bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Between universality and contingency
Authors: Chênevert Denis , Tremblay Michel
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine whether the performance of the compensation system is better explained by the universalist approach or the contingent approach. The paper also attempts to determine the type of fit that yields the most promising gains in terms of perception of performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected by questionnaire from 602 large organizations in three countries (Canada, France, and the UK), and from this, five hypotheses were formulated and tested using moderated regression analysis.

Findings

The study shows that having an optimal relationship among compensation policies (intra‐activity fit) leads to a more efficient compensation system than that obtained following an alignment with business strategies (vertical strategic fit) and with organizational development strategies (internal organizational fit). However, the results suggest that the universalist perspective cannot be rejected.

Practical implications

Human resources managers should exercise prudence regarding the pairing of compensation policies with various organizational characteristics, particularly those related to compensation management policies, because it is the interaction between compensation policies and their management methods that most influences the perception of performance. Of all these management policies, transparency of salary information seems to be central to the contingency perspective.

Originality/value

One of the most interesting contributions of this research is the identification of negative alignments that may result in negative performance. The joint application of two compensation policies, which, individually, have a positive influence on performance, can create a negative interaction. Contingency is therefore not always desirable, and prudence is recommended in the types of alignments introduced.
Antecedents and consequences of combinative competitive capabilities in manufacturing
Authors: Liu Nan (Chris) , Roth Aleda V. , Rabinovich Elliot
Published: November 2011

Purpose

Extant manufacturing strategy research dichotomizes the trade‐off model and the cumulative model, but fails to explain each strategic result. The purpose of this paper is to propose four key antecedents of a trade‐off versus a cumulative model by manufacturing business units (MBUs), and in turn, their association with business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first review literature pertaining to the history and major themes of manufacturing strategy. Next, the authors present a theoretical model with explanations of the methodology and research design used. The model is empirically tested, and conclusions, managerial implications, and future research opportunities that stem from this research effort are provided.

Findings

Strategic time orientation, as well as manufacturing practices of supply chain integration intensity and advanced manufacturing technology, are empirically found to be associated with MBUs' combinative competitive capabilities. More specifically, manufacturers following these practices are more apt to realize higher levels combinative capabilities, as depicted by the cumulative model.

Originality/value

The paper shows that these manufacturing practices may extend the time within which the MBU reaches its capability frontiers, and therefore, increase the odds that it can exploit its current resources. Moreover, MBU size negatively moderates the relationship between advanced manufacturing technology and the cumulative model.
Does location matter for a scheduling department?
Authors: De Snoo C. , Van Wezel W. , Wortmann J.C.
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the importance of physical proximity between schedulers and operators within manufacturing firms. In literature, a small distance between interdependent employees is assumed to be a prerequisite for a high level of coordination. This study investigates this assumption empirically for the relationship between scheduling and manufacturing and shows effects of proximity that are only partly in line with literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Consequences of relocating the scheduling department within a production firm are studied using a longitudinal case study approach. Data have been collected within three phases: before, three months after, and one year after the relocation.

Findings

Findings show that schedulers and operators communicate more face‐to‐face and less by phone after the relocation, especially during rescheduling. Furthermore, schedulers and operators perceived positive changes in ease of coordination and performance due to the relocation.

Research limitations/implications

Scheduling and rescheduling are usually treated in literature as a mathematical puzzle to be solved. The authors do not contest this in itself, but the findings indicate that communication and collaboration are important aspects as well. In the case company, the possible negative aspects of close proximity, such as more interruptions, are offset by the advantages for rescheduling such as fast response and improved quality of communication. As the study was done in only one manufacturing firm, further research is needed to determine what firm characteristics specifically determine the appropriate location of the scheduling department.

Practical implications

The paper demonstrates the need to carefully design, manage, and facilitate the interface and critical task interdependencies between scheduling and manufacturing departments.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to operations management literature by providing a detailed empirical analysis concerning the effects of physical proximity between schedulers and manufacturing operators, including behavioural and organizational factors.
A framework for specifying natural hydraulic lime mortars for masonry construction
Authors: Forster A.M. , Carter K.
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The selection of lime mortars for masonry structures can be an important component of a repair or new build project. This selection is considered difficult due to the number of variables to consider during the decision‐making process and the perceived inherent complexity of the materials. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the selection process for determining suitable natural hydraulic lime repair mortars for masonry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a conceptual and practical framework for the determination of suitable lime mortars for repair and construction of masonry structures, drawing and building on relevant, literature and existing best practice guidance on specification.

