bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stock market reactions to financial information
Authors: Wetterlind Dörner Ann
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the response of stock prices to financial announcements.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used is a computer‐based content analysis of qualitative data. The data is from a Swedish real estate firm during the period 1991‐1996. The information collected and analysed comes from the company's press releases, quarterly statements and articles in the six largest business magazines in Sweden. Annual statements were excluded from the study due to the fact that the publication of these statements occurred at a point of time when the information was already reflected in the share prices.

Findings

A positive correlation was found between the stock prices and the following information categories: net asset value, occupancy rates, cash flow and overall capitalisation rate. These results are compared to other studies investigating the influence of information on stock prices. The results from this study confirm previous results.

Research limitation/implications

Information in the form of text from announcements is only one explanation of the volatility in shares. More explanations could be looked for in psychology, decision theory, prospect theory, investor relations and behavioural finance.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this study is that it supports the assumption that public financial information has an impact on stock market behaviour.
Intelligent remuneration in the knowledge economy for growth of intellectual capital
Authors: Edvinsson Leif , Camp Joachim
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The aim of this article is to highlight some characteristics of balancing dimensions for an intelligent remuneration system in the knowledge economy; in other words, what to look for when remunerating sustainable growth of capabilities for future earnings potential (i.e. intellectual capital). The article also aims to present a supplement to the thinking regarding compensation systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is based on and refined from a MBA thesis by J. Camp and presents a perspective on intelligent remunerations based on intellectual capital, motivational psychology and knowledge management theory.

Findings

This paper presents some aspects of an intelligent remuneration system for growth of intellectual capital by unleashing a larger potential of the human capital dimensions. In order to enhance mind value‐added by talents, enterprises need to offer their people a more sustainable remuneration on their invested personal human capital, consisting of both tangible and intangible remunerations.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is the perspective of intelligent remunerations based on connected thinking around intellectual capital, psychology and knowledge management. It will add a broadening perspective to the current thinking regarding compensation models in knowledge‐intensive firms. An intelligent remuneration system is a system that nourishes collective organizational learning and continuous renewal.
The role of mental models in innovative teams
Authors: Davison Graydon , Blackman Deborah
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the role of mental models in knowledge development in order to demonstrate how the type and strength of the mental models held by a team contribute to its success in general and to innovation in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

Two cases are analysed (a successful and an unsuccessful team) which were developed via observation and interviews. The mental models in each case were analysed to map them to the success or otherwise of the teams.

Findings

The first case demonstrates that mental models in a multidisciplinary team can provide opportunity for a shared generation of knowledge for process innovation while open to external influence. The second case demonstrates that, where there are strongly shared mental models that prevent the team from constructing an accurate picture of their present by closing out external influences and pre‐selecting desired knowledge, opportunities for innovation are shut down.

Practical implications

Where mental models provide a sharing framework without closing out the networks and systems that sustain them, they can foster and support innovation. Managing team openness becomes a priority for supporting innovation. Team leaders will need to consider what types of mental models are developing and foster a focus on innovative outcomes and not processes. A concentration on understanding the current context via challenging given assumptions is recommended.

Originality/value

The paper offers clear, practical examples of the results of teams being encouraged to utilise open and closed systems of mental models.
E‐business in professional SMEs: the case of New Zealand
Authors: Ramsey Elaine , McCole Patrick
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The aim of this study is to understand why some New Zealand firms in the professional services industries have been slow to embrace e‐business technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ a postal survey approach and involve a sample of 500 professional service small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand.

Findings

The main conclusion derived from this study is that a combination of factors influences a firm's current and future level of e‐business adoption. These factors include: being able to understand potential e‐business benefits; being able to respond to customer and competitor practices; being prepared to develop staff skills and knowledge of internet‐based technologies (IBTs); and having a well justified and strategic orientation towards e‐business.

Research limitations/implications

The research was restricted in scope to professional service sector SMEs in New Zealand. Further research is planned to provide valuable benchmarks of other country and sectoral adoption and diffusion behaviours.

