bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning, community give library and information associations a bright future
Authors: Lachance Janice R.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the new set of skills needed by information associations to face the change in the global community they are to represent.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper looks at the strategies of the Special Library Association whose benefits and services are aimed at three key areas: learning, networking and advocacy.

Findings

The paper finds that for library and information associations to create a healthy future they must devise flexible and forward‐looking strategies that connect the individual member with goals of the organization.

Originality/value

The paper provides a useful perspective on the future path of library and information associations in the global community.
IFLA: looking to the future
Authors: Johan Lor Peter
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to describe the current status of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and outline the challenges it faces in the current environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is descriptive, based on published literature, internal sources and participant observation.

Findings

IFLA, an international non‐governmental organisation founded in 1927, has a history of steady growth, which repeatedly necessitated structural adjustments and innovations. The pace of change accelerated in the 1970s, when IFLA reached out to the developing countries to become a truly international organisation. As IFLA entered the new millennium the rapid changes taking place in the environment of libraries gave rise to much rethinking of its structures, procedures and practices, including its membership, aims and values, governance and structure, core programmes, annual conference and advocacy. A re‐conceptualisation of IFLA based on three pillars – society, profession, and members – is proving useful in rethinking IFLA's future.

Originality/value

An up‐to‐date account of IFLA, of potential value to IFLA members and institutions considering membership.
National library associations as reflected in their codes of ethics
Authors: Koehler Wallace
Published: June 2006

Purpose

There are numerous professional associations for librarians and libraries. A small proportion of these have promulgated codes of ethics. These codes of ethics vary along several dimensions. Often the code reflects the social, political, or professional mandate of its organization. This paper aims to address ethics codes and their functions in professional associations that have individuals as members.

Design/methodology/approach

It is suggested that for these organizations there are several different types of ethics codes. This paper addresses the four most common types. The oldest code (American Library Association), one of the newest (Association des Bibliothécaires Français), and two of a more average age (Canadian Library Association and Colegio de Bibliotecarios de Chile) are compared and considered in detail.

Findings

The paper finds that, while most library and information professionals share similar values, as reflected in their codes of ethics, the application of those codes varies widely.

Originality/value

The paper provides useful information on codes of ethics for libraries and librarians.
Modeling of paint flow rate flux for elliptical paint sprays by using experimental paint thickness distributions
Authors: Sahir Arikan M.A. , Balkan Tuna
Published: June 2006

Purpose

Aims to experimental determination of paint flow rate flux for elliptical paint sprays. Paint flow rate flux distribution is necessary for computer simulation of the spray painting process.

Design/methodology/approach

Different painting strokes at different spray distances and painting velocities are made on flat surfaces by using paint sprays with elliptical spray areas. Then, thickness measurements are made across the strokes after the paint dries out completely. Thickness distributions are used for determination of the paint flow rate flux distribution by making use of the developed formulation and algorithm.

Findings

Finds that it is possible to determine the paint flow rate flux for elliptical paint sprays by making use of the painting strokes made on flat surfaces at different spray distances and painting velocities.

Practical implications

Computer simulation of the spray painting process for elliptical paint sprays is made possible. Simulation software for circular paint sprays has been developed previously by the authors.

Originality/value

Paint flow rate flux distribution is necessary for computer simulation of the spray painting process. Such simulation software has been developed previously by the authors.
The decentralisation of social assistance in The Netherlands
Authors: van Berkel Rik
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to make a preliminary assessment of the impacts of the decentralisation of Dutch social assistance.

Design/methodology/approach

Even though decentralisation is often promoted as a new governance instrument, balancing centralised and decentralised aspects has been a feature of Social Assistance systems for a long time. This article describes how processes of decentralisation in Dutch Social Assistance in the context of activating the Dutch welfare state are determined by two core objectives: on the one hand, to give local authorities more autonomy in designing and delivering activation services; on the other hand, to ensure that national social policy objectives are implemented at the local level. Specific attention is paid to the most recent decentralisation development which made municipalities financially responsible for social assistance expenditure. Building on the results of some preliminary evaluation and effect studies, this article assesses the impact of decentralisation.

Findings

The findings show that decentralising financial responsibility has had a clear impact on local policies: preventing social assistance dependency and promoting social assistance exit have become major concerns of many Dutch municipalities.

