bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender, flexibility and opportunity: best use of human resources in UK HE libraries
Authors: MacLean A.D.B.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To give an overview of some recent research into human resource (HR) deployment in library services in UK universities and colleges of higher education.

Design

The aim of the research in question was to evaluate the effectiveness of HR deployment. This implied a positivistic methodological approach, maintaining that the reality under examination, HR deployment, existed objectively and independently of the researcher. However, the research aimed to discover not only what happened but also why. So there was an overlap between the positivistic and phenomenological approach. To this end, the research collected quantitative data via a survey and the present paper provides a summary of the research aim, objectives, methodology and results.

Findings

The research findings indicate that staff deployment patterns in the context investigated are suboptimal and that, in consequence, individual libraries should be open to scrutiny in comparison with others not only in terms of their quantifiable patterns of library usage but also in terms of the patterns of their staff provision and staff deployment.

Research limitations

The findings only relate to UK universities and colleges of higher education.

Practical implications

The present research suggests five actions for practitioners.

Originality/value

The present research highlights the lack of benchmarking facilities in UK universities and colleges of higher education relating to HR deployment in libraries, and recommends that Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) extends the existing data collection in the Annual Statistical return to include this HR area.
The decline in book borrowing from Britain's public libraries: a small scale Scottish study
Authors: Breslin Frances , McMenemy David
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To discuss and investigate the reasons for the decline in book borrowing in UK public libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents an extensive literature review and a small scale survey.

Findings

The reasons why adults were not borrowing as many books from public libraries as the past were many faceted, including intrinsic and extrinsic reasons. Some of these reasons include an increased level of buying books as opposed to borrowing, lack of time to visit the library, the opening hours of the library, stock selection, and restrictive borrowing periods and fines.

Research limitations/implications

As a small scale survey the results are of limited impact, however they do inform as to some of the reasons why adults are not borrowing from public libraries and as such are of value to policy makers and researchers in the area.

Practical implications

Results are of value to public librarians and policy makers in understanding why adults are not borrowing books from libraries in the levels of the past.

Originality/value

The paper builds on other work in the field to offer an insight into a specific challenge facing public libraries in the 21st century.
“Technostress” A literature survey on the effect of information technology on library users
Authors: Sami Lalitha K. , Pangannaiah N.B.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the present paper is to review the impact of information technologies on users of libraries and to understand the problems encountered in their information technology (IT) usage by reference to the concept of “technostress”, the inability to cope with the new computer technologies in a healthy or positive manner.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was undertaken to further our understanding of the influence of IT based services on the users of libraries.

Findings

The paper provides a literature derived set of information about library users who initially find it difficult to cope with the new technology and experience anxiety (termed “IT anxiety”, “technostress” or alternatively “technophobia”). This is bound to affect their adoption of IT technologies negatively. They may eventually begin to avoid contact with computers. Since this avoidance strategy is highly impractical in the modern IT dependent world, the various causes of technostress must be analysed, so that users can be trained to overcome technophobia.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusions in the present paper are based on articles from different sources and not on any field study.

Practical implications

Being a review article, it reflects the problems encountered by a range of users in different countries. The paper also pragmatically provides factors to be considered in designing a training module.

Originality/value

The paper organises information collected from different sources and presents a consolidated picture of the problems encountered by users in exploiting computers in libraries, while suggesting the means to overcome these problems.
Agricultural information systems: a national case study
Authors: Kizilaslan Nuray
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the agricultural information system in Turkey, with particular reference to the effectiveness of this system for farmers.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study based on a review of the literature, established knowledge and national experience to date.

Findings

That, in Turkey, there is insufficient connection between the publishing activities of research institutions and other institutions active in the field. This lack of coordination causes an incomplete distribution of agricultural information to farmers. In particular, this creates an information system in which there is no effective feedback in the “research–publishing–farmer” triangle. Yet distribution of agricultural information to users and reciprocal user feedback is vital, because it is the essential mechanism by which a consistently reliable and effective distribution of information can be maintained.

Research limitations/implications

Although the central thesis of the paper is not advanced by reference to original research on the part of the authors, it is based on pre‐existing, well respected research which is intelligently interpreted and authoritatively synthesized by them.

