bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nothing to lose: “fluency” in information literacy theory and practice
Authors: Harris Benjamin R. , Millet Michelle S.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critique the current wave of naming cultures in information literacy practice, the relationship between information literacy, literacy theory, and fluency theory, and suggests alternative conceptualizations for information seeking behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

After conducting literature and website reviews, a survey was posted on the Survey Monkey commercial site and librarians were invited to participate. The resulting analysis offers a synthesis of the literature and survey statistics.

Findings

Fewer programs than expected use “information fluency” as the defining factor in their library instruction programs. However, responses to the survey were useful in thinking about ways to retain a focus on information literacy theory in light of alternate naming conventions.

Research limitations/implications

With over 200 respondents, the quantitative research component is healthy though clearly not exhaustive. Future researchers may wish to focus their quantitative research on specific locations or types of libraries.

Originality/value

While a number of writers have presented practical and theoretical work related to information fluency, few authors chose to question the existence of fluency standards or the assessment of these standards. In addition, the researchers respond to concerns about linear and hierarchical constructions of literacy by offering an alternate model.
Collaborating to connect global citizenship, information literacy, and lifelong learning in the global studies classroom
Authors: Stevens Christy R. , Campbell Patricia J.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the concepts of lifelong learning, information literacy, and global citizenship, making explicit connections among them via theories of social capital. It then presents a model of librarian‐faculty collaboration that relies upon information literacy as a framework for fostering lifelong learning and global citizenship.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins with a theoretical analysis of lifelong learning, information literacy, global citizenship, and social capital in order to provide a conceptual framework for the case study that follows. The case study describes the librarian‐faculty collaboration, which included the development of course goals, the syllabus, learning outcomes and objectives, assignments, course‐integrated library instruction sessions, and assessment tools.

Findings

Social capital is a useful theoretical tool for conceptualizing pedagogical strategies for promoting information literacy and global citizenship. Pre‐ and post‐tests, questionnaires, assignments, and student reflections indicate that the three primary goals of the collaboration were met. By the end of the course, students' IL competencies improved, students had developed a better understanding of their roles as global citizens, and students were more aware of the connections among global citizenship, lifelong learning, and information literacy.

Practical implications

The paper provides practical ideas for librarian‐faculty collaboration and for integrating information literacy competencies into assignment sequences.

Originality/value

The paper uses social capital theory to make connections among lifelong learning, information literacy, and global citizenship as well as to argue for the value and import of librarian‐faculty collaborations. It also describes a successful librarian‐faculty collaboration in the context of a Global Studies course.
Teaching with Tiffany's
Authors: Gust Kara J.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the lessons learned and alternative methods used in teaching library and internet searching skills to adult learners, especially senior citizens, in a non‐credit course offered by the Michigan State University Evening College.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper sets out the specific considerations taken in designing and executing an information literacy course for adult learners, along with observations and reflections, are described in detail and supported with evidence from research on adult learning theory and pedagogy. Preliminary sections describe the background and initial planning of the course, while additional sections describe each lesson learned in detail, including alternative teaching methods used and evaluation and assessment techniques.

Findings

The paper provides essential tips and suggestions to consider when teaching library and internet‐searching skills to adult learners, such as “keeping it simple”, establishing a slower‐paced learning environment, and providing unique and engaging class exercises. Also reports on successful alternative and unique approaches used when teaching adult learners.

Research limitations/implications

Most of the evidence provided is from general observations by the librarian/instructor over three years. More formalized testing needs to be applied to better assess student learning, along with comparison of results over several more years.

Practical implications

The paper is a highly useful source of practical information for librarians looking to teach unique user groups (adult learners, non‐traditional students, or senior citizens) information literacy skills, in a university setting and using new and engaging teaching techniques.

Originality/value

This paper offers innovative ideas and practical techniques using Breakfast at Tiffany's to use when teaching adult learners, especially senior citizens, information literacy skills.
Letting the grass grow: grassroots information on blogs and wikis
Authors: Ramos Miguel , Piper Paul S.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate some of the major uses and limiting factors of blogs and wikis, as well as the ways that these resources can be used by librarians and educators.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyses blog and wiki use from set‐up to practice in real‐world events including citizen journalism, disaster response and education.

