bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety awareness of practitioners in the Cypriot manufacturing sector
Authors: Boustras Georgios , Bratskas Romaios , Tokakis Vasileios , Efstathiades Andreas
Published: March 2011

Purpose

In the last few years a number of industrial catastrophes in the Cypriot manufacturing sector have taken place, resulting in losses of millions of Euro and disrupting the industrial production for days and, in a few cases, weeks and months. In the absence of official (or unofficial) statistics regarding the fire preparedness of small and medium enterprises in terms of policy, training and equipment, the purpose of this paper is to gather information and opinions about the current safety situation in the Cypriot manufacturing sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Results from a nationwide survey in Nicosia are presented in this paper. A closed questionnaire concentrating on industrial (manufacturing) premises affected and non‐affected by a previous fire incident was devised and used in a weighted sample of companies. An open questionnaire was employed for interviewing the managers of fire‐stricken companies. Four industrial areas in Nicosia are under investigation in this study and results are presented.

Findings

The findings of this paper suggest that although, in general, the safety situation is at a relatively good level, there is room for improvement.

Originality/value

This paper discusses the beliefs of the safety managers in relation to safety in their premises and attempts to create a comparison between their opinion and the existing safety cultures in the Cypriot manufacturing sector.
Factors influencing the adaptive re‐use of buildings
Authors: Bullen Peter , Love Peter
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Adaptive re‐use enables a building to suit new conditions. It is a process that reaps the benefit of the embodied energy and quality of the original building in a sustainable manner. Initiatives to improve the sustainability of buildings have tended to focus on new construction projects rather than existing ones. One reason is the tendency to regard old buildings as products with a limited useful life that have to be eventually discarded and demolished. Much of the existing building stock will still be in use for another 100 years. Thus, there is a need to develop policy and strategies that encourage adaptive re‐use and the ongoing sustainability of building stock. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the factors influencing the decision to adopt an adaptive re‐use strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

Adaptive re‐use is beginning to receive attention, yet there is a lack of consensus as to whether it is an appropriate strategy for meeting the changing needs and demands of developers, occupiers and owners for existing building stock. Considering the limited published research on adaptive re‐use in buildings, particularly in the context of sustainability, a comprehensive review of the normative literature is undertaken to determine the factors influencing the decision‐making process for its use.

Findings

It is revealed that the major drivers for adaptive focus on lifecycle issues, changing perceptions of buildings, and governmental incentives. The barriers to re‐use, on the other hand, include a perception of increased maintenance costs, building regulations, inertia of development criteria and the inherent risk and uncertainty associated with older building stock. The identification of drivers and barriers has enabled a balanced view of the adaptive re‐use debate to be presented.

Research limitations/implications

The paper concludes that more empirical research is required to examine the role of adaptive re‐use in the context of its contribution to sustainability if it is to become an effective strategy that drives the formulation of public policy for addressing the issues associated with existing building stock.

Practical implications

The research identifies key adaptive re‐use issues that need to be addressed by policy makers, developers and owners during the formative stages of the design process so that efforts toward sustainability can be ameliorated. Addressing a building's adaptive re‐use will significantly reduce whole life costs, waste and lead to the improved building functionality.

Originality/value

This paper provides policy makers and key decision makers with the underlying factors that need to be considered when implementing an adaptive re‐use policy as part of their sustainability strategy.
Design and construction of a low‐cost economical thermal vacuum chamber for spacecraft environmental testing
Authors: Jayaram Sanjay , Gonzalez Eliu
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and construction of a custom‐built low‐cost thermal vacuum chamber (TVC) for spacecraft environmental testing and verification. The paper provides detailed analysis and an insight into the design and development of the chamber. The chamber was specifically constructed for carrying out the thermal and vacuum environmental tests in a 16″ dia × 16″ long horizontal thermal vacuum chamber. The chamber is constructed using a combination of mechanical (roughing) pump and turbo‐molecular pump, used to pump the chamber down to 10−5 Torr and a combination of radiation heaters and nitrogen gas is used to vary the temperature within the chamber from +80 to −50°C.