Practical implications

To solve problems of agricultural information flow, the lack of coordination among the various organizations concerned has to be dealt with effectively, and a single organization has to be set up where information is collected in and distributed from the center. Non‐public publishing and research services have to be supported and encouraged in parallel with this.

Originality/value

The paper advances a clear plan of action for improving the information system in an area of great relevance to all developing countries.
Towards a complexity theory of strategy
Authors: Pina e Cunha Miguel , Vieira da Cunha Joao
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the creation of a complexity theory of strategy by integrating a number of ideas that have previously been explored independently in the strategy literature, namely improvisation, minimal structures, simple rules, dynamic capabilities, bricolage, and organizational resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

Organizations are taken as complex adaptive systems that align with their environments through interaction and response rather than analysis and planning. The paper discusses how Schumpeterian environments influence organizations in the direction of simpler, minimally‐structured designs and considers why Schumpeterian environments create the need for strategic improvisation and minimally‐structured designs.

Research limitations/implications

The paper articulates recent concepts in the management literature. The integration of these new concepts may be relevant to explore the way they relate with each other in the emerging organizational configurations. A model is proposed for further empirical testing.

Originality/value

This contribution challenges the old representation of the strategic process as one involving complex organizations with simple people (except at the top), to one where simple organizations enable complex and professional people to create the strategy in an intentional, even if not always planned, response to the concrete world.
Complexity theory and organizing form dualities
Authors: Smith Aaron C.T. , Graetz Fiona
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how order‐generated rules applied to organizing form dualities can assist in creating the conditions for emergent, self‐organized behavior in organizations, thereby offering an operational deployment of complexity theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins by showing that the concept of dualities is consistent with complexity‐thinking. In addition, when applied to organizing forms, dualities represent a practical way of affecting an organization's balance between chaos and order. Thus, when augmented with order‐generating rules, organizing form dualities provide an access point for the practical instigation of edge of chaos conditions and the potential for emergence.

Findings

The paper maintains that many attempts to “manage” complexity have been associated with changes to organizing forms, specifically toward new forms of organizing. It is suggested that organizing form dualities provide some management guidance for encouraging the “edge of chaos” conditions advocated in complexity theory, although the details of self‐organization cannot be prescribed given the assumptions of non‐linearity associated with complexity theory perspectives. Finally, it is proposed that organizing dualities can elucidate the nature and application of order‐generating rules in non‐linear complex systems.

Practical implications

Dualities offer some guidance toward the practical implementation of complexity theory as they represent an accessible sub‐system where the forces for order and chaos – traditional and new forms of organizing respectively – are accessible and subject to manipulation.

Originality/value

The commonalities between dualities and complexity theory are intuitive, but little conceptual work has shown how the former can be employed as a guide to managing organizing forms. Moreover, this approach demonstrates that managers may be able to stimulate “edge of chaos” conditions in a practical way, without making positivistic assumptions about the causality associated with their efforts.
Applying a fuzzy‐morphological approach to complexity within management decision making
Authors: Sharif Amir M. , Irani Zahir
Published: September 2006

Purpose

Noting the scarcity of complexity techniques applied to modelling social systems, this paper attempts to formulate a conceptual model of decision‐making behaviour within the information systems evaluation (ISE) task, against the backdrop of complexity theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Complexity theory places an emphasis on addressing how dynamic non‐linear systems can be represented and modelled utilising computational tools and techniques to draw out inherent system dynamics. In doing so, the use of fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) and morphological analysis (MA) (hence a fuzzy‐morphological approach), is applied to empirical case study data, to elucidate the inherent behavioural and systems issues involved in ISE decision making within a British manufacturing organisation.

Findings

The paper presents results of applying a combined FCM and MA approach to modelling complexity within management decision making in the ISE task: both in terms of a cognitive map of the key decision criteria; a matrix of constraint criteria; and a synthesised model that provides an indication of the linkages between technology management factors and organisational imperatives and goals. These findings show the usefulness of viewing the topic in complexity science terms (emergent behaviour, non‐linearity and chaotic response).

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited in applying the given technique to a single case study organisation in the UK manufacturing sector, where the sample size is limited. Since this is the first time that such a combined MA‐FCM technique has been used in this field known to the authors, future research needs to validate and explore the implications of this approach in a wider context (multiple organisations and viewpoints).

