bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Turning practically: broadening the horizon
Authors: Eikeland Olav , Nicolini Davide
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue, positioning the articles in relation to the current “turn to practice” within organisation and management studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces a schematic classification of ways of putting practice at the centre of the concern of social scientists depending on the interest of the researcher and his/her position with regard to the object of the research.

Findings

The paper finds that turning to practice does not necessarily, or simply, equate with becoming more engaged, or with making social science relevant, or with moving social science closer to the practical concerns of separate practitioners. It is argued that the effort should be concentrated on developing a type of theory that helps practitioners articulate what they already do, and therefore somehow know. The model for this way of theorising would therefore be not physics or astronomy but rather grammar – a discipline that although just as old, has been based traditionally on a very different relationship between knower and known.

Practical implications

The paper argues that when conceived after a grammatical model, “theory” may become a resource to be used in action and for action to produce emancipatory awareness and trigger change through critical reflection.

Originality/value

The papers in this special issue constitute an initial contribution in this direction as they indicate different ways in which theory, when developed “with” and “amid” and not “for” or even “about” practitioners, may become a powerful trigger of change and transformation.
Development of activity through reflection: the case of the public prosecutor'slapsus linguae
Authors: Kostulski Katia
Published: April 2011

Purpose

Drawing upon a case study with public prosecutors, this article seeks to illustrate a reflective methodology for the analysis of activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper first describes the origin of the intervention at the National School of Magistracy and the great diversity of public prosecutor daily activities, and then presents the theoretical and methodological framework employed: the “clinic of activity” and its associated analyses in “crossed self‐confrontation”. This perspective organizes a developmental process in the professional experience of professionals by the way of the analysis methodology, constructed in a Vygotskian interpretation of the thought‐language relations and its consequences for consciousness and psychological development. Finally, the paper illustrates the approach using the example of a micro‐event, alapsus lingaethat occurred during work activity, and shows how such an apparently insignificant “detail” can become a subject of reflection and enable an individual and collective elaboration of thinking about work.

Findings

By examining this singular event and the progression of its interpretation, the paper attempts to explain the approach and field of operation in the clinic of activity. This example shows how an apparently insignificant event can lead to an analysis of the work activity. In this example, an error in pronunciation, interpreted by the professionals as alapsus linguae, is the basis of an analysis which makes it possible to show and develop the principle of the counter argument, the obligations that this principle carries, as well as the historical and generic forms of the counter argument within hearings.

Originality/value

This paper looks to transform preoccupied professionals into occupied professionals, or in other words, to expand the profession's limits.
Through the eyes of others
Authors: Nicolini Davide , Hartley Jean , Stansfield Annette , Hurcombe Judith
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to critically examine the principles, mechanisms, and critical success factors of developmental peer review as a way to promote reflection and change in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper calls developmental peer review the structured, managed, and collaborative process whereby reputable others are invited into an organisation to provide feedback and offer guidance on organisational change and improvement. In the paper, the authors use the example of developmental peer review in UK local government both to foreground some of the distinctive aspects of the methodology and to identify some of its critical conditions of use.

Findings

The paper argues that this type of initiative often co‐exists with a more judgemental inspection‐oriented double. The institutional framework that surrounds developmental peer review makes it therefore both a powerful and delicate tool. There is a need in this initiative to maintain a dynamic balance to avoid either coercion or collusion in review.

Practical implications

In order to achieve its potential, peer review needs to be clearly framed and constructed as a developmental initiative. In the paper, a number of suggestions of how to do so are offered. If doubts exist on the nature of the exercise, it is likely that people will interpret it as a form of inspection and react defensively, reducing its capacity to trigger learning and transformation.

Originality/value

This paper advances knowledge and understanding about developmental peer review, by drawing on the relevant literature and also analysing a prevalent form of such review in current use in local government organizations in England and Wales.
Supporting expansive learning through theoretical‐genetic reflection in the Change Laboratory
Authors: Virkkunen Jaakko , Ahonen Heli
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show the importance of theoretical‐genetic reflection in expansive learning and the transformation of an activity.

Design/methodology/approach

Cultural‐historical activity theory is used to explicate forms of work‐related reflection, and an intervention method based on activity theory, the change laboratory, is presented.