Practical implications

Adopting firms must continue to extend their e‐business capabilities and levels of sophistication. The biggest challenge that lies ahead is how to change the mindset of non‐adopters and make them realise the benefits that e‐business can deliver. In the final analysis choices about new technology and the exploitation of e‐business opportunities must be owner‐manager led.

Originality/value

The contribution of this research is that the relationship between technology adoption and professional service‐sector firms in New Zealand has become better understood. Implicitly the study has revealed the factors that impact on the decision‐making processes of owner‐managers in relation to the adoption (or otherwise) of IBTs for business purposes.
Idiosyncratic portfolio characteristics of seed and venture capital funds
Authors: Erikson Truls
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to uncover the strategic nature of formal seed capital in Norway as opposed to equally sized venture capital firms.

Design/methodology/approach

As the population of Norwegian seed capital firms is embedded in this study, a differential approach is taken when contrasting these seed capital firms with venture capital firms of approximately the same size.

Findings

The findings indicate that seed capital firms take higher market risk than their counterparts, and that they diversify to a larger extent than comparable venture capital firms. The latter appears to be a function of the former.

Originality/value

This study reviews previous categorizations of seed capital providers, henceforth building towards an overall taxonomy of seed capital.
The role of banks in the evolution of small entrepreneurial Irish firms
Authors: Ibbotson Patrick , Moran Lucia
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The overall aim of the study was to gauge the perceptions of both small businesses and banks, as to the role of banks in the growth, development and success of small entrepreneurial Northern Irish businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed a mixed methodological approach, involving a series of focus groups and semi‐structured interviews with SMEs and staff from three leading high street banks. A follow up survey was conducted using a sample of 250 SMEs.

Findings

Evidence suggests that banks in Northern Ireland have been, and continue to be very supportive to their small business client base and have played a major role in the growth and development of many of these small entrepreneurial firms. Many SMEs felt that their local branch manager was both understanding and sympathetic to their business needs.

Research limitations/implications

The study examined the views of a relatively small sample of SMEs and bank staff. A further investigation is planned where a much larger sample will be used.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the important role played by local branch managers in the support and development of SMEs. This is particularly important given the recent adverse publicity received by banks for “over‐charging” customers and the underlying threat faced by local bank branches.

Originality/value

The paper presents a different perspective on the relationship between banks and their small business clients, indicating that it is often positive, supportive and mutually beneficial.
Exploring succession planning in small, growing firms
Authors: Sambrook Sally
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to explore some of the issues in voluntary succession associated with finding and successfully developing principal successors to ensure the survival and growth of small firms. It highlights the key issues identified, including recruiting employees with potential, considering the work/career motives of potential successors and ways of transferring organisational and personal/tacit knowledge from the owner‐manager to the successor, whether an internal employee or a new purchaser. An initial, simple model is presented, identifying three types of knowledge transfer and two tiers of succession.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature from entrepreneurship, organisation studies and human resourcing highlights the issues associated with succession planning. Qualitative research provides empirical data from four owner‐managers and employees.

Findings

Insight into the reasons why it is difficult to plan voluntary succession are provided.

Research limitations/implications

A recognised limitation of this research is the small sample size. Further research is required to explore whether these issues – and the proposed model – are indeed relevant across other small firms, and whether there are any differences in succession planning between growth and non‐growth oriented firms, and between family and non‐family firms.

Practical implications

The model can be used to analyse succession planning issues and develop successors.

Originality/value

The paper offers new insights into succession planning and the model provides a framework for developing successors.
Entrepreneurship education in UK business schools:
Authors: Matlay Harry
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to critically evaluate the conceptual, contextual and policy issues relating to the expanding field of research on entrepreneurship education in UK business schools.

Design/methodology/approach

The author carried out an extensive literature review of, and a methodical evaluation of current knowledge on, topics related directly and indirectly to entrepreneurship education in UK business schools.

Findings

A critical evaluation of the literature on entrepreneurship education in UK business schools highlighted a number of inherent definitional, conceptual and contextual issues relating to this area of research. Individually and cumulatively, such concerns can cast doubts upon the validity, comparability and generalisation potential of some of the research results and related hypotheses. The author calls for more empirically rigorous and comparable research that would bridge the knowledge gap that still exists between the perceptions and interests of various stakeholders in this important area of policy making. New research would offer a realistic and relevant benchmark to evaluate and inform progress in entrepreneurship education at local, regional and national levels. Furthermore, it could provide a more realistic measure of ongoing policy intervention as well as an expedient response base in a rapidly changing socio‐economic environment.