Findings

The use of various relatively newly produced data sets pertaining to durability can aid in the appropriate selection of lime mortars. These determinants must however, be correlated with traditional evaluation of exposure levels, building detailing and moisture handling performance. Building condition survey of the existing fabric is essential to enable refinement of the selection process of these mortars. The adjustment of the initially identified mortars highlighted in the best practice guide may potentially benefit from modification based on the aforementioned factors.

Originality/value

Whilst data exist to help the practitioner select hydraulic lime mortars they have never been correlated with the tacit and expressed protocols for survey and the evaluation of the performance of structures.
Investigating building maintenance practices in Malaysia: a case study
Authors: Lateef Olanrewaju Abdul , Idrus Arazi , Faris Khamidi Mohd
Published: November 2011

Purpose

There have been complaints and criticisms of the conditions and performance of university buildings in Malaysia. The purpose of this paper is to report research looking into building maintenance practices in Malaysia.

Design/methodology approach

To achieve its objectives, the research combined a literature review and a case study. The case study aimed to provide a details and factual information on the maintenance procedures of a university.

Findings

It was found that the maintenance procedures on the case studied were corrective and budget driven. It was also found that the university favours out‐sourcing to in‐sourcing their maintenance service.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study are based on a case, therefore the findings may not represent the maintenance practices of other public universities in Malaysia or elsewhere.

Practical implications

Some universities may adopt some of the good maintenance practices of the university studied. Some of the observations could be helpful to other universities striving to achieve best maintenance practices.

Originality/value

The paper is able to expose the weakness in university maintenance practices in Malaysia and outlines some positive attributes.
Identifying an appropriate approach to judge low carbon buildings
Authors: Isiadinso Chinwe , Goodhew Steve , Marsh Julian , Hoxley Mike
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report research conducted in the UK's East Midlands region which explores optimising practice for low carbon building through an architectural award system.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore the complexity of the contexts, philosophies and demonstrations involved in best practice for low carbon buildings, a mixed research approach was adopted through an online survey and interviews with 13 experts.

Findings

The research provides practical means to evaluate low carbon buildings and suggests an approach where aesthetic design and technical compliance are given similar weightings. It also presents the opinions of construction professional practitioners and academics on best practice for low carbon buildings.

Research limitations/implications

The research focuses on investigating the judging criteria and opinions of construction professionals who have, in the past, strongly identified with sustainable building design practice.

Practical implications

As this research and other studies show, there is a need for a simple methodology and the use of existing tools to evaluate best practice for low carbon buildings.

Originality/value

The value of the paper lies in its purpose to establish a precedent for judging low carbon buildings through an architectural award system. Although there is a plethora of literature, tools and environmental assessment systems that point towards best practice, this research aims to highlight the underlying principles and combine these with practical methods that can enable the construction industry to achieve low carbon buildings.
Customer service for academic library users on the web
Authors: Kaur Kiran , Singh Diljit
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of customer service in the academic library setting and ways in which its management can be best approached in the electronic environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts a two‐phase methodology. First is a content analysis of the literature on customer service in libraries, focusing on electronic services, to identify main issues and strategies being used to address customer issues. This is followed by a qualitative data‐gathering approach to explore user perspectives on the quality of electronic services, focusing on customer service.

Findings

The findings reveal that the concerns of library customers in the web environment are similar to those in the traditional library environment. They are concerned about receiving online help for technical problems and also help to search and use information. Reference services are still highly in demand with an emphasis on the characteristics of the online librarian. Another major need is the ability to give feedback and receive a quick response from the library.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to web‐based library customer service quality as perceived by postgraduate students at four research universities. Thus, it cannot be generalized to the whole academic library's clientele views, though it is applicable to electronic library services at other institutions. The subjectivity of the researchers' interpretations of qualitative data are also acknowledged.

