bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mental health knowledge management: critical success factors and strategy of implementation
Authors: Rohajawati Siti , Sensuse Dana Indra , Sucahyo Yudho Giri , Arymurthy Aniati Murni
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to recommend implementation of the knowledge management (KM) strategy for a mental health organisation, an area that has, to date, limited attention in literature based on the factors that influence KM success.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-methods research was conducted to identify the organisational culture, resources, enablers and the influential factors of mental health knowledge management (MHKM). The data were collected in five referral mental hospitals and were analysed using quantitative, qualitative and triangulation methods.

Findings

The organisational culture has become a great barrier. Forty-three influential factors were identified. Otherwise, based on culture, resources, enablers and strengthen, weakness, opportunities and threaten (SWOT) analysed were adopted to propose ten of the critical success factors and were recommended into an implementation strategy.

Research limitations/implications

The paper has proven that KM is a new and emerging discipline in Indonesia, especially on mental health care. This will contribute to the governmental policy of KM implementation and enforce the quality of services.

Practical implications

This result has the potential to leverage interdisciplinary KM research. It supports a mental health organisation in applying KM.

Originality/value

This study is probably the first to analyse factors that are of influence in an MHKM initiative programme.
How do collaboration and investments in knowledge management affect process innovation in services?
Authors: Ashok Mona , Narula Rajneesh , Martinez-Noya Andrea
Published: September 2016

Purpose

Despite the keen interest in radical and incremental innovation, few studies have tested the varying impact of firm-level factors in service sectors. This paper analyses how collaboration with existing and prospective users and investments in knowledge management (KM) practices can be adapted to maximise the outputs of radical and incremental process innovation in a knowledge-intensive business service industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Original survey data from 166 information technology service firms and interviews with 13 executives provide the empirical evidence. Partial least squares-structural equation modelling is used to analyse the data.

Findings

Collaboration with different types of users, and investments in KM practices affect radical versus incremental process innovation differently. Collaboration with existing users influences incremental process innovation directly, but not radical innovation; and prospective user collaboration matters for radical, but not incremental innovation. Furthermore, for radical innovation, investments in KM practices mediate the impact of prospective user collaboration on innovation.

Research limitations/implications

While collaboration with existing users for incremental process innovations does not appear to generate significant managerial challenges, to pursue radical innovations firms must engage in intensive collaboration with prospective users. Higher involvement with prospective users requires higher investment in KM practices to promote efficient intra- and inter-firm knowledge flows.

Originality/value

This study is based on a large-scale survey, together with management interviews. Radical and incremental innovations in the service industry require engagements with different kinds of users, and the use of KM tools.
Classifying emerging knowledge sharing practices and some insights into antecedents to social networking: a case in insurance
Authors: Grant Susan B.
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The paper aims to explore a case of early adoption of the use of social media tools for the purposes of knowledge and information sharing across a supply chain in the UK home insurance market.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used includes genre and content analysis to analyze empirical data from blogs and posts via a customized social extranet [Engaging in Knowledge Networking via an interactive 3D Social Supplier Network (KNOWLEDGE NETWORK)] involving 130 users over a 13-month period.

Findings

The results uncover a set of emerging practices which support both information and knowledge exchange, but which are mainly driven by organizational factors such as buyer power and supplier competitive influencing.

Research limitations/implications

This study has contributed an overall conceptual understanding of reasons behind social media adoption by identifying organizational attributes of buyer power and supplier influence as key antecedents to knowledge sharing within a supply chain.

Originality/value

This paper builds on current thinking in social media theory by providing a window into organizational and supply chain attributes that can explain social media adoption within the context of knowledge sharing supply chains. A systematic classification of user posts over an extended period enabled this work to illuminate not only emerging knowledge sharing practices across a buyer-led supply chain but also the effects of buyer power on users in an online community.
Reconciling ambiguity with interaction: implementing formal knowledge strategies in a knowledge-intensive organization
Authors: Marin Alejandra , Cordier Jason , Hameed Tahir
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look at the actions autonomous knowledge workers perform to implement formalized knowledge strategies as part of an accreditation.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a strategy-as-practice framework, this paper follows a qualitative approach to study the implementation of a standard in a business school. The data collection was carried out over a 14-month period, with access to interviews, observations, meetings minutes and other institutional information.