Practical implications

The paper highlights the need for those involved in analysing managerial decision making to include aspects of complexity theory in their evaluations – namely uncovering inherent inter‐relationships that may exist between stakeholders, processes and systems. In doing so, expanding the manager's understanding of how to achieve congruence between driving forces and factors, which may exhibit non‐linear, chaotic or feedback behaviour.

Originality/value

The given research brings together both artificial intelligence and operational research techniques, applied in the socio‐technical milieu of information systems evaluation, within the context of complexity theory, in order to describe the rich detail within the ISE decision‐making task.
Impact of household food security and nutrition programme on the nutritional status of children in Oyo state, Nigeria
Authors: Lawal B.O. , Jibowo A.A.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of household food security and nutrition programme (HFSN) on the nutritional status of children (0–5 years) in Oyo state, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Pre‐tested structured and unstructured questionnaires were used to elicit information from 201 programme and 201 non‐programme women participants. The participants who are farmers were selected using systematic random sampling technique from each of the six local government areas covered by the programme, while non‐participants were selected using simple random sampling technique. Also, anthropometry technique was used to assess the nutritional status of the children of both groups. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages and means were used to describe the findings while analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the significant difference in the nutritional status of the children of the two groups.

Findings

The results show that the women farmers who participated in programme activities possessed some personal and household characteristics which influenced the nutritional status of the children. The participants utilized most of the prograrmme recommendations and significant differences existed in the weight for age and height for age indices of their children.

Originality/value

The results indicate the need for constant surveillance and collaborative effort of the health, agricultural extension and education departments in providing women farmers with the education and training needed to reduce the incidence of malnutrition and food insecurity.
The performance of cutting fluids when machining aluminium alloys
Authors: Mendes O.C. , Ávila R.F. , Abrão A.M. , Reis Pedro , Paulo Davim J.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The knowledge over the performance of cutting fluids when applied under different machining conditions (such as distinct work material and cutting parameters) is critical in order to improve the efficiency of most machining operations. This paper is concerned with the performance of cutting fluids employed under two distinct machining operations involving aluminium alloys: drilling of AA 1050‐O aluminium applying cutting fluid as a mist and turning of AA 6262‐T6 aluminium alloy using cutting fluids (as a flood) with distinct extreme pressure additives (chlorine, sulphur and phosphor).

Design/methodology/approach

This work reports on a experimental study of the performance of cutting fluids when machining aluminium alloys.

Findings

The results indicated an increase in the flow rate of the mist led to lower feed forces but higher torque, power consumption and specific cutting pressure in the drilling operation (AA 1050‐O aluminium). The surface finish was not drastically affected by the cutting fluid flow rate. When turning AA 6162‐T6 aluminium alloy, in general, best results were observed using 10 per cent fluid concentration applied at the tool‐workpiece interface. The cutting fluid containing chlorine as extreme pressure additive produced lower cutting forces and better surface finish at high cutting speed and low feed rate and depth of cut.

Originality/value

The novel element of this paper is the use of minimal lubrication (drilling) and cutting fluids with distinct extreme pressure (turning).
A problem‐based learning approach to entrepreneurship education
Authors: San Tan Siok , Ng C. K. Frank
Published: September 2006

Purpose

While it is generally acknowledged that entrepreneurship can be taught, many differ in their opinions about the appropriate methodologies to teach and equip students with the requisite entrepreneurial skills. This paper presents a case to suggest that a problem‐based learning (PBL) approach practised at the Republic Polytechnic in Singapore could be an effective pedagogical approach for entrepreneurship education.

Design/methodology/approach

Using case study method, the performance of a pioneer batch of students who took up the entrepreneurship programme (designed using PBL) was monitored and documented.

Findings

It is found that problems that simulate entrepreneurial situations within the classroom environment contribute to enhancing students' appreciation and capacity for entrepreneurship. The findings generally support the notion that PBL, premised upon an active learning and multi‐solution approach, shares many similar characteristics as the interdisciplinary and “learning‐by‐doing” approach of entrepreneurship education.

Research limitations/implications

Further, research to track and measure the post‐programme outcomes of the students' entrepreneurial development is needed to determine the efficacy of entrepreneurship education using the PBL approach.