Practical implications

This paper will be helpful to academic libraries in managing the quality of electronic library services by focusing on what the customers require and deem important. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on electronic customer services in academic libraries.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the shortage of studies on the perceived quality of library electronic library services, as is evident in the literature.
E‐book acquisition features: attitude of Iranian information professionals
Authors: Ghaebi Amir , Fahimifar Sepideh
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to consider the most important criteria of e‐book acquisition in academic libraries. The survey seeks these reasons on the basis of two aspects: e‐book features for users and for information professionals or libraries. Moreover, restrictions on e‐books acquisition are surveyed with regard to information professionals' attitude.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey research method is used in this study with questionnaire and interview used for data gathering. The statistical population consisted of 60 information professionals working at state universities of metropolitan Tehran.

Findings

The results show that high storage capacity and multimedia capability are the most important features in acquiring e‐books on the basis of academic user needs. Also, the main criteria of acquiring e‐books from the professionals' point of view of fostering their interests are: occupying little space, ease of selection and simultaneous circulation. Moreover, this study shows that the main restrictions of e‐book acquisition are: hardware and software restrictions, the lack of a union catalog for Iranian e‐books, low level of user familiarity, hackers and even eye‐fatigue when reading.

Originality/value

This study takes the form of unique research that surveys the e‐book acquisition criteria in Iran on the basis of two aspects (user and library) with focus on information professionals' attitude, simultaneously. In addition, there has not been any research on e‐books in Iran, and this study is the first.
Nearest access: rapid location for interlibrary loan resources using OpenURL
Authors: Chen Chuanfu , Wu Zhiqiang , Wu Dan , Ran Congjing
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a technical solution to rapidly access and locate the nearest interlibrary loan resources using OpenURL in the services of a local library.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the paper creates knowledge bases of “nearest access” services, which can automatically identify the nearest library and rapidly locate the resources in the target library. The knowledge bases consist of information about the nearby libraries and a rapid location rule for resources in these libraries. Second, the paper designs “nearest access” algorithms that allow users to identify and select the nearest interlibrary loan resources from the knowledge bases of “nearest access” services.

Findings

Through these steps, the paper establishes an architecture for accessing resources in the nearest library that are based on a combination of knowledge bases and “nearest access” algorithms, providing users with a convenient and rapid method to access interlibrary loan resources.

Originality/value

The innovation of this research lies in the ability of the proposed architecture in providing accurate, agile and personalized access to digital interlibrary loan services. Through this work, users will finally possess a tool to rapidly locate the resources in the nearest library using OpenURL.
Usage and acceptability of e‐resources in National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) and National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), India
Authors: Sharma Chetan , Singh Lakhpat , Sharma Ritu
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to emphasise the use of e‐resources by teachers and research scholars in the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) and the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR). The paper aims at particularly identifying the needs of the users as well as the problems faced by them while using e‐resources and also their level of satisfaction in getting the essential information on electronic means.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted through a questionnaire circulated among 140 teachers and research scholars of NDRI and NBAGR. The response rate was an encouraging 90.71 per cent.

Findings

The majority of the respondents are well aware of the various e‐resources in their respective field and confidently use them regularly. E‐Journals are the most preferred e‐resource among the respondents. They seek the help of e‐resources to perform their routine exercises, i.e. teaching, research, entertainment and communication. Some major problems faced by the respondents are slow speed of internet, difficulty in retrieving contents and poorly designed web sites.

Research limitations/implications

The study is restricted to the teachers and research scholars of NDRI and NBAGR and elaborates on the fact that those e‐resources are being used up to the optimum limit. The study will assist the existing organizations in the field to understand the requirement of electronic resources and stimulate the path to revision of the same.

Originality/value

This is the first study on this topic in India, which has been carried out to discover the importance of e‐resources in the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) and the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR). It will support the approach and importance of such e‐resources and their usage for intellectual investigation in the agriculture community.
A study of web‐based services offered by Asian national libraries
Authors: Zarei Hajar , Abazari Zahra
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This research aims at conducting a survey of web‐based services offered by Asian national libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

To do this, 23 accessible and English language web sites of national libraries in Asia were studied. Direct observation and a checklist including six general services were used for data collection and data evaluation, respectively. In order to determine the detailed services provided by national library web sites, five web sites of the greatest and historical national libraries in the world with appropriate geographical distribution were taken into account.

