bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Navigating the mutual knowledge problem: a comparative case study of distributed work
Authors: Koppman Sharon , Gupta Amar
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show how workers successfully address constraints posed by distributed work – specifically, the lack of cognitive common ground or “mutual knowledge” – through emergent practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors draw on archival and interview data collected over a ten-month period, from two matched product development teams, one working side-by-side in the USA and the other distributed between the USA and India.

Findings

– The paper illustrates how distributed team members compensate for the difficulties presented by the lack of mutual knowledge by modifying their use of knowledge management systems and communication technologies to coordinate work, and using temporal and task-based differences to facilitate problem solving.

Research limitations/implications

– This study answers calls to examine how distributed teams actually work. By emphasizing the creation of new practices over knowledge transfer and employees’ perspectives over managers, the paper adds to current understandings of how aspects of the mutual knowledge problem can be alleviated. Since emergent practices are not dependent on shared values or identities, they can coordinate action without compromising the distinct perspectives of workers or constraining the diversity that inspires innovation. In addition, the attention to problem solving in distributed teams – particularly tacit knowledge recombination – extends a literature primarily focussed on communication and coordination processes.

Originality/value

– In this paper, the authors shift the focus from managerial and organizational policies to the emergent practices of workers themselves, by showing how the authors successfully coordinate and innovate in a changing organizational context.
Knowledge sharing and knowledge effectiveness: learning orientation and co-production in the contingency model of tacit knowledge
Authors: Wu Li-Wei , Lin Jwu-Rong
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This study focuses on the relationship between knowledge sharing and knowledge effectiveness. By learning orientation and co-production, this study demonstrates the indirect effects of knowledge sharing on knowledge effectiveness. Moreover, the direct and indirect effects of knowledge sharing – which vary with the different levels of tacit knowledge – on knowledge effectiveness are examined.

Design/methodology/approach

– The proposed model is tested using a structural equation model that involves LISREL and multi-group analyses.

Findings

– Knowledge sharing increasingly affects knowledge effectiveness under the condition of explicit knowledge. The mediating roles of learning orientation and co-production in the process of tacit knowledge sharing become apparent.

Originality/value

– Knowledge sharing across organizations can be regarded as a dynamic process. In view of the increasing importance of knowledge sharing across organizations, this study provides insight into the method of receiving useful knowledge across organizations.
Collaborative manufacturer-distributor relationships: the role of governance, information sharing and creativity
Authors: Vázquez-Casielles Rodolfo , Iglesias Victor , Varela-Neira Concepción
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper seeks to report the results of a study examining the effects of manufacturer-distributor relationships' governance structures (market governance, third-party enforcement of agreements and self-enforcing governance modes) on the distributor's willingness to collaborate with the manufacturer.

Design/methodology/approach

– To test the hypotheses, survey data were gathered from 224 wholesalers from the food and beverage industry in Spain. Manufacturer-distributor collaboration refers to the possibility of sharing strategic information and encouraging creativity. Regression analyses illustrate the differences in the distributor's willingness to collaborate with the manufacturer under different governance scenarios.

Findings

– The study illustrates that the greater the skill of the manufacturers and distributors in developing self-enforcing governance modes (e.g. bilateral formal safeguards and bilateral informal safeguards) that complement third-party enforcement of agreements (e.g. legal contracts), the greater the willingness of both to share strategic information and creativity will be. Furthermore, this investigation delineates the moderating effect of opportunism on the relationship between governance and the distributor's willingness to collaborate with the manufacturer. Finally, the results show that the distributor's willingness to share strategic information has an inverted-U relationship with creativity and innovation development in manufacturer-distributor relationships.

Practical implications

– The study's findings allow firms to concentrate their efforts on the most relevant governance structures that minimize transaction costs and provide incentives to develop collaborative manufacturer-distributor relationships and create value for the customer.

