bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intelligent discussion boards©
Authors: Kay Wijekumar Kausalai , Spielvogel James
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a case study on the creation of an intelligent discussion board (IDB) that promotes active participation of all students, better threading, and re‐uses vast collections of discussions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents an IDB that was modeled like an intelligent tutoring system with a similar set of data sources, coding schemes, and dialog patterns. The system was tested with two undergraduate courses and quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted to compare discussions on the IDB and the traditional discussion board.

Findings

The results of the case study and analysis of discussion board postings showed that the IDB contained fewer unrelated postings than their traditional counterparts.

Research limitations/implications

The IDB was created to overcome the challenges like students paraphrasing each other, lurking, and lack of cohesion in the postings. They can serve as an assessment tool for discussion forums. The IDB must guide the discussion without controlling the free flow of ideas. Further research with larger numbers of students and also in multiple domains is necessary.

Practical implications

IDBs can be created with the existing resources and technologies and can serve as an assessment tool. Promoting better communication can lead to improved learning with asynchronous discussion boards.

Originality/value

This paper presents the first description of an IDB that can overcome challenges to traditional discussion boards and can also serve as a valuable assessment tool.
Personal electronic archives: collecting the digital me
Authors: Burrows Toby
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that nowadays much of an individual's life is recorded and documented in electronic form. This has major implications for manuscript and archival collections, which are explored in this paper. The records of significant individuals have always been collected by libraries and other cultural institutions. Until fairly recently, these records were largely paper‐based, and sophisticated approaches to their management have been developed over many years.

Design/methodology/approach

There has been some previous work done on identifying the main issues relating to collecting personal electronic archives, but new forms of personal records are continually emerging. This paper surveys the current situation.

Findings

This is an area which is rapidly growing in importance and complexity. It deserves more attention, particularly in a library setting. There is still a lack of practical investigations aimed at developing guidelines for best practice and procedures for handling this kind of material.

Originality/value

The issues for managing personal electronic archives are discussed, and lines for further research are suggested.
Metadata in a global world
Authors: Medeiros Norm
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review best practices in metadata interoperability, and briefly describe the RDA Forum held at the 2006 ALA Midwinter Meeting held in San Antonio, TX.

Design/methodology/approach

The article reviews a draft of the DLF/NSDL publication, Best Practices for Shareable Metadata.

Findings

The article highlights the areas that are especially troublesome vis‐à‐vis metadata interoperability. It is recommended that data providers take time to plan how their repository will be searched in the larger information community.

Originality/value

Readers will gain an understanding of how best to structure metadata so that they are retrievable by users of OAI services.
The potential of the digital library as a platform
Authors: Frumkin Jeremy
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to detail the experiences of creating a digital library service registry and to explore the need for a complete digital library technical platform.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is an experiential commentary.

Findings

If digital libraries are looked upon not as individual systems, but as collections of services on top of a common platform then progress may be made to move beyond the limitations that current standards uphold.

Originality/value

This paper talks about digital libraries as platforms as opposed to individual services/systems. It should be of interest to digital library developers, librarians, and information scientists.
The digital library in the bazaar
Authors: Fox Robert
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the roles that libraries play in the development of open source software.

Design/methodology/approach

Analyses how the use of open source software implies freedom and flexibility for libraries.

Findings

This column is simply exploratory, and proposes the motivation for libraries to be more actively involved in the open source movement.

Practical implications

As libraries are also involved in discussions regarding open access publishing and open standards for metadata and protocols, so should they take a more active role in the testing and development of open source software. Taking this role will not only assist libraries in the furtherance of important digital projects but extend the primary activities of librarianship in general.

Originality/value

One of the values of this column is to present, via the convergence of the open initiatives, a motivation for libraries to be more actively involved in the open source movement as an extension of traditional librarianship and as an enhancement to the digital projects and services they are already engaged in.
Encoding controlled vocabularies for the Semantic Web using SKOS Core
Authors: Cantara Linda
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce digital librarians to a new encoding standard for developing semantically‐rich controlled vocabularies which will enhance searching of digital content.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature‐based review.

Findings

SKOS Core serves as an efficient and practical segue from traditional knowledge organization systems such as thesauri and classification systems to more complex and logic‐driven Semantic Web languages.

Practical implications

Librarians with a need to provide semantically‐rich access to digital resources will find SKOS Core a useful addition to their metadata tool kits.

Originality/value

Provides a useful and practical introduction to a new Semantic Web tool which should be of great interest to librarians tasked with integrating knowledge organization systems into digital libraries.
Incorporating privacy requirements into the system design process
Authors: Kavakli Evangelia , Kalloniatis Christos , Loucopoulos Pericles , Gritzalis Stefanos
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To present a new methodology for incorporating privacy requirements into the system design process called PriS, and describe its applicability in the e‐VOTE system for presenting methodology's way‐of‐working.

Design/methodology/approach

PriS is a requirement engineering methodology focused on privacy issues. It provides a set of concepts for modelling privacy requirements (anonymity, pseudonymity, unlinkability and unobservability) in the organisation domain and a systematic way‐of‐working for translating these requirements into system models. The conceptual model used in PriS is based on the Enterprise Knowledge Development (EKD) framework. PriS models privacy requirements as a special type of goal.

Findings

Based on the analysis of a number of well‐known privacy‐enhancing technologies as well as of existing security requirement engineering methodologies, this paper pinpoints the gap between system design methodologies and technological solutions. To this end, PriS is suggested, with a view to providing a methodological framework for matching privacy‐related requirements with the proper implementation techniques.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a new methodology for addressing privacy requirements during the design process. It guides developers to choose the most appropriate implementation techniques for realising the identified privacy issues. PriS methodology has a high degree of applicability on Internet systems that wish to provide services that ensure users privacy, such as anonymous browsing, untraceable transactions, etc.
An incentive‐based architecture to enable privacy in dynamic environments
Authors: Kazatzopoulos L. , Delakouridis C. , Marias G.F. , Georgiadis P.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose the use of priority‐based incentives for collaborative hiding of confidential information in dynamic environments, such as self‐organized networks, peer‐to‐peer systems, pervasive and grid computing applications.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper documents the necessity of ISSON (Incentives for Secret‐sharing in Self‐Organised Networks); it provides functional and technical details on the proposed architecture; and, it assesses its feasibility in mobilead‐hocnetworks through real experiments. The paper elaborates on the availability of the hidden information through an analytical framework.

Findings

Through the real experiments, ISSON was found to be efficient in terms of communication and processing costs. Additionally, it avoids collusions for unauthorized revealing of the hidden information, and ensures the unlinkability and availability of the secret when it is divided and stored to peers.

Originality/value

The proposed, incentive‐based, privacy enforcement architecture is novel and applies to distributed, dynamic, and self‐configured computing environments.
The choice of digital newspapers: influence of reader goals and user experience
Authors: Flavián Carlos , Gurrea Raquel
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To analyze press reader behavior in the digital medium: identify the main goals that lead readers to read the press and analyze their influence on the choice of digital newspapers. Moreover, the research analyses the moderator effect of user experience.

Design/methodology/approach

First, qualitative studies were carried out which allow reader objectives to be identified and the hypotheses to be established. Subsequently a survey was applied to a representative sample of users. The scales were validated and refined, after which the hypotheses were tested by way of a structural equation model and a multi‐sample analysis.

Findings

The goals based on the search for specific information and for updated news have a positive effect on reading newspapers on the Internet. In contrast, there is no significant effect when reading is for entertainment. This last relationship has been found to be moderated by the user experience variable.

Research limitations/implications

The main aspects which justify digital newspaper reading should be considered in order to increase its use. Similarly, attention is drawn to the probable evolution of reader behavior, which could depend on the level of user's experience with the Internet press.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies that analyses reader behavior on the part of the Internet press readership. In this sense, it provides a significant contribution in that it sets out to identify patterns of behavior on the part of readers of digital newspapers, as well as to study reader goals from a global perspective.
Understanding customer knowledge sharing in web‐based discussion boards
Authors: Lee Matthew K.O. , Cheung Christy M.K. , Lim Kai H. , Ling Sia Choon
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The proliferation and advance of web‐based technologies create expanded opportunities for retailers to gain a better understanding of their customers. However, the success of these web‐based discussion boards depends solely on whether customers are willing to share their knowledge and experience with other customers in these discussion boards. Thus, this study aims at identifying the factors that drive knowledge sharing among customers in web‐based discussion boards.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory study with 104 respondents was conducted to identify and categorize the key factors of customer knowledge sharing in web‐based discussion boards.

Findings

The results indicate that the enjoyment of helping others is the most frequently cited reason for customer knowledge sharing in web‐based discussion boards. On the other hand, the lack of knowledge self‐efficacy is the mostly cited reason explaining why customers do not want to share knowledge with others.

Research limitations/implications

The exploratory analysis suggests that the underlying reasons that motivate and inhibit customers to share are very different. There is a need to integrate multiple theoretical perspectives from across the social and technical domains if this phenomenon is to be better understood.

Practical implications

Building upon the findings of this study, some generic guidelines for retailers and web designers for promoting customer sharing in web‐based discussion boards are outlined.

Originality/value

This research is one of the first studies to use the socio‐technical perspective to investigate customer knowledge sharing phenomena in web‐based discussion boards.
Clustering the consumers on the basis of their perceptions of the Internet banking services
Authors: Mäenpää Katariina
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore Internet banking services (IBS), consumers availing the services and the potential development possibilities of the services in the challenging operational environment.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of exploratory interviews, previous Internet banking studies and relating literature, seven dimensions of IBS ranging from very practical to more hedonic are developed and explored. The users of IBS are examined by clustering them on the basis of differences in perceptions of the proposed service dimensions. Data set comprised of 300 computer‐supported interviews.

Findings

The major finding is that three of the consumer clusters do not value service dimensions containing experiential features, whereas the fourth cluster, comprising mainly of youngsters, perceived those service dimensions very appealing.

Practical implications

Two alternative approaches are suggested to the developing and designing IBS. The cost‐effective strategy for serving currently profitable customers is to adhere to basic IBS that they prefer. However, designing versatile and experiential IBS might prove to be lucrative investment for the future. The biggest consumer cluster comprising of youngsters, potential bank customers of tomorrow, preferred more diversified and even entertaining features.

Originality/value

The study represents strategically interesting viewpoints to design and develop IBS in order to achieve optimal results in the future.
Do we know the future of the university?
Authors: Abeles Tom P.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper presents the idea that the direction of the university, today, must be seen, first as an enterprise that is different from the idea of the university as seen by Newman, Kant and von Humboldt. Secondly, it must be seen as a problem for the faculty and not that of the institution.

Design/methodology/approach

This article examines and discusses the future of universities.

Findings

The probability of institutional closings is high. As with consolidation in any industry, the demand for employees, even with increasing enrolments will diminish and the purpose of the institutions, as with the replacement of one technology by another, will change. For many, particularly medallion institutions, survival by providing a selective on‐campus experience will be a defined opportunity. On the other hand, many institutions will become virtual or will be mixed in both brick and click space. These, of course, will have presence on the net that will not be tied to time or place. Others will become certification providers of many forms, from record keeping and advising to evaluation of qualifications for both students and employers.

Practical implications

The university is changing due to both internal and external pressures. Current efforts to formulate solutions are based on a model that no longer exists. Survival of many post secondary institutions depends on recasting the direction based on new models; survival of faculty at the baccalaureate level requires rethinking the idea of a teacher and a scholar.

Originality/value

This paper discusses the future and direction of universities.
Downwards sloping demand curves for stock?
Authors: Levin Eric J. , Wright Robert E.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the analysis is to estimate price elasticities of demand for individual FTSE‐100 stocks between 1 August 1994 and 31 July 1995.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper measures excess demand in order to measure the slope of the demand curve for individual stocks. An econometric approach is adopted that models the slope of the excess demand curve within an econometric framework using signed market maker transactions data between 1 August 1994 and 31 July 1995.

Findings

The findings confirm that the demand curves for individual stocks do slope downwards. For example, the mean estimated percentage fall in stock price caused by a new share issue that is 1 per cent of the existing number of outstanding shares is −5.6.

Practical implications

Downward sloping demand curves pose difficulties for theories in finance that rely on the law of one price and price‐takers in competitive markets. For example, the dividend policy and capital structure irrelevance theorems of corporate finance, and the efficient markets hypothesis assumption that the price of a stock is determined only by information about future cash flows and the discount rate are not consistent with a downward sloping demand curve.