Research limitations/implications

The evaluation and interpretation of relevant findings represent the author's own perceptions and experiences, and should, therefore, be viewed with caution. These are subject to the usual bias and singular perspective that is typically attributable to “viewpoint” papers.

Originality/value

Provides an evaluation of research on entrepreneurship education in UK business schools.
Information and communications technology and industrial property
Authors: Thompson Bob
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this is to paper discuss the impact of information and communications technology (ICT) upon the industrial property sector through the identification of observable trends now and in the near future. The paper looks at the current ICT influences on industrial property, highlighting the nature of the impact and its implications for the sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws upon the authors own experience of the industrial and IT sectors to isolate key technologies and resulting changes in the drivers of industrial property.

Research limitations/implications

The focus of this paper is on demand side factors that affect the supply of an industrial product. The impact of ICT upon the efficiency and operation of industrial facilities themselves is excluded.

Practical implications

Through the facilitation of changes in occupational demand, ICT has had a dramatic effect upon the industrial property sector over the last 30 years, changing the paradigms of location, structure and configuration beyond recognition.

Originality/value

The industrial property sector does often feature in discussions of the impact of ICT upon property generally. Yet of all the types of property, arguably industrial has seen the biggest quantum change over time facilitated by ICT. This article adds value to that debate through highlighting this fact.
UK call centres: crossroads of an industry
Authors: Snow Jon
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The application of technology has shaped the call centre organisation, enabled its remote location, and allowed its swift relocation. The purpose of this practice briefing is to expose the reader to the reality that call centres are temporary employers of both human resource and property, while at the same time they are collectively one of the biggest occupiers of office space in the UK. The briefing aims to illustrate the uncertainties relating to the mobility of call centre business units and the threat to future employment posed by emerging technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

This practice briefing draws upon a combination of third party research findings, other literature, and the author's experiences to illustrate the relationship between call centre employment and property requirements; the mobility of both jobs and property footprint due to the globalizing effects of high‐bandwidth communications and the development of enterprise software applications; and the potential for jobs erosion due to the “destructive” impact of new automated and self‐service customer interaction technologies.

Findings

The practice briefing acknowledges that DTI sponsored research delivers a very optimistic view of the future prospects for UK call centre employment. However, current experiences regarding offshoring and the adoption of non‐live agent means of customer interaction provide uncertainty regarding the timing and magnitude of call centre employment growth. Property investors seeking exposure to markets reliant on call centre occupiers should consider the prospect that call centre demand could disappear as quickly as it was created.

Originality/value

The footloose nature of today's call centres creates uncertainty for property investors that have, or are seeking, exposure to the UK call centre sector. This practice briefing delivers an accessible account of the operational risks that influence the stability of the UK call centre sector.
What makes al‐Qaeda a global learning network?
Authors: Harrison Matthew
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to reconceptualise the literature on learning organisations, fourth blueprint management and entrepreneurialism to develop the idea of a global learning network.

Design/methodology/approach

This notion is used to highlight successful leadership and management practices used by a transnational organisation to respond to change in a way that fosters entrepreneurial action.

Findings

The author has identified al‐Qaeda as a pertinent and timely example through which to examine this new perspective because of its unique culture and enabling structure that encourage members to act as both “environmental scanners” and agents of influence in affecting change.

Originality/value

The al‐Qaeda case study illustrates how the four elements of metastrategic design – namely: vision, identity, configuration, and action – can operate to sustain organisational learning and renewal for more conventional transnational organisations.
How will ICTs affect our environment in 2020?
Authors: Rodríguez Casal Carlos , Van Wunnik Christine , Delgado Sancho Luis , Claude Burgelman Jean , Desruelle Paul
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to present the results of a research project that the Institute for Prospective Technology Studies commissioned to research the possible effects of information and communication technologies (ICT) on a set of environmental indicators in 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

The project adopted an innovative methodology combining qualitative scenario‐building and quantitative modelling.

