bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consumers’ risk perception, information seeking, and intention to purchase genetically modified food
Authors: Zhu Weiwei , Yao Nengzhi (Chris) , Ma Ben , Wang Fangbin
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore consumers’ intention to purchase genetically modified (GM) food from the perspective of risk information.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was proposed in which intention to purchase GM food is stimulated by the combination and complex effects of knowledge, risk perception, information need, information seeking and attitude. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted in Jinan, Shandong Province. A total of 757 valid samples (55.6 percent of women vs men) were involved to conduct structural equation model analysis.

Findings

Results demonstrated that attitude is the most important predictor of intention to purchase GM food. Attitude, in turn, is predicted by risk perception and information seeking. Risk perception is a significant determinant of information need and information seeking. Moreover, information need influences information seeking. Finally, knowledge plays a critical role in risk perception and intention. Overall, the explained variance of the model is 66 percent.

Originality/value

The study provides new insights explaining intention to purchase GM food by constructing a conceptual model from the perspective of risk information. In this model, knowledge, risk perception, information need and information seeking are all based on information related to GM food, resulting in attitude and intention to purchase.
Bottled mineral water: classic and temporal descriptive sensory analysis associated with liking
Authors: Pacheco Marcelo H.S. , Esmerino Erick Almeida , Capobiango Carla S.C. , Cruz Adriano G. , Leddomado Ludmila Salerno , Pimentel Tatiana Colombo , Benevides Filho Irineu Machado , de Freitas Monica Queiroz
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the classic (static) and dynamic sensory profile of different bottled mineral water samples, and to evaluate the consumer’s liking of the products.

Design/methodology/approach

Classic quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) and temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) were applied to four brands of bottled mineral water and the liking of the products was evaluated by consumers.

Findings

The dissolved mineral concentration is highly correlated to the liking and influences the sensory profile of the samples in a substantial way. The higher the mineral content, the lowest is the liking. Refreshing, residual plastic taste, musty, metallic taste, medicine taste and viscosity were relevant attributes to the samples differentiation through the static evaluation, while refreshing and viscosity were dominant in the dynamic monitoring. Some information might have been lost by the nature of the TDS method, based on dominance concept. Sweet taste contributed positively and musty taste negatively to the acceptance.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrated that TDS can be used as a complementary tool to the QDA, contributing to a deeper comprehension of the differences among samples, even in products with low differences, such as bottled mineral water.
Determinants and impacts of outsourcing pest and disease management
Authors: Sun Dingqiang , Rickaille Michael , Xu Zhigang
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants and impacts of outsourcing pest and disease management on rice production in China.

Design/methodology/approach

A multinomial endogenous treatment effects model which accounts for selection bias was used.

Findings

The results show that outsourcing decisions are driven mainly by the size of the farm, the age of the household head and other household characteristics. Further, the authors find that outsourcing labor for pest and disease control has no significant effect on pest control cost and rice yields, though it reduces the number of pesticide applications. Conversely, outsourcing of professional services can increase rice yields by 4.1 percent, and at the same time it increases pest and disease control costs by 50.6 percent. However, it is found that outsourcing of professional services exerts no significant impact on the farm profitability.

Practical implications

This study suggests that households with large farm size are more likely to outsource professional services and, therefore, service providers and governments should target those farmers to provide incentives and create greater awareness of the benefits from the outsourcing of professional services. Moreover, the increase in yields along with the government subsidy justifies the outsourcing of professional services by farmers. However, service providers and policy makers have a lot of leeway to come up with cheaper methods for pest and disease management in rice production.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to simultaneously evaluate the determinants and impacts of outsourcing pest and disease management on rice production in China.
Dynamic analysis of the livestock inventory in Inner Mongolia
Authors: Ge Wei , Kinnucan Henry
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test hypotheses about the effects of economic and weather factors on the inventories of cattle, sheep and goats in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR).

Design/methodology/approach

An equilibrium displacement model of livestock products is combined with an inventory relation proposed by Rucker et al. (1984) to deduce hypothesis about the effects of expected price and feed costs, weather, and supply and demand shifters on herd size. Dynamics are incorporated using the partial adjustment and adaptive expectations models originally proposed by Nerlove (1956). The hypotheses are tested using both the structural equations implied by the model, and the reduced form.

