bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Editorial
Authors: Ogliastri Enrique
Published: November 2014

This issue includes five contributions from six countries; four of these are revised versions of the best works presented at the Business Association of Latin American Studies Congress (BALAS), in 2012. The first article is a study of the effectiveness of price promotion strategies in retail chains across Chile; a topic of growing importance in Latin America. The second is a study of the literature on the accounting treatment of the decision to buy or lease with option to buy, which is a topic that reflects international changes in accounting practices that will take place as from 2013. The third contribution is a case study of the strategy of Miss Venezuela, an organisation of the Cisneros group that has become an icon of overwhelming success in international beauty contests. The fourth article narrates the difficulties faced by a Brazilian restaurant chain in their internationalisation process through the master franchises concept. The last contribution is the Britt case study, telling the story of a Costa Rican company founded by an innovating North American businessman. The article recounts the company's interesting process of development in international business and the complex strategic decisions it faced when it came to the subsequent steps to be taken in international markets. Although all the articles are in English, Academia is multilingual. As from 2013, all its articles will be available in their original language as well as in English.

Este número incluye cinco contribuciones originadas en seis países, cuatro de las cuales son versiones revisadas de los mejores trabajos presentados en el congreso de la Business Association of Latin American Studies (Balas) de 2012. La primera contribución es un estudio sobre la efectividad de las estrategias de promoción de precios en cadenas detallistas en Chile, un tema de creciente importancia en América Latina. La segunda es un estudio de la literatura sobre el tratamiento contable de la decisión de comprar o de realizar un arrendamiento con opción de compra (lease), tema que refleja el cambio internacional en las prácticas contables que ocurrirá a partir de 2013. La tercera contribución es el caso de la estrategia de Miss Venezuela, la organización del grupo Cisneros que se ha constituido en un icono en Venezuela por su éxito avasallador en concursos internacionales de belleza. El cuarto es un caso que narra las vicisitudes de una cadena brasileña de restaurantes con la internacionalización mediante el concepto de máster de marca. La última contribución es el caso Grupo Britt N.V., empresa fundada por un empresario estadounidense en Curazao y Costa Rica, que ha tenido un interesante desarrollo de negocios internacionales y se enfrenta a decisiones estratégicas complejas sobre sus siguientes pasos en los mercados mundiales. Aunque todos los trabajos están en inglés, Academia es multilenguaje. A partir de 2013 todos los artículos de la revista están disponibles en inglés, además de su idioma original.
Organic products in Brazil: from an ideological orientation to a market choice
Authors: Dalcin Dionéia , R. Leal de Souza A^ngela , B. de Freitas João , D. Padula Ântonio , Dewes Homero
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the evolution of the production and commercialisation of organic products in Brazil since 1980.

Design/methodology/approach

– The literature review in this study assesses scientific papers, studies conducted by Brazilian and international institutions, and trade news related to the evolution of the production and commercialisation of organic products. The analysis is based on theories of consumer behaviour and competitive strategies.

Findings

– The results provide evidence that the organic food market in Brazil was initially based on social ideology and a movement that was opposed to conventional farming; however, since 1980, the supply and demand patterns have changed. The commercialisation of organic products since the turn of the decade has expanded beyond ideological motivation and into the Brazilian agribusiness sector. The main reasons for this expansion are changes in preferences by the Brazilian consumer, a substantial number of whom have become more concerned with the nutritional value and quality of the food they eat. This study also demonstrates that in Brazil, as well as in other countries, organic products have become a market trend.

Research limitations/implications

– The limited research material concerning the ideological aspects of production and trading of organic products is a factor to be considered with respect to this study.

Originality/value

– The presentation of comparative elements for two phases of organic agricultural development in Brazil, especially by the establishment of comparative elements, provide value and originality to this study.
Foodbank of Western Australia's healthy food for all
Authors: Meredith Butcher Lucy , Rose Chester Miranda , Michelle Aberle Leisha , Jo-Ann Bobongie Vanessa , Davies Christina , Louise Godrich Stephanie , Alan Keith Milligan Rex , Tartaglia Jennifer , Maree Thorne Louise , Begley Andrea
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– In Australia, the Foodbank of Western Australia (Foodbank WA) has a reputation for being at the forefront of health promotion. The purpose of this paper is to describe Foodbank WA's innovative food bank plus approach of incorporating healthy lifestyle initiatives (i.e. nutrition and physical activity education) into its core food bank business, so as to target priority issues such as food insecurity, poor food literacy, overweight, obesity, poor nutrition and physical inactivity.

