bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local food: understanding consumer motivations in innovative retail formats
Authors: Pearson David , Henryks Joanna , Trott Alex , Jones Philip , Parker Gavin , Dumaresq David , Dyball Rob
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper sets out to profile the activities and consumers of a unique and successful local food retail outlet in the UK that is based on weekly community markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The seminal literature on local food in the UK is reviewed prior to providing a case study on a local food outlet, the True Food Co‐op. This is followed by the results from a detailed survey of its customers.

Findings

The increase in availability of and interest in local food over the last decade has been matched by new research findings. Although there is a consensus on the reasons why people buy local food, there are significant gaps in other areas of one's understanding, such as the lack of a clear definition of what local food is. This is frustrating further developments in the sector.

Research limitations/implications

Business development strategies that rely on niche markets, such as local food, in fast‐moving consumer goods categories are enjoying rapid growth. However, there are many difficulties with research in this area that emerge from the multitude of purchases made by numerous people, of various products, and in different places.

Practical implications

Innovative community‐based food retail outlets, such as the True Food Co‐op, provide an example of a business model that links consumers and producers in local food networks. As such they contribute to food security by filling a vital role in a diversified, resilient and environmentally friendly food system.

Originality/value

The paper publicises recent research findings in the local food sector that have practical implications for policy. In addition, these findings are important for individual businesses in the local food sector which are aiming to develop and secure their position in the marketplace.
Shopping for tomorrow: promoting sustainable consumption within food stores
Authors: Jones Peter , Hillier David , Comfort Daphne
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer an exploratory case study of how the UK's top ten food retailers are communicating sustainable consumption agendas to their customers within stores.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins with a discussion of the growing awareness of the role that retailers, and more particularly food retailers, can play in promoting sustainable consumption. This is followed by a short literature review of current thinking on sustainable consumption. Information obtained from two simple “walk through/visual observation and information collection” surveys conducted within the largest store operated by each of the top ten food retailers within the towns of Cheltenham and Gloucester, UK, provided the empirical material for the case study. The paper concludes with some reflections on how sustainable consumption fits into the large food retailers' business models.

Findings

The survey revealed that, while the UK's top ten food retailers were providing customers with some information on sustainable consumption, the dominant thrust of marketing communication within stores was designed to encourage consumption. More generally, the paper concludes that, at best, the UK's leading food retailers are pursuing a weak model of sustainable consumption and that their definitions of, and engagement with, sustainable consumption is driven as much by commercial imperatives as by commitments to sustainability.

Originality/value

This paper provides an accessible review of the extent to which the UK's leading food retailers are communicating sustainable consumption agendas to their customers within stores and as such it will be of value to academics, practitioners, consumer organisations and policy makers interested in the role retailers can play in promoting sustainable consumption.
Seeking common ground: an alternative diversity training paradigm
Authors: de Mello‐e‐Souza Wildermuth Cristina , Wildermuth Mel O.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

During a typical diversity program, participants are encouraged to recognize, evaluate, and appreciate differences. The purpose of this paper is to explore the rationale for “Conversity®”: an alternative approach to diversity training that is based on connections.

Design/methodology approach

The paper is based on a review of the literature on “traditional” diversity training paradigms, the impact of diversity on the brain, and basic social psychology concepts such as categorization and social affiliation. The authors relate literature review findings to their experiences conducting “connections‐based” (“Conversity”) diversity training.

Findings

The human brain is already wired to perceive differences. Further, human beings tend to prefer others who share their group affiliations. Possible consequences of “typical” diversity training programs may include a “backlash” against diversity, an increase in participants' fears, and a reinforcement of inter‐group divisions.

Practical implications

This paper offers practitioners an alternative paradigm for diversity training design including alternative categorization (i.e. emphasis on non‐traditional diversity categories such as personality or team color) and an intentional search for connections between participants.

