bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficiency evaluation of agricultural cooperatives in Mpumalanga
Authors: Xaba Sharon Thembi , Marwa Nyankomo , Mathur-Helm Babita 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse performance (on efficiency) of agricultural cooperatives in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The empirical investigation is motivated by the dearth of empirical literature on agricultural cooperatives’ performance measurement and its correlates.

Design/methodology/approach
The study employed DEA and applied the input minimisation constraint. The authors used the data from 19 agricultural cooperatives which had complied with reporting on their annual financial statements (AFS) in the financial year 2014/2015. The input variables were total assets and total expenses, and the output variables were revenue and profit.

Findings
The average technical efficiency was found to be 72 per cent efficient indicating the presence of 28 per cent resource wastages. Of the 19 decision-making units, only 5 (26 per cent) were 100 per cent efficient. It should be noted that the 26 per cent that were technically efficient were also operating at constant returns to scale (optimal resource allocation).

Research limitations/implications
Data limitation was with regard to 19 cooperatives, which means that if more agricultural cooperatives could be analysed, the results will be different.

Practical implications
There are more than 60 agricultural cooperatives in the province, and yet only 19 could report on their AFS. This is an indication that there is a gap in governance, and policy makers and government need to revisit support, over and above funding, and issues of governance have to be strengthened.

Social implications
Agricultural cooperatives are created as vehicles that can stimulate the economy and contribute towards job creation. If the cooperatives do not perform or are not sustainable, the socio-economic conditions of the communities in which they operate will never realise the economic gains.

Originality/value
The study was necessitated by the continued focus on government based on the cooperatives, as there is a dearth of empirical literature separating managers’ reports and empirically proven studies/results.
Competing eBook acquisition models: which model best serves a community college library?
Authors: LaMagna Michael , Swenson Danowitz Erica , Rodgers Andrea 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
Academic libraries continue to invest in eBooks to ensure access to content in various formats. This paper aims to examine eBook acquisition models, including patron-driven acquisitions, one-time purchases, focused collection subscriptions or large-scale subscriptions, to better understand how users engage with this content based on usage data.

Design/methodology/approach
Usage data provide insights into eBook acquisition and how access models influence use. This study defines the acquisition model for each eBook purchase. Data were examined to determine usage by acquisition model and cost-per-use.

Findings
This paper finds that for a large suburban community college, a large-scale subscription model has the lowest cost-per-use and serves the largest portion of students. Focused collection subscriptions supported small, specialized programs in the Allied Health, Emergency Services, and Nursing fields.

Originality/value
This paper examines how eBooks are acquired to determine which model best serves an academic library community, specifically a community college library, which is currently underrepresented in the literature.
Numerical simulation of the debonding process in pull-out tests of near-surface mounted FRP rod in concrete
Authors: Chen Tie-Lin , Tao Wenbin , Zhu Wenjun , Zhou Mozhen 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
Near-surface mounted (NSM) fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) rod is extensively applied in reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The mechanical performances of NSM FRP-strengthened RC structures depend on the bond behavior between NSM reinforcement and concrete. This behavior is typically studied by performing pull-out tests; however, the failure behavior, which is crucial to the local debonding process, is not yet sufficiently understood.

Design/methodology/approach
In this study, a three-dimensional meso-scale finite element method considering the cohesion and adhesion failures is presented to model the debonding failure process in pull-out tests of NSM FRP rod in concrete. The smeared crack model is used to capture the cohesion failures in the adhesive or concrete. The interfacial constitutive model is applied to simulate the adhesion failures on the FRP-adhesive and concrete-adhesive contact interfaces.

Findings
The present method is first validated by two simple examples and then applied to a practical NSM FRP system. This work studied in detail the debonding process, the bond failure types, the location of peak bond stress, the transmitting deformation in adhesive and the morphology of contact zone. The developed method provides a practical and convenient tool applicable for further investigations on the debonding mechanism for the NSM FRP rod in concrete.