Design/methodology/approach

– A case study approach was utilised to explore Foodbank WA's Healthy Food for All® (HFFA) strategy. HFFA is a comprehensive state wide, school and community based strategy, including the School Breakfast Programme, Food Sensations® and Choose to Move initiatives, designed to promote healthy lifestyles to low socioeconomic and vulnerable groups – a major target group of food banks.

Findings

– Since its inception in 2007, the delivery of food, education and resources has increased across all of Foodbank WA's HFFA initiatives. Evaluation results from feedback surveys demonstrate the success of these interventions to positively impact upon food security, health and wellbeing of participants.

Originality/value

– HFFA is a unique, effective and novel strategy that addresses a number of health and nutrition issues. Food banks are well placed to deliver food literacy and healthy lifestyle initiatives. Foodbank WA's holistic approach and demonstrated success provides other food banks with a best practice model and knowledge base for the development of similar health promotion strategies and interventions.
Surplus food recovery and donation in Italy: the upstream process
Authors: Garrone Paola , Melacini Marco , Perego Alessandro
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper offers quantitative evidence on how surplus food, i.e. safe food that is not sold to the intended customers, is generated and recovered within Italian manufacturing and retail firms. The purpose of this paper is to enlighten the process through which the food supply chain firms come to donate surplus food-to-food banks.

Design/methodology/approach

– Surplus food and recoverability were defined as the key terms of the problem. In total, 12 exploratory case studies were conducted to segment the manufacturing and retail sectors, to assess recoverability in each segment, and to establish the protocols for descriptive case studies. A multiple case-study approach was used and 83 firms were investigated.

Findings

– The primary source of surplus food is shown to result from products reaching the internal sell-by date, i.e. the date by which manufacturers and warehouses must supply perishable products. Donation to food banks is found to be a relevant management practice in the ambient and chilled manufacturing segments and at retail distribution centres, while frozen food companies and retail stores are found to rely nearly exclusively on waste disposal.

Research limitations/implications

– The degree to which our findings are specific to Italy is an issue to investigate. Future research should target surplus food management in farming and food services, and assess the cost effectiveness of alternative management channels.

Practical implications

– The paper highlights the changes required to increase the amount of food recovered by food banks. It also summarises the steps for establishing a structured procedure for managing surplus food within firms.

Originality/value

– The paper offers quantitative evidence on a relatively untapped yet socially relevant topic, i.e. the upstream process of food recovery and donation.
Parents’ experiences with hiding vegetables as a strategy for improving children's diets
Authors: Pescud Melanie , Pettigrew Simone
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the practice of hiding vegetables among low socioeconomic parents.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative longitudinal study involving 37 low socioeconomic Australian parents with at least one overweight or obese child aged five to nine years. Data were obtained with the use of interviews, focus groups, and self-introspections.

Findings

– Identified issues relating to the practice of hiding vegetables included: how parents manage hiding vegetables, children's presence in the kitchen during vegetable preparation, the employment of deception when hiding vegetables, the use of cookbooks and blogs, and the alternative views of parents not strongly in favour of hiding vegetables.

Research limitations/implications

– Hiding vegetables is a practice used by some parents to increase their children's vegetable intake. Children who are unaware of hidden vegetables in their meals are potentially missing the opportunity to develop an appreciation for vegetables and learn about vegetable preparation and cooking.

Practical implications

– The findings are relevant to dietitians, general practitioners, and other health professionals providing advice to parents on appropriate child-feeding strategies.

Originality/value

– This appears to be the first study to provide an in-depth account of low socioeconomic parents’ use of hiding vegetables to facilitate higher levels of vegetable consumption.
Social representation of new foods among European students
Authors: Mäkiniemi Jaana-Piia , Bäckström Anna , Ahola Salla , Pieri Michelle , Pirttilä-Backman Anna-Maija
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to measure how three components of social representations (SRs) of new foods, Adherence to technology, Adherence to natural food, and Food as enjoyment, relate to Finnish and Italian university students’ religiousness, country of origin, sex, and field of study.

Design/methodology/approach

– Italian and Finnish university students (n=564) completed a 27-item scale of SRs of new foods. A series of analysis of covariance was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

– As expected, technology students scored higher on Adherence to technology than social science students, and women and religious persons scored higher on Adherence to natural food than men and non-religious persons. Unexpectedly, Finns scored higher on Food as an enjoyment than Italians.

