bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reflection on the UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs – one year on
Authors: Rolles Steve
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show a reflection of one year on how the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) event was unfolded and its impacts and longer term implications.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a consideration of relevant past and present documentation and commentary. Experiences as a participant at some of the events described.

Findings

UNGASS was called for by countries affected by the failings of the existing conventions who wanted to introduce reformed alternative policies. Representatives of the status quo who opposed such change were partially successful in retaining some aspects of the prohibition approach and in minimising dissent and debate.

Research limitations/implications

Some decision-making discussions were not open to all potential participants – governmental, regional and civil society, including the author.

Practical implications

The wider debate prompted by the UNGASS indicated a breakdown in the previous consensus around the prohibition and punitive paradigm of the international conventions.

Social implications

Greater emphases on health and human rights aspects of international drug policy were included in the final documents. This provides scope for continued evolution of these emphases in the future.

Originality/value

The paper presents an account of the UNGASS and pre-UNGASS proceedings from the point of view of a reform-minded participant.
“Respect” and “self-determination” women entrepreneurs’ identities and entrepreneurial discourses
Authors: Fernandes Emilia , Mota-Ribeiro Silvana
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This exploratory study aims to compare how businesswomen with different initial bounds to their businesses resort to gender discourses to construct a shared business identity in group interaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted with two focus groups of Portuguese businesswomen with different initial bounds to their enterprises: those who created their own companies and those who “inherited” family businesses. All the participants of both groups own and manage their businesses.

Findings

A discourse analysis of the interactions shows that the identities of businesswomen are constrained and produced by different masculinities (authority, professionalism and self-determination) and femininities (restrictive and emancipatory). The interweaving of these gender discourses results in the production of a “respect” identity in the family businesses group and a “self-determination” identity in the start-up businesses group.

Practical implications

The comparison of the different business identities shared by women with particular business experiences contributes to reflections upon the diversified contours that gender discrimination can undertake, and upon the need of practitioners to adjust the gender policies according to those particular experiences.

Originality/value

The paper compares and highlights how Portuguese businesswomen with different business backgrounds collectively construct specific and shared business identities that allow them to deal with diverse experiences of gender discrimination and devaluation.
Organisational culture, procedural countermeasures, and employee security behaviour
Authors: Yuryna Connolly Lena , Lang Michael , Gathegi John , Tygar Doug J.
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This paper provides new insights about security behaviour in selected US and Irish organisations by investigating how organisational culture and procedural security countermeasures tend to influence employee security actions. An increasing number of information security breaches in organisations presents a serious threat to the confidentiality of personal and commercially sensitive data. While recent research shows that humans are the weakest link in the security chain and the root cause of a great portion of security breaches, the extant security literature tends to focus on technical issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper builds on general deterrence theory and prior organisational culture literature. The methodology adapted for this study draws on the analytical grounded theory approach employing a constant comparative method.

Findings

This paper demonstrates that procedural security countermeasures and organisational culture tend to affect security behaviour in organisational settings.

Research limitations/implications

This paper fills the void in information security research and takes its place among the very few studies that focus on behavioural as opposed to technical issues.

Practical implications

This paper highlights the important role of procedural security countermeasures, information security awareness and organisational culture in managing illicit behaviour of employees.

Originality/value

This study extends general deterrence theory in a novel way by including information security awareness in the research model and by investigating both negative and positive behaviours.
The application of behavioural thresholds to analyse collective behaviour in information security
Authors: Snyman Dirk , Kruger Hennie
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to perform an exploratory investigation into the feasibility of behavioural threshold analysis as a possible aid in security awareness campaigns.

Design/methodology/approach

Generic behavioural threshold analysis is presented and then applied in the domain of information security by collecting data on the behavioural thresholds of individuals in a group setting and how the individuals influence each other when it comes to security behaviour.

Findings

Initial experimental results show that behavioural threshold analysis is feasible in the context of information security and may provide useful guidelines on how to construct information security awareness programmes.

Practical implications

Threshold analysis may contribute in a number of ways to information security, e.g. identification of security issues that are susceptible to peer pressure and easily influenced by peer behaviour; serve as a countermeasure against security fatigue; contribute to the economics of information security awareness programmes; track progress of security awareness campaigns; and provide a new measure for determining the importance of security awareness issues.