Originality/value

– The research acknowledges the multidimensional nature of collaboration and goes deeper into the need to share strategic information (external and internal strategic information) and the factors that compose the generation of creative ideas in the manufacturer-distributor relationship (knowledge-sharing routines, learning orientation, open-mindedness and management support). Additionally, although research on collaborative distribution channel practices has advanced over the past decades, the importance of governance structures to the development of collaborative practices has not been firmly established. The paper addresses this void in the literature by reporting the results of an empirical study examining manufacturer-distributor collaborations within the food and beverage industry in Spain.
Towards a model of conscientious corporate brands: a Canadian study
Authors: B. Hutchinson David , Singh Jang , Svensson Göran , Mysen Tore
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper attempts to validate a conceptual model for conscientious corporate brands (CCB) by exploring environmental and climate change issues together with perceptions of the internal and external effectiveness of corporate codes of ethics as dimensions of CCBs.

Design/methodology/approach

– By surveying organizations, the paper attempts to extend and validate previous research in ethical branding by proposing an additional empirically grounded conceptual model of “the conscientious dimension” of corporate brands.

Research limitations/implications

– The CCB model was tested on a sample of small-, medium- and large-sized companies in Canada, which may indicate less generalizability to larger companies or in other countries and contextual settings.

Practical implications

– The CCB-framework provides insights into the relationship between the natural environment, climate change and corporate codes of ethics, which organizational managers might relate to their organization.

Originality/value

– This empirical study extends previous research by studying the willingness among business managers to support aspects of conscientious corporate brands (CCBs) in business-to-business relationships: when considering the impact of their brands on the natural environment and climate change, and when considering their corporate codes of ethics. Such findings imply that ethical conscientiousness is not just a rider to brand value; rather, it is an integral dimension in the manufacturer-supplier relationship.
China: the next innovation hot spot for the world
Authors: Haour Georges , Jolly Dominique
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Nowadays, China's economy is climbing up the value curve, transitioning from the low-cost manufacturing of basic products to the assembly of high-tech products and more recently to innovation-led growth. This article gives an overview of this dynamic. The authors first give a succinct historical perspective, then describe the present situation; lastly they look at issues for the near future. The authors contend that Western firms cannot afford to be absent from the paradigm shift described in the paper. Foreign R&D in China no longer has emerging status.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article builds on a review of the literature, statistical data and field experience in different Chinese technological hot spots (including Shanghai Zhangjiang, Beijing Zhongguancun, and Suzhou high-tech parks).

Findings

– The article highlights five areas where technical change has taken place in China. The assembled facts depict the constitution of a credible Chinese system of innovation. Examples of recent accomplishments in different industries argue for the sustainability of these advances.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper can be considered as an essay reflecting the authors' understanding of the Chinese situation; as such, it may be subjectively biased.

Practical implications

– The paper provides arguments for Western managers to convince decision makers of China's new role on the innovation and R&D map; Western managers should definitely be part of this move.

Originality/value

– The paper highlights a major change: China is still a low-tech country; but it has developed world-class islands of knowledge for innovation and technology creation.
Paying attention and getting attention: two sides of the communication coin
Authors: Martin Dick
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– To increase understanding of communications role in business strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

– Viewpoint.

Findings

– Pay greater attention to listening and analysis.

Originality/value

– Personal viewpoint.
Consumers' value perceptions of e-customization – a model incorporating information framing and product type
Authors: Jiang Pingjun , K. Balasubramanian Siva , V. Lambert Zarrel
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Despite significant business spending in areas such as personalization tools and add-on options representing levels of product attributes, most marketers do not know the amount of value that is directly attributable to their e-customization strategies. This study aims to offer an in-depth investigation of consumers' value perceptions of e-customization and their relationship with perceived sufficiency of information and cognitive cost. The context effects on value perception in e-customization are studied together with antecedent constructs.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research consists of a 2×2 between-subjects factorial design. The full model is tested using multiple-group structural equation modeling analysis to verify the significance of the inter-relationships between constructs, as well as the main and the interaction effects of two experimental factors (product information framing and product type).

Findings

– The experimental results showed that perceived e-customization value does not simply stem from the ability to “narrow-cast” content more specifically related to a shopper's interests (i.e. anticipated fulfillment value). Rather, this value also stems from the dynamic flexibility of the information system and its ability to entertain and educate during the information dissemination process (i.e. process value and knowledge value). Furthermore, when the customization framing features are better matched with product type characteristics, e-customization seemed to increase value in ways that are difficult to achieve in conventional shopping environments.