Originality/value

Pedagogical practices may not have been significantly considered as viable means of increasing the efficacy of entrepreneurship education. This case study signals to entrepreneurship educators and researchers that more emphasis could possibly be placed on developing innovative practices for entrepreneurship education.
Modern apprenticeships in English professional football
Authors: Monk Des , Olsson Cliff
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This paper will examine the two year modern apprenticeship undertaken by trainees in the English professional football industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Representatives of seven clubs were interviewed in the summer of 2005; all of them were responsible for youth development in their club. These interviews were the first of what will be three rounds of a longitudinal study, tracking the progress of some 126 apprentices.

Findings

The results of this empirical investigation fall under four headings; the rationale for youth development; the scale of the youth development operation; an analysis of the off‐the‐job training provided and the use of internal labour markets in football.

Practical implications

This paper argues that trainees will typically leave the industry having finished their apprenticeship, with heavily constrained options in the general labour market because the off‐the‐job training that is given to them is not, for the most part, appropriate

Originality/value

Although a number of articles have been published concerning the physiology of training young sportsmen and women, very little has been done by way of examining the resource allocations associated with the training given to young apprentices in one of the UK's key sporting industries.
Work‐based learning in the UK: scenarios for the future
Authors: Mohamud Mohamed , Jennings Chris , Rix Mike , Gold Jeff
Published: September 2006

Purpose

Aims to consider scenarios created by work‐based learning (WBL) providers in the Tees Valley in the UK

Design/methodology/approach

The context of WBL is examined in relation to the notion of the skills gap. The method of scenario development is described

Findings

A key task of WBL is to raise the skills levels of young people. WBL providers who deliver over 80 per cent of work‐based, vocational learning across the UK. However, the future of such providers is becoming very uncertain and already their numbers are declining as funding cuts and quality inspections begin to bite. The context of WBL is examined in relation to the notion of the skills gap. Four scenarios are presented of the future of WBL with implications for the present.

Practical implications

Of major concern is the persistence of the low skills equilibrium in UK which will continue to affect the attitudes of learner and the decisions of employers. It becomes necessary to work with employers to consider how skill formation can be deepened.

Originality/value

This paper provides an insight into the views of WBL providers, caught between government requirements to tackle the UK skills problem and employers who define the skills required.
Communication apprehension and maths anxiety as barriers to communication and numeracy skills development in accounting and business education
Authors: Joyce John , Hassall Trevor , Luis Arquero Montaño José , Donoso Anes José Antonio
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To establish the existence of barriers to communication and numeracy skills development and to establish the levels of these exhibited by accounting and business students at the commencement of their courses in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

Uses questionnaires to establish the levels of communication apprehension (CA) and maths anxiety (MA) in students at the commencement of their accounting and business courses in higher education. Establishes the underlying factors that are influential in determining the levels of apprehension and anxiety in individual students. An analysis of the underlying demographic variables such as age, previous educational background, etc. is also undertaken.

Findings

Identifies the existence of high levels of CA in accounting students and MA in business studies students at the beginning of their courses.

Practical implications

Where high levels of CA in accounting students and MA in business studies students are shown to exist consideration must be given to relevant curriculum design and delivery, and the use of techniques designed to reduce apprehension/anxiety in the students concerned. Because the apprehension/anxiety is present on entry to higher education it may be that specific courses appear to be recruiting students whose perception of their longer term vocational skills requirements may be inappropriate to their chosen career area.

Originality/value

Identifies specific differences in the areas of CA and MA between differently focused vocational courses, which have syllabus overlap, within a business school.
The next generation at work – business students' views, values and job search strategy
Authors: Ng Eddy S.W. , Burke Ronald J.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore the views, career expectations, and job search behaviours among a sample of business students. It also aims to examine the role of campus career services in shaping students' careers and how cooperative education influences their expectations and aspirations.

Design/methodology/approach

A field survey involving 20,771 students across Canada was conducted by a strategic consulting firm. This research is a part of a broader research project commissioned by a consortium of large Canadian companies to understand better the views of university students on jobs, organisations, careers and perceptions of their organisation.