Research limitations/implications

As the latest decentralisation reform is recent, research results are preliminary at this stage. Future evaluation research should focus on a broader set of success criteria than the reduction of social assistance expenditure only.

Practical implications

The article discusses some fundamental issues often neglected by those advocating decentralisation: how do local social policies influence labour‐market developments? To what degree does inter‐municipal variation reflect different local needs? What is the impact of decentralisation on equality and equal treatment? Decentralisation may be necessary in order to make social services more effective and tailor made, but it certainly is not free from risks.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the debate on the risks and opportunities of decentralisation of social assistance on the basis of empirical evidence and practical experiences.
Empowerment, waste and new consumption communities
Authors: Bekin Caroline , Carrigan Marylyn , Szmigin Isabelle
Published: June 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the diverse and complementary resistance and waste‐reduction practices adopted by UK‐based New Consumption Communities, and whether such behaviours empower them to achieve their environmental and social goals.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology can be broadly classified as critical ethnography, which acknowledges the researcher's own subjectivity, how the informants are treated and represented, and the study's wider context. A participant‐observer role is employed and six distinct New Consumption Communities are explored.

Findings

It is suggested that through their resistance and empowerment, as well as a reconnection to production, the communities are able to implement alternatives to the wasteful practices of mainstream consumption behaviour, and achieve (partial) autonomy from the hegemonic forces of the market.

Originality/value

This paper's original perspective on waste is not limited to a small group of consumers, and thus should interest marketers and policy makers engaged in the advancement of sustainability and green marketing.
The compatibility of performance appraisal systems with TQM principles – evidence from current practice
Authors: Soltani Ebrahim , van der Meer Robert , Williams Terry M. , Lai Pei‐chun
Published: June 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to address the question whether or not quality‐driven organisations have, in practice, tended to adjust their performance appraisal systems to integrate total quality management (TQM) requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

To do so, the findings of an initial literature survey suggested the combined use of quantitative and qualitative methods for empirical research. The quantitative element consists of a postal questionnaire survey of 64 UK‐based, quality‐driven organisations on the topic of performance appraisal in the context of TQM. Key informants from ten of these organisations were subsequently interviewed in order to gather detailed information on the reasons behind their initial responses.

Findings

The results indicated that only a minority of the respondents were satisfied with their TQM programmes. But this comparative lack of success did not lead them to eliminate performance appraisal altogether, as advocated by Deming and others because of the role of systems‐level causes of performance variation.

Research limitations/implications

One important question concerns the notion (expounded in much of the quality literature) that a vast proportion of the variance in individual performance is caused by systems‐level features. There is, however, little hard evidence for this view.

Practical implications

By acquiring the relevant knowledge and understanding of contextually‐appropriate performance appraisal and management, practitioners would be able to translate and mediate TQM requirements into performance appraisal criteria to maintain the integrity of organisational change initiatives aimed at long‐term business excellence.

Originality/value

The research provides a starting‐point for both TQM scholars and managers, and it can serve as a road‐map and a challenge to quality‐driven organisations.
Towards holistic chromatic intelligent monitoring of complex systems
Authors: Deakin A.G. , Rallis I. , Zhang J. , Spencer J.W. , Jones G.R.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To introduce chromatic methods and their application to monitoring complex systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Complexity is introduced and the need for holistic monitoring is suggested. The chromatic methodologies are introduced and their broad‐ranging applicability is illustrated with reference to a number of diverse applications.

Findings

The generic chromatic monitoring technology has much to offer as a way of visualising, understanding, monitoring and controlling complex processes and system behaviour.

Practical implications

The technology is leading to new ways of characterising and evaluating aspects of system behaviour, in a holistic and non‐intrusive manner, that are difficult to measure – e.g. walking behaviour of the elderly, tiredness of drivers.

Originality/value

Draws out the generic basis of the chromatic methodology and how it may be applied to a wide range of complex systems and situations to predict when and where human intervention is required.
Image processing algorithms underpinning iris and facial recognition systems
Authors: Connolly Christine
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To study the mathematical image coding approaches used in two types of biometric systems, and the physical nature of those biometrics.

Design/methodology/approach

Gives details of algorithms used to encode data from images in established and new automatic iris recognition systems. Then examines face recognition techniques based on geometry, texture and three‐dimensional data.