Findings

The general conclusion was that the impact of ICT is roughly between −20 and +30 percent. Therefore there are significant opportunities for improving environmental sustainability through ICTs, which can rationalise energy management in housing (or facilities), make passenger and freight transport more efficient, and enable a product‐to‐service shift across the economy.

Originality/value

The impact of ICT should accordingly be taken into account by environmental policies in order to ensure that ICT applications make a positive contribution to environmental outcomes, and, at the same time, to suppress rebound effects.
Drucker on government, politics, economics and society
Authors: Chobanyan Armen , Emblemsvåg Jan
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To provide students, professors, political leaders, members of non‐governmental sector and economists with a review of Drucker's major works on recent changes in politics, government, society and economy.

Design/methodology/approach

This article briefly illustrates and discusses Drucker's thoughts and analysis presented mainly in the booksPost‐Capitalist Society,New RealitiesandManaging in a Time of Great Change. However, reference is also made to other books and articles written by Drucker, as well as papers and books produced by other authors on his works or on subjects discussed in his works.

Findings

This article provides Drucker's views on recent changes in politics, government, society and economy, which have brought about new realities and challenges and have fundamentally transformed politics, economy and the society. Thorough considerations of these challenges would not provide fixed solutions but rather support and would enable governments, organizations and society at large to anticipate these transformations. It is believed that Drucker has made sound analyses of which one ought to take notice.

Practical implications

This article provides a useful source of information on political and economic changes in this turbulent world and recommendations on how to anticipate these changes.

Originality/value

It is believed that this paper contains an original review of Drucker's politically oriented writings. The findings and recommendations in this article can be useful for scholars, students, politicians, economists, leaders of civil society organizations and businesses to better understand the transformations taking place in society and hence enable leaders to make better decisions.
Finding time for the future and overcoming future avoidance
Authors: Buchen Irving H.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To present the degree to which futurists (inadvertently perhaps) encourage future avoidance or deflection.

Design/methodology/approach

Identifies instances and examples of future deflection and avoidance attributable to the misplaced zeal of forecasters.

Findings

Proposes five strategies futurists can use to turn avoidance into acceptance.

Originality/value

To call attention to the negative impacts of forecasters and forecasts on audiences and to suggest ways to eliminate or limit such audience alienation.
A healthy future for Europe's food and drink sector?
Authors: Blackman Colin
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper it to explore the future of Europe's food and drink manufacturing sector

Design/methodology/approach

Using mainly secondary sources, the paper identifies trends and drivers of change, explores possible alternative futures through scenarios, and considers policy implications.

Findings

Europe's food sector is undergoing dramatic change and future policies will be increasingly geared towards preventing non‐communicable diseases resulting from poor diet while ensuring the safety of food and feed. This will require a radical shift away from the productionist paradigm of the past, with emphasis in the future being placed on the impact of food on health and the environment.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is based mainly on existing sources.

Originality/value

Provides a broad overview of the wide range of issues facing the food and drink manufacturing sector.
Knowledge intensive business services: prospects and policies
Authors: Miles Ian
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine knowledge intensive business services, or KIBS for short. KIBS are one of the fastest growing areas of the European economy, and are increasingly important contributors to the performance of the sectors who are their clients.

Design/methodology/approach

KIBS are distinguished from other services and knowledge‐intensive activities, and statistics on KIBS in the European Union are examined, highlighting key similarities and differences in their development across Member States

Findings

KIBS are continuing to grow at rapid rates, and are experiencing qualitative change. The growth is associated with outsourcing, the internationalisation of services, and the growth in demand for certain forms of knowledge. Many KIBS sectors are becoming more concentrated (though most KIBS sectors feature a higher share of small firms than does the economy as a whole). As KIBS supply a wider range of services, overlap and convergence between different KIBS sectors has grown. But as some KIBS become more involved with their major clients' strategies, it is possible that some services will become specialised, while others integrate their inputs for clients.

Research limitations/implications

Scenario analysis is used to examine policy issues concerning KIBS. These are based on deskwork: group discussion would be a valuable complement to this approach.