Originality/value

The slope of the demand curve is estimated using an econometric model and market makers' transactions data for specific stocks. This approach identifies observable unexpected shifts in the demand for a stock as unexpected changes in market makers' inventories. This approach is superior to event studies because it provides multiple observations that enable the slope of the demand curve to be quantified with sufficient confidence to calculate the price elasticity of demand for the stock.
Idiosyncratic volatility and security returns: evidence from Germany and United Kingdom
Authors: Drew Michael E. , Malin Mirela , Naughton Tony , Veeraraghavan Madhu
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Malkiel and Xu state that idiosyncratic volatility is highly correlated with size and that it plays a powerful role in explaining expected returns. The purpose of this paper is to ask whether idiosyncratic volatility is useful in explaining the variation in expected returns; and whether the findings can be explained by the turn of the year effect.

Design/methodology/design

Monthly stock returns and market values of all listed firms in Germany and UK covering the period 1991‐2001 from Datastream are used as the basis of the evaluation.

Findings

The paper finds that the three‐factor model provides a better description of expected returns than the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). That is, it is found that firm size and idiosyncratic volatility are related to security returns. In addition, it is noted that the findings are robust throughout the sample period

Originality/value

The paper shows that the CAPM beta alone is not sufficient to explain the variation in stock returns.
Do what insiders do
Authors: Bajo Emanuele , Petracci Barbara
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the main motivations for Italian insiders to trade relevant stakes of their companies, specifically assuming that most transactions are driven by speculative intents. According to an information asymmetry hypothesis, insiders, having a superior information set, may better detect the temporary under or overvaluation of stocks. Moreover, when insider trading law is not well enforced, insiders may take advantage of relevant and undisclosed information. In both cases, such transactions would convey an important signal to uninformed traders.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to determine whether insiders are able to earn abnormal returns, a standard event study methodology is used and, then, a profitable mimicking portfolio strategy is proposed.

Findings

The paper finds statistical evidence of a positive relationship between the change of holdings and the sign of market movement: excess returns are earned after a positive increase of relevant stakes and negative abnormal returns follow an opposite insiders' strategy. In particular, we find significant excess returns between the first and the third month following insiders' transactions. Market response is generally higher for insiders' purchases rather than sales and for insiders owning more than 50 per cent of the company.

Research limitations/implications

As at European level laws on insider trading have been updated recently, future research could study this phenomenon after 2002, investigating if new laws were able to guarantee strong efficiency of the Italian market.

Originality/value

This paper is interesting because it is one of the few studies on insider trading carried out outside the USA.
Bayesian Markov mixture of normals approach to modeling financial returns
Authors: Chang George
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether Markov mixture of normals (MMN) model is a viable approach to modeling financial returns.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts the full Bayesian estimation approach based on the method of Gibbs sampling, and the latent state variables simulation algorithm developed by Chib.

Findings

Using data from the S&P 500 index, the paper first demonstrates that the MMN model is able to capture the unconditional features of the S&P 500 daily returns. It further conducts formal model comparisons to examine the performance of the Markov mixture structures relative to two well‐known alternatives, the GARCH and the t‐GARCH models. The results clearly indicate that MMN models are viable alternatives to modeling financial returns.

Research limitations/implications

The univariate MMN structure in this paper can be generalized to a multivariate setting, which can provide a flexible yet practical approach to modeling multiple time series of assets returns.

Practical implications

Given the encouraging empirical performance of the MMN models, it is hopeful that the MMN models will have success in some interesting financial applications such as Value‐at‐Risk and option pricing.

Originality/value

The paper explicitly formulates the Gibbs sampling procedures for estimating MMN models in a Bayesian framework. It also shows empirically that MMN models are able to capture the stylized features of financial returns. The MMN models and their estimation method in this paper can be applied to other financial data, especially in which tail probability is of major interest or concern.
Futuring and visioning: complementary approaches to strategic decision making
Authors: Millett Stephen M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to clarify the difference between futuring and visioning and to suggest how they may be better implemented as complementary approaches to strategic decision‐making.