Originality/value

– By testing the proposed structural model simultaneously with two experimental factors of product type and information framing, this work is the first to address the question of context effects on value creation in an area of increasing substantive importance.
A multi-method investigation of consumer response to marketing activities during life transitions
Authors: Hopkins Chris , Wood Charles , Siemens Jennifer , Anne Raymond Mary
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This research aims to investigate how individuals' perceptions and reallocation of resources due to a life transition uniquely affect their responses to marketing activities.

Design/methodology/approach

– A multi-method approach is undertaken, with Study 1 being qualitative in nature and Study 2 consisting of a quantitative experimental design. Study 1 consists of in-depth interviews with both newlyweds and empty nesters. Study 2 incorporates a survey design with 412 respondents; data is analyzed via structural equation modeling, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and post hoc multiple comparison tests.

Findings

– Findings reveal that consumer appraisal of a transition event is a key predictor of response to marketing activities, and that consumers have an inverted-U shape response to advertising across three transition stages (anticipatory, liminal, re-established).

Practical implications

– Because appraisal is not generally captured by market research, companies may be able to estimate appraisal by combining resource availability information with existing demographic data. Because resources are found to be a significant predictor of appraisal, by anticipating resource levels, a firm may be able to estimate appraisal and thus be able to forecast advertising responsiveness.

Originality/value

– Researchers have not investigated how changes in the availability of time and other resources during life events affect consumers' appraisal of products, adaptation to new roles, or response to marketing efforts. As such, examining the influence of resources and transition stage on attitudes toward marketing activities during life transitions makes a meaningful contribution to the literature.
Factors causing the relationship gap between top management and IS personnel
Authors: Manfreda Anton , Indihar Štemberger Mojca
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The gap between top management and IS personnel is preventing organisations develop a competitive advantage based on IS. The purpose of this paper is thus to improve the understanding of the relationship between top management and IS personnel and to identify the key factors that are important in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two separate questionnaires were used for IS department managers and top management to identify key factors in the relationship. In total, 221 CIOs and 93 CEOs agreed to participate in the research. To identify factors in the business-IS relationship an exploratory factor analysis was used. Further, factor scores were calculated and the independent samples t-test was used to compare these factor scores to reveal any significant differences in perceptions between CIOs and CEOs.

Findings

– The empirical investigation reveals the existence of nine factors that are important in the business-IS relationship. Seven factors are perceived differently by top management and IS management and thus causing the gap in the relationship, while two factors are similarly perceived.

Practical implications

– The paper presents the key areas business and IS personnel should pay attention to. Therefore, it enables reducing the business-IS gap by considering the identified factors and dedicating significant effort to the factors with significant differences.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to understanding the key factors in the relationship between top and IS managers as it identifies factors that are causing the business-IS gap. Thus, it develops the existing literature since it is simultaneously focusing on managerial and IS side. The study is also valuable for researchers enabling future research in exploring these factors in detail.
Malaysian entrepreneurs propensity to use IT innovation
Authors: Moghavvemi Sedigheh , Akma Mohd salleh Noor
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Theoretical perspectives from other fields are used to shed additional light on an individual's technology acceptance, due to the fact that it is frequently replicated with minor tweaks and extensions. The entrepreneurial event model (EEM) is an intentional model, which measures the volitional aspect of behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to seek to revise and validate this model in the context of technology acceptance, while also investigating information technology (IT) innovation adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to test the proposed research model, data are collected using a questionnaire survey from 420 entrepreneurs involved in providing professional services in manufacturing, telecommunication, education, banking and finance, service, and agriculture in Malaysia. The structural equation modelling technique was used to evaluate the research model.

Findings

– The results of the study confirmed that the model is robust enough to measure the individual dimensions of technology adoption. It also indicated that the propensity to use, perceived desirability and perceived feasibility are significantly and positively related to the intention to use IT innovation. EEM accounted for 82 per cent of the variance in usage intention, and it provided a useful tool for managers to gauge the likelihood of success for new technologies.