Originality/value
A three-dimensional meso-scale finite element method considering the cohesion and adhesion failures is presented to model the debonding failure in NSM FRP-strengthened RC structures. The smeared crack model and the interfacial constitutive model are introduced to develop a convenient approach to analyze the failures in adhesive, concrete and related interfaces. The developed numerical method is applicable for studying the debonding process, the bond failure types, the location of peak bond stress, the transmitting deformation in adhesive and the morphology of contact zone in detail.
Conjugate forced convection in a semi-cylindrical cavity with entropy generation
Authors: Çiçek Oktay , Baytaş A. Cihat 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
The aim of this paper is to investigate the conjugate forced convection in a semi-cylindrical cavity with air flow. Isotherms, streamlines, Bejan number and local entropy generation number are obtained for the semi-cylindrical cavity. Local Nusselt number, the temperature and the skin friction along the interface wall are calculated with different Reynolds numbers and geometric configurations.

Design/methodology/approach
The governing differential equations discretized by finite volume method are solved using SIMPLE algorithm. In this study, collocated grid, where all flow variables are stored at the same location, is used. Alternating direction implicit method and tri-diagonal matrix algorithm are used to solve linear algebraic equation systems.

Findings
The effects of Reynolds numbers, inlet and exit cross-section, the locations of exit section on fluid flow are also numerically investigated. It has been observed that since the secondary vortices developed near the exit cross-section negatively affect heat transfer, the temperature value is higher at this region. Better cooling inside cavity is provided in the cases of higher Re number, larger inlet and exit cross-section. The minimum average Nu numbers are computed for the location of L = 0.40 and the minimum total entropy generation numbers are founded in the case of L = 0.20.

Originality/value
This study provides insight into proper cooling and entropy generation inside the semi-cylindrical cavity for different conditions.
A micro scale study of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in coastal urban strategic planning for the Jakarta
Authors: Rahayu Harkunti Pertiwi , Haigh Richard , Amaratunga Dilanthi , Kombaitan Benedictus , Khoirunnisa Devina , Pradana Vito 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
This paper aims to describe an in-depth study that aimed to assess and develop a strategic disaster risk reduction plan to integrate climate change adaptation countermeasures in Cilincing, a North Jakarta City sub-district.

Design/methodology/approach
The study used a back-casting approach to cover hazard assessment induced by increased susceptibility, as well as vulnerability, both as a baseline study and projected up to 2045 at the micro level. The urban village (Kelurahan) level is the unit of analysis. The capacity analysis is used as baseline data, which is reviewed against the trend of the hazard and vulnerability.

Findings
The results of the study identify short-, medium- and long-term recommendations to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaption. These include capacity building, especially emergency response capabilities, an increase of drainage capacity, improvements to transboundary management and minimising driving forces.

Practical implications
These findings at the micro level are very important to present a more holistic and realistic strategy that can be implemented until 2045, but also provides a basis for up scaling into metropolitan region planning.

Originality/value
This is a unique, micro-scale case study in the Cilincing sub-district of Jakarta that assesses and develops strategic disaster risk countermeasures and a reduction plan that integrates the effects of climate change, thereby addressing future disaster risk in Jakarta.
Changing the Rotterdam-Rijnmond regional fire service
Authors: Koppenjan Joop , van Sluis Arie , van der Meer Frans-Bauke , Kuipers Ben , van Paridon Kees 
Published: December 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify critical success factors for the management of complex change processes in fire service organizations and to apply these in a case study of the Rotterdam-Rijnmond fire service.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides review of literature on organizational change, case study of the Rotterdam-Rijnmond fire service supported by the analysis of policy documents and 30 semi-structured interviews with key persons.FindingsCombining different theoretical approaches helps to get a more complete picture of important issues and dilemma’s in the management of change processes – which is a first step in the successful implementation of changes – whereas other approaches tend to emphasize only some and overlook others. Applied in a case study, this approach revealed serious weaknesses in the management of change within the Rotterdam-Rijnmond fire service and offered practical guides for solutions.Originality/valueThis paper combines insights from different theoretical approaches into a more integrated perspective that aims to be helpful as a practical tool for designing and implementing complex changes in fire service organizations.
Involving students in lesson study: a new perspective
Authors: Tamura Tomoko , Uesugi Yuko 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
While Lesson Studies are usually defined as “teacher-led” collaborative research for the purpose of improving teaching, one Japanese junior high school has conducted “student-led” Lesson Studies (SLS) for the past 20 years. The purpose of this paper is to clarify how this school involves students in the Lesson Study process to identify the importance of learners’ perspectives and create the best learning environment.