Findings

Different levels of reflection and the intellectual tools needed for them are identified.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical support presented for the theoretical ideas in the article is based on an exemplary case. This intervention method makes it possible to analyze reflection as a tool‐mediated collaborative activity.

Practical implications

The change laboratory method can be used to support expansive learning and learning to learn in work communities.

Originality/value

The paper introduces a less well‐known original intervention methodology to the audience of the JOCM and demonstrates how it connects some current lines of thought in change management.
Future sustainable supply chains: what should companies scan?
Authors: Fabbe‐Costes Nathalie , Roussat Christine , Colin Jacques
Published: April 2011

Purpose

Companies that try to build sustainable supply chains or that have to reengineer their supply chains to face sustainable development issues are confronted with such a complex and uncertain context that scanning their environment becomes more than ever necessary. This paper makes up the first stage of a research program. It aims to find an adequate scanning approach for sustainable supply chain design.

Design/methodology/approach

The research follows a two‐steps methodology. First, it looks for appropriate scanning frameworks by reviewing the dedicated literature. Second, it gathers ideas and knowledge combining an analysis of sustainable supply chain empirical studies with the collection of experts' scanning know‐how, by means of semi‐structured interviews.

Findings

This first stage of the research program suggests use of a multi‐and interrelated levels scope for sustainable scanning with a network perspective. The renewed target approach it promotes results in modifying scanning priorities. The overall findings shape up the first draft of a sustainable scanning framework, including a multi‐levels scope of analysis, a list of sustainable targets and a first contribution concerning scanning methods and attitudes.

Research limitations/implications

The relevance of our scanning framework needs further testing to validate its usefulness and provide recommendations for managers.

Practical implications

The paper proposes a scanning framework and a list of targets that could be implemented by professionals.

Originality/value

The contribution in this paper is to link environmental scanning and sustainable development adding a supply chain orientation, and to propose a conceptual “sustainable scanning framework”. It is hoped that further research will prove that it has interesting managerial implications for companies challenged by sustainable development issues.
The moderating effects of technological and demand uncertainties on the relationship between supply chain integration and customer delivery performance
Authors: Boon‐itt Sakun , Yew Wong Chee
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the moderating effects of technological and demand uncertainties on the relationship between supply chain integration and customer delivery performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a survey questionnaire with 151 participants in the Thai automotive industry supply chain, hierarchical regressions are used to test the moderating effects.

Findings

Internal and supplier integration, but not customer integration, were positively associated with customer delivery performance. Technological and demand uncertainties were found to moderate the relationships between internal integration and customer delivery performance, and supplier integration and customer delivery performance.

Research limitations/implications

The moderating effects of technological and demand uncertainties in the Thai automotive just‐in‐time (JIT) environment are explained. This research contributes to the development of a contingency theory of supply chain integration suggesting that the impacts of supply chain integration on customer delivery performance vary under different levels of technological and demand uncertainties.

Practical implications

Managers recognize the diminishing effects of internal integration and supplier integration under demand uncertainty, and the increasing effect of supplier integration under high technological uncertainty.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the supply chain management literature by clarifying the moderating effects of technological and demand uncertainties on the relationship between supply chain integration and customer delivery performance.
Service supply chain management
Authors: Stentoft Arlbjørn Jan , Vagn Freytag Per , de Haas Henning
Published: April 2011

Purpose

Lean has long been developed and utilised in the manufacturing setting. Today, lean seems to be applicable in all organisational settings; and recently, lean has been applied in the municipal sector. The purpose of this paper is to investigate lean practices in the municipal sector in a service supply chain management (SCM) context.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyses lean implementation in Danish municipalities through the use of two sets of questionnaire surveys from 2008 to 2009. Furthermore, data based on three confirmative case studies of lean implementations are included.

Findings

The paper outlines a model that illustrates under which conditions lean is deemed most appropriate according to the type of service delivered. The surveys and case studies show that lean is mainly implemented as “toolbox lean,” such as with value stream mapping, kaizen and information boards. In addition, the analyses show that the lean philosophy can be used by the public sector to be more effective in terms of cost reduction and service improvements if the assumptions for implementing lean exist.