Design/methodology/approach

A veteran of more than 80 scenario development projects, the author describes the tools required and the best practices for defining the mission, setting the goals, developing a vision, and making plans that move a business beyond the familiar of today to the uncertainties of tomorrow

Findings

Offers examples of companies that used futuring and visioning tools to prepare product scenarios that anticipated the future, unarticulated voice of the customer.

Practical implications

Guidance for leadership: Recognize the difference between futuring and visioning, and do both in a complementary way. Encourage, if not require, people to think about the future of both customers and products. Set up a futuring unit to prepare trend monitoring and scanning, trend analysis, build forecasting models, and prepare narrations on the future of the external business environment for the entire company. Set up a program whereby employees have opportunities to participate in visioning exercises, especially when the topic question involves visioning at their own operational levels. Use the products of futuring as a frame of reference for visioning exercises. Develop a vision for the company based upon wide participation and using both futuring and visioning. Consistently articulate the vision for both external and internal audiences.

Originality/value

The article provides guidance about the process of learning about the future so that organizations can routinely integrate futuring and visioning into a vision statement and strategic plans
Detecting behavioural patterns of Dutch controller graduates through interpretive interactionism principles
Authors: De Loo Ivo , Nederlof Peter , Verstegen Bernard
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The research goal was to trace behavioural patterns of management accountants, comprising activities and courses of action, in order to enhance understanding of the management accounting profession.

Design/methodology/approach

Protoscripts were derived, using interview techniques and a research method called “interpretive interactionism”. These protoscripts depict observable, recurrent activities and patterns of interaction characteristic for a group of persons, and can be used in various types of situations.

Findings

The paper describes the procedure and outcome of the collection of behavioural protoscripts used by management accountants and controllers, as well as their possible ordering.

Research limitations/implications

The findings enlarge understanding of the controller profession, but are limited solely to controller activities. The protoscripts collected are stereotypical, at least for the controllers interviewed. Of course, all human experience is interpretation and it should be acknowledged that interpretations are never complete.

Practical implications

The control mechanisms and instruments that emerge in an organisation are the result of several interrelated factors and processes. Of special interest here is the behaviour of management accountants and controllers in shaping, maintaining and exerting control. Behavioural protoscripts can show how management accountants give contents to their role and structure their daily work.

Originality/value

Scripted behaviour of management accountants has received little prior research attention, especially in combination with the research method of interpretive interactionism.
Responsibility in action: expressions of values in a Swedish company
Authors: Baldvinsdottir Gudrun , Johansson Inga‐Lill
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To illustrate and discuss how different types of responsibility values are mobilised in a Swedish international company.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is informed by a constructivist pragmatism framework. The part of the study related to the case site was inspired by an ethnographic research approach and involved intensive face‐to‐face observations over a period of two years. Data was collected at four main levels: external and internal documents, observation of project meetings, interviews with project members, and informal talks with organisation members.

Findings

Possible conflicts of interest between human and business perspectives are exposed. Awareness of these interest‐conflicts, however, facilitates a potential bridging of the two perspectives. Our findings suggest possible explanations as to why management control (MC) models work in practice. Although values pertaining to shareholder maximisation are given prominence in external communication, the internal MC model also emphasises the values considered necessary and desirable by professionals, such as confidence, commitment and respect. The study reveals that the way values are handled affects the responsibility taken by employees in everyday situations. By using the constructivist pragmatism framework, it becomes clear that values cause people to act, and not MC systems.

Originality/value

Although many studies have described the shortcoming of MC models, few studies platform from the concept of responsibility. In this paper it is shown how accounting communicates values underpinning responsibility, and contributes towards explaining why certain types of MC models can be more successful than others.
Adapting ethnographic research methods to ad hoc commercial market research
Authors: Agafonoff Nick
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to delve into the nature of ethnography to evaluate its potential as an applied qualitative research method in commercial ad hoc market research. A re‐interpretation of ethnography adapted for the commercial market research environment is proposed and a conceptual framework for its implementation offered.

Design/methodology/approach

This will include examination of the different ethnographic approaches employed across social and market research fields.

Findings

An examination of several case studies reveals how ethnography can produce both tactical and strategic insights into aspects of consumer usage, behaviour, experience and culture.