Design/methodology/approach
Using the case study method, the researcher observed the lesson study process, research lessons and pre-lesson and post-lesson discussions with teachers and students at the case school, as well as examining the school’s annual reports. One-on-one interviews were held with the principal and teachers at the case school. A group interview was conducted with 18 students (8th grade), and additional interviews were held with four students and a Homeroom Teacher. All interviews were recorded and analyzed based on self-regulated learning theory.

Findings
In SLS, students observe the learning activities in other classes and compare them with their own learning activities. Thus, they come to view their in-class learning process in a metacognitive way and can collaborate with teachers to reflect on their learning process and to create a more effective learning environment.

Originality/value
While previous studies on Lesson Study have consisted of artificial/experimental one-time practices involving acute researcher-led interventions, this paper uniquely investigates genuine, daily practices that teachers and students developed on their own. This research is of considerable interest as it goes beyond traditional studies in Japan.
Assessing determinants of dividend policy of the government-owned companies in Indonesia
Authors: Basri Hasan 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the influences of financial leverage, profitability, the growth of assets and institutional ownerships on the dividend payout of the Indonesian Government-owned companies.

Design/methodology/approach
Annual data from the period 2007 to 2013 of the 15 listed government-owned companies on the main board in the Indonesian Stock Exchange were analyzed using the multiple regressions.

Findings
Except for the growth of assets that has an insignificant effect on the dividend policy, the financial leverage and institutional ownerships were documented to have negative and significant influences on the dividend policy, while the profitability has a positive and significant effect on the dividend policy. These findings imply that the profitability, financial leverage and institutional ownership should be considered as the important factors by the Indonesian Government-owned companies in determining their dividend policy.

Originality/value
Originality in this paper is to establish a model of leverage, profitability, asset growth and institutional ownership of dividend payments of Indonesian Government-owned companies with a panel regression approach.
Application of graph-theoretic approach for the evaluation of lean-six-sigma (LSS) critical-success-factors (CSFs) facilitating quality-audits in Indian small & medium enterprises (SMEs)
Authors: Lande Manisha , Seth Dinesh , Shrivastava Rakesh L. 
Published: December 2019

PurposeOne of the major challenges for developing countries is the lack of mechanisms for the evaluation of critical success factors (CSFs) of quality initiatives, which hampers the journey toward sustainability. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) has been one of the most widely used initiatives supporting quality improvement with wastes reduction and facilitating sustainability. To expedite LSS and its spread, it is important to evaluate key CSFs. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to provide an approach for the evaluation of LSS-CSFs for Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a graph theoretic approach and demonstrates the evaluation of LSS-CSFs by proposing an index. The development of index is illustrated using a set of seven prioritized CSFs based on the literature review paper (Lande et al., 2016).FindingsThis study guides about the translation of CSFs in the form of an index (number) and will benefit both researchers and practitioners, who wish to study the role of key CSFs for implementation and audit requirements for sustainability.Research limitations/implicationsAuthors remain confined only to Indian SMEs.Originality/valueLSS possesses the potential to enhance the performance of manufacturing SMEs, but its evaluation is not easy. This attempt for offering a useful evaluation scheme involving CSFs, in the areas of LSS in developing country contexts, is the first. The approach also facilitates both quality audits and benchmarking between different sets of CSFs. The approach is generalizable and can be extended in other areas.
Improving service quality
Authors: Lasrado Flevy , Nyadzayo Munyaradzi 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of total quality management (TQM) internalization factors on the relationship between the proposed drivers (internal/external motives) and outcomes (external benefits and financial results).

Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of quality managers, this study adopts a two-step methodological approach to explore the key components of TQM internalization via an initial exploratory study followed up with a quantitative study to examine the relationships between the proposed drivers using structural equation modeling.

Findings
The qualitative study revealed the key components of TQM implementation factors, namely top management commitment, middle management commitment and audits, training and employees’ commitment. The quantitative results show that a positive relationship between external motives and TQM internalization was not supported; yet, the results supported the influence of internal motives on TQM internalization. Further, the results revealed a significant relationship between TQM internalization and internal benefits but not financial benefits. Finally, a strong positive link between internal and financial benefits emerged.

Research limitations/implications
The study findings are only based on the perceptions of quality managers and future research could test the proposed model using other units of analysis in order to fully capture the role of TQM internalization.

Practical implications
The findings show that award model adoption is a significant tool for quality improvement in organizations, a procedure that drives both internal and financial benefits. Further, the study points out areas that companies should emphasize in order to successfully implement a quality award model and therefore harvest its potential benefits.

Originality/value
The paper proposes an empirically tested conceptual framework that examines vital issues concerning the internalization of the TQM approach through award models, thus providing valuable outcomes for decision makers to improve service quality.
Development and validation of an internet entrepreneurial self-efficacy scale
Authors: Wang Yi-Shun , Tseng Timmy H. , Wang Yu-Min , Chu Chun-Wei 
Published: December 2019

PurposeUnderstanding people’s intentions to be an internet entrepreneur is an important issue for educators, academics and practitioners. The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a scale to measure internet entrepreneurial self-efficacy.Design/methodology/approachBased on an analysis of 356 responses, a scale of internet entrepreneurial self-efficacy is validated in accordance with established scale development procedures.FindingsThe internet entrepreneurial self-efficacy scale has 16 items under three factors (i.e. leadership, technology utilization and internet marketing and e-commerce). The scale demonstrated adequate convergent validity, discriminant validity and criterion-related validity. Nomological validity was established by the positive correlation between the scale and, respectively, internet entrepreneurship knowledge and entrepreneurial intention.Originality/valueThis study is a pioneering effort to develop and validate a scale to measure internet entrepreneurial self-efficacy. The results of this study are helpful to researchers in building internet entrepreneurship theories and to educators in assessing and promoting individuals’ internet entrepreneurial self-efficacy and behavior.
Alone on the ramparts
Authors: Hirsch Peter Buell 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role that corporate political positioning taking is playing in exacerbating political polarization and to suggest that, by contrast, corporations could also play a role in healing some of the increasing divides in democracies around the world.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper looks at recent examples of companies taking political positions on controversial public issues and public reactions to those positions in the media.

Findings
The author’s analysis suggests that with each subsequent political position announced by companies, the stakes for more extreme and noisy pronouncements become higher and higher. This threatens to be an unsustainable journey, and companies will need to find new ways to communicate their commitment to customers and other stakeholders.

Originality/value
While there has been wide discussion of the increasing propensity of companies to take public positions on social and political issues, the author believes this is the first viewpoint to examine the consequences of this trends over the longer term and its impact on polarization.
Mapping educational leadership, administration and management research 2007–2016
Authors: Tian Meng , Huber Stephan Gerhard 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the development of educational leadership, administration and management (EdLAM) research by identifying thematic strands that hallmark key publications and synthesise major research findings and limitations.

Design/methodology/approach
This study combines bibliometric and content analysis methods to review 2,347 publications from 15 core EdLAM journals published from 2007 to 2016.

Findings
The bibliometric analysis identified five EdLAM thematic strands: school leadership for enhancing students’ academic achievement and teachers’ effectiveness; leadership for educational change, accountability and promoting democratic values; leadership for social justice, equal education and narrowing achievement gaps; principal’s instructional leadership for school improvement; and distributed leadership and its impact on organisational climate and teachers’ attitudes and stress. The content analysis revealed that the EdLAