bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of corporate governance disclosure: a study through BRICS countries
Authors: Colares Oliveira Marcelle , Ceglia Domenico , Antonio Filho Fernando
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The study aims to analyze the level of the disclosure of corporate governance practices by the companies that belong to the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries according to normative recommendations and coercive requirements considering the enforcement of laws and norms in the different legal systems and to explain it in the light of the institutional theory approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The practices disclosed by a sample of the 20 largest companies listed on the stock exchanges of each of the BRICS countries were analysed, and the 52 practices recommended by UNCTAD (2009) were used as a parameter. The corporate governance practices of the companies were confronted with the laws, rules and norms that require or recommend their adoption and disclosure.

Findings

China has 49 practices required by own national law in face of 52 recommended by UNCTAD/International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) followed by South Africa with 44, Russia with 33, Brazil with 28 and India with 24. Brazil has 47 practices recommended by own national governance code in face of 52 recommended by UNCTAD/Intergovernmental Working group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting (ISAR), followed by Russia with 45, China with 44, South Africa with 41 and India with 22. It was found that Brazil has the higher median of number of companies disclosing corporate governance practices with 17, followed by India with 13, Russia with 11, South Africa and China with 7.

Research limitations/implications

This research shows that more studies are necessary using the institutional theory to investigate how the normative and coercive pressures influence the disclosure of corporate governance information considering the enforcement of laws and norms in the different legal systems.

Practical implications

The differences observed in this study about normative and coercive forces are presented as an opportunity in the legal sphere of some countries to implement mechanisms to increase their level of enforcement.

Originality/value

This research contributes to various audiences such as governmental institutions, professional associations, market institutions to better understand their role in the improvement of the adoption of corporate governance practices and disclosure of information related to it.
A model of value-creating practices, trusting beliefs, and online tourist community behaviors
Authors: Lee Kwang-Ho , Hyun Sunghyup Sean
Published: October 2016

Purpose

In the context of online travel communities (OTCs), this paper aims to identify the relationships between value-creating practices, trusting beliefs, solution acceptance and stickiness and the moderating effects of risk aversion on the relationship between trusting beliefs and solution acceptance and on that between trusting beliefs and stickiness.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 408 survey responses obtained from Amazon website panels were used to test the proposed hypotheses through a structural equation modeling analysis.

Findings

The results show that three dimensions of value-creating practices, namely, social networking, community engagement and brand use, had positive effects on trusting beliefs; trusting beliefs had positive effects on solution acceptance and stickiness; and solution acceptance had a positive effect on stickiness. Risk aversion moderated the trusting beliefs-stickiness relationship.

Research limitations/implications

A key limitation of this study is related to the sample collected from Amazon website panels, which may limit the generalizability of results to other OTC members. The results have important theoretical and practical implications in OTC settings. For example, OTCs should be used by members as key platforms for acquiring trust information prior to their behaviors.

Originality/value

This study extends the OTC literature by integrating different research realms into the proposed research model for a better understanding of the relationships between value-creating practices, trusting beliefs and OTC behaviors.
The effects of image and price fairness
Authors: Jin Naehyun (Paul) , Line Nathaniel Discepoli , Merkebu Jerusalem
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Despite recent calls in the hospitality and tourism literature for increased research attention in the attractions industry, very little research exists in this important part of the hospitality marketplace. The purpose of this paper is to address the dearth of research in this domain by proposing and empirically testing a model of the relationships among image, price fairness and loyalty in the waterpark segment of the attractions industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 346 waterpark patrons in South Korea. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results provide empirical support for the proposed relationship between waterpark image and customer loyalty. Additionally, a set of indirect relationships between these two constructs was identified. Specifically, the intervening effects of delight, service quality and price fairness were established.

Research limitations/implications

While the overall premise of the work was supported, the results provide evidence that price fairness is evaluated and considered differently in an amusement park context than in other consumption domains. This research suggests that future efforts are necessary to fully understand the complexities of behavior in the attractions industry.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that successful image management results in a variety of positive outcomes including quality/price perceptions and customer loyalty. To stay competitive, however, waterparks must engage in an ongoing process of image development and maintenance with a particular emphasis on managing expectations.