Research limitations/implications

From a supply chain perspective, data are collected only from a focal firm perspective (municipalities). Future research must investigate lean applications in public service supply chains from interorganisational perspectives.

Practical implications

This paper provides guidance on the concept of lean and on under which circumstances it may be applied in a public service SCM context. Furthermore, it stresses the importance of defining the customers and clarifying their demands in terms of value requirements.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to study the lean philosophy in the public sector from a service supply chain perspective.
Modifying alcohol consumption among high school students
Authors: Hallgren Mats Å. , Sjölund Torbjörn , Kallmén Håkan , Andréasson Sven
Published: April 2011

Purpose

PRIME for Life is an alcohol risk reduction program that has been used and refined in the USA for over 20 years. A Swedish version of the program has recently been adapted for use among Swedish high‐school students (age 18‐19). The objective of the study is to evaluate the effects of the program on youth alcohol consumption (including high risk drinking), attitudes and knowledge about the effects of alcohol use.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a randomised controlled trial involving 23 schools and 926 students. Data collection was conducted with questionnaires focusing primarily on drinking behaviour. Participants were followed up at five and 20 months to assess changes in drinking behaviour, knowledge and attitudes towards alcohol.

Findings

No significant program effects on drinking behaviour were found. Knowledge about the effects of alcohol consumption on health increased after the intervention, as did negative attitudes towards alcohol, but these effects eroded over time.

Originality/value

Despite being widely used in the USA and Sweden, the impact of PRIME for Life is under‐reported in the literature. This is the first independent evaluation of the program focusing on high school age youth. The findings do not support the efficacy of the program as a risk reduction or behaviour change tool in a school environment.
Maximising sponsorship opportunities: a brand model approach
Authors: Renard Nicolas , Sitz Lionel
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key elements that maximise sponsorship opportunities and that enable a successful relationship between a sponsor and a sponsored party.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a review of the literature and takes a case study approach. The paper first identifies the classic aspects of sponsor relationships and then explores new criteria to propose a brand model approach. Practical examples are taken out of the sailing team Alinghi who raced the America's Cup.

Findings

The paper suggests that the key success factor for a sponsored party is to act as a brand. This brand should have four strong pillars to build its brand essence: its own identity, a clear offer for a value creation process, an organisation to support this offer in line with strategic alliances of the sponsor and identified targets or consumers.

Originality/value

Sponsorship is part of the daily life of any business and can take many forms. Moreover, the large number of sponsorship opportunities does not help entities looking for financial support to stand out easily. However, few opportunities meet all criteria to build an effective sponsor relationship. The authors believe that a brand model approach is the best way to achieve such goal. Alinghi (America's Cup 2003 and 2007 winner) is a perfect example of this new approach.
Structural and perceptual determinants of the price of online business education
Authors: Estelami Hooman , Rezvani Zeinab
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to conduct a formal study of how the prices for online MBA programs in the USA are determined. The paper examines the effects of perceptual (e.g. rankings and accreditation) and structural characteristics (e.g. program length, program format) of online MBA programs on tuition levels charged.

Design/methodology/approach

Publicly available secondary data from a sample of 115 online MBA programs in the USA, including program characteristic information and prices, is used. Regression analysis is used to uncover the underlying pricing model.

Findings

Perceptual variables are found to have significantly greater effect on prices charged than structural variables, at times enabling institutions to nearly double their revenue stream on a per‐student basis.

Research limitations/implications

The research approach can be extended to uncover the pricing models used in distance learning programs in fields other than business, and to examine such relationships outside the scope of American institutions.

Originality/value

The use of distance learning methods for delivering course instruction in degree‐granting institutions has witnessed significant growth over the last decade. This trend has enhanced the ability of business schools to serve students that are geographically dispersed, and today nearly 400 such programs are offered in the USA alone. Despite the growth, no formal study has examined how prices (tuition levels) for such programs are determined.
Investigating the effect of arousal on brand memory in advergames
Authors: Hernandez Monica D. , Minor Michael S.
Published: April 2011

Purpose

Previous work examining the effect of emotional responses (arousal) in the online context has addressed one type of emotional data, relying only on self‐reporting. This paper aims to investigate the effect of arousal on short‐term brand memory in the context of advergaming, comparing both qualitative (observed behaviors and physiological data) and quantitative (self‐reported data) approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

Observed behaviors and physiological data were recorded during exposure to brand placements using an electrocardiogram machine. Qualitative results were compared to self‐reported data measured via a post‐exposure paper‐and‐pencil questionnaire.