Findings

National Library of Singapore had the first rank in providing its services via a web site for users and was the only national library in Asia that provides more than half of its services (52.29 per cent) via the web site. The national libraries of seven countries: Japan, Malaysia, China, Iran, Israel, Seri Lanka, and Kyrgyzstan provide web‐based services in the range of 25‐50 per cent, respectively in descending order. And the web sites of Asian national libraries (ANLs) were far from ideal and optimal as an online service provider.

Practical implications

Asian National Libraries must use the web facilities for achievement of their target goals and provision of their information services in the best manner. It is also suggested that these libraries should make high use of both traditional library tools like bibliographies and web‐based ones including web forms, chat, videoconferences, and so forth to meet their goals and ideals.

Originality/value

This study provides a unique insight into the situation of provision of web‐based services offered by national libraries in selected Asian countries.
Document supply in Denmark
Authors: Andresen Leif , Brink Helle
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the Danish inter‐library lending (ILL) environment with the focus on its current status, the level of automation and future development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes Danish ILL cooperation.

Findings

Focussing on standards and automation delivers a better service. Danish ILL has a high level of automation. The combination of standards, interaction between systems and dedicated functions in the national system delivers an effective handling of ILL and document delivery.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to provide a detailed overview of the modern ILL system in Denmark.
The end user enabled: the development of a UK wide resource sharing network for public libraries
Authors: Froud Robert , Robinson Elisabeth
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the initiative to establish a National Union Catalogue for UK Public Libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the development of a web based national union catalogue accessible to the UK citizen.

Findings

It is found that the launch of a National Library Catalogue in the UK is timely and will be of benefit to libraries and the UK population alike.

Originality/value

The paper shares experiences of the UK market with the wider community.
Job demands, job resources and meaning at work
Authors: Clausen Thomas , Borg Vilhelm
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to identify longitudinal associations between job demands, job resources and experience of meaning at work.

Design/methodolgy/approach

Using data from a longitudinal survey study among 6,299 employees in Danish eldercare who were divided into 301 work‐groups, experience of meaning at work was predicted from a series of job demands and job resources measured at individual level and group level.

Findings

A combination of individual‐level and group‐level measures of job demands and job resources contributed to predicting meaning at work. Meaning at work at follow‐up was predicted by meaning at work at baseline, role ambiguity, quality of leadership, and influence at work at individual level and emotional demands at group level. Individual‐level measures of job demands and job resources proved stronger predictors of meaning at work than group‐level measures.

Research limitations/implications

Psychosocial job demands and job resources predict experience of meaning at work.

Practical implications

Experience of meaning at work constitutes an important organizational resource by contributing to the capacities of employees to deal with work‐related stresses and strains, while maintaining their health and well‐being.

Social implications

Experience of meaning at work is positively associated with well‐being and reduces risk for long‐term sickness absence and turnover. Attention towards enhancing employee experiences of meaning at work may contribute towards the ability of western societies to recruit the necessary supply of labour over the coming decades.

Originality/value

This is the first study to provide longitudinal, multi‐level evidence on the association between job demands, job resources and experience of meaning at work.
A question of false self‐esteem
Authors: Gardner Donald G. , Pierce Jon L.
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore the relationships between organization‐based self‐esteem and narcissism, and their correlates. It aims to distinguish the two constructs, as well as to examine the degree to which organization‐based self‐esteem is contaminated by “false self‐esteem” (namely, narcissism).

Design/methodology/approach

Participants completed questionnaires containing measures of organization‐based self‐esteem, narcissism, and a variety of motivational, attitudinal, and behavioral consequences. Co‐workers rated the participants' extra‐role and in‐role performance behaviors.

Findings

Organization‐based self‐esteem and narcissism appear to be quite distinct constructs. The organization‐based self‐esteem scale is unbiased by variance associated with narcissism. Organization‐based self‐esteem is associated with a variety of positive outcomes. In particular, organization‐based self‐esteem correlates negatively with hostility, while narcissism correlates positively with hostility.