Originality/value

The research suggests that while the traditionally acknowledged effects of image on consumer behavior have applicability within the attractions industry, some of the existing nomological relationships established in other operational domains may not be generalizable. As such, our research can be seen as a step toward the development of a unique theory of behavior in the attractions industry.
The impact of abusive supervision on service employees’ proactive customer service performance in the hotel industry
Authors: Lyu Yijing , Zhou Xing , Li Weiwen , Wan Junbao , Zhang Jie , Qiu Canhua
Published: October 2016

Purpose

On the basis of social identity theory, this paper aims to predict and test the influence of abusive supervision on service employees’ proactive customer service performance (PCSP) in the hotel industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 198 service employee-coworker dyads from 12 hotels in China. Previously developed and validated measures of abusive supervision, organizational identification, collectivism and PCSP were used and found to be highly reliable in this study.

Findings

Time-lagged data from 12 hotels in China reveal that abusive supervision negatively influences service employees’ PCSP, through organizational identification. In addition, employees’ collectivistic value orientation also strengthens the negative relationship between abusive supervision and organizational identification. These findings have several theoretical and managerial implications, especially for hospitality context.

Practical implications

First, the study suggests that hotels should design supervisors’ selection, training and monitoring to reduce mistreatment, which could be highly costly to employees’ identification and hence proactive behaviors. In addition, hotel supervisors are encouraged to learn to regulate their emotions by developing emotional management skills and interpersonal skills. Second, because collectivists are more likely to be affected by abusive supervisors, organizations should pay special attention to them by allocating more supportive resources, providing psychological comfort and expert counseling. Finally, hotels and managers should seek to meet individuals’ basic needs by fostering positive relationships between supervisors and employees, offering favorable treatment and connecting an organization’s goals with employees’ individual values. By doing so, employees’ organizational identification will be enhanced and hence contribute to PCSP.

Originality/value

First, scarcely any study has focused on negative types of leadership styles and how they affect employees’ PCSP. The authors address the research gap by extending the antecedent scope of PCSP to dark side management and provide empirical evidence about the suppressing effects of abusive supervision on PCSP. Second, the focus on organizational identification provides a new extension for social identity theory in application for incurring employees’ proactive behaviors. Third, this study provides a novel contribution by suggesting that the level of collectivism an employee holds can exacerbate the salience of abusive supervision.
Sexual harassment: overlooked and under-researched
Authors: Ram Yael , Tribe John , Biran Avital
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the gap between the very high prevalence of sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality industry (the phenomenon) and the limited academic discussion about it (academic knowledge), and suggests ways to bridge this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

The gap between phenomenon and knowledge is identified by comparing official data regarding sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality industry with a content analysis of the academic literature. Tribe’s (2006) knowledge force-field model is used to analyze this gap.

Findings

The five truth barriers identified by Tribe (2006), namely, person, rules, position, ends and ideology, are confirmed by the data. Five counter-forces – triangulation, interdisciplinary, collaboration, humanism and critical praxis – are developed to counter these truth barriers.

Practical implications

The five counter-forces offer practical solutions for research, higher education programs and the tourism industry. They demonstrate ways to reduce the high prevalence of sexual harassment in the industry and improve the working conditions of employees.

Originality/value

Underpinned by Tribe’s conceptual model, the paper identifies and analyzes a relative silence regarding sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality academy in contrast to its prevalence in the industry. Additionally, it advances Tribe’s model by identifying five truth-facilitating forces. Further, it offers a research agenda for revealing hidden topics and/or biased knowledge by understanding the relationship between tourism and hospitality phenomena and academic knowledge.
Modeling guests’ intentions to use mobile apps in hotels
Authors: Morosan Cristian , DeFranco Agnes
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The unprecedented development of hotel-branded mobile applications (apps) has been instrumental in facilitating the rich guest–hotel interactions, thus contributing to a high personalization of services. For true personalization, guests need to provide personal information via apps. Yet, no study to date has addressed how guests develop intentions to use such apps given the current personalization and privacy challenges. Therefore, this study aims to investigate hotel guests’ intentions to use hotel apps to access personalized services.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from personalization-privacy theory, this study conceptualized perceived personalization and privacy concerns as distinct constructs while recognizing two different privacy concerns constructs: general and app-specific privacy concerns. To build a comprehensive structural model that is appropriate for explicating intentions to use hotel apps, this study incorporates consumer psychology and information systems theoretical streams that provide constructs that unequivocally capture the unique set of consumer–app interactions in highly experiential settings such as hotels (e.g. innovativeness and involvement). Using a nation-wide sample of hotel guests from the USA, the model was validated using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations modeling.

