bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An algebraic condition and an algorithm for the internal contact between two ellipsoids
Authors: Trabelsi Ibrahim , Moakher Maher , Gatumel Cendrine , Berthiaux Henri
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new method for the detection and resolution of the contact point between two ellipsoids. Numerical simulations of ellipsoidal particles in a rotary cylinder are also presented.

Design/methodology/approach

An algebraic condition is developed for the internal contact between two ellipsoids and an efficient contact detection algorithm for overlapping ellipsoids is implemented.

Findings

This method was found to have the advantages of effectiveness and speed in the detection and resolution of the contact point.

Originality/value

The dynamics of granular materials are of great importance in many industries dealing with powders and grains, such as pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries. The main difficulty of such simulations is the excessive CPU time required for a large number of particles. In the discrete element method, contact detection between grains is the most expensive step in solving a nonlinear system for determination of the contact point, the normal vector and the overlap distance between ellipsoids. The numerical behavior and the optimization of the new algorithm presented in this paper are important also.
On the validation of DEM and FEM/DEM models in 2D and 3D
Authors: Xiang Jiansheng , Munjiza Antonio , Latham John‐Paul , Guises Romain
Published: October 2009

Purpose

As particulate systems evolve, sliding, rolling and collision contacts all produce forces that discrete element method (DEM) methods aim to predict. Verification of friction rarely takes high priority in validation studies even though friction plays a very important role in applications and in mathematical models for numerical simulation. The purpose of this paper is to address sliding friction in finite element method (FEM)/DEM and rolling friction in DEM.

Design/methodology/approach

Analytical solutions for “block sliding” were used to verify the authors' tangential contact force implementation of 2D FEM/DEM. Inspired by the kinetic art work Liquid Reflections by Liliane Lijn, which consists of free balls responding within a rotating shallow dish, DEM was used to simulate rolling, sliding and state‐of‐rest of spherical particles relative to horizontal and inclined, concave and flat spinning platforms. Various material properties, initial and boundary conditions are set which produce different trajectory regimes.

Findings

Simulation output is found to be in excellent agreement when compared with experimental results and analytical solutions.

Originality/value

The more widespread use of analytically solvable benchmark tests for DEM and FEM/DEM codes is recommended.
Industrial particle flow modelling using discrete element method
Authors: Cleary Paul W.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how particle scale simulation of industrial particle flows using DEM (discrete element method) offers the opportunity for better understanding of the flow dynamics leading to improvements in equipment design and operation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the breadth of industrial applications that are now possible with a series of case studies.

Findings

The paper finds that the inclusion of cohesion, coupling to other physics such fluids, and its use in bubbly and reacting flows are becoming increasingly viable. Challenges remain in developing models that balance the depth of the physics with the computational expense that is affordable and in the development of measurement and characterization processes to provide this expanding array of input data required. Steadily increasing computer power has seen model sizes grow from thousands of particles to many millions over the last decade, which steadily increases the range of applications that can be modelled and the complexity of the physics that can be well represented.

Originality/value

The paper shows how better understanding of the flow dynamics leading to improvements in equipment design and operation can potentially lead to large increases in equipment and process efficiency, throughput and/or product quality. Industrial applications can be characterised as large, involving complex particulate behaviour in typically complex geometries. The critical importance of particle shape on the behaviour of granular systems is demonstrated. Shape needs to be adequately represented in order to obtain quantitative predictive accuracy for these systems.
Globalisation through the kaleidoscope
Authors: Paliwoda Stanley J. , Slater Stephanie
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer an introduction and background as well as a narrative to the development of an economic, social, technological and cultural phenomenon that has been sweeping across national frontiers since first being identified by Theodore Levitt in 1983.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to trace theoretical development but there is lack of a consensus on this subject and so the perspectives of key authors in this area are reviewed alongside each other to test for signs of possible convergence.

Findings

Globalisation is a set of processes rather than just one. The practice is different from what the authors may have expected in that sales of the leading multinationals are not global but regional. Organisational forms reflect differences in strategic thinking with less uniformity being necessary or imposed. Individuals today recount their daily tasks in terms of using the names of global brands or products as nouns and verbs in everyday language. Attitudes towards globalisation are constantly changing. Equally, globalisation continues to evolve.

