bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A review on reactive power management in electricity markets
Authors: Parida Sanjoy K. , Srivastava Suresh C. , Singh Sri N.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The main purpose behind this work is to explore the methods already proposed in various literatures to overcome the issues associated with VAr management in a competitive environment. Managing reactive power support service in competitive electricity market environment has become an important constituent of ancillary services. The characteristics of VAr generation/absorption do not allow its transmission over a long distance. The issues associated with the localized nature of reactive power must be considered during the valuation, planning, pricing and allocation of VAr producing/absorbing resources. In this review work, the key issues associated with the reactive support and the techniques used to tackle these issues in various utilities across the globe are been discussed in brief. In the literature, numerous renowned authors propose various methods to manage reactive power with various types of structural and operational scenarios. These methods are also discussed briefly in this paper. The experience with VAr management in some matured electricity market is also discussed in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

Discussion of various issues associated with reactive power management and methods/techniques to overcome these, has been carried out in this paper. The methods were proposed in various literatures related to reactive power management by some of the renowned authors and adopted by various electric utilities.

Findings

The review work may be useful for utilities to develop a quick insight on reactive support services to control the voltage profile and also, it may be a useful asset for the researchers working in this area.

Originality/value

The paper is organized with different sections to elaborate the issues and associated methods. This paper is a single piece of work, which addresses reactive power planning, pricing for VAr support, market issues and valuation of VAr utilization.
Practical feasibility and assessment model for combined heat and power
Authors: Nock Alexander , Ojiako Udechukwu , Bektas Tolga , Chipulu Max
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to set out opportunities for the development of a UK‐focused feasibility and sizing model utilising linear programming.

Design/methodology/approach

Optimisation of the model is conducted using integer linear programming developed using Excel Solver.

Findings

When compared with comparable alternatives, the model is shown to be particularly useful as its functionality is embedded in resource intensive prime mover specifications obtained from seven real industrial cases.

Research limitations/implications

The study acknowledges the limitation of utilising sizing data primarily obtained from secondary sources to develop the model.

Originality/value

The practical usefulness of this model is that it has been built using “real”, as opposed to simulated‐data. When compared with comparable alternatives, the model is shown to be articularly useful as its functionality is embedded in resource intensive prime mover specifications obtained from seven real industrial cases.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary
Authors: Phipps Simone T.A.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to depict the pivotal roles played by Mary Parker Follett and Mary Barnett Gilson, as they uniquely contributed to early management thought, theory, and practice through “spirituality” despite the chauvinism of their day.

Design/methodology/approach

Synthesizing articles from history journals, writings about the figures of interest, annals, published works by the figures themselves, and other resources; this paper illustrates how the input of Follett and Gilson made distinctive and valuable contributions to the management field.

Findings

This research concludes that Follett and Gilson, although from the mid‐nineteenth to mid‐twentieth century, when men were dominant in any arena relating to management, were responsive to their “spiritual” insight despite its contrariness to the credence of their day. Consequently, they initiated an understanding that significantly impacted management theory and practice. Their perceptive revelations also led to changing mindsets and actions that influenced the wellbeing of organizations, as well as their employees.

Originality/value

During this era, although not widely publicized, the “weaker” sex did make its mark. This is the first paper to examine, from a “spiritual” viewpoint, the contributions of these members of the “weaker” sex to management history.
Applying labour process concepts to public sector executive reforms
Authors: Katurah Colley Linda
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to extend the literature by applying labour process concepts to public service executive employment.

Design/methodology/approach

The article draws on the secondary literature to link labour process theory to public administration reform. First, it draws on the labour process literature to provide a summary of some key labour process concepts that will be used throughout the article. This includes Littler's framework for analysing work organisation, being structure of control, employment relationship and job design. Second, it draws on the public administration literature to outline the traditional mode of public sector employment relations, using labour process concepts to illustrate the traditional organisation of work. Third, it draws on the public management reform literature, to outline the key reforms that affected work organisation. In the final section, the article draws these literatures together and uses labour process concepts to analyse the positional power of department heads in the reformed environment. For simplicity and consistency, the examples focus largely on the Australian public sector – each Westminster system has adopted slightly different reforms at slightly different times, but there are enough similarities to allow generaliseability across systems.