Findings

The results revealed that the impact of physiological measures on memory was the most salient. The most robust finding was the negative effect of physiological measures on recall scores.

Research limitations/implications

As a laboratory procedure, the method is susceptible to some limitations. First, the similarity of the distractors is not tested and possibly the recognition tests may be either more difficult or easier than the recall tests. Second, as with any other physiological measure, EKG recording faces the limitation that some participants do not feel comfortable being connected to electrodes.

Practical implications

The results reinforce the need to include qualitative procedures when dealing with the effect of arousal on memory in the online context, in order to provide guidelines into an effective use of emotional measures and their effect in brand memory.

Originality/value

The study highlights the importance of the use of qualitative research methods to corroborate results from quantitative work when measuring emotional responses.
Organisational capabilities and relationship quality
Authors: Chong Tan Yew , Mavondo Felix , Worthington Steve
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the mediating role of relationship quality in the relationship between organisational capabilities and business performance in palm oil processing companies in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a mail survey and achieved a final sample of 330 palm oil processing companies.

Findings

The results show that relationship quality has strong mediating effects on the relationship between market orientation, learning orientation, and innovativeness and business performance, but does not have any significant effect on the relationship between manufacturing capabilities and performance.

Practical implications

The study has implications for academics, managers and policy makers.

Originality/value

The major contribution of this paper is to fill the gaps in theoretical and empirical perspectives about the mediating role of relationship quality.
In‐store marketing: a strategic perspective
Authors: Fam Kim‐Shyan , Merrilees Bill , Richard James E. , Jozsa Laszlo , Li Yongqiang , Krisjanous Jayne
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine two key dimensions of in‐store marketing, namely in‐store promotions and price markdowns. These seem to be the two most important aspects of in‐store marketing, though other dimensions such as retail personal service are also worthy of study.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 287 New Zealand clothing and shoe retailers was studied. Survey questions included the perceived importance of in‐store promotions and price markdowns. The aim was to explain these perceptions in terms of marketing strategies, threat of competition and environmental uncertainty.

Findings

The results indicate that a discount marketing strategy, environmental uncertainty and emphasis on price‐promotions are key to explaining retailers' perceptions and use of specific in‐store marketing activities. In addition, seven key marketing activities were found to distinguish high‐ and low‐performance retailers with respect to in‐store promotions.

Practical implications

The study has highlighted strategic aspects of in‐store marketing, by focusing on two key components of in‐store marketing, namely in‐store promotion and price markdowns. The findings should provide much needed advice to retailers on the use of sales promotion tools in different environmental settings.

Originality/value

This paper should prove valuable to academic researchers and retailing managers (particularly to those in smaller countries), owner‐operated retail outlets, and chain stores.
Role of inter‐organisational compatibility and IOIS integration in large firms and SMEs retailing chains
Authors: Rajaguru Rajesh , Matanda Margaret J.
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of inter‐organisational compatibility on inter‐organisational information systems (IOIS) integration and supply chain performance of large enterprises (LE) and small‐medium enterprises (SMEs) in Australian retailing chains.

Design/methodology/approach

Convergent interviewing technique was used to collect data from managers of 12 fast‐moving consumer goods and hardware manufacturing and retailing organisations. Within‐ and cross‐case analyses were used to analyse the data.

Findings

The results indicate that technical, strategic and cultural compatibility between supply chain partners are antecedents to IOIS integration and supply chain performance of both LE and SMEs. A conceptual model explaining the relationship between inter‐organisational compatibility, IOIS integration and supply chain performance is advanced. The study extends congruency theory to information systems and supply chain contexts.

Practical implications

The study provides some guidelines to supply chain and information systems managers on how inter‐organisational compatibility can be used to facilitate IOIS integration and enhance supply chain performance in both large and small firms. Technical, strategic and cultural compatibility emerged as antecedents to IOIS integration, suggesting the need for supply chain managers especially within SMEs to pay close attention to inter‐organisational compatibility factors when integrating IOIS with supply chain partners.