Findings

The paper highlights the many ways that socially mediated, group‐edited web pages add value to research, information sharing, and collaborative, asynchronous modes of education.

Originality/value

This paper provides insights for educators and librarians about the ways that blogs and wikis can be used in classrooms and as primary sources of information.
‘Ike loa: a list of influential books shaping the instruction librarian's teaching and learning philosophy
Authors: Brier David J. , Kaye Lebbin Vickery
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The paper sets out to provide a selected bibliography of books influential to the librarian's teaching and learning philosophy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces and annotates books identified by LOEX‐of‐the‐West 2006 attendees as influential to their instruction activities, teaching philosophy, or meaning of education.

Findings

The paper provides information about each source, including an introductory discussion on the classification of the titles into six major genres of instruction inspiration and four major (generic) philosophies of education and learning.

Originality/value

The information presented in the paper may be used by librarians and interested parties to solidify and broaden their own thoughts and values on who they are as an instructor.
Project management elements as strategic assets: preliminary findings
Authors: Jugdev Kam , Mathur Gita
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To examine project management assets and to explore the link between these and the achievement of competitive advantage from the project management process through it being valuable, rare, inimitable, and having organizational support.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey with North American Project Management Institute®members was conducted. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify tangible and intangible elements of project management and the achievement of competitive characteristics of the project management process.

Findings

Six factors were extracted that comprised project management assets and three factors that comprised the competitive characteristics of the project management process.

Research limitations/implications

This was an exploratory study. It is expected to further develop the instrument, refine the model and constructs, and test it with a larger sample.

Practical implications

This study highlights the importance of developing intangible project management assets to achieve competitive advantage from the process.

Originality/value

Few papers have used the resource based view lens and applied it to project management. This paper contributes to the literature on the resource based view of the firm and to an improved understanding of project management as a source of competitive advantage.
Team‐managed growing SMEs: a distinct species?
Authors: Pasanen Mika , Laukkanen Tommi
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The aim of this article is to identify strategic factors differentiating team‐managed growing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and individually managed growing SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

The study took a holistic and wide‐ranging approach to factors affecting SME growth and performance, and analyzed the data of 63 team‐managed SMEs and 45 individually managed SMEs.

Findings

The main finding was that there are few differences between team‐managed growing SMEs and individually managed growing SMEs. Moreover, the variables differing between the two groups of SMEs were not related to firm performance outcomes or strategic choices made by the firms. In addition, the effect of team for strategic choices is not associated with the size of an SME.

Research limitations/implications

The study focused on growing established SMEs. The findings question the impact of team for firm performance and strategies in the context of growing SMEs. This suggests that the role of team management in the context of growing SMEs can be different from the role in other contexts. However, the study has several limitations which may affect the results.

Practical implications

The strategies employed by growing SMEs are not dependent on whether the firm is managed by a team or by a solo entrepreneur.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that team‐managed growing SMEs are not a distinct species among growth SMEs. There are no differences in firm performance or strategic choices between team‐managed growing SMEs and individually managed growing SMEs.
Impact of organisational justice in an expatriate work environment
Authors: Fernandes Cedwyn
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This study analyses the impact of organisational justice as encompassed by three components, distributive justice, procedural justice and interactional justice on self assessed performance and job satisfaction of employees in an expatriate environment. The study investigates the impact of these justice measures on expatriates and United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals.

Design/methodology/approach

The organisational justice measures developed by Niehoff and Moorman were used to test their impact on employee performance and job satisfaction amongst the two groups; expatriates who work in the UAE, and UAE nationals. Data were collected from employees working in the UAE. Descriptive statistics, inter correlations and regression analyses was used to examine the data.

Findings

For the UAE nationals group, distributive and interactional justice has a significant impact on both satisfaction and performance. All justice constructs had an impact on satisfaction for the expatriate group, but surprisingly none of these components of organizational justice had an impact on self‐perceived performance of expatriates. The effects of gender, age and salary levels were also explored.

Research limitations/implications

Self‐perceived performance is used to measure performance which is a limitation and it would be of value to try to independently measure performance.