Design/methodology/approach

The TVC equipment is built as part of the picosatellite and nanosatellite program at Space Systems Research Laboratory of Saint Louis University. The equipment is built at a low cost and is suited for testing an entire picosatellite and several components and subsystems of nanosatellite simulating thermal and vacuum conditions similar to space environment. The different main parts of the equipment are described in a way which explains the choice of construction and partly makes it possible to replicate similar equipment.

Findings

The TVC equipment is successfully used to simulate the thermal and vacuum conditions of space similar to the conditions experienced by a picosatellite or nanosatellite in low earth orbit.

Research limitations/implications

The design and construction of TVC in this paper have broader implications and can be a platform for future research on low‐cost TVC. This equipment can be utilized in the research areas of electronics and communications, biology and medicine to name a few. Thermal and vacuum experiments on several astro‐biological experiments can be performed.

Practical implications

The paper is intended to be a source of inspiration for industrial or academic space research laboratories which would like to design and construct a similar test‐equipment, instead of investing expensive commercially available alternatives.

Originality/value

The paper discusses in detail, the simplified cost‐effective approach of constructing TVC and also outlines the various issues to be considered. The TVC equipment is custom‐built and is described in an easily understandable way, which makes this a helpful paper for those who wish to produce similar equipment. This will be the only known manuscript in the literature to detail the design and construction of low‐cost, economical TVC.
VLSI interconnects and their testing: prospects and challenges ahead
Authors: Sharma D.K. , Kaushik B.K. , Sharma R.K.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the functioning of very‐large‐scale integration (VLSI) interconnects and modeling of interconnects and evaluate different approaches of testing interconnects.

Design/methodology/approach

In the past, on‐chip interconnect wires were not considered in circuit analysis except in high precision analysis. Wiring‐up of on‐chip devices takes place through various conductors produced during fabrication process. The shrinking size of metal‐oxide semiconductor field effect transistor devices is largely responsible for growth of VLSI circuits. With deep sub‐micron (DSM) technology, the interconnect geometry is scaled down for high wiring density. The complex geometry of interconnects and high operational frequency introduce wire parasitics and inter‐wire parasitics. These parasitics causes delay, power dissipation, and crosstalk that may affect the signal integrity in VLSI system. Accurate analysis, sophisticated design, and effective test methods are the requirement to ensure the proper functionality and reliability of VLSI circuits. The testing of interconnect is becoming important and a challenge in the current technology.

Findings

The effects of interconnect on signal integrity, power dissipation, and delay emerges significantly in DSM technology. For proper performance of the circuit, testing of interconnect is important and emerging challenge in the nanotechnology era. Although some work has been done for testing of interconnect, however, it is still an open area to test the parasitics effects of VLSI/ultra‐large‐scale integration interconnects. Efforts are required to analyze and to develop test methods for crosstalk, delay and power dissipation in current technology with solutions to minimize this effect.

Originality/value

This paper reviews the functioning of VLSI interconnects from micrometer to nanometer technology. The development of various interconnect models from simple short circuit to latest resistance inductance capacitance transmission line model are discussed. Furthermore, various methodologies such as built‐in self test and other techniques for testing interconnect for crosstalk and delay are discussed.
Dominant feedback practices: shaping engineer literacy perceptions
Authors: Harran Marcelle
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how dominant social practices embedded in situated report‐writing activities in an automotive discourse community in South Africa causally shape component engineers' perceptions of literacy. The study explores how the dominant practices of supervisor feedback and report acceptance causally impact on effective report‐writing perceptions during report text production.

Design/methodology/approach

Critical ethnography is the preferred methodology as it explores cultural orientations of local practice contexts and incorporates multiple understandings to provide a holistic understanding of the complexity of writing practices. This study focuses on data collected during two interviews and a focus group discussion with four L2 component engineers as well as the questionnaires their two L1 supervisors completed.

Findings

The engineers tended to measure or associate literacy and effective writing standards with supervisor feedback practices. These feedback practices interacted causally with the meanings or associations, the participants gave to or associated with literacy and their report‐writing competency. As a consequence, literacy was often described in terms of correct wording or terminology, grammatical correctness, spelling, sentence structures or styles in reports as determined by their supervisors during feedback practices, rather than report content, structure or technical details.

Research limitations/implications

The participants constructed literacy in terms of correct language, word and spelling use and focused on linguistic errors in their report writing. They tended to perceive rhetoric and engineering discourse as separate entities rather than rhetorically constructed contextual knowledge. Language problems were usually attributed to human being inefficiencies and L1 standards rather than the individual creation of knowledge.

