bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Competitive forces and cost‐based analysis in SEC review of SRO market data fee filings: NetCoalition v. Securities and Exchange Commission
Authors: Ferraro Edward J.
Published: May 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze and discuss the implications of the August 2010 decision of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacating and remanding to the SEC its December 2008 order approving a proposed fee filed by NYSE Arca, LLC for its depth‐of‐book product ArcaBook. It also seeks to consider the effect on the court's decision of the Dodd‐Frank Act amendments to Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes the evolution of the SEC's policy regarding SRO market data fees including the 1999 Concept Release on Market Information, the Advisory Committee on Market Information, the effects of decimalization and the 2005 adoption of Regulation NMS. It focuses on market data fee policy in connection with the Commission's decade‐long project to increase the role of competition in the US securities markets, culminating in the 2006 NYSE Arca fee filing, the SEC's 2008 order approving those fees and the NetCoalition decision.

Findings

The court's decision that a cost analysis is not irrelevant to the SEC's review of proposed SRO fee filings brings clarity and finality to a long‐standing dispute within the Commission and the securities industry and identifies a procedure for reaching an economically sound determination of “fair and reasonable” fees for SRO market data.

Practical implications

A cost‐based analysis of SRO market data fee filings is likely to result in a significant decline in market data revenues for those exchanges that charge fees for their data. For the Commission, cost‐based analysis is likely to require a significant reallocation of its regulatory staff and resources.

Originality/value

The paper presents a useful analysis for securities regulatory lawyers and financial analysts and investors following the stock exchange and financial information industries.
Corporate ownership interests hidden through cash‐settled equity derivatives: impact on the companies' governance under the Italian legal framework
Authors: Opromolla Gabriella
Published: May 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to analyze the impact on companies' governance of corporate ownership interests hidden through cash‐settled equity derivatives.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper outlines the definition and use of cash‐settled derivatives and describes the recent proposal of the Italian financial regulator to extend disclosure obligations of significant shareholdings to positions held through cash‐settled derivatives.

Findings

Given the structure of Italian companies and the proven risk of evasion through cash‐settled derivatives, it should be advisable to extend the concept of a major shareholding for mandatory bid purposes to this kind of instrument. Moreover, recent cases have shown that the lack of a common worldwide disclosure regime for cash‐settled derivatives could result in misleading information and in turn in a lack of confidence by investors and an increase in the costs of raising capital.

Practical implications

The disclosure regime to be implemented should neither completely ignore cash‐settled equity derivatives nor impose excessive duties that may increase the costs of compliance. It should be empirical and concrete. Ownership disclosure is intended to improve corporate governance by enabling minority shareholders to monitor the abuse of control.

Originality/value

This paper provides practical guidance from an experienced Italian securities lawyer. It explains and supports the Italian regulator's proposal to identify cases in which holdings of derivatives trigger mandatory bid obligation.
Regulatory change for financial institutions: crossing the ocean in an open boat
Authors: Turing Dermot , Benzler Marc , Lacroix Frédérick
Published: May 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to draw some overall conclusions and suggest a general approach financial institutions might take in response to all the different countries' recent financial reform legislation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper lays out some of the important themes running through the post‐crisis set of reforms, discusses the practical impact, and recommends a checklist for financial institutions to follow in responding to the reforms.

Findings

Financial institutions have been cast into the role of villains and have lost some of their influence, but they still play a vital role. Making a decent profit in the new world will be hard, but there is much secondary legislation to come, and the different ways in which it will be implemented in various countries may present opportunities.

Originality/value

The paper provides expert guidance from experienced financial services lawyers.
SEC approves rule banning “naked access” to trading centers
Authors: Hardy Callcott W. , Foley Timothy C.
Published: May 2011

Purpose

This paper sets out to explain the new Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 15c3‐5, which will require broker‐dealers to adopt and implement risk controls to govern their provision of “direct market access” (DMA).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains how the development and use of automated electronic trading processes and systems motivated broker‐dealers to offer DMA, “sponsored access,” and “naked access.” It explains the systems of risk management controls and supervisory procedures a broker‐dealer is required to maintain to manage the financial, regulatory, and other risks of sponsored access, including financial and regulatory controls and procedures.