Practical implications

Given the large expatriate workforce in the UAE, the study highlights the need for companies to train and educate their managers as to the impact of the perceived lack of justice on the motivation and commitment of their employees.

Originality/value

This study is the first of its kind in the UAE and was conducted in a highly diverse work environment.
Creating a knowledge transfer environment
Authors: Mets To˜nis
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To evaluate the science and technology (S&T) development framework within Estonia, a small transition country, and its biotechnology sector.

Design/methodology/approach

In the general overview the main concepts, actors and environment of S&T system in the triple helix context are analyzed. The empirical study explores the general research and development (R&D) environment of Estonia and particularly the biotechnology sector by mapping the actors, strategy of companies (all small and medium‐sized enterprises – SMEs), innovation processes and related expenditures of the public sector and private businesses.

Findings

The study results indicate the ratio of basic and applied research, and product/service development in the gross R&D funding structure in Estonia to be 3:3:4; in the biotechnology sector this ratio is 11:5:1. The structure of research expenditure in the public sector mostly reflects the success of Estonian biosciences rather than the success of biotech as a business sector.

Practical implications

Ways for improving the S&T system are suggested.

Originality/value

Mapping the actors, and measurement of the structure of the R&D expenses in the Estonian biotech sector and in SMEs in particular.
Returns in process industries: a managerial perspective
Authors: French Monique L. , Discenza Richard
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The key objective of the paper is to present the results of a survey that captured a wide‐ranging view of reuse practices in process industries with the intent of determining current practice and the key managerial issues for reuse in process industries. The paper discusses the sources of products and material for which re‐use decisions must be made in process industry environments. It offers managerial insights for companies that seek opportunities to reduce their operating costs by reusing products, cleaning agents, and ingredients that can become available through a reverse supply chain analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used an exploratory survey methodology with manufacturing plants randomly drawn from a professional organization where the members stated in their profiles that they were employed at a facility that was primarily involved with process manufacturing. Both internal and external returns were analyzed using descriptive statistics techniques.

Findings

The results indicate that reverse networks for external returns must consider storage conditions and timing due to degradability. Also, tracking systems are necessary to monitor the product once it has left the facility due to contamination potential. Additionally, managers could benefit from development of a decision model to facilitate re‐use decision‐making.

Originality/value

The emphasis is on exploring the nature of re‐use in process industry plants and on bringing managerial issues to the attention of companies that are handling these returns and seeking to improve their performance on returns.
Using simulation to increase efficiency in blood supply chains
Authors: Rytilä Jyrki S. , Spens Karen M.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The overall aim of the research presented is to improve blood supply chain management in order to use the scarce resource of blood more efficiently. Computer simulation is used as a tool for increasing efficiency in blood supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

An application of discrete event simulation modeling in the health‐care sector, more specifically in the area of blood transfusion services. The model has been refined in cooperation with medical expertise as it is vital that practitioners are closely involved so that the model can be tested against their understanding as it develops.

Findings

Decision makers can make better and less risky decisions regarding changes in the blood supply chain based on the knowledge created by simulation experiments. Simulation modeling can be used to make complex and chaotic systems comprehensible and more efficient. In health care, this means that scarce resources can be allocated better, and thereby simulation can aid in increasing the overall quality of health care.

Research limitations/implications

Models are simplifications and there is no guarantee that they will be valid, however, when used sensibly, simulation models and modeling approaches provide an important tool to managing risk and uncertainty in health care supply chains.

Practical implications

Earlier calculations and improvement efforts of blood supply chain in focus were based on “gut feeling”. Through applying simulation to this complex system, the dynamics of blood supply chain was more easily understood by the medical expertise.