Originality/value

– This paper highlights and expands upon positive implications for academic, managers and policy makers. Applying the EEM model on technology acceptance will serve to illuminate this area and reveal new knowledge perspectives. Policy makers could encourage early-adopter entrepreneurs to adopt and use IT innovation in their businesses, which will in turn encourage others to look up to these early adopter and emulate them, thus increasing the rate of adoption and the use of IT innovation.
A clinical database for measuring outcomes in a low-secure service: a feasibility study
Authors: Edworthy Rachel , Khalifa Najat
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the arguments for sustaining a clinical database, assess its feasibility in a low-secure service, examine the data that can be captured and discuss what this means for practice implications and service development. The paper aims to demonstrate how a clinical database can provide information on three key areas: what patients are like before admission, what is done with them whilst they are in hospital and what happens to them when they are discharged. The paper also aims to examine the practical, legal and ethical implications of building such a database.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is conducted in the form of a feasibility study charting the development and implementation of an inpatient clinical database for a low-secure inpatient service.

Findings

– The feasibility of creating and maintaining a clinical database in a low-secure service has been assessed and the paper has found that they are an invaluable source of data that all mental health services should strive to develop. They will enable services to track their own outcome measures and tailor their service and interventions according to the needs of service users. However, ethical and legal issues surrounding building clinical databases are complex and require careful consideration.

Research limitations/implications

– This is a small-scale study that captured the experience of one service. Ideally this research should be expanded with nationwide clinical database development.

Practical implications

– This paper includes implications for the implementation of a clinical database, the resources needed for the running of this and the development of standardised outcome measures for mental health services.

Originality/value

– This is potentially an innovative way of developing a clinical database for a low-secure unit and some of the first research into the feasibility of a database for this population. Its practical application is relatively new and potentially innovative in how it is applied.
Predictive validity of the START with intellectually disabled offenders
Authors: Inett Andy , Wright Grace , Roberts Louise , Sheeran Anne
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Offenders with intellectual disability (ID) have been largely neglected in past forensic literature on assessment of dynamic risk factors. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the predictive validity of the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START), in a sample of males with IDs in a low-secure hospital (n=28).

Design/methodology/approach

– A prospective analysis was conducted, with START scores as the predictor variables, and the number of recorded aversive incidents as the outcome measure.

Findings

– Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that total START risk scores had a significant high predictive accuracy for incidents of physical aggression to others (area under the curve (AUC)=0.710, p<0.001) and property damage/theft (AUC=0.730, p<0.001), over a 30-day period, reducing to medium predictive validity over a 90-day period. Medium predictive validity was also identified for incidents of verbal aggression, suicide, self-harm, and stalking and intimidation. START strength scores were also predictive of overt aggression (AUC=0.716), possible reasons for this are explored.

Research limitations/implications

– The small sample size limits the generalisability of the findings, and further research is required.

Practical implications

– The paper offers preliminary support for the use of the START with ID offenders in low-secure settings. Given the lack of validation of any previous dynamic risk assessment tools, multi-disciplinary teams in such settings now have the option to use a tool which has potentially good validity with an ID population.

Originality/value

– This study represents the first attempt to examine the predictive validity of the START with ID offenders, and a step forward in the understanding of dynamic risk factors for violence in this population. The significant predictive relationship with incidents of physical aggression and property damage offers clinicians a preliminary evidence base supporting its use in low-secure settings.
Demand forecasting for apparel manufacturers by using neuro-fuzzy techniques
Authors: Aksoy Asli , Öztürk Nursel , Sucky Eric
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– According to literature research and conversations with apparel manufacturers' specialists, there is not any common analytic method for demand forecasting in apparel industry and to the authors' knowledge, there is not adequate number of study in literature to forecast the demand with adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for apparel manufacturers. The purpose of this paper is constructing an effective demand forecasting system for apparel manufacturers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The ANFIS is used forecasting the demand for apparel manufacturers.

Findings

– The results of the proposed study showed that an ANFIS-based demand forecasting system can help apparel manufacturers to forecast demand accurately, effectively and simply.