Findings

Even though faculty members received similar information, the standard was implemented in different and conflicting ways. Three themes explain these differences: different approaches to ambiguous knowledge management practices, enablers and inhibitors of knowledge sharing and different conceptions of continuous improvement.

Research limitations/implications

As this was a single case, findings are not broadly generalizable. The research is based on rich data over a prolonged period, albeit in a very specific setting where unique actor and structural characteristics are not generally representative of the wider business and organizational environment. The nature of the university setting is quite unique. Although possible links to other fields which share some specific similarities with universities are provided, the contextual limitations are acknowledged. Accordingly, the work is presented as a basis for future enquiry when investigating implementation, especially activity-based research within knowledge-intensive organizations.

Practical implications

This paper provides a deep analysis of the actions knowledge workers perform when implementing standards promoted by organizational directives. It exposes tensions and conflicts among knowledge workers when implementing a standard. Our model is the basis for insights on how managers can balance the tensions of creative change and stable structure.

Originality/value

This paper describes how ambiguity and human interactions can reveal a deeper understanding of the different stages of standards implementation. It provides a model that uses the level of ambiguity and structure to explain how knowledge workers interacted in groups and as a whole can implement Assurance of Learning.
Antecedents and intervention mechanisms: a multi-level study of R&D team’s knowledge hiding behavior
Authors: Huo Weiwei , Cai Zhenyao , Luo Jinlian , Men Chenghao , Jia Ruiqian
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine why employees hide knowledge and how organizations intervene and influence the negative effects of knowledge hiding. This study builds and tests a theoretical model at both individual and team level.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from universities, research institutes and enterprises’ research and development (R&D) teams in China via a two-wave survey. The final sample contained 417 cases. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to test hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that territoriality plays a mediating role between psychological ownership and knowledge hiding, and that organizational result justice negatively moderated the relationship between territoriality and knowledge hiding. Procedure justice negatively moderated the relationship between territoriality and rationalized hiding, and that between territoriality and evasive hiding. Interactive justice negatively moderated the relationship between territoriality and rationalized hiding, and that between territoriality and evasive hiding. There were thus interactive effects among territoriality, perceived knowledge value and psychological ownership; the relationship between individual psychological ownership and territoriality was weaker when perceived knowledge value was lower and task interdependence was higher, and stronger with higher perceived knowledge value and lower task interdependence.

Research limitations/implications

Territorial behaviors, such as knowledge hoarding and misleading within R&D teams, are the primary challenges for organizations’ positive activities, including internal sharing, teamwork and organizational goal accomplishment. Researching knowledge territoriality in the Chinese cultural context will help to distinguish territorial behaviors and to take preventive measures. In addition, this study not only enables managers to understand clearly the precipitating factors of knowledge territoriality and the relationships among them but also provides constructive strategies for reducing the negative effect of organizational intervention in knowledge territoriality.

Originality/value

This study adopts a multilevel modeling method and not only reveals the “black box” of interaction among psychological ownership, territoriality and knowledge hiding at the individual level but also probes the three-way interaction of perceived knowledge value, team task dependency and psychological ownership with territoriality at both individual and team levels, and then discusses the mediation effect of organizational justice on the relationship between territoriality and knowledge hiding. The conclusion of this study not only enriches the literature on knowledge hiding in the field of knowledge management but also helps to elucidate the function and intervention mechanism of knowledge hiding.
How to measure trust: the percolation model applied to intra-organisational knowledge sharing networks
Authors: Khvatova Tatiana , Block Madeleine , Zhukov Dmitry , Lesko Sergey
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The present paper aims to explore how to measure trust as a receptivity force in an intra-organisational knowledge-sharing network with the help of self-developed algorithms of modelling percolations.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a completely new methodology is applied by using a sample study of an international company’s financial centre as an example. Computer software has been developed to simulate the network and calculate the percolation thresholds by combining its characteristics, thereby revealing what and to what extent connectivity and trust, respectively, influence knowledge sharing.

Findings

The application of computer modelling to build up a percolation network is useful for answering questions about the determinants of knowledge sharing. Arguably, the authors demonstrate how the applied new methodology is superior in addressing how to measure the critical values of trust, connectivity and interaction issues, as well as leading to better insights about how these can be managed. The present paper confirms that trust is an essential factor influencing knowledge sharing and that there is a reciprocal effect between social interaction and trust.

