal environments surrounding companies in the sector can be described, identify organizations and their process performance, study them, and perform comparative analysis of information between them. All of this development seeks to ensure the formation of policies, to guide strategic action in health insurance.

Originality/value

This work strongly contributes to the foundation and strengthening of strategic knowledge and has quality aimed at the study of the private health care market, due to the high degree of regulatory requirements by the state to the businesses, the environment turns into a chain of complex information that migrates from the condition of just meeting legal requirements, to also satisfying the demands of a hypercompetitive market.
Modelling the quality enabled factors in initiation stage of production system life cycle
Authors: Attri Rajesh , Grover Sandeep
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to ascertain and understand the relationship dynamics among the quality-enabled factors (QEFs) affecting the initiation stage of production system life cycle (PSLC). This study presents an approach for refining the decision making in the initiation stage of the production system.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, ten QEFs have been identified for the initiation stage of PSLC. An interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach has been utilized to cultivate an organizational association among these identified QEFs. The results of ISM approach are used as an input to fuzzy Matriced’ Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée á un Classement (MICMAC) analysis, to identify the driving and dependence power of QEFs.

Findings

The key consequences of this paper are to prioritize the strategic QEFs in reducing the risks linked with initiation stage of production system. The integrated model obtained by ISM-fuzzy MICMAC illustrates that there exists two clusters of QEFs, one is having high driving power and low dependency power which requires extreme consideration and of strategic importance (such as honesty and sincerity in collecting and analyzing field data) and other is having high dependence power and low driving power and are resultant effects (such as strategic decision-making ability).

Research limitations/implications

The integrated ISM-fuzzy MICMAC model developed is not statistically corroborated; consequently structural equation modelling (SEM) approach which is also known as linear structural relationship approach could be utilized to examine the validity of developed hypothetical model.

Originality/value

This is first study to identify ten QEFs in initiation stage of production system and further, to deploy integrated ISM-fuzzy MICMAC approach to recognize and categorize the QEFs influencing the initiation stage of production system.
Financial accounting scandals and the reform of corporate governance in the United States and in Italy
Authors: Sorensen Daniel P. , Miller Scott E.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

In the 1990s and beginning of the next decade, a series of financial accounting scandals occurred in the United States (USA or US) and in several other countries of the world. The USA and Italy (among others) responded with legislation to reform financial reporting and corporate governance in these jurisdictions. This paper aims to compare the regulatory response of Italy to that of the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper includes a review of relevant literature and evaluation of the actions of the regulatory authorities.

Findings

In the case of the financial reporting crises, the rapid response put the USA into the role of the “first mover” with the European Union (EU) reacting to US initiatives and eventually converging to a large degree with the provisions of the US legislation. Italy has adopted many of the same regulatory reforms as the USA and has added some reforms that are directed to the specific needs to Italy.

Research limitations/implications

In conjunction with legislative initiatives like Sarbanes-Oxley, private enforcement mechanisms, such as shareholder class action suits in the USA, play an important role in discouraging and punishing financial accounting fraud.

Practical implications

In the absence of significant reforms of the Italian private enforcement system, corporate governance abuses and the potential for accounting scandals may still be persistent. As a whole, cooperative efforts continue between the USA and the EU. Such efforts are needed more and more, as companies become increasingly globalized.

Originality/value

This paper provides comparison and evaluation of corporate governance reform efforts in the USA and Italy.
National culture and corporate governance codes
Authors: Humphries Sarah A. , Whelan Catherine
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between national culture and best practices as recommended in country-level corporate governance codes.

Design/methodology/approach

Measures for four corporate governance variables – board independence, gender composition, board leadership and meeting frequency – were collected from corporate governance codes for 55 countries. Scores from Hofstede’s cultural dimensions – power distance, individualism vs collectivism, masculinity vs femininity and uncertainty avoidance – were gathered for these same countries. Average scores on the cultural dimensions were compared for groups of countries based on each of the corporate governance variables.

Findings

Data analyses reveal significant relationships between Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and the four characteristics of corporate governance examined in this study. Results highlight the importance of understanding cultural influences on board characteristics for companies considering international expansions or partnerships.