Practical implications

The hypothesized negative attitudes and behaviors of narcissists were not found. However, organizations need to be cautious when delivering negative feedback to employees high in narcissism. Supervisors need to provide concrete evidence about deficiencies in narcissists' performance when providing feedback.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine the relationships between organization‐based self‐esteem and narcissism in an organizational context.
A cross‐level study of procedural justice perceptions
Authors: Hon Alice H.Y. , Yang Jixia , Lu Lin
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between supervisor‐perceived procedural justice and subordinate‐perceived procedural justice. The moderating roles of the subordinate‐perceived interactional justice and power‐distance value are also to be examined.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were obtained from 509 supervisor‐subordinate dyads in mainland China. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

Results revealed that: supervisor‐perceived procedural justice is positively related to subordinate‐perceived procedural justice; the direct relationship is stronger when the subordinate perceives higher rather than lower interactional justice from the supervisor; and the direct relationship is stronger when the subordinate holds a higher rather than lower power‐distance value.

Research limitations/implications

The data collected in the present study reside at two hierarchical levels, namely, the employee level and the supervisor level, and the sample size is relatively large. The results are thus less likely subject to common method bias. However, future longitudinal research will be helpful to lend stronger support for the hypothesized causal relationships.

Originality/value

The paper uses cognitive social learning theory in a social exchange context to explain the cross‐level relationship of procedural justice perceptions in organizations, and to identify its boundary conditions. Results support that fairness perceptions at a higher organizational level can be related to lower‐level perceptions along the organizational hierarchy.
Affective commitment and citizenship behaviors across multiple foci
Authors: Morin Alexandre J.S. , Vandenberghe Christian , Boudrias Jean‐Sébastien , Madore Isabelle , Morizot Julien , Tremblay Michel
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine the relationships between affective commitment and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) across four foci: organizations, supervisors, coworkers, and customers. Further, it aims to determine whether relationships among commitments and OCBs involve mediated linkages.

Design/methodology/approach

This study relies on matched employee‐supervisor data (n=216). The relative fit of different models representing relationships among commitments and OCBs was examined using structural equations modeling.

Findings

Results revealed that commitments to coworkers, customers and supervisors displayed positive relationships with OCBs directed at parallel foci. In addition, commitment to the global organization partially and negatively mediated the relationship of commitments to coworkers and customers to parallel OCBs dimensions. Results also revealed cross‐foci relationships between local commitments and OCBs. Finally, no commitment target was significantly associated with organization‐directed OCBs but the latter were positively related to local OCBs.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that multiple commitments and OCBs are involved in a complex net of relationships among which local foci play a critical, and positive, role.
Sociomaterial practice and the constitutive entanglement of social and material resources
Authors: Styhre Alexander
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The concept of sociomaterial practice has been proposed as a term including materiality as constitutive elements in any social practice. The concept also suggests that while social relations are constituted by and mediated by materiality, materialityper seis enacted in a social context. Practice is thus unfolding as a form of constitutive entanglement of social and material resources at hand. The paper aims at discussing the concept of practice as what is mobilizing both material and intangible resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws on interviews with construction workers, foremen, and site managers in three projects in a medium sized construction company.

Findings

The study suggests that while construction work is both regulated by piece‐rate wage systems and being largely composed of standard operation procedures, there is still a strong reliance on collectively accomplished routines for communicating and interacting in the workplace. Rather than being determined by and reducible to material conditions, social relations and mutual trust play a key role in construction projects.

Originality/value

The concept of sociomaterial practice is opening up for a more articulated recognition of the entanglement of social and material resources in organizing work. The study presents first‐hand data on how construction work rests on the collective capacity to combine both material and social elements.
Getting ready forkaizen: organizational and knowledge management enablers
Authors: Magnier‐Watanabe Rémy
Published: November 2011

Purpose

In an economy where firms compete for limited resources, focusing internally to boost efficiency and reduce waste is critical. In particular, thekaizenphilosophy of continuous improvement in small sustainable increments has spread in the manufacturing industry with mixed results. However, the knowledge management requirements ofkaizenhave not yet been formalized for practitioners to easily check the necessary pre‐conditions of their organization. The objective of this paper is to explore the successful implementation ofkaizenin terms of its organizational design and knowledge management preconditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a case‐study approach building on previous in‐depth research of New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) in Fremont, California, this study assesses the organizational and knowledge preconditions ofkaizen.