Findings

The article argues that executives had a strategic position in the public service labour process, and public sector reforms were designed to reduce their positional power and knowledge. Politicians wrested control away from chief executives through strategies such as the division of labour, separation of conception and execution, deskilling, and changes to employment relations that destabilised traditional career paths and tenure. This is in contrast to the new public management rhetoric that the reforms would let managers manage – in reality they were provided more control over operational aspects of work, but lesser control over the intellectual and conceptual aspects of work which were now done elsewhere.

Originality/value

This paper is original in its extension of labour process concepts to a different and elite work group, being public sector chief executives.
Performance of integrated delivery systems: quality, service and cost implications
Authors: Leibert Michael
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Healthcare services in the USA have been described as being fragmented and uncoordinated. Integrated delivery systems are frequently promoted as being instrumental in efforts to improve the coordination of care and, thus, enhancing the quality of clinical care and patient services while ensuring optimum cost‐efficiencies. This study seeks to analyze and compare the performance of hospitals participating in highly integrated systems with non‐integrated hospitals based on outcome measures involving hospital performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study compares the performance of 50 flagship hospitals participating in the most highly integrated delivery systems in the USA with a representative sample of non‐system hospitals utilizing one‐way analysis of variance. The comparative analysis was based on three key performance measures; clinical quality of medical care, patient satisfaction, and cost‐efficiency considerations.

Findings

The results of the review demonstrate that there is a statistically significant positive difference between the clinical quality performance of the highly integrated hospitals compared with the quality performance of non‐highly integrated facilities. No difference was identified between the two sample groups of hospitals for the performance measures related to patient satisfaction or cost‐efficiencies.

Originality/value

The study is an attempt to evaluate the implications and effectiveness of integration within the health care delivery system. It suggests that integrated delivery systems may provide the organization structure appropriate to help support and enhance the quality of clinical care for patients.
Nissan: go‐global strategy
Authors: Jindal Deepika , Jee Chandan , Thakur Rajiv R.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to study Nissan's “go‐global” strategy. It aims to understand the various imperatives that a company needs to operate at multiple locations, how it chooses among various locations and how it goes about implementing the expansion plan considering a specific case of Nissan.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on primarily secondary research i.e. literature review, news articles and official disclosure by Nissan etc.

Findings

After the analysis, it has been found that company has not used same policy across all the countries. The strategy adopted in each country is driven by the external environment as well as customer requirement. However, on the whole, company primarily believes in having a local partner and direct technology transfer.

Research limitations/implications

Being a secondary research based paper, the authenticity is subject to the source from which it has been obtained

Practical implications

This paper helps to understand the real time strategy implemented by Nissan to make global mark. This paper deals specifically with emerging markets reiterating the importance of the same. It can act as guideline to understand the factors to be considered while deciding to go global. In addition to that, it recommends the likely future strategy that Nissan can implement in sync with its existing strategy.

Originality/value:

This article would act as a guide to understand the key factor influencing the strategies and understand various dos and don'ts of going global.
Measuring value progress in outsourcing organizations
Authors: Srithika T.M. , Bhattacharyya Sanghamitra
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a scale for measuring value progress in outsourcing organizations. The scale is also intended to capture the differences in the nature of progress between different categories of outsourcing organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The procedure for developing measures suggested by Churchill was adopted. The balanced scorecard framework has been used to generate items. Data were collected from 693 employees in 49 outsourcing organizations in India (specifically, those categorized as knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) and business process outsourcing (BPO)) and the scale reliability and validity was tested using content validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and co‐efficient alpha scores. Confirmatory fit indices have been used to establish validity and unidimensionality of the measures.

Findings

The study statistically establishes a tool to measure progress of outsourcing organizations. The findings reveal that some organizations progress horizontally through size expansion and some others adopt a vertical progress through customization and domain expertise. However, these progress directions (horizontal and vertical), contrary to industry view and this paper's hypothesis, are not commensurate with the KPO and BPO classifications.

Research limitations/implications

Apart from using this tool to measure the impact of intangible assets/interventions, future longitudinal research can examine the patterns in the direction of progress across industries/countries.

Practical implications

Individual outsourcing organizations can use this tool to identify their current progress direction and the areas to focus for the desired progress direction.