Findings

Results suggest livestock inventories in IMAR in general are more responsive to weather conditions than to economic conditions. This is especially true for cattle and sheep, where isolated 1 percent changes in weather variables, namely precipitation and radiation, were found to have a much larger effect on inventory than isolated 1 percent changes in expected price and forage costs. The effects of the weather variables, moreover, were found to be different for goats than for cattle and sheep, with goat numbers decreasing with improvements in weather, and cattle and sheep numbers increasing. This suggests herders respond to poor weather in part by substituting goats for cattle and/or sheep. Price was found to have a negative effect on cattle inventory, and no effect on sheep and goat inventory. Forage costs were found to have a positive effect on cattle and sheep inventories, and no effect on goat inventory. These results suggest policies to protect grassland by controlling inventory levels must be designed carefully if they are to be effective.

Originality/value

The paper makes a methodological contribution in that the livestock inventory relation proposed by Rucker et al. (1984) is extended to include supply and demand shifters for livestock products in a partial-equilibrium setting where the industry in question is a net exporter of livestock products. The paper makes an empirical contribution in that additional evidence is provided on the role that price plays in inventory behavior.
Does certified food production reduce agrochemical use in China?
Authors: Nie Zihan , Heerink Nico , Tu Qin , Jin Shuqin
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of adopting certified food production on chemical fertilizer and pesticide use in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors estimate fixed effect models to track the changes in agrochemical consumption at household level over time and evaluate the effect of certified food production, using an unbalanced panel data set covering 4,830 households in six provinces over the period 2005–2013.

Findings

On average, the authors do not find significant effects of certified food production on either chemical fertilizer or pesticide consumption among Chinese farmers. The effects are heterogeneous across villages, but the heterogeneous effects show no clear pattern that is consistent with different types of certification. The findings are robust to the use of alternative panel structure and certification indicators. The lack of knowledge about certification among farmers, the price premium and differences in regulation enforcement across regions may explain why the authors do not find negative effects on agrochemical use.

Practical implications

This study suggests that careful inspections and strong enforcement of certified food production is needed to ensure that the environmental goals of certified food production can be achieved and the reputation of certification in China can be improved. The inspection of certification producers and the enforcement of current regulations should be stricter for the further healthy development of certified food production in China.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to systematically evaluate the impact of food certification on the use of agrochemicals in Chinese agriculture.
Measuring technological level of organisations: methodological approaches and assessment
Authors: Sagieva Galina , Kotsemir Maxim
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The paper aims to present the results of the first Russian pilot study on technological level of organisations upon the answers of 2,500 respondents out of nine sectors of economy to a broad specialised questionnaire. The purpose of the study is to assess the technological level of organisations on the basis of qualitative information that comprehensively reflects its most important characteristics, as well as identify factors that affect the technological level of production.

Design/methodology/approach

It offers a look at which methodological approaches were developed and what the survey shows on characteristics of the application of technology (the scope and extent of the application, level of technology, the problems solved by applying specific types of technology) and the application of intellectual property rights.

Findings

The paper also highlights some interesting findings that suggest that the majority of national organisations tend to pursue technological self-sufficiency strategies and quite a large part of them are not active in either domestic or foreign Science & Tecnology markets.

Originality/value

An originality lies in the proposed methodological approaches of the study, in the selected indicators of progressivity and the scale of application of technology related to the level of production capacities of the surveyed medium and large enterprises and organisations. This identifies significant incentives for organisations to increase their technology level as well as competitive advantages for the respondents themselves and for their competitors.
A proposition-based theorizing approach to hotel cancellation practices research
Authors: Riasi Arash , Schwartz Zvi , Chen Chih-Chien
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate how hospitality management research could benefit from the propositional style of theorizing, and how this approach could expand the scope of research in the discipline.

Design/methodology/approach

Developing new theories could provide unique insights and broaden the scope of research in hospitality management. To illustrate the power of proposition-based theorizing, this methodology is applied to the hotel cancellation policies domain.