Findings

The results show that the success of NUMMI may reside as much in Toyota's production system as in the alignment ofkaizenand the organizational characteristics that support suitable knowledge management practices.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the need for practitioners who plan to implementkaizento review their firm's organizational characteristics and knowledge management practices and ensure their congruence with the requirements ofkaizen.

Originality/value

The paper shows howkaizencannot be reduced to an add‐on grafted onto existing processes and aimed at temporarily fixing the bottom line. Instead,kaizenis deeply rooted in, and therefore strongly dependent on, the processes it intends to improve.
A little known origin of cybernetics and some implications
Authors: Andrew Alex M.
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The author reminisces about an experience in the 1950s that revealed a much earlier plan to set up a research centre with aims close to what later came to be called cybernetics. That plan was thwarted by economic considerations but the general approach found expression in the later work of Warren McCulloch and of a group around him, the latter first in Chicago and then in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This paper aims to discuss the attempt to set up this research centre.

Design/methodology/approach

The emphasis is on study of the brain and its modelling in mechanistic terms, and the limitations of various experimental techniques are discussed.

Findings

Despite much very good work and technical developments, the detailed working of the brain is still mysterious, and quite fundamental aspects are still debatable. The suggestion that the 1990s would be the “Decade of the brain” was premature.

Practical implications

Technical developments including scanning techniques, especially NMR, have aided the analysis of brain functioning and no doubt other developments will emerge. Modelling by methods of artificial intelligence is likely to be helpful, but must be seen as producing bold, and therefore tentative, hypotheses that workers should be ready to modify or abandon.

Originality/value

The trip to Orange, New Jersey has been described and discussed previously but not in such detail.
Toward a cybernetic psychology
Authors: Scott Bernard
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the relationship between cybernetics and psychology.

Design/methodology/approach

The paradigms of cybernetics are reviewed and then applied to psychology.

Findings

Applying the paradigms of cybernetics to psychology provides a conceptually coherent account of what is a psychological individual.

Originality/value

It is of value to bring conceptual coherence to the discipline of psychology, which, thus far in its history, has lacked it.
Diffusion of innovative behaviour with social responsibility
Authors: Zenko Zdenka , Mulej Matjaz
Published: November 2011

Purpose

Development or existence of human society depends on innovations and the end of one‐sidedness of behavior. The complexity of innovative processes has been widely studied, yet the success rate is still low. The purpose of this paper is to identify by the dialectical systems approach how some concepts, important for development of inventions into innovations can better support requisitely holistic innovative behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

System theory, theory of innovations and social responsibility are used to understand diffusion of innovations as part of the innovative processes.

Findings

Many established theories, methods, procedures and standards support innovation management, but its economic success remains poor. Invention‐innovation‐diffusion processes (IIDP) remain poorly managed, especially the non‐technological. The usual approach is too one‐sided. Invention and innovation phases received more attention than the requisitely holistic consideration of the diffusion phase. Social responsibility can help.

Research limitations/implications

The paper adds to requisite holism of IIDP management. It focuses on diffusion and its link with social responsibility.

Practical implications

The new approach to IIDP is widely applicable for requisitely holistic rather than one‐sided political or strategic decisions and actions. ISO 26000 can increase success of IIDP.

Originality/value

The concepts presented here are not detected in literature and offer great value for further research and understanding, designing and managing of IIDP. The selected dialectical system of viewpoints is original.
Seeing a case study through a cybernetic epistemological lens
Authors: Espejo Raul
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the knowledge that Beer's viable system model helps when applied to the study of change processes in organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a case study constructed on interviews and shared reflections by the author and a key player in the company. Aspects of the case study are then seen with an epistemological lens.

Findings

While it is apparent that ideas, purposes, values or policies depend on resources to happen, this paper argues that it is necessary their embodying in effective relations to succeed creating and producing desirable meanings.

Research limitations/implications

Some forms of embodiment are more effective than others. The viable system model offers embodiment criteria to increase the chances of a successful production of ideas, purposes, values and policies, and the case study shows that for this purpose a limitation is transforming long‐established relationships.