Findings

The predictors explained 79 per cent of the variability in the intentions to use hotel apps to personalize hotel services. The strongest predictor of intentions was involvement, followed by app-related privacy concerns and perceived personalization.

Research limitations/implications

First, this study’s extended theoretical framework was well supported, as it captures relevant elements of the mobile commerce ecosystem (e.g. personalization and privacy), thus extending the classic paradigmatic approach to information systems adoption beyond system beliefs. Second, this study clarifies the distinct roles of personalization and privacy in the context of hotel apps, which has not been examined in the context of m-commerce in hospitality. Third, the study clarifies the role of involvement as the most critical factor that can influence guests’ intentions to use hotel apps when personalization options and privacy concerns exist.

Practical implications

This study offers hotel decision-makers a mapping of the factors, leading to use of hotel apps for purchasing personalized hotel services.

Originality/value

This study provides a first theoretical perspective on the hotel app utilization behaviors that have not been studied so far, but carry a strong strategic and financial significance for the hotel industry (direct distribution, brand consolidation and extensive contact with guests).
Borders, conflict and security
Authors: Arieli Tamar
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Border environments differ as foci for conflict discourse. While classic realist theories are used to account for mechanisms of securitized borders, socially oriented theories are often invoked to characterize relaxed borders. This distinguishing pattern regarding securitization reflects a deeply rooted focus on idealized borders, based on implicit expectations that relaxed borders are a viable option and goal for all. This orientation is prone to mistaken assumptions regarding local, national and regional interests and ultimately threatens delicately balanced states of stability. This paper aims to question this somewhat simplified categorization and posit that securitized borders are longstanding realities which warrant more complex theoretical conceptualization.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is based on documentary study and qualitative field research, mapping and evaluating Israel–Jordan cross-border interactions conducted during 2006-2014. Local civilian interactions were studied using three tools: interviews, non-participant observations and a sector-based analysis of original and secondary sources. In the course of research, many tours and observations of the border region were conducted, and key actors in Israel and Jordan were interviewed: entrepreneurs, local residents, local and national government officials, security personnel and representatives of non-governmental organizations involved in the administration and funding of normalization-promoting initiatives.

Findings

In light of internal and external security threats which challenge states and border regions in conflict environments and in normalized settings, there is increasing value in recognizing multi-level power relations (“bringing the state back in”) that design, inhibit and ultimately control the inevitability, circumstance and social–political effectivity of any cross-border interaction. Cross-border cooperation (CBC), which evolves gradually, monitored by the border regime and reflecting actual levels of inter-state political dialogue, is a slower yet safer option and a more realistic expectation for CBC, especially in regions of minimal communication between cross-border neighbors. In the backdrop of the Middle East turmoil, Israel and Jordan mark 20 years of peaceful relations, enjoying stability based on shared political and security interests, yet displaying no apparent tendency toward increased cross-border interaction. Given the stark differences in regimes and ongoing regional unrest, this securitized border fulfills local and regional needs and is far from a temporary “second-best” reality.

Originality/value

The analysis is based on original fieldwork and documentary study, mapping and evaluating Israel–Jordan cross-border interactions conducted during 2006-2014.
CEO power, corporate social responsibility, and firm value: a test of agency theory
Authors: Li Frank , Li Tao , Minor Dylan
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether firms with powerful chief executive officers (CEOs) tend to invest (more) in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities as the over-investment hypothesis based on classical agency theory predicts.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper tests an alternative hypothesis that if CSR investment is indeed an agency cost like the over-investment hypothesis suggests, then those activities may destroy firm value.

Findings

Using CEO pay slice (Bebchuket al., 2011), CEO tenure, and CEO duality to measure CEO power, the authors show that CEO power is negatively correlated with firm’s choice to engage in CSR and with the level of CSR activities in the firm. Furthermore, the results suggest that CSR activities are in fact value enhancing in that as firms engage in more CSR activities their value increases.

Originality/value

The first paper to study CEO power and CSR and their impact on firm value.
Why does bank screening matter? Private information and publicly traded securities
Authors: Neave Edwin Harold
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use an equilibrium model to identify the public and private informational requirements for equilibrium pricing and shows that unless these informational requirements are met, skin-in-the-game policies will not be fully effective against moral hazard for banks with relatively large market share. Selling securitizations with recourse can be.