Findings

The study found that cooperative students appear to have more realistic expectations, have better self‐insights into their own abilities and desires, and report higher self‐confidence. They also placed greater emphases on the “people” and “work” dimensions of a firm. Students with higher abilities also reported similar characteristics and preferences to those of cooperative students. These characteristics are important because they have been linked to greater recruitment success. Additionally, the job search process among students appears to have shifted from more traditional approaches to electronic channels such as the internet.

Practical implications

University students continue to be a significant source of hiring for professional and managerial jobs. Employers should connect with university students to understand their views, expectations, and job search process. Employers are also well advised to create a familiarity with university students, and to participate in cooperative education since it can highlight the realities of job and careers in contemporary organisations. These strategies in combination can assist employers with greater recruitment success and long‐term organisational performance.

Originality/value

This research, based on a large field survey of university students, builds on Cable and Turban's employer knowledge framework, and provides valuable insights into the workforce of the future and strategies for greater recruitment success.
Organisational citizens or reciprocal relationships? An empirical comparison
Authors: Koster Ferry , Sanders Karin
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This paper aims at contributing to the debate on organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) by developing a theory‐driven measure of cooperative behaviour within organisations, called organisational solidarity (OS).

Design/methodology/approach

Data are gathered through a survey among 674 employees from nine organisations. Scales are constructed using the multiple group method. OLS regression is used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The data analyses show that reciprocity is an important mechanism to bring about cooperation within organisations. Based on this, a distinction is made between horizontal and vertical OS.

Research limitations/implications

The major shortcoming of this research is that some of the results may be influenced by same source bias. The research implies that cooperative types of employee behaviour – such as OCB – depend on the behaviour of others. Furthermore, these kinds of behaviour can be divided into a horizontal and a vertical dimension.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that supervisors can play a facilitating role in creating and sustaining cooperative behaviour of employees.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on OCB by examining how this kind of behaviour is affected by the behaviour of supervisors and co‐workers. Secondly, whereas other articles focus on either horizontal or vertical dimensions of cooperative behaviour, this paper focuses on both dimensions simultaneously.
Leadership and solidarity behaviour
Authors: Sanders Karin , Schyns Birgit
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This study focuses on the relationship between cohesion, consensus in the perception of leadership style of the supervisor within teams and solidarity behaviour of employees towards their supervisor (vertical solidarity behaviour) and towards other team members (horizontal solidarity behaviour).

Design/methodology/approach

According to the self‐categorisation theory, which elaborates on the social identity theory, hypotheses for the relationship between consensus in perception within teams, cohesiveness within the teams and vertical and horizontal solidarity behaviour of employees were formulated. The hypotheses were tested in a study with 193 employees within 35 teams in a Dutch Ministry.

Findings

As expected, consensus in leaders' perception and cohesiveness within the team were positively related for transformational leadership style. Results from multi‐level analyses showed, as expected, a positive relationship between cohesiveness and horizontal solidarity behaviour. For vertical solidarity behaviour an interaction effect was found: the relationship between cohesiveness and vertical solidarity behaviour is positive if employees perceive their supervisor as high transformational, but is slightly negative if employees perceive their supervisor as low transformational.

Research limitations/implications

The finding that consensus in transformational leader's perception within teams is related to the cohesiveness of a team support the self‐categorization theory. On the other hand cohesiveness is only related to vertical solidarity behaviour when the supervisor is perceived as high transformational.

Originality/value

The different results mean that it make sense to distinguish between horizontal and vertical solidarity behaviour. In addition, they show the impact of consensus in the perception of leadership style on cohesion.
A blended method for integrating information literacy instruction into English composition classes
Authors: Sult Leslie , Mills Vicki
Published: September 2006

Purpose

During Spring semester 2005, budgetary constraints, personnel reductions, and questions of efficacy challenged librarians at the University of Arizona to develop more integrated methods for assisting faculty, instructors, and students in teaching and learning information literacy skills. In order to meet this challenge, University of Arizona librarians collaborated with the University's English Composition Program to develop an instructor‐led, librarian facilitated approach to integrating information literacy instruction into the English Composition curriculum. This was a natural fit because there are fundamental similarities between the educational goals of the English Composition Program and the outcomes espoused by the Association of College and Research Libraries Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. The approach that the University of Arizona Library has developed is described in the following pages in the hopes that it can serve to assist librarians elsewhere in developing their own responses to similar challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

A discussion of the development process as well as information gleaned from interviewing and surveying English composition instructors is presented.