Findings

Most commercial iris recognition systems are based on the algorithms developed by one man, John Daugman. Whilst iris systems can be used to check a person's identity against a large database of enrolled people, face recognition systems are currently only capable of use in one‐to‐one recognition mode, or in identification mode against a very small database. The iris is very distinctive and stable over time, but the face is much more variable and therefore difficult to identify with accuracy.

Originality/value

Provides the general scientific reader with some insight into the specialised field of biometric recognition.
A robust automatic face recognition system for real‐time personal identification
Authors: Li Qin , Hong Cheung King , You Jane , Tong Raymond , Mak Arthur
Published: June 2006

Purpose

Aims to develop an efficient and robust system for real‐time personal identification by automatic face recognition.

Design/methodology/approach

A wavelet‐based image hierarchy and a guided coarse‐to‐fine search scheme are introduced to improve the computation efficiency in the face detection task. In addition, a Gabor‐based low feature dimensional pattern is proposed to deal with the face recognition problem.

Findings

The proposal of a wavelet‐based image hierarchy and a guided coarse‐to‐fine search scheme is effective to improve the computation efficiency in the face detection task. The introduction of a low feature dimensional pattern is powerful to cope with the transformed appearance‐based face recognition problem. In addition, the use of aggregated Gabor filter responses to represent face images provides a better solution to face feature extraction.

Research limitations/implications

Provides guidance in the design of automatic face recognition system for real‐time personal identification.

Practical implications

Biometrics recognition has been emerging as a new and effective identification technology that attains certain level of maturity. Among many body characteristics that have been used, face is one of the most commonly used characteristics and has drawn considerably large attentions. An automated system to confirm an individual's identity employing features of face is very attractive in many specialized fields.

Originality/value

Introduces a wavelet‐based image hierarchy and a guided coarse‐to‐fine search scheme to improve the computation efficiency in the face detection task. Introduces a Gabor‐based low feature dimensional pattern to deal with the face recognition problem.
Review of iris recognition: cameras, systems, and their applications
Authors: Eliza Du Yingzi
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To overview the iris cameras, iris recognition systems, and their applications.

Design/methodology/approach

Introduced and examined commercially available or lab prototype iris cameras and systems to compare their functionalities and applications.

Findings

Each kind of camera has its advantage and disadvantage. From the application view, each iris recognition system has its unique values.

Originality/value

This paper offers latest updates and essential information on iris recognition cameras and systems. It can benefit busy engineers, researchers, and managers who are interested in biometrics, security, and new technologies.
Corporate and academic responses to gender diversity
Authors: Levin Leslie A. , Mattis Mary
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To show how companies that address gender diversity issues as business issues, not just as human resources issues, will reap rewards both inside and outside the company. Also, to show how business schools can make a significant contribution toward the understanding of diversity as a business issue.

Design/methodology/approach

First, women's corporate managerial roles are examined: the economic and social reasons to focus on gender diversity and the costs of companies’ failure to address diversity issues, specifically, turnover and retention. Next, women's roles as consumers are studied. Finally, women's roles as business students are looked at, specifically, the negative stereotypes reinforced in business school and carried into the workplace. The study concludes with examples of programs developed by Avon Products and Deloitte and Touche, LLP, to address diversity issues.

Findings

Provides statistics on women's workforce participation, costs of corporate turnover, women's earned college and graduate degrees. Identifies the key barriers to female career advancement; discusses the role of female consumers and business owners; provides company examples and case studies that illustrate the successful integration of women into academic and corporate life.

Research limitations/implications

Only Stanford and Harvard Business school cases are looked at, although the latter is the largest producer of case studies used in business schools. One of the two longer corporate examples discusses diversity strategies in Avon Mexico which may limit its relevance to other US companies.

Practical implications

Good source for bibliography on corporate and academic diversity. Particularly useful for corporate human resources professionals and women about to enter business school or start their first corporate job. Also useful for researchers/academics writing business school case studies.