Practical implications

This paper not only impacts causally on engineering workplace writing practices but on higher education and future report‐writing practices. Digital technologies and systems will increasingly impact on report‐writing practices, what constitutes contextual knowledge and acceptable literacies as varied and different audiences define acceptable writing practices.

Originality/value

The paper shows that on‐the‐job writing research is limited and research that has been done often focuses on criteria for good writing as defined by experts in the field. If all workplace writing‐practice research adopts this expert view, it offers no insight and understanding into what implicitly and explicitly guides writers. Writing‐practice research also needs to focus on the voices of writers so that the influence of human social behaviour on these practices can be understood.
Risk management overview of tunnels using numerical modeling
Authors: Ghiasi Vahed , Omar Husaini , Kim Huat Bujang B. , Muniandi Ratnasamy , Zainuddin B.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the numerical methods in tunnel engineering and their capabilities to indicate the fracture and failure in all kinds of tunneling methods such as New Austrian Tunneling Method, tunnel boring machine and cut‐cover. An essential definition of numerical modeling of tunnels to determine the interaction between geo‐material (soil and rock) surrounding the tunnel structure is discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

Tunnel geo‐material (soil and rock) interaction requires advanced constitutive models for the numerical simulation of linear, nonlinear, time‐dependent, anisotropic, isotropic, homogenous and nonhomogeneous behaviors. The numerical models discussed in this paper are developed in finite element method (FEM), finite deference method (FDM), boundary element method and discrete element method and these tools are used to illustrate the behavior of tunnel structure deformation under different loads and in complicated conditions. The disadvantage of this method is the tunnel lining assumed an independent structure under fixed load which is unable to model soil‐lining interaction. Predicting the effect of all natural factors on tunnels is the most difficult method. The above‐mentioned numerical methods are very simple and quick to use and the results are conservative and practical for users. One of the most significant advantages of the numerical method is in predicting the critical area surrounding the tunnel and the tunnel structure before making the tunnel construction due to different loads.

Findings

Numerical modeling is used as control method in reducing the risk of tunnel construction failures. Since some factors such as settlement and deformation are not completely predictable in rock and soil surrounding the tunnel, using numerical modeling is a very economical and capable method in predicting the behavior of tunnel structures in various complicated conditions of loading. Another benefit of using numerical simulation is in the colorful illustrations predicting the tunnel behavior before, during and after construction and operation.

Originality/value

There are not many conducted studies using numerical models to tunnel structures that estimate the critical zones. As some of the methods available have limitation in simulating and modeling the whole tunnel design factors, numerical modeling seems to be the best option, because it is fast, economical, accurate and more interesting in predicating critical zones in tunnel. However, what softwares predict are not always the same as real ground nature conditions in which there is tunnel.
Destination brand components
Authors: Stephens Balakrishnan Melodena , Nekhili Ramzi , Lewis Clifford
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This study matches destination brand components with motives and identifies those components that are most important for the consumer during various stages of the decision process. This study also aims to classify various functional and symbolic brand components. The findings take the customers' point‐of‐view in identifying those descriptors that affect consumer choice preference and create destination loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is exploratory. Through a detailed literature review, destination brand components are identified, simplified and then classified as symbolic or functional. They are also classified by motive. The review is followed by a quantitative study that uses open‐ended questions to find the relationship between destination brand components and the stage of decision making. This study also presents a conceptual model with taxonomy of brand components.

Findings

Functional brand components seem to play a major role in a consumer's description of place brands during the various decision making stages. This finding highlights the importance of stressing functional components in the destination's branding strategy.

Originality/value

This study is the first of its type and can serve as a platform for future research, practically helping destinations create more effective communication.
Organizational networks, migration, and intercultural relations in Trieste, Italy
Authors: Bitsani Evgenia , Kavoura Androniki
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The present paper is part of a study associated with the migration phenomenon and the formation of intercultural social and economic relations which emerged in Italy in the nineteenth century and its practical and social implications in the twenty‐first century. The city of Trieste, Italy consists of a case study which examines the formation of organizational networks in the Mediterranean and in Europe which consist of the basic body of the so called Greek commercial dispersion.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents data collected from the analysis of archival documents. It is part of the scientific field of social anthropology and is a case study where participative observation was employed. Interviews with people offered the researchers ground to explain the purposes and reasons for the implementation of decisions related to the creation of the organizational networks.