Findings

Using the proposition-based theorizing in the context of cancellation policies, this study provides several propositions that could have broad implications for future research.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is threefold. First, the potential benefit of the proposition-based theorizing in the revenue management context of cancellation policies is demonstrated. Second, the theoretical frameworks and insights from the product return policy literature that could enrich future studies on hotel cancellation policies are introduced. Finally, this study conjectures on these theories’ relevance to hotel cancellation policies and consequently on their potential contribution to the scholarly discourse.
Mentoring college students with disabilities: experiences of the mentors
Authors: Hillier Ashleigh , Goldstein Jody , Tornatore Lauren , Byrne Emily , Ryan Joseph , Johnson Hannah
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to better understand the impact of peer mentoring on mentors working with university students with a disability. Research questions focused on how undergraduate student mentors evaluated their experience as a mentor, in what ways they benefited, the challenges they experienced and how these challenges could be addressed.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative and qualitative data examined the experiences, benefits and challenges experienced by the mentors across seven separate cohorts. Self-report measures were collected in a pre-post design, and qualitative analysis was conducted on focus groups at the end of the program. The paper also outlines the program model including training and support mechanisms, and the program curriculum implemented by mentors.

Findings

Responses on the measures showed that student mentors saw mentoring as a positive experience, and they felt more committed to their university after participating. Qualitative content analysis of focus groups supported this and also highlighted some of the unique challenges faced by mentors working with students with a disability. These included communication difficulties, trouble building rapport, not knowing how to help their mentee and feeling over-protective.

Research limitations/implications

While the findings are preliminary, results indicated that serving as a mentor to freshmen university students with a disability had an important impact on the personal growth and skills development of the mentors. In addition, similar program models should recognize that careful attention is needed to ensure mentors are fully supported in their role. Findings also highlight areas for improvement of the program such as examining longer term outcomes, including a comparison group, and seeking the perspectives of the mentees. Limitations included limited standardized assessment tools to assess impact more broadly.

Originality/value

The study is original in its focus on improving current understanding of outcomes for student mentors who are working with incoming university students with a disability status.
Debunking the myth of job hopping amongst black professionals in corporate South Africa
Authors: Ndzwayiba Nceba , Ukpere Wilfred Isioma , Steyn Melissa
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the facticity of the dominant construction of black professionals as job hoppers that derail workforce reforms in corporate South Africa particularly in leadership roles.

Design/methodology/approach

Historical literature review was conducted to trace the genesis of the alleged racialised job hopping phenomenon. Melissa Steyn’s (2015) idea of Critical Diversity Literacy was also applied to critically examine the implicit power dynamics, strengths, limitations and biases involved in the construction, valorisation, circulation and contestation of this dominant narrative.

Findings

The authors found the popular racialised job hopping phenomenon to be an overgeneralisation that lacks credible evidence. It ignores multiple variables that are crucial in studying employee turnover behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is conceptual. It is mainly based on critical literature reviews. Empirical studies could be undertaken within this domain in the future to confirm or disconfirm some of the findings of this paper.

Practical implications

These allegations are emblematic of the endemic systemic racism in South Africa’s corporate labour market that remains an enclave of whiteness.

Social implications

Race is a highly contentious phenomenon and a major field of social inequality. Black bodies confront numerous challenges that undermine their human rights and opportunities to participate meaningfully in society and the economy. This paper calls for organisations to play an active role in healing racial divisions and building social cohesion by critically examining, challenging and changing discourses that propel inequality.

Originality/value

By addressing one of critical socio-economic and political issues confronting the world’s most unequal society, the paper hopes to stimulate healthy debate that can bring real change for marginalised groups in workplaces.
Gender and returns to entrepreneurship in Africa
Authors: Agyire-Tettey Frank , Ackah Charles Godfred , Asuman Derek
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess determinants of returns to male and female entrepreneurship in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda at selected quantiles along the distribution, as well as examine gender gaps in returns to entrepreneurship and factors contributing these gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing a unique data set collected in the three countries on entrepreneurial motivations, constraints and performance, the authors apply unconditional quantile regression technique to assess the determinants of returns to entrepreneurship at various quantiles along the distribution. Additionally, the authors employ decomposition techniques to assess gender gaps in returns to entrepreneurship at various points along the distribution. The data contain extensive information on entrepreneur’s personal characteristics, including parental background and household composition and structure.