Originality/value

Historically, diversity training programs have focused on the value of differences rather than on the power of common ground.
I am here to stay! The stock broking way (an Indian perspective): part 1
Authors: Anappindi Shankar , Manohar M.S.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Since the financial services industry in India has reached a level of maturity in terms of products and quality of delivery of services and the advent of foreign players, there has been a virtual war for talent among the premier stock broking companies in India and, it is observed that the need of the hour is to ensure a long‐term association of the employees with the company. The aims of this paper is to focus on how best one can integrate the aspirations of employees in this industry with the mission and goals of the organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the modern trends involved in changing office dynamics and the people associated with it, growing intellectuality and aspirations, the changing face of the stock broking industry and how the job of a stockbroker has been adding value to business. This paper provides an overview of the environmental factors, workplace factors and trade factors and the intensity of their influence on various functions of stock broking.

Findings

Stock broking firms require professionals of different cadres: dealers, research analysts, business development executives, operation executives, and executives associated with surveillance and risk management.

Originality/value

This paper analyses the nature of the job of these professionals, the soft skills and hard skills the job demands on the part of the doer. Employee engagement may not be easy unless one promotes among their employees a clear understanding about the interdependence of the various functions of stock broking – operations, dealing, research trends, business development and surveillance and risk management processes. In the process, it indicates how the players in the stock broking industry need to gear up to ensure a hassle‐less flow of the business. The paper concludes with a discussion on “biting the bullet before it pricks” and strategies that stock broking companies need to follow to ensure a long‐term association with their employees.
Do leaders really need to be tired? A sustainable view of leadership development and the vital leader
Authors: Cannon Martine
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to make a contribution to the field of sustainable leadership development. It seeks to explore the positive implications associated with developing a vital leadership team. The paper addresses the rising concerns about leadership burnout and aims to offer a view on how to develop sustainable leaders and vital organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

The views offered come from client work in the field using an action inquiry methodology. The author/consultant takes an appreciative, social constructionist view of organisations.

Findings

Taking an expert‐led, linear approach to the development of leaders' vitality brings with it many limitations. This paper discusses the positive implications surrounding taking a complexity based approach to the vitality of leaders in organisations. It discusses how change occurs in the area of wellbeing, which is an area where change is notoriously difficult and often unsustainable. Finally, it discusses organisational norms that can stand in the way of executives being as vital as they need to be, to do the jobs asked of them.

Practical implications

The paper provides a practical approach for HR, OD and business leaders to begin investigating the relative vitality of their workforce and offers key insights into how to take an integrated approach to leadership development (inclusive of vitality).

Originality/value

The paper offers new insights into the emerging field of sustainable leadership – a relatively untouched performance opportunity for those interested in leadership development.
Concept theory and semiotics in knowledge organization
Authors: Friedman Alon , Thellefsen Martin
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the basics of semiotic analysis and concept theory that represent two dominant approaches to knowledge representation, and explore how these approaches are fruitful for knowledge organization.

Design/methodology/approach

In particular the semiotic theory formulated by the American philosopher C.S. Peirce and the concept theory formulated by Ingetraut Dahlberg are investigated. The paper compares the differences and similarities between these two theories of knowledge representation.

Findings

The semiotic model is a general and unrestricted model of signs and Dahlberg's model is thought from the perspective and demand of better knowledge organization system (KOS) development. It is found that Dahlberg's concept model provides a detailed method for analyzing and representing concepts in a KOS, where semiotics provides the philosophical context for representation.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to combine theories of knowledge representation, semiotic and concept theory, within the context of knowledge organization.
Debating credibility: the shaping of information literacies in upper secondary school
Authors: Francke Helena , Sundin Olof , Limberg Louise
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The article concerns information literacies in an environment characterised by the two partly competing and contradictory cultures of print and digital. The aim of the paper is to provide a better understanding of the ways in which students assess the credibility of sources they use in school, with a particular interest in how they treat participatory genres.

Design/methodology/approach

An ethnographic study of a school class's project work was conducted through observations, interviews, and log books in blog form. The analysis was influenced by a socio‐cultural perspective.

Findings

The study provides increased empirically based understanding of students' information literacy practices. Four non‐exclusive approaches to credibility stemming from control, balance, commitment, and multiplicity were identified.