Research limitations/implications

What is presented here is an overview of the literature as it applies to international trade where globalisation was earlier hoped to bring an economic rescue to billions of people and liberate them from poverty. Marketing, organisational behaviour, risk assessment and strategic decision making all have important roles to play here and so further research is required to monitor a new global trading situation.

Practical implications

It is hoped to contribute to further thought, discussion and conceptualisation of research in this area. The idea of globalisation and regionalisation is not new but the prevalence of this phenomenon in our daily lives is striking.

Originality/value

As the concept has advanced and developed, more studies have been made of this phenomenon and from different perspectives. Here, it is hope to recount those different perspectives as well as reach certain conclusions as to where it has reached and how far it may be expected to reach.
The effects of entrepreneurial marketing on born global performance
Authors: Kocak Akin , Abimbola Temi
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate born global (BG) business organizations that (from or near their founding) seek superior performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based on a multi‐case analysis of interviews conducted with five BG enterprises in which it evaluates, compares and contrasts the views of owner founders.

Findings

It seems clear to the authors that organizational structure, the entrepreneurial processes adopted in creating firms, as well as marketing and learning orientation are all crucial ingredients in the successful early internationalization of enterprises from emerging economies.

Originality/value

Although there are a number of studies on BG firms and a well‐developed literature on entrepreneurial marketing, to the best of the knowledge, this is one of the earliest studies evaluating the synergetic effect of entrepreneurial marketing and issues that arise from the commingling of organisational dynamics, resources and the performance of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) from emerging economies in the international arena. The paper contributes to scholarly discourse on the internationalization process of BG firms. The paper has practical relevance to entrepreneurs and SME from in emerging markets.
Consumer responses to sex appeal advertising: a cross‐cultural study
Authors: Liu Fang , Cheng Hong , Li Jianyao
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Sex appeal has been widely used in most countries. However, little is known about consumers' responses to sex appeal advertising in different cultures. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of sex appeal on ad and brand evaluation among Australian, Chinese and US consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopted a three (Australia, China and the USA) × two (male or female model) × two (low or high level of sex appeal) between‐group factorial design.

Findings

Australian, Chinese and US consumers have significantly different attitudes when exposed to the same ad. However, consumer buying intentions towards the advertised brand are not significantly different. Despite the general assumption that Chinese consumers might react least favourably to sex appeal ads, this paper finds that they hold similar attitudes towards sex appeal ads as US consumers and even more favourable attitudes than Australian consumers. Product involvement is found to be a significant covariate.

Research limitations/implications

The sample includes young consumers, who may be more tolerant to sex appeal advertising than older generations in China. A similar situation may exist in Australia and the USA.

Practical implications

Understanding how consumers in different cultures respond to different advertising appeal strategies is important for international advertisers.

Originality/value

This is the first reported empirical study that compares Chinese consumers' responses to sex appeal advertising with those in Western countries. Findings add to the understanding of the standardisation‐localisation debate.
Applying intelligent cultural networks to marketing analysis
Authors: Wang Yi
Published: October 2009

Purpose

In the real world, an occurrence of an event is often affected by a large number of potential factors. The purpose of this paper is to identify causal factors hidden in the data and discover the underlying causality from the observed data.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper suggests an integration of system dynamics and association mining for identifying causality between attributes in a cultural analysis. The framework gives an improved description of the target cultural system represented by a database; it can also improve strategy selection and other forms of decision making. Such a combination extracts important dynamic causality.

Findings

Complicated cultural issues can be identified and managed through a causal relation network. This type of causal relation is very common in daily life. For example, “an increase in productivity in a factory might cause an increase in pollution in the environment” and “the increasing pollution will cause a decreasing level of human health and welfare”.

Practical implications

This paper presents a methodological framework for studying, understanding and managing cultural differences in a marketing environment. This framework provides a foundation for characterizing the causality representations and relations distributed among members of cultural groups.

Originality/value

This framework is being developed as an approach to improve the management of a dynamic environment, such as an international marketing environment, where participants (marketers, sales manager, etc.) are asked to communicate, bargain, analyse and collaborate with other participants who have a different cultural background or understanding. The knowledge employed can be extracted from data gathered from previous cases, from which the models can be developed.
Conceptualising global strategic sustainability and corporate transformational change
Authors: Borland Helen
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the concept of global “strategic sustainability”, represented by a conceptual framework, the “spheres of strategic sustainability”. The paper examines routes, solutions and a vision for corporate strategic sustainability in the macro context of the global physical environment and the planet. This builds on previous research identifying key drivers and strategies for corporate sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is conceptual in nature and underpinned by Gaia theory, ecosystems theory and the laws of thermodynamics. These three offer specific foci for sustainability research including holism, integration and synthesis: without which, sustainability research would be difficult to achieve.