Originality/value

While prior studies have focused on the influence of national culture at the company level, this study examines the relationship at the regulatory level through review of country-level corporate governance codes.
Application of the theory of planned behavior to customer switching intentions in the context of bank consolidations
Authors: Farah Maya F.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that affect customers’ switching intentions among banks in the context of mergers and acquisitions, using particularly the case of the merger between Lloyds TSB and Halifax Bank of Scotland, which took place in 2009.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of the theory of planned behavior, a quantitative survey was developed and administered to 515 account holders from both banks in branches located in Spain. Structural equation modeling was then utilized to evaluate the significance of direct and indirect relationships between the various factors under study.

Findings

Empirical findings indicate a significant direct relationship between switching intentions and each of: behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, attitudes, and subjective norms. Results also reveal an inverse significant relationship between switching intentions and both control beliefs and perceived behavioral control.

Research limitations/implications

The absence of a longitudinal study measuring the actual impact of the merger on customer switching behavior is the main limitation of this study. Moreover, despite being insightful, the results of this study should be generalized with caution since the sample was based on a list purposely chosen by the banks’ management.

Originality/value

This paper discusses customer switching behavior in the context of a real-life case of banks’ consolidation.
Personal traits and customer responses to CSR perceptions in the banking sector
Authors: Pérez Andrea , Rodríguez del Bosque Ignacio
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the moderating role of six personal traits in a causal model to study how customers’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) influence their affective and behavioural responses to companies.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural equation model is tested in a sample of 1,124 banking service customers in Spain. Based on this model, a multisampling analysis is implemented to determine how gender, age, educational level, CSR support, collectivism and novelty seeking moderate customer responses to CSR perceptions.

Findings

The findings show that customer responses to CSR perceptions are consistently moderated by gender, age and CSR support. Men, people aged over 45 and highly supportive customers respond to CSR perceptions more positively than women, younger people and customers exhibiting a low level of CSR support. The findings concerning educational level and novelty seeking are less conclusive. Collectivism does not influence customer responses to CSR perceptions to any significant extent. Thus, the findings suggest that gender, age and CSR support are the most useful variables to segment the market to adapt CSR and communication strategies.

Originality/value

Previous literature has mostly focussed on identifying the personal traits that differentiate socially oriented customers from others. Thus, this paper contributes to previous literature by exploring the role customers’ personal traits play in the identification of differences in customers’ responses to their perceptions of the CSR implemented by companies that sell traditional services, such as banking services.
Marketing dispossession
Authors: Koku Paul Sergius , Acquaye Hannah Emma
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mental state and the disposition of those who have fallen on hard times during the recent financial crisis and have had their homes foreclosed on or their automobiles repossessed. It also proposes an alternative process for dispossessing individuals that preserves the mental health of such individuals and the banks’ reputation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the hermeneutics approach to analyze the predicament of those whose homes have been foreclosed on or whose properties have been repossessed by financial institutions to better understand their predicament.

Findings

Those whose homes have been foreclosed on or whose properties have been repossessed by financial institutions are traumatized. They feel victimized, bitter, helpless and hopeless and have poor mental state. The study draws on theories in counseling psychology to propose an alternative approach to making loans that take long time to be repaid (long-term loans), and for repossessing personal properties such as automobiles and for foreclosing on real property (homes).

Research limitations/implications

As a qualitative study based on a small sample, the findings of the study are limited to only those who have been studied. A further study that leads to a generalized result will be useful.

Practical implications

The study develops a practical framework that could be useful to financial institutions in making long-term loans and to foreclose on delinquent loans (i.e. to dispossess individuals).

Social implications

The proposed strategy, if implemented, could have a significant positive impact on the mental well-being of those who have fallen on financial hard times.

Originality/value

To the best of the knowledge, this is the first marketing paper that has explored the mental health of those who have defaulted on loans, and has proposed an alternative approach to making long-term loans that not only preserves the mental health of banks’ customers, but also protects the reputation and market share of banks.
Buying CSR with employees’ pensions? The effect of social responsible investments on Norwegian SMEs’ choice of pension fund management
Authors: Biong Harald , Silkoset Ragnhild
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Employees often expect an emphasis on financial aspects to be predominant when their employers choose a fund management company for the investment of employees’ pension fund deposits. By contrast, in an attempt to appear as socially responsible company managers may emphasize social responsibility (SR) in pension fund choices. The purpose of this paper is to examine to what extent managers for small- and medium-sized companies emphasize SR vs expected returns when choosing investment managers for their employees’ pension funds.