Originality/value

The study adds to the understanding of how credibility is assessed in school environments with a particular focus on how digital and participatory genres are treated.
Citation analysis of top research papers in chemistry with specific reference to India
Authors: Maharana Bulu , Majhi Sabitri , Bihari Sethi Bipin
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to determine India's position in publishing top research papers in chemistry as reflected in Science Direct. It also aims to find out authorship pattern, countries with major contributions, journals with high publication rates, etc.

Design/methodology/approach

Citation analysis methods were applied to study citations of 450 research papers in chemistry taken from the listing of top 25 papers in Science Direct database. The citations covered 18 issues of the Science Direct generated alert service for the period 2004‐2008. The bibliographic data were entered in Excel sheets for necessary analysis.

Findings

The studies revealed that, out of 450 research papers, 36 (8 per cent) are contributed by Indian researchers. In the ranking of contributing countries, India reserves third position after the USA and China. More than 86 per cent of Indian chemistry research papers were cited by others. As regards to number of citations, 25 per cent of Indian papers are cited between 10 and 25 times each. The journal Tetrahedron was found as the highest publishing journal with 71 (16 per cent) publications.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents a sense of the importance of Indian chemistry research, and as such informs that community, as well as researchers involved in citation analysis.

Originality/value

The outcome of the study is an original research work with citation analysis of top research papers in chemistry. The findings will have practical implications for Indian scientists, funding agencies and research establishments in different areas of chemical sciences.
Advising upwards: managing the perceptions and expectations of senior management stakeholders
Authors: Bourne Lynda
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for assisting individuals in organisations to understand how to engage their senior stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

The main method for the research is a descriptive case study to test the theories described in the paper. The approach to the topic is based on reflection of the experiences of the author and colleagues, tied in with theories developed by the research of individuals in the field of leadership and organisational strategy. The result is a framework to provide guidance to practitioners working in organisations and a new approach for researchers in organisational management and stakeholder engagement.

Findings

While there are many journals and books devoted to assisting management to lead and motivate staff and team members, there is an absence of research and thinking on how staff and team members may gain the attention and support of their managers. This paper addresses this gap. The problem has been expressed in terms of the experiences of the author and colleagues and has been received with interest by those individuals who have attended workshops and presentations given by the author on this topic.

Research limitations/implications

The solutions proposed are based on the experiences and reflection of the author and colleagues. Additional research needs to be conducted to further support the conclusions drawn from the ideas in this paper.

Practical implications

Significant changes should be made in the thinking of staff and team members in their approach to acquiring and maintaining the support of their managers. The recommended approach is a structured process of stakeholder engagement based on building and maintaining robust relationships with important stakeholders leading to the development of timely, appropriate and effective communication.

Originality/value

The paper and the ideas expressed within it take a different approach to most of the published literature in that they seek to view organisational culture and practice from the perspective of staff or team members (followers) and how they might proceed to address issues that require management attention and support.
Information searching behaviour of young Slovenian researchers
Authors: Vilar Polona , Žumer Maja
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of an empirical study of information behaviour of young Slovenian researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

Built on some well‐known models of scholarly information behaviour the study complements a previously conducted study of the same population, which focused on the aspects of user friendliness. This second study is an attempt to shape a more detailed picture of the investigated user group. Presented are types of scholarly information behaviour, enriched by some complementary issues regarding their behaviour as digital users.

Findings

The respondents were found to express many of the features of both digital scholars and other users of digital technology. Direct searching and power browsing are most often expressed searching behaviours; also common are probing and accessing. Collecting behaviour is mostly expressed through “squirrelling”, and sometimes gathering. Satisfaction with the system and with search results is very influential, but sometimes not decisive, for the user to stay with the system, since attention to the content of the results is also very strong.

Practical implications

The rationale for the study was that understanding users' information behaviour is crucial in the design of their information tools.

Originality/value

Scholarly information behaviour has been extensively studied in Western countries, however, studies of this nature are not so common in Slovenian scholarly literature. As such, this study is one of the first to tackle this issue.
Japanese high school students' television viewing and fast food consumption
Authors: Kobayashi Futoshi
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between daily television (TV) viewing duration and weekly fast food consumption of Japanese high school students.

Design/methodology/approach

The total of 325 Japanese high school students from Miyazaki, Japan (148 female and 176 male students and one student with no gender identification) answered the survey in order to assess their daily TV viewing duration and weekly fast food consumption.