Design/methodology/approach

The single-period model shows equilibrium prices depend on both public and private information, the latter produced as banks screen loans. If bank has a sufficiently large market share, it can profit by omitting the screening unless investors can detect the change. The author derives the profit function for not screening, shows that a skin-in-the-game policy cannot fully offset its incentives, and proposes a sale with recourse policy that can.

Findings

To value securitizations correctly, investors require both publicly and privately available information. If investors cannot monitor banks closely, correct pricing can be frustrated by profit maximization incentives, since banks with large market shares can profit from not screening. Skin-in-the-game policies cannot fully offset these incentives.

Research limitations/implications

The equilibrium model identifies the public and private informational requirements for equilibrium pricing and shows that unless these informational requirements are met, skin-in-the-game policies will not be fully effective for banks with relatively large market share. Selling securitizations with recourse can be more fully effective.

Practical implications

If it is difficult for investors to obtain private information, skin-in-the-game policies are not provide fully effective remedies against moral hazard. Sales with recourse policies offer promise because they are easy for investors to understand and difficult to evade.

Social implications

Trading on the basis of private information can create perverse incentives, and appropriate corrective policies can help offset them.

Originality/value

The general equilibrium methodology, the findings of incentives to avoid screening, the flaws with skin-in-the-game policies, and the proposal for sale with recourse are all new.
Regulatory overkill? Short-sales ban in Korea
Authors: Kim Jaemin , Kim Joon-Seok , Yoo Sean Sehyun
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The authors investigate the 2008-2009 short-sales ban in Korea, one of the most comprehensive and restrictive short-selling bans worldwide. The purpose of this paper is to examine: whether the ban stopped a destabilizing effect, if there was any, of short-selling activities; whether the ban improved or deteriorated the informational efficiency or the price discovery process of the stock market; and whether the ban had any impact on market liquidity.

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple regression; vector autoregression analysis; and generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity analysis.

Findings

The authors find no evidence that short-sales have a market-destabilizing effect and thus, restricting short-selling has a market-stabilizing effect. On the contrary, the short-selling ban is associated with an increase in return volatility and a deterioration of the price discovery process, particularly for the stocks without derivatives traded on them. The authors also find evidence of a liquidity decrease for short-sale intensive stocks. However, the evidence is inconclusive as to whether the market efficiency and liquidity changes are solely the result of the short-sales ban or the compound effects of both the ban and the concurrent progress of the financial crisis.

Originality/value

The literature does not provide a conclusive view on the effects of short-sales or restrictions thereof on the stock market. Also, the existing research on recent worldwide shorting bans often lack empirical scope (e.g. 32 stocks for UK; three weeks for USA). In contrast, the short-sales ban in the Korean stock market, one of the most comprehensive and restrictive short-selling bans worldwide, lasted for eight months for all the listed stocks and is still in effect for financial stocks. The authors find no evidence that short-sales have a market-destabilizing effect and thus, restricting short-selling has a market-stabilizing effect.
Research in urban logistics: a systematic literature review
Authors: Lagorio Alexandra , Pinto Roberto , Golini Ruggero
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The last decades have witnessed an increased interest in urban logistics originating from both the research and the practitioners’ communities. Sustainable freight transports today are on the political, social and technological agenda of many actors operating in urban contexts. Due to the extent of the covered areas and the continuous progress in many fields, the resulting body of research on urban logistics appears quite fragmented. From an engineering management perspective, the purpose of this paper is to present a systematic literature review (SLR) that aims to consolidate the knowledge on urban logistics, analyse the development of the discipline, and provide future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the main evidence emerging from a SLR on urban logistics. The corpus resulting from the SLR has been used to perform a citation network analysis and a main path analysis that together underpin the identification of the most investigated topics and methodologies in the field.

Findings

Through the analysis of a corpus of 104 articles, the most important research contributions on urban logistics that represent the structural backbone in the development of the research over time in the field are detected. Based on these findings, this work identifies and discusses three areas of potential interest for future research.