Practical implications

The model provides a useful tool for assessing features of the intra-organisational knowledge-sharing network and thus an important foundation for implementing actions in practice. The findings of this study imply that managers should consider the important role of task-related trust between actors and in general for knowledge sharing. With the help of percolation modelling, the degree of trust in an organisation can be computed, and this provides managers with an approach for managing trust.

Originality/value

The topic of “how can trust be measured” is very important and is becoming even more important now because the financial crisis and other issues are raising questions about trust and moral compass rather than financial data. A percolation-based approach to studying knowledge sharing has not been researched in depth before now, and this study attempts to fill that gap. Fundamentally, this multidisciplinary research adds value to the theoretical foundation of the percolation network and research methodology to be used in social sciences and gives an example of their potential practical implications.
Exploring adaptability in organizations
Authors: Tejeiro Koller Manuel Ramón
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the development of a new perspective on adaptive strategy design. It examines the concept of adaptive advantage, as such a new perspective, and seeks to improve its understanding and application. The study of its origins leads to a solid comprehension of the concept and the proposal of a certain company profile. This could serve as a foundation for further research and as benchmark for companies trying to be more responsive to change and ultimately more resilient.

Design/methodology/approach

Three theories of the area of adaptability, namely, organization ecology, corporate demography and complexity-based thinking, have been studied conducting a review of the relevant literature of each one. After drawing out the individual contributions, a definition of adaptive advantage is offered and the question about its implementation in an organization is posed. Consequently, indicators of the three elements impacting adaptability, innovation culture, decision-making style and accumulated experience are measured in a sample of “old” and innovative firms. In order to do so, three questionnaires have been used, resulting in a case description of an archetype of adaptive companies.

Findings

It is shown that the expected elements are present, but in a lesser degree than expected. In conclusion, the trial study shows a pattern of “old,” innovative firms, whose cultures promote innovation, are analytic and adaptive in their decision making and have relatively high levels of accumulated experience.

Originality/value

This general review improves the comprehension of a complex concept currently under debate in the field of strategic planning. It explains the areas of the firm implicated in the achievement of adaptive advantage and tries to clarify a practical application of the concept.
Learning and practicing police craft
Authors: Rowe Mike , Turner Elizabeth , Pearson Geoff
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The authors consider current policy debates in the UK about the professionalisation of the police to respond to changing patterns of crime and, specifically, the suggestion that officers be educated to degree level. Drawing on the ethnographic evidence, the purpose of this paper is to focus attention on how officers learn, and continue to develop the applied, that is the craft aspects of the work of uniformed constables.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on a long-term ethnographic project observing officers during the course of their duties. The focus is on the use of discretion and of particular powers. But in the course of the research, the authors also observe the way officers behave and the way they talk about their job.

Findings

The authors suggest that, while there may be a role for degree qualifications, attention needs to be paid to the practices the authors observe, practices that have long been the core craft skills of uniformed officers.

Originality/value

The authors suggest that, despite the emergence of cybercrime and other new forms of crime/threat, the evidence suggests that much has not. Not least, crime is not the only focus of police work.
Strategic investment decision-making – scanning and screening investment opportunities
Authors: Alkaraan Fadi
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This study brings together cognitive and organizational aspects of the strategic investment decision-making process. It focuses on the early stages of strategic investment decision-making. This paper aims to augment the limitations of previous survey-based research through an archival case study that describes pre-decision screening in detail.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on archival data covering an investment decision undertaken by a large brewing company. The data cover a period of about six years, focusing on the decision to invest in West Africa. A rational/intuitive orientation model of the process is used as a framework to help analyze the archival evidence.

Findings

Strategic investment decisions are non-programmed, complex and uncertain. For some companies (e.g. those with a strategic focus on new expansions), certain non-programmed decisions may become semi-programmed in the course of time by applying knowledge learned from having successfully handled non-programmed decision situations in the past. However, other companies without such a focus may not be able to programme part of their strategic decisions. Pre-decision control mechanisms constitute a form of strategic control by detecting potential problem areas in the investment option before formal approval.

Research limitations/implications

Given the narrow scope of this paper – a single case study – the findings are used for theorization rather than offering generalizable results. There is a need for unified models to enrich our understanding of the influence that contextual factors have on strategic investment decision-making. Effective strategic pre-decision control mechanisms that maintain a good balance between rational and intuitive approaches are matters that remain open for debate in future research.