Originality/value

– This study illustrates the usefulness of SR theory for studying food-related thinking, and throws more light on how religiousness, professional field, and sex are connected to the three components of SR of new foods in two European countries and food cultures.
SWOT analysis of the truffles market in Greece
Authors: Tsitsipati Vaia , Athanasios Christodoulou
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the suitability of Greece as a possible market for truffles. Primary data were collected and analysed in a systematic and detailed way to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of this prospective market development.

Design/methodology/approach

– A multi-stage survey was conducted using qualitative and quantitative research methods. The data obtained were analysed using the SWOT analysis method.

Findings

– The survey highlighted the market characteristics of truffles in Greece. These were sorted into four categories: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks. Results show that truffles have an attractive mix of qualities; however, issues such as the lack of intermediary and customer knowledge and the limited communication of their benefits need to be overcome.

Research limitations/implications

– Findings showed that the use of SWOT analysis in specialized food products provides marketers and professionals’ insight and guidance into designing their marketing activities.

Practical implications

– Truffles production or trading requires strong commitment by professionals who want to succeed in this market field.

Social implications

– Truffles market growth could contribute to the social welfare through the creation of supplemental income, the cultivation of arid fields and the conservation of natural resources due to their environmentally friendly manner of production.

Originality/value

– For the first time, SWOT analysis is used to investigate the factors that shape the market of specialized products in the food sector.
Internal and external networking behavior
Authors: Y. McCallum Shelly , L. Forret Monica , Wolff Hans-Georg
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships of internal and external networking behaviors of managers and professionals with their affective, continuance, and normative commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were obtained from 335 managers and professionals of a health system who completed a survey on networking behavior and organizational commitment. Correlation analyses and multiple regressions were performed to test our hypotheses.

Findings

– The results showed that networking behavior focussed within an individual's organization was positively related with affective commitment and normative commitment. Networking with individuals outside of an individual's organization showed a significant negative relationship with normative commitment. Contrary to expectations, networking externally was not related to affective commitment, and neither internal nor external networking behaviors were related to continuance commitment.

Research limitations/implications

– Because data were collected at a single point in time, no statements can be made about causality. Future research is needed assessing both internal and external networking behavior and the three types of organizational commitment across time to help determine direction of causality or whether reciprocal relationships exist.

Practical implications

– Organizations that encourage internal networking behaviors may see individuals who are more connected with their colleagues and affectively committed to their organizations. However, encouraging external networking behavior may result in a drop in normative commitment as individuals might identify more with their profession than their employer.

Originality/value

– Although previous research has shown that networking behavior is related to job performance and career success measures, the research extends the literature by investigating whether networking is related to attitudinal variables such as organizational commitment. The paper explores whether differential relationships exist between internal and external networking behavior with three types of organizational commitment.
Learning to stay employable
Authors: Emanuel Froehlich Dominik , Beausaert Simon , Segers Mien , Gerken Maike
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of chronological age and formal and informal learning activities on employability. Furthermore, indirect effects of age on employability via learning activities were tested.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors conducted quantitative, cross-sectional survey research (n=780) in three Dutch and Austrian organizations to study the relationship between chronological age, formal and informal learning activities, and employability using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– The authors find that both formal and informal learning increase employees’ employability. However, each type of learning contributes to different components of employability. Additionally, the authors find indirect effects of chronological age on employability via formal learning.

Research limitations/implications

– The results question the focus on chronological age in organizational and political decision making and contribute new insights for the management of an increasingly older workforce.

Practical implications

– The findings question the predominant use of chronological age as decisive criterion in organizational and national policies and call for closer examination of stereotypes against older employees. Employees should be supported in pursuing learning activities – irrespective of their chronological age. The implications of limiting employees’ access to formal learning activities may limit their future employability. Individual employees, however, are in control of their informal learning activities, and this is a very important lever to maintain and develop employability.

Social implications

– Given the increasing dependency of social welfare systems on older people's active participation in the labor market, this study stresses that it is not chronological ageper sethat affects people's employability. This diverges from the way of how chronological age is used in policy making.

Originality/value

– This study contributes further evidence for the relationships of age and formal and informal learning on employability. Additionally, it extends previous literature by examining different effects on different facets of employability, criticizing the prevalent use of chronological age, and investigating potential mediation effects.
National standards: improving patient rights and safety of health services
Authors: O’Farrell Lisa , Byrne Michael , Moore Linda
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– Regulation is increasingly being used in healthcare to influence the behaviour of healthcare organisations. Since 2006, a key change in Ireland has been the introduction of national regulatory standards in mental health services under new legislation. Little empirical evidence, however, exists on the effects of regulation. The purpose of this paper is to examine the perceived impact of standards at patient level as well as on professional and organisational practice in services.