Originality/value

This paper describes the very first experiment to test the behavioural threshold analysis concepts in the context of information security.
Comfort-related properties of seersucker fabrics in dry and wet state
Authors: Matusiak Malgorzata , Fracczak Lukasz
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the seersucker fabrics from the point of view of their ability to ensure the thermo-physiological comfort. It was investigated how the kind of the weft yarn and seersucker structure influence the air permeability and thermal insulation properties of the fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the investigations of the typical seersucker fabrics made of the same set of warps and different weft yarns. Fabrics were manufactured on the same loom with two warp beams. Next they were finished by the same way including washing, drying and stabilisation processes. Fabrics were measured in the range of their air permeability using standard test method. Thermal insulation properties of fabrics were measured in dry and wet state by means of Alambeta. Surface topography of the seersucker fabrics was analysed using 3D laser scanning.

Findings

On the basis of the obtained results it was stated that due to the puckered structure the seersucker fabrics are characterised by high thermal resistance, several times higher than the thermal resistance of typical flat woven fabrics. The seersucker fabrics are characterised by very low value of the thermal absorptivity in wet state at the level appropriate for typical flat fabrics in dry state. It confirmed that the seersucker fabrics ensure the physiological comfort. Application of the elastomeric yarn in weft caused significant tightening the fabric structure. It resulted in low air permeability, fabric stiffness and unpleasant hand.

Research limitations/implications

As a limitation of the investigation of the seersucker fabrics in wet state we can mention the surface topography of the fabrics. It made wetting the fabrics difficult before measuring. It is necessary to elaborate precise procedure of preparation of seersucker fabrics before their testing in the wet state.

Practical implications

Performed investigations showed that the seersucker fabrics have a big potential to be comfortable. By an appropriate designing of their structure it is possible to achieve very good comfort-related properties even without application of innovative comfort-oriented yarns.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is based on the fact that the measurement was performed for the seersucker fabrics. The fabrics are characterised by the unique structure which influences their appearance and utility properties. It caused that they are willingly applied in different kinds of clothing. Till now any results of comfort-related properties of such kind of the woven fabrics have not been published.
Continuous improvement projects: an authorship bibliometric analysis
Authors: Gonzalez Aleu Fernando , Van Aken Eileen M.
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the current research on hospital continuous improvement projects (CIPs) from an author characteristics’ perspective. This work addresses the following questions: who are the predominant research authors in hospital CIPs? To what extent are the research communities collaborating in distinct research groups? How internationalized has hospital CIPs research become with respect to author location?

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was conducted, identifying 302 academic publications related to hospital CIPs. Publications were analyzed using: author, quantity, diversity, collaboration, and impact.

Findings

Hospital CIPs are increasingly attracting new scholars each year. Based on the authors’ analysis, authors publishing in this area can be described as a relatively new international community given the countries represented.

Originality/value

This paper describes the current hospital CIP research by assessing author characteristics. Future work should examine additional attributes to characterize maturity such as how new knowledge is being created and to what extent new knowledge is being disseminated to practitioners.
Empirical study on the effect of using synthetic attributes on classification algorithms
Authors: Alsaffar Ali Hasan
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an empirical study on the effect of two synthetic attributes to popular classification algorithms on data originating from student transcripts. The attributes represent past performance achievements in a course, which are defined as global performance (GP) and local performance (LP). GP of a course is an aggregated performance achieved by all students who have taken this course, and LP of a course is an aggregated performance achieved in the prerequisite courses by the student taking the course.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses Educational Data Mining techniques to predict student performance in courses, where it identifies the relevant attributes that are the most key influencers for predicting the final grade (performance) and reports the effect of the two suggested attributes on the classification algorithms. As a research paradigm, the paper follows Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining using RapidMiner Studio software tool. Six classification algorithms are experimented: C4.5 and CART Decision Trees, Naive Bayes, k-neighboring, rule-based induction and support vector machines.

Findings

The outcomes of the paper show that the synthetic attributes have positively improved the performance of the classification algorithms, and also they have been highly ranked according to their influence to the target variable.