Originality/value

The paper discusses how ethnographic research can potentially connect marketers, businesses and whole corporations with their consumers, in ways that other forms of market research cannot.
Cosmopolitanism as a consumer orientation
Authors: Caldwell Marylouise , Blackwell Kristen , Tulloch Kirsty
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The paper aims to increase our understanding of an under‐investigated research area of consumption, that is, cosmopolitanism as a consumer orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

About 16 informants, either Australians who had worked or studied overseas, or expatriates residing in Australia, participated in a qualitative research study. Analysis was an iterative process involving textual interpretation of interview transcripts and photographs supplied by informants.

Findings

Support is found for Thompson and Tambyah's idea that a cosmopolitan consumer orientation comprises dominant masculine and counter‐veiling feminine traits. Contradicting Thompson and Tambyah, the study validates Cannon and Yaprak's idea that a cosmopolitan consumer orientation simultaneously embraces maintaining close ties to their cultural roots and seeking to consume products from other cultures. Additional aspects of cosmopolitanism are identified, including the benefits of expatriate enclaves and difficulties upon returning home.

Research limitations/implications

Theory validation arises as a consequence of finding partial support for past findings. Theory generation manifests as suggested modifications to extant theory and identification of additional aspects of cosmopolitanism as a consumer orientation.

Practical implications

Understanding cosmopolitanism as a consumer orientation has implications for understanding consumption of culturally distant products.

Originality/value

The paper offers foundations for future research into an increasingly significant aspect of consumption.
Symbolic double‐coding: the case of Australian pubs
Authors: Pettigrew Simone
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Discussions of symbolic meaning tend to focus on consumer goods and as a result there is relatively little consideration given to the meanings associated with less tangible receptacles such as locations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the symbolic meaning resident in a particular consumption location, namely the Australian pub (public drinking house).

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews and observations were used to explore Australians' perceptions of their pubs. Fifty‐two patrons and seven bar tenders were interviewed in 23 pubs across three Australian states (Western Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria).

Findings

The men and women interviewed accepted that pubs are still male‐dominated domains. At the same time, they regarded pubs to be iconic of Australian culture. The findings suggest that consumption locations can be replete with numerous symbolic meanings and that it is possible for individuals to perceive contradictory meanings relating to the same location. Obtaining an understanding of individuals' and groups' sense of place can yield a richer interpretation of the possibly contradictory symbolic meanings resident in particular consumption locations.

Originality/value

In recent times there have been growing calls for consumer researchers to include the concept of place attachment in their efforts to better understand the consumption process. This paper draws together the theoretical areas of symbolic meaning, self‐concept, and place attachment to provide insight into the consumption dynamics occurring every day in Australian pubs.
An internationally focused synthesised marketing strategy underpinned by qualitative research
Authors: Trim Peter R.J. , Lee Yang‐Im
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to make explicit how qualitative research can enable senior marketers to formulate an internationally focused synthesised marketing strategy. A number of marketing research issues are highlighted including the need to track customer expectations; identify what customer value represents; and explain how scenario analysis and planning can be embraced in order to produce marketing initiatives that facilitate company‐customer interaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a review of the literature and can be considered a critical appraisal and appreciation. The internationally focused synthesised marketing strategy represents an extension of the marketing body of knowledge.

Findings

A number of trends have been identified in the business environment that will refocus the attention of senior marketers in the years ahead. It is envisaged that marketing researchers will work more closely with marketing intelligence officers and marketing strategists in order to actively harness the benefits associated with the internet; engage more fully in regional, national and international research projects; and provide assistance to those responsible for developing and deploying customer relationship management models and concepts.

Research limitations/implications

Practising marketers and marketing academics need to undertake joint qualitative research projects in order to establish how electronic business is transforming buyer‐supplier relations through time. Qualitative research can be undertaken in order to identify customer expectations and these can be matched with the level of customer service provided. Qualitative research can also be undertaken to establish how concerns regarding an individual's privacy can be maintained when purchasing online.

Practical implications

Marketing practitioners need to adopt a pro‐active approach to qualitative research and engage in more future oriented research. This may require an investment in raising the skill base of marketing researchers and the development of new organizational structures.

Originality/value

This paper will be of interest to marketing academics, marketing researchers and senior marketing managers, as it links the marketing research process with marketing intelligence and decision‐making. Several aspects of the marketing body of knowledge have been extended and a link established with aspects of general management.
Making changes within a team
Authors: Denton D. Keith
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To illustrate the use of team employment and management within a variety of organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Writes about experiences of introducing team management into a Tool company and GE. Also provides some exercises in training and planning for team management.