Design/methodology/approach

– An anonymous online survey methodology using a self-devised questionnaire instrument was employed. A national cohort of service managers and multi-disciplinary mental health professionals were asked their views on the introduction of standards.

Findings

– A total of 185 individuals responded to the survey, yielding a response rate of 38 per cent. Substantial improvements were reported to have taken place across services with the most notable changes being improved safeguarding of patients’ rights and increased safety of care. Additionally, major changes were reported in professional working with new topics being discussed at management meetings and new functions being incorporated into certain professionals’ roles.

Practical implications

– Standards can change behaviour at several levels across healthcare organisations, although professional groups differ in their views on the degree of this impact.

Originality value

– To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first evaluation of the impact of national regulatory standards in healthcare in Ireland. This study lends support to the use of standards to enhance patient rights and the safety of services. The results provide useful direction for policy makers, regulators, and service providers.
A 2.5-D frequency-domain nonlinear computer model of coupled-cavity traveling wave tubes
Authors: Bai Chun-Jiang , Li Jian-Qing , Hu Yu-Lu
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a 2.5-dimensional (2.5-D) frequency-domain nonlinear computer model for the beam-wave interaction of coupled-cavity traveling wave tubes (CC-TWTs).

Design/methodology/approach

– MKK (proposed by Malykhin, Konnov, and Komarov) equivalent circuit model is used to describe the coupled-cavity slow-wave structure. And the losses are taken into account in the MKK equivalent circuit. Instead of one-dimensional (1-D) disk model, the electron beam is divided into a set of discrete rays and the electron dynamics are treated using the three-dimensional (3-D) Lorentz force equations.

Findings

– The simulated result obtained show that the computer model can give a good predict for CC-TWTs in V-band.

Practical implications

– The computer model is capable of treating nonlinear problems. Compared with particle-in-cell simulation, the 2.5-D frequency-domain computer model spends less time. Besides, the 3-D electron trajectory can be used to design high-efficiency collectors for CC-TWTs.

Originality/value

– The computer model is able to simulate nonlinear problems of coupled-cavity TWT faster.
Optimal design of synchronous reluctance machine
Authors: Cai Haiwei , Guan Bo , Xu Longya , Choi Woongchul
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present optimally designed synchronous reluctance machine (SynRM) to demonstrate the feasibility of eliminating the use of rare earth permanent magnet (PM) in electric machine for vehicle traction applications.

Design/methodology/approach

– A typical rare earth interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine is used as the benchmark to conduct the optimal design study. Based on the flux distribution, major changes are made to the rotor lamination design. Enhanced torque production and lower torque ripple are specifically targeted as the two main objectives of the proposed design approach.

Findings

– As a result, the optimally designed SynRM can achieve performance very close to that of the benchmark PM machine with a potential for further improvement.

Originality/value

– Discussions of IPM replacement by optimally designed SynRM in electrical and hybrid electrical vehicles are given in terms of performance and cost.
Optimal design of low-cost IPM AC motor
Authors: Shen Jianxin , Wang Kang , Shi Dan , Wang Canfei , Jin Mengjia
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the optimal design of a low-cost interior permanent magnet (IPM) alternating current (AC) motor. It examines the influence of the permanent magnet (PM) materials, and proposes a simple and practical method of optimizing the air-gap field to achieve sinusoidal back electromotive force (EMF), and to reduce the cogging torque.

Design/methodology/approach

– IPM AC motors with different magnet materials and various topologies are comparatively studied. Finite element method (FEM) is used to predict the performances of these designs. Material costs and manufacture costs are both taken into account. Finally, an optimized design is prototyped and tested, validating the design considerations.

Findings

– In an IPM AC motor, even if the rotor outer profile is round, the air-gap field distribution can be fined, while the cogging torque can be significantly reduced, by properly shaping the stator tooth tips. Nevertheless, this technique is usually applicable to motor configurations with concentrated windings, but not to those with distributed windings.