Design/methodology/approach

A conjoint experiment among 276 Norwegian SMEs’ decision makers examines their trade-offs between social and financial goals in their choice of employees’ pension management. Furthermore, the study examines how the companies’ decision makers’ characteristics influence their pension fund management choices.

Findings

The findings show that the employers placed the greatest weight to suppliers providing funds adhering to socially responsible investment (SRI) practices, followed by the suppliers’ corporate brand credibility, the funds’ expected return, and the suppliers’ management fees. Second, employers with investment expertise emphasized expected returns and downplayed SR in their choice, whereas employers with stated CSR-strategies downplayed expected return and emphasized SR.

Originality/value

Choice of supplier to manage employees’ pension funds relates to a general discussion on whether companies should do well – maximizing value, or do good, – maximizing corporate SR. In this study, doing well means maximizing expected returns and minimizing costs of the pension investments, whereas doing good means emphasizing SRI in this choice. Unfortunately, the employees might pay a price for their companies’ ethicality as moral considerations may conflict with maximizing the employees’ pension fund value.
Taxonomy of payments: a repertory grid analysis
Authors: Hedman Jonas , Tan Felix B. , Holst Jacques , Kjeldsen Martin
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Recent innovations in payment instruments have fundamentally changed the ways we pay. These innovations, such as mobile/SMS payments and online banking, contain features that are likely to influence how people choose to pay. The purpose of this paper is to understand the factors that impact payers’ choice of payment instruments.

Design/methodology/approach

Through in-depth interviews using the repertory grid technique, the authors explored 15 payers’ perceptions of six payment instruments, including coins, banknotes, debit cards, credit cards, mobile payments, and online banking. The approach draws heavily on organizational systematics to better understand payers’ choice of payment instruments.

Findings

A four-category taxonomy of payments was developed. The authors refer to the taxonomy as the 4Ps: the purchase, the payer, the payment instrument, and the physical technology. The taxonomy comprises 16 payment characteristics consisting 76 payment features that influence payers’ instrument choice. One characteristic not known in prior research was identified – that is, “cancellation” – a characteristic more frequently associated with digital payment instruments than with cash or checks.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest that payers view payment instruments in a much broader sense, including context, control, or cultural beliefs. Consequently, the authors suggest that researchers try to understand the essence of an innovation before assuming any economic rationalism in human or organizational behavior. The authors also urge researchers to understand the underlying meaning behind constructs of interest; as this study has shown that concepts like context and convenience have many different interpretations.

Practical implications

According to McKinsey (2014) there are over 12,000 startups in the payment arena. For them, the taxonomy can function as a template for the design of payment instruments, as well as understanding the various factors that influence payer choice of payment instruments.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper is the 4Ps taxonomy of payments. The taxonomy builds on and extends the work by Hirschman (1982). Since this work, and despite recent trends in payments, there has not been a comprehensive investigation that takes into account more recent innovations in payment instruments.
Banking system trust, bank trust, and bank loyalty
Authors: van Esterik-Plasmeijer Pauline W.J. , van Raaij W. Fred
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test a model of banking system trust as an antecedent of bank trust and bank loyalty. Six determinants of trust and loyalty are included: competence, stability, integrity, customer orientation, transparency, and value congruence. The study provides insights which determinants are crucial for explaining bank trust and bank loyalty, and thus for rebuilding trust and loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey among 1,079 respondents of 18 years and older in The Netherlands on person trust, system trust, bank trust, and their scores on determinants of trust and loyalty. Structural equations modeling (AMOS) has been performed to provide insights into the relationships between concepts such as person trust, system trust, bank trust, and bank loyalty. The importance of determinants to explain bank trust and bank loyalty has been assessed as well.