Originality/value

– ANFIS is a new technique for demand forecasting, combines the learning capability of the neural networks and the generalization capability of the fuzzy logic. In this study, the demand is forecasted in terms of apparel manufacturers by using ANFIS. The input and output criteria are determined based on apparel manufacturers' requirements and via literature research and the forecasting horizon is about one month. The study includes the real-life application of the proposed system, and the proposed system is tested by using real demand values for apparel manufacturers.
The impact of user interactions in social media on brand awareness and purchase intention: the case of MINI on Facebook
Authors: Hutter Katja , Hautz Julia , Dennhardt Severin , Füller Johann
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to analyze how social media activities, in specifically the Facebook page of a car manufacturer, and user interactions with these brand related activities affect the perception of brands and ultimately influence consumers purchase decision. Based on an online survey with users of the corporation's Facebook fanpage, and in accordance to hierarchy of effects theory the author's findings show the positive effect of fanpage engagement on consumers' brand awareness, word of mouth (WOM) activities, and purchase intention. The findings further indicate that annoyance with the fanpage due to information overload leads to negative effects on fanpage commitment and to decreased WOM activities. From a theoretical standpoint the results of this study contribute to understanding of the value-enhancing potential of social media campaigns.

Design/methodology/approach

– To answer the authors' research questions and test their hypotheses, a study was set up in cooperation with the car brand MINI. To test their hypotheses, the authors applied structural equation modeling with AMOS 18.

Findings

– The article analyzes the influence of brands’ social media activities and participants' social media involvement on the purchase decision process of consumers. Their findings demonstrate that engagement with a Facebook fanpage has positive effects on consumers' brand awareness, WOM activities and purchase intention. Results further indicate that annoyance with the fanpage leads to negative effects in respect to the overall commitment to and involvement with the fanpage and WOM. The authors' research shows that social media activities indeed affect the purchase decision-making process.

Originality/value

– New marketing communication reality presents new challenges and opportunities for companies as purchase decisions are increasingly influenced by social media interactions. People rely more than ever on their social networks when making those decisions. Nevertheless, outcomes of social media activities are still disputed in practice. The effects of social media campaigns on consumers' perception of products and brands as well as the effects on purchase decisions have yet to be better understood. This study therefore investigates how social media activities, in specific the Facebook appearance of a car manufacturer, affect the perception of brands, and ultimately influence the purchase decision process of consumers while considering the risk of creating annoyance. From a theoretical standpoint the results of this study contribute to understanding of the value-enhancing potential of social media campaigns and demonstrate how the perception of brands is influenced through this new communication channel. For brand managers this study is of value, as it shows that social media activities do have a positive influence on brands as they support their management of the purchase process.
The development of municipalities property management as a financial tool
Authors: Pallis Christos , Pallis Petros
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The concept was that municipal real estate was an asset which consisted of a combination of measurable and hard-to-estimate returns (including social benefits) rather than a public good. Many local government organizations attempted to capitalize and assess real estate, with a view to generating revenue for local authorities. Others proceeded to use direct private sector financing for the construction of municipal infrastructure, in exchange for the right to use public land for commercial development purposes. In Greece, the institutional framework for local government organizations prevented local government from playing an essential role, because of their limited powers and financial resources. There are two key questions coming up within this context, which are the main subject of the research: What are the financing instruments used by municipalities today? What are the financing instruments that municipalities would like to use today? No research has been done so far on the above questions at such sample level as used in the research, i.e. all the municipalities in the territory of Greece. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper presents the literature review of the property management and the methodology of an empirical research through structured questionnaire that was sent to the entire population of Greek municipalities.

Findings

– The main findings regard the financial instruments used by the Greek municipalities and funding schemes from various sources. Apart from these funding sources which Greek cities actually use, the present research has investigated the sources of funding that municipalities would like to use.

Practical implications

– The paper consists a detailed road map for practical public management.

Originality/value

– The questionnaire was sent to the entire population of Greek municipalities, characterized in this way with considerable heterogeneity. The sample equals the whole population, which has been investigated for the first time, regarding the Greek Paradigm.
A prolonged financial crisis: adjustments and prospects in Eurozone's southern markets
Authors: Tsolacos Sotiris
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The economic slump in the southern member states of the Eurozone has brought real estate market activity to a standstill and has raised questions about the future of these markets. Will they rebound and will they command a higher risk premium? This paper aims to assess the outlook for these markets as the crisis continues and analyses the conditions that are a prerequisite to restore investment activity and a healthy occupier market.

Design/methodology/approach

– Within a portfolio allocation framework, the paper examines the conditions for the revival of investor interest in these markets and the uncertainties that should be resolved. Through the analysis of selected data, the paper assesses the emerging state of these markets.