Originality/value

Presents a strong case for the retention and development of corporate women as well as the need for business school cases to model behavior and modify negative attitudes toward women in business.
Entrepreneurship education: towards a discipline‐based framework
Authors: Johnson Debra , Craig Justin B.L. , Hildebrand Ryan
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this exploratory research was to investigate whether: entrepreneurship in the higher education context can be distinguished by disciplined‐based needs; and curricula can be developed around these needs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors reviewed the literature related to the development of professions in order to establish a sound theoretical base to distinguish disciplines that require stringent criteria, and which potentially would challenge the introduction of a more flexible curriculum that includes contemporary concepts such as entrepreneurship. The research then focused on two other groups of disciplines which lead to entrepreneurial opportunities with distinct needs in (principally) people management and intellectual property law. This discussion was couched in the occupational motivation literature. Semi‐structured interviews (n=31) were conducted with individuals randomly selected from three groups associated with an American Land Grant Research University. Additional survey data were collected from 58 respondents.

Findings

The research found support for the categorization of disciplines into the framework of profession‐, industry‐, or invention‐based entrepreneurial ventures.

Originality/value

Although this is an exploratory investigation, the framework sets out clear pathways through the entrepreneurial processes and has crucial implications for a variety of stakeholders. For example: curriculum designers will be better able to understand and address the demands and vagaries of multiple disciplines; critical assumptions (that often plague those involved with technology transfer) will be able to be addressed prior to or in the early stage of the commercialization process because inventors will be better informed and prepared; equity stakeholder negotiations (particularly those that involve government‐operated institutions) will be more realistic as both parties, over time, become increasingly “market‐savvy”; and students (tomorrow's entrepreneurs) will be better able to plan for an entrepreneurially‐focused career.
Cultural obstacles in growing entrepreneurship: a study in Singapore
Authors: Cheng Patrick Low Kim
Published: June 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to identify the cultural obstacles or what discourages the setting‐up of businesses among Singaporeans.

Design/methodology/approach

Focus group method.

Findings

Four obstacles: being over‐compliant, too left‐brained, over‐pampered, and afraid of failing, are identified. They are assessed as stemming from two key trends: chiefly, a safe, orderly and affluent society and Singapore Government's father‐leadership style. Several recommendations are then made.

Research limitations/implications

Limitation: time and costs constraints – otherwise more focus group sessions could have been held. Future research, if a budget permits, can employ separate recorders to take notes, freeing the researcher to facilitate the discussions, extracting more information.

Practical implications

The paper implies the need for several cultural changes: Singaporeans can be more entrepreneurial by taking a paradigm shift, adopting the “backpack mentality”; embracing globalised thinking and networking; and tapping the melting‐pot edge.

Originality/value

The article provides a continuing perspective on entrepreneurship in Singapore.
Use of electrical energy in university buildings: a Hong Kong case study
Authors: Wong W.P. , Fellows R.F. , Liu A.M.M.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the issue of electrical energy consumption through case studies of a small sample of buildings on a university campus in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were used to produce deterministic time‐series models and so aid analysis of the climatic effects on energy consumption. Semi‐structured interviews were employed to supplement the data. Both technical factors impacting on energy consumption and behavioural considerations are addressed.

Findings

Conclusions demonstrate the impact of functions housed in the buildings, their intensity of occupation, and that the increased consumption to combat high temperatures and relative humidity during the summer can be mitigated by improved control systems and increased awareness of users to induce less energy consuming behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations of the empirical study are due to the rather short run of data which were available for the case study buildings and the particular functions of the buildings studied. More detailed data of energy consumption is desirable. Complimentary studies should concern different building functional types and other locations, involving varying climatic conditions.

Practical implications

The findings demonstrate the value of time series models of, and the impacts of the main variables on energy consumption and so, should inform design decisions regarding life cycle costing of buildings and foster energy conservation.

Originality/value

This paper has provided empirical modelling of energy uses in the case study buildings and thereby demonstrated the impacts on energy uses of certain major variables to inform design for energy conservation.
The role of existing buildings in the sustainability agenda
Authors: Wood Brian
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To investigate the contribution that existing buildings make to sustainability and thereby to develop a research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

Reviews literature related to existing buildings in the urban context, positing that there is more “value” in buildings than their “bricks and mortar” and investigates contributory factors.

Findings

No building is an island. Buildings relate one to another and to the infrastructure, which links and serves them and their users. There are, for instance, cultural, heritage and physical links to be built upon and added to by new buildings and improvements to existing buildings. The concept of “embodied energy” is relevant.

Research limitations/implications

Much of the building stock of the twenty‐second century already exists. To make a serious impact on improving sustainability, existing building stock should be more fully considered, so that fewer resources may be consumed by building new. Further research is needed to develop and test an evaluation model that will make a fuller assessment of the “investment” in existing buildings.