Practical implications

Research on organizational and cognitive aspects of the strategic investment decision-making process is inherently practical. To achieve successful strategic investment decisions, it is essential to devote more attention to the choice and design of strategic control mechanisms.

Originality/value

The framework of this study can help practitioners to gauge the strengths and weaknesses of their decision-making practices. It focuses on three aspects that are relatively absent in the literature: the strategic problem, the strategic choice and the chronological relations between the five stages of the strategic investment decision-making process. The use of historical data is suited to providing illustrations of intuitive/heuristic-based practices that would otherwise be hard to capture.
Are the best African banks really the best? A Malmquist data envelopment analysis
Authors: Desta Tesfatsion Sahlu
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine whether the African commercial banks selected as the best African banks by Global Finance Magazine really are the best.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used, as well as the Malmquist total factor productivity index, to distinguish productive banks from unproductive banks. Nineteen commercial banks were selected from the 30 best African banks as identified by the Global Finance Magazine.

Findings

Of the 19 banks, five were found to be unproductive. Bank productivity was attributed mainly to technological change, and different methods marked different results, for example, the regional winner bank (Standard Bank of South Africa) selected by Global Finance Magazine ranked ninth in this study, whereas the Bank Windhoek Limited, Namibia, ranked first.

Practical implications

The study confirms the applicability of DEA for the banking industry. The model shows variability among the banks’ efficiency and productivity and provides different results to the Global Finance Magazine’s best bank selection. For example, the Standard Bank of South Africa, which is selected as the regional winner, is now ranked ninth under the DEA Malmquist’s total factor productivity.

Originality/value

The study shows that the DEA model can be applied not only for analysing the firm’s efficiency but also for objective rating, ranking and selecting best banks.
Relationship between operational risk management, size, and ownership of Indian banks
Authors: Sharifi Sirus , Haldar Arunima , Rao S.V.D. Nageswara
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between operational risk management (ORM), size, and ownership of Indian banks. This is important in the context of financial crisis experienced by developed countries due to lax regulation.

Design/methodology/approach

ORM practices of Indian banks are proxied by excess capital (over the required minimum capital for operational risk). Size of a bank is measured as deposits plus advances. Our sample includes 61 Indian banks during the period from 2010 to 2013. The authors empirically examine the impact of bank size on excess capital using panel data regression model.

Findings

The results suggest that size of Indian banks is inversely related to excess capital held by them for managing operational risk. The inverse relationship implies that smaller banks hold higher excess capital over the required minimum as per Basel norms. There is no significant relationship between ownership (public, private and foreign) and excess capital held by banks for managing operational risk.

Practical implications

The study has implications for Indian banks given the high level of losses due to bad loans, and the implementation of Basel III norms by the central bank, i.e. Reserve Bank of India.

Social implications

The study has implications for Indian financial system as a large percentage (about 33 per cent) of household savings are deployed in deposits with commercial banks and other financial institutions. The bank failure(s) can have disastrous consequences for the Indian economy as the capacity of the Indian financial system to withstand such shocks is highly doubtful.

Originality/value

There is very little evidence on ORM practices of Indian banks, and its relationship with size and ownership. The study assumes significance in the context of significant changes in the institutional and regulatory framework.
Market concentration, diversification and bank performance in China and India
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Pham Thien , Nghiem Son Hong
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the operational efficiency and effects of market concentration and diversification on the efficiency of Chinese and Indian banks in the 1997-2011 period.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs the two-stage bootstrap procedure of Simar and Wilson (2007) to obtain valid inferences on the efficiency scores and the efficiency determinants.

Findings

Using data set for each country separately, the authors found that the bias-corrected cost efficiency displays an upward trend in Chinese and Indian banks. This trend is consistent with profit efficiency among Chinese banks, but the trend is unclear in Indian banks. Market concentration is negatively related to cost and profit efficiencies of Chinese banks. However, market concentration is positively associated with cost efficiency, but unrelated to profit efficiency of Indian banks. In Chinese banks, diversification of revenue, earning assets and non-lending earning assets are associated with increasing profit efficiency, but their effects to cost efficiency are not clear. In Indian banks, diversification of earning assets increases profit efficiency while there are cost efficiency losses from diversification of revenue and earning assets.