Findings

Integrity is the most important determinant of bank trust. Transparency, customer orientation, and competence are also significant. Trust is a strong predictor of loyalty. Determinants explaining bank loyalty are: competence, stability, transparency, and value congruence. System trust is also a determinant of bank trust. The meaning of these results is discussed in the paper, as well as the managerial implications of these findings.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected in May 2014 with a large sample, when the financial crisis came to an end. Distrust still remained as a consequence of the crisis. Banks are now rebuilding trust and loyalty. This research provides indications which determinants of trust and loyalty are important in this process and should be focused upon. A longitudinal study how trust and loyalty are developing would give insights and feedback on managerial actions.

Practical implications

Results provide insights into the causes and reasons of (dis)trust. From this study, banks get insights with a priority matrix which determinants are below par but important for specific banks and should be focused on and improved at the short term.

Social implications

Trust in banks and other financial institutions is crucial for the functioning of the banking system and for society at large. Restoring trust is a matter of fundamental changes of the bank-customer relationships, not only by communication but by sincere behavior (integrity) and benevolence in the customer interest.

Originality/value

The authors are not aware of research using all six determinants (competence, stability, integrity, customer orientation, transparency, and value congruence) to explain and predict bank trust and bank loyalty, and their implications for trust and loyalty in banks.
Foreign direct investments, democracy, and economic growth in Turkey
Authors: Durmaz Nazif
Published: January 2017

Purpose

In the last decade, foreign direct investment (FDI) flows have increased dramatically in the world, especially in the emerging economies. Some of these countries make changes in their market conditions that will improve the civil rights and liberties to attract better FDI flows. The purpose of this paper is to test the linkage between democracy and FDI flows to Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study employs a bounds testing procedure developed (Pesaranet al., 2001) for cointegration analysis on six different long-run models with selected determinants of FDIs with yearly data from 1977 to 2011.

Findings

The intuition the paper empirically provides how improvements in democracy have a significant positive impact on FDI flows to Turkey. The results may also put forward that, in the long run, FDI inflows will have spillover effects in Turkey’s economy.

Research limitations/implications

Although one drawback in the study is having a small sample size of 35 observations, estimating six different long-run models is one way to overcome it. Thus presented results may be in short of simplification for some readers. This, however, opens an opportunity for future studies to further the proposal by employing in different models and/or longer data sets if possible.

Practical implications

A stable government policies, more civil freedom, and sustained institution politics should not be ignored in Turkey given its geopolitical location.

Originality/value

This paper satisfies the established need to study of democracy and FDI flows link is necessary in an emerging market such as Turkey.
Evaluation of MGNREGA: data envelopment analysis approach
Authors: Natesan Sarabjeet D. , Marathe Rahul Ratnakar
Published: January 2017

Purpose

How can efficiency of a welfare scheme be measured? The purpose of this paper is to develop an efficiency evaluation model, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) implementation efficiency model (MIEM), to evaluate the rural employment guarantee scheme in India.

Design/methodology/approach

MIEM employs data envelopment analysis (DEA) to compare relative efficiency of MGNREGA implementing states. It uses policy implementation process as a central “black-box” about which not much can be said, to account for state-wise implementation differences.

Findings

Based on administration, funds, expenditure, employment created, works executed and completed, women beneficiaries and households completing 100 days of employment, the MIEM captures current implementation efficiency and provides suggestions to propel inefficient states toward efficiency.

Practical implications

DEA has operationalized MGNREGA evaluation. As a decision support system, MIEM assists evaluators to develop guidelines from better performing states. It is anticipated that it will facilitate scaling up MGNREGA in inefficient states.

Social implications

The model developed here can be applied to diverse evaluation conditions thus leading to better utilization of scarce resources.

Originality/value

This paper is one of few to use DEA to evaluate MGNREGA, and is one of the first to evaluate all India implementing states on efficiency.
Premature deindustrialization and inequality
Authors: Grabowski Richard
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to determine why premature deindustrialization is occurring in many developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical structure for explaining premature deindustrialization is utilized. Then the comparative experiences of a number of developing countries are used to illustrate the operation of the theory.