Findings

The SEC proposed the Rule to more effectively manage the financial, regulatory, and other risks, such as legal and operational risks, associated with market access.

Originality/value

The paper offers practical guidance from expert broker‐dealer lawyers.
Using grey relational analysis and TRIZ to identify KSFs and strategies for choosing importers and exporters
Authors: Lin Po‐Yin , Lee Tzong‐Ru (Jiun‐Shen) , Dadura Agnieszka M.
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the key success factors (KSFs) of purchasing decision making of overseas importers of Taiwanese products and the Taiwanese exporters; and second, to translate these KSFs into critical problems and formulate strategies to solve them.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use grey theory to identify the KSFs. In the end, 24 KSFs are obtained and changed into 22 critical problems. That is, the authors define what characteristics need to be improved for each critical problem and what characteristics could worsen (deteriorate) when the improved parameters are applied to solve the critical problems. Then, the authors use the TRIZ contradiction matrix to determine inventive principles they relate to and apply them to formulate the strategies for the hand‐tool industry.

Findings

The study offers short‐, medium‐ and long‐term improvement strategies for companies in the hand‐tool industry in the area of purchasing decision making.

Originality/value

The paper contributes in four ways. First, in understanding the overseas importers and the Taiwanese exporters' purchasing decision making with reference to the hand‐tool industry in Taiwan. Second, it determines B2B communication tools, which is a theoretical contribution of this paper to the literature. Third, companies in Taiwan and other countries can also apply strategies formulated in this research to solve similar problems. Finally, it simulates the critical problems and its solutions in the operations.
Supply chain management from the perspective of value chain flexibility: an exploratory study
Authors: Hock Soon Quah , Mohamed Udin Zulkifli
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate supply chain management practices related to flexibility, value chain and capabilities. It describes an exploratory study to examine the interrelated factors to propose a research framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A comparative case study was conducted on several manufacturing organizations in the electrical and electronic industry, investigating the business drivers and response effect of a flexible value chain.

Findings

In general, all the organizations enhanced their manufacturing flexibility components with supply and logistic networks in order to be responsive to customers and gain tangible benefits. The core flexibility of the value chain can be defined from operational, supply and logistics perspectives where different levels of integration and implementation strategies offer different levels of flexibility response to volume and product mix.

Research limitations/implications

Research through case survey requires further empirical investigation to quantify the determinants and the significance of the relationship theorized. However, the findings confirmed the practical aspect of manufacturers to consider flexibility in designing their value chain within the industry.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the fact that local manufacturers value the flexibility aspect of supply chains to stay competitive during demand uncertainties and being responsive to customers.
Improving manufacturing process for biomedical products: a case study
Authors: Nepal Bimal , Natarajarathinam Malini , Balla Krishna
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design and implement a new manufacturing process for biomedical products by removing an electro‐polishing (EP) operation. The research was performed in a major North American orthopedic industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Value stream mapping is used to analyze and identify the waste in the current manufacturing process of bone screw. Upon formulation of new (to‐be) process, it has been validated to meet the regulatory requirements for the products through autoclave, endotoxin level, and biomechanical tests. Statistical tests are performed to compare the EP versus non‐EP process.

Findings

The study has shown that the EP operation was not only redundant to bone screw manufacturing but also created other problems such as quality and production delays. The overall production lead time of the screws has been reduced from 17 to 4.5 days.

Research limitations/implications

Scope of the pilot study was limited to stainless steel screw. In future, the company plans to perform similar studies on other material types.

Practical implications

The EP operation is very common in the orthopedic industry. However, as found in this paper, it is not required for every component. The bone screw case study presented in the paper offers a huge saving for the company by eliminating a “wasteful” activity from the manufacturing process.

Originality/value

Biomedical products pose unique challenges to the process optimization efforts because of their stringent government and industry requirements. This paper provides an original case study of design, validation, and testing of an improved manufacturing process for a biomedical product.
An investigation into current production challenges facing the Libyan cement industry and the need for innovative total productive maintenance (TPM) strategy
Authors: Graisa Mustafa , Al‐Habaibeh Amin
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate maintenance and production problems in the cement industry in Libya, with particular emphasis on future implementation of total productive maintenance (TPM).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the use of case study approach of production data and history, field visits, a survey methodology using a detailed questionnaire with employees and interviews with top and middle managers in four cement factories.