Findings

Some of the key points made were the need for pilot testing, for the team to own the numbers and targets, and for open communications.

Originality/value

Some useful pointers for anyone considering a more team based approach to product or service delivery.
Team member involvement in team leader training and performance
Authors: Lyons Paul
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study seeks to: involve team members in part of the actual design of training for their own team leaders; improve team leader knowledge and skills; and demonstrate the use of skill charting (SC) for learning and performance improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

Using focus groups of team members and q‐sort methodology we were able to have team members identify practical performance elements regarding the behavior of their team leaders. Integrating these performance elements into the training design for team leaders and using SC as a training tool, we were able to compare two groups of team leaders: one group (the study group) whose training focused, specifically, on the team‐generated performance elements and another group (the traditional group) whose training was focused on general, team leader performance elements.

Findings

In the perceptions of the team members, the S group team leaders, following training, performed more effectively regarding: response time, positive reinforcement, and focus on desired behavior of team members, than did the T group team leaders. Mean scores of ratings of performance were higher for S group team leaders than T group team leaders on all variables save one.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to the nature of SC training, sample sizes could not be large; that is, sample sizes could not exceed 35 participants per each condition. Statistical tests are thus influenced. Other limitations involve the obvious time gap between actual training and the subsequent changes in behavior and performance. The study does offer considerable support to other research that makes use of SC training tools.

Practical implications

The activities undertaken in the study serve to involve team members, recognize their knowledge and skill, and empower them via decision making and personal recognition.

Originality/value

This study points to ways to involve team members directly in performance improvement and learning.
Improving expatriate adjustment and effectiveness in ethnically diverse countries: marketing insights
Authors: Pires Guilherme , Stanton John , Ostenfeld Shane
Published: July 2006

Purpose – Sets out to argue that training and adjustment strategies based on immersion in a foreign culture, in order to reduce expatriate culture shock, can be improved by training that addresses how to use related ethnic networks within the host country. Design/methodology/approach – A framework used for the examination of the cultural adjustment process of long‐term migrants is used to draw implications for the adjustment process of expatriates. The components of analysis include the U‐curve, social learning theory, and oral deprivation. How long‐term arrivals overcome their culture shock is extended to a discussion of expatriates, their problems, and the need for further areas of training. Findings – Significant similarities in the adjustment problems of the two groups point to similar processes in operation and the potential to apply similar solutions to ease the expatriate adjustment process. Research limitation/implications – The study draws from findings in one discipline area and argues by analogy to the field of international human resource management. Implications of this extension include a widening of expatriate training to include greater awareness of host country ethnic networks and how they can be a useful adjustment resource. Practical implications – Expatriate worker failure is common and costly. While there is considerable emphasis on the technical competency of expatriates, social competency is critical but often neglected. Measures to reduce such social failure that focus on reducing the culture shock encountered, need to be examined carefully. This paper has suggested one approach drawing from an analogous situation. Originality/value – The paper links specific elements of the marketing literature dealing with arrivals from a different culture with the expatriate adjustment problem of international human resource management.
Human resource management strategies under uncertainty
Authors: Fields Dail , Chan Andrew , Akhtar Syed , Blum Terry C.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To compare the tendency of US and Hong Kong Chinese companies to utilize three alternative human resource management (HRM) strategies to offset uncertainties in the supply of labor.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 158 US and 66 Hong Kong Chinese companies concerning the extent to which these companies engaged in training and development, monitoring and assessment of employee performance, and staffing through an internal labor market. Data were also obtained concerning the uncertainty in the supply of qualified employees.

Findings

After controlling differences in industries and company size, the results show that, when faced with labor uncertainty, use of the three (HRM) strategies was increased by Hong Kong Chinese companies, but decreased by US companies.

Practical implications

This study provides new information about how cultural differences may play out in business organizations. The results may provide some insight into how competitors in a global marketplace may react to environmental uncertainties and greater resource dependence.