Findings

The article discusses the relation between the national group with its unique cultural identity and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the cultural characteristics of such relation. The consequences from the existence of these networks in all sectors of the life of the community of these areas are investigated. To a third level of discussion, the mapping and analysis of the cultural interactions which emerged as a result of these networks shaping an integrated cultural identity is examined.

Originality/value

The project succeeds in making a theoretical and practical contribution to the way the development of organizational networks presented for Trieste, Italy can consist of a typical recourse for other areas of the Mediterranean where cultures and identities intermingle nowadays and migration and policy directions need to be implemented.
Globally marketing authenticated places
Authors: Dalecki Linden
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The paper explores authentic places, personalities and products from a range of academic and professional frames.

Design/methodology/approach

Authentic pop culture texts and tourist sites – and their associated web sites – are analyzed via three perspectives: Gilmore and Pine's notion of authentic placemaking, Peterson's notion of socially constructed and determined authenticity, and Holt's notion of the authentic slacker‐rebel archetype.

Findings

Perceived authenticity plays an important role in driving the consumption of certain types of pop culture and associated touristic sites.

Originality/value

The article explores three major perspectives related to authenticity which have not been discussed together previously and is of value to marketing academics as well as stewards of authentic sites.
Service quality of Macao's world heritage site
Authors: Yim King Wan Penny , Man Cheng Elizabeth I.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the service quality of Macao's World Heritage (WH) site as perceived by visitors involving both tourists and local residents.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical data was collected via structured questionnaires to obtain views of 1,056 visitors on the 27 world heritage attractions in Macao.

Findings

The overall visitor satisfaction level on the service quality of Macao's WH was high but dimensions on “empathy” and “consumables” needed improvements. Significant differences were also found between the tourists and local residents. Tourists rated the level of crowding as more tolerable than local residents but less tolerable in terms of staff availability at attractions. Residents had a relatively low satisfaction score for most items except the availability of staff than the tourists.

Practical implications

To attract more repeated visitors, the results highlighted the importance of satisfying both groups of visitors by taking special care of the needy and children and offering more on‐site information. Managing well with the city's tourism carrying capacity and providing more staff service were also suggested to satisfy the local and tourist markets respectively.

Originality/value

Studies on service quality in heritage especially within the Macao context were scarce. This pioneering study shed light on the service quality of Macao's WH site and provided hints on the differences in the perceived service quality between the tourists and local residents. More specific government efforts can be exerted to satisfy the two niche markets in a more effective manner.
Rubbish emergency impact on in‐bound tourism demand and on the number of visitors to museums
Authors: Siano Alfonso , Siglioccolo Mario
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This study aims to assess whether or not the weight of the impact of the recent rubbish emergency in the Province of Naples (Italy) causes a temporary impact inbound tourism demand and the number of visitors to museums situated in the Province.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on secondary data referring to monthly tourist arrivals and visitors to museums to the Province of Naples, during the period in which crisis reached its climax. The variation of tourist arrivals and visitors to museums between this period and the same period of the previous four years represents the means for detecting an eventual decrease in inbound tourism demand and visitors to museums.

Findings

Research findings show the variation in the number of tourists and in the number of visitors to museums in the Province from 2004 to 2008. Despite the pessimistic estimates reported by media, the situation in the Province of Naples, during the period in which the refuse emergency reached a climax, is quite surprising.

Research limitations/implications

Historical data do not refer to the whole period during which the crisis took place. The study cannot consider the long‐term impact of the refuse emergency on inbound tourism demand and on museum visitors, seeing as the crisis has only recently been resolved.

Practical implications

The research detects strong and weak points in the tourist offer in the Province of Naples; the elaboration of corrective practices and tools for reinforcing the image of the Province of Naples represent practical implications useful to local government, tourism operators, and museum managers.

Originality/value

This study is an initial attempt to analyse the impact of the refuse emergency on inbound tourism demand and on visitors to museums.
Make it memorable: customer experiences in winter amusement parks
Authors: Slåtten Terje , Krogh Christian , Connolley Steven
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This empirical study aims to investigate the potential of customer experiences in the tourism industry to influence emotions and thus create positive mental imprints.