Findings

– The economic slump in peripheral Eurozone economies gives way to a period of slow growth and ongoing structural reforms. The latter are necessary to restore confidence in the respective economies and investment markets. Sentiment indicators contain the first signs of a rebound in business confidence. With confidence returning and mitigated macroeconomic risks investors will seek value in the markets of the southern region on a selective basis. Price corrections and yield differentials with core markets could prove attractive. It is, however, argued that a risk premium will remain to reflect progress with structural reforms that will make the economies more competitive and less prone to a similar crisis in the future. It is only when such reforms will firmly be put in place that pricing in the southern Eurozone markets will reflect cyclical risks and diversification contributions.

Practical implications

– The article provides a structured approach to assess the outlook for peripheral markets. It identifies the key risks affecting investor confidence. The analysis proceeds to stress conditions that should be satisfied for a rebound in the investment market. Signals from selected data series are extracted to assess sentiment and adjustment in the market and assist in the assessment of real estate market prospects in these economies.

Originality/value

– The paper examines conditions for investing in the hard hit markets of the Eurozone. It illustrates the path for the recovery in these markets and the conditions for the rebound in investment volumes. It contributes to the analysis of the growth potential and risk of these markets for investment purposes.
Resource idiosyncrasy, performance, and inter-firm small-world networks
Authors: Aarstad Jarle
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Many networks take a small-world structure, with a high degree of clustering and shortcut ties that reduce the path-length between the clusters. It can be argued that small-world networks have benefits that are simultaneously related to network closures and the spanning of structural holes, but research on the network members’ performance is nonetheless inconclusive. The purpose of this paper is to argue that the concept of resource idiosyncrasy can explain the mixed findings. Firm idiosyncratic resources are not easily generalizable across enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

– Industries may vary in terms of resource idiosyncrasy, and the paper elaborates how this can moderate shortcut ties’ effect on performance in an inter-firm network.

Findings

– If resource idiosyncrasy predominates in an industry, the paper proposes that inter-firm shortcut ties may increase performance, whereas shortcut ties may decrease performance if non-idiosyncratic resources predominate.

Originality/value

– Applying the concept of resource idiosyncrasy as a moderating variable, the paper aims to explain shortcut ties’ effect on performance in an inter-firm network. The theory advanced here can have practical implications and also motivate future empirical studies to gain further knowledge about small-world networks’ effect on performance.
Applicability of the high-performance organization framework in the diamond industry value chain
Authors: de Waal André , Orij Ruben , Rosman Jantien , Zevenbergen Marijke
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The diamond industry used to be a stable sector. However, the market for diamonds is changing rapidly due various developments, putting margins in the entire diamond industry under severe pressure. Consequently diamond retailers have begun to search for new methods that could help them improve their performance. This paper aims to evaluate whether the high-performance organization (HPO) framework can be used to help diamond retailers achieve better results.

Design/methodology/approach

– The HPO framework was applied at two actors in the diamond industry value chain, a dealer and an intermediate, in order to identify the HPO factors that most influence the results of these companies. Special attention was paid to the matching of the characteristics of the HPO framework and the characteristics influencing the success of partnerships.

Findings

– The research results show that the HPO framework can be used to identify the improvements needed to increase the level of performance of all players in the diamond industry value chain.

Originality/value

– The results of this study fill a gap in current academic and management literature on the diamond industry as little research has been done into the factors that cause sustainable high performance in this sector. The results can also be used by managers of diamond retailers to increase company results and to cooperate more closely in the diamond industry value chain.
OEM supplier impact on buyer competence development
Authors: Hsu Liu Feng
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether original equipment manufacturing (OEM) suppliers can affect the development of buyer competence by manipulating two environmental factors: the development of competence in OEM supplier's external business relationships and the competitive pressure of the OEM supplier environment.

Design/methodology/approach

– The sample population consisted of 1,000 OEM suppliers in the Taiwanese information technology (IT) industry. Partial least squares analysis was used to examine the causal relationships among the variables.

Findings

– The empirical results revealed that the pressure of the external environment pushes OEM suppliers to develop competence through external business relationships. This competence in turn affects the development of buyer competence. Furthermore, OEM supplier impact on buyer competence development is positively associated with the importance of OEM supplier in outsourcing relationship.