Originality/value

Research relating IOIS integration and supply chain is limited, especially in the SMEs context. Thus, this paper contributes to the body of knowledge by examining how inter‐organisational compatibility influences organisations' decisions to integrate IOIS with supply chain partners using congruency theory.
An empirical investigation of online users' keyword ads search behaviours
Authors: Wu Sheng , Lin Cathy S. , Lin Jean
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This paper intends to examine the antecedents of perceived creativity and flow experience in order to understand how consumers' advertisement keywords browsing influences their searching intentions and/or behaviours regarding purchase. In addition, it aims to consider two kinds of intentions in the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to facilitate the translation of intentions into behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

Research constructs were drawn from pre‐validated measurement items. An online survey was conducted at my3q.com. A total of 368 surveys were returned. The results were analysed using structural equation modelling with Smart PLS 2.0.

Findings

The results show that flow experience positively affects the users' attitude toward keyword searching, the intention to search keywords, controllability, and self‐efficacy. The antecedent belief of perceived creativity also positively influences the attitude toward keyword searching. The overall TPB model is effective in terms of predicting consumers' online keyword search behaviours; the intention to purchase a product especially affects a consumer's intention to search keywords online.

Practical implications

To attract consumers companies have to use combined marketing strategies to provide creative advertisements to make their products look appealing. Moreover, advertisements that are fun and make people feel curious would also be appealing and make the consumers feel that they are able or resourceful enough to find the keywords.

Originality/value

Two kinds of intentions – intention to purchase a product and intention to search keywords online – are simultaneously considered in this study. Moreover, the combination of flow theory, perceived creativity and TPB demonstrates an appropriate theoretical basis to examine consumers' online keyword search behaviours.
A ranking algorithm for query expansion based on the term's appearing probability in the single document
Authors: Chou Shihchieh , Cheng Chinyi , Huang Szujui
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish a new approach for solving the expansion term problem.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops an expansion term weighting function derived from the valuable concepts used by previous approaches. These concepts include probability measurement, adjustment according to situations, and summation of weights. Formal tests have been conducted to compare the proposed weighting function with the baseline ranking model and other weighting functions.

Findings

The results reveal stable performance by the proposed expansion term weighting function. It proves more effective than the baseline ranking model and outperforms other weighting functions.

Research limitations/implications

The paper finds that testing additional data sets and potential applications to real working situations is required before the generalisability and superiority of the proposed expansion term weighting function can be asserted.

Originality/value

Stable performance and an acceptable level of effectiveness for the proposed expansion term weighting function indicate the potential for further study and development of this approach. This would add to the current methods studied by the information retrieval community for culling information from documents.
Factors influencing the intended use of web portals
Authors: Liao Chechen , To Pui‐Lai , Liu Chuang‐Chun , Kuo Pu‐Yuan , Chuang Shu‐Hui
Published: April 2011

Purpose

A lack of differentiation in the function and appearance of web portals has led to fierce competition; attracting users' attention is no doubt the most important factor for portal success. This study aims to combine rational assessment factors and non‐rational assessment factors to examine their impact on the intended use of portals.

Design/methodology/approach

The research participants were individuals who have experience using web portals. A total of 215 valid questionnaires were collected. Structural equation modelling was used to test the research hypothesis.

Findings

This study is based on the technology acceptance model (TAM), a significant model in MIS research. The results show that all assessment factors have an impact on the intended use of web portals.

Research limitations/implications

TAM emphasised perceived usefulness as the key determinant of user acceptance of technology. This study finds, however, that in the portal context, non‐rational assessment factors such as perceived playfulness and habit have more significant effects on users' intention than perceived usefulness.

Practical implications

The paper concludes that non‐rational assessment factors are important boundary conditions to the validity of the technology acceptance model. To attract users, web site designers should be more aware of aesthetics and the hedonic nature of web users.