Originality/value

– While using ferrite magnets for PM AC motors with a kW power, interior magnets are usually inserted in V-shaped slots, and the rotor outer profile is often shaped in order to enhance the air-gap field distribution. However, such a rotor configuration usually increases the manufacture costs, and also deteriorates the consistency of mass production. Therefore, a new motor configuration with a round rotor outer profile and shaped stator tooth tips is proposed. It can not only overcome the aforementioned problems, but also improve the motor performance.
Torque ripple analysis for IPM AC motors
Authors: Shen Jianxin , Shi Dan , Wang Canfei , Li Peng , Wang Kang , Jin Mengjia
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate a new cause of torque ripple in interior permanent magnet (IPM) alternating current (AC) motors, which is common but has hardly been studied. The paper also proposes a new method to suppress the total torque ripple.

Design/methodology/approach

– Besides the well-known cogging torque and mutual torque ripple, a new ripple which exists in the reluctance torque is found. It is verified with both analytical model and finite element analysis. Also, a novel method is proposed to reduce the reluctance torque ripple, with experimental validation.

Findings

– It is usually said that the winding inductances of an IPM AC motor vary sinusoidally with the rotor position, thus, the d-axis and q-axis inductances are constant, whilst the reluctance torque is smooth. However, in most practical motors, the inductances vary irregularly, causing a significant ripple in the reluctance torque. Moreover, in machine design, it is always desirable to suppress the cogging torque as much as possible. However, in this paper, it is proved that the cogging torque can remain and be used to cancel the reluctance torque ripple.

Originality/value

– Torque ripple in the IPM AC motors is usually reduced by suppressing the cogging torque and making both back electromotive forces and currents sinusoidal. However, this paper reveals the new cause of the torque ripple due to the irregular variation of winding inductances. Moreover, the paper gives a new method to cancel the reluctance torque ripple with the cogging torque.
Challenges and lessons learned in the deployment of an offshore oscillating water column
Authors: Kelly J. , O’Sullivan D. , Wright W.M.D. , Alcorn R. , Lewis A.W.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to disseminate the lessons learned from the successful deployment of a wave energy converter (WEC) and accelerate growth in the field of ocean energy.

Design/methodology/approach

– A thorough, well structured, documented, industrial approach was taken to the deployment because of the depth and scale of the task required. This approach is shown throughout the paper, which reflects the importance of a comprehensive project plan in success as well as failure.

Findings

– The findings demonstrate the viability of the use of off shore WEC to generate electricity and that such a project can be completed on time and on budget.

Research limitations/implications

– The research implications of the paper include the importance of an enhanced, integrated supervisory system control in terms of efficiency, operation and maintenance, and long-term viability of WECs. This paper can be used to help guide the direction of further research in similar areas.

Practical implications

– The practical implications include proof that WEC deployments can be carried out both on time and under budget. It highlights much of the practical data collected throughout the course of the project and presents it so that it might be used as a guide for future projects.

Originality/value

– At the time of this paper, successful deployment of off shore WECs has been a rare accomplishment. Because the project was publicly funded, the data collected during this project, both technical and practical, is freely available.
FEA-based investigation of the generating capability of a novel hybrid excited claw pole alternator with improved cost-effectiveness
Authors: Rebhi Rabeb , Ibala Amina , Masmoudi Ahmed
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the generating capability of a novel hybrid excited brushless claw pole alternator (HEBCPA) with improved cost-effectiveness gained thanks to the substitution the rotor NdFeB-made permanent magnet (PM) with ferrite ones.

Design/methodology/approach

– The investigation of the magnetic features of the novel HEBCPA has been carried out using a 3D finite element analysis (FEA).

Findings

– It has been found that the machine generating capability is not affected by the substitution of the single rotor NdFeB-made PM by stator and rotor ferrite-made ones, which represents a crucial cost benefit.

Research limitations/implications

– An experimental validation of the features computed by FEA shall be considered as an outlook of the present work.

Practical implications

– The novel HEBCPA could be of great interest for automotive generating systems.

Originality/value

– The proposed HEBCPA with ferrite-made PMs is a novel concept.
Research on new hybrid excitation PM synchronous generators with tooth harmonic excitation
Authors: Wang Shanming , Xia Yonghong , Huang Shaogang , Qiu Arui , Wang Xiangheng
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– In order to keep the advantages of PM generators and eliminate its disadvantage – difficulty in regulating the magnetic field, hybrid excitation is an effective way. The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel way to achieve hybrid excitation by use of tooth harmonic field.

Design/methodology/approach

– Unlike weakening the tooth harmonics field and EMF in traditional machines, in this paper the tooth harmonics field is proposed to form a novel hybrid excitation permanent magnet synchronous generator (HEPMSG).