Findings

The results indicate that increasing inequality among a number of developing countries has reduced the domestic market for labor intensive manufactured goods, resulting in stagnation in manufacturing. Also, the increasing inequality in developed countries has reduced international demand for labor intensive manufacturing. Thus developing countries have fewer opportunities to export labor intensive manufacturing.

Research limitations/implications

Data on inequality is limited and it is very difficult to determine causality. However, intuition indicates that causality is most likely bi-directional.

Practical implications

Strategies of economic development must concern themselves with the effects that increasing inequality will likely have on the development of labor intensive manufacturing.

Social implications

Social programs that bolster the purchasing power of poor families are likely to be important (social safety net). Broad-based agricultural growth will provide a basis for labor intensive manufacturing.

Originality/value

The originality stems from the linking of deindustrialization with rising inequality.
A theoretical and methodological framework for social economic value theory
Authors: Miller Leon Monroe
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to research on the impact that the creation of value theory has on professional, organizational, and economic performance. However, a special emphasis is on explicating the theoretical foundation of the concept.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a hermeneutic study of the relationship between value creation and managing economic resources. The paper traces the value creation concept to its roots from the foundation of Western Civilization through the value theory of Adam Smith and up to recent technological age advancements in value theory.

Findings

Since its emergence the value concept has been explicated in an abundance of literature. However, there has been very little in regards to explanations detailing the theoretical underpinnings of the concept. According to John Stuart Mill, attempts to apply value theory will fail (due to misinformation or inaccurate information) without inclusiveness of the full scope of what is relevant for social science and social economic research.

Research limitations/implications

Although studies on organizational behavior encompass the economic aspects of research economic research tends to be narrower in scope making it difficult to verify some value claims in economic terms. This is especially true in terms of making claims in regards to the connection between economic value theory, social value theory, the Philosophy of Economics, and the Philosophy of Science.

Practical implications

The study introduces a theoretical framework for integrating the value added and value creation concepts as a strategy for increasing shareholder benefits, stakeholder capital, and social capital.

Social implications

The paper explains how the value creation concept contributes to an increase in wealth, prosperity, flourishing by drawing from a technological age approach to value creation.

Originality/value

The paper fills the void in the literature regarding the theoretical framework of the concept thus undergirds claims about its practical benefits by clarifying its theoretical framework.
A bottom-up approach for cultural tourism management in the old city of As-Salt, Jordan
Authors: Jamhawi Monther M. , Hajahjah Zain A.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a “bottom-up approach” for cultural tourism management in the old city of As-Salt in Jordan. The city of As-Salt has unique historic buildings that represent Jordan’s traditional urban life; however, it is rarely promoted in the tourism map of Jordan.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper assessed the existing local policies and strategies dealing with the case of As-Salt, and reviewed some other international and regional case studies. The method adopted included semi-structured interviews and designated questionnaires directed to the most relevant stakeholders and visitors. The assessment process depended on “Integrated Cultural Heritage Management Approach” in order to identify the parameters that needed to be considered while planning for a sustainable management approach in the city.

Findings

The results showed many managerial problems and gaps in dealing with the core of the city as a tourist attraction. Results and recommendations mainly relied on the need for an entity to be an official umbrella to guide the relationship between heritage protection and tourism development in the city. A new scenario of tourist itineraries in the city is presented with new idea of developing cultural events and activities.

Originality/value

No similar prior studies were carried out in As-Salt that are tackling this subject. And it is hoped that this approach will lead and guide other similarly situated destinations as they develop plans and approaches for their cities.
Linkages between office markets in Europe: a volatility spillover perspective
Authors: Liow Kim Hiang , Schindler Felix
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Using a data set comprising 16 European office markets provided by the DTZ Research Institute from Q1 2003 to Q4 2013, the purpose of this paper is to measure the strength of the unconditional transmission of volatility in the returns to direct property between 16 European office markets with the objective of determining the degree of unconditional spillover between markets.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine volatility spillovers across the 16 office markets, the authors adopted the generalized VAR methodology, variance decomposition and the generalized spillover index of Diebold and Yilmaz (2012) by measuring cross-office market volatility transmission in asset pricing through estimates of several “volatility spillover indices.”