Practical implications

A range of policy issues, responses to these issues, and the rationales and challenges that policies may confront are spelled out. The article calls for much more explicit consideration of KIBS in innovation and other policy areas.

Originality/value

KIBS remain poorly studied, and their future development has rarely been considered. The implications for innovation and other policies are examined more explicitly and in greater depth than in previous studies.
Technology foresight on Danish nano‐science and nano‐technology
Authors: Dannemand Andersen Per , Rasmussen Birgitte , Strange Marianne , Haisler Jens
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose is to report on a Danish nano‐science and nano‐technology foresight project carried out in 2004.

Design/methodology/approach

The foresight process had the following key elements: review of international technology foresight projects on nano‐technology; mapping of Danish nano‐science and nano‐technology; broad internet survey among interested parties; expert reports; workshops related to the expert reports; analysis of the dynamics of innovation within nano‐technology; survey on hazards and environmental and ethical aspects; group interviews with members of the public.

Findings

The article reflects on the following methodological issues: domain classification and its influence on conclusions; the use of statements or hypotheses; trustworthiness of the foresight process and its recommendations.

Practical implications

Recommendations from the project have already been used in decision‐making on R&D funding and in strategic deliberation in publicly funded institutions conducting R&D. Others are expected to be used for decision‐making, and some are being discussed in research councils and ministries or are being investigated and developed further. Moreover, the foresight process has created broader awareness of, and debate especially about, the hazardous aspects of nano‐technology among researchers and decision makers.

Originality/value

The article contribute the to the European experiences with national level foresight exercises. The case and the findings are of value for science and innovation policy makers, foresight practitioners and scolars within the field.
Competition in the media sector – how long can the future be delayed?
Authors: Ungerer Herbert
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To demonstrate that the media sector is moving towards a new organization of the sector. Inevitably a larger role will fall to competition law and competition law considerations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies major trends and demonstrates evolving competition principles in the European Union (EU) media sector by discussing selected recent EU case decisions.

Findings

Recent cases in the application of EU competition rules in the European media sector evolve around three central themes, all of them essential for moving the sector forward into the transition towards the new media world: unbundling of content and platform, in order to open the market for newcomers; allowing for restructuring, subject to sufficient market opening; and fair competition between public and private broadcasting, in order to prevent the strangling effects that public subsidies can have, while safeguarding public value in the sector.

Originality/value

The application of EU competition rules – merger control, antitrust, state aid control – is a major strand of EU policies in addressing the transition and digital switchover in the European media sector. Any valid research and policy making in the sector will have to take this into account and the paper draws attention to this.
Unbundling the local loop: a cost/benefit analysis for developing nations
Authors: Frieden Rob
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the costs and benefits of local loop unbundling with an eye toward determining whether developing countries should pursue this strategy despite the significant controversy it has generated in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines arguments for and against local loop unbundling and determines which claims make economic, legal and practical sense and which claims support stakeholders' other public policy objectives.

Findings

The paper identifies legitimate reasons for favoring and opposing local loop unbundling. However, the paper also finds false justifications, unsupported by economic and legal principles, that serve incumbents' quest for further deregulation and securing greater incentives for investment in next generation infrastructure, and market entrants' interest in exploiting margins without having to invest in infrastructure. The paper provides recommendations on how developing countries can implement local loop unbundling that balances public benefits against specific downside risks and costs borne by incumbents or market entrants.

Practical implications

This paper supports conditional implementation of local loop unbundling by developing countries that concludes at a future date and incorporates desirable incumbent deregulation and liberalization.

Originality/value

The author has received no financial sponsorship from one or more of the stakeholders to prepare this paper. This paper offers an unbiased assessment of the benefits and burdens imposed by local loop unbundling.
The post‐recession structure of the telecommunications sector takes shape
Authors: Curwen Peter
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This article is the sixth in a series that aims to analyse the constantly changing structure of the TMT sector. It covers the period 25 March 2004 to 25 March 2005.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is designed so as to contain at its core the creation of a series of databases in tabular form that can be used to analyse structural trends over a period of many years.