Originality/value

This paper presents an SLR related to a research area in which the literature is extremely fragmented. The results provide insights about the research path, current trends and future research directions in the field of urban logistics.
3D printing services: classification, supply chain implications and research agenda
Authors: Rogers Helen , Baricz Norbert , Pawar Kulwant S.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and classify the available types of 3D printing services, with the scope of determining the potential implications that such services could have on the supply chains of manufacturing firms and creating a research agenda for future studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors review the current literature on the potential supply chain impacts of 3D printing and evaluate the 3D printing services provided by 404 firms in selected European markets.

Findings

The results show that 3D printing services form a rapidly evolving industry, with new service providers entering the market on a regular basis. Evidence from the European markets investigated suggests that services can be classified into three distinct categories: generative, facilitative and selective services.

Research limitations/implications

This paper represents an attempt to take stock of a fast-moving and potentially paradigm-shifting market. The implications are dynamic as new applications, business models and techniques are continually being developed. Further studies are required to substantiate the findings.

Practical implications

Three categories of 3D printing services that could significantly impact supply chain configurations of the future are proposed. Several issues specific to 3D printing services raised in the research agenda require further scrutiny and substantiation before services can reach their full potential.

Originality/value

This paper provides an overview of the growing 3D printing services industry, highlighting how the market might change as additive manufacturing technology matures.
Game-based evacuation drill using augmented reality and head-mounted display
Authors: Kawai Junya , Mitsuhara Hiroyuki , Shishibori Masami
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Evacuation drills should be more realistic and interactive. Focusing on situational and audio-visual realities and scenario-based interactivity, the authors have developed a game-based evacuation drill (GBED) system that presents augmented reality (AR) materials on tablet computers. The paper's current research purpose is to improve visual reality (AR materials) in our GBED system.

Design/methodology/approach

The author's approach is to develop a new GBED system that superimposes digital objects [e.g. three-dimensional computer graphics (3DCG) elements] onto real-time vision using a marker-based AR library, a binocular opaque head-mounted display (HMD) and other current easily available technologies.

Findings

The findings from a trial experiment are that the new GBED system can improve visual reality and is appropriate for disaster education. However, a few problems remain for practical use.

Research limitations/implications

When using the GBED system, participants (i.e. HMD wearers) can suffer from 3D sickness and have difficulty in moving. These are important safety problems in HMD-based systems.

Social implications

The combination of AR and HMDs for GBEDs (i.e. integrating virtual and real worlds) will raise questions about its merits (pros and cons).

Originality/value

The originality of the research is the combination of AR and an HMD to a GBED, which has previously been realized primarily as simulation games in virtual worlds. The authors believe that our research has the potential to expand disaster education.
Online learning adoption: effects of neuroticism, openness to experience, and perceived values
Authors: Watjatrakul Boonlert
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Individual differences and perceived values of technology have received much attention in technology adoption literature. However, there is a lack of understanding of their relationships and effects on online learning adoption. The study aims to investigate the effects of two important personality traits (i.e. openness to experience and neuroticism) and five perceived values (i.e. functional value, emotional value, social value, epistemic value and conditional value) on students’ intentions to adopt online learning.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey research method was used to collect information from university students. A sample size of 285 was used for data analysis. Structural equation modeling analysis using analysis of moment structure software was used to examine the construct reliability and validity, the model-fit indices and the causal relationships between latent constructs in the proposed framework.

Findings

The results show that neuroticism and openness to experience affect students’ intentions to adopt online learning through five perceived values of online learning. Particularly, students who are open to experience pay more attention to the quality of online learning. Students who are more neurotic avoid stress from learning in a situation that they are not familiar with. In addition, students tend to adopt online learning when they perceive online learning fulfills their emotional and social needs. Further discussions of the findings and implications for theory and practice are provided.

Originality/value

The study extends knowledge and understanding of online learning adoption associated with individual personality and perception of online learning’s values. It proposed a new framework to examine the effects of neuroticism, openness to experience and perceived values on online learning adoption. Universities might use the study results to plan and implement their online learning programs that will be considered valuable for students who have different personality traits.
Isomorphic factors in the adoption of ERP by Indian medium-sized firms
Authors: Sharma Seema , Daniel Elizabeth Mary
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to adopt an institutional theory perspective to investigate the adoption of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems by medium-sized firms in India. The rationale for this study is to provide a more complete understanding of ERP adoption, moving beyond the traditional technical and economic perspectives to include social, cultural and structural influences. These later influences are more implicit, insidious and pervasive and hence require elucidatory studies such as this, but offer a greater understanding of the adoption of information systems (IS).