Findings

The results indicated that low TV viewers spent significantly less money on weekly fast food consumption than either moderate or high TV viewers; and male students spent significantly more money on weekly fast food consumption than female students.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to the limited sample size, the results of this study might lack generalizability. Further research on this issue should be conducted in the future.

Practical implications

Similar to studies conducted in different countries, the results of the present study provided evidence to suggest that cumulative exposure to TV was linked to the increase of fast food consumption in Japanese high school students.

Originality/value

There were few studies that investigated the media effects on fast food consumption of Japanese high school students. This study might be the first one.
A review: plant extracts and oils as corrosion inhibitors in aggressive media
Authors: Abdullah Dar M.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to make people aware of organic corrosion inhibitors.

Design/methodology/approach

As it is a literature review paper, no specific method is used.

Findings

It has been found that plant extracts and oils show inhibition efficiency up to 98 percent, so it is certain that plant extracts and oils are effective corrosion inhibitors and can be successfully used at the industrial level.

Research limitations/implications

Plant extracts and oils are also found to be non‐toxic, highly efficient, renewable and cheap. But less effort has been given towards the identification of which compound is active in the extract.

Originality/value

The paper shows detailed account of the inhibitors obtained from plants, which are used as natural corrosion inhibitors.
Experimental study on hydro‐viscous drive speed‐regulating start
Authors: Meng Qingrui , Hou Youfou
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the effect of working oil temperature, load and starting time on hydro‐viscous drive speed‐regulating start.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed an experimental equipment and carried out a number of experiments under different temperatures, load and starting time.

Findings

The results show that both the temperature rise of working oil and the increase of load can induce fluctuations in output speed, but the effect of the working oil temperature rise is more serious; also the longer the starting time is, the more perfectly the output speed can trace the given speed.

Practical implications

It indicates that the working oil temperature should be kept in a certain range by using a cooling device in practical application; and that under this experimental condition, kinematics viscosity of the working oil should be greater than 45 mm2/s under rated working temperature, and the relatively suitable starting time should range from 90 to 120 s.

Originality/value

The paper explains the effect of various factors on speed‐regulating start, and provides the basis for the design and the application of hydro‐viscous drives.
Magnetic fluid‐based squeeze film behavior between transversely rough curved annular plates: a comparative study
Authors: Deheri G.M. , Patel R.M. , Abhangi Nikhilkumar D.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to improve upon the performance of magnetic fluid‐based squeeze film between transversely rough curved annular plates by embarking on a comparative study of the geometrical structure of the curved annular plates.

Design/methodology/approach

The objectives are met by mathematically modeling a magnetic fluid‐based squeeze film between transversely rough curved annular plates. The standard method is to solve the associated Reynolds' equation with appropriate boundary conditions by describing the random roughness through a stochastic random variable with non‐zero mean, variance and skewness. Results for bearing performance characteristics such as pressure distribution and load‐carrying capacity are numerically computed. In order to analyze the quantitative effect of the roughness, different geometrical structures of surfaces have been considered and the results are compared.

Findings

Certainly, the performance of the bearing with the magnetic fluid lubricant is comparatively better than the conventional lubricant. The findings indicate that although the effect of roughness is adverse in general, the adverse effect introduced by roughness and aspect ratio can be compensated for, to a considerable extent, by the positive effect of magnetization parameter in the case of negatively skewed roughness by choosing the curvature parameters properly.

Practical implications

From the industry point of view, this investigation will be definitely useful for improving the performance of the squeeze film based on magnetic fluid between transversely rough curved annular plates by minimizing the effect of roughness. Furthermore, it offers an additional degree of freedom from a design point of view in the form of the geometrical structure of the surfaces.

Originality/value

The paper presents significant information as it compares shapes and offers suggestions for the best improved performance from a bearing's longevity point of view. This study presents an approach for the enhanced performance of the magnetic fluid‐based squeeze film between transversely rough curved annular plates.
Entrepreneurial intentions in developing and developed countries
Authors: Iakovleva Tatiana , Kolvereid Lars , Stephan Ute
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This study proposes to use the Theory of Planned Behaviour to predict entrepreneurial intentions among students in five developing and nine developed countries. The purpose is to investigate whether entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents differ between developing and developed countries, and to test the theory in the two groups of countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 2,225 students in 13 countries participated in this study by responding to a structured questionnaire in classrooms. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data.