Findings

The paper identifies two major domains – “corporate” and “consumer” strategic sustainability. It examines the corporate domain in which routes are identified through responses to existing globalisation, corporate strategy and corporate culture.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides insight and preliminary conceptual development towards a full theoretical model of corporate and consumer strategic sustainability. The framework will guide future conceptual and empirical investigations and broaden and deepen our understanding of how firm's can construct strategic business models that incorporate sustainability.

Originality/value

The paper offers a conceptual framework that develops the concept of “corporate strategic sustainability” and provides positive, practical solutions to incorporating sustainability into business models. It also challenges the current dominant socio‐economic paradigm and sets the scene for a more positive eco‐paradigm that serves the present and future needs of the planet, environment, businesses and human society.
Customer expectations of CSR, perceived service quality and brand effect in Thai retail banking
Authors: Poolthong Yaowalak , Mandhachitara Rujirutana
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how social responsibility initiatives can influence perceived service quality and brand effect from the perspective of retail banking customers in Bangkok, Thailand. The paper also aims to examine the impact of trust as a mediating variable between perceived service quality and brand effect.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is quantitative in nature, using the responses of 275 bank customers to a closed‐end questionnaire administered on a face‐to‐face basis by trained fieldworkers. The data analysis is performed by partial least squares (PLS), a second generation statistical SEM variance‐based modeling technique.

Findings

The results of the study demonstrate how corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives influence service quality perceptions and also examine CSR's impact on trust and affective attitudes of customers towards their banks. The study's hypothesized relationships were principally supported, i.e. perceived service quality is positively associated with brand effect mediated by trust. CSR initiatives play an important role in perceived service quality, which in turn, influences trust and brand effect. Finally, CSR is shown to be directly related to brand effect.

Research limitations/implications

While the results are clear and have strong salience to the retail banking industry in Thailand, applications of the findings beyond Thailand should take into account other factors such as the nature of retail banking industry, the perception, behavior and demographics of retail banking customers as well as the strategic focus of retail banking toward CSR.

Practical implications

The study provides a set of findings relating to CSR initiatives that could be readily incorporated into a bank's corporate plan.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, their study proposes an exhaustive review of CSR activities a company could use to best match its stakeholders' interests. Also the paper demonstrates the contribution of advanced modeling methodology to understanding key relationships in the financial services sector.
Why quality management programs fail
Authors: Asif Muhammad , Joost de Bruijn Erik , Douglas Alex , Fisscher Olaf A.M.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks to elaborate the reasons why quality management programs (QMPs) frequently fail to produce the intended results, and to demonstrate how QMPs could be effectively institutionalised in an organisational setting.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of literature from different management fields was carried out to determine how the main issues about QMPs' implementation are discussed in diverse areas (such as strategic and operations management) and how useful insights regarding better implementation and institutionalisation of QMPs could thus be induced.

Findings

To harness maximum benefits, QMPs need to be implemented as a meta‐methodology (or meta‐management) targeting the whole enterprise. The QMPs need to be effectively integrated with the business strategy, which steers the business processes towards its unique competitive advantage. An undesirable scenario would be employing QMPs as sub‐methodologies that take the form of tools and techniques (quick fixes) and thus remain as stand‐alone programs which fail to yield desired results. Institutionalisation of QMPs requires a context specific design that promotes greater buy‐in by employees; developing the routines and structures that act as memory of organisational knowledge, and nurturing a common and fostering culture (instead of various sub‐cultures). Managerial intent of QMP implementation, i.e. performance improvement or legitimisation in the eyes of stakeholders, also determines the success or failures of QMPs.