Design/methodology/approach

The study is undertaken by means of nine case studies of medium-sized firms in India that have adopted ERP systems. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with a range of staff in each firm and are supplemented by data from other sources such as site visit notes.

Findings

Institutionally based studies have tended to focus on three high-level isomorphic pressures: coercive, normative and mimetic. The study identifies number of more detailed factors that contribute to each of these three pressures. These more detailed factors are then used to consider how factors can interact and how they can explain aspects of the Indian context of the study.

Originality/value

The conceptual contribution of this study is to move beyond the technical and economic rationales frequently identified for the adoption of IS by identifying influences that are social, cultural and structural in nature. The study shows that the three high-level isomorphic pressures, mimetic, coercive and normative are comprised of more detailed factors. The empirical contribution of the paper is to identify these detailed factors, and to explore their influence, in the case of ERP adoption by Indian medium-sized firms. The study is of value to practitioners, since it is at the detailed level of factors that managers can recognize the forces they are subject to and can take action. It is also valuable to researchers since the detailed factors help address two limitations of institutional theory; a lack of agency perspective and a degree of conceptual ambiguity.
Examining employment relationship activities in family business research
Authors: Ferraro Holly , Marrone Jennifer
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the family business literature on human resource management (HRM) activities within family-owned businesses to advance theory and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a review of research on the formation, adaptation, and termination of the employment relationship within family businesses.

Findings

Important areas for future research are revealed. For example, little research investigates how family members are recruited, socialized, or how exit decisions are made. In contrast, significant attention has been given to role transitions during succession.

Research limitations/implications

The paper focuses on managing employment relationships (e.g. recruitment, selection, etc.) within family businesses. The research revealed HRM activities within family businesses are often informal so aspects of the employment relationship may not be fully captured by extant research.

Practical implications

This review provides specific HRM suggestions for practitioners to consider. For example, this review highlights that training inside the family business can be as effective as training outside the family business.

Originality/value

This review is novel in applying an established HRM framework to family business research and focuses on HRM activities of family members as opposed to non-family employees. The paper offers considerations for families bringing next generation members into their businesses and preparing offspring to run them successfully.
Addressing current and future challenges for the NHS: the role of good leadership
Authors: Elton Lotte
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to describe and analyse some of the ways in which good leadership can enable those working within the National Health Service (NHS) to weather the changes and difficulties likely to arise in the coming years, and takes the format of an essay written by the prize-winner of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management's Student Prize. The Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management ran its inaugural Student Prize in 2015-2016, which aimed at medical students with an interest in medical leadership. In running the Prize, the Faculty hoped to foster an enthusiasm for and understanding of the importance of leadership in medicine.

Design/methodology/approach

The Faculty asked entrants to discuss the role of good leadership in addressing the current and future challenges faced by the NHS, making reference to the Leadership and Management Standards for Medical Professionals published by the Faculty in 2015. These standards were intended to help guide current and future leaders and were grouped into three categories, namely, self, team and corporate responsibility.

Findings

This paper highlights the political nature of health care in the UK and the increasing impetus on medical professionals to navigate debates on austerity measures and health-care costs, particularly given the projected deficit in NHS funding. It stresses the importance of building organisational cultures prizing transparency to prevent future breaches in standards of care and the value of patient-centred approaches in improving satisfaction for both patients and staff. Identification of opportunities for collaboration and partnership is emphasised as crucial to assuage the burden that lack of appropriate social care places on clinical services.

Originality/value

This paper offers a novel perspective – that of a medical student – on the complex issues faced by the NHS over the coming years and utilises a well-regarded set of standards in conceptualising the role that health professionals have to play in leading the NHS.
The need for leadership training in long-term care settings
Authors: Davis Jullet A.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Globally, in 1980, approximately 5.8 per cent of the world population was 65 years old and older. By 2050, this number will more than triple to 16 per cent. From a leadership perspective, there is at least one challenge (among many others challenges) to consider. This paper (viewpoint) aims to provide support for the growing need for academically prepared managers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a viewpoint which presents several characteristics of the long-term care (LTC) field that support the need for academically trained leaders.