Findings

The study finds substantial differences in determinants of returns to male and female entrepreneurship along the distribution, with firm asset increasing returns to entrepreneurship. There is also the presence of gender gaps in returns to entrepreneurship at the lower-end of distribution, however, gaps disappear at the upper tail of the distribution, indicative of sticky floors in returns to entrepreneurship in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. The authors also find gender bias against female entrepreneurship in the three countries, as unobserved characteristics largely responsible for the gender gaps in entrepreneurial returns.

Originality/value

This work has been undertaken by the authors and has not been carried out by any other person. The study will add to the existing literature on gender and returns to entrepreneurship.
Differential relationship of challenge and hindrance demands with employee engagement
Authors: Rai Alka
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how job resources may moderate the relationship of two types of job demands (i.e. challenge and hindrance demands) with employee engagement. It is hypothesized that job resources can buffer the association of job hindrances with employee engagement while job resources may escalate engagement in the condition of challenge demands.

Design/methodology/approach

The population of the study is Scale-I officers of Indian public sector banks (PSBs). The sample included 608 Junior Management Grade–Scale I officers employed in Indian PSBs.

Findings

Results of the analysis revealed a positive relationship between challenge demands and employee engagement whereas the negative relationship between hindrance demands and employee engagement. Enhancement in the positive conditional effect of challenge demands on employee engagement with the increase in values of the job resources evidenced the boosting role of job resources. Further, condition effect of hindrance demand on employee engagement at different levels of moderator showed that the negative relationship between hindrance demands and employee engagement get weakened with the increase in the level of job resources.

Practical implications

The results highlighted the situations that may foster or thwart engagement of employees. Present findings could be guiding in several ways for designing interventions to enhance employee engagement using job demands and job resources.

Originality/value

This study adds to literature through incorporating challenge–hindrance theorization in propositions of job demands-resources model and by exploring two diverse mechanisms (buffering and boost up) which are elicited after interaction of job resources with challenge and hindrance demands in a diverse way.
Joint responsibility and understanding of resilience from a DMO perspective – an analysis of different situations in Bavarian tourism destinations
Authors: Pechlaner Harald , Zacher Daniel , Eckert Christian , Petersik Lukas
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss responsibility in tourism destinations. On the basis of a resilience approach, central aspects of leadership and of responsibility in destination networks are introduced and, a contribution to a conceptual analysis of the future viability of tourism destinations is made. This contributes to a better understanding of resilience from a destination management organization (DMO) perspective in the context of shared responsibility.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this goal, a qualitative interview series was conducted with destination managers in urban and rural areas. The interviews were evaluated using the method of GABEK®, in order to reveal and visualize semantic relationships between the specific statements. This method allows the representation of linkages and relationships of keywords from interview transcripts in the form of network graphs.

Findings

A major result is the existence of a network of leaders who take responsibility for tourism development within a tourism destination. Within this network, the destination manager once again plays a key role by developing and formulating visions, goals and strategies. In this context, the relevant employees of the DMO have an important role to play, since they are an important resource of tourism development due to their experience and competences.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to a practical view on the development of visions and strategies. It analyzes challenges and possible ways to communicate with the required political and public actors of the destination as well as with the service providers to regard destination development as a collaborative task.
The effects of employer SNS motioning on employee perceived privacy violation, procedural justice, and leave intention
Authors: Suen Hung-Yue
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a model to understand how and when employees’ perceived privacy violations and procedural injustice interact to predict intent to leave in the context of the use of social networking sites (SNSs) monitoring.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted in a field setting of Facebook to frame the hypotheses in a structural equation model with partial least squares-structural equation modeling. Variables were measured empirically by administering questionnaires to full-time employed Facebook users who had experienced SNS monitoring.

Findings

The results showed that when an employee believed that he/she had more ability to control his/her SNS information, he/she was less likely to perceive that his/her privacy had been invaded; and when an employee believed that the transparency of the SNS data collection process was higher, he or she was more likely to perceive procedural justice in SNS monitoring.

Research limitations/implications

This research draws attention to the importance of intent to leave in the absence of perceived procedural justice under SNS monitoring, and the partial mediation of the perception of justice or injustice by perceived privacy violations.