Practical implications

This paper should provide practitioners and academics with a better understanding of managerial actions and factors that lead QMPs to failures and how such problems could be tackled. This research also provides a better understanding of managerial actions about QMPs implementation that are actually counter‐productive.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to theory and practice by explaining the reasons for QMPs failures and thus how such failures could be prevented. The research has significant originality, as there is little research to date focusing on the QMPs problems explained through perspectives from strategic management and operations management literature.
Quality improvement in haemodialysis process using FMEA
Authors: Ookalkar A.D. , Joshi Anil G. , Ookalkar Dhananjay S.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The quality of haemodialysis process is a prime concern in renal care. This study, carried out at one of the leading Hospitals in Central India, providing kidney care and dialysis, aims to identify areas in the haemodialysis unit needing special attention, to improve process quality and ensure better patient welfare.

Design/methodology/approach

The failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) approach included: deciding haemodialysis process requirements, identifying potential causes of process failure and quantifying associated risk with every cause. Suitable actions were then implemented to reduce the occurrence and improving the controls, thereby reducing risk. The study used primary data generated and monitored over the period: July‐December 2008.

Findings

Adopting proper checklists for work monitoring, providing training to enhance patient and staff awareness; led to reduced process errors, mitigating overall risks, eventually resulting in effective patient care.

Research limitations/implications

The quantification of risk associated with every likely failure is subjective.

Practical implications

The findings have a great significance in relation to kidney patients' welfare. The process areas which may get compromised are highlighted so that they get due attention. Error proofing makes the process “robust”, reducing its vulnerability.

Originality/value

This study provides a microscopic error proofing approach to haemodialysis process using a proven engineering tool, FMEA, ensuring quality improvement. This approach can also be extended to cover other hospital activities.
An efficient genetic‐dynamic programming procedure to design Bayesian control charts
Authors: Celano Giovanni , Costa Antonio , Fichera Sergio , Trovato Enrico
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The search of the optimal economic design of the Bayesian adaptive control charts for finite production runs can be a long and tedious procedure due to the intrinsic structure of the optimization problem, which requires a dynamic programming approach to select the best decision at each sampling epoch during the production horizon of the process. This paper aims to propose a new efficient procedure implementing a genetic algorithm neighbourhood search scheme embedded within the dynamic programming procedure with the aim of reducing the computational burden and achieving significant cost savings in the chart implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

The efficiency of the developed procedure has been verified through a comparison with another existing exhaustive approach working exclusively on one‐sided X¯ Bayesian control charts; then, it has been extended to the design of two‐sided Bayesian control charts.

Findings

The proposed procedure implementing the genetic algorithm neighbourhood search is very fast and efficient in detecting optimal solutions: it allows significant quality control cost savings to be achieved during the Bayesian charts implementation thanks to the possibility of investigating larger spaces of decisions than the existing optimization procedures.

Practical implications

With reference to discrete part manufacturing, where the assumption of finite production runs is often realistic, the design and implementation of adaptive Bayesian control charts by means of the proposed procedure allows significant cost savings to be achieved with respect to the fixed parameters Shewhart charts.

Originality/value

The exhaustive optimization procedure cannot be executed in a reasonable computational time when the space of decisions to select Bayesian chart design parameters significantly enlarges, which is the case of two‐sided control charts. The paper documents the proposed procedure which overcomes this problem and allows the two‐sided Bayesian chart to be designed and proposed as an efficient means to monitor short production runs.
Future employment selection methods: evaluating social networking web sites
Authors: Kluemper Donald H. , Rosen Peter A.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The use of social networking web sites (SNWs), like Facebook and MySpace, has become extremely popular, particularly with today's emerging workforce. Employers, aware of this phenomenon, have begun to use the personal information available on SNWs to make hiring decisions. The purpose of this paper is to examine the feasibility of using applicant personal information currently available on SNWs to improve employment selection decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 378 judge ratings (63 raters×6 subjects) are evaluated to determine if raters can reliably and accurately determine the big‐five personality traits, intelligence, and performance based only on information available on SNWs. Interrater reliability is assessed to determine rater consistency, followed by an assessment of rater accuracy.

Findings

Based solely on viewing social networking profiles, judges are consistent in their ratings across subjects and typically able to accurately distinguish high from low performers. In addition, raters who are more intelligent and emotionally stable outperformed their counterparts.

Practical implications

Human resource (HR) professionals are currently evaluating social networking information prior to hiring applicants. Since SNWs contain substantial personal information which could be argued to cause adverse impact, academic studies are needed to determine whether SNWs can be reliable and valid predictors of important organizational criteria.