Originality/value

There is a lack of work on computer simulations of blood supply chains, a challenge which this work has taken up on.
Enterprise resource planning survey of Korean manufacturing firms
Authors: Katerattanakul Pairin , Hong Soongoo , Lee Jinyoul
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To report a recently completed study on enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation in Korean manufacturing firms.Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was conducted (with e‐mail invitation and telephone call reminder) to collect data from 306 Korean manufacturing firms.Findings – This study presents the issues related to ERP implementation in Korean manufacturing firms, including pre‐implementation activities, implementation experiences, ERP system configuration, benefits, and future direction. Additionally, the results are compared to those results from previous studies on US and Swedish manufacturing firms.Research limitations/implications – The study focused on one industry in one Asian country which perhaps limits the application of its generalized results to other industries or other Asian countries.Practical implications – The results of this study present and discuss both similarities and differences in ERP implementation issues among Korean, US, and Swedish manufacturing firms.Originality/value – This research is the first empirical study on the issues related to ERP implementation in manufacturing firms in the Asia/Pacific region. It is also the first study providing comparison results regarding ERP implementation in manufacturing firms in Asian, North American, and European countries.
Antecedents and consequences of organisational silence: an empirical investigation
Authors: Vakola Maria , Bouradas Dimitris
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Although the phenomenon of organisational silence is widely seen in organisations, there is little empirical evidence regarding its nature and main components. This paper aims at investigating the dimensions of silence climate as they are perceived by individuals and exploring the effects of these dimensions on job attitudes.

Design/methodology/approach

In a sample of 677 employees, three dimensions of silence climate are constructed and measured in order to examine their effects on employee silence behaviour, organisational commitment and job satisfaction.

Findings

Results indicate that supervisors’ attitudes to silence, top management attitudes to silence and communication opportunities are associated and predict employees’ silence behaviour. These three dimensions are also associated with organisational commitment and job satisfaction.

Originality/value

Although the phenomenon of organisational silence is expected in organisations, there is little empirical evidence in the literature aimed at defining it, analysing it and coping with it. Silence climate has an impact on organizations’ ability to detect errors and learn and, therefore, organizational effectiveness is negatively affected. This exploratory study aims to measure organisational silence as a continuum between silence and voice explain silence behaviour through organisational climate dimensions. Based on the findings of this study, there are some important implications that are discussed.
Forcing German managers to focus on productivity
Authors: Klikauer Thomas
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Aims to test Walton and McKersie’s theory on labour negotiations, specifically in the case of German car manufacturers.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on interviews with industrial actors in Germany’s car industry – an empirical case study.

Findings

The article explains the structural force behind the managerial drive towards production. While German managers act at an enterprise level, a structural force has been responsible for the success of Germany’s post‐WW II manufacturing. Germany’s collective bargaining structure removed wage and working‐time bargaining from local management and opened four managerial options: production, productivity, innovation, and quality. This structure forced management to focus on these four options because they lie within the realm of management prerogative. The article explains how structural divisions betweenintra‐enterprise level arrangements andextra‐enterprise level collective bargaining at a conceptual level can best be understood.

Originality/value

Argues that a regional and industry collective bargaining structure has supported the success of a competitive car industry in Germany.
Norwegian and Nordic trade union support and solidarity for trade unions in eastern and central Europe
Authors: Erik Thoresen Finn
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a Norwegian perspective of how trade unions in the former Soviet block countries have dealt with the challenges of the post‐communist period and how the European trade union movement has attempted to assist them as they have adjusted to representing and protecting the interests of workers in a market economy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper considers the point that the experiences of trade union development in the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe should not be assumed to have followed some monolithic pattern.

Findings

Each of the individual states experienced challenges that were unique to them and which reflected the economic, geographical and social situation they found themselves in when they took the “leap in the dark” at the end of the 1990s. The speed at which they made the transition to a market economy was also quite diverse with some countries such a Czech Republic and Hungary making progress quickly whilst others, for understandable reasons, were much slower off the mark.

Research limitations/implications

One of the main thrusts of this paper is the diversity of experience amongst the former Soviet block countries both prior to and after the 1989 changes. The paper invites researchers to explore this diversity further in terms of causality and the impact of this diversity on the democratisation process of Central and Eastern European Countries.