Originality/value

This study has contributed to the original TAM by incorporating non‐rational assessment factors. It also validates this empirical model. The results of this study can help practitioners create a more successful business model and help researchers better understand user behaviour on the internet.
Analysis of the macro‐level discourse structure of literature reviews
Authors: Khoo Christopher S.G. , Na Jin‐Cheon , Jaidka Kokil
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the macro‐level discourse structure of literature reviews found in information science journal papers, and to identify different styles of literature review writing. Although there have been several studies of human abstracting, there are hardly any studies of how authors construct literature reviews.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is carried out in the context of a project to develop a summarization system to generate literature reviews automatically. A coding scheme was developed to annotate the high‐level organization of literature reviews, focusing on the types of information. Two sets of annotations were used to check inter‐coder reliability.

Findings

It was found that literature reviews are written in two distinctive styles, with different discourse structures. Descriptive literature reviews summarize individual papers/studies and provide more information on each study, such as research methods, results and interpretation. Integrative literature reviews provide fewer details of individual papers/studies, but focus on ideas and results extracted from these papers. They provide critical summaries of topics, and have a more complex structure of topics and sub‐topics. The reviewer's voice is also more dominant.

Originality/value

The coding scheme is useful for annotating the macro‐level discourse structure of literature reviews, and can be used for studying literature reviews in other fields. The basic characteristics of two styles of literature review writing are identified. The results have provided a foundation for further studies of literature reviews – to identify discourse relations and rhetorical functions employed in literature reviews, and their linguistic expressions.
Analysis of keyword‐based tagging behaviors of experts and novices
Authors: Tsai Li‐Chen , Hwang Sheue‐Ling , Tang Kuo‐Hao
Published: April 2011

Purpose

Expert and novice readers tag documents with different descriptions; this study is intended to discover which readers would generate the most reliable and most representative sets of tags.

Design/methodology/approach

One group of experts and one group of novices were recruited. These two groups were asked to provide tags for document bookmarks in a Mozilla Firefox browser. In the experimental analysis we defined two measures – similarity and relevance – to describe the differences between the two groups.

Findings

Tags chosen by experts yielded better similarity and relevance values in all analyses. Tags chosen by the expert group had higher commonality in pairwise similarity analysis; moreover, the relevance analysis showed that tags chosen by experts reflected better understanding of the content.

Originality/value

Tagging behavior has become highly popular on the web, and its study has commercial merit. Tags from experts represent the structure behind the knowledge involved; expert representation may be vastly more helpful than novice representation for promoting understanding of content in an era characterized by an explosion of information.
The new rules of engagement: treating your workforce as a workforce of one
Authors: Smith David , Cantrell Susan M.
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to form a best practice guide on how to successfully customize employees' work experience to engage the workforce and boost talent retention, as well as employee performance and productivity to the benefit of the organization and its workforce.

Design/methodology/approach

For the new book Workforce of One: Revolutionizing Talent Management through Customization, research was carried out involving in‐depth interviews with more than two dozen employees, 70 executives, over 100 top organizations and a survey of 557 US employees. Using this information, as well as extensive focus on Best Buy as a case study organization that has successfully implemented customization approaches, this paper aims to demonstrate that addressing the needs of the individual and tailoring the work experience ultimately fosters a high‐performing motivated workforce.

Findings

Many organizations are now working to create a customizable work experience for their employees, utilizing customization experiences familiar to those aimed at consumers by the marketing function. Through the interviews, Accenture was able to identify four main approaches to workforce customization, which are manageable, scalable, reliable and just.

Practical implications

Just like employees, companies are all different, with unique strategies, histories, type of employees, values and cultures. As such, their best approach in creating a customization strategy is to use those customization approaches that best suit their unique needs. By using one or more of the workforce‐of‐one customization approaches, organizations can enjoy a substantial impact across the board.

Originality/value

The customization approaches identified by Accenture – segmentation of the workforce, offering modular choices, defining broad and simple rules, and fostering employee‐defined personalization – avoids the usual pitfalls associated with workforce customization, such as a plethora of one‐off individual side deals, which can foster a negative workplace dynamic. Instead they offer an opportunity to establish more flexible systems, radically redefining the way HR supports its employees, yet ultimately creating a strong competitive advantage for the organization.
Applying employer brand management to employee engagement
Authors: Kunerth Bernard , Mosley Richard
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the degree to which employer brand management is being deployed to support internal employee engagement, in addition to its more common application in external image building and talent acquisition.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents findings from an international benchmark survey conducted among 104 companies actively involved in employer brand development, alongside a more detailed examination of the development process and measures of success applied by one of the benchmark participants, Coca‐Cola Hellenic.