Originality/value

The paper prompts a re‐evaluation of existing buildings and their contribution to sustainability.
What is integration?
Authors: Gulledge Thomas
Published: June 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a clarification of the meaning of the term integration.

Design/methodology/approach

A taxonomy of integration definitions derived from the academic and trade literature is developed, analyzed, and documented.

Findings

Integration is a word that is commonly used when discussing enterprise applications. The term integration is inserted in technical papers, e‐mail messages, correspondence, proposals, and even causal conversations. After many years of project work, and many misunderstandings and failed meetings and workshops, it can only be stated that the word has multiple and misunderstood meanings. For technical papers (research and trade), the term must be provided with context, or it is impossible to have a meaningful conversation. Next, multiple alternative definitions (that are valid in the literature for the appropriate context) are presented and explained in some detail.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is not exhaustive, since new definitions of integration may exist or may emerge.

Originality/value

The main contribution of the paper is that it yields clarity on a key term that is frequently used in information systems research. The paper is useful to any researchers or practitioners who are focused on enterprise system implementation.
Quantitative performance evaluation of RFID applications in the supply chain of the printing industry
Authors: Hou Jiang‐Liang , Huang Chih‐Hao
Published: June 2006

Purpose

Seeks to carry out an empirical study to reveal the business characteristics of the printing industry and to accomplish a quantitative analysis of costs and benefits for RFID applications in different logistics activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The business operation requirements and RFID acceptance of distinct roles in the printing supply chain are explored via interviews and questionnaires. The printing supply chain is classified into six fundamental models and RFID application scenarios for the six models are also provided.

Findings

The ideal approach for RFID application in the printing supply chain is the item‐tagging mechanism.

Practical implications

The decision maker can refer to the cost and efficiency look‐up tables to quickly evaluate the feasibility for RFID implementation.

Originality/value

This paper provides useful reference information for enterprises to evaluate the RFID implementation in the supply chain.
Retirement housing for sale and differences in the decision to purchase that are determined by gender or marital status
Authors: Livette Martin
Published: June 2006

Purpose

Various studies have shown that nearly three‐quarters of older people living within retirement housing are female single persons, leading some researchers to argue that sheltered housing is essentially a gender or health‐related issue, which can be explained demographically. Possible differences in the buyer behaviour of men and women or single people and married couples are ignored. If differences exist, the approaches adopted by not‐for‐profit agencies to improve the decision‐making process may need to differentiate between the sexes and marital states. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to comment on the differences in the process and contrast some of the results of the research.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of about 200 respondents was selected from all purchasers of retirement housing in the West Midlands region of England. Semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with 20 respondents.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that differences exist of less than one‐fifth of the decision‐making factors explored in the study.

Originality/value

Differences can limit the number of suitable options for the purchaser. Therefore, not‐ for‐profit agencies, when providing information and offering advice about housing alternatives, need to appreciate differences between the sexes and marital states in terms of the provision of stairs, the garden, loneliness and problems or difficulties associated with bereavement; the number of builders contacted and schemes known; and the awareness and consideration stages of the decision‐making process relating to a number of housing alternatives.
Design and analysis of Bluetooth scatternet for mobile multimedia applications
Authors: Kwan T.M.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To present a combination of Bluetooth handoff techniques and scatternet formation to adapt to varying topologies and traffic changes.

Design/methodology/approach

Through ad hoc networking with Bluetooth, devices could participate in multiple piconets, which form the scatternet. Although the details of scatternet implementation are not specified in the Bluetooth specification, much research has been carried out to propose different models of implementation. This paper presents a combination of the techniques of handoff and scatternet formation to adapt to varying topologies and traffic changes. Analysis of network performance is presented to confirm the feasibility of real implementation.

Findings

Provides a novel and practical design, compatible with Bluetooth specification, which is shown by experimental results to be an efficient design in providing a scatternet formation approach, while at the same time maintaining a low data error rate to support data and voice.

Originality/value

This paper presents Bluetooth handoff and scatternet formation techniques to extend geographical coverage and increase system capacity with adaptation to varying topologies and traffic changes. The techniques presented are compatible with Bluetooth specifications 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2.
Space‐themed videogames: an effective way to promote space
Authors: Scatteia L.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to describe the potential of the videogame as a mass communication medium and to propose a videogame‐based public outreach strategy for education and inspiration to space science and space activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The objective was achieved by means of a semiotic approach to the medium under discussion. The subject scope of the paper was further developed and supported by an overview of existing case studies related to the topic. Based on the aforementioned analysis and on original ideas, new concepts and strategies on the subject are proposed.