Originality/value

This paper uses a particular and unique situation to illustrate through the viable system model some of the general difficulties that organisations face in achieving desirable transformations.
Comparison of the Adomian decomposition method and the variational iteration method for solving the Lane‐Emden equations of the first and second kinds
Authors: Wazwaz Abdul‐Majid , Rach Randolph
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comparison of the Adomian decomposition method (ADM) with the variational iteration method (VIM) for solving the Lane‐Emden equations of the first and second kinds.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the theoretical framework of the Adomian decomposition method and compares it with the variational iteration method. The paper seeks to determine the relative merits and computational benefits of both the Adomian decomposition method and the variational iteration method in the context of the important physical models of the Lane‐Emden equations of the first and second kinds.

Findings

The Adomian decomposition method is shown to readily solve the Lane‐Emden equations of both the first and second kinds for all positive real values of the system coefficient α and for all positive real values of the nonlinear exponent m. The decomposition series solution of these nonlinear differential equations requires the calculation of the Adomian polynomials appropriate to the particular system nonlinearity. The paper shows that the variational iteration method works effectively to solve the Lane‐Emden equation of the first kind for system coefficient values α=1, 2, 3, 4 but only for positive integer values of the nonlinear exponent m. The successive approximations of the solution of these nonlinear differential equations require the determination of the appropriate Lagrange multipliers, which are established in this paper. These two methodologies overcome the singular behavior at the origin x=0. The paper shows that the variational iteration method is impractical for solving either the Lane‐Emden equation of the first kind for non‐integer values of the system exponent m or the Lane‐Emden equations of the second kind. Indeed the Adomian decomposition method is shown to solve even the generalized Lane‐Emden equation for any analytic nonlinearity and all positive values of the system coefficient α in a practical and straightforward manner. The conclusions are supported by several numerical examples.

Originality/value

This paper presents an accurate comparison of the Adomian decomposition method with the variational iteration method for solving the Lane‐Emden equations of the first and second kinds. The paper presents a new solution algorithm for the generalized Lane‐Emden equation for any analytic system nonlinearity and for any model geometry as characterized by all possible positive real values of the system coefficient α.
Foundations of a postmodern cybernetics based on Kabbalah
Authors: Burstein Gabriel , Virgil Negoita Constantin
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to lay the computational and mathematical foundations for a “postmodern cybernetics” based on ancient Kabbalah. This new Kabbalistic cybernetics is introduced to act as an unifying science addressing simultaneously, in a common language and framework the triple nature of human, psychological, social, economic, financial, political, cultural systems and their present multi‐faceted crises and conflicts: cognitive objective level of attaining knowledge; subjective emotional level and physical action and behavioral level.

Design/methodology/approach

Feedback, hierarchical control and other system and control theoretic features in the Tree of Life (TL) of Kabbalah were identified. These were used to develop a general system theoretic framework of a new type to address human and societal system dynamics, evolution, interaction and feedback control by simultaneously taking into account their triple nature.

Findings

The postmodern cybernetics of the TL introduced here as a general system framework, exhibits feedback control with internal model principle, hierarchical control, system multi‐valued logic, category theory pullback and pushout mechanisms, advanced knowledge engineering to aggregate, learn, evolve and solve problems and crises in an integrated way.

Practical implications

“Kabbalistic postmodern cybernetics” proposed here for human and societal systems is the unified scientific framework to solve problems that led to or are just related to economic, financial, political, cultural, societal and human crises and conflicts by addressing their triple intertwined human nature.

Originality/value

Computational foundations for a postmodern cybernetics based on Kabbalah are introduced, where the cognitive, emotional and behavioral and physical action facets of human systems are dealt with in a unified integrated framework to address global problems and crises.
Small and large projects: their dynamics and which ones to take
Authors: Lin Yi , Liu Sifeng
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate the roles of small and large projects in the development and evolution of a commercial company and why companies with a history of taking on large projects tend to eventually fail with large projects.

Design/methodology/approach

In terms of small and large projects, analytic models are established to: describe investors' behaviors; depict the dynamics between CEOs and their boards of directors; and reveal how profit ceilings exist for large projects.