Findings

Volatility spillovers are important and time-varying across the leading office markets, with cross-market volatility interaction being bi-directional and of relative endogenous nature for many markets. The London office market is the “volatility leader” and has exerted significant net volatility influence on the other markets. Additionally, the volatility spillovers between business cycle fluctuations and asset market cycle volatilities are linked across some European economies.

Research limitations/implications

Evidence of co-integration among the domestic volatility spillover cycles implies the presence of unobserved common shocks and might not be good news for international investors who pursue diversification strategies in European office real estate markets.

Originality/value

No previous study has addressed formally the measurement and assessment of the nature and intensity of volatility spillovers across direct office markets on such a broad range of European office markets. The relevance of the topic has been even increasing over the previous years as more and more investors seek for flexibility and participation in the investment process and asset management.
Office market response to earthquake risk in New Zealand
Authors: Filippova Olga , Rehm Michael , Dibble Chris
Published: January 2017

Purpose

With the marked increase in the awareness of earthquake risks following the Canterbury earthquakes, the purpose of this paper is to assess if the reassessment of risk has influenced rents for office accommodation in commercial buildings. Two contrasting office markets are examined: New Zealand’s largest market within a high-risk earthquake zone – Wellington, and the country’s largest market within a low-risk zone – Auckland.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 252 leasing transactions were collected from a proprietary database of Colliers International, one of the largest commercial brokerage firms in New Zealand. Hedonic pricing models were developed to isolate the effects of building seismic strength on office rents.

Findings

Wellington office market rents tend to increase with higher earthquake strength (New Building Standard) ratings, all other factors held equal. In contrast, rents in Auckland, a low-risk earthquake area, do not exhibit such price effects.

Practical implications

The study provides estimates of the economic value associated with seismic retrofits which are vital for building owners’ decision making who must weigh retrofit costs against the economic benefits of doing so.

Originality/value

This study provides the first empirical analysis of office rents in New Zealand and the first quantitative analysis, internationally, of the impact of earthquake risk on commercial rents.
Continuing education for LIS professionals: why
Authors: Hamid Aamir , Soroya Muhammad Shahid
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the outcomes of continuing education programs that are being carried out, either having positive or negative effects on the personal and professional lives of the participants.

Design/methodology/approach

The research method used for this study was a survey, which had been based on findings derived from a comprehensive literature review. The data collection tool was an online questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. Questionnaires were circulated to the 120 library professionals equally divided among three online discussion groups which have high rate of library professionals’ memberships: Pakistan Library Automation Group, Pakistan Librarians Welfare Organization (PLWO) and Pakistan Library Club through emails. The 100 completely filled questionnaires were received and so the response rate was 83 per cent.

Findings

The study concluded that continuing education programs (CEPs) had positive effects on the participants’ professional as well as personal lives. The results revealed that CEPs improved librarians’ professional knowledge about digital resources, library automation and management systems, searching techniques, library management and skills regards team work. The effect on their personal lives was also noticeable: helped them to build confidence, increased personal interaction and developed their ability to research, leadership, communication and managerial skills. Therefore, the study clearly indicates that CEPs proved very helpful in capacity building of professional librarians.

Practical implications

The paper clearly addresses the effects of CEPs on participants’ professional and personal lives. As expressed, the results CEPs are playing an important role in the capacity building of professional librarians. This study will stimulate CEPs managing associations or organizations to check outcomes, whether they are valuable for the participants.

Originality/value

This paper reports the effects of formal or informal training sessions on LIS professionals’ professional and personal lives.
Knowledge organization content in graduate coursework
Authors: ur Rehman Sajjad , Alajmi Bibi
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Knowledge organization (KO) content is central to educational programs of library and information science (LIS) and information and knowledge management (KM) programs. The components of information and KO have similar philosophies, theories, approaches, strategies and tools. LIS education programs have strong traditions of teaching KO. Fresh emphasis is noted on metadata, data mining, info-maps, knowledge maps, taxonomy, ontologies and other strategies for organizing an organization’s explicit and tacit knowledge. This paper aims to analyze how LIS schools have responded to the needs of developing competencies related to information and KO among its graduates.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzed the curricula of LIS accredited schools and leading schools in selected regions of the world based on the course titles presented on their websites.