Findings

The videogame medium has excellent potential for promotion, marketing and educational applications. Moreover, spin‐off applications in the field of simulation‐based research can also be envisioned. The proposed concepts, although specifically referring to the space sector, are applicable to many other industrial and non‐industrial fields, including libraries.

Practical implications

The paper hints at many possible spin‐off applications for videogames in the field of communication, marketing and simulation‐based research.

Originality/value

The concepts proposed in the paper outline novel marketing and outreach strategies (together with other spin‐off applications) based on a rather underestimated medium, i.e. the videogame, which has yet to receive proper attention from scholars.
The role of time wasted in sales force attitudes and intention to quit
Authors: Jaramillo Fernando , Mulki Jay Prakash , Locander William B.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to build on previous research on stress in sales forces to investigate the effect of perceptions of time wasted on salespersons' attitudes and behavioral intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Responses from 400 salespeople who work in 49 business units of four Ecuadorian financial institutions were used to test a conceptual stress model. The research hypotheses were tested with a structural equation model.

Findings

Salespeople operating in the banking industry are prone to be dissatisfied, emotionally exhausted, and are likely to quit when they believe that their time or their efforts have been wasted or used ineffectively.

Research limitations/implications

Ecuadorian samples adequately represent Latin American banking employees. However, individuals from collectivistic countries, such as Ecuador, have a more relaxed view of time. Hence, perceptions of time wasted may have a greater effect on job attitudes and behaviors in the USA than in Ecuador.

Practical implications

Success in sales requires effective time management. However, salespeople are sometimes required to perform activities that they can perceive as wasteful. Managers should be aware that performing wasteful activities leads to emotional exhaustion and high intentions to quit.

Originality/value

This is the first study to empirically test the effect of time wasted on organizational variables.
Benchmarking market orientation of banks in transitional markets
Authors: Kolar Tomaž
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the market orientation of Slovenian banks in order to identify critical areas as well as potential barriers to market orientation. In addition, it is expected that use of an adapted methodological approach will improve relevance of managerial implications.

Design/methodology/approach

A modified questionnaire for assessment of market orientation in the banking context is introduced, including a market culture dimension and focusing on manifest organizational activities. Market orientation was assessed on samples of Slovenian and European banks, comparing the gaps between the two, using a benchmarking principle.

Findings

The results confirm the expected lack of market orientation in Slovenian banks. The lag of Slovenian banks is significant for dimensions of marketing intelligence generation and intelligence dissemination, while it is insignificant on responsiveness and marketing culture dimensions. The results also show that Slovenian banks are weaker at formal than at informal (i.e. cultural) elements of market orientation.

Research limitations/implications

The paper explores the question of adapting a market orientation survey methodology to the specific context of banks in transitional markets. The small sample, however, restricts statistical examination of the validity, reliability and factorial structure of the measurement instrument.

Practical implications

Strategic and tactical activities in Slovenian banks are pointed out which require improvement efforts in order to become more strongly market‐oriented.

Originality/value

The paper fulfils an established need for comparative evaluation of the market orientation for banks in transitional markets. Methodologically, it builds on an expanded conceptualization of the construct and adapted measurement instrument that is focused on specific activities rather than on general managerial philosophy.
The accuracy of earnings forecasts disclosed in the prospectuses of newly formed public companies in Jordan
Authors: El‐Rajabi Mohamad T.A. , Gunasekaran Angappa
Published: June 2006

Purpose

This study aims to examine the accuracy of the earnings forecasts (EFs) included in the prospectuses of newly established firms in Jordan.

Design/methodology/approach

Prospectuses of 41 newly formed public companies in Amman stock exchange during the period 1992‐1996 are tested to identify the accuracy of EF and the association between EF and certain firm characteristics. These include auditor's reputation (AUD), retained ownership, plant assets, DE, BVPSH, market value to book value (MV2BV), size and forecast period.

Findings

Findings show that forecasts are optimistic and retained ownership ratio, MV2BV, and the losses in SHPs are associated with forecast errors.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is limited to companies that are required to provide earnings estimates in their prospectuses. Thus holding companies, insurance companies and private firms which went public are excluded from the sample.