Findings

The development process of the approach is described in detail, and the overall efficacy of the approach is addressed.

Practical implications

The approach to integrating information literacy skills into the University of Arizona English Composition Curriculum is presented in order to provide guidelines and practical assistance to librarians facing similar challenges.

Originality/value

This paper describes and addresses the benefits and challenges of moving towards more blended forms of instruction and library information literacy skills integration.
Measures of training costs in Australia
Authors: Freyens Benoit
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To evaluate past and recent research on the costs of training human resources in Australia and to compare the merits of different research methods used to measure these costs. The discussion is situated in a general context of low employer contribution to training provision in Australia and acute policy debates on public training provision.

Design/methodology/approach

The article presents the aggregate results of two recent quantitative surveys of training costs in Australian organizations. Both surveys adopt an economic definition of the costs and concentrate on firm‐specific skills acquired up until new recruits reach average productivity.

Findings

Survey results suggest that the informal costs of training human resources outstrip direct training expenditure and average training costs are much larger than commonly assumed in the policy debate in Australia.

Research limitations/implications

Ideally, the surveys reported upon should be extended to include continuing training costs and a measure of the degree of employer‐provided general training.

Practical implications

Official surveys largely underestimate the cost of employer‐provided training in Australia, contributing to (mistaken?) perceptions of private sector disengagement. Existing measures of the costs should adopt a more comprehensive approach, including the use of economic concepts.

Originality/value

This research stresses, both to HR practitioners and policy makers, the value of measuring opportunity costs in training processes, and contributes to its quantification.
System dynamics approach for change management in new product development
Authors: Rodrigues Lewlyn L.R. , Dharmaraj N. , Shrinivasa Rao B.R.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

New product development (NPD) project is an organizational competitiveness strategic weapon. Yet, many NPDs projects fail due to the dynamic nature of critical success factors such as time, cost, quality, and scope. Scope and change management (CM) are crucial factors and have a direct bearing on the other three factors. Thus, there is a need for effective CM in NPD projects to sustain the competitiveness and focusing on scope. This study aims to examine this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the principles of cybernetics and system dynamics (SD) methodology have been used in developing causal loop diagrams, flow diagrams, and the governing equations. The SD model thus developed has been used to analyze the factors such as change in scope due to the development of new technology.

Findings

The dynamic simulation of the SD model was carried out; the results indicate that effective knowledge management (KM) constitutes the main controlling factor that has a significant control over project dynamics. Accordingly, suggestions have been made to improve on the KM aspects in the manufacturing sector, based on which the model has been developed.

Practical implications

The model developed in this research gives an in‐depth study of the influence of “change in scope” on competence loss, competence development, and competence absorption of the knowledge workers. The results lay special emphasis on efficient KM in the manufacturing sector. Accordingly, suggestions on KM implementation include the processes of knowledge creation, storage, distributions, validation, and application.

Originality/value

This paper is unique in the sense that it develops a model with in‐depth structures, which helps the strategic managers in better understanding of the dynamics of NPD when change in scope occurs.
Successful women of the Americas: the same or different?
Authors: Duffy Jo Ann , Fox Suzy , Punnett Betty Jane , Gregory Ann , Lituchy Terri , Inés Monserrat Silvia , Olivas‐Luján Miguel R. , Bastos F. Santos Neusa Maria , Miller John
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The intent of this cross‐national research is to study the personal and cultural characteristics of successful professional women. High‐achieving women may share certain personal characteristics, beliefs, and experiences, regardless of the countries in which they live. However, every individual is socialized within a particular national culture, and may be expected to share certain values and expectations with other members of that culture.

Design/methodology/approach

Over 1,100 professionally “successful women” (including high‐level managers, entrepreneurs, academics, government personnel, and professionals) and 531 undergraduate business students in nine countries – Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the USA and the West Indies (Barbados, Jamaica, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines) completed surveys containing two sets of variables: national/cultural (collectivism/individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance) and personal (self‐efficacy, locus of control, need for achievement).

Findings

There were significant differences in the personal characteristics between successful women and the student comparison samples, with successful women consistently higher on self‐efficacy and need for achievement, and more internal on locus of control. There were some significant but smaller than expected differences in cultural characteristics between national samples.