Originality/value

This paper proposes two synthetic attributes that are integrated into real data set. The key motivation is to improve the quality of the data and make classification algorithms perform better. The paper also presents empirical results showing the effect of these attributes on selected classification algorithms.
Potential benefits of pre-entry health assessment among labor migrants in the CIS context
Authors: Sergeyev Boris , Kazanets Igor
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Influx of labor migrants into Russia makes it necessary to put TB prevention measures in place, both inside and outside of Russian borders. While inside Russia TB response is premised on testing migrants applying for work or residence permits for diseases of public significance, millions of migrants – specifically, those working without completing necessary paperwork – evade this requirement. In light of that, the purpose of this paper is to propose introducing disease screening in migrant-sending countries, i.e. testing of potential migrants for infectious diseases in local medical institutions certified by Russian authorities.

Design/methodology/approach

To support the proposal, the authors provide review of official data on TB prevalence among migrants in Russia as well as publications on international experience with conducting disease screening in migrant-sending countries.

Findings

Available studies demonstrate that conducting disease screening programs in migrant-sending countries is associated with earlier detection of TB cases, shorter period of infectiousness and hospitalization, and significant savings in health budget.

Originality/value

Taking into account this experience, the authors propose introducing disease screening programs in CIS both under current legal arrangements and with the requirement for labor migrants to produce medical certificate when entering Russia being introduced. The need for trans-border cooperation in assuring positive health outcomes among labor migrants is also highlighted.
The organization design perspective on the project-based organization: a structured review
Authors: Miterev Maxim , Turner J. Rodney , Mancini Mauro
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use an organizational design perspective to determine the scope of the state-of-the art of research into project-based organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper follows a structured framework-based literature review approach. It uses an analytical framework from the organization design literature to assess 177 papers relevant to the design of the project-based organization that were published in four leading PM journals between 2008 and 2015. The authors determine which elements of organization design are covered in each paper and identify specific research themes for each of the element emerging from the literature. Finally, the authors examine the degree to which interdependencies among separate elements are addressed in the literature and discuss the most holistic papers in more details.

Findings

The results show that the literature on project-based organizations downplays broader organizational issues (such as organizational strategy, incentive schemes and performance management systems) while emphasizing research agenda inherited from research on single project management. In addition, the study highlights limited attention in the literature to the interdependence between separate design choices. Finally, it develops a research framework to map current themes in the literature and their relative importance and discusses a prospective research agenda.

Research limitations/implications

Academic implications stem from looking at the project management literature from a fresh theoretical perspective and putting project-based organization as a whole in the focus. There is a great research potential in studying organization-wide aspects and interdependencies between various organization design choices in project-based organizations.

Practical implications

Reflective practitioners could benefit from a wider view on the project-based organization and its design. They could also use the developed framework in management discussions.

Originality/value

The paper offers a novel way of conceptualizing research on project-based organizations by linking it to an established stream within the field of organization theory and design.
Contractual governance as a source of institutionalised waste in construction
Authors: Sarhan Saad , Pasquire Christine , Manu Emmanuel , King Andrew
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The construction industry has been subject to substantial criticism for its short-term “hit-and-run” relationships which are focussed on win-lose situations. Despite the wide recognition of these problems the industry persistently resists the radical demanded of it. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is twofold. First, to investigate why this might be the case by reviewing the governance problem confronting clients and decision makers in construction procurement, as conceptualised in transaction cost economics (TCE). Second, to critically analyse and question the efficiency and effectiveness of various safeguarding approaches, which are taken for granted and commonly practiced in construction, from a lean perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis of this paper is based on an in-depth critical review of 76 construction procurement and contractual-related articles, ranging from 1994 to 2016, using theories of Lean construction and TCE as an analytical lens.

Findings

Findings reveal that clients and decision makers often tend to safeguard their project-specific assets, against opportunism and exploitation, through the deployment of formal contractual arrangements and governance structures. These arrangements and structures typically dominate the management of the project delivery often to the detriment of the project itself; but because there is a belief that interests are safeguarded, clients and decision makers feel they have taken the best course of action. This goes a long way to explaining the coherence of the current construction model.