Findings

– The generation mechanism of tooth harmonic electromotive force (EMF) of rotor winding is introduced, and its influencing factors are discussed in detail. The matching design of tooth harmonic winding and field winding for maximum output field current of tooth harmonic excitation system is analyzed.

Practical implications

– This machine can achieve not only effective adjustment of the air-gap magnetic field, but also elimination of the brushes and slip rings.

Originality/value

– Unlike weakening the tooth harmonics field and EMF in traditional machines, in this paper the tooth harmonics filed is proposed to form a novel hybrid excitation PM synchronous generator. This machine can achieve not only effective adjustment of the air-gap magnetic field, but also elimination of the brushes and slip rings.
Application of local coordinates rectification in linearization of selected parameters of dynamic nonlinear systems
Authors: Zawadzki Andrzej
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to aim to an application of element of the theory of differential geometry for building the state space transformation, linearizing nonlinear dynamic system into a linear form.

Design/methodology/approach

– It is assumed that the description of nonlinear electric circuits with concentrated parameters or electromechanical systems is given by nonlinear system of differential equations of first order (state equations). The goal is to find transformation which leads nonlinear state equation (written in one coordinate system) to the linear in the other – sought coordinate system.

Findings

– The necessary conditions fulfilled by nonlinear system undergoing linearization process are presented. Numerical solutions of the nonlinear equations of state together with linearized system obtained from direct transformation of the state space are included (transformation input – the state of the nonlinear system).

Originality/value

– Application of first order exact differential forms for determining the transformation linearizing the nonlinear state equation. Simple linear models obtained with the use of the linearizing transformation are very useful (mainly because of the known and well-mastered theory of linear systems) in solving of various practical technical problems.
Developing an Islamic corporate social responsibility model (ICSR)
Authors: Adnan Khurshid Muhammad , Al-Aali Abdulrahman , Ali Soliman Ahmed , Mohamad Amin Salmiah
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to develop an Islamic corporate social responsibility (ICSR) model.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based onQur’anicverses and previous literature, the authors aim to develop an ICSR model with an extension of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) theory of Carroll (1979).

Findings

– This study extends the theory of Carroll (1979) using an operational definition of CSR that encompasses the economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic dimensions of CSR from an Islamic perspective. This ICSR model is applicable to both Islamic and non-Islamic business systems because both Islamic and Western CSR have common humanitarian grounds.

Research limitations

– The conceptual research is not tested in this article. Further, not all Islamic principles are integrated in this model.

Originality/value

– Many Western theoreticians have attempted to offer theoretical, moral and ethical grounds for CSR initiatives. However, these attempts have been broadly criticized for problems relating to justification, conceptual clarity and possible inconsistency and for failing to provide adequate ethical guidance to business executives who must determine which course to pursue and their level of commitment. Therefore, there is a need to develop the concept of CSR, which has gained popularity and wide acceptance among the Western and Islamic business communities, especially from an Islamic perspective.
Process analysis and capacity utilization in a dental clinic in Kazakhstan
Authors: Ahmed Shamsuddin , Amagoh Francis
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the service delivery system of a dental clinic in Kazakhstan to maximize the clinic’s efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study uses process analysis to determine the capacity utilization and areas of bottlenecks in the dental clinic’s system.

Findings

– The analysis shows that the most severe bottleneck is identified in step 16 of the 20-step patient flow process. The system efficiency is approximately 62 per cent.

Practical implications

– The study will help similar health-care organizations identify areas of bottlenecks in their operational system. This would allow management to deploy optimal resources that would improve systems’ performance.

Originality/value

– The paper provides a framework for health-care managers to identify how to reduce patient throughput time and increase patient satisfaction.
Variables influencing expatriate learning and organizational learning
Authors: Barakat Areeg , Moussa Faten
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the variables that influence the international assignment – expatriate learning relationship and the expatriate learning – organizational learning relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper contains a literature review of the research on expatriates' learning and organizational learning

Findings

– The paper provides an integrative framework that identifies the moderating variables that influence both the relationship between the expatriate international assignment and expatriate learning as well as the relationship between expatriate learning and organizational learning. In addition, this framework specifies the process by which the international assignment influences organizational learning and shows that expatriate learning mediates this relationship. Several hypotheses were generated to provide avenues for future investigation.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper does not provide an exhaustive set of the moderating variables and does not focus on the interaction between situational and individual differences moderators.