Originality/value

A scale to capture the direction of progress defined through logical and conceptual bases, done in this study, is the first of its kind in the outsourcing context.
Mitigation of risks due to service provider behavior in offshore software development
Authors: Mathew Saji K.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Although risks and client‐vendor relationships in IT outsourcing have been studied in prior research, there is a paucity of studies providing insights on the mitigation of client risks through the relationship. This research aims to focus on mitigation of the ex post risks of firms engaged in offshore software development (OSD). Client risks due to service provider behavior are identified first. Further, this work seeks to identify relationship variables that could reduce the impact of determinants of risk on a risk category.

Design/methodology/approach

This research followed a multiple case study method aiming to build insights and directions that would facilitate further research. The paper's goal of sampling was to choose cases which were likely to extend the emergent theory pertaining to risks and their mitigation through relationships.

Findings

Findings from this study show that shirking, loss of control over information assets, and service provider lock‐in are the three categories of ex post risks. A relationship management strategy ensuring reasonable profits to the vendor could mitigate shirking risk. Trustworthiness of vendors established through credibility and benevolence in prior engagements could mitigate the risk of loss of control over information assets. Further, dependence balancing through a multi‐vendor offshoring strategy and joint investments in relationship‐specific assets could mitigate the risk of service provider lock‐in.

Practical implications

The findings from this research provide useful insights in vendor selection and management process.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the growing body of literature in offshore IT outsourcing and makes two significant contributions: identification and categorization of risks due to vendor behavior and their determinants in OSD; and understanding the role of relationship dimension in mitigating such risks in OSD.
Brand, business mix, sense‐of‐place: do they matter downtown?
Authors: Sneed Christopher T. , Runyan Rodney , Swinney Jane L. , Lim Hee‐Jin
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This study aims to examine the extent to which consumers' perceptions of their downtown's brand identity (composed of image and positioning), business mix, and sense‐of‐place predict consumers' intention to patronize downtown.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of residents (n=836) from four communities in Michigan and four communities in Oklahoma was conducted. The survey included scales measuring brand identity, business mix, sense‐of‐place, and patronage intention.

Findings

Positioning, image, and business mix are significant, positive predictors of consumer patronage intentions downtown. Sense‐of‐place, however, has a significant, negative effect on patronage intention.

Research limitations/implications

Though limited to eight communities in two states, this study does broaden the research in place branding by examining consumers' perceptions of location as a brand and the influence of those perceptions on patronage intentions. Validity for scales measuring brand identity, business mix, and sense‐of‐place is provided. The study provides a springboard for additional downtown branding research.

Practical implications

The negative effect of sense‐of‐place on patronage intention is troubling, indicating that a downtown which pays too much attention to preservation, walkability, etc. and not enough to brand image and business mix may suffer.

Originality/value

Despite renewed focus on retailing downtown, there exists a paucity of research examining how consumers perceive their downtown. Of the current literature, most is narrowly focused in examining consumers' perceptions in limited domains. This study seeks to broaden the research literature by ascertaining consumers' perceptions of downtown in three areas – brand identity, business mix, and sense‐of‐place.
Exploring infrastructure procurement by Australian state governments
Authors: Staples Warren J. , Dalrymple John F.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on a research thesis that explores how Australian state government agencies procure infrastructure projects and the extent to which they view the procurement process as an opportunity to deliver more than just a physical facility. The primary purpose of this study was to understand the practice of construction project procurement by project managers on behalf of Australian state government agencies and to explore the creation of public value through procurement.

Design/methodology/approach

This thesis presents results drawn from ten case studies of state government organisations that procure infrastructure; either roads or buildings. A total of 37 highly experienced project managers operationally responsible for the procurement of infrastructure within these organisations were interviewed.

Findings

The findings show that there is considerable scope for improving infrastructure procurement by Australian state governments and that broader public value creation approaches in the form of policy by‐products are either not considered or inconsistently pursued.

Practical implications

The broader policy implications flowing from the research findings provide valuable commentary that inform the practice of infrastructure procurement and point to areas to which improvement efforts may be directed. These areas include the challenge of developing the next generation of infrastructure procurement managers, applying non‐price criteria in a rigorous way, using prequalification registers to engage in supplier development and delivering policy by‐products as part of standard procurement approaches.

Originality/value

This thesis presents qualitative data focused on the perspective of procurement professionals, a group who have, hitherto, been somewhat underrepresented in the literature.
On a new philosophy of project management
Authors: Jonathan Whitty Stephen
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of a completed doctoral thesis that focuses on the application of evolutionary theory to various aspects of project management.