Practical implications

Investors are advised to seek other information as the EF are biased.

Originality/value

The paper highlights that Jordanian regulators need to address the inaccuracy of earnings which can give negative signals to local and foreign investors.
Using automated equilibrium correction modelling in analytic review
Authors: Omura Teruyo , Willett Roger
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how dynamic regression models based on equilibrium correction principles can be used to form auditor expectations of account balances as part of the analytic review.

Design/methodology/approach

The design and method are empirical, using the automated econometric software of PcGets and annual data of the Toyota Company over the period 1950‐2004 to generate forecasts of sales and earnings.

Findings

Automated equilibrium correction models (AECMs) are shown to possess stable parameters and provide reliable one year ahead forecasts of sales based on macro‐economic data. AECMs are then used to generate indicative earnings forecasts conditional upon sales as an expectation generating tool for directing auditors' attention to possible sources of error in financial statements.

Research limitations/implications

Analysis is illustrative of a general method and does not provide exhaustive treatment of the full range of potential application of AECMs.

Practical implications

Until recently, econometric problems have made the use of dynamic regression models in auditing difficult for non‐specialists to implement. Developments in automated software packages such as PcGets now make the use of such procedures by audit practitioners possible.

Originality/value

Relatively little is known about dynamic regression models in the accounting and auditing literature. This paper introduces the basic concepts underpinning AECMs and demonstrates their potential to contribute to the analytic review toolkit of the auditor.
Increase your fraud auditing effectiveness by being unpredictable!
Authors: McKee Thomas E.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To identify how auditors can incorporate unpredictability into their audit plan in order to comply with both US and international auditing standards on the prevention and detection of fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

Review of auditing standards, fraud cases, and other audit literature.

Findings

A cost‐benefit model for evaluating unpredictability and 17 specific ways that auditors can incorporate unpredictability.

Practical implications

This paper can be used by practicing auditors to develop ways to increase their compliance with professional standards.

Originality/value

The paper fills a void in the literature with respect to how auditors can be unpredictable as required by auditing standards.
International opportunities for artful learning
Authors: Darsø Lotte
Published: June 2006

Purpose

Arts‐based learning in business is a young field. Few businesspeople are aware of the opportunities to learn about it. This article takes an international look at the most prominent programs that bring together businesspeople, artists, and academics in various combinations.

Design/methodology/approach

Over the past several years, the author has interviewed people active in the field in the USA and Europe. This survey article brings together her findings.

Findings

There are many opportunities for learning. Some bring artists and businesspeople together; some combine academics, artists, and businesspeople; and within the academic community there are many opportunities for artists and academics.

Practical implications

Businesspeople will learn and take advantage of learning opportunities.

Originality/value

The author has not seen such a survey published elsewhere.
Which policies effectively enable smoking cessation? Evidence from the European Union
Authors: Costa Joan , Mossialos Elias
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To examine the determinants of smoking cessation and tobacco consumption in the European Union (EU) countries. Specifically, the paper seeks to examine the role of smoking risk perceptions and anti‐smoking regulation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilizes multivariate analysis of an EU representative survey.

Findings

From all anti‐smoking policies examined, regulatory and information policies seem to show some influence on the cessation decision. Furthermore, once individuals decide to quit smoking they tend to perceive smoking risks differently.

Research limitations/implications

The main policies influencing smoking cessation in the EU are informational campaigns and regulation policies. However, tobacco price does not seem to influence smoking cessation such as advertising.

Practical implications

Regulation is largely associated with smoking cessation due to the role of social interactions of smoking and thus we might expect risk regulation policies to continue to impose constraints on the capacity of smokers to freely smoke.

Originality/value

The use of a common questionnaire for a sample representative of EU countries. The specific consideration of regulatory variables and risk perceptions.
The effects of mean reversion on alternative investment strategies
Authors: Wilkens Kathryn A. , Heck Jean L. , Cochran Steven J.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between predictability in return and investment strategy performance. Two measures that characterize investment strategies within a mean‐variance framework, an activity measure and a style measure, are developed and the performance of alternative strategies (e.g. contrarian, momentum, etc.) is examined when risky asset returns are mean reverting.