Research limitations/implications

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to demonstrate the usefulness of using principles of Lean construction in association with TCE when analysing construction-procurement-related issues. In particular, the use of a “lean” lens helps to expose the impact of procurement governance arrangements on process flow. The study also provides a potential research agenda that can lead to the development of prescriptive conceptual frameworks for causal analysis of institutionalised waste in construction.

Practical implications

The paper attempts to expose to clients and decision makers the amount of waste (and unnecessary cost) they embed by adhering to prevailing unfit-for-purpose contractual governance approaches. It also helps decision makers to consider alternative procurement arrangements and organisational techniques that could be of value and support collaborative ways of working.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the overall understanding of waste in construction by providing insight into various imperfect procurement and contractual arrangements, which are taken for granted and impede efficiency and improvement efforts in construction. The findings presented provide a theoretical anchor and rationale for developing alternative approaches to the design and delivery of capital projects.
The lived experience of project leadership in a loosely coupled transient context
Authors: Cullen Christopher , Leavy Brian
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the lived experience of the project leader and generate additional insight into the relationship between the social and technical aspects of the actual practice of project leadership, focussing on a particular type of project that is prevalent in practice but largely overlooked in mainstream literature. It is referred to here as a “loosely coupled transient” (LCT) project.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an exploratory, inductive approach, the research investigates the lived experience of 30 project management (PM) practitioners to try to deepen the empirical and conceptual insight into the nature of the leadership challenge and what it takes to be successful in the LCT project setting. The research design includes an extra data-collection phase to allow the initial findings and their interpretation to be further validated and refined in the field.

Findings

The empirical findings highlight the importance of three socio-behavioural roles: context building, culture-bridging and political brokering, in addition to the more traditional technical coordinating role, and examine their implications for future research and practice.

Research limitations/implications

The findings emerging from this study are based on the insights provided by 35 exploratory interviews and while they provide the authors with useful insights into the socio-behavioural roles that practitioners consider necessary, they should now be further examined through more focussed, systematic research.

Practical implications

This study points up that project leadership requires new forms of ability and intelligence described in this study as contextual, cultural and political forms of intelligence. Practitioners suggest the findings have a potential usefulness in the selection and training of future project managers.

Originality/value

The study attempts to provide a fresh perspective on social phenomena that are context specific, of relevance to PM practice and of interest to the academic community. It contributes to previous PM research by furthering the analysis of actual PM practice that takes place within the project setting by giving explicit consideration to the importance of understanding the contextual, cultural and political influences on leadership in the project setting.
Lean Six Sigma leadership in higher education institutions
Authors: Lu Jing , Laux Chad , Antony Jiju
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate whether a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) leadership model could be effectively utilized to resolve efficiency and effective issues like rising costs, quality of education, graduation and retention rates encountered in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the modern era.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors systematically reviewed the literature on key concepts of LSS and leadership in HEIs in to develop a theoretical model using an inductive theory-building approach in accordance with the exploratory nature of the study.

Findings

The results of the study proposed a conceptual LSS leadership framework, which provides a basis for testing of LSS leadership representations in HEIs. The results suggest that LSS leadership has advantages for HEI to overcome currents issues and challenges.

Research limitations/implications

This research is a theoretical study based on the existing literature that identified characteristics that may be adopted in higher education. The proposed LSS leadership framework is based upon leadership, statistical thinking, continuous change and improvement. This model is based upon service and the concepts of adaptive, rather than technical work, of leaders in higher education.

Practical implications

The proposed LSS leadership framework brings new aspects and perspectives of leadership in HEIs. LSS leadership model has its practical meaning in providing a fundamental base for HEIs to overcome challenges, fulfill missions, and sustain improvements.

Social implications

HEIs are a foundation for principles of democracy, equality and diversity. HEIs have been a path for citizens but HEIs are facing challenges that are reducing the ability of individuals to improve themselves. Leadership of HEI needs to incorporate new principles to adapt to a changing society.