Findings

Prior to March 2002, the TMT sector spent two years in the doldrums, and the overall trend continued to be broadly negative during the ensuing year, partly driven by the implosions at the likes of WorldCom. However, the worst is now over and the industry is moving rapidly to adopt new structures and strategies more in keeping with a world of opportunities rather than pitfalls.

Originality/value

Empirical research based upon current data is very scarce in the public domain. This series of articles makes a major contribution to the analysis of how and why the structure of the TMT sector is evolving.
Fathoming Porter's five forces model in the internet era
Authors: Karagiannopoulos G.D. , Georgopoulos N. , Nikolopoulos K.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To investigate the impact of the internet in “traditional” market rules.

Design/methodology/approach

An opinion piece based on Michael Porter's arguments for the new economy.

Finding

Michael Porter's arguments for the new economy provide a useful starting point in the analysis of the environment. His arguments are based on exaggerated phenomena. Factors that determine a sector's profitability could be enriched with the innovation that prevails in the particular sector.

Originality/value

An attempt to criticize Porter's thoughts regarding internet and industry structure and to enrich the Porter's five forces model with the “power of innovation”.
Crafting a successful outsourcing vendor/client relationship
Authors: Webb Lisa , Laborde Justin
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to describe what makes an outsourcer/client relationship successful and what outsourcers can do to ensure the longetivity of their client relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors discuss several important aspects of a successful relationship.

Findings

The outsourcing services market has exploded in recent years as more and more companies recognize the benefits of outsourcing to qualified firms. Competition among the many outsourcing firms that presently exist is fierce, and will get even more competitive in the coming years. Outsourcing is an emotional decision, especially for the first time outsourcer, and the success of an outsourcing arrangement depends greatly on the success of the client/vendor relationship.

Originality/value

Shows that it is how the client feels – whether or not an outsourcer is taking care of them – that will decide whether the outsourcing relationship continues or whether the engagement is handed over to an outsourcer's competitor.
Success and failure factors of adopting SAP in ERP system implementation
Authors: Gargeya Vidyaranya B. , Brady Cydnee
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are software packages that allow companies to have more real time visibility and control over their operations. This paper aims to investigate and analyze common circumstances that occur within most ERP projects, and determines the areas that are key to success versus those that contribute to failure.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a content analysis of published articles reporting SAP implementations in 44 companies.

Findings

Identifies six common factors that are indicative of successful or non‐successful SAP implementations. It has been found that the lack of appropriate culture and organizational (internal) readiness as the most important factor contributing to failure of SAP implementations in 15 companies. The presence of project management approaches and appropriate culture and organizational (internal) readiness are the most important factors contributing to the success of SAP implementations in 29 organizations.

Research limitations/implications

The data analyzed is from secondary sources published in the press. Secondary reporting could increase objectivity; however, the weakness is that not all the factors might have been reported.

Originality/value

Identifies factors critical to the success of SAP implementation
Towards a workflow‐based integration architecture for business networking
Authors: Ferreira Diogo M.R. , Pinto Ferreira J.J.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how workflow management can be applied in the context of business networking.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper looks at workflow management systems (WfMSs) as an enterprise integration tool and, as such, it shows that WfMS require an appropriate integration infrastructure. The paper then describes how a WfMS that supports business networking can be built.

Findings

It is found that business networking requires a decentralized, peer‐to‐peer (P2P) integration infrastructure. On the other hand, it is found that it is possible to develop a generic and reusable workflow engine. Both components are then integrated in order to come up with a solution that supports business networking.

Research limitations/implications

Issues concerning information and document management are not addressed. Neither mechanisms of storage and retrieval of exchanged documents, nor the format/structure of those documents are specified.

Practical implications

The paper assumes that enterprises will be willing to build up a P2P network where they will conduct their business‐to‐business (B2B) exchanges. Then, the proposed solution would allow their business processes to be linked without requiring tight coupling between their information systems.