Originality/value

This paper is the first, as far as the authors are concerned, to address the use of SNWs in employment selection, despite their current utilization by HR practitioners.
Interaction of job‐limiting pain and political skill on job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior
Authors: Ferris Gerald R. , Rogers Laci M. , Blass Fred R. , Hochwarter Wayne A.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Job‐limiting pain (JLP) is an increasingly relevant topic in organizations. However, research to date has failed to examine the stress‐inducing properties of pain and its effects on job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). To address this gap, the purpose of this paper is to examine the interactive relationship between JLP and political skill (PS) on job satisfaction (Studies 1 and 2) and OCB (Study 2).

Design/methodology/approach

In the first study, data are gathered from 143 employees of a product distribution company in the Southeastern USA. In Study 2, the independent and dependent variables are collected two months apart (and matched) from 237 members of a state agency located in the Southeastern USA, who are participating in developmental exercises.

Findings

PS is supported as a neutralizer of stress brought on by JLP. Job satisfaction and organizational citizenship scores decline as pain increases for those with low levels of PS. Increased JLP has little effect on satisfaction and citizenship for those with high levels of PS.

Research limitations/implications

The data are collected exclusively via a survey; however, tests indicate that multicollinearity does not inflate results.

Practical implications

The research has implications for individuals and managers. Managers can understand and account for the widespread effects of JLP. Individuals can activate PS to neutralize stress.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine the interaction between JLP and PS in the work environment. Gaps in several bodies of literature, including stress, organizational behavior, psychology, and the biopsychosocial approach, are addressed.
The Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002: what impact has it had on small business firms?
Authors: Michelson Stuart , Stryker Jud , Thorne Betty
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of the Sarbanes‐Oxley (SOX) Act of 2002 on small corporations when compared to large firms and to investigate differences perceived by small and large firms with respect to costs and internal controls.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire containing 20 questions (five demographic and 15 addressing issues related to SOX implementation) was mailed to 5,479 board members, chief executive officers (CEOs) and chief financial officers (CFOs) of 676 separate firms with 117 completed surveys returned.

Findings

The results of the study show significant differences in the responses between small and large firms concerning: the overall impact of SOX on the firm; the amount of time dedicated to SOX; the role of the external auditor; the firm's implementation stage; the most significant challenges due to SOX implementation; the corporate governance reforms instituted; and changes in board compensation.

Research limitations/implications

The basic limitation of this paper is the low‐response rate (slightly more than 2 per cent) which is not surprising since CEOs, CFOs, and board of directors have a low tendency to respond to surveys.

Originality/value

The findings of this paper suggest that: recent actions taken by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are appropriate in providing much needed relief for smaller public firms; and lend support for further actions of assistance by the SEC. This paper is of value to academicians, practitioners and to an international audience engaged in the harmonization of accounting standards.
Commitment to independence by internal auditors: the effects of role ambiguity and role conflict
Authors: Ahmad Zaini , Taylor Dennis
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Taking a cognitive perspective of internal auditor independence, the purpose of this study is to develop measures for the concepts of commitment to independence, role conflict and role ambiguity in the context of the internal auditor's work environment, in order to provide evidence of the effects of role conflict and ambiguity, and their sub‐dimensions, on the internal auditor's commitment to independence.

Design/methodology/approach

To measure these concepts, scales are developed for a questionnaire by drawing on measures established in the organizational behavior literature and adapting these to the internal auditor's context. The questionnaire is sent to a sample of internal auditors drawn from the database of the Institute of Internal Auditors Malaysia in which listed companies with an in‐house internal audit function are extracted. There are 101 useable responses.

Findings

The results reveal that both role ambiguity and role conflict are significantly negatively related to commitment to independence. The underlying dimensions found to have the greatest impact on commitment to independence are: first, ambiguity in both the exercise of authority by the internal auditor and time pressure faced by the internal auditor; and second, conflict between the internal auditor's personal values and both management's and their profession's expectations and requirements.