Findings

This analysis provided an overall picture of the coverage of KO courses in LIS programs of 68 selected schools located in Southeast Asia, the Europe and accredited schools of North America.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is limited to the treatment of KO in 68 selected programs of LIS education.

Practical implications

Library and information education programs may benefit from the findings for incorporating needed content in KO coursework.

Originality/value

The study is ground-breaking as it addresses the needs of development of KO competencies among LIS professionals from the perspective of findings of a systematic study of the curricula of 68 schools.
Examining the relationship between trustworthiness and students’ attitudes toward knowledge sharing
Authors: Boateng Henry , Agyemang Franklin Gyamfi , Okoe Abednego Feehi , Mensah Tiniwah Deborah
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This study aims to ascertain the relationship between trustworthiness and students’ attitudes toward knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

For this study, the authors used the survey research design technique. Data were collected from students pursuing a degree in Business and Administration. Convenience sampling technique was used to select the participants. A total of 400 students participated in the study. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The results show that trustworthiness, integrity, benevolence and ability have a positive relationship with students’ attitudes toward knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

Studies investigating the relationship between trustworthiness and students’ attitudes toward knowledge sharing is rare, especially in Ghana.
Collections, connections and change: differences in experiencing archives
Authors: Wakimoto Diana K.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe different collective ways that archivists, librarians and those with dual-roles experience archives.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a phenomenographic approach, a total of 24 librarians, archivists and dual-role individuals were interviewed, and interview transcripts were analyzed to create categories that described the varying ways in which archives are experienced.

Findings

Librarians experienced archives in four ways: historical resources, preserving history, preserved access and political. Archivists experienced archives in four ways: accessible collections, connection, collaboration and stewardship. Dual-role individuals experienced archives in five ways: collections, preserved access, progress, connection and knowledge creators. There are variations among and within each group on how archives are experienced. However, there is a significant overlap in many categories in terms of access, preservation, use and collections.

Practical implications

Understanding each other’s different perspectives could lead to stronger partnerships among librarians, archivists and dual-role individuals. These partnerships have the potential to increase the visibility of archives, providing greater access and engagement for community members.

Originality/value

The study supports previous phenomenographic research on experiences of archives and provides a more nuanced understanding of information professionals’ varying collective experiences of archives.
Proposing a model to study the impact of RFID technology on organizational performance
Authors: Valmohammadi Changiz , Ebrahimi Farzad , Mohammadi Mohsen
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The main objective of this study is to propose a model to study the impact of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology on organizational performance of the Library of the Academy of Arts in Iran. The Specialized Library at the Iranian Academy of the Arts (IAA) as one of the biggest national Iranian libraries has implemented and exploited RFID technology. This research aims to present a pattern for studying the effect of RFID on organizational performance at the Specialized Library at IAA from an employee’s perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The statistical population includes 91 library staffs and managers of IAA. The data were collected through a questionnaire. The research literature was studied first, and the following four components were determined as research variables: service provision, costs, customer satisfaction and response time. The Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to test the questionnaire reliability, which resulted in an acceptable level of 0.829. The structural equation modelling method through SPSS and SmartPLS was applied to analyse the data.

Findings

The results indicate that there is a positive relationship between technology usage at the IAA library with an improved service provision, enhanced customer satisfaction and reduced response time; however, the hypothesis related to RFID usage and reduced costs was not supported.

Research limitations/implications

As this study is limited to one library, it is recommended that to provide a suitable ground for benchmarking purposes and to facilitate successful implementation of RFID technology in other sectors of the country, future studies should be focused on various industries.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of the authors, no comprehensive model has been developed to present a pattern for studying the effect of RFID on organizational performance, particularly in the context of Iran.
A contingency model of CEO characteristics and firm innovativeness
Authors: Prasad Bhaskar , Junni Paulina
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Ample evidence suggests that firm innovativeness is important for firm competitiveness. Despite the significance of the CEO for firm outcomes in general, the role of the CEO in firm innovativeness remains unclear. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the impact of two CEO characteristics – organizational identification and risk propensity – on firm innovativeness. The authors also adopt a contingency view to examine the moderating role of organizational size.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from 159 information technology firms based in India, the authors hypothesize that CEO organizational identification and risk propensity will have a positive effect on firm innovativeness. The authors further hypothesize that smaller organizations will benefit more from the positive effects of CEO organizational identification and CEO risk propensity.