Findings

It has been found that the four factories under investigation have low productivity and production levels when compared with the design values. There is no clear TPM strategy and also it has been found that the lack of training and personal development is the main cause of this problem. In addition, employees are found not to be motivated as a result of the lack of a management strategy and reward structure.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the findings, a new framework for TPM has been developed. This TPM strategy could be implemented in other Libyan factories as a result of the potential similarities in the cultural and environmental aspects.

Practical implications

The current challenges have been identified and comparative analysis is developed into a model for the implementation of TPM.

Originality/value

The paper highlights limitations in some of the cement factories in Libya in relation to TPM and production strategies. The importance of adopting a realistic strategy and framework by managers is discussed. This work is developed as collaboration between academia and one of the Libyan cement companies to solve productivity problems and develop a strategic framework of TPM for improving Libyan industry.
ERP adoption in Chinese small enterprise: an exploratory case study
Authors: Li Yulong
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine a Chinese small enterprise's failed attempt to adopt enterprise resource planning (ERP) and to identify the critical success factors for these type of projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Information was collected through multiple site visits and semi‐structured interviews with key staff of the ERP project, as well as examination of relevant company documentations.

Findings

The study identified nine critical success factors and discussed how these factors affected ERP adoption in a small farming feed manufacturing company.

Originality/value

Considering very few ERP project failures are recorded in the literature and the majority of existing ERP research in China was in the context of large state‐owned or foreign‐invested companies, this paper represents an early effort to explore the reasons why ERP adoption failed in the case study company. It provides valuable lessons to Chinese small enterprises on some of the common pitfalls they may encounter when pursuing ERP.
The use of performance measurement system in logistics change process
Authors: Hisano Barbosa Danilo , Andreotti Musetti Marcel
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how performance measurement systems (PMSs) can be used to support the key elements of the logistics change process.

Design/methodology/approach

The research analytical framework is based upon the review of the mainstream literature on PMS and its use in the organizational change process. Two case studies in high logistical performing companies from the manufacturing sector were undertaken to describe how the use of PMS supports their logistics change process.

Findings

The results from both case studies showed that the use of PMS can support all elements of the logistics change process, which is triggered by the monitoring and analysis of the current situation, its management and finally the compilation and interpretation of performance results. This last stage is responsible for reviewing performance measures and providing feedback for further change and improvement initiatives.

Originality/value

This paper presents the first empirical analysis of the role played by the use of PMS in the logistics change process in high logistical performing companies. Furthermore, it is the first research to investigate logistics performance measurement from the perspective of logistics excellence and change management models to propose a guide to measure performance and lead change process in this area.
TFP growth, technological progress and efficiencies change
Authors: Hamit‐Haggar Mahamat
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply a stochastic Frontier production model to Canadian manufacturing industries, to investigate the sources of total factor productivity (TFP) growth. As productivity (growth) appears to be the single most important determinant of a nation's living standard or its level of real income over long periods of time, it is important to better understand the sources of productivity growth. In Canada, TFP growth is the major contributing factor (relative to changes in capital intensity) to labour productivity growth, particularly in manufacturing sector. However, the TFP gap is also the main source of labour productivity gap between Canada and other industrialized (Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development) countries in recent years.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a stochastic Frontier production model is applied to Canadian manufacturing industries to investigate the sources of TFP growth. Using a comprehensive panel data set of 18 industries over the period 1990‐2005 and the approach proposed by Kumbhakar et al. and Kumbhakar and Lovell, TFP growth is decomposed into technological progress (TP), changes in technical efficiency, changes in allocative efficiency and scale effects.

Findings

The decomposition reveals that during the period under study, TP has been the main driving force of productivity growth, while negative efficiency changes observed in certain industries have contributed to reduce average productivity growth. In addition, the empirical results show that research and development expenditure, information and communications technology investment, as well as trade openness exert a positive impact on productivity growth through the channel of efficiency gains.