Findings

The findings indicate that respondents from developing countries have stronger entrepreneurial intentions than those from developed countries. Moreover, the respondents from developing countries also score higher on the theory's antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions – attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control – than respondents from developed countries. The findings support the Theory of Planned Behaviour in both developing and developed countries.

Research limitations/implications

The findings strongly support the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The measure of subjective norms used, a multiple‐item index encompassing the views of other people and motivation to comply with these, seems to have advantages over other measures of this concept.

Practical implications

Developing countries need to focus on the development of institutions that can support entrepreneurial efforts. At the same time, developed economies may need to accept that entrepreneurial intentions are dependent on the dynamism of an economic environment and possibly on risk‐perceiving behaviours.

Originality/value

While multiple‐country studies on entrepreneurship in developing and developed countries have been called for, no previous study has compared entrepreneurial intentions between developing and developed countries. The inclusion of developing countries provides a unique quasi‐experimental setting in which to test the theory.
Does CEO optimism affect strategic process?
Authors: Langabeer James R. , DelliFraine Jami
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Although management researchers have long recognized that cognitive and behavioral constructs can influence strategic process, there have been surprisingly few empirical studies exploring their actual influence. More specifically, there have been no reported findings examining how an executive's general tendency to expect positive outcomes (i.e. optimism) shapes their strategic process. The purpose of this paper is to examine if optimism serves as a cognitive bias that short‐circuits the strategic process, or more specifically results in a greater use of incrementalism versus a comprehensive rational process.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an initial study to explore the relationships between optimism and strategic process. The authors opted for a large cross‐sectional sample of chief executive officers (CEOs) in the for‐profit sector of the US healthcare industry, distributed 810 surveys, and received a 21 percent response rate. The authors' methods incorporated the well‐established Life Orientation Test for optimism, and interaction effect regression models, correlations, and ANOVAs were used to test relationships.

Findings

It was found that at the time of the study, executives were more optimistic than average. It was further found that higher optimism is associated with less rational (and more incremental) strategic decision‐making processes. Organizational size also had an interaction effect on the optimism‐strategic process relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The authors operationalized only a few variables in this initial study. A more comprehensive study, utilizing many more variables and exploring optimism for the top management team (beyond just the CEO) is being incorporated into subsequent studies.

Practical implications

If disposition (e.g. optimism) is associated with strategic processes, then a better understanding of executive's dispositions could be used to better align CEOs with organizational types and stage of life cycle.

Originality/value

This is the first study of its kind to begin to explore the association between dispositional optimism and strategic processes.
The declining association between earnings and returns
Authors: Lim Steve C. , Park Taewoo
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to identify what drives the temporal reduction in the value relevance of earnings documented in the literature. Is it the increasing noise in stock returns over time, noise in earnings, or both?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop hypotheses from the lead/lag structure between stock returns and accounting earnings and perform empirical tests using data from annual COMPUSTAT and monthly CRSP over the sample period of 39 years (1970‐2008).

Findings

The test results show that increasing noise in stock returns over time is primarily responsible for the temporal reduction of R2 in regressions of returns on earnings. Additional analysis shows weak evidence that both the noise in returns and the noise in earnings are responsible for the declining association between earnings and returns in a sub‐period (1970‐1982).

Research limitations/implications

The R2‐based methodology has limitations because, as Gu points out, regression R2s might be incomparable across samples. The findings suggest that future research should control for the effects of the temporal increase in market noise before making value relevance inferences from the declining association between earnings and returns.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the limited body of research on noise in stock returns as the main driver for the temporal reduction in value relevance of earnings.
Independence of board of directors, employee relation and harmonisation of corporate governance
Authors: Demirbas Dilek , Yukhanaev Andrey
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The main aim of this paper is to examine the role of the board of directors in Russia with specific attention to their independence, employee relations and ability of successful adaptation of the international standards.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a survey questionnaire to provide an empirical example from a transition economy to the corporate governance literature by exploring the attitudes of the 55 board directors from 30 listed companies on the Russian Trading System (RTS) Stock Exchange.