Originality/value

Provides a timely reminder of the dangers of perceiving trade unions in the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe as replicas of their counterparts in the West. The picture he paints of the diversity of the region, the weakness of national trade union headquarters starved of funds to pursue industrial objectives by local trade union organisations who have a “holiday club” mentality and retain the bulk of the income for social and welfare benefits reminds us of the extreme difficulties that face trade unions in CEE countries as the strive to build strong and effective organisations capable of challenging multinational conglomerates.
The Labour Code in the Republic of Slovakia
Authors: Majtan Borislav
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how the Slovak Labour Code has evolved as a result of the “velvet revolution” which saw Czechoslovakia begin the transition from a “command” to a “market economy, the establishment of a separate Czech Republic and a Slovak Republic and Slovakia's accession to membership of the European Union.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper attempts to provide an empirical contribution to the understanding of how the process of industrial relations is evolving in the new democracies of Eastern and Central Europe in the post‐communist period.

Findings

The paper highlights how the detailed codification of trade union rights of the communist era have been drastically reformed in light of the Slovak Republic adopting a market economy and adopting the EU's social acquis communautaire. The governments desire to liberalise and encourage a more flexible labour market has seen many of the old powers of the trade unions transferred to other forms of employee representation such as works councils and works trustees.

Research limitations/implications

The author has described the strategy of the government to marginalise trade unions by introducing works councils and transferring functions to them, which had previously been performed by the trade unions.

Originality/value

The paper provide an interesting insight into how “players” in the “employee relations game” perceive the re‐codification of the Slovak Labour Code. There seems to be a mixed response to the changes, for whilst the union claims that it is able to boast a 95 per cent success rate in winning cases in the courts arising out of the rights and protections provided for employees in the Labour Code, and not withstanding the very low incidence of industrial action, the paper notes with some irony that there is significant school of opinion amongst Slovak trade unionists that the price that they pay for all of this is some of the lowest wages in the region.
The Dutch trade unions – and their support activities in central and eastern Europe
Authors: van Tilborg Rene
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to explains how the Dutch unions evolved in the post war period and the reasons why they committed such significant resources to developing strong links and assisting the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe complete the “Transition Process”.

Design/methodology/approach

The author draws on his first‐hand experience as the president of the Dutch graphical union, and for many years president and vice president of the sector's international trade union federations – to give an insight as to the rationale behind international trade union cooperation and solidarity.

Findings

The paper suggests that the help and assistance provided by the West European workers organisations, although costly has brought added value to the enlarged European Trade Union movement in so much as it has ensured that the Central and Eastern European trade unions have been able to complete the transition period.

Originality/value

The paper provides a first hand account of the difficulties that trade unions in the former soviet block countries had to deal with during the transition period, and how trade unions in the West had to overcome ideological and historical prejudices in order to provide help and assistance to their sister unions in Central and Eastern Europe.
Academic women's promotions in Australian universities
Authors: Winchester Hilary , Lorenzo Shard , Browning Lyn , Chesterman Colleen
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the hypothesis that under‐representation of women in Australian universities reflects barriers in the academic promotion process.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses three complementary approaches. Promotion policies and guidelines are examined using content analysis of documents from all Australian universities. A sample of 17 universities was selected for interviews with key gatekeepers to examine promotions practice. Data on promotions by level and gender were analysed for 16 of these universities 2000‐2002.

Findings

The analysis of promotions policies and guidelines established a range of practice. Policies supporting women's participation and success in promotions included explicit consideration of part‐time and non‐traditional careers, clear equity statements, and gender representation on promotions committees. Interviews emphasised the importance of support for and identification of female candidates, and the need for the establishment of institution‐wide and performance targets for senior managers. Implicitly, most interviewees accepted the premise that women experienced barriers in the promotion process, including reticence in applying and stereotypically gendered notions of merit. However, the analysis of promotions data showed a more encouraging picture. Application rates and success rates for women are similar to men's and, at professorial level, slightly higher. Nonetheless women remain under‐represented at senior levels, comprising only 16 per cent of the professoriate.

Practical implications

The study provided a report to the Australian Vice‐Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) with a number of recommendations for improving University promotions policies. These recommendations are available on the AVCC website and have applicability beyond the Australian university sector.