Practical implications

For employers, the author recommends that employers come to know how to conduct SNS monitoring and data collection with limited risk of employee loss.

Social implications

For employees, the author suggests that SNS users learn how to control their SNS information and make sure to check their privacy settings on the SNS that they use frequently.

Originality/value

This study provided an initial examination and bridged the gap between employer use of SNS monitoring and employee reactions by opening a mediating and moderating black box that has rarely been assessed.
Humanizing school communities
Authors: Marshall Stefanie LuVenia , Khalifa Muhammad A.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of instructional leaders in promoting culturally responsive practice in ways that make schooling more inclusive and humanizing for minoritized students and communities.

Design/methodology/approach

The data pull from a six-month long case study of a mid-sized, Midwestern school district that was attempting to implement culturally responsive leadership practices. After axial coding, findings emerged from interview data and field notes.

Findings

Instructional leaders can play significant and useful roles in promoting culturally responsive teaching and pedagogy in schools. Districts can establish positions in which instructional leaders can work to strengthen the culturally responsive pedagogy of every teacher in a district.

Research limitations/implications

This study has implications for both research and practice. Culturally responsive school leadership (CRSL) exists in multiple spaces and at various levels in a district. CRSL is not only a school-level function, but it can also be a district-level practice. Culturally responsive instructional leaders (in this case, not principals, but coaches) can have significant impact in promoting culturally relevant pedagogy.

Originality/value

This contribution moves beyond school leadership and examines how district leadership practices and decisions foster culturally relevant practices and the challenges in employing this equity work.
Development of indigenous enterprise in a contemporary business environment – the Ngāi Tahu Ahikā approach
Authors: Barr Tremane Lindsay , Reid John , Catska Pavel , Varona Golda , Rout Matt
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Tribal economic development in post-settlement era Aoteroa/New Zealand has opened up opportunities for Maori to invest in the sustainable commercial utilisation of their traditional economic resources. Mahinga kai (traditional food and food sources) has always been at the heart of the Maori tribe Ngāi Tahu’s spiritual, cultural, social and economic existence. The purpose of this research is to revitalise mahinga kai enterprise through the commercial development of traditional and contemporary food and food resources in a culturally commensurate manner.

Design/methodology/approach

Participant action research theory and practice were used by researchers from Toitū Te Kāinga (Regional Development Unit of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu) between 2008 and 2012. This was informed by a Kaupapa Maori philosophy of respect and empowerment of the participants’ needs.

Findings

The development of the Ahikā Kai Indigenous business system shows that competitive advantage can be created for Indigenous businesses and enterprises through a four-pronged strategy based around: first, human rights that empower tribal members; second, product differentiation based on cultural principles; third, an internal accreditation system to help verify the ethical credibility of the products; and fourth, lowering producer costs through website marketing and direct-to-consumer selling.

Originality/value

This research adds to a growing (yet still evolving) body of literature on Indigenous entrepreneurship and the role of voluntary certification in Indigenous business development. The Ahikā Kai business system is an original world first for this type of Indigenous development based on creating a competitive advantage for multiple independent enterprises while maintaining the core integrity of its cultural brand and its operations.
Celebrity fashion brand endorsement in Facebook viral marketing and social commerce
Authors: Jin Seunga Venus , Ryu Ehri
Published: August 2018

Purpose

In light of Facebook-based viral marketing and social commerce, the purpose of this paper is to test the moderating role of social identification with the Facebook profile owner (celebrity as aspirational reference group vs ingroup member (college student, same school) vs outgroup member (college student, different school)) in Facebook-based fashion brand marketing and management.

Design/methodology/approach

A randomized between-subjects experiment (celebrity’s Facebook profile vs ingroup member’s Facebook profile vs outgroup member’s Facebook profile vs control condition,n=73) was conducted. The sample was composed of college students recruited from a subject pool in a US university.