Findings

The respondents recognise the board of directors as an important instrument of efficient and good corporate governance practice. More surprisingly, they are also in favour of employee representatives on the board of directors and agree that board size and composition should be enhanced by employee representatives on the board.

Research limitation/implications

Even though 200 questionnaires were distributed and the response rate was 28 per cent, the authors know that they cannot generalise results for all directors of 1,414 listed companies on the Russian Trading System Stock Exchange from this level of response. In addition, questions might have some elements of subjectivity.

Practical implications

Policy makers in Russia should continue reforms in Russian corporate governance to improve transparency and accountability to adopt international standards and to attract foreign capital.

Originality/value

This study is one of the most comprehensive studies to explain the role of directors of listed companies in corporate governance throughout a survey questionnaire in Russia. The authors believe that the study contributes to the literature in two ways: theoretically by examining the attitudes of Russian listed company directors in the literature and empirically by conducting a survey among listed companies' directors to evaluate the attitudes of boards of directors, and employee relations in Russia.
Knowledge exchange and community engagement: an academic library perspective
Authors: Sidorko Peter E. , Yang Tina T.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to document the strategies and initiatives developed in a major Asian academic library, aiming to enhance the library's role in promoting knowledge exchange and community wellbeing.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the library's role in knowledge exchange at the university. It highlights a series of initiatives undertaken by the library that serve to promote community access to collections, services and special events. It also introduces ways in which the library has reached out to the local, regional and international communities.

Findings

The success of the initiatives is demonstrated in many ways including the devoted commitment to making information available to the public at both university and library level, extended access to the library resources and services, active public participation in the special events and the library's increased visibility and leadership in the local, regional and international communities.

Research limitations/implications

While many of the initiatives have been innovative and well received, the reality remains that the true emphasis of knowledge exchange within the university lies with the faculties. Licensing agreements also impose restrictions on access to the electronic resources by a larger user group. The traditional “closed door” policy due to the space shortage inevitably limits the library's ability to engage a wider community. Further studies need to be done on the investment and return of the book talks.

Practical implications

While it is often cited that public libraries are those that serve the community at large, this paper provides the perspective from an academic library viewpoint and emphasizes the view that such service should not be limited to public libraries alone and that academic libraries must play a role in community wellbeing.

Originality/value

The paper provides a practical example for academic libraries in attempting to play an active role in knowledge exchange and community engagement.
Ebooks in libraries: an overview of the current situation
Authors: Ashcroft Linda
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an overview of the current situation regarding ebooks in both academic and public libraries

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of a review of the literature, drawing together findings from various published ebook surveys conducted over the past three years

Findings

It was found that there is a need for libraries to raise awareness about the ebooks they offer and how they offer them.

Practical implications

The paper points up the importance of librarians having accurate knowledge about their users' concerns, which can be complex over the spectrum of ebooks, in order to obtain the “best deal”.

Originality/value

The paper draws together viewpoints from academic libraries, public libraries and ebook suppliers.
Embedded academic librarian experiences in online courses
Authors: Hoffman Starr
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to determine common and unique activities, promotional methods, time management strategies, and best practices of academic librarians embedded in online courses at six institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a mixed methods study using both interviews and quantitative data to study the activities and experiences of embedded librarians at six institutions.

Findings

The librarians and faculty involved in the embedded services reported unexpected benefits to the service. However, experiences with managing the time required for embedding along with regular reference duties varied, and scaling up the service from a few courses to a regular library service caused staffing issues for a few institutions.

Research limitations/implications

This study was exploratory by nature and thus its scope was limited. Because only six institutions were studied, it is difficult to determine the true state of embedded librarianship in the USA. Future research should build on the foundation to determine outcomes for which embedded service is best suited and perform cost‐benefit analyses.

Practical implications

Because embedded services can become popular quickly, individual librarians should work with library administrators to determine whether staffing a full‐scale service will be possible and plan accordingly. If a full‐scale service is not feasible, the service scope may need to be limited (for instance, to core courses or to specific academic departments).