Practical implications

– Managers should pay attention to the selection, maintenance and repatriation of expatriates and facilitate the conditions under which expatriate learning and organizational learning can be maximized. To remain competitive, managers should engage in the continuous process of assessing the effectiveness of international assignments in enhancing expatriate and organizational learning.

Originality/value

– The present research identifies the conditions that facilitate or hinder expatriate learning and organizational learning as well as the process by which international assignments influence organizational learning. Expatriate learning and organizational learning are critical for the continuous growth and competitive advantage of organizations, and, accordingly, it is imperative to study the factors and the process that influence learning in organizations, especially in response to the increasing popularity of globalization and the pressure to remain competitive.
Selection and critical success factors in successful ERP implementation
Authors: M. Beheshti Hooshang , K. Blaylock Bruce , A. Henderson Dale , G. Lollar James
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors that contribute to the successful implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in manufacturing firms.

Design/methodology/approach

– The qualitative research method was used to study six diverse manufacturing firms in Virginia. A semi-structure method of data collection was used for the analysis.

Findings

– The ERP software has emerged as a key enabler of system integration in organizations to reduce redundancy, improve efficiency, productivity and performance. Firms implement ERP not only to improve operations efficiency but to be more responsive to the customer needs in the global economy. The findings provide insights on the factors that these large and global manufacturing firms consider to be important to the success of ERP implementation and utilization.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is limited to large manufacturing firms and does not consider service industries or small and medium enterprises.

Practical implications

– A considerable amount of time and capital are required for the acquisition and implementation of ERP systems. The results are useful to managers of manufacturing companies who are interested in using, modifying or upgrading an integrative technology software system, such as ERP.

Originality/value

– This empirical study provides an in-depth analysis of factors that motivate firms to consider ERP systems, factors that are important when acquiring the system, key factors to implementation and cultural adjustments following implementation. To the best of our knowledge, no single study has examined all of these issues in one report.
The Competitive Advantage of Nations 20 years later: the cases of Sweden, South Korea and the USA
Authors: L. Wilson Timothy , Lindbergh Lars , Graff Jens
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to reflect on some policy possibilities and outcomes for three countries of interest suggested in Porter’s The Competitive Advantage of Nations.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research was both exploratory and qualitative in nature and utilized an in-depth case study approach of three major international economies reflecting previous observations in The Competitive Advantage of Nations. Personal contemporaneous observations of individuals in the countries of interest were complemented by current secondary information. The three countries selected for analysis, South Korea, Sweden and the USA, reflected different stages of development at the time The Competitive Advantage of Nations was published and certainly different progress since then.

Findings

– The Competitive Advantage of Nations advocated new, constructive and actionable roles for government and business. These observations can now be tested after a reasonable time of development. In terms of development, Korea would appear to be the star of the group; Sweden has made strong progress in comparison with other members of the European Union. Although there are areas of strength, the USA recently has lost much of the edge it had at the time of the Advantage’s publication.

Research limitations/implications

– Because this research was built on case studies, one has the reservations common with that approach. On the other hand, case studies are acknowledged as useful in the identification of important variables in situations in which there is little control over events in a real-world context.

Practical implications

– Countries must go their own way and find their own paths to success. In some ways, directions are suggested by Schumpeter (1942/1975) and in others, by Porter (1990/1996). Chance appears to have played a role in development in each instance, but government, seen as a fifth determinant possibility by Porter, heavily affected outcomes in each instance.

Originality/value

– Although relying heavily on Porter, results add insight into the development of economies over time.
Interruption of medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence: insights from the UK
Authors: Alam Farrukh , Barker Peter
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify risk factors for interruptions in opioid dependence treatment and barriers to (re) entering effective treatment through real-world insight on current opioid dependence treatment in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

– Project Access UK, a national survey deployed across multiple regions in England, Wales and Scotland, collected data on the perspectives of patients receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid dependence (n=248), out-of-treatment opioid users (n=196), and physicians (n=100).

Findings

– Both patients and users reported multiple prior episodes of MAT and detoxification. Among patients, 57 per cent reported continuing illicit drugs use in addition to their treatment, 25 per cent had misused (injected or snorted) and 30 per cent had diverted (sold or given away) prescribed opioid medications. Diverted medications were currently being used by 26 per cent of out-of-treatment users; of these, 21 per cent used methadone. Supervised dosing was rated as the condition of treatment with the biggest impact on daily life. Daily supervision was a requirement for 44, 34 and 23 per cent of patients receiving methadone, mono-buprenorphine and buprenorphine-naloxone, respectively.