Practical implications

Bank regulators and supervisors in China should consider establishing policies to reduce market concentration and encourage diversification of revenue, earning assets and non-lending earning assets, while increasing concentration and diversification of earning assets should be encouraged in Indian banks.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study employing the double bootstrap procedure proposed by Simar and Wilson (2007) which can address the problem of the two-stage data envelopment analysis or SFA estimator in the efficiency literature on Chinese and Indian banks that efficiency scores obtained in the first stage are inter-dependent, and hence violating the basic assumption in regression analysis in the second stage.
Consumer perception: an analysis on second generation genetically modified foods
Authors: Boccia Flavio
Published: September 2016

Purpose

Genetically modified (GM) food consumption causes discussions among consumers. So, the present research is aimed to study the hypothetical consumption of a particular kind of GM food products in Italy, which are from the second generation.

Design/methodology/approach

This research suggests both information about this particular kind of consumption and factors that determine their purchase through statistical techniques for testing and estimating causal relations, using data derived from carrying out sample surveys. Above all, the factor analysis and the cluster analysis are used for the aim of the study.

Findings

The proposed study shows that transgenic consumption is especially linked to knowledge and impact on health, but also the possibilities that they are able to give when special properties, that can be added to food products, are considered. Moreover, it was possible to identify three kinds of consumer-of-food under investigation: the agree one (37 per cent of the sample), with highest level of perceived expectation and willingness to pay; the half-agree one (27 per cent), with lowest level of desire but highest level of satisfaction; and the disagree one (36 per cent), with negative relationship with all of the factors, particularly with the perceived expectation.

Originality/value

The research considers a topic not addressed in details; moreover, it is also based on the author's own previous research and is its natural continuation and development, but also important for future researches.
East versus West: acceptance of GM foods by European and Asian consumers
Authors: Bongoni Radhika
Published: September 2016

Purpose

Contemporary business is rather global. Food imports and exports are expanding beyond borders to meet increasing domestic and international food and consumer demands. Genetically modified (GM) food emerged as a potential sustainable solution which aims at meeting consumer demands and to mitigate urgent global food security problem. Because of its nature of existence, GM food is a controversial topic in several countries and has varied acceptance rates by consumers. Both government and consumers are antagonistic towards GM foods in most European countries. In contrast, most Asian consumers are neutral and so do not oppose GM foods. The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to examine the factors determining the difference in acceptance of GM foods between cultures. Such information can facilitate policy implications for governments in global agri-food trade and for producers in segregating markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Extensive literature review is done to base the discussions of this viewpoint paper.

Findings

This paper presents five factors that describe the difference in acceptance of GM foods between Europeans and Asians: knowledge and trust over the institutions performing research, uncertainty avoidance and health, gender differences, risk perception and material benefits and food for survival.

Originality/value

There is no systematic study that compares factors determining acceptance of GM foods across cultures.
Italian companies’ attitude towards GM crops
Authors: Sarno Virginia , Malgeri Manzo Rosa
Published: September 2016

Purpose

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a consolidated reality. While consumers are opposed to the introduction of GMOs in Italy, little or nothing is known about the companies’ attitude. For this reason, this work is focused on companies. This research aims to understand the problems, the possible solutions and the opinions of farms on the role of GMOs to arrive at a judgement based on the representation of various positions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper was made possible thanks to a direct survey on the field. In particular, the work provides a significant number of interviews directed to livestock farms; a logical sequence of questions that allow you to understand the attitude and the willingness of companies and if there is a future propensity to transgenic cultivation; and the creation of an ad hoc analysis on the behaviour of farmers.

Findings

Thematic analysis revealed that GMOs are the only valid research to the advancement of agriculture, able to guarantee our companies productivity improvements. This technique could solve many problems related to agriculture, such as the possibility of future saving on crops.

Originality/value

There is a lot of research on GMOs. The research behind this paper is different, because it is a research carried out throughout all the country, from the point of view of businesses.
A multidisciplinary research agenda for the acceptance of Golden Rice
Authors: Bongoni Radhika , Basu Soutrik
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The world is facing serious global food security challenges such as the need for sufficient food for a growing population and an exponential growth in nutrient deficiency disorders. Agricultural biotechnology, such as genetically modified (GM) crops, offers itself as a promising solution to address one or more of these issues. Golden Rice (GR) is an example of a GM crop which contains high amount of β-carotene, a compound which is an antioxidant and a precursor of vitamin A. In spite of GR’s promised potential benefits in combating vitamin A deficiency (VAD) disorders it is still not cultivated. This viewpoint paper aims to present the reader with a need for multidisciplinary research agenda, the outcomes of which can contribute towards the acceptance of GR.