Originality/value

This study is an original study across all Australian universities which has international applicability and policy relevance.
Not tokens: reaching a “critical mass” of senior women managers
Authors: Chesterman Colleen , Ross‐Smith Anne
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the findings of a research project involving five Australian universities with over 30 per cent of their senior management positions filled by women. It explores the factors that enabled this to happen and also discusses the responses of the universities to the report.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was essentially qualitative, based on 81 interviews, 50 with senior women and 31 with senior men. All those interviewed were in senior positions, from Vice‐Chancellor down to Dean, Director or equivalent. 46 (24 men and 22 women) were academics; 35 (28 women and seven men) were in administrative, support or general staff positions.

Findings

Interviewees identified as crucial for the appointment of women having a critical mass of other women in senior positions, opportunities to network, encouragement and support from organisational leaders, friendly and collegial environments and strong organisational commitment to values.

Practical implications

The paper describes the actions currently being taken by the five universities to build on the research findings and to ensure that their relative success in promoting women is maintained and improved. It considers whether it is possible to transform hierarchical and traditional cultures in order to establish networks of support and to raise questions about gendered assumptions about capacity and ambition.

Originality/value

The paper presents information which draws on the findings of a large scale empirical research project on how women reach senior positions in universities. It also discusses how these findings have been turned into organisational action to improve the position of women.
Women's progression to senior positions in English universities
Authors: Doherty Liz , Manfredi Simonetta
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to explore the career routes and advancement procedures for both academic and support staff in English universities and the extent to which these might constitute barriers to progression.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted in four universities, two pre‐1992 universities and two post‐1992 universities, based in one region of England. Secondary data were collected in the form of equality monitoring statistics and documentation relating to the universities' advancement procedures. Primary data were collected through 26 semi‐structured interviews with senior people involved in decision‐making about promotions. These included HR specialists and senior academics such as Deans, Pro Vice‐Chancellors and Vice‐Chancellors.

Findings

The research shows that women are now progressing well to the promoted lecturer grade, but that their careers stall beyond this level. Women's less developed research profile is the main impediment to them gaining professorial status. In “old” universities, the processes used for progression to some senior academic management roles are obscure and may operate as a form of indirect discrimination. There is some evidence that women adopt a version of the transformational leadership style, but it is not clear whether this helps or hinders their career progression. In addition, women are more reluctant than men to put themselves forward for advancement and they value work‐life balance.

Originality/value

This paper provides new evidence about the operation of advancement processes in universities. It points to specific areas where university HR processes and equality monitoring need to be improved. It also contributes to the debate about leadership/management and the extent to which women adopt a style which is different to that of men.
Mentoring for gender equality and organisational change
Authors: de Vries Jennifer , Webb Claire , Eveline Joan
Published: January 2007

Purpose

There is considerable literature about the impact of mentoring on the mentees but little is known about the effect of the mentoring relationship on the mentor. This paper aims to address that gap.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews with 15 mentors and survey responses from 128 mentees are used to examine a formal mentoring programme. Most emphasis is on the perspective of the mentors, raising questions about how they view outcomes for themselves and their mentees, as well as the effects of mentoring on the workplace culture over time. Questions about the mentoring relationship, including gender differences, are analysed against the background of a decade‐long organisational change strategy.

Findings

Mentors report significant benefits for themselves and the mentee as well as the organisation itself as a result of their participation. The findings suggest that a long‐term mentoring programme for women has the potential to be an effective organisational change intervention. In particular, men involved in that programme increased their understanding and sensitivity regarding gendering processes in the workplace.

Practical implications

The importance of the impact of mentoring programmes on the mentors is an under‐investigated area. This study suggests that programme design, together with careful selection and targeting of mentors, enables mentoring to become a critical part of a culture change strategy.

Originality/value

The paper assists academics and practitioners to conceive of mentoring as a core element in an effective organisational change intervention. The innovation is to move mentoring away from assuming a deficit model of the mentee. As this programme shows, a focus on what needs to change in the dominant organisational culture, practices and values can lead to key players in the organisation becoming actively involved in the needed change process.
Absenteeism in the Nordic countries
Authors: Løkke Ann‐Kristina , Eskildsen Jacob K. , Wendelboe Jensen Troels
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the drivers of absenteeism and gives information of the relationship between absenteeism and personal and organizational characteristics in the Nordic countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical assumptions are tested empirically on data from a survey carried out in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. 10.748 employees from randomly selected households participated. Differences were examined using analysis of variance.