Findings

Results of multiple regression analyses indicate that social identification with the Facebook profile owner and ingroup vs outgroup perception moderate the influence of consumers’ materialism, fashion involvement and opinion leadership on interpersonal attraction to the celebrity, wishful identification with the celebrity, emotional quotient, involvement with the ads, advertising believability and willingness to buy the advertised fashion products. Furthermore, the results of structural equation modeling analyses show that source credibility perception (both the celebrity who endorses her own brand and the Facebook profile owner) mediates the relationship between experimental conditions (celebrity as aspirational outgroup vs same school student as an ingroup member vs different school student as an outgroup member) and the outcome variables (interpersonal attraction to the celebrity, involvement with ads, and advertising believability) in viral marketing leveraging a social media platform.

Originality/value

This study makes several theoretical contributions to consumer psychology and provides managerial implications for Facebook-based fashion marketing and fashion brand management.
Understanding early warning signs of failure in offshore-outsourced software projects at team level
Authors: Philip Tom , Schwabe Gerhard
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the concept of early warning signs (EWSs) in offshore-outsourced software development (OOSD) projects at the team level. It also aims to identify the EWSs of failure in the onshore-offshore project context and understand how they are perceived by responsible managers.

Design/methodology/approach

A grounded theory approach is followed by gathering data from 19 failed OOSD projects using project managers from client and vendor sides as the key informants.

Findings

This study identified 13 EWSs of failure in five categories of trust and team cohesion, common project execution structures, awareness of shared work context, collaboration between teams and onshore-offshore team coordination capabilities. EWSs were found to comprise two components: early warning issues and early signals of failures.

Research limitations/implications

India-based vendors’ data in the study formed the primary weakness of the work regarding generalizability, even though it brought homogeneity to data. Lack of triangulation of failure data through client or vendor peers proved impossible in this research as failure remains a very sensitive topic. Dual composition of EWSs could be applied to institutionalize an early warning tool in projects.

Originality/value

The paper develops an exploratory model of EWSs of failure and project failure in the OOSD project context. The two-component framework of EWSs allows project managers to eliminate false positives while identifying EWSs. It contributes to the information system failure, risk management and information technology offshoring research streams.
An evolutionary phenomenology of resilience
Authors: Cutler Robert M. , von Lingen Alexander
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to set out an evolutionary schema for organizational resilience using the established emergent autopoiesis coherence (EAC) framework, with empirical reference to the European Parliament’s development of institutional capacities since its foundation in 1952 as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (CA-ECSC).

Design/methodology/approach

The logic is categorical-synthetic and second-order cybernetic, implicitly underlain by a correspondence theory of truth united with a coherentism based in the epistemology of complex systems.

Findings

The European Parliament has constructed itself as a resilient organization, but the process has entailed over-learning of past lessons, creating behavioral syndromes of dysfunction in the face of new challenges.

Research limitations/implications

The work contrasts antifragility with resilience and suggests a new approach to it.

Practical implications

The analytical framework and conclusions hold value for the practical design of resilient organizations.

Social implications

The groundwork of the EAC’s conceptual framework is laid, and the basis for applying it to human and other naturally occurring societies is established.

Originality/value

K.W. Deutsch’s mid-twentieth century work on cybernetic-based learning in political systems is reconstructed, updated and applied to twenty-first century political phenomena. The insights are validated, and the analytical framework’s robustness is demonstrated.
Challenges facing healthcare leadership in attaining accreditation of teaching hospitals
Authors: Al Kuwaiti Ahmed , Al Muhanna Fahd A.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the challenges faced by health-care leadership in teaching hospitals in attaining accreditation for their institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a study of current literature on health-care leadership, hospital accreditation and quality of patient care and identifies the challenges facing health-care leadership in attaining accreditation for teaching hospitals.

Findings

Based on a review and analysis of literature, infrastructure, finance, legal support, workforce recruitment and training, documentation and technology are identified as challenges faced by health-care leadership in teaching hospitals. The key challenges facing health-care leadership with respect to medical education and clinical research are found to be integration of education into hospital operations, compliance with all regulatory and professional requirements and adequacy of resources in executing research programs.

Originality/value

This study draws the attention of health-care leadership in teaching hospitals on the challenges they face in obtaining accreditation for their institutions so that they may develop appropriate strategies to overcome them.
Settling in: how newcomers use a public library
Authors: Shepherd John , Petrillo Larissa , Wilson Allan
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how recent immigrants and refugees to Canada (“newcomers”) use the facilities of a large, urban public library. As the library previously surveyed the general user population, the responses to the two surveys can be compared.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were administered as patrons were leaving Surrey Libraries Branches to adult public library members who self-identified as newcomers who arrived in Canada within the previous ten years.