Design/methodology/approach

Returns are assumed to follow a multivariate Ornstein‐Uhlenbeck process, where reversion to a time‐varying mean is governed by an additional variable set, similar to that proposed by Lo and Wang (1995). Depending on its parameterization, this process is capable of producing an autocorrelation pattern consistent with empirical evidence, that is, positive autocorrelation in short‐horizon returns and negative autocorrelation in long‐horizon returns.

Findings

The results, for four uninformed investment strategies and assuming that returns are generated by a simple univariate Ornstein‐Uhlenbeck process, show that the unadjusted returns from the contrarian (momentum) strategy are greater than those from the other strategies when the mean reversion parameter, α, is greater than (less than) one. The results are expected, given the relationship between α and the first‐order autocorrelation in returns. The risk level (measured by either the standard deviation of returns or beta) of the contrarian strategy is the lowest at essentially all levels of mean reversion and the risk‐adjusted returns from the contrarian strategy, measured by the both the Sharpe and Treynor ratios, dominate those from the other strategies.

Research limitations/implications

In future research, a number of issues not considered in this study may be investigated. The style measure developed here can be used to determine whether the results obtained hold when an informed, mean‐variance efficient active strategy is employed. In addition, the performance of both the informed and uninformed strategies may be examined under the assumption that the risky return process follows a multivariate Ornstein‐Uhlenbeck process. This work should provide findings that facilitate the separation of fund risk due to dynamic strategies from that due to time‐varying expected returns.

Practical implications

The methodology used here may be easily extended to consider a number of important issues, such as the frequency of portfolio rebalancing, transactions costs, and multiple asset portfolios, that are encountered in practice.

Originality/value

The approach used here provides insight into how predictability affects the relative performance of tactical investment strategies and, thus, may serve as a basis for determining the magnitude and persistence in autocorrelation required for active investment strategies to yield profits significantly different from those of passive strategies. In this sense, this study may have appeal for both academics and investment professionals.
The use of options in corporate risk management
Authors: Bartram Söhnke M.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

This paper investigates the motivations and practice of nonfinancial firms with regard to using options in their risk management activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a comprehensive account of the existing empirical evidence and analyzes data on the use of derivatives in general and options in particular by nonfinancial corporations across different underlyings and countries.

Findings

Overall, a significant number of 15‐25 per cent of the firms outside the financial sector use options. This reflects the fact that options are very versatile risk management instruments that can be used to hedge various types of exposures, linear as well as nonlinear. In particular, options are a useful component of corporate risk management if exposures are uncertain, e.g. due to price and quantity risk. Depending on the correlation between price and quantity risk, the optimal hedge portfolio consists of a varying combination of linear and nonlinear risk management instruments. Moreover, the accounting treatment as well as liquidity effects can impact the choice of derivative. At the same time, there may be agency‐related incentives to use options because of their role to present dual bets on both direction as well as future volatility of the underlying.

Practical implications

The findings are important with regards to assessing whether the full potential of derivative financial instruments is being realized, since not all firms use these instruments and not all of them use all types and, more importantly, whether they are used appropriately.

Originality/value

The paper provides an up‐to‐date analysis of the motivations for nonfinancial firms to use financial derivatives in general and options in particular as well as comprehensively characterizes the extent of their use in practice.
The American public library and its fragile future
Authors: Scrogham Ron E.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To argue that the future of the US public library depends on a commitment to the library as a place within the public sphere for the intellectual development of a community primarily through books and reading, where service to the public is framed by professional librarians.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses supportive literature from within and outside librarianship to provide an alternative perspective to Michael Sullivan'sPublic Libraries'article of 2003, which argues that the future of the public library is fragile because of its inflexibility before the pressures of the internet, failing public commitment, and a potential shortage of librarians.

Findings

Public libraries continue to be identified as places for reading and books. Despite the public's embrace of the internet for ready reference, there are still questions best answered through print reference materials and professional assistance. Through active collection development, libraries remain places of heterogeneity and serendipitous discovery. The fragility of the public library is attributable to the incursion of a market‐capitalist model of service into an institution of the public sphere. Deprofessionalization threatens to lose a corps of professionals committed to values of civil liberties and community.

Originality/value

This paper suggests that the future of the public library depends on its commitment to being a place for books and reading, as an alternative to a model of service based on the Internet, the bookstore, and a paraprofessional staff. The paper should be of use to those who provide, design, manage, and teach models of service in the public library.