Originality/value

This study fills a need to understand how organizations operating different cultural contexts differ in their reactions to uncertainties in the business environment.
Human error in maintenance: a review
Authors: Dhillon B.S. , Liu Y.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to present the impact of human errors in maintenance as found in the literature in order for practitioners to be aware of their impact and develop actions to mitigate their effect.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper systematically categorizes the published literature and then analyzes and reviews it methodically.

Findings

Human error in maintenance is a pressing problem.

Practical implications

A maintenance person plays an important role in the reliability of equipment. It is also a well‐known fact that a significantly large proportion of total human errors occur during the maintenance phase. Human error in maintenance is a subject which in the past has not been given the amount of attention that it deserves. This paper will be useful to people working in the area of maintenance engineering, as it presents a general review of literature published on maintenance errors in various sectors of industry.

Originality/value

The paper contains a comprehensive listing of publications on the field in question and their classification according to industry. The paper will be useful to researchers, maintenance professionals and others concerned with maintenance to understand the importance of human error in maintenance.
Maintenance of a reducer by vibration and wear particles analysis
Authors: Carlos Gonçalves Aparecido , Carvalho Cunha Rodrigo , Fabiano Lago Daniel
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to provide information on wear debris on oil and vibration analysis as predictive maintenance techniques in reducer.

Design/methodology/approach

The estate of a reducer is verified by analyzing the vibration and oil conditions of a test rig under well‐designed conditions utilizing some predictive variables.

Findings

According to the vibration and oil analysis it is found out what it was happening into the reducer without disassembling it.

Practical implications

This paper demonstrates the use of oil debris analysis and vibration analysis as a technique that enhances preventive maintenance practices. The paper helps practitioners to utilize these techniques more effectively.

Originality/value

This paper gives information about two predictive maintenance techniques with a test rig.
An improved selective maintenance solution approach
Authors: Rajagopalan Rajanand , Cassady C. Richard
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an improved, enumerative solution procedure for solving the original selective maintenance problems. Selective maintenance refers to the process of identifying the set of maintenance actions to perform from a desirable set of maintenance actions.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of four improvements to a previously proposed enumerative solution procedure are presented. The improvements are defined and tested sequentially on an experimental set of problem instances. The improvements are characterized relative to the achieved reduction in CPU time for a software application.

Findings

The improved enumerative procedure reduces the CPU time required to solve the selective maintenance problems by as much as 99 per cent. There is a corresponding increase in practical problem size of more than 200 per cent.

Practical implications

Almost all organizations use a variety of repairable systems to achieve their mission. Typically, these systems have to share the limited maintenance resources possessed by the organization. Therefore, an improved ability to solve selective maintenance problem is relevant to many industries.

Originality/value

The body of knowledge relative to selective maintenance continues to grow. However, this is the first study aimed at improving the capability of engineers to solve practically‐sized selective maintenance problems.
Oil pipeline spill cause analysis
Authors: Bertolini Massimo , Bevilacqua Maurizio
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an easy and robust tool to develop a decision support system (DSS) for the inspection staff of oil pipelines. The aim is to predict “the class” of each spillage, with respect to some relevant variables such as, mechanical failure or system malfunction. The management will then be able to define which pipelines to monitor and to choose the most suitable monitoring policies, based on the decision tree analysis outcome.

Design/methodology/approach

A non‐parametric technique based on rule induction is proposed for the identification of the expected spill cause category of cross‐country oil pipelines. In particular, the classification and regression trees approach is used to automatically generate inspection or maintenance decision rules. The analysis that is described is based on an extended database concerning information about spill cause category in cross‐country oil pipelines in Western Europe.

Findings

The proposed technique represents an interesting added value tool for the management. The proposed methodology extrapolates rules for determining the expected spill cause category of cross‐country pipelines, depending on the boundary conditions.

Practical implications

The methodology here presented will assist maintenance managers of oil pipeline to better plan maintenance activity. In particular, the procedure makes it possible to determine which parts of a pipeline have to be submitted to a monitoring action or particular protection, with the aim of improving the efficiency and reducing the risk of spillages.

Originality/value

Effective planning, coordination, and scheduling of the maintenance function can be, and for many years was, accomplished without computer support. The proposed procedure may be included in an information systems tool (sound Computerized Maintenance Information Management System (CMMIS)), for more efficient and effective maintenance/inspection scheduling activities.