Originality/value

This contrast of successful women living in the Americas provides new insights for managers of international companies seeking to be gender inclusive.
Fast‐food work: are McJobs satisfying?
Authors: Allan Cameron , Bamber Greg J. , Timo Nils
Published: September 2006

Purpose

McJobs in the fast‐food sector are a major area of youth employment. This paper explores young people's perceptions of work in this industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the results of a survey of students' experiences of McJobs in Australia.

Findings

Fast‐food workers were generally dissatisfied with the industrial relations and work organisation aspects of their jobs. Nonetheless, they were generally much more satisfied with the human resource management and social relations aspects of their jobs.

Research limitations/implications

Our research has implications for understanding the human capital development practices adopted by employers in the fast‐food industry and in other sectors, especially those that employ young people. Much of the context for work and employment relations in Australia is comparable with those in most English‐speaking countries. Therefore, our findings have implications for work in similar sectors in other countries, in particular, other English‐speaking countries.

Practical implications

This paper has implications for people who devise recruitment policies and design of jobs. It is a useful reminder that it is no longer appropriate for people to talk in simple terms of satisfaction at work per se; it is vital to differentiate between various aspects and contexts of job satisfaction, or the of the lack of it.

Originality/value

Earlier studies of fast‐food work have tended to be polemical and polarized: either apologias or very critical. This paper adopts a more balanced approach and it puts the findings into context.
Course building and implementation of information literacy instruction for Chongqing University library
Authors: Li Xuejing
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This purpose of this paper is to describe the course of information literacy given by the Chongqing University library to cultivate university students' information awareness. Up‐to‐date information retrieval skills, comprehensive document skills and innovative thinking are encouraged.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopts a range of innovative teaching/learning methodologies using modern teaching methods and materials; and combines these with scientific and technical consultation and patent agent cases. Describes how this course has been brought into the university undergraduate and graduate teaching plan.

Findings

The utilization rates for documents and resources in the library have improved; and many other social benefits have been achieved.

Originality/value

Will guide others wishing to set up an information literacy education course and enhance the information literacy of university students.
Library as incubating space for innovations: practices, trends and skill sets
Authors: Li Xin
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss library transformation and creative approaches in public services.

Design/methodology/approach

Using classic business concept and drawing on Cornell University service examples, changing customer demands and library's ability to innovate and respond to customers are assessed. The critical skills needed for library to remain competitive are outlined.

Findings

In order for libraries to remain relevant to their customers, they must follow the fundamental rule of business, that is, to supply what is demanded by their market. Library staff skills and library services all have to shift from book‐centric to user‐centric.

Practical implications

As the academic library continues to redefine its role in teaching and research in the digital environment, it needs to leverage its strengths, such as physical space and collections, and to innovate responsive and convenient services.

Originality/value

The ideas presented in this paper are most useful to library managers and leaders as they address service weak points or the design and development of user‐centric, value‐added library services.
Leveraging quality web‐based library user services in the digital age
Authors: Li LiLi
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore key issues involved with opportunities, challenges, and future developing trends of delivering dynamic and distributed web‐based academic library information resources, services, and instructions for library users in the digital age.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the typical web‐based, three‐tier client/server architecture, this paper explores ten key issues how to leverage quality library user services in the digital age: roles of academic libraries; funding support; information resources; information access; information services; instructions and trainings; impacts of cutting‐edge technologies and emerging technologies; web contents management and knowledge base; assessment and evaluation; and Librarians. Also discussed are the next‐generation web‐based client/server library information architecture and services in the foreseeable future.

Findings

With the rapid development of the internet and the world wide web, information exchange and information distribution can be transformed either by disparate formats or by dynamic channels. Knowledge, competence, and skills cannot follow up with the rapid advances of science and technologies. Many library users need assistance to access, locate, convert, synthesize, and evaluate information effectively and efficiently. It is very imperative for libraries and librarians to design, develop, enhance, implement, and deliver high quality user‐centered information services, resources, and instruction at the fingertips of library users.