Findings

Among the findings are that Danish employees are less absent than employees in Norway, Finland and Sweden. Employees working in the public sector, more specific the municipalities, have a higher level of absence compared to the private sector. According to the personal characteristics, women are more absent than men in all Nordic countries, but the effect of age differs according to the country in question. If the manager however is a woman and the employee likewise, then the level of absence is higher in Denmark, Norway and Finland compared to the other gender constellations.

Originality/value

Because of the lack of international comparative studies of absenteeism in the Nordic countries, this paper brings new and a deeper understanding of the area as a basis of further empirical research and/or management concern.
Line managers’ views on adopting human resource roles: the case of Hilton (UK) hotels
Authors: Watson Sandra , Maxwell Gillian A. , Farquharson Lois
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore different levels of line manager perspectives, namely strategic and first‐line on their role in human resource management (HRM) and human resource development (HRD), and to identify enablers of and barriers to devolving HR to line managers.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a deductive approach, case study data was collected from 76 hotels, owned by Hilton UK, via self‐administered questionnaires to strategic and first‐line managers. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative results, prior to significance tests being conducted in SPSS to identify differences in means based on managerial positions.

Findings

A number of points of divergence in opinions are revealed, implying that there is potential for the case organisation to secure greater engagement of its first‐line managers in HR roles. Reducing the workloads and short‐term job pressures of these managers, together with capitalising on the good relations with the hotel HR specialists are means to develop greater engagement. Importantly, improving all line managers’ understanding of the organisational basis of their involvement in HR may bolster their performance in HR activities.

Originality/value

This paper offers a fusion of two theoretical perspectives (HRM and HRD), in addition to identifying differences in perceptions of two different levels of line managers.
London calling: selection as pre‐emptive strategy for cultural control
Authors: Brannan Matthew J. , Hawkins Beverley
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This article seeks to explore forms of selection practice, focusing on role‐play techniques, which have been introduced in many organizations in an attempt to “objectivize” the selection process by offering a means of assessing task‐specific aptitudes.

Design/methodology/approach

This article draws upon an ethnographic study of a call centre in which the researcher underwent the recruitment and selection process to secure work as a precursor to conducting fieldwork within the organization. Whilst there is little precedent for the employment of ethnographic techniques in researching recruitment and selection, we argue such techniques are appropriate to explore the social processes involved in practices such as role‐play. The discussion draws upon fieldwork which was conducted at “CallCentreCo”, who continuously recruit customer service representatives (CSRs) to work in their call centre. CallCentreCo uses role‐playing exercises extensively in the selection of all grades of staff and are argued by CallCentreCo's Human Resource Manager to be essential in the recruitment of CSRs to ensure the selection of suitable candidates and minimize initial attrition rates.

Findings

This article makes two contributions: first it provides empirical evidence to explore the basis of structured interviews by revealing how the view that role‐play can “objectivize” the selection process is potentially built upon false assumptions. Second, the article argues that supposedly “objective” practices such as role‐play seek to legitimize the overwhelmingly subjective interview process in order that it may serve purposes beyond initial selection: namely the control of future employees before they even enter the organization.

Research limitations/implications

Although we make no attempt to generalize from such a limited case study, this article raises issues that are likely to be relevant to organizations as they increasingly search for more “effective” selection procedures, and to academic endeavors to critically theorize the purpose and effects of selection for the employment relation.

Originality/value

The originality of this approach lies in the ethnographic study of the interview as a social interaction, the richness of which may be lost in the quantitatively dominated approach to analyzing selection.
Emotional intelligence at work: links to conflict and innovation
Authors: Suliman Abubakr M. , Al‐Shaikh Fuad N.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims at exploring, for the first time in the Arab World, the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in affecting work outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

A self‐administered questionnaire was used to survey 500 employees from 19 organizations in the United Arab Emirates. The findings are discussed in the paper along with some recommendations for managers and researchers.

Findings

The results revealed significant differences between employees' perceptions of emotional intelligence, conflict and readiness to create and innovate.