Findings

The pattern of library use by newcomers differed from that of the general population. They visited more frequently and stayed longer. Newcomers were heavier users of library services and used a wider range of services. They used the library branch as a public place. The library provided them with a place to study, read or meet other people.

Research limitations/implications

The study was exploratory. The small sample size and the data collection process do not allow extrapolation to the underlying population.

Practical implications

Recent newcomers often have similar informational, psychological and social needs. Public libraries can play a role in assisting newcomers during their adjustment process.

Originality/value

Researchers worked closely with library management to develop questions based on decision usefulness. An earlier in-house study allowed comparisons to be made between branch use by newcomers and general library users. Canadian studies into government policy, along with immigrant and refugee studies, provide context for the survey results.
Libraries and user culture: literacy and development implications
Authors: Mose Peter
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish stocking and services offered and user culture at the Kenya National Library Services Kisii Branch. The study sought to respond to the following questions: Which books form the stock of Kenya National Library Services Kisii Branch? Which services does the Kenya National Library Services Kisii Branch offer to the public on a regular basis? What is the user motivation for and frequency of use of the National Library Services at Kisii Branch?

Design/methodology/approach

Three instruments were used in data collection; document analysis, observation and interview. Document analysis obtained data on membership and frequency; observation obtained data on stocking, services, and user culture; and interview sought clarification on data obtained from documents and observation.

Findings

The findings indicate that publications in business and accounting and school type books form the bulk of the stock of books; the library offers only basic information access services; users are motivated by school assignments, examinations and academic project deadlines to visit the library hence user frequency in the library is predictable throughout the year.

Practical implications

Current practices at the library by both library staff and user culture have negative implications on public literacy and socio-economic development.

Originality/value

This paper presents information obtained from a systematic data collection and analysis. The findings are original and should be addressed by the relevant stakeholders.
Libraries as learning environments: the example of “Libraries for Everyone”
Authors: Al Umut , Dogan Güleda , Soydal Irem , Taskin Zehra
Published: August 2018

Purpose

In this paper, the Libraries for Everyone Project and the studies carried out within the scope of the project are presented; the role of libraries as learning environments is discussed; and the data obtained from the library usage research/survey are shared. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The research includes the findings of a questionnaire study that was applied in May, 2017 to 4,566 respondents from 147 libraries participating in the project. The population is represented with a 99% confidence level and a sampling error of 0.02. The sample size was decided based on the number of registered members in the libraries.

Findings

Municipal libraries have potential to be used as learning environments.

Originality/value

The usage survey reported in the study is the most comprehensive usage study on municipal libraries so far in terms of the number of participants. The Libraries for Everyone Project is the most extensive project implemented at municipal libraries in Turkey.
Regional differences in industry specialization in the sustainability assurance market
Authors: Fernandez-Feijoo Belen , Romero Silvia , Ruiz Blanco Silvia
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This paper uses institutional theory to analyze the structure of the sustainability assurance market (SAM) at a global level. The purpose of this paper is to determine if regional differences affect industry specialization in this market.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 3,657 sustainability reports (SRs) with assurance statements, the authors study the global and regional specialization of assurers by breaking down the sample into three main regions. The authors approach industry specialization using previous methodologies applied to the financial audit market, and explain differences statistically significant among regions.

Findings

The authors find different industry specialists depending on the geographical region in which the audit firm is located. The Europe, Middle Eastern and Africa region has the highest number of industry specialists and the Asia-Pacific region the lowest. Notwithstanding the global participation of Big 4 firms, assurance specialization depends on the country where the company is located.

Research limitations/implications

The paper reveals the need to include regional differences in the analysis of the SAM at the international level.

Practical implications

The study shows an in-depth study of the SAM that may be useful for assurers, to decide strategic actions in industries and countries and for regulators, to control the risk of monopolistic/oligopolistic markets.