Design/methodology/approach

This investigation tests a conceptual model for what leaves positive mental imprints and analyzes the results of the survey to test the hypotheses. Further, the rather uncommon setting, a winter amusement park in Norway, helps to increase the external validity.

Findings

One interesting discovery with practical implications for management is that both ambience factors – light, sound, and smells – and interaction among customers have significance for customers' positive emotions.

Research limitations/implications

There is a need for further research to clarify the distinction between design and ambience factors.

Practical implications

Both ambience and interaction between customers are very important for successfully providing positive customer experiences.

Originality/value

Responding to the need to focus on the different aspects relating to customer experiences and emotions within the framework of tourism, this study tests an original model in an uncommon setting, thus contributing to the external validity of these claims.
Chinese philosophy and tourism development: a case study of Hangzhou
Authors: Wang Yi
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the correlation of Chinese philosophy to the process of tourism development. The current Chinese philosophy involves three influential ideologies: Chinese Confucianism, Chinese communism and Western capitalism, which significantly affect people's perspectives, behaviors and importantly, the whole tourism system.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted 47 semi‐structured in‐depth interviews through field visits, in order to understand people's perspectives and social interactions in the tourism development process. The case study is based on the Hubin Street Project of Hangzhou, China.

Findings

The study finds that all three ideologies in Chinese philosophy have strong influences in the decision making processes of tourism development. They result in a relatively centralized decision‐making power centre, and increasing decentralized needs from the society.

Research limitations/implications

This research helps to understand the reasons for social actions in China's tourism development from a different perspective, the philosophy. The study gives implications for other researches to further explore the relationship between ideologies and behavior.

Originality/value

The influences of Chinese philosophy to social actions could be even more complicated. More case studies could reflect different situations and more in‐depth views.
Understanding the context of workplace health management as it relates to workplace bullying
Authors: Sheehan Michael , Griffiths John
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend awareness that workplace bullying impacts on the health of individuals both within and outside the workplace and that there are implications for workplace health management.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper contextualises the problem of workplace bullying and workplace health management and introduces the five articles in the special issue.

Findings

Workplace health management is becoming more prominent in some organizations and workplace health management, and a corporate culture based on partnership, trust and respect, offers considerable potential to move the agenda forward. Moreover, there appears to be a paucity of knowledge available as to how workplace health management strategies and programmes impact on organizational culture and assembling and sharing such a knowledge base could be a useful step.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is required to extend the studies presented and to address workplace bullying from the perspective of workplace health management.

Practical implications

Research is required to explore the extent to which the potential of workplace health management programmes to impact positively on corporate approaches to bullying and harassment has been realised and how those programmes have influenced corporate culture.

Social implications

A partnership approach to knowledge creation and sharing has the most potential for successful outcomes and accords closely with the inferred ideals of the Luxembourg Declaration for Workplace Health promotion.

Originality/value

The paper addresses a perceived gap in the literature linking workplace bullying to the impact on individual health and the implications for workplace health management.
Consequences of being accused of workplace bullying: an exploratory study
Authors: Jenkins Moira , Winefield Helen , Sarris Aspa
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the perceptions of accused bullies in terms of their experiences of fairness in the manner in which the complaint against them was managed, and examine the subsequent health and career ramifications of being accused of workplace bullying.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory study was carried out through a mixed methodology: 30 managers who had been accused of workplace bullying completed a survey about their experiences, and 24 of these participants were interviewed. A thematic analysis of the interview data was undertaken.

Findings

A number of themes emerged from the analysis including negative psychological health outcomes for accused bullies in terms of depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress, and suicidal ideation. Other dominant themes were the poor perceptions of justice in the way in which the investigations were carried out, negative career consequences, and exit from the organization, whether the accusations of bullying were substantiated or not. Loss of confidence in the participants' managerial abilities and roles also emerged as a significant ramification for a number of the accused bullies.