Originality/value

– The paper empirically examines whether the impacts of the OEM supplier derived from different sourced environments play distinct roles in the development of the OEM supplier's power.
Development, delivery and evaluation of a team building project
Authors: Ellis Michelle , Kell Billie
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the design, development, delivery and evaluation of a customised team building project on a paediatric unit.

Design/methodology/approach

– The project content was tailored to meet the developmental needs of the staff working within the units, incorporating both soft and hard leadership approaches. A personal self development approach was used, and how this could enhance team working. Theory was embedded using innovative approaches that enabled practical application facilitating both surface and deep learning.

Findings

– All staff participated and found themselves to have significantly developed both as individuals and as a team. They also identified the support required from management in order to fulfil their potential and to work effectively as a team. The teams have since completion of the project been more cohesive, are working more effectively and patient care has improved.

Practical implications

– The project demonstrated how externally developed team building projects can be an effective approach to team building and leadership skill set acquisition, which can then be utilised in the practice arena.

Originality/value

– Utilisation of a person centred approach to team building enables the individual to develop both as an individual and as a team – allowing them to contribute at a higher level.
Clinical leadership style and hand hygiene compliance
Authors: Christiana Stevens Stella , Hemmings Lynn , Scott Claire , Lawler Anthony , White Craig
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate to what extent an engaging or authentic leadership style is related to higher levels of patient safety performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey and/or interview of 53 medical and dental staff on their perceptions of leadership style in their unit was conducted. Scores obtained from 51 responses were averaged for each question and overall performance was compared with unit specific hand hygiene (HH) compliance data. Interview material was transcribed and analysed independently by each member of the research team.

Findings

– A modest negative relationship between this leadership style and hand hygiene compliance rates (r=0.37) was found. Interview data revealed that environmental factors, role modelling by the leader and education to counter false beliefs about hand hygiene and infection control may be more important determinants of patient safety performance in this regard than actual overall leadership style.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample was relatively small, other attributes of leaders were not investigated.

Practical implications

– Leadership development for clinicians may need to focus on situational or adaptive capacity rather than a specific style. In the case of improving patient safety through increasing HH compliance, a more directive approach with clear statements backed up by role modelling appears likely to produce better rates.

Originality/value

– Little is known about patient safety and clinical leadership. Much of the current focus is on developing transformational, authentic or engaging style. This study provides some evidence that it should not be used exclusively.
Evaluating leadership development in postgraduate medical education
Authors: Bekas Stavros
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Medical leadership has attracted significant attention over the recent years as one of the factors that could potentially improve quality in healthcare. In response, various stakeholders in UK medical education have been looking into the most efficient ways of developing leadership among trainee doctors and invested in various courses and programmes. This paper aims to briefly set the theoretical basis for evaluating leadership development in postgraduate medical education.

Design/methodology/approach

– Critical review of available theoretical and empirical literature and review of the content of a number of leadership and management development programmes available to postgraduate trainee doctors in the UK.

Findings

– This review suggests that programme evaluation can be approached through four different “frames”: their pedagogical content, the conceptualisation and achievement of leadership, the contribution in quality improvement and the consideration of practical aspects that increase engagement and participation. On this basis empirical methodologies of evaluation can be developed.

Originality/value

– The evaluation of leadership initiatives for medical trainees is an important task that has not been adequately addressed in the literature. This paper provides a theoretical approach to developing more robust methodologies of evaluation.
Does the fulfillment of supervisor psychological contract make a difference?
Authors: José Chambel Maria
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to set out to analyze the supervisor psychological contract as a new psychological contract focus. Furthermore, the relationship between this psychological contract and the organizational psychological contract is compared in the prediction of job satisfaction and organizational affective commitment among a sample of traditional (in-house) and temporary agency workers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The hypotheses were tested with multiple group analyses in a sample of 444 Portuguese call center workers: 215 were in-house and 229 were temporary agency workers.

Findings

– Results confirmed that workers, regardless of their status, distinguished these two foci of psychological contract. However, for temporary workers, the supervisor psychological contract partially mediated the relationship between the organizational psychological contract and attitudes; while for in-house workers the organizational psychological contract was relevant to explain job satisfaction and the two foci of the psychological contract related independently to workers’ affective commitment toward the organization.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is limited due to the nature of the sample (call center sector where temporary agency and in-house workers received similar opportunities and treatment) and the lack of a longitudinal design.