Originality/value

The results extend the literature on internal auditor independence and provide insights for auditing standards setters and corporate governance designers.
A celebrity chef goes global: the business of eating
Authors: Jones Marc T.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper examines the internationalization strategy of Gordon Ramsay Holdings Ltd (GRH) from its base in London. While a substantial body of research on the strategic prerequisites for successful internationalization already exists, little attention has been given within this literature to the international growth of small, informally organized and entrepreneurially‐driven firms. The discussion also identifies the challenges facing GRH as it strives to continue its international expansion.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilizes various published sources from the general press, business press and trade journals to examine the international expansion of GRH on the back of the personal brand the charismatic Gordon Ramsay has achieved in culinary and media circles. The growth of the GRH organization is interpreted through a theoretical framework of strategic capabilities and relationships.

Findings

The analysis illustrates how critical resources and capabilities, branded reputation, and strategic relationships established in GRH's home market have been leveraged effectively overseas. The most fundamental challenge facing GRH going forward is balancing the opportunities and pressures for growth against the need to maintain the highest levels of quality in existing establishments. This “balancing act” has to unfold within an empire in which the entrepreneur‐emperor (Ramsay) has less and less time to devote to any particular activity or establishment.

Originality/value

The case illustrates the importance of developing and leveraging strategic capabilities and relationships in support of successful international expansion. Some of the unique challenges associated with the internationalization of small, informally organized and entrepreneurially‐driven (and branded) firms are addressed in terms of both problems and solutions.
Jeeves and the Dow Jones
Authors: Marren Patrick
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to entertain while reminding readers of the immense variability to be expected with respect to even the most highly recommended of investment strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

Opinion column.

Findings

This column lays out the historical record of the Dow Jones Industrial Average to show that returns on equity are in some cases far more variable (and delayed) than some investors and investment managers might want to believe.

Originality/value

A humorous approach to what can be a decidedly unfunny subject.
Adapting corporate modelling for community informatics
Authors: Stillman Larry , Kethers Stefanie , French Rebecca , Lombard Dean
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to address the need for responsive methodologies to investigate how information and communication technologies (ICTs) are used in non‐business and non‐corporate environments.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a case study on developing an IT strategic plan in a community organisation using the process modelling and analysis methodology called “Co‐MAP”.

Findings

Co‐MAP as a methodology is significant in being a participatory, responsive, and non‐obtrusive tool to work with welfare workers in getting to articulate information, knowledge and technical issues for decision making.

Research limitations/implications

The research provides a way of obtaining knowledge about structuring of social‐technical relationships in a welfare organisation through a sympathetic approach to its business and culture.

Practical implications

Co‐MAP could be fruitfully used in other organisations, though whether this needs an external facilitator to carry out the process and manage the complex data analysis process is a moot point.

Originality/value

The significance of this case study is that it develops a model for adaptation of how to research and represent data, information, and knowledge flows within a social services organisation, for which there are few other detailed case studies.
Conflict and human security in the North Rift and North Eastern Kenya
Authors: Kumssa Asfaw , Jones John F. , Herbert Williams James
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Within the theoretical context of human security, this United Nations (UN) three‐year research project examines the causes and effects of conflicts in the arid and semi‐arid lands of Northern Kenya. The purpose of this paper is to address the human security concerns arising out of conflict, displacement, migration and poverty. The people who live in the area are mainly nomadic pastoralists.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of previous empirical research and ongoing field studies are used to examine four problem areas: cattle rustling, proliferation of small arms, competition over scarce resources and conflict between refugees and local communities.

Findings

Seeking access to water and green pastures, the nomads generally follow their cattle across the region, and their movement is not confined to Kenya alone. They cross and re‐cross international boundaries to and from Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia and Uganda resulting in conflicts over water and pasture. Resource competition in a fragile economy has had grave consequences for the economic security of families and internally displaced people.

Originality/value

The North Rift and North Eastern regions of Kenya are the most underdeveloped area of the country and suffer from a high level of human insecurity, with more than three‐quarters of the population living below the poverty line. This UN project seeks an empirical understanding of the causes of conflict and ways to build the capacity of a vulnerable population to gain both freedom from fear and freedom from want.
Stability through financial embeddedness
Authors: Correa Romar
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to appraise the transition from bank‐based systems to universal banking.

Design/methodology/approach

The Wynne Godley and Francis Cripps macroeconomic framework is used to structure the argument.

Findings

It is shown that the activity of oligopolistic firms leads, through their build‐up of inventories, to an unstable system. However, the industrial structure of an economy might be embedded in a network of inter‐bank linkages. The coupling of real and credit activities delivers a weak stability.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is an attempt to marry a structural cycle model with the institutional transformations. The cyclical model could be made more complex and the institutional analysis richer, thereby generating a thicker set of connections between the two.