Originality/value

Past research on embedded librarianship has been limited to single institutions or to purposes and outcomes of the service. This paper provides a comparative study of embedded librarians at six institutions, and concentrates on the librarian's experience at each.
Personal controlling as a management tool for library staff in the example of selected Polish libraries
Authors: Laskowska Jolanta
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The aim of this essay is to present the possibility of applying personal controlling as a tool used in library staff management.

Design/methodology/approach

The studies involved analyze the strong and weak points of human resources (SWOT). Motivational system, promotion opportunities, wage policy, staff's qualification usage, training system and rationalization of employment in the various sectors, the level of satisfaction, work conditions, absenteeism and crew's fluency – were all taken into account during researches.

Findings

Based on the survey it is possible to identify the strong and the weak points, opportunities and threats existing in the library, and thus eliminate accidental events and steer the activities in the future. The possibility of controlling usage in the libraries optimizes exploitation of owned human resources and contributes to the achievement of the library's purposes.

Practical implications

Weak points of actions and functioning of the library's crew create vicissitudes for librarians. Libraries' management should seek to acquire financial funds or material rewards, aiming at the modification of adopted rules and receipt of bonuses. The noticed and appreciated employee may feel fulfilled and may identify with the purposes of the entire library and would be motivated, and thus may raise the quality of services provided by the library.

Originality/value

The paper describes the first attempts at controlling the implementation of personnel in Polish libraries.
HRM and the use of personnel services: an empirical analysis of German firms
Authors: Alewell Dorothea , Hauff Sven , Weiland Katrin , Thommes Kirsten
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse how characteristics of the HR department and HR work, which relate to resource availability and resource needs, influence HR outsourcing. The study examines the subject of human resource (HR) outsourcing.

Design/methodology/approach

The potential influence of firms' characteristics on HR outsourcing is analysed theoretically and empirically. The dataset (n=1,021) covers a broad spectrum of personnel services and is based on computer‐aided telephone interviews with chief executives and human resource managers of German firms.

Findings

Generally, we find that firm size and previous reorganization activities significantly raise the probability of an HR outsourcing. In contrast, there is no overall significant influence of central characteristics of HR work or the HR department on HR outsourcing in general.

Originality/value

Although there is a trend toward the outsourcing of work, little research is being done on the relationship between the expected effects of outsourcing, the make‐or‐buy decision of decision makers, and the firm's characteristics themselves. This study sheds some more light on the relationship between HR outsourcing and firms' characteristics and finds some interesting relationships.
What can monopsony explain of the gender wage differential in Italy?
Authors: Sulis Giovanni
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to study gender wage differentials in Italy using first‐order predictions of monopsony‐search models. It compares empirical predictions of these models against other competing ones of wage determination in non‐competitive settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper looks at the empirical relevance of the model in terms of third degree wage discrimination among men and women by estimating the labour supply elasticity to the individual firm. It also tests the monopsony model using a “natural” experiment. Italian administrative longitudinal data from INPS are used.

Findings

Women have lower elasticity of labour supply to the individual firm: employer size regressions indicate larger effects (and consequently lower elasticity) for women as predicted by the monopsony model. Using the theoretical dynamic monopsony‐search model of Burdett and Mortensen, wage elasticity of separations and recruits confirm this result. Using relative men/women employment effects resulting from institutional changes in wage indexation mechanism (Scala Mobile), it is found that relative male employment responded differently in the two periods to the exogenous relative increase in the wage differential, as predicted by the monopsony model. Search frictions explain about 50 per cent of the gender differential.

Research limitations/implications

No role for discrimination. Better controls for rents and union status would be needed. More rich firm data would be needed.

Originality/value

The paper is one of the few attempts of testing implications of monopsony models in unionised labour markets, such as Italy, after some important reforms in wage bargaining agreements. The change in institutional agreements is an interesting test for different theories of wage determination.
Gender and managerial level differences in perceptions of effective leadership
Authors: Muchiri Michael K. , Cooksey Ray W. , Di Milia Lee V. , Walumbwa Fred O.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine gender‐ and management‐ level differences in perceptions of effective leadership within a framework of new leadership models that focus on the processes of influencing self and others rather than leadership based on hierarchy.