Originality/value

The author argues that the decomposition carried out in this study may be very helpful to elicit the correct diagnosis of Canada's productivity problem and develop effective policies to reverse the situation, thereby reducing Canada's lagging productivity gap.
Student uses of technology in learning: two lenses
Authors: McNeill Margot , Ming Diao Ming , Gosper Maree
Published: May 2011

Purpose

In their 2007 article, “Miranda in the brave new world: learning in a Web 2.0 millennium”, Barnes and Tynan tell the story of an imaginary British student who uses technology seamlessly to stay connected almost 24×7 with friends, peers and teachers in a global learning environment. Whether she is representative of the majority of university students is a topic of debate in the literature. This paper aims to explore how students use technologies in their everyday lives, whether on‐ or off‐campus, to support their learning.

Design/methodology/approach

There were two phases of the study; a photo ethnography to enable a detailed exploration of ten students' technology uses and then a university‐wide survey in which 1,104 student responses were gathered.

Findings

The findings of both phases of the study suggest that students' use of technologies for their learning and in other facets of their lives is largely conservative, with a predominance of familiar and easy‐to‐use tools such as e‐mail, text and mobile phone. For their learning, their preference is for tools to provide access, efficiency and connectedness.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the development of a better understanding of student issues in the context of their overall IT experience at the university, suggesting a more holistic approach to designing technology infrastructure. There are also insights into the power of mixed methodologies in research, with significant parallels between the qualitative and quantitative results.
No pain, no gain? Teachers implementing ICT in instruction
Authors: Sipilä Keijo
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the differences between 99 Finnish primary and secondary teachers in their frequency and nature of information and communication technology (ICT) use, levels of ICT implementation, functional uses and perceived values about educational use of ICT.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected with an online questionnaire and analyzed with expectancy‐value theory as a theoretical background.

Findings

Teachers use ICT mostly for administrative tasks. Teachers' methods of utilizing student‐centred approaches in their teaching, proficiency levels in relation to ICT, and their self‐reported stage of ICT integration into teaching strongly depend on how much ICT teachers use in their teaching activities. Primary teachers value utilizing ICT in teaching more positively than secondary teachers even though secondary teachers reported being more active in the use of ICT in various functional uses. Pedagogical thinking in educational institutes has not advanced in parallel with technological advances; teachers in basic education are still using ICT mainly for informational, organizational, evaluative, and lesson‐planning activities instead of communicative, activating, creative, and expressive purposes.

Originality/value

This study was able to produce further evidence to support the claim that providing teachers with computer technology will lead them to integrate computers into teaching activities, which in turn will give them more support in their perceived proficiency at computer use and help them to advance in the stage of computer integration.
Numbers, words and KYC: Knowing Your Country and Knowing Your Corruption
Authors: Doig Alan
Published: May 2011

Purpose

International business is under increasing legal pressure to ensure compliance with legal and other standards on corruption, and thus needs to undertake due diligence on corruption. This paper aims to emphasise that existing sources of information on corruption in specific countries are often limited for interpretative purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a number of country studies that look at the causes and legal and institutional responses, as well as other data sources from international agencies, the paper suggests that no one indicator can substantively alert business to the levels and types of corruption in a specific country.

Findings

As a preliminary conclusion, the paper proposes that business must undertake more substantive work to understand corruption in a particular country. It also indicates that qualitative sources may be more productive than quantitative sources in providing information that is of use to business in undertaking such work.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the need to stress the need to study corruption in a country context.
Portfolio use for documentation of personal and professional growth gained outside academia
Authors: Burkšaitienė Nijolė , Teresevičienė Margarita , Kaminskienė Ligija
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the issue of bridging the gap between the labour market and university through recognition of non‐academic learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The purpose is achieved by proposing portfolio use for documenting adults' personal and professional growth as part of their learning outcomes gained through non‐academic learning, including informal learning, work‐based learning and non‐formal learning that occurred outside one's workplace. To gain insights into the use of the portfolio for documenting adults' personal and professional development through different learning environments qualitative/content analysis was used, with the focus on the descriptions of adults' learning outcomes according to Carter's taxonomy. The study involved 11 portfolios drafted by candidates having claims for academic credits in a management study programme at Mykolas Romeris University in Vilnius, Lithuania. A learning format combining a portfolio development seminar followed by online consultations was created by the university; it was aimed at supporting candidates seeking academic recognition of their learning outcomes gained outside academia in exploring their non‐academic learning experience.