Design/methodology/approach

This viewpoint paper is based on an extensive literature review to identify the “gaps” which contributed to low acceptance of GR. This paper presents a systematic discussion on the importance of GR in tackling VAD and discusses controversies around GR and a scientific approach to tackle them.

Findings

The literature review clearly indicates that there is a huge gap in information substantiating the potential of GR for consumers as well as for the farming community. Addressing these issues can substantially increase the acceptance and cultivation of GR. This viewpoint paper proposes food technologists’ and social scientists’ research agenda for GR and further indicates how the involvement of other research disciplines can improve the acceptance of GR.

Originality/value

The literature review indicates the potential of GR in tackling VAD disorders but clearly lacks information to substantiate these arguments. This paper presents authors’ opinions, urging scientists to take up a multidisciplinary research approach to emancipate GR from the clutches of GM food controversies.
GMOs and the issue of coexistence in Italy
Authors: Covino Daniela
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to analyze the use of genetically modified organisms in the agricultural sector, the way in which the issue of transgenic foods is regulated into European Union and the guidelines on coexistence between genetically modified (GM) and traditional crops. Nowadays the modern consumer supports above all the typical and healthy food products. Notwithstanding, there is a broad and complex legislative framework for sustainable and high quality products: the issue of GM foods is at odds with everything.

Design/methodology/approach

Wide literature review is done to base the discussion of the present viewpoint paper.

Findings

Thematic analysis revealed that increasing use of biotechnology worldwide opens many opportunities, but also some problems, due to the attitude of consumers toward the naturalness of food. It also revealed that coexistence is possible, but presents many obstacles, despite the positive observations of Italian scientific studies.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the issue of coexistence between GM and traditional crops in more depth, providing analysis not previously existing above all in the Italian context.
To eat or not to eat? The case of genetically modified (GM) food
Authors: Vlontzos George , Duquenne Marrie Noelle
Published: September 2016

Purpose

Since the moment genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically modified (GM) foods first came into the market, there has been a continuous debate between those who are supporters and opponents of them. This paper aims to identify the rationale of acceptance or denial of GM foods into the market.

Design/methodology/approach

The Health Belief Model (HBM) successfully elucidates the consumer decision-making process for food selection. The questionnaire for this field of research consists of three parts. The first part refers to socioeconomic information, like sex, monthly income and educational level. The second part contains questions derived from the HBM. Interviewees had to use a 1-5 Likert scale for their answers, with 1 representing Total Denial, 3 for Neutral and 5 for Total Agreement. Finally, the third part consists of one question about the willingness to pay for GM foods or not.

Findings

There are significant differences between Greek consumers and consumers from other European countries – the most important one being their focus on food safety and nutritional issues – with their importance not being reduced by possible pricing discounts. Increase in the market share of GM food can occur only if special focus will be given in the implementation of promotion strategies verifying about the safety of use and increased nutritional value of them, having as a second priority, the implementation of an aggressive pricing policy towards non-GM foods.

Originality/value

This is an original field research, identifying the rationale of the food selection in the Greek market towards GM foods.
Life-creating education: new educational meanings in modern world
Authors: Lyz Natalia , Opryshko Anna
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to show the impossibility of teaching an individual to live and realize their potential in a modern dynamic environment by being within an artificial education system and explore the idea of life-creating education.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on the models of future education and community. Education is viewed from the position of a student’s ability to self-realize in the modern world. This paper relies on the analyses of basic characteristics of formal education, the challenges to it from the point of view of contemporaneous society and the main routes to improve education.

Findings

An artificial education system with its translation of a stable experience model is obsolete. Formal education does not provide an individual with the necessary life experience. Learners’ interest and involvement into cognitive activity; joint creative activity and production of personal knowledge; self-determination; and personal fulfilment are the main features of life-creating education. It involves the whole society into learning, modifies teachers’ functions and requires developing flexible management tools.