Research limitations/implications

Despite the methodological limitations of such exploratory research, this study highlights the importance of organizations adhering to the principles of organizational justice when addressing workplace bullying complaints, including recognising the potential health consequences of a bullying investigation for the accused perpetrators as well as for the bullying victims.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies that examine workplace bullying from the perception of the accused bully and, as such, breaks a long tradition of workplace bullying research being informed only through victims' accounts of workplace bullying,
How workplace bullying changes how women promote their health
Authors: MacIntosh Judith , O'Donnell Sue , Wuest Judith , Merritt‐Gray Marilyn
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Workplace bullying is a prevalent and costly form of abuse influencing women's health. The purpose of this study is to expand knowledge of how women care for their health after experiencing workplace bullying and to explore variation in that process.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative feminist grounded theory method was used to study a community sample of 40 adult women across three Canadian provinces.

Findings

Experiencing workplace bullying causes a disruption in women's health and this was identified as the central problem for women in this study. Women address health disruption using a three‐stage process the authors named “managing disruption” that involves protecting, mobilizing, and rebuilding. Women's efforts to care for health which they define broadly as including control over their lives are influenced by formal and informal support and by personal factors such as past experiences, perception of employability, values and beliefs, and relationship patterns.

Research limitations/implications

Longitudinal study would be useful to understand long‐term consequences and potentially helpful resolutions of workplace bullying. Whether men's perspectives on their experiences are similar could also be explored.

Practical implications

Increasing awareness of what workplace bullying is and how to manage it would contribute to diminishing its occurrence and its impact.

Social implications

Women need support and resources from workplace and healthcare professionals when they have experienced workplace bullying.

Originality/value

Few studies have explored women's experiences of caring for health during and after bullying. Interestingly, women reported adopting more balanced perspectives on work and life after their bullying experiences.
The clinical effects of workplace bullying: a critical look at personality using SEM
Authors: O'Moore Mona , Crowley Niall
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the subjective experience with associated clinical and health effects on workers subjected to persistent harassment in the workplace. The study also attempts to explore an a priori hypothesised personality/clinical effects model of workplace bullying, identifying the relationships between relevant variables using structural equation modelling (SEM).

Design/methodology/approach

The sample represents 100 individual psychological assessments conducted by professional psychologists at an Anti‐bullying research and resource centre. The quantitative results are based on robust psychometric inventories. The conceptual models were tested using the software LISREL 8.7.

Findings

Results indicate elevated overall psychometric scores on all psychological and physical health inventories. The constructed a priori model was conceived based on grounded theoretical literature which assessed the moderating impact of individual factors such as personality on the severity of clinical effect, thought to be as a result of workplace bullying. Using a strictly confirmatory approach, however, all tested models were not adequate fits.

Social implications

Results of this study have implications for the prevention and intervention of workplace bullying both of which need to be intensified in order to minimise the physical and psychological ill effects of victimisation in the workplace. One of the key messages of this study is that the severity of the clinical effect may not relate to a person's character, but rather to the traumatic experience of bullying itself. The findings suggest that action is needed at an organizational level as explanations with regards to the intensity of psychological health outcomes may not be found in the constitution of one's personality.

Originality/value

This is a unique study that looks specifically at personality as a potential moderating factor of psychological and physical health in relation to workplace bullying.
Prevention of bullying and conflicts at work
Authors: Gemzøe Mikkelsen Eva , Hogh Annie , Berg Puggaard Louise
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims tp prevent bullying and conflicts at work and to identify process factors associated with the implementation and effects of such interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents process evaluation data from an intervention study in two organizations. A quasi‐experimental, process‐oriented research design was used. The following interventions were implemented: lectures on bullying, courses in conflict prevention and management, dialogue meetings, the distribution of pamphlets, newsletters and posters as well as steering group meetings.

Findings

Results indicate that participants benefited from the interventions, in particular the dialogue meetings and the courses in conflict prevention and management. Moreover, various factors stimulating or obstructing the implementation and effects of interventions were identified.

Research limitations/implications

The use of process evaluation to document the phases of the study and relevant process factors is a major strength. However, the study only included two public sector workplaces and no control groups.

Originality/value

The use of qualitative process‐evaluation helped identify important process factors affecting the implementation of interventions and their perceived effects. The paper thus yields valuable knowledge to researchers and practitioners.
Women entrepreneurs in the Indian informal sector
Authors: Williams Colin C. , Gurtoo Anjula
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Studies on women entrepreneurs either view women through a structuralist lens, as marginalised populations engaged in low‐quality work, or through a neo‐liberal lens, as engaged in relatively higher quality endeavour more as a rational choice. The aim of this paper is to evaluate critically these explanations in relation to women entrepreneurs in the informal sector in India.