Design/methodology/approach

Generally speaking the methods of research are founded on the epistemological framework of co‐evolution which regards human values, preferences, artefacts, and behaviours as evolutionary adaptations in the same way one would regard bipedal walking. A conceptual evolutionary (memetic) framework is developed to explore the prevalence of project management concepts, practices, and artefacts in a Darwinian manner.

Findings

The findings of this thesis can be summarised by saying; that we are hardwired for project management as our behaviours and artefacts are encoded across our biology and our culture; that some are drawn to aspects of project management because they get an emotional fix from it; that modern project management is not founded on evidence‐based practices, rather it has evolved the way it has for reasons other than that it leads to successful project delivery; that aspects of modern project management reflect the morals and values of our largely Judaeo‐Christian culture; and that the various concepts, practices, and artefacts of project management are loaded with local meanings which are selected and passed on to others.

Practical implications

This thesis makes a contribution to the field by developing a new philosophy of project management that is concerned with raising questions, with the assistance of an evolutionary framework, about how one should consider projects and project management, why various concepts, practices and artefacts are more prevalent than others, what are their essential natures and how they are being adapted, and how we might go about progressing project management into the future.

Originality/value

This thesis proposes and advances an evolutionary framework for project management research.
Women's retirement meanings: context, changes, and organizational lessons
Authors: August Rachel A.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to identify the meanings associated with retirement for a longitudinal sample of women immediately prior to and following their official retirement. Contextual factors which shape those meanings are also described.

Design/methodology/approach

In‐depth interviews, based on a series of interview guides were conducted with a sample of 14 women in their pre‐ and post‐retirement years. The data were coded using a grounded theory approach and typology classification schemes.

Findings

Retirement was alternately conceptualized as a new period of life affording freedoms and growth, as a natural final phase, as a frightening period due to losses, and/or as a pinnacle of accomplishment or relief. The contextual influences of family, friends, and unique attributes of one's profession (e.g. having jobs with transferrable skills and/or having physically demanding jobs) help create meanings. Finally, meanings were found to shift over time in concert with changing contexts.

Research limitations/implications

Women have a wide range of responses to their own retirement. The stereotype that they will easily replace the work role with family and/or household roles does not hold for all.

Practical implications

By truly understanding the particulars of each employee's situation, managers can assist employees in the transition into retirement such that it is a smooth one. Managers might also be able to more immediately identify employees, who would be willing to return to the organization in a consulting or short‐term capacity following retirement.

Originality/value

The longitudinal data offers a unique vantage point, such that meanings can be traced over time in a way that has not yet been documented in empirical work.
Examining the link between enforcement activity and corporate compliance by Australian companies and the implications for regulators
Authors: Zubcic Joseph , Sims Robert
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between enforcement and compliance and to report on the results of an empirical study that assesses the impact of enforcement action by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) on the subsequent compliance by violators.

Design/methodology/approach

Following an extensive literature review, a sample of 50 similar complaints made to ASIC during the 2005/2006 financial year, were selected and grouped into two samples. The first sample, described as the enforcement sample, comprised of complaints that had been resourced for investigation by ASIC, and the second sample, described as the non‐enforcement sample, comprised of complaints that had not been resourced for investigation. An analysis was conducted to compare how many subsequent complaints had been received by ASIC in the following three years against members of the two samples.

Findings

The empirical evidence of the decrease in subsequent complaints against corporate violators subject to enforcement action clearly supports the argument that enforcement action does have an impact on corporate compliance of those violators. However, it has to be acknowledged that differences in rates of subsequent violation still do not guarantee that there is a cause and effect relationship between compliance and enforcement, as it is possible enforcement action may have resulted in violators becoming better at avoiding detection and complaint.

Research limitations/implications

The samples were limited to complaints identified in the 2005/2006 year and only taken from two of ASIC's five regulatory categories, so caution is required when interpreting and making generalisations from the results. Only three years of subsequent complaints were examined so the study was limited to the examination of relatively short‐term effects of enforcement action.

Practical implications

Corporate regulators such as ASIC now need to obtain and examine qualitative data from violators and potential violators to gain insights into their actions and motivations after investigation and enforcement actions. This may enable regulators to better understand the impact on violators themselves and the extent to which media reporting of enforcement action may have a demonstration effect on potential violators.