Findings

LTC leaders in all countries must be sufficiently versed in numerous management areas to provide leadership when called on by those assigned to their care. Given local area variations in population needs present across all countries, it may be unwise to advocate for national, countrywide standardization of requirements. Yet, older adults accessing LTC services should expect a minimum level of knowledge from all of their providers – not just those who provide direct, hands-on care. However, similar to those who provide direct care, leaders should receive competency-based education with specific attention to effective communication skills, team-based approaches to care delivery, information technologies and population health.

Originality/value

Although much of the extant literature focuses on the delivery of care to older persons, there is a dearth of literature addressing the role of LTC leaders in light of global aging. Establishing a minimum level of academic training and increasing transparency focused on the positive experiences of elders residing in LTC facilities should help dispel the notion that placement in an LTC facility reflects filial failure.
The “Backus-Smith” puzzle, non-tradable output, and international business cycles
Authors: Moon Soojae
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effects of adding non-tradable sector and trade in intermediate goods sector and their impact on the “Backus-Smith” (BS) puzzle and the features of the non-tradable output. Conventional international real business cycle models show that the real exchange rate and the terms of trade are positively correlated to the relative consumption movement between the home and foreign economies when there is a total factor productivity shock, whereas the correlation in the data is negative. The author develops a two-country, dynamic, stochastic and general equilibrium (DSGE) model with staggered price setting in the non-tradable sector and international trade in intermediate goods sector because of product differentiation in a high-asset market frictions situation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, DGSE simulation and calibration are performed using Matlab with Dynare.

Findings

When the world economy has positive country-specific productivity shock, the benchmark model with non-tradable sector and intermediate goods sector successfully solves the BS puzzle and is able to match several features of the data. The dynamic responses to productivity shock show that integrating product differentiation is necessary to generate a more volatile and counter-cyclical non-tradable output.

Originality/value

The paper investigates the effects of incorporating non-tradable sector and trade in interemediate goods sector to standard two-country DSGE model through simulation and calibration.
Spillovers between output and stock prices: a wavelet approach
Authors: McMillan David G. , Kumar Tiwari Aviral
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine the nature of spillovers between output and stock prices using both a long annual time series spanning 200 years and a shorter but quarterly observed data set.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors’ particular interest is to examine both the time-varying nature of the spillovers and spillovers across the frequency using wavelet analysis.

Findings

The results reveal an interesting detail that is missed when considering spillovers for the raw data. Using annual long run data, spillovers in the raw data are in the order of approximately 10 per cent for stocks to output and 25 per cent for output to stocks. But this increases up to 50 per cent and above (in both directions) when considering different frequencies. Similar results are reported with the quarterly data, although the differences between the raw data and the wavelets are smaller in nature. Finally, output explains more of the variation in stocks than stocks explains in output.

Originality/value

The nature of these results is important for policy-makers, market participants and academics alike, while the use of wavelets provides information across different frequencies.
Change detection in very high resolution imagery and vector data applied to the monitoring of geographical conditions
Authors: Zhao Zhenzhen , Lin Aiwen , Yan Qin , Feng Jiandi
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Geographical conditions monitoring (GCM) has elicited significant concerns from the Chinese Government and is closely related to the “Digital China” program. This research aims to focus on object-based change detection (OBCD) methods integrating very-high-resolution (VHR) imagery and vector data for GCM.

Design/methodology/approach

The main content of this paper is as follows: a multi-resolution segmentation (MRS) algorithm is proposed for obtaining homogeneous and contiguous image objects in two phases; a post-classification comparison (PCC) method based on the nearest neighbor algorithm and an image-object analysis (IOA) technique based on a differential entropy algorithm are used to improve the accuracy of the change detection; and a vector object-based accuracy assessment method is proposed.

Findings

Results show that image objects obtained using the MRS algorithm attain the objectives of the “same spectrum within classes” and “different spectrum among classes”. Moreover, the two OBCD methods can detect over 85 per cent of the changed regions. The PCC strategy can obtain the categories of image objects with a high degree of precision. The IOA technique is easy to use and largely automated.

Originality/value

On the basis of the VHR satellite imagery and vector data, the above methods can effectively and accurately provide technical support for GCM implementation.
Chemically modified carbon paste electrode for the detection of lead, cadmium and zinc ions
Authors: Koirala Kisan , Santos Jose H. , Tan Ai Ling , Ali Mohammad A. , Mirza Aminul H.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to develop an inexpensive, portable, sensitive and environmentally friendly electrochemical sensor to quantify trace metals.