Originality/value

LSS project leaders have achieved improved bottom line results and customer satisfaction in a wide range of industries, but LSS application in the HEIs remains to be explored. This paper proposes an effective LSS leadership model, which can help improve the quality of education, reduce non-value added costs and enhance operational efficiency of HEIs.
Mobile payments adoption by US consumers: an extended TAM
Authors: Bailey Ainsworth Anthony , Pentina Iryna , Mishra Aditya Shankar , Ben Mimoun Mohammed Slim
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to incorporate mobile payment (MP) self-efficacy, new technology anxiety, and MP privacy concerns into the basic TAM to explore MP adoption, particularly tap-and-go payment, among US consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through an online survey conducted among students at a Midwestern University in the USA. A total of 254 participants provided 240 useable responses.

Findings

MP self-efficacy significantly impacts perceived ease of use (PEOUMP) and perceived usefulness of MP (PUMP). These in turn impact MP attitude, which affects intention to use MP. Privacy concerns also impact attitude towards MP and MP use intention. New technology anxiety impacts PEOUMP, but not PUMP.

Research limitations/implications

The study uses a convenience sample of young US consumers, which could limit the generalisability of the results. The study is also limited to tap-and-go payment.

Practical implications

US retailers have information on some of the factors that encourage MP adoption. Retailers need to address self-efficacy concerns, MP privacy concerns, and consumers’ perceptions of usefulness of the technology.

Originality/value

There has been little research on factors impacting tap-and-go payment adoption in the USA. The study highlights the roles of self-efficacy and privacy concerns. It focusses on tap-and-go payment, since this technology can enhance consumers’ retail experience.
Fuzzy approach to eco-innovation for enhancing business functions: a case study in China
Authors: Cui Li
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Although sustainability is a popular topic in the past decade, there is a lack of research to identify the driving factors for developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the driving factors for achieving eco-innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

An in-depth case study is employed to address the objective outlined above. A Chinese company with more than 1,200 employees was selected to address the research question.

Findings

By fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory and interpretive structural modelling analysis, the driving factors for eco-innovation are identified, and the priority of different factors has also been extracted.

Originality/value

This is among the first studies to carry similar analysis regarding eco-innovation. More specifically, this is perhaps the first study to take this approach and to analyse this topic in a developing country.
Collaborative services provision for solar power plants
Authors: Camarinha-Matos Luis M. , Oliveira Ana Ines , Ferrada Filipa , Thamburaj Victor
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to support effective business services provision along the life cycle of complex service-enhanced products, such as the case of solar power plants, and to explore collaborative approaches for multi-stakeholder business services.

Design/methodology/approach

Design and implementation of adequate collaboration strategies and cloud-based support mechanisms to facilitate creation and management of collaborative networks in this sector. For this purpose, a conceptual framework, a cloud-based platform and a set of collaboration support tools are proposed. Validation is based on a pilot implementation and interactions with a large group of end users.

Findings

Validation results confirmed the suitability of the collaborative networks approach in this sector, which often involves multiple small and medium size enterprises.

Originality/value

The interplay between long-term strategic networks and goal-oriented collaborative networks and their interaction with the various phases of the product-services life cycle correspond to a novel approach in this sector, traditionally focused on a sub-contracting model. This opens new opportunities for enhancing the value of complex products through collaborative value-added services. Of particular relevance is also the adoption of collaborative approaches for service co-creation.
A focus for mental health training for police
Authors: Thomas Stuart , Watson Amy
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a focus for mental health training efforts to better equip officers to provide interventions and supports to help facilitate improved outcomes for people experiencing mental health crises.

Design/methodology/approach

A reflection on key evidence relating to mental health training programmes delivered to police, focussing on Australia, the USA and Canada.

Findings

While there are a number of similarities in the core content of mental health training programmes offered internationally, the availability and uptake of training across jurisdictions remains piecemeal and idiosyncratic. Police officers report a strong preference for hands-on experiential learning; this has immediate and direct relevance to their operational duties, and is consistent with core principles of andragogy. While all police employees require mental health training, specialised mental health training programmes should clearly be reserved for a select group of officers who volunteer after acquiring sufficient operational experience.

Research limitations/implications

Priorities should centre on measuring the effectiveness of mental health training packages and discerning the active elements associated with changes in police skills and confidence, as well as identifying elements that support improved outcomes for people who experience mental illness and who have contact with the police.