Originality/value

The paper is useful to IT strategists and researchers dealing with WfMS, B2B integration architectures and applications of P2P technology.
E‐government adoption: architecture and barriers
Authors: Ebrahim Zakareya , Irani Zahir
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To provide an integrated architecture framework for e‐government that represents the alignment of IT infrastructure with business process management in public sector organisations and classify the barriers that might complicate the implementation of the proposed architecture framework. The study will help IT practitioners in the public sector learn how to use and manage information technologies to revitalise business processes, improve decision‐making, and gain a competitive advantage from the adoption of e‐government. The proposed architecture framework for e‐government adoption will reduce confusion surrounding e‐government infrastructure in the public sector through understanding the implementation processes, identifying requirements of information and communications technology tools, highlighting the importance of the organisational management resources and the impact of barriers.

Design/methodology/approach

A range of earlier studies have been critically examined and analysed to provide an integrated architecture framework for e‐government adoption that can address and identify the standards, infrastructure components, applications, and technologies for e‐government. The authors have divided the architecture framework into four layers; access layer, e‐government layer, e‐business layer, and infrastructure layer; each layer addresses a particular aspect of e‐government architecture. This paper then presents a critical analysis of barriers experienced in public sector organisations, which prevent the successful adoption of e‐government; such barriers being presented in a taxonomy.

Findings

Defined organisational and technological requirements that will be necessary for the adoption of e‐government in public sector organisations through construct an integrated architecture framework for e‐government. The difficulties and barriers that have been experienced in public sector organisations which complicate the implementation process of e‐government have been analysed and then identified and presented in a taxonomy.

Originality/value

The paper provides architecture framework for e‐government adoption that can help to guide IT managers recognise the technological and organisational requirements for e‐government adoption in public sector organisations. The framework can also help the decision makers to set a vision statement and strategic action plan for future direction in the information technology age through identifying key elements and stages for action. The authors also identify and classify the perceived barriers that might complicate the implementation process of e‐government projects. The awareness of these barriers is important for any e‐government project since they will alert the e‐government project team with any problems or challenges might be existed during the implementation process so they will be ready to overcome them.
Towards a formal definition of goal‐oriented business process patterns
Authors: Andersson Birger , Bider Ilia , Johannesson Paul , Perjons Erik
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Organizations of today are becoming ever more focused on their business processes. This has resulted in an increasing interest in using best practices for business process re‐engineering. Two problems arise in connection to using best practices: how to find a best practice that suits particular purposes, and how to ensure that the process from the best practice has the same nature as the process under re‐engineering. The purpose of this paper is to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper suggests using business process patterns, i.e. relatively high level business process models, for making near formal comparison of business processes. The paper analyzes widespread modeling techniques to find out which of them suits the task of building patterns for comparison. Based on this analysis, the state‐flow modeling technique is chosen and first steps towards formal definition of business process patterns based on this technique are suggested.

Findings

A pattern is defined based on the notions of state space, goal, as a surface in the state space, and valid movements towards the goal. A thinkable procedure of constructing patterns is demonstrated on two real‐life examples. A hypothetical procedure for comparing process is suggested but it still needs to be verified in practice.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is the way the patterns are formulated and the underlying model, the state‐flow view of processes, upon which the patterns are founded.
Modelling the regulative role of business processes with use and misuse cases
Authors: Regev Gil , Alexander Ian F. , Wegmann Alain
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for understanding value‐added and abuse prevention activities in business processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers business processes as a regulation mechanism that an organization uses to survive and flourish in its environment. It proposes a theoretical framework based on the concept of homeostasis, the maintenance of identity in a changing world. In this framework the paper classifies business processes into three levels (strategic, operational, regulative) and analyse the relationships between these three levels. Based on this framework, the paper extends the “Use and Misuse Cases” technique to support modelling of value‐added and abuse prevention activities.

Findings

The main finding is the importance of considering business processes as regulation mechanisms. Traditionally, business processes are analysed through the goals they are designed to achieve. This paper analyses what the organization aims at maintaining. This makes it possible to explicitly model the potential abuses (threats) to business processes and their associated corrective measures (regulative processes).

Practical implications

Use of this framework enables process designers to explicitly model abuse prevention activities, even though they are traditionally considered as not participating in customer value creation. This should lead to better‐fitting business processes.