Findings

The empirical findings indicate that CEO organizational identification and risk propensity positively influence firm innovativeness. Also positive effects of CEO organizational identification and CEO risk propensity are more in smaller organizations.

Originality/value

This study highlights the role of CEO characteristics in the pursuit of firm innovativeness. Significantly, the study shows that both CEO organizational identification and risk propensity can enhance firm innovativeness. However, their effectiveness is contingent on organizational size.
Hybrid metaheuristic to solve the “one-to-many-to-one” problem
Authors: Euchi Jalel , Frifita Sana
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a specific variant of vehicle routing problem with simultaneous full pickup and delivery problem (VRPSFPD) known as one-to-many-to-one (1-M-1) problem with several vehicles, where every customer can receive and send goods simultaneously, which has added the notion of the totality for the pickup goods. Currently, hybrid metaheuristics have become more popular because they offer the best solutions to several combinatorial optimization problems. Therefore, due to the complexity of 1-M-1 a hybrid genetic algorithm with variable neighborhood descent (HGAVND) local search is proposed. To improve the solution provided by the HGAVND the authors suggest applying a structure OR-Opt. To test the performance of the algorithm the authors have used a set of benchmarks from the literature and apply the HGAVND algorithm to solve the real case of distribution of soft drink in Tunisia. The experimental results indicate that the algorithm can outperform all other algorithms proposed in literature with regard to solution quality and processing time. Moreover, the authors improve the best known solution of the majority of benchmark instances taken from the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Due to the complexity of 1-M-1 a HGAVND local search is proposed.

Originality/value

First, in the presence of full pickup constraints, the problem becomes more complex, this implies that the choice of a good metaheuristic can provide good results. Second, the best contribution consists in a specific variant of VRPSFPD problem as 1-M-1 which the paper present the first application of metaheuristics to solve the specific 1-M-1 and to apply it in real case of distribution of soft drink.
Lean production, workforce development and operational performance
Authors: Uhrin Ákos , Bruque-Cámara Sebastian , Moyano-Fuentes José
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to deepen the knowledge about the role of human resources in a lean environment and its impact on operational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

For this reason, present work investigates the influence of workforce development on the relationship between lean production and operational performance. To test the hypotheses of the paper, a questionnaire was developed and tested on a sample of first tier suppliers in the Spanish automotive industry.

Findings

Results highlight the indispensable role of workforce development in the implementation phase of lean production and draw upon the insight that advancements in implementation of lean production correspond to an increase in knowledgeable employees which in turn facilitates the attainment of improved operational performance outcomes.

Originality/value

The research reaffirm that lean is an integrated socio-technical system oriented to efficiency.
Revisiting the relationship between knowledge search breadth and firm innovation
Authors: Luo Ben Nanfeng , Lui Steven S. , Kim Youngok
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that the high learning ability associated with innovative firms enables these firms to conduct a broad knowledge search based on a knowledge transfer perspective. This paper further shows that knowledge tacitness and relationship between knowledge senders and receivers will accentuate this positive relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the proposed model, a pooled panel data set based on 102 Korean firms that participated in three waves of National Korean Innovation Surveys conducted in 2002, 2005, and 2008 is constructed. Since the independent variables are lagged in the analysis, the panel data comprised 204 firm-year observations of the 102 firms. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the effect of innovation on knowledge search breadth.

Findings

The authors found that absorptive capacity mediated the relationship between innovation and knowledge search breadth. This mediating relationship was stronger when a firm is not affiliated with any business group and operates in the high-technology industry.

Research limitations/implications

This paper showed that innovation is not only a consequence of knowledge search as found in existing literature, but also is a precursor to knowledge search.

Originality/value

This paper developed a novel theoretical model on innovation and knowledge search that highlights a virtuous cycle between innovation and knowledge search. Methodologically, the pooled panel data controlled for lagged effect and enhanced efficiency of econometric models, thus offered several advantages over cross-sectional data.