Findings

This paper demonstrates a trend towards organizations taking a more integrated internal/external approach to employer brand development and management, with practical case study material detailing how a major European soft drinks company, Coca‐Cola Hellenic, created an employee value proposition that could provide a central reference point for both its employee engagement strategy and recruitment communication.

Practical implications

Employer brand theory and practice have evolved significantly over the last ten years. From a discipline largely limited to the resourcing outskirts of human resources (HR), it has increasingly become a more strategic focus of attention for general HR management, with a particular focus on its potential ability to help align people management process and practice and drive employee engagement. This paper provides evidence that taking a more integrated approach to employer brand management may represent a significant opportunity to enhance overall levels of internal engagement, in addition to promoting an employer's external reputation.

Originality/value

According to new research, organizations are increasingly using their employer brand to shape their overall people management strategy and not simply for external recruitment purposes. Drawing on a benchmark survey of recent and emerging employer brand practice, and a more detailed examination of the integrated approach to employer brand development taken by Coca‐Cola Hellenic, the paper presents the case for extending the application of employer brand practice beyond the confines of external recruitment.
Employee engagement at Norfolk County Council
Authors: Gibson Anne
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The aim of this case study is to explore how Norfolk County Council (NCC) has sustained high employee engagement levels against a backdrop of re‐organization, restructure, redundancies and cutbacks.

Design/methodology/approach

In 2007 NCC embarked on an ongoing engagement project with Ipsos Mori. The aim was to restructure; align goals with new values; turn NCC into an “excellent” performing council; and have fully engaged staff and unions. It subsequently improved on already strong engagement levels and these are set to assist the council as it moves into its most challenging period yet.

Findings

NCC recognized from the outset that engagement needs to be a collective endeavor and this has been, and continues to be, key to engaging its people through turbulent times. Employee involvement underpinned the engagement program, from the initial survey through to focus groups, employee‐defined values and employee‐initiated programs. In turn, employee engagement underpins its change activities.

Originality/value

This case study would be a useful guide to any HR professional faced with implementing major change and looking to balance the need to maintain engagement and motivation levels with the need to make cutbacks and redundancies.
Creating training and development programs: using the ADDIE method
Authors: Mayfield Milton
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The paper provides an overview of the ADDIE method for creating training and development programs.

Design/methodology/approach

Prior studies and outlines on the ADDIE method were utilized to develop an overview of how ADDIE could be implemented in organizational training programs.

Findings

The ADDIE method is useful in providing a systems‐based, iterative training development method that lends itself to a feedback‐based approach to creating a learning environment.

Research limitations/implications

The implications from this paper show that ADDIE provides a useful and widely adopted method for driving content development.

Practical implications

For organizations, adoption of the ADDIE method can provide a structured plan for development and learning in their training programs.

Originality/value

This paper provides a concise overview of the ADDIE method for implementation in modern businesses and organizations.
An empirical note on regionalization and globalization
Authors: Akhter Syed H. , Beno Colleen
Published: April 2011

Purpose

Is it regionalization or globalization that more accurately depicts the state of the global economy? Exports and foreign direct investments (FDI) data are analyzed with the aim of answering the question and determining how intra‐ and inter‐regional integration has changed over time.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the research questions, this paper covers the following. First, it takes a longitudinal perspective in examining the changes taking place in exports and FDI at the regional level. Second, it draws strategic business and marketing implications of this development.

Findings

The results show a trend toward regionalization in the Quad (North America, Western Europe, Asia, and Latin America), especially with respect to exports data.

Originality/value

Findings, strategic implications, and directions for future research are presented.
The empirical literature on multinational enterprises, subsidiaries and performance
Authors: Nguyen Quyen T.K.
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a synthetic review of the empirical literature on the multinational enterprise (MNE), subsidiaries and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the following: the theoretical and conceptual foundation of multinationality (M) and performance (P) measures; the impact of MNE strategic investment motives on performance; the influence of contextual external and internal environment factors on performance; the strategy to optimize value chain activities of the MNE by cooperating with external partners in an asymmetric network, the key drivers of enhanced shareholder value and the implications of performance; and the need to access primary data provided by firms and managers themselves when analyzing the internal functioning of the MNE and its subsidiaries.