Design/methodology/approach

A self‐report questionnaire was distributed to a sample of council employees. The responses were analysed using thematic matrix displays.

Findings

Males and non‐management employees (when compared with female and management) perceived effective leadership as that which emphasises fairness, equality and honesty, develops staff, fosters workplace harmony, and is trustworthy. Female employees emphasised communication, decision‐making ability, and supporting the leader as being important to how a work unit could contribute to organizational leadership effectiveness. Employees at the management level underscored vision, supporting the leader, and integrity as being important to how a work unit could contribute to organizational leadership effectiveness. Female and non‐management employees highlighted employee development, contingent reward, communication and vision as being central to how organizational leadership could contribute to the effectiveness of the work unit.

Originality/value

Unlike the literature that differentiates between charismatic and transformational forms of leadership, this paper views these two constructs as both being components of transformational leadership.
Robot Award of Japan
Authors: Kusuda Yoshihiro
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to report on the Robot Award of Japan and to review the award winners of 2010.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on findings at the exhibition, published papers and in‐depth interviews with award winners.

Findings

The Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry of Japanese Government is trying to create a new robotic business and the industry and academia is responding to it.

Practical implications

The paper reviews the direction of Japan's robot business.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on commercial success and potentials rather than academic value or intriguing technology.
Imaging technology opens up new robotic applications
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to review the use of imaging technologies in robotics, with an emphasis on inspection applications and the control of autonomous robots.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a brief introduction, this paper first considers vision‐based robotic inspection systems and highlights a selection of recent applications. Second, it considers the use of vision in autonomous robot navigation and discusses some of the challenges and recent developments.

Findings

This shows that developments in machine vision have led to vision systems being used in a diversity of component‐level and in‐service robotic inspection tasks. It also illustrates that vision systems have a key role to play in the emerging generation of autonomous, mobile robots.

Originality/value

This paper provides a review of recent developments in vision‐based robotic inspection and autonomous, mobile robot navigation.
Motion mechanism concept and morphology of a single actuator tetrapod walking spider robot: the ROBOTURK SA‐2 Robot
Authors: Soyguder Servet , Alli Hasan
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This study seeks to develop a novel eight‐legged robot. Additionally, this study defines design and control of an eight‐legged single actuator walking ROBOTURK SA‐2 spider robot based on the features of a creatural spider.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the single actuator eight‐legged tetrapod walking spider robot was modeled on solid works and then the animation of the model was realized to ensure the accurate walking patterns and more stable walking. Based on this model, the novel prototype of the single actuator eight‐legged walking spider robot was constructed.

Findings

A novel motion mechanism uses only one actuator for driving the system.

Originality/value

The modeled single actuator eight‐legged robot is original in terms of the developed motion mechanism.
An automated salmonid slaughter line using machine vision
Authors: Steen Bondø Morten , Reidar Mathiassen John , Aaby Vebenstad Petter , Misimi Ekrem , Skjøndal Bar Eirin Marie , Toldnes Bendik , Ove Østvik Stein
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a new slaughter line for industrial slaughtering of salmonid fish. Traditionally, slaughtering of farmed salmonids – salmon and rainbow trout – was done manually by bleed cutting with knives. Using the new slaughter line that includes 3D machine vision and a bleed‐cutting robot, slaughtering is almost completely automated – nominally requiring only one person to supervise the line and manually bleed cut the fish not handled by the robot.

Design/methodology/approach

The design approach of the salmonid slaughter line focuses on using 3D machine vision and a bleed‐cutting robot with four biaxial pneumatic actuators to handle the slaughtering of pre‐anesthetized salmon and rainbow trout.

Findings

Under normal operating conditions, the slaughter line is capable of automatically slaughtering 85‐95 percent of all fish at an average feed rate of 30‐80 salmon/min, and the remaining 5‐15 percent are slaughtered manually. Several issues have been discovered, that should be addressed to improve the slaughter line.

Originality/value

This paper presents a new complete salmonid slaughter line that has reduced the need for manual labor in salmonid slaughtering plants.