Practical implications

Police need to continue to need to seek legitimacy with respect to their guardianship role as mental health interventionists. Training should tap into practice-based wisdom. Training should be practical, applied and reinforced through wider knowledge-based learning and workplace reinforcement. Training is needed for everyone, but specialised training is not for all. Police need to focus on the partnerships and expend time, energy and resources to maintain and grow them. Specialist (and other forms of) training needs to be evaluated so we understand what works?

Originality/value

There may be opportunities to streamline the delivery of knowledge-based aspects of mental health training and focus much more on experiential learning, both in specialised training courses as well as shorter mental health awareness sessions.
Multi-agency mentoring pilot intervention for high intensity service users of emergency public services: the Isle of Wight Integrated Recovery Programme
Authors: Jennings Paul , Matheson-Monnet Catherine B.
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the design, implementation and evaluation of a small UK case study of a mentoring style pilot intervention integrating a specially trained police officer alongside mental health professionals to support highly intensive service users of emergency services.

Design/methodology/approach

The development of the conceptual framework informing the mentoring intervention is described and its implementation evaluated using a range of qualitative and quantitative outcome measures.

Findings

The four high intensity service users involved in the pilot had internalised the need to participate in recommended recovery pathways. Mental health nurses reported improved compliance with treatment. Although the sample was small, the number of police mental health crisis detentions was reduced by 66 per cent after one year and by 100 per cent after 18 months. Usage of other emergency public services had also drastically reduced, or been eliminated altogether.

Research limitations/implications

Limited time and resources and the need for a solution that could be implemented as soon as possible meant a pragmatic design, implementation and evaluation.

Practical implications

The study indicated that a wider roll out of the new multi-agency mentoring model would be beneficial.

Originality/value

This is the first intervention to integrate mental health professionals and a trained police officer directly into the care pathway of repeated users of emergency public services with complex mental health needs.
Strategic sourcing and procurement of facilities management services
Authors: Jensen Per Anker
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into strategic sourcing concerning facilities management (FM) and how it can contribute to a sourcing decision that combines the benefits of internal and external provision with consideration of business risk and cost.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper investigates a strategic sourcing and procurement process in a large public organisation in Denmark based on participating in internal meetings, a workshop, document studies and interviews. The process is compared to a new ISO standard with guidance on strategic sourcing and development of FM agreements.

Findings

A problem in the new ISO standard is that it is based on sequential model starting with detailing the demand and needs before investigating sourcing option. The case shows that the way needs are specified are depending on the chosen sourcing models. Based on a thorough analysis, the organisation decided to change the sourcing strategy with insourcing the most critical building-related activities and changing the procurement strategy from one integrated FM contract to three bundled and seven single-service contracts. The concept of right-sourcing is discussed.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on a study of one public organisation, which limits the possibility to generalise the results. However, it provides detailed insights into the strategic sourcing process in FM, which can give inspiration for practitioners and further research.

Originality/value

The paper throws light on a strategic sourcing process which is rarely available in public because of confidentiality considerations, and it provides the first evaluation of the new ISO standard from 2016.
An Islamic macromarketing perspective on sustainability
Authors: El-Bassiouny Noha M. , Wilson Jonathan A.J. , Esmat Suzan
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new conceptualization of sustainability. The authors adopt a macromarketing perspective based on Islamic traditions while delving into divine attributes (Asmaa’ Allah-ul-Husna) as an extension to the foundational principle of God-consciousness that lies at the heart of Islamic theology and jurisprudence.

Design/methodology/approach

This approach relies on identifying and extending the conceptual overlaps between the literature domains of sustainability, Islamic macromarketing and Islamic theology.

Findings

Through adopting an Islamic lens, the authors identify that relating to divinity empowers the Muslim faithful to mediate between the transient and transcendent, and to make judgments according to the attributes of their creator Allah (the Abrahamic monotheistic God).

Research limitations/implications

The paper adopts a conceptual approach that expands the concept of sustainability from an Islamic perspective to take on a holistic systems approach.

Practical implications

By making these links, the implications are fivefold: the imperative to strive for sustainable activities has greater resonance; the remit of sustainability is wider; the time horizon for accountability is extended; greater risk-tasking is encouraged; and, finally, sustainability is embedded and diffused throughout business activities – as opposed to being an upstream strategic objective.

Social implications

The merge in conceptualization between sustainability and Islamic macromarketing can prove relevant to scholars delving into the new realm of Islamic macromarketing, as well as to both Muslim and non-Muslim communities in their quest for sustainable development.

Originality/value

The paper is original in identifying an unprecedented perspective on sustainability, namely, “Islamic-macromarketing sustainability”, which warrants further future research related to the different stakeholders involved in the Islamic macromarketing system.
Doha dead and buried in Nairobi: lessons for the WTO
Authors: Martin Antoine , Mercurio Bryan
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to reflect on the outcomes of the Nairobi Ministerial Conference of 2015, which, for all intents and purposes, put the Doha Round to rest and analyses the policy implications and lessons for policymaking at the World Trade Organization (WTO), most importantly the abandonment of the “single undertaking” and return to plurilateral agreements.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper approaches the issue of WTO policymaking by analysing the various outputs produced both before and because of the Ministerial Conference.

Findings

The paper suggests that the Nairobi Ministerial has finally put an end to the Doha Round and comes to the conclusion that policymaking at the multilateral level (i.e. through the single undertaking) will change significantly in the future because the WTO Members are incapable of reaching a comprehensive agreement at this time. Instead, the current trend towards trade policymaking via FTA is likely to continue while the WTO focuses on plurilateral negotiations on narrow and discreet issues.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature on the analysis of global regulatory fragmentation and on trade policymaking. It draws attention, in particular, to the consequences of the last Ministerial Conference and highlights prospects for the future of global trade regulation.
How to become an inspirational leader, and what to avoid
Authors: Bonau Sarah
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The leadership style of inspirational leadership has not gained substantial research attention. Studies have found inspirational leadership to be particularly relevant for practitioners. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the theoretical aspects of inspirational leadership and present practical steps for applying the theory.

Design/methodology/approach

First, inspirational leadership is defined in the context of other leadership theories, with particular emphasis on the vision that is central to inspirational leadership. Consequently, effective leadership behaviour is contrasted against management actions, to then define main areas leaders should focus on. Moreover, this paper outlines specific actions to be implemented in these focus areas.

Findings

Comparing the different perspectives on inspirational leadership theory, it becomes evident that self-awareness and authenticity are the main foundations for inspiring followers and implementing a shared vision.

Practical implications

A tool is presented for practical implementation that allows leaders to measure different characteristics of inspirational leadership and to assess their progress in these areas. In this context, this paper discusses the critical role of authentic behaviour and the challenge of showing the right level of authenticity as a leader. Special attention is given to authentic leadership development, and how organisations must work to avoid over-dependency on inspirational leaders.

Originality/value

The ideas outlined in this paper serve as a guide for leaders to practise inspirational leadership.
Selection issues of formative models
Authors: Ford Lori Allen
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of the issues related to formative modeling and the implications for its use, including some practical suggestions on methods for utilizing causal indicators within models.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to understand and explore the issues relating to formative models, this paper explores both formative and reflective indicators that together address the basic approach to the causal relationship within measurement models in structural equations modeling. Process recommendations for formative model/variable conceptualization and development are presented as well as a discussion of several evaluative issues including identification and proportionality. Some of the main arguments for and against its use are also discussed.

Findings

While the literature on formative models stresses its contribution to behavioral sciences, perhaps its greatest contribution is the flexibility of choice that it provides researchers in the development of models to more accurately estimate the relationship under consideration.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the on-going debate on the relative advantages and disadvantages of the formative and reflective approaches to modeling and examination. Although the pendulum has swung in recent years away from an almost singular focus on reflective models, both approaches provide useful and complementary tools to theoretical management research modeling.
Perspectives on the role of business in social innovation
Authors: Martinez Fabien , O’Sullivan Patrick , Smith Mark , Esposito Mark
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the conceptual construct of social innovation in business as distinct from social innovation implemented by civil society and the state. The general absence of sustained research and analysis of this phenomenon, and the dominance of grey and policy-oriented literature, mean that a broadly accepted definition of how social innovation theorises the changing role of business in society is missing

Design/methodology/approach

An integrative review of the representative literature on social innovation was conducted. The analysis focused on the key arguments made about the involvement of business actors in processes of social innovation and interweaved in this study to build a logically coherent definition of what social innovation in business means for the bulk of those who write and speak about it today. The scope of the literature review was expanded by integrating insights from the extant “business in society” and social innovation literatures, thereby adding clarity to the authors' conceptualisation.