Findings

A structured portfolio and, more specifically, the portfolio based on Carter's taxonomy used as a tool for empowering the candidates has highlighted three important aspects of their learning claim, i.e. personal qualities, skills and knowledge as acquired in the non‐academic environment and built the basis for proof of personal and professional development in line with the requirements of existing university modules.

Research limitations/implications

The research is not intended to compare the taxonomy of personal qualities, skills and knowledge against any specific curriculum requirements; rather, it should be subject to further discussion. The research is based on one of the very first attempts to introduce a validation procedure of non‐academic learning and thus bears limitations of a pilot project.

Practical implications

A clearly structured portfolio of learning outcomes enables adults to highlight important aspects of their learning claim and match their proof of learning in line with the university requirements for academic credit.

Originality/value

While portfolio has been frequently identified as an effective tool for learning, assessment and professional development in higher education, little known research has focused on the use of portfolio as a tool for documenting adults' learning outcomes gained outside academia.
Subjective personal introspection in action‐oriented research
Authors: Rod Michel
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the rationale and use of subjective personal introspection (SPI) as a methodological approach.

Design/methodology/approach

SPI was utilised to develop a “narrative” of the author's own “action‐oriented” research experience within a multisector collaborative venture established by 13 partner organisations representing the academic, pharmaceutical industry and government sectors. The “confessional” stance that the study assumes describes some of the perceived tensions enacted during field work. The SPI approach is theoretical and reflective, as well as descriptive and analytical, in reporting the antecedents, actions, and outcomes in action‐oriented research.

Findings

Because the focus of the paper is subjective, personal, and introspective, it does not illustrate “findings” about multisector collaboration, but rather reflections and insights about the way the research was conducted.

Practical implications

The paper widens the forum for incorporating SPI beyond the consumer behaviour context to the context in which action‐oriented researchers incorporate introspection in their study of organisations.

Originality/value

The paper goes some way to bridging the gap between SPI and reflexivity (if there is indeed a gap) and it causes qualitative, action‐oriented organisational researchers to contemplate a number of questions: what is the role of the researcher; what is the source of their authority to narrate and what are they authorised to recount; and what are the consequences of this?
Promoting cooperation in health care: creating endogenous institutions
Authors: Liff Roy
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate if a rational perspective can be used to interpret cooperation problems in a health care organisation. This perspective is proposed as a complementary perspective to the cultural perspective that dominates as an explanation of cooperation problems. The focus of the research is multiprofessional teamwork in contemporary Swedish health care.

Design/methodology/approach

Four cases studies, in which the cooperation in daily work is described, are used to test the two perspectives. The cases concern the cooperative methods health care professionals use when work conditions depend upon an internal norm of mutual cooperation. Although the research is not designed to evaluate the two perspectives, it permits the rational explanations of cooperation problems to be compared with possibly cultural explanations.

Findings

The investigation concludes that health care cooperation problems may be primarily explained by the rational perspective, and only secondarily by the cultural perspective. The actors can be seen as underinstitutionalised in the sense they have not yet developed the intra‐organisational norms of cooperation needed for the provision of customised health care.

Originality/value

The paper provides a complementary explanatory framework of cooperation problems based on actors' perceptions of their self‐interests as producers. The examples of uncooperative behaviour reflect two forms of the free rider problem that Ostrom describes as a Common Pool Resource Problem. Management has to prove that cooperation is beneficial to the team members and has to promote a cooperative team spirit by instilling a common understanding of the concept of cooperation.
The gendering of organizational research methods
Authors: Ashmos Plowman Donde , Smith Anne D.
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role that gender plays in choice of research methods.