Originality/value

The paper provides valuable empirical evidence of the influence of enforcement on compliance, which should be of interest to corporate regulators and those interested in regulation and corporate governance.
TQM journey of an Indian milk‐producing cooperative
Authors: Trehan Manish , Kapoor Vijay
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to focus on the TQM journey of MilkFed, a major milk‐producing cooperative in the state of Punjab in Northern India. It aims to demonstrate how TQM principles have been used to create an organisation‐wide environment of continuous improvement in a cooperative sector organisation that spread into tradition and ways of doing business in spite of facing numerous challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

MilkFed hired Punjab Technical University's School of TQM and Entrepreneurship (PGSTE) to create an organisation‐wide system of continuous improvement. PGSTE consultants prepared a road‐map for TQM implementation. In the first phase, 14 teams comprising 76 senior/middle level executives (one team from each of Milkfed's 14 plants/units) were trained in the structured application of TQM principles and the project‐by‐project improvement through a series of workshops. Each team implemented an improvement project, which was facilitated by the consultants.

Findings

MilkFed has saved USD 0.89 million per annum which amounted to more than 25 per cent of its net profit. There is a tremendous scope for multiplying the gains through horizontal deployment of learning across various plants and units. Intangible benefits included transformation in attitude of employees, creation of team culture, breakdown of departmental silos and tremendous improvement in labour‐management relations.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that the project‐by‐project approach used in conjunction with the basic 7 QC tools is an excellent approach for building a culture of continuous improvement. It has many important lessons for organisations, which are starting their quality improvement journey.
Strategic positioning and quality determinants in banking service
Authors: Camgöz Akdag Hatice , Zineldin Mosad
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to investigate and define the competitive positioning of banks including state‐owned, domestic and foreign banks operating in Istanbul, Turkey. The aim is to check the competitive marketplace and to identify the major quality attributes, which bankers themselves and their customers used in determining the overall perception of a given bank and services offered.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation was held in Istanbul, Turkey. In total, 30 banks were included in the research, which includes state‐owned, local and foreign‐owned banks. A total of 1,530 questionnaires were submitted, answers collected and analyzed. Reliability test and frequency analysis were used to analyze the data.

Findings

From the banks' customers' point of view, determinants relating to functional quality or how the customers wish to receive banking services became evident. It also became clear that customers of banks are not fully receiving what they want or need and their expectations, especially on the most important attributes of quality, are not being met.

Research limitations/implications

The survey showed how the banks were selected and including their employees in relation to the other competitors' banks in the Turkish banking industry.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates an integrated technology, use of staff talent and streamlined operations that respond to customer needs and encourage customers to use the whole range of banking products/services rather than only a few as the end game. The results were used by bank staff later on to reengineer and redesign creatively their positioning strategy and the future direction for creating more effective quality strategies.
The impact of FDI on air quality: evidence from China
Authors: Kirkulak Berna , Qiu Bin , Yin Wei
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine the impact of foreign direct investments (FDI) on air pollution in China using 286 cities from 2001 to 2007. It is a particular interest of this paper to observe the relationship between FDI and air pollution in particular after China joined to World Trade Organization in 2001. This paper provides a better understanding of economic growth and foreign investment while maintaining a sustainable environment. In order to achieve this task, this paper tests whether or not FDI inflow has impact on environmental deterioration in particular on air quality.

Design/methodology/approach

Since the data are both cross‐sectional and time series, panel data analyses (fixed effects and random effects) were applied. In order to detect the presence of serial correlation of error term, Durbin‐Watson test was used. As serial correlation problem was determined, generalized least square (GLS) using Ar(1) model was used to overcome serial correlation.

Findings

The findings show that FDI has no negative impact on the air quality in China. Contrary to expectations, the presence of FDI reduces the air pollution. This result can be attributed by the role of FDIs in the economy that FDIs are perceived as main sources of advanced technology in China. One of the striking findings of the paper shows that FDI has no significant impact on air quality in the central and western cities. The reason is that low level of FDI inflows to cities located in the Center and West. The findings are robust under both panel data (fixed effects and random effects) and GLS estimations.