Design/methodology/approach

To evaluate the contrasting explanations of structuralist and new liberal approaches, questionnaire surveys were conducted in two phases, namely 2007 and 2010, over a period of several months. The sample design was stratified random and the sample was taken from a range of cities in different parts of India.

Findings

The survey of 457 women entrepreneurs of the informal sector shows that although the structuralist representation is largely appropriate for women working as waged informal employees, it is not as valid for women informal entrepreneurs working on a self‐employed basis. The results challenge the traditional understanding of the informal sector, and self‐employed women in particular, and are discussed in the light of the institutional rational choice framework.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis highlights how the decision of entrepreneurship does not stand in isolation from other decisions and choices, is in line with normative considerations, and is a collective rational choice for women entrepreneurs in the informal sector. This analysis is a first of its kind and calls for additional surveys to be undertaken of female (and male) informal entrepreneurs in other countries to establish this concept.

Originality/value

The analysis critically evaluates established explanations in relation to women entrepreneurs in the informal sector through an empirical survey and establishes new explanations on women entrepreneurship.
Female immigrant entrepreneurship
Authors: Billore Soniya
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore how entrepreneurial opportunities are used by the rapidly increasing immigrant Indian female population in Japan. Given that a majority of Indian women are housewives and grew up in conservative family backgrounds, this analysis seeks to provide an insight into the situations that aided them and the challenges they faced in their entrepreneurial business ventures far from home.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a case study analysis through a semi‐structured questionnaire designed on the concept of “Life cycle of minority owned businesses” to track enterprise activity from beginning to end.

Findings

The analyses show that although respondents began their stay in Japan as housewives, they shed their image with time, used their talents and diversified into a different role without sacrificing family duties, while also creating employment opportunities for both natives and immigrants. Major hindrances faced due to socio/cultural influences, lack of government initiatives and support facilities were identified.

Research limitations/implications

The research analysis has been done on three case studies only as most available respondents were in the birth phase of their enterprises. More research is required on issues like capital availability, native employee and ethnic owner relationships, legal challenges and institutional support.

Practical implications

The paper draws attention to problem areas where changes in governance structure and social acceptance can create a more viable environment for immigrant entrepreneurs in Japan.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge, this study is the first of its kind that explores and evaluates the status of Indian female immigrant entrepreneurs in Japan. As Indian immigrants in entrepreneurial activities in Japan are increasing every year, the paper can contribute in restructuring opportunity creation and facilitate maximum advantage.
Gender similarities in work and well‐being outcomes among managers and professionals in Egypt
Authors: Burke Ronald J. , El‐Kot Ghada
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate gender similarities and differences among managers and professionals working in a variety of organizations and industries in Egypt. It seeks to replicate and extend previous work by employing a different sample working in a large Muslim country.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 242 respondents, 146 males and 96 females, using anonymously completed questionnaires, a 48 percent response rate. Measures included personal demographic and work situation characteristics, stable individual difference personality factors, job behaviors, work outcomes, after‐work recovery experiences, indicators of quality of life (e.g. work‐family conflict and life satisfaction) and psychological well being.

Findings

There were considerable differences in personal demographic and work situation characteristics, consistent with previous findings. Females were younger, less likely to be married, worked at lower organizational levels, were less likely to supervise others, worked in smaller organizations, and earned less income. Males and females were generally similar on stable individual difference personality factors and job behaviors. Females, however, were less satisfied with their careers, less work engaged, and reported higher levels of both exhaustion and psychosomatic symptoms; findings different from those observed in other countries female managers did make greater use of the four recovery experiences examined.

Research limitations/implications

Consistent with previous research, considerable demographic and work situation differences were observed. But different from previous research, female and male managers in Egypt reported some similar and some different work and well‐being outcomes. The observed differences indicated that women managers are somewhat disadvantaged on both work and well being.

Practical implications

These results suggest that Egyptian organizations need to devote more resources to supporting the career development of managerial and professional women. In addition, Egyptian society needs to challenge the existing stereotypes of women's roles. Entrepreneurship appears to be a realistic prospect for some women managers and professionals dissatisfied with their current careers.