Findings

The overall message from this literature review is that empirical research should be designed on the basis of relevant theoretical and conceptual foundations of the performance construct.

Originality/value

The paper provides a systematic and synthetic review of theoretical and empirical literature.
Internationalization, internalization and the performance of US biopharmaceutical SMEs
Authors: Li Lei , Li Dan , Shi Weilei (Stone)
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the multinationality‐performance (M‐P) relationship in the context of US biopharmaceutical small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines the M‐P relationship of SMEs from a single home country and in a specific industry.

Findings

The paper finds that geographic dispersion of both foreign subsidiaries and alliances affects SME performance negatively, albeit to a varying extent. Firm‐specific technological advantages alleviate the negative impact of geographic dispersion of both foreign subsidiaries and alliances, whilst firm‐specific marketing advantages mitigate the negative effect of only geographic dispersion of foreign alliances. The paper also addresses the direct and joint effects of firm‐specific advantages, country‐specific advantages, and the degree of internalization on SME performance systematically. Further, the results reveal some interesting differences between the venturing and the development stage of SME internationalization.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, there have been virtually no studies on the M‐P relationship which attempt to distinguish between subsidiary‐ and alliance‐based internationalization.
Framework for selecting an appropriate e‐business model in managerial holding companies
Authors: Hanafizadeh Payam , Shafiei Nikabadi Mohsen
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The main aim of the present study is to propose a framework for selecting an appropriate electronic business (e‐business) model in managerial holding companies with a chain structure acting in the area of the automobile industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an applied study conducted as a survey and case study. First, the factors affecting selection of an appropriate e‐business model in managerial holding companies with chain structure in auto industry are identified through a survey and by testing hypotheses. Then, these factors are measured as a case study in Iran Khodro Co. so that the appropriate e‐business model can be determined for this managerial holding company with chain structure.

Findings

In this study, 18 different factors were identified for the five main criteria in identifying e‐business. Using the survey conducted in the statistical sample, only three factors of internal and external integration of human resources, flexibility, and decentralization in the responsibilities were identified as less important factors in identifying an appropriate model of e‐business in managerial holding companies with chain structure in automobile industry.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of the study was lack of sufficient managerial holding companies with a chain structure in the Iranian automobile industry, so that only two companies of Iran Khodro and Saipa possess holding and chain structure. Thus, generalization of the results of this study to the whole society must be done with great care in association with more researches.

Originality/value

This study, expanding and operationalizing a conceptual model, tries to identify the set of determining factors in selecting appropriate e‐business models in the managerial holding companies with a chain structure in the automobile industry.
Barriers to master data quality
Authors: Haug Anders , Stentoft Arlbjørn Jan
Published: April 2011

Purpose

While few would disagree that high data quality is a precondition for the efficiency of a company, this remains an area to which many companies do not give adequate attention. Thus, this paper aims to identify which are the most important barriers preventing companies from achieving high data quality. By improving awareness of barriers on which to concentrate, companies are put in a better position to achieve high quality data.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a literature review of data quality and data quality barriers is carried out. Based on this literature review, the paper identifies a set of overall barriers to ensuring high data quality. The significance of these barriers is investigated by a questionnaire study, which includes responses from 90 Danish companies. Because of the fundamental difference between master data and transaction data, the questionnaire is limited to focusing only on master data.

Findings

The results of the survey indicate that a lack of delegation of responsibilities for maintaining master data is the single aspect which has the largest impact on master data quality. Also, the survey shows that the vast majority of the companies believe that poor master data quality does have significant negative effects.

Research limitations/implications

The contributions of this paper represent a step towards an improved understanding of how to increase the level of master data quality in companies. This knowledge may have a positive impact on the data quality in companies. However, since the study presented in this paper appears to be the first of its kind, the conclusions drawn need further investigation by other research studies in the future.

Practical implications

This paper identifies the main barriers for ensuring high master data quality and investigates which of these factors are the most important. By focusing on these barriers, companies will have better chances of increasing their data quality.

Originality/value

The study presented in this paper appears to be the first of its kind, and it represents an important step towards understanding better why companies find it difficult to achieve satisfactory data quality levels.