Practical implications

The results provide a wide array of information useful to practitioners, policy makers. Since the paper shows that FDI has no negative impact on the air quality, this result is crucial in attracting FDI to China.

Originality/value

This paper provides the largest sample including 286 cities all over China from 2001 to 2007. Considering the distribution of FDI across China, the sample is divided into three regions. Making sub‐samples of the FDI distribution allowed us to examine how the impact of FDI differs on air quality in the East, Central and West regions.
Estimating a modified nonlinear Hicks model: evidence from the Chinese economy (1970‐2007)
Authors: Michaelides Panayotis G. , Belegri‐Roboli Athena , Arapis Gerasimos
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a non‐linear Hicks model of the cycle, based on Keynesian theory and economic dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the proposed approach, the paper puts forward a simple method for its empirical estimation based on nonlinear least squares and other relevant techniques.

Findings

An example is given to prove the feasibility and the increased validity of the non‐linear dynamic Hicks model. Analytically, an empirical application for the Chinese economy (1970‐2007) demonstrates the almost ideal performance of the modified model and of the proposed method.

Research limitations/implications

If research is reported on in the paper, this section must be completed and should include suggestions for future research and any identified limitations in the research process.

Practical implications

What outcomes and implications for practice, applications and consequences are identified? Not all papers will have practical implications but most will. What changes to practice should be made as a result of this research/paper?

Social implications

What will be the impact on society of this research? How will it influence public attitudes? How will it influence (corporate) social responsibility or environmental issues? How could it inform public or industry policy? How might it affect quality of life? Not all papers will have social implications.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, there has not been any attempt in the literature to formally estimate the famous nonlinear Hicks model of the cycle because of a lack of the appropriate methodology.
Does financial outreach engender economic growth? Evidence from Indian states
Authors: Ghosh Saibal
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Employing data on 14 major Indian states during 1973‐2004, this paper aims to investigate the hypothesis that economic growth is affected by financial outreach.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs univariate tests as well as advanced panel regression techniques to examine whether financial outreach matters for state‐level economic growth.

Findings

The analysis suggests that improvements in financial outreach led to a perceptible rise in per capita growth. In terms of magnitudes, a rise in demographic outreach by 10 percent raises state per capita growth by 0.3 percent; in case of geographic outreach, the increase is lower. Finally, the analysis supports the hypotheses that states with higher manufacturing share tend to grow faster and the quality of state‐level institutions and infrastructure exert a significant bearing on growth.

Research limitations/implications

Although the definitions of financial outreach are based on international best practice, they focus only on banks and are driven by the availability of data on relevant variables.

Practical implications

The article belongs to the broad strand of literature which examines the finance‐growth nexus.

Social implications

Financial outreach is presently an avowed objective of policymakers, both in India and elsewhere. The article examines which sets of economic/policy variables impact financial outreach. The analysis can provide policymakers with feedback as regards the feasibility of the strategies pursued to improve financial outreach and thereby, how best to redesign and fine‐tune them.

Originality/value

To the author's knowledge, this is presumably the first study in India to examine the financial outreach‐growth nexus in a systematic manner at the sub‐national level.
The triple helix: science, technology and the entrepreneurial spirit
Authors: Etzkowitz Henry
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the triple‐helix model of university‐industry‐government interactions and its contribution to entrepreneurship, and economic and social development.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws upon international case studies and interviews to delineate the development of the triple‐helix model and entrepreneurship.

Findings

Relationships freely entered into among universities, industry, and government to translate scientific research into economic and social development, go beyond the received practices of both capitalism and socialism. Industry and government have been the two‐leading spheres of modern society since the eighteenth century. The university plays an enhanced role in creating new platforms for economic and social development in the transition to a knowledge‐based society. This new role for the university, sometimes called the “third mission” does not take place in isolation. Fundamental change at the organizational and institutional levels within and between university, industry, and government constitute a new innovation environment, based on science, technology, and a culture of entrepreneurial initiative.

Originality/value

The paper shows the stages and phases of development of the triple‐helix interactions.
Judges, child trespassers and occupiers' liability
Authors: Bennett Luke
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse how the doctrine of occupiers' liability for the safety of child trespassers has been developed in English Law over the last 100 years by applying Pierre Bourdieu's theorising of the operation of the “juridical field”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a doctrinal analysis tracing the evolution of occupiers' liability across case law, legislation and policy in English Law and subjects these jurisprudential materials to a contextual socio‐legal analysis by examining both judicial discourse and the changing cultural and physical contexts within which the jurisprudence has developed.