Findings

After making the concepts of small and large projects precise, the paper establishes several analytic models for the investigation of the behaviors of various market participants. Then, it develops an explanation for why some decision makers like to take on large projects and why most new startups fail because of a lack of funds. A theory is given to show how investors value small projects more than large projects and why the current trend of moving manufacturing operations from industrialized nations to third world countries does not seem reversible in the foreseeable future, as long as international transportation costs stay low and the global economic system stays open and competitive. Among other results, it is also shown that: the higher the level the CEO's initial ability is, the more likely he would initiate and manage small projects, and the more labor effort he will devote to these projects; the CEO's additional effort spent on the small projects helps him gain non‐pecuniary benefits, which he can use to gain additional bargaining power over the board; to realistically maximize his private utility, the CEO would spend more of his time and effort on small projects; each large project has a glass ceiling for its maximum level of profits; companies taking on large projects cannot afford to devote much of their scarce resources to expand their market share and appearance; and to increase their profit potential, these companies have to control their spending so that their profit can be maximized by lowering their unit selling price ps; for small projects, the profit potential for the company is unlimited.

Originality/value

This work is the first to employ models of human behaviors to research the interactions and dynamics between projects of different scales. It provides a theoretically reliable distinction between small and large projects.
Cryptography
Authors: Kapoor Bhushan , Pandya Pramod , Sherif Joseph S.
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to advance research and strategies that lead to a heightened awareness of the need to protect data from disclosure, to guarantee the authenticity of data and messages, and to protect systems from network‐based attacks.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces the necessary mathematics of cryptography: integer and modular arithmetic, linear congruence, Euclidean and extended Euclidean algorithm, Fermat's theorem, and Elliptic curve.

Findings

The results indicate that encryption has expanded beyond confidentiality concerns to include techniques for message integrity checking, sender/receiver identity authentication, digital signatures, interactive proofs, and secure computation.

Practical implications

The results of this research show that all forms of e‐commerce activities such as online credit card processing, purchasing stocks, and banking data processing, if compromised, would lead to businesses losing billions of dollars in lost revenues as well as losing confidence in e‐commerce. In the last few years, it had been reported that organizations that store and maintain customers' private and confidential records were compromised on many occasions by hackers breaking into the data networks and stealing the records from the storage media.

Originality/value

This paper tackles one of the most critical problems of securing data networks. Security problems arise among other things to resource and workload sharing; complexity of interconnected networks; authentication of users; fast expandability of networks; threats to networks such as wiretapping and violations of the seven pillars of security: authentication, authorization, privacy, integrity, non‐repudiation, availability, and audit.
Interest models and applications in analyzing the rise and decline of Qing dynasty
Authors: Wang Wenjun , Lin Yi , Zhu Jubo
Published: November 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the rise and decline of the Qing dynasty in Chinese history, and tries to explain the evolutionary phenomenon that when a dynasty became strong, it replaced the former established but deteriorating one, and then at the end of its development, it disappeared eventually by using interest models developed herein.

Design/methodology/approach

Systemic interest models are introduced to the study of Chinese history quantitatively. First, by briefly going over the history of Qing, the reasons for its rise and fall are analyzed qualitatively. Second, the concept of interest is generalized under some proper assumptions so that several interest models are established. At the end, intriguing conclusions are drawn by analyzing the numerical solutions of these interest models.

Findings

Comparing this paper's results of numerical solutions with the Qing's history, we can see that the stability of a country was essentially an external appearance of the conflict of interests between the ruling and ruled classes. Usually, the eventual social turbulence happened when the balance of interests deteriorated and was tilted excessively to one social class, and ended when the imbalance reached another state of equilibrium. Moreover, the stability of a country always appeared to be a cycle of “turbulence→peace→turbulence→ċ” which is similar to the evolutionary characteristics of general systems indicated by the systemic yoyo model. Furthermore, the cycle can be found in all the feudal dynasties throughout Chinese history.

Practical implications

The interest models presented in this article can be applied to the study of other social problems, such as corporation governance, the analysis of the national economic relationships, and others.

Originality/value

The concept of interest is generalized in this paper, and the relevant interest models provide good conclusions in our analysis of social and historical phenomena.