Design/methodology/approach

The publication patterns of men and women in four prominent management journals over two decades were analyzed in three North American journals – Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly, and Organization Science – and one European journal – Journal of Management Studies. The authors coded the research methodology– qualitative or non‐qualitative – and author gender for each article from 1986 through 2008, other than Organization Science which began in 1990. The authors also coded the stage of career for the journals whose author bios provided this level of detail and conducted chi‐square tests of the gender authorship between qualitative and non‐qualitative journals.

Findings

It was observed that women are over‐represented and men are under‐represented in published qualitative studies as compared to non‐qualitative authors. This trend remained steady across the study period. As well for each journal, this relationship was significant. Quantitative findings about trends in authorship of qualitative research were connected to three theoretical perspectives that help explain these findings – information processing theory, separate vs connected ways of knowing, and social identity theory.

Originality/value

Management scholars work in a profession that rarely speaks of itself in terms of gender. One may control for gender or explore gender implications in studies of organizational behavior, but gender is not spoken of as a factor that influences the tools used to study organizations. In this study, the authors use quantitative methods to address trends in gender and type of methodology in published papers across two decades and four academic journals.
“My heart want to say something”: exploring ELL vocabulary use through e‐mail
Authors: Hwang Sung‐on , Piazza Carolyn L. , Pierce Michael J. , Bryce Sara M.
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on one high school English‐language‐learner's (ELL) breadth and depth of vocabulary as he communicated with his teacher through e‐mail across geographic boundaries for over 18 months.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors began by separating 358 e‐mails into three time periods (first beginning, second middle, and third end) to calculate breadth using lexical density (type‐token ratios). Then, we sampled e‐mails based on personal and impersonal topics within these time periods and linguistically analyzed them for lexical cohesion, semantic usage, and derivational morphology. Interviews with participants before and after the analysis served as member checks.

Findings

The quantitative results showed a steady improvement in the breadth of the student's vocabulary over time. Qualitative analyses revealed four major uses of vocabulary within the context of e‐mail and the teacher‐student relationship.

Practical implications

Given our findings, we offer educators insights into ELL strategies and vocabulary assessment, not only with e‐mail but in all written communication.

Social implications

A social writing tool like e‐mail can be useful for learning English in a safe, non‐threatening environment. Moreover, a trusting social relationship between communicators that develops over time can expedite the language learning process.

Originality/value

Very few studies have looked at the strategic ways ELL students use vocabulary to learn English through e‐mailing.
Audio and video reflections to promote social justice
Authors: Boske Christa
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how 15 graduate students enrolled in a US school leadership preparation program understand issues of social justice and equity through a reflective process utilizing audio and/or video software.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on the tradition of grounded theory. The researcher collected 225 weekly audio/video reflections in addition to field notes and participants' written narratives.

Findings

Findings from the data analysis indicate participants perceive the use of audio and video as a valuable tool to increase their awareness and responses to addressing oppressive school practices as leaders for social justice.

Originality/value

Those who prepare school leaders might consider the use of audio/video reflections as an effective tool to examine the evolution of school leadership identities in an effort to interrupt oppressive school practices.
Market or geopolitics? The Europeanization of EU's energy corridors
Authors: Escribano Francés Gonzalo
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore an energy strategy for the European Union (EU) that could integrate the tensions between geopolitics and the market in a coherent and consistent external EU energy policy.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach consists of combining the theoretical framework of international political economy and Europeanization to European energy corridors.

Findings

The article finds that most qualitative energy security scenarios can be conceived as applications of international political economy paradigms. Its main result is to conceptually develop a geo‐economic strategy consisting on the Europeanization of EU's external energy corridors along its own energy regulations and standards.

Research limitations/implications

The article explores a distinct hybrid scenario, the Europeanization of energy corridors, which could be instrumental in overcoming the apparent dilemma between EU's market and geopolitical‐based scenarios.