Originality/value

The framework is useful because it provides a theoretical justification for the value creation and abuse prevention activities that can be found in business processes. The three levels that we use to analyse business processes (strategic, operational and regulative) constitute an innovation in business process modelling where only two levels (strategic and operational) have been considered thus far. Few, if any, business process theoretical frameworks provide this kind of rationale for abuse prevention activities.
Seven recommendations for creating sustainability education at the university level
Authors: Moore Janet
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper describes a set of recommendations that will aid universities planning to create sustainability education programs. These recommendations are not specific to curriculum or programs but are instead recommendations for academic institutions considering a shift towards “sustainability education” in the broadest sense. The purpose of this research was to consider the possible directions for the future of sustainability education at the university level.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a series of workshops using a “value focused thinking” framework, a small team of researchers engaged a large number of stakeholders in a dialogue about sustainability education at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada. Recommendations were compiled from workshop data as well as data from 30 interviews of participants connected with decision‐making and sustainability at UBC.

Findings

The recommendations include infusing sustainability into all university decisions, promoting and practicing collaboration and transdisciplinarity and focusing on personal and social sustainability. Other recommendations included an integration of university plans, decision‐making structures and evaluative measures and the integration of the research, service and teaching components of the university. There is a need for members of the university community to create space for reflection and pedagogical transformation.

Originality/value

The intention of the paper is to outline the details of a participatory workshop that uses value‐focused thinking in order to engage university faculty and administration in a dialogue about sustainability education. Students, faculty and staff working towards sustainability education will be able to adapt the workshop to their own institutions.
Sustainable development, education and literacy
Authors: Dale Ann , Newman Lenore
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To distinguish sustainable development education from environmental education and stress the importance of problem‐based interdisciplinary learning to sustainable development education.

Design/methodology/approach

A range of published works relating to sustainable development education are critiqued, an introduction to complexity theory is given and related to sustainable development education, and a case study is provided to demonstrate an example of incorporating sustainability into course delivery and to demonstrate problem‐based interdisciplinary learning.

Findings

Our discussion supports our claim that reconciling sustainability and development requires a complex interdisciplinary approach beyond that found in some areas of traditional environmental education.

Research limitations/implications

Our literature search is not exhaustive and focuses on sustainable development education. A much greater body of literature relating to environmental education exists.

Practical implications

Our discussion and case study suggests practitioners designing and teaching sustainable development related programs should incorporate an interdisciplinary approach and allow for problem‐based applied learning to take place.

Originality/value

This paper distinguishes sustainable development education from environmental education and suggests practical courses of action for initiating sustainable development education in a meaningful manner.
The case for sustainable laboratories: first steps at Harvard University
Authors: Woolliams Jessica , Lloyd Matthew , Spengler John D.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Laboratories typically consume 4‐5 times more energy than similarly‐sized commercial space. This paper adds to a growing dialogue about how to “green” a laboratory's design and operations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is divided into three sections. The first section reviews the background and theoretical issues. A case is made for sustainable laboratories, introduce the Harvard Green Campus Initiative's (HGCIs) study of potential energy reduction in Harvard's research laboratories and examine other issues including: behavioral change, technical change, and the required codes and suggested standards that influence laboratory design and operations. Next, a survey conducted through a partnership between HGCI, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), and Laboratories for the twenty‐first century (Labs21) to clarify issues surrounding use of codes and standards in high‐performance laboratory design and maintenance is introduced.

Findings

Survey findings highlight the confusion among survey participants surrounding the applications and interpretations of current lab guidelines, codes and standards, particularly addressing sustainable performance. The findings suggest that confusion has financial, environmental, and human health consequences, and that more research is needed to define the operational risks to laboratory workers. Findings indicate that many energy efficient technologies and strategies are not routinely specified in lab design, perhaps in part due to confusion concerning the guidelines, standards and codes.

Research limitations/implications

Although the survey sample size is too small to be statistically significant, it does provide valuable insight into the general confusion surrounding the applications and interpretations of current codes and guidelines, especially those addressing sustainable performance.

Practical implications

The practical implications of this research are many, including that there are many opportunities for technical and behavior improvements within modern university laboratories that yield great energy savings. This is critical as laboratories are one of the most energy‐intense building types on a university campus.

Originality/value

The critical originality of the paper is provided in the analysis of the obstacles to achieving the great potential energy savings that exist within the university laboratory context.