Originality/value

This original work shows basic principles of life-creating education and maps the way forward. The represented results will be useful for developing new models of education improvement.
Implementing a labor monitoring guideline and midwives responsibilities to increase the completion rate of partograph in Muhima Hospital, Rwanda
Authors: Byukusenge Jean Bosco , Adomako Eva , Lukas Stephanie , Mugarura Cyprien , Umucyo Josette , Mukagatare Sophie , Ahishakiye Odette , Nyirangondo Clotilde , Wong Rex
Published: September 2016

Purpose

Complete health documentation during childbirth can reduce complications and improve maternal and foetal outcomes. One such document is the partograph which allows health workers to record and follow the labour progress. However, the completion rates of partograph remain low in some hospitals. This study describes the implementation of a quality improvement project to increase the completion rate of partograph in a district hospital in Rwanda.

Design/methodology/approach

The project team tackled the root cause of partograph incompletion by implementing a labour monitoring guideline, assigning patients and duties to midwives and by providing support and supervision.

Findings

The intervention successfully increased overall partograph completion rates from 11 to 61 per cent, p < 0.001. This study also showed that completeness of the partograph was statistically associated with a decrease in foetal deaths and higher Apgar score with p < 0.001 for both.

Practical implications

This study describes the establishment of a quality improvement project following the strategic problem solving approach to increase the completion rate of partograph documentation. The intervention was simple, data-driven and cost-neutral. The team achieved its objectives by integrating staff input, obtaining commitment from the multidisciplinary team and applying leadership skills.

Originality/value

The results are useful for hospitals in limited resources settings wishing to improve overall partograph completion and improve foetal and maternal outcomes during labour, in an efficient and cost-neutral way.
Quality improvement project to increase compliance of administration of corticosteroids and aminophylline in neonatal department of Mibilizi District Hospital
Authors: Mukakarake Marie Goretti , Ndagijimana Albert , Adomako Eva , Zerihun Abraham , Simba Calliope Akintije , Kamariyagwe Arthur , Mwiseneza Philemon , Kampire Francoise , Bahufite Augustin , Wong Rex
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe how the hospital influenced the practice of corticosteroids and aminophylline administration by applying strategic problem solving. Under five child mortality is a challenge in Rwanda. Although it has been shown that administering corticosteroids and aminophylline can reduce the mortality of premature neonates, the use of these medications were low at Mibilizi District Hospital in Rwanda.

Design/methodology/approach

This project used a pre- and post-intervention study design, utilizing patient file audit to evaluate the impact of our intervention on the compliance of corticosteroids administration to pregnant mothers in premature labour and aminophylline to premature neonates, using the Strategic Problem Solving approach.

Findings

The intervention significantly increased the rate of giving corticosteroids to mothers at risk of premature delivery from 26 per cent to 60 per cent p-value = 0.009. The provision of aminophylline to premature neonates under 34 weeks of gestation significantly increased from 65 per cent to 100 per cent p-value = 0.002.

Practical implications

This study illustrates how a multidisciplinary team was able to use the eight steps of strategic problem solving to increase the administration rates of corticosteroids and aminophylline. The hospital should continue to support quality improvement efforts using strategic problem solving approach to prevent premature neonatal deaths and improve quality of care.

Originality/value

Findings from this study may be useful for hospitals in resource-challenged settings seeking to improve the administration of corticosteroids and aminophylline to prevent premature neonatal deaths.
The impact of brand associations on brand loyalty in the football industry
Authors: Maderer Daniel , Holtbruegge Dirk , Woodland Rachel
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of brand associations on brand loyalty of fans toward professional football clubs in developed and emerging football markets (EFM). In particular, the following research questions are answered: how important are different determinants of brand associations for fans from developed football markets (DFM) and EFM? Are there any major differences in the importance of different brand associations and their influence on brand loyalty between fans from DFM and EFM?

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the customer-based brand equity framework the impact of brand associations on brand loyalty is tested with a sample of 3,587 fans from DFM – Germany, England, Spain, Italy, and France (2,032) – as well as fans from EFM – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and the USA (1,555).

Findings

Structural equation modeling is applied and shows a negative impact of brand attributes on attitudinal loyalty, whereas brand benefits positively impact attitudinal loyalty. Furthermore, significant differences between fans from developed and EFM are revealed. Implications for the management of football teams and for research on brand management are derived.