Originality/value

The original contribution of the article lies in the application of international political economy and Europeanization theories to energy security scenarios, and the inclusion of governments' preferences in the process of hedging market and geopolitical scenarios.
McGregor's legacy: the evolution and current application of Theory Y management
Authors: Sorensen Peter F. , Minahan Matt
Published: May 2011

Purpose

This paper is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Douglas McGregor's The Human Side of Enterprise. The paper identifies major management approaches cited by McGregor as being examples of his Theory Y management principles. The paper traces the historical development of each of these approaches and their application today. The paper also addresses two major contemporary issues, namely, the relation of Theory Y management to today's positive change theories based on social construction, and the question of the universal/global applicability of Theory Y.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews McGregor's original article, then traces the historical development and application of McGregor's major concepts through the identification and review of relevant historical and contemporary literature.

Findings

Major findings provide strong evidence that McGregor's Theory Y concepts and related management approaches have grown in application, are closely related to appreciative inquiry and social construction. There is also evidence that McGregor's concept of management may be universal and has application across national cultural boundaries.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that McGregor's concepts have widespread acceptance and application today, and have been systematically and empirically related to organizational success and effectiveness. More important, however, are the enormous implications related to the growing body of empirical evidence that these concepts have universal application considering the continued movement toward globalization.

Originality/value

Although well known, McGregor's Theory Y management has received little systematic efforts at identifying its historical growth and contemporary applications, particularly in terms of contemporary issues relating it to appreciative inquiry, social construction and universal applicability.
Organizational culture as a moderator of the personality‐managerial competency relationship
Authors: Chuttipattana Nirachon , Shamsudin Faridahwati Mohd.
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating or contingent effect of organizational culture on the relationship between the personality and managerial competencies of primary care managers in Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey involving distribution of questionnaires to 358 rural primary care managers in southern Thailand was conducted. Self‐reported measures on personality, managerial competency and organizational culture constructs, adopted from previous research, were employed. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and hierarchical multiple regressions were used for data analysis.

Findings

Humanistic, prescriptive, and leadership culture moderated significantly the relationship between conscientiousness and specific dimensions of managerial competency, i.e. partnership, collaboration, and visionary leadership. In particular, the study found that managers seemed to be demonstrating the highest level of such competencies when they scored high on conscientiousness and worked in an environment that emphasizes a high humanistic culture, high leadership culture, and low prescriptive culture.

Research limitations/implications

The findings may be generalizable to any people working in primary care who have a responsibility to engage people in their own care. Further research could be done in other countries to see whether this conclusion is in fact correct. It would also be useful to research whether the findings apply to other health and social areas.

Practical implications

Specific personality traits have an influence on managerial competency within certain organizational cultures. A humanistic and leadership culture should be fostered in primary health care units. Focusing on developing conscientiousness in managers should not be overlooked. Relevant training development programs may be important.

Originality/value

This study argues that the effects of personality on managerial competency are moderated by organizational culture. The findings will be useful to policy makers and those responsible in human development, particularly, health care managers.
Authentic and congruent leadership providing excellent work environment in palliative care
Authors: Johansson Gunilla , Sandahl Christer , Andershed Birgitta
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe the perceptions of registered nurses (RNs), enrolled nurses (ENs), and leaders (i.e. the first‐line nurse manager, F‐LNM and the substitute F‐LNM) as to what characterises an excellent work environment in a palliative care unit and the involvement of leadership in that environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using two separate instruments: a questionnaire, group interviews with nurses and leaders, and documents at a palliative care unit. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the material.

Findings

According to the participants, the most important component at the palliative care unit was to accomplish the vision of good palliative care. Congruence in leadership, mature group functioning, adequate organisational structures and resources, and comprehensive and shared meaningfulness were all identified as essential components for fulfilling the vision.

Originality/value

This study indicates that fulfilling the vision of good palliative care may function as a buffer against stress in such a workplace
Mentoring in the twenty‐first century
Authors: Bamford Christine
Published: May 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to describe NHS Wales' strategic intent to increase leadership capability through mentoring. The pressure on budgets and geography forced the adoption of a technology solution to reduce time away from the workplace and travel costs.

Design/methodology/approach

The design was based on the following: reflective questioning; Kolb learning design and double loop learning; mentoring competences to facilitate self‐assessment and personal development; blended use of face‐to‐face and technology devices; measurable impact on job; responsiveness to generational needs and social networking.