Practical implications

– An important implication of this research is that employers should assume the relevance of the supervisor for temporary agency workers. The social exchange between them and the host organization occurs in part through his/her actions.

Originality/value

– Although supervisor psychological contract has been acknowledged, as far as the authors know there are no empirical studies that support its existence or analyzes its relevance in worker-organization relationships.
Conceptualizing defensive silence in project-manager-to-project-sponsor communication
Authors: Perkins David
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to gain a greater understanding of fear-based information withholding in project-manager-to-project-sponsor (PM2PS) communication and to propose future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research consisted of a review of the literature related to the withholding of information in subordinate-to-superior communication and in PM2PS communication. Literature from project communication studies and literature from general communication theory was consulted.

Findings

– Using defensive silence theory as a conceptual framework, five research propositions specific to fear-based information withholding in PM2PS communication are offered.

Research limitations/implications

– The study findings are limited to PM2PS communication based upon fear. The study provides a foundation for further research in this area within the conceptual framework of defensive silence theory.

Practical implications

– The practical implication of this paper is that certain perceptions and behaviors of a project sponsor can be related to fear-based information withholding in PM2PS communication.

Originality/value

– The originality of this paper is that it extends defensive silence theory into the realm of PM2PS communication. The value of this paper is to provide a catalyst for subsequent empirical-based research in order gain greater insight into fear-based information withholding in PM2PS communication.
Replacing nano-clay for kaolin in ultramarine pigments
Authors: Tajer Kajinebaf Vahideh , Rezaeian Fereshteh , Rajabi Masoud , Baghshahi Saeid
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Replacing nano-clay for kaolin in ultramarine pigments was investigated. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Ultramarine pigments with both kaolin and nano-clay were synthesized by traditional method. For this purpose, mixing of the raw materials consisted of calcined clay, sulfur, sodium hydroxide and Arabic gum was milled and then calcined at 800°C for 9 h under controlled atmosphere. The characterization was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-vis spectroscopy, colorimetery (CIELab method) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques.

Findings

– The investigations show that using nano-clay results in richer pigments. XRD results reveal that the ultramarine phase formation is enhanced by using nano-clay. SEM and DLS results also confirm that the ultramarine pigment synthesized by using nano-clay has smaller particles than that prepared by kaolin.

Originality/value

– In this research, for the first time, nano-clay was substituted for kaolin to synthesized ultramarine pigment.
Miscibility, morphology, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties of epoxy resins toughened with functionalized core-shell nanoparticles containing epoxy groups on the surface
Authors: Zhang Xugang , Zhang Bin , Sun Mingming , Li Jianhui , Wang Lei , Qin Chuanli
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– In order to obtain functionalized core-shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) as excellent toughening agents for epoxy resins. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Functionalized CSNPs containing epoxy groups on the surface were synthesized by emulsion polymerization with butyl acrylate as the core and methyl methacrylate copolymerizing with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) as the shell. CSNPs were used as toughening agents for epoxy resins and their chemical structure was characterized by FT-IR. The morphology of modified epoxy networks (MEPN) was analyzed by SEM and TEM. Both the mechanical properties and thermodynamic properties were studied.

Findings

– The results show that nearly spherical CSNPs with the particle size of 50-100 nm are obtained. A certain amount of CSNPs are uniformly dispersed in epoxy resins by the grinding method and the MEPN shows the ductile fracture feature. The miscibility between CSNPs and epoxy matrix increases with the increase of GMA concentration which makes more bonds form between them. Epoxy resins toughened with 10 wt% CSNPs containing 10 wt% GMA show the best mechanical properties and the increase in tensile strength and impact strength of the MEPN is 13.5 and 59.7 percent, respectively, over the unmodified epoxy networks. And the improvement in impact strength is not accompanied with loss of thermal resistance.

Practical implications

– The MEPN can be used as high-performance materials such as adhesives, sealants and matrixes of composites.

Originality/value

– The functionalized CSNPs are novel and it can greatly increase the toughness of epoxy resins without loss of thermal resistance.