Originality/value

The study presents a novel approach to the analysis of the assurance market for SRs, by studying it from the supply point of view. The analysis provides a measure of specialization that may help understand the structure of the SAM.
Vibration analysis of FG rotating plate using nonlinear-FEM
Authors: Parida Smita , Mohanty Sukesh Chandra
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the linear and non-linear free vibration of a functionally graded material (FGM) rotating cantilever plate in the thermal environment. The study employs the development of a non-linear mathematical model using the higher order shear deformation theory in which the traction free condition is applied to derive the simplified displacement model with seven field variables instead of nine.

Design/methodology/approach

A mathematical model is developed based on the higher order shear deformation theory using von-Karman type non-linearity. The rotating plate domain has been discretized into C0 eight-noded quadratic serendipity elements with node wise 7 degrees of freedom. The material properties are considered temperature dependent and graded along the thickness direction obeying a simple power law distribution in terms of the volume fraction of constituents, based on Voigt’s micromechanical method. The governing equations are derived using Hamilton’s principle and are solved using the direct iterative method.

Findings

The importance of the present mathematical model developed for numerical analysis has been stated through the comparison studies. The results provide an insight into the vibration response of FGM rotating plate under thermal environment. The influence of various parameters like setting angle, volume fraction index, hub radius, rotation speed parameter, aspect ratio, side-thickness ratio and temperature gradient on linear and non-linear frequency parameters is discussed in detail.

Originality/value

A non-linear mathematical model is newly developed based on C0 continuity for the functionally graded rotating plate considering the 1D Fourier equation of heat conduction. The present findings can be utilized for the design of rotating plates made up of a FGM in the thermal environment under real-life situations.
Supporting authors in documenting and sharing operative knowledge
Authors: Rossi Davide , Di Iorio Angelo
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design and evaluate an authoring tool to support users in documenting knowledge using social software-based platforms in order to improve information sharing within organizations. Facilitating the creation of such content has been identified as a critical point for the acceptance of similar platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a general framework to design and assess technological solutions that positively affects users’ contribution – and, as a consequence, users’ engagement – when knowledge is externalized, made persistent and shared by using semantic wikis. The definition of the framework has been derived from a case study on operational knowledge management. This framework revolves around interaction with actual users for both design and evaluation. The latter exploits usability tests based on the System Usability Scale and analysis based on the grounded theory.

Findings

The framework proved to be effective when applied for a solution for the authors’ case study. The results of the designed tool were well accepted, and the tool was characterized by its users as having high usability. A limitation that emerged is related to the ability to support authors not just in creating documentation but also in maintaining it, an aspect that needs to be better addressed in the future.

Originality/value

The presented framework can be instantiated for similar platforms and provides a common ground for assessment of tools. The produced tool significantly simplifies the production of documentation related to community best practices. Valuable user feedbacks were collected about possible improvements for tools supporting authors.
A grocery recommendation for off-line shoppers
Authors: Kim Jae Kyeong , Moon Hyun Sil , An Byong Ju , Choi Il Young
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Many off-line retailers have experienced a slump in sales and have the potential risk of overstock or understock. To overcome these problems, retailers have applied data mining techniques, such as association rule mining or sequential association rule mining, to increase sales and predict product demand. However, because these techniques cannot generate shopper-centric rules, many off-line shoppers are often inconvenienced after writing their shopping lists carefully and comprehensively. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose a personalized recommendation methodology for off-line grocery shoppers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs a Markov chain model to generate recommendations for the shopper’s next shopping basket. The proposed methodology is based on the knowledge of both purchased products and purchase sequences. This paper compares the proposed methodology with a traditional collaborative filtering (CF)-based system, a bestseller-based system and a Markov-chain-based system as benchmark systems.

Findings

The proposed methodology achieves improvements of 15.87, 14.06 and 37.74 percent with respect to the CF-, Markov chain-, and best-seller-based benchmark systems, respectively, meaning that not only the purchased products but also the purchase sequences are important elements in the personalization of grocery recommendations.

Originality/value

Most of the previous studies on this topic have proposed on-line recommendation methodologies. However, because off-line stores collect transaction data from point-of-sale devices, this research proposes a methodology based on purchased products and purchase patterns for off-line grocery recommendations. In practice, this study implies that both purchased products and purchase sequences are viable elements in off-line grocery recommendations.