Practical implications

The conclusion is that firewalls should be reconstructed between the traditional functions of banks as a conduit in the production of goods and services, and other financial entities involved in financial innovations.

Originality/value

Schools of political economy that theorise the transformation of the regime of accumulation of yesteryear are synthesised into financialisation and potential instability.
Socio‐economic constraints to demand for borrowing among rural females of Pakistan
Authors: Fatima Ambreen
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how many rural women have access to finance. It also explores the additional constraint faced by them in accessing the credit.

Design/methodology/approach

For the estimation purpose, multivariate logit regression is used, taking borrowing any credit as dependent variable.

Findings

Results indicate that women lack easier access to formal credit and the socio‐economic, cultural background of the family significantly impact probability of borrowing. More specifically, result indicates that female own age, marital status and employment bring self‐confidence and reliability that encourage female borrowing.

Research limitations/implications

In the absence of any recent nation‐wide data about micro‐credit, cross‐section survey, theRural Financial Market Surveyis used to examine the factors affecting the demand for borrowing.

Practical implications

This paper proposes that government should implement education programmes in order to create awareness towards role of women in economic development. Moreover, to overcome the cultural constraints, information should also be disseminated through influential media.

Originality/value

While it is widely recognized that, demand for credit is severely affected by socio‐economic, cultural and personal characteristics, this has rarely been confirmed earlier. There are numbers of studies documented on borrowing all focus on the issue of formal and informal sources ignoring the above determinants. This paper attempts to do so.
The French context of microfinance
Authors: Glémain Pascal
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The first French context of microfinance dates from the 1980's. As a matter of fact, the “grameen bank” model was imported at this time to France by M. Nowak, through her Association for an individual right to undertake: “Association pour le Droit à l'Initiative Economique” (ADIE). But today the domestic landscape of solidarity‐based finance counts plenty of “new” actors, such as: CIGALES, la NEF among others, not to forget intermediated social finance firms: Cooperative banks and public banks with social objectives like theCrédits Municipaux. The purpose of this paper is to show how solidarity‐based finance actors try to supply banking products and services to those who are excluded from access to the banking system and to test the hypothesis of an alternative financial system that is “socially responsible” in articulation with public and private sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

A typology of social banking actors is proposed. The nature of responsibility of each actor of thisotherkind of finance is described.

Findings

Social and solidarity‐based economy needs to be recognized by contemporary economics. Solidarity‐based finance shows us that another sustainable development model is possible.

Originality/value

This paper provides incentive to other social economists to continue this work in cooperation.
UNDP on good governance
Authors: Qudrat‐I Elahi Khandakar
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Since the 1990s, most bilateral and supranational donor agencies have been pursuing “good governance” as their priority development policy. Yet, in their own evaluation, the speed of progress of this gargantuan governance project has remained unsatisfactory. The purpose of this paper is to examine the causes of this slow progress by scrutinizing its conceptual foundation.

Design/methodology/approach

The analytical approach of this paper is purely speculative, which is occasionally supported by real world data and socio‐political evidences. Since the paper usesGovernance for Sustainable Human Development – A UNDP Policy Documentas the ruling reference material, the paper has been so titled.

Findings

First, defining governance as a process misrepresents its problematic nature, which is primarily political and therefore diverts world attention from its root‐causes. Second, governance literature treats the state and government as synonymous and by that confuses their political nature. Finally, the paper assigns an all‐impressing role to civil society organizations (CSOs) in promoting good governance in the developing world. However, experience shows that they are deeply involved in the creation and continuation of poor governance in the developing country.

Practical implications

Humankind now lives in a global village divided into territorially demarcated political units. Accordingly, the peace and prosperity of the global village critically depend upon how democratically each of member state is governed. Good governance in turn hinges on politically trained intelligent and ethical individuals running public administration. The analytical opinions of the paper underline this notion.

Originality/value

The paper shows that the ongoing development discourse on good governance revolves around a faulty conceptual foundation. By reviewing the major ideas of the governance paradigm, it clarifies the conceptual connections between political theories and democratic governance.
Pricing and net profit of operating lease
Authors: Moretto Enrico , Tagliavini Giulio
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how asset risk (i.e. the risk that the value of the leased asset loses unexpectedly most of its value at the end of the contract) is measured and hedged.