Practical implications

– Interruptions to opioid dependence treatment in various forms can hamper the recovery of opioid-dependent patients. The benefits of MAT may not be fully realised if treatment is interrupted due to compliance failure, or inflexible treatment programmes leading to premature treatment exit. These findings serve to highlight areas in which treatment disruption can potentially be addressed.

Originality/value

– Consideration of these findings may aid in the optimisation of treatment delivery practices to better meet the UK policy of recovery, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Can outcome expectancies be measured across substances? Development and validation of a questionnaire for populations in treatment
Authors: Kouimtsidis Christos , Stahl Daniel , West Robert , Drummond Colin
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a brief outcome expectancies questionnaire applicable across nicotine, alcohol, opioid and stimulant users seeking or willing to seek treatment and to assess its construct and predictive validity.

Design/methodology/approach

– The items were generated using semi-structured interviews. A cross-sectional study was used to determine the factor structure and internal reliability, to compare the factor structure across the groups and to assess construct validity. Scores were used to predict reduction in dependence at three-month follow-up.

Findings

– The qualitative study produced 98 items. For the cross-sectional study 99 nicotine, 96 alcohol, 98 opioid and 77 stimulant misusers were recruited. Factor analysis produced a two-factor (positive and negative expectancies) solution, similar across groups. A 28-item common version had scale correlations above 0.94 with the long versions of each group, and high internal consistency (Cronbach'sα>0.90). The Positive expectancies sub-scale was positively correlated with urges across all groups, and negatively correlated with self-efficacy in three groups. Negative sub-scale scores were positively correlated with motivation sub-scales and self-efficacy in three groups. Urges and negative expectancies predicted reduction of dependence at three months.

Research limitations/implications

– The study suggested that outcome expectancies are similar across substance sub-groups. The new tool appears to have good construct and predictive validity. Further validation with larger samples is required.

Originality/value

– This is the first tool to measure outcome expectancies across substances, facilitating relevant research with poly-substance users.
“Doctor shopping and pharmacy hopping”: practice innovations relating to codeine
Authors: Claire Van Hout Marie
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The misuse of pharmaceutical opioid analgesics is identified as a global public health concern. Codeine represents an interesting quandary in terms of its regulated status, with individuals varying in their metabolism of codeine, estimation of safe dosages, risk of adverse health consequences and abuse potential. Efforts to quantify and address hidden non-compliant medical codeine use, overuse and intentional misuse is compromised by availability to the public in prescribed and over the counter forms. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A review of literature on codeine use, misuse and dependence, and associated innovative medical and pharmacy interventions is presented, and was conducted as part of a larger scoping review on codeine.

Findings

– The review highlights the complexities associated with monitoring public health awareness of codeine's abuse potential, and customer/patients trends in non-compliant codeine use for therapeutic and recreational purposes. Aberrant codeine behaviours centre on visiting multiple doctors for prescriptions, repeated lost or stolen prescriptions, forging prescriptions and use of multiple pharmacies. Innovations to monitor misuse of codeine include national prescription databases and recent developments in real-time monitoring of dispensing activity.

Practical implications

– Further development of real-time monitoring processes with process evaluation is advised.

Originality/value

– This viewpoint is intended to demonstrate how efforts to quantify and address codeine use are compromised by its availability. It intends to encourage further policy and practitioner dialogue on how to monitor, support and intervene with consumers misusing codeine.
How important are positive and negative outcome expectancies in the treatment of addiction: a narrative review of the literature
Authors: Kouimtsidis Christos , Stahl Daniel , West Robert , Drummond Colin
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review the substance misuse literature on how outcome expectancies are measured, how they are related with the level of use and other factors as well as their role into treatment and recovery.

Design/methodology/approach

– A narrative review of the literature for all major substances of abuse was undertaken.

Findings

– Existing measurement tools are substance specific. Most research has been in the field of alcohol, and involved students or light and moderate drinkers. Positive expectancies have been found to be related to initiation and level of alcohol, nicotine and cannabis use and also to be modifiable with repeated cue exposure. Negative expectancies have been found to be associated with prevention of smoking, positive changes in drinking and positive effect on treatment outcome for alcohol.

Research limitations/implications

– Both positive and negative outcome expectancies have been found to predict development of substance misuse and recovery from it respectively, but cross-substance comparisons are hindered by lack of appropriate measures.

Originality/value

– The concept of outcome expectancies is present in several theories of addiction. To date there has been no comprehensive review of the extent to which different types of expectancy play a role in different substances and their treatment.