Findings

The analysis outlines the tensions and subtleties of the doctrinal evolution of this area of the law and the ways in which both changes in social attitudes (e.g. to parental responsibility and children's play) and changes in the built environment have affected how the appellate judiciary have understood and applied occupiers' liability law to instances of harm suffered by child trespassers. The analysis finds Bourdieu's theorising of the juridical field to be an effective way of making sense of the senior judiciary's operation as an “interpretive community” in developing and practising this body of law.

Originality/value

This paper provides an empirical explication of key aspects of Bourdieu's abstract theorising and does so by analysing an area of the law that has attracted little academic investigation: whether conventional jurisprudential or socio‐legal. This paper attempts to show that it is possible (and for this analysis, necessary) to combine both approaches.
An investigation into lawyer attitudes towards the use of mediation in commercial property disputes in England and Wales
Authors: Sidoli del Ceno Julian
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The paper seeks to examine empirically the attitudes of English lawyers towards mediation in commercial landlord and tenant disputes. Despite much support from numerous sources there has been very little actual take‐up in this sector. It is premised that the future growth of mediation in commercial property disputes is hindered by the negative or sceptical perspectives held by some lawyers towards mediation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on data from questionnaires and a series of qualitative interviews with a variety of landlord and tenant lawyers combined with a thorough examination of existing literature.

Findings

Many lawyers were not keen to recommend the use of mediation. This was partly because of unfamiliarity as well as concerns that mediation is not a genuine legal process and that consequently it lacked status. Legal culture was identified as a problem here. Lawyers also felt that mediation was inappropriate in many cases. Education was suggested as having an important role in changing expectations, providing skills and raising awareness.

Research limitations/implications

The qualitative data are based on a relatively small sample of lawyers active within the UK commercial property sector. Nevertheless, a wide cross‐section of practitioners was chosen.

Originality/value

The paper provides original data on the attitudes and perspectives of lawyers active in commercial property disputes. This is an area that has yet to receive sustained attention.
Evidence of the characteristics of women entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Zamberi Ahmad Syed
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Interest in women entrepreneurs from various backgrounds has led to increased publication in the literature about particular women's entrepreneurship issues. However, notwithstanding the importance of this area, little information exists about women entrepreneurs' business practices, survival and growth strategies and their perceptions of entrepreneurial careers; indeed, many questions remain unanswered. To address this gap, this study aims to explore some of these questions by considering women entrepreneurs in Arab countries, more specifically, women's entrepreneurship activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), a country with unwritten social mores in a patriarchal, male dominant society. The key objective is to examine these women's personal characteristics, motivation factors, business challenges and perception on entrepreneurial behaviours.

Design/methodology/approach

Because of the lack of statistical data and difficulties conducting studies in an Arabic society, this study employed a qualitative research methodology. The research comprised 19 in‐depth interviews with Saudi women entrepreneurs who were identified through referrals from the Women's Section of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Findings

The Saudi women entrepreneurs were found to exhibit many similarities with their counterparts in other Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region countries in terms of their personality traits. However, they differed in other aspects such as their educational backgrounds and the manner in which they acquired entrepreneurial skills. The findings suggest some strategies to contribute to greater success rates for women entrepreneurs in Islamic countries, where entrepreneurial activities are nascent but growing.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the study is the restricted locale of the sample. A more extensive study is needed and future research should be more diverse – including widening the selection of respondents, industries and countries.

Practical implications

The paper shows that women's entrepreneurial activities in KSA are important to economic and social development. Saudi women's entrepreneurship, properly harnessed, has great potential as a tool for transforming the economy.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on gender‐related business barriers due to the scarcity of publications about women's economic activities in the MENA region, specifically in KSA. The paper is also valuable for policy makers in KSA and researchers wishing to pursue indigenous entrepreneurship and gender studies.
Solicited diaries as a means of involving patients in development of healthcare services
Authors: Elg Mattias , Witell Lars , Poksinska Bozena , Engström Jon , Mi Dahlgaard‐Park Su , Kammerlind Peter
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of how patients experience their health problems and how they can generate innovative ideas about health care services. The research questions that guide the present study are: how can solicited diaries be used for capturing patient ideas? What type of data is generated from solicited diaries used for generating patient ideas? And what are the potential benefits and shortcomings of using patient diaries in generating ideas for improvement of health care services?