Findings

The findings indicate that social innovation is best understood as a process driven by human relations, morality and creative capacity breaking routines and path dependencies. It fundamentally relies on the socially constructed dynamics between business and social actors who carry ideas, focus their energies, mobilise competences and create new complementarities to tackle social problems. Economic gain, in this approach, is at best an outcome of social innovation, not its engine.

Originality/value

What this literature review unveils that is unique about social innovation, and contributes to an enrichment of the “business in society” debate beyond the business case and win-win scenarios depicted by most scholars in this field, is that it best manifests itself as an informal social process that comes into existence at the margins of conventional ways of thinking and organising business activities. Business actors involved in social innovation are framed as self-directed and self-organised around the moral purpose of fostering social progress.
Conversion potential: a metric for evaluating search engine advertising performance
Authors: Jansen Bernard J. , Clarke Theresa B.
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This research is based on the premise that current metrics for search engine advertising (SEA) are misleading and do not sufficiently allow managers to evaluate traffic and conversions simultaneously. This study aimed to conceptually develop and assess conversion potential (CvP) as a unifying construct for both measuring and evaluating the performance of SEA campaigns.

Design/methodology/approach

A data set of nearly seven million records covering almost three years of a multi-million-dollar keyword marketing campaign from a major US retailer was used to validate the construct of CvP.

Findings

Results empirically validate how CvP measures both campaign traffic and sales in SEA, using the optimization factor of ad rank, which is one of many possible factors.

Research limitations/implications

Although the data set is large and covers a lengthy period of time, it is limited to one company in the retail sector.

Practical implications

The research instantiates CvP as a metric for overall SEA account performance while demonstrating that it is a practical tool for future campaign planning. The metric simultaneously incorporates a sales ratio and a traffic ratio.

Originality/value

This is the first study to formalize and provide a working definition of CvP in the academic literature. The contribution is a theoretical and practical managerial framework to mutually evaluate, measure and make decisions about SEA efforts.
Just a peer finding my way in a crisis house
Authors: Whitmore Carlina May
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share reflections and key learning points from the experience of offering peer support within a crisis house setting.

Design/methodology/approach

A reflective account of experiences of offering one-to-one peer support and the learning that has been taken from these experiences.

Findings

Key reflections centre on the importance of being emotionally honest and supporting personal well-being while offering peer support.

Originality/value

While there is a great deal written about the theory of peer support work, few first persons accounts of peer working have been published. This paper provides important insights into the nature of peer support work.
Peer support in community settings: getting back to our roots
Authors: Crepaz-Keay David
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look at peer support in the context of broader communities.

Design/methodology/approach

It builds on the author’s experience working with the Mental Health Foundation of developing delivering and evaluating several self-management and peer support initiatives in a variety of settings with a range of different peer groups. It will consider what constitutes a peer and a community, and explore the notion of community solutions for community problems.

Findings

Peer support in community settings has the capacity to address social isolation, build skills and self-esteem and give individuals a better quality of life – it can also add value to whole communities and reframe the way entire groups are considered within them. It has the ability to be both more accessible and less stigmatising and thus reach more people. This also offers community based peer support as a contributor to preventing the deterioration of mental health and potentially reducing the impact of mental ill-health.

Social implications

The author needs to think more in terms of whole community and get better at improving how the author measures and articulates this community benefit. This will allow us to make better decisions about how best to apply resources for long term whole community gain. Peer support and peer leadership needs to be at the heart of this process.

Originality/value

This paper places a familiar approach in a different setting placing peer support firmly outside services and within comunities.
Mutuality and shared power as an alternative to coercion and force
Authors: Mead Shery , Filson Beth
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how mutuality and shared power in relationship can avoid coercion and force in mental health treatment.

Design/methodology/approach

This is not a research design. It is rather an opinion piece with extensive examples of the approach.

Findings

The authors have found that using these processes can enable connection; the key to relationship building.

Originality/value

This paper is totally original and stands to offer the field, a new perspective.