Originality/value

Target readers who include librarians, instructors, trainers, consultants, managers, IT specialists, executives, and other professionals who are involved with developing and delivering distributed library user services via the internet will find this article of value.
Marketing library services to the Net Generation
Authors: Mi Jia , Nesta Frederick
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the role of marketing to new generations of library users.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews classical marketing texts and current user studies for applicability to library service.

Findings

The paper finds that libraries can apply classic marketing principles to attract and better serve new generations of users. Although libraries no longer have a monopoly on information sources, libraries do offer value‐added services.

Originality/value

By understanding the users and their contexts, the paper proposes various strategies of value to market librarians and library resources.
Building better customer relationships: case studies from Malta and the UK
Authors: Broady‐Preston Judith , Felice Joanna , Marshall Susan
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the results of two surveys conducted at the University of Malta Library, 2003‐20044 and Lanchester Library, University of Coventry, 2005‐2006. Relationships between library staff and their customers are explored using a customer relationships management (CRM) framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Focus groups were used to ascertain customer and staff perceptions of the quality of library service and the existing nature of customer/librarian relationships.

Findings

CRM was a useful framework for analysing the perceived worth of university libraries. In the contemporary competitive environment, librarians needed not only to ascertain and meet customer need, but to form active collaborations with their customers if the true market potential of academic libraries is to be realised. Good communication strategies are essential for CRM to be successful. Training for staff and customers in information skills and/or new systems is an essential element of a CRM approach.

Research limitations/implications

Further large‐scale research is desirable to test the basic premise and the methodology employed in greater depth.

Practical implications

Involving customers actively in the design and delivery of library services has positive benefitsvis‐à‐visthe perceived worth and value of the service within the wider institution.

Originality/value

Demonstrates the value of adopting a CRM strategy within university libraries.
Gender and racial differences in vocational education: an international perspective
Authors: van der Meulen Rodgers Yana , Boyer Teresa
Published: September 2006

Purpose

Seeks to examine the extent to which education systems around the world embrace vocational schooling and the degree to which exposure to vocational schooling differs by gender and race.

Design/methodology/approach

Uses distributional analysis applied to cross‐country data from Unesco to examine shares of secondary school students enrolled in the vocational track, by gender. Also uses descriptive statistics based on US Department of Education data to examine fields of study within the vocational track.

Findings

The emphasis on vocational education and access to different types of training across demographic groups varies considerably around the world. European countries in particular, long known for their heavy emphasis on specialized vocational schooling, have relatively high vocational school shares in secondary school. At the other end of the distribution, almost 30 countries in the sample, most of them low‐income, have vocational school shares below 4 percent. In the majority of countries, a higher share of male secondary school students enroll in the vocational track compared with female students. Latin American countries stand out for having a high female representation among vocational school students. In the USA, male students cluster in trade and industrial courses, while female students cluster in business preparation courses. Also, white students are relatively concentrated in the trades, black and Hispanic students cluster in business courses, and Asian students are concentrated in technical courses.

Originality/value

These stylized facts set the stage for new research on vocational education and for new policy initiatives that create new opportunities for specialization in vocational training.
Ethnicity, gender and vocational education in Denmark
Authors: Colding Bjørg
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to investigate whether family background and the choice of vocational field explain the observed gap in dropout rates from vocational upper secondary education between natives and children of immigrants in Denmark and to investigate ethnic and gender differences in educational choices.

Design/methodology/approach

A parsimonious version of Cameron and Heckman's (2001) dynamic statistical model of educational progression is estimated. By parceling educational attainment out into a series of transitions by grade, the model is able to identify barriers to educational progression and to determine the effects of explanatory variables at different stages of the educational career. In addition, the model is able to accommodate the institutional structure of an educational system with parallel branches of study at the upper secondary level and to control for educational selection and unobserved heterogeneity.

Findings

The main findings are: that family background variables do not explain the gap in dropout rates between natives and children of immigrants; that the dropout rates from different vocational fields are significantly different but affect natives and children of immigrants equally; that girls do better than boys in immigrant families; and that intergenerational mobility is greater among children of immigrants than natives.

Research limitations/implications

The statistical model used is not available in any standard statistical package. For the purpose of this paper it was coded in GAUSS. Furthermore, the model demands fairly large data sets to be useful in empirical research.

Originality/value

The analysis provides more detailed information about differences in educational attainment between population groups than most previous studies.