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an exploratory case study using patient diaries to solicit ideas about how health care services in Sweden can be improved. From the methodological viewpoint, the diaries are used as a tool for patient co‐creation of health care services.

Findings

When analyzing dairies written by patients four different types of diaries emerged from the study: brief, reporting, descriptive and reflective diaries. Furthermore, 102 ideas for improvements within nine areas were identified from the contents of dairies.

Research limitations/implications

Adopting patients' diaries as a way to activate and promote co‐creation of values is at an embryo stage, and hence more research is needed.

Originality/value

One of the strengths of the paper includes its potential for practical implications, either clinical or methodological, by using patients' dairies. It focuses both on the content generated from the diaries for improving health services, as well as the use of the diaries for practicing the idea of patients as co‐creators in health care service.
Modelling the service antecedents of favourable and unfavourable behaviour intentions in life insurance services in India
Authors: Gera Rajat
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and discuss the key conceptual and empirical inter‐relationships between service encounter variables of perceived agent service quality, overall customer satisfaction and perceived value and their relationships with behavioural outcomes of repurchase, recommendation and complaint intentions in the life insurance services in India.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 258 valid responses were generated from existing customers of life insurance services on the selected variables. The relationships were tested by structural equation modeling using AMOS version 4.0. The initial hypothesized model was rejected and a model was modified till acceptable fit was achieved.

Findings

The results provide empirical support for the comprehensive nature of direct and indirect effects of service quality, value perceptions and overall satisfaction on future behavioural intentions (BI). The study identifies the key agent service quality attributes of product knowledge, empathy, reliability and trust as important antecedents of favourable behavioural outcomes. Agent service quality, satisfaction and value perceptions have significant affect on recommendation intentions.

Originality/value

This is the first study using multivariate and composite model of inter relationship of service encounter constructs and their affect on both favourable and unfavourable BI.
Natural market segments: religion and identity – the case of “zongos” in Ghana
Authors: Sergius Koku Paul
Published: July 2011

Purpose

“Zongos” are a part of the urban phenomena in Ghana that have escaped critical social inquiry. The purpose of this paper is three fold. It seeks insight into the reasons zongos continue to attract new dwellers despite their “unattractive” reputation; the role of religion in the choice of residential locations; and the role of Islamic marketingvis‐à‐viszongos.

Design/methodology/approach

As an exploratory study whose objective is to generate insight, the study uses interview technique as an investigative tool. The researcher interviewed eight zongo dwellers from four different zongos (different parts of the country) and from different educational and socio‐economic backgrounds. The interviews were conducted individually with an unstructured format that provides for unlimited follow‐up questions.

Findings

The findings suggest that: religion and identity are the common threads that bind zongo dwellers together; zongo dwellers seem to be more religious than the average city dweller; religion informs the behavior of most zongo dwellers; though income plays a role, religion seems to be the overriding reason for the dwellers' choice of zongo as a place to live; and zongo dwellers are aware of the negative image that zongos have, but see their choice of living in a zongo as a step to better practice their religion.

Research limitations/implications

As an exploratory study, the results of this study are not generalizable. Furthermore, the small sample size makes the findings tenuous. Nonetheless, the results are important in the sense that they uncover an aspect of zongos that has not received much attention from academic researchers.

Practical implications

By virtue of not only sharing a common religion, but practicing the tenets of their religion in their daily lives, zongos constitute “natural” market segments that can be profitably addressed by Islamic marketing. The four “Ps” are used to illustrate a strategy that could be used by marketers who wish to serve zongo dwellers.

Social implications

Besides “guiding” the religious sensibility of non‐Muslem entrepreneurs who wish to serve zongo dwellers, Islamic marketing can play a role in educating zongo dwellers on health care, sanitation and environmental preservation issues that seem to be problematic with zongos. Furthermore, Islamic marketing can play a role in educating non‐zongo dwellers about the “positives” of zongos and Islam.

Originality/value

This paper takes an academic approach to studying zongos both as a social and a business phenomenon, and develops a sampler marketing strategy for zongo entrepreneurs based on the insight gained from interviews.