Research limitations/implications

The sample represented only financial and service sectors. The implications of the findings for researchers together with some future guidelines are discussed in the paper.

Practical implications

The paper provides practitioners with some advice about understanding and managing climate and conflict.

Originality/value

The paper is the first study in the Middle Eastern context that explores the link between the multifaceted concepts of EI, satisfaction and performance.
Library fundraising in Pakistan
Authors: Mahmood Khalid , Hameed Abdul , Jalaluddin Haider Syed
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To survey fundraising activities of government sector libraries in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey of randomly selected 100 large university, college, public and special libraries of Pakistan is conducted.

Findings

The review of literature reveals that no formal survey of such activities was carried out before. However, general library literature in the country mentions the examples of donations and gifts received in libraries. Data collected through survey show that very few libraries are involved in fundraising activities. Significant donations are given by foundations, international agencies and some individuals. The reasons for non‐engagement of most of the libraries in such activities are shortage of staff and parent organizations' involvement through other offices. Most of the libraries have no future plans for fundraising.

Research limitations/implications

The survey only focuses on large libraries in the public sector. Small libraries, school libraries and private sector libraries are not covered.

Practical implications

This is the first paper on this topic in Pakistan. It will help LIS decision makers plan for fundraising activities in libraries.

Originality/value

This paper presents a comprehensive literature review on fundraising in Pakistan. It is the first survey of such activities in this country. The experiences shared by libraries can be helpful for other developing countries.
Archival landscape in Eastern and Southern Africa
Authors: Mnjama Nathan
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This article seeks to answer one basic question: “Are archival institutions in the Eastern and Southern African region developing, stagnating or receding backwards?”

Design/methodology/approach

This article reviews the state of archives and records management in the Eastern and Southern African region. It argues that many archival services in the region have gone through a period of retardation and are in dire need of revitalization.

Findings

The article indicates that the challenges of managing electronic records are enormous and that unless measures are taken the region stands to lose much of its valuable historical and cultural heritage.

Originality/value

The article suggests various ways of revitalizing archival services in the Eastern and Southern African region.
Staff seminars and publications productivity: a study of academic librarians in Ogun State, Nigeria
Authors: Agboola A.T. , Oduwole A.A.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of staff seminars on the publications productivity of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals in academic libraries in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

To elicit the necessary information, a two‐part questionnaire was sent to 41 LIS professionals in the seven academic libraries in Ogun state during the 2002/2003 session. Of this number, 34 (82.3 percent) were returned and found usable.

Findings

Analysis of the returned questionnaires showed that the majority of respondents' libraries hold seminars, though only occasionally (70.8 percent). Participation is largely restricted to academic librarians (62.5 percent), although some libraries (37.5 percent) allowed participation by their para‐professional staff. While presentation of papers is largely optional (66.7 percent), some libraries (33.3 percent) made it obligatory for their staff. Most of the respondents were of the opinion that staff seminars positively affected their publication output in terms of quality and quantity. A total of 66 out of the total of 79 manuscripts submitted for publication after they have been criticized by their peers at seminars were published. This constitutes 83.5 percent success. The study recommends that staff seminars should be taken more seriously in university libraries so as to improve on the quality and increase the publication output of librarians as well as to justify their academic status.

Originality/value

This study provides useful information for those interested in the effect of staff seminars on the publications productivity of LIS professionals in academic libraries.
Strategic planning for marketing library services
Authors: Olu Adeyoyin Samuel
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to centre on marketing of library and information services and to attempt to correlate marketing as a concept to the provision of library services.

Design/methodology/approach

The user groups are identified with library classification in the paper. The paper also highlights library management in relation to marketing its services and products.

Findings

In view of the social, economic and technological changes, the paper advocates a paradigm shift from the traditional marketing system into a more vibrant and dynamic, strategic marketing of library services/products. The paper concludes that a major marketing campaign is necessary to increase awareness and educate the library users about available library resources. This crusade can be further strengthened by the provision of the right service at the right time and the right price to the right users in the right place while supported by a quality management team.

Originality/value

The paper provides useful information on the marketing of library and information services.