Originality/value

This study provides insights on similarities and differences on personal demographic characteristics and outcome measures among female and male managers in Egypt.
Supporting the emergence of women's entrepreneurship
Authors: Griffy‐Brown Charla
Published: March 2011

Purpose

There are a number of reasons why entrepreneurship has struggled in the Japanese context. Since the historical period from post‐war Japan until the 1990s, a large‐firm “institutional logic” prevailed. For example, in post‐war Japan, large dominant firms emerged that were supported by government policies and heavily structured around sub‐contracting. Such firms strongly influenced Japanese human and financial capital and, because they offered life‐time employment along with better pay and benefits, they quickly became the employment of choice for talented individuals. As a result, few talented people chose to become entrepreneurs, which in turn led to a cycle of sluggish venture capital investment and the perception of high risk. This short perspective‐style article aims to focus on the recent institutional changes in Japan which appear to have led to more women engaging in entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a practitioner‐oriented piece reporting on work being done to support the emergence of women entrepreneurs in Japan. The author considers whether the recent changes are sufficient to allow women to reach their full potential in the Japanese business landscape.

Findings

The fortress of traditional Japanese business, which largely excludes women, appears to be surrounded by the “cloud” of a growing and necessary group of women who are a vital resource amidst Japan's otherwise shrinking labor market. Women consumers played a critical role in the emergence of the digital economy of Japan and are now playing a key role politically.

Research limitations/implications

This is only a practitioner‐perspective article.

Practical implications

A greater understanding of changes in institutional and regulative logic as well as the role of technology could potentially impact policy and practice.

Originality/value

This is an original study focussing on the world's second‐largest economy and an area of significance for stimulating innovation in the context of Japan. There is also potential for extending theory.
Seven years of the ICSB‐IJGE‐NWBC Best Paper Award for women's entrepreneurship research
Authors: Weeks Julie R. , Duffy Susan G.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to offer a brief history of the International Council for Small Business‐International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship‐National Women's Business Council (ICSB‐IJGE‐NWBC) Best Paper Award for Women's Enterprise Development. The award has a unique requirement for papers to focus, in an integral way, on practical outcomes and implications for policy and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Seven years on, the authors consider what has been learned from this award process and from the insights uncovered in the winning papers.

Findings

The collaboration to focus on women's enterprise development research is a success. Interest in the award is growing and the share of women's enterprise‐focused papers that contain a focus on policy and/or practice is on the rise. Subject matter and geographic focus of the papers is wide‐ranging. However, more work needs to be done to increase communication about the award itself and about the lessons learned from the research receiving the award recognition. Practitioners are urged to join academics in sharing their work in women's enterprise development and policy. Such collaborations build the essential bridges needed to maximize the power of research and education to inform and shape policy and practice.

Originality/value

The ICSB‐IJGE‐NWBC Best Paper Award is the only one of its kind in the world.
A conceptual investigation into the effects of cultural animosity on Middle Eastern consumers' purchase intentions
Authors: Darrat Mahmoud
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline a conceptual model for the investigation of cultural animosity and its effects on purchasing intentions in the Middle East.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed methodology consists of three well‐known Western (preferably American) franchises being evaluated based on survey research of local Middle Eastern consumers. Data are collected and compared for the three franchises with emphasis implied within the survey on the invasion of Iraq (2003). Respondents are compared based on their individual levels of animosity and how that animosity translates into purchasing intentions.

Findings

The paper proposes a direct link between brand perceptions/brand equity and Middle Eastern consumers' purchasing intentions with a moderating influence of cultural animosity and individualism/risk propensity.

Practical implications

In response to an increasingly hostile geopolitical environment, it is important for marketers to assess political animosities in consumer‐brand perceptions and purchase intentions. Deeper investigation of this phenomenon may provide helpful tips for managers to assess the impact of animosity on brand image abroad.

Originality/value

The conceptual framework integrates extant literature on brand perceptions into an emerging market context (i.e. the Middle East). The Middle Eastern consumer market has received surprisingly limited attention by marketing researchers as a whole, and branding researchers in particular. This paper attempts to bridge the gap for future research in the area.