Findings

The evaluation studies by Strathclyde University Business School indicated the following key findings: more e‐mentoring should be available at all levels; gave opportunity for reflection despite pressures of work/life; increased skill sets; supported behavioural change and confidence; reduced time away from work and minimised travel; facilitated fluency with technology.

Practical implications

Although the model was based on traditional learning models, the use of technology in mentoring was not well researched. The author and team undertook proof of concept trials as a practical way of generating own research material.

Social implications

The paper delivers improvements to patient care.

Originality/value

The e‐mentoring concept has received many awards for technology innovation and originality. NHS Wales is able to put a monetary value on the reduced cost of delivering e‐mentoring versus traditional. However, the real value is the increased skill sets for health care leaders/professionals and improvements to patient care.
Competitive information logistics
Authors: Klaas Jagersma Pieter
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the specific components of effective information logistics.

Methodology/design/approach

A total of 44 interviews were carried out with executives responsible for information logistics‐related issues such as IT/IS, knowledge/information management, R&D, purchasing/supply chain management, operations management and market research.

Findings

The journey towards successful information logistics can be divided into phases, the main phases and steps of which are outlined in the article. The research indicates ten key tasks which the survey companies tended to do effectively, and which – in combination – represent the building blocks of excellence in information logistics.

Research limitations

A selection has been made of 20 companies who enjoy a reputation for excellence in information logistics. Consequently, the results of the study do not represent a large statistically valid sample, but should be considered as interpretations and considered opinions.

Practical implications

Information logistics helps to improve processes, promote employee learning, improve the speed and quality of services to customers, underpin new forms of commercial activity, and, can go even further by generating entirely new value propositions for customers. Companies such as Goldman Sachs, Merck, HSBC and Bain & Company thrive through successful information logistics strategies.

Originality/value

In today's fast changing markets, the key to “better” is to bring the full force of an organization's information to bear on the effort. Information logistics as a new management technique helps integrate, coordinate and distribute information to where it can best be applied.
Executive directors' contracts: poor performance rewarded
Authors: Dandira Martin
Published: May 2011

Purpose

To help companies find ways of reducing costs when an executive director leaves an organisation because of poor performance or at the end of a contract.

Design/methodology/approach

The author has conducted research in organizations that have executives on contracts for three to five years, identifies how executive directors are heavily rewarded when their contract ends voluntarily or involuntarily. Researches in organisations have shown that if you sign a contract as an executive director there is no incentive for excellent performance because most contracts of executives are designed in such a way that poor performance can be rewarded indirectly.

Findings

Very few executives in Zimbabwe work through their contracts up to the end especially in parastatals due to what is perceived as poor performance but they are always met with a “golden handshake” as they call it though they have not contributed much except the demise of the organisation.

Practical implications

Ways are provided for organisations to follow and try to mitigate the costs of paying executives when they leave organisations unceremoniously or when their contracts end without renewal.

Originality/value

This paper gives practical advice from situations in organizations and helps organisations to take into account the costs implications involved when an executive director leaves the organisation before the end of contract or poor performance.
The political economy of revenue pressure and tax collection efficiency
Authors: Das Satya P.
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a political‐economy model to show how political imperatives lead to reforms in administering direct tax collection.

Design/methodology/approach

A static, political‐gain approach was used to model employment in the tax collection sector and then the implications of an increase in revenue pressure were derived through a comparative statics method.

Findings

As revenue pressure increases, the “political value” in terms of granting employment falls and thus efficiency resulting from purely political motives decreases.

Originality/value

This paper is an original work.
Club‐convergence and polarization of states
Authors: Kar Sabyasachi , Jha Debajit , Kateja Alpana
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the dynamics of the distribution of per capita income of Indian states in the post‐reform period, in order to identify trends towards convergence‐club formation, polarization or stratification during this period.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt the “distribution dynamics” framework that involves estimating kernel density functions, stochastic kernels and ergodic distributions in order to identify these trends.

Findings

The results show that there is polarization in India in the post‐reform period and this is due to the contrary growth dynamics of the middle‐income states resulting in the “vanishing middle” of the distribution.

Originality/value

This is the first study that highlights the contrary growth dynamics among the middle‐income states as the driving force behind the polarization of Indian states in the post‐reform period.