Design/methodology/approach

The evaluation of the lease contract is achieved by applying the theory of option pricing as the lessor is the writer of a call option on the leased asset. A sensitivity analysis on some parameters is performed.

Findings

The paper disentangles the components of the profit of a lease contract and allows to choose the optimal final purchase price. This lets the lessor hedge against asset risk.

Research limitations/implications

The paper's result can be extended by considering more complex options (such as American or exotic ones) into the lease contract.

Practical implications

Results in the paper allow for a more flexible and efficient management of lease contracts where both parties benefit under an economic and a financial point of view.

Originality/value

This is believed to be the first paper that applies derivative evaluation to the analysis of lease contracts.
An empirical approach to residual value risk estimation in automotive leases
Authors: Laurent Marie‐Paule , Schmit Mathias , Chun Van Belle Suk
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine residual value risk modelling issues with a focus on automotive lease portfolios. Residual value risk is approached through a re‐sampling technique that provides the probability density function of losses and VaR measures for credit portfolios.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is applied to a portfolio of 37,523 operating leases issued between 1989 and 2001 by a major European financial institution.

Findings

The results show that residual value losses are low and sometimes non‐existent. Moreover, the major part of residual value risk is idiosyncratic and can thus be eliminated through adequate diversification. Additionally, this internal model seems to prove that capital requirements stemming from the Basel Committee's proposed new framework are somehow overestimated.

Originality/value

This paper advocates determining a more accurate risk weight for residual value risk in order to better reflect this relatively low‐risk part of leasing activities.
Store atmosphere in web retailing
Authors: Manganari Emmanouela E. , Siomkos George J. , Vrechopoulos Adam P.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide a conceptual framework for studying the effects of online store atmosphere on consumer behaviour and a compilation of empirical studies from the time when research on web atmospherics emerged in the literature in 1999 until today.

Design/methodology/approach

A desk research approach is followed in order to concentrate empirical research on the effects of online store atmosphere on consumer behaviour from top academic journals and conference proceedings through an interdisciplinary research approach (i.e. marketing and information systems literature).

Findings

Extant research is concentrated and presented in a structured way. Online store atmosphere influences various aspects of consumer behaviour online. However, there are many open research issues on the effects of online store atmosphere on consumer behaviour.

Originality/value

The present study develops a parsimonious conceptual framework for studying the effects of online store atmosphere, summarises the knowledge on online store atmosphere in a structured and systematic manner, and identifies gaps and opportunities for advancing established knowledge. No single comprehensive collection of empirical research progress on online store atmosphere exists. The paper constitutes a valuable reference of compact information and future research suggestions for both academics and practitioners.
Shopping orientation and online clothing purchases: the role of gender and purchase situation
Authors: Hansen Torben , Møller Jensen Jan
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate shopping orientation and online clothing purchases across four different gender‐related purchasing contexts. A conceptual model for understanding the impact of shopping orientation on consumer online clothing purchase is proposed and tested both in a general setting and across purchasing contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were distributed to 1,150 Danish household addresses by use of the “drop‐off‐call‐back” survey method. A total of 441 households returned usable responses from either one or both adults in the household. Most adults provided responses with respect to purchasing clothing for themselves and for their partner, making a total of 906 cases distributed across the four purchasing contexts. T‐tests and linear structural equation modelling were utilised to investigate expectations and hypotheses.

Findings

The results support the expected differences in men's and women's shopping orientations and willingness to purchase clothing online. On average, consumers indicate that reduced difficulty in selecting items is sorely needed when purchasing clothing online. However, when evaluated across different purchasing situations, perceived difficulty in selecting items is an important action barrier only for women. Less fun significantly affected online clothing purchases for men purchasing clothing for themselves, but not for women doing the same.

Research limitations/implications

Future research may seek to verify the proposed conceptual model using a range of specific clothing items across different purchasing situations. Future research may also expand the model by suggesting other influencing factors on consumers' online clothing purchasing.

Practical implications

In order to attract more men, online clothing retailers should improve perceived online fun, whereas difficulty in selecting items should be reduced in order to attract more women.

Originality/value

The study is unique in the sense that it investigates online clothing behaviour across four different gender‐related purchasing contexts.