Design/methodology/approach

A sensor was constructed by modifying carbon paste electrode for the determination of lead, cadmium and zinc ions using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The modified electrode was prepared by inserting homogeneous mixture of 2-hydroxy-acetophenonethiosemicarbazone, graphite powder and mineral oil. Various important parameters controlling the performance of the sensor were investigated and optimized. Electrochemical behavior of modified electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry.

Findings

Modified carbon pastes electrodes showed three distinct peaks at −0.50, −0.76 and −1.02 V vs silver/silver chloride corresponding to the oxidation of lead, cadmium and zinc ions at the electrode surface, respectively. The highest peak currents for all the metal ions under study were observed in the phosphate buffer solution at pH 1 with a deposition time of 70 s. The sensor exhibited linear behavior in the range of 0.25-12.5 μg mL-1 for lead and cadmium and 0.25-10.0 μg mL−1 for zinc. The limit of detection was calculated as 78.81, 96.17 and 91.88 ng mL−1 for Pb2+, Cd2+and Zn2+, respectively. The modified electrode exhibited good stability and repeatability.

Originality/value

A chemically modified electrode with Schiff base was applied to determine the content of cadmium, lead and zinc ions in aqueous solutions using SWASV.
A review of olfactory cell-based sensors: coupling microelectronics to olfactory cells
Authors: Zheng Qianqian , Chen Liangliang , Lu Luyao , Ye Xuesong
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Olfaction plays a very important role in daily life. The olfactory system has the ability to recognize, discriminate and identify thousands of odorant compounds with extremely high sensitivity and specificity. The research on olfactory system has very important values in exploring the mechanisms of information processing in the other sensory nervous systems and brain. Recently, with the development of molecular biological and microelectronics technology research, the study of olfactory cell-based sensors has made great progress. The purpose of this paper is to provide details of recent developments in olfactory cell-based sensors.

Design/methodology/approach

Following an introduction, this paper first discusses some olfactory cell-based biosensors, which focus on the light-addressable potentiometric sensors and the microelectrode arrays. Second, surface modification, microfabrication and microfluidic technology which can improve the efficiency of cell immobilization will be summarized. The research trends of olfactory cell-based sensor in future will be proposed.

Findings

This paper shows that the biosensors’ performance is expected to be greatly improved due to the fast development of nanotechnology, optical technology and microelectronics. More and more emerging intelligent olfactory sensors will have a promising prospect in many application fields, including food quality and safety assessment, environmental monitor and human diseases detection.

Originality/value

This paper provides a detailed and timely review of the rapidly growing research in the olfactory cell-based sensors.
Internal and external factors effect on the mobile pressure sensors’ performance
Authors: Dalgin Semih , Dogru Ahmet Özgür
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of internal and external factors on the accuracy and consistency of the data provided by mobile-embedded micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) pressure sensors based on smartphones currently in use.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, sensor type and smartphone model have been regarded as internal factors, whereas temperature, location and usage habits have been considered as external factors. These factors have been investigated by examining data sets provided by sensors from 14 different smartphones. In this context, internal factors have been analyzed by implementing accuracy assessment processes for three different smartphone models, whereas external factors have been evaluated by analyzing the line charts which present timely pressure changes.

Findings

The study outlined that the sensor data at different sources have different characteristics due to the affecting parameters. Even if the pressure sensors are used under similar circumstances, data of these sensors have inconsistencies because of the sensor drift originated by internal factors. This study concluded that it was not applicable to provide a common correction coefficient for pressure sensor data of each smartphone model. Therefore, relative data (pressure differences) should be taken into consideration rather than absolute data (pressure values) when developing mobile applications using sensor data.

Research limitations/implications

Results of this study can be used as the guideline for developing mobile applications using MEMS pressure sensors. One of the main finding of this paper is promoting the use of relative data (pressure differences) rather than absolute data (pressure values) when developing mobile applications using smartphone-embedded sensor data. This significant result was proved by examinations applied with in the study and can be applied by future research studies.

Originality/value

Existing studies mostly evaluate the use of MEMS pressure sensor data obtained from limited number of smartphone models. As each smartphone model has a specific technology, factors affecting the sensor performances should be identified and analyzed precisely in terms of smartphone models for providing extensive results. In this study, five smartphone models were used fractionally. In this context, they were used for examining the common effects of the factors, and detailed accuracy assessments were applied by using two high-tech smartphones in the market.