Originality/value

This study extends the work of Gladden and Funk (2001) by expanding the model used to assess brand loyalty and analyzes it empirically in different football markets. When looking to foster attitudinal loyalty, marketers should concentrate on benefit associations instead of attribute associations. Most importantly, marketers should be aware that when focusing on developing brand loyalty amongst EFM fans, they should not simply apply the same strategies that proved to be effective in DFM and vice versa.
Company secretary: a role of breadth and majesty
Authors: Kakabadse Andrew , Khan Nadeem , Kakabadse Nada K.
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to present the outcomes from 40 one-to-one semi-structured interviews and 12 focus group sessions with company secretaries, chairmen, CEOs, chief financial officer (CFOs), senior independent director (SIDs) and NEDs, about the role of the company secretary.

Design/methodology/approach

Lukes’ (1974, 2005) third dimension of power is engaged in thematic analysis of this strategic leadership role and its contribution to Board effectiveness.

Findings

The findings identify “discretionary capacity” as being critical to effective role contribution.

Research limitations/implications

Whilst the inquiry included international participants, e.g. multi-national Board members and company secretaries, it was conducted within the UK.

Practical implications

Having a range of discretion is particularly necessary at this time, when the new governance regime is broadening its demands on the role of the company secretary to interact with wider stakeholders.

Social implications

Better Board effectiveness is critical to broader sustainability of business in society.

Originality/value

An emergent model of the company secretary role is offered as a tool for building discretionary capacity, based on key technical, commercial and social characteristics, in their contexts – understood together as “Breadth” and “Majesty”. Breadth establishes a competency, whereas majesty, the refined high-level social qualities. This study concludes that the company secretary role is highly dependent on the preferences of the chairman, in enabling them to make an effective contribution to the Board.
Conceptualising cosmopolitanism and entrepreneurship through the lens of the three-dimensional theory of power
Authors: Mouraviev Nikolai , Kakabadse Nada K.
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The paper aims to conceptualise cosmopolitanism drivers from the third-level power perspective by drawing on the Steven Lukes’ (1974; 2005) theory of power. Additionally, the paper aims to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurs’ cosmopolitan dispositions and habitus, i.e. a pattern of an individual’s demeanour, as it was understood by Pierre Bourdieu.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper makes use of Bourdieu’s framework (habitus) by extending it to the urban cosmopolitan environment and linking habitus to the three-dimensional theory of power and, importantly, to the power’s third dimension – preference-shaping.

Findings

Once cosmopolitanism is embedded in the urban area’s values, this creates multiple endless rounds of mutual influence (by power holders onto entrepreneurs via political and business elites and by entrepreneurs onto power holders via the same channels), with mutual benefit. Therefore, mutually beneficial influence that transpires in continuous support of a cosmopolitan city’s environment may be viewed as one of the factors that enhances cosmopolitan cities’ resilience to changes in macroeconomic conditions.

Originality/value

The paper offers a theoretical model that allows to enrich the understanding of the power–cosmopolitanism–entrepreneurship link by emphasising the preference-shaping capacity of power, which leads to embedding cosmopolitanism in societal values. As a value shared by political and business elites, cosmopolitanism is also actively promoted by entrepreneurs through their disposition and habitus. This ensures not only their willing compliance with power and the environment but also their enhancement of favourable business conditions. Entrepreneurs depart from mere acquiescence (to power and its explicit dominance) to practicing their cosmopolitan influence by active preference-shaping.
Reflections on team culture, structure and function of an intensive support service centred on positive behavioural support
Authors: Patterson Lawrence A. , Berry Samuel
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore experiences of team culture, structure and function of an intensive support service (ISS) within the context of the recent service guidance “Building the Right Support” (NHS England, Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, 2015). Reflections on the Hampshire and Southampton ISS set up in 2010 are discussed with a view to informing a debate about frameworks for ISS services nationally.

Design/methodology/approach

A reflective piece, drawing on experience and case examples.

Findings

This paper describes that a key function of an ISS is making individuals safe and this is significantly assisted by using shared team formulation, which can enable information and perspectives to be shared between and within teams as rapidly as possible. Further, a case is made for recognising the importance of inter-disciplinary practice, as the Southampton and Hampshire ISS has removed the “old fashioned” demarcations that led to individuals seeing a “procession” of different professionals from different disciplines. This relates to team structure, but importantly is about a culture of holding a shared identity based on positive behavioural support values, rather than a traditional uni-disciplinary perspective.

Practical implications

ISS models are being proposed by NHS England and this paper suggests some important practical aspects.

Originality/value

Limited literature exists examining the team culture within ISSs, which contributes to desired outcomes for service users. This paper opens a debate about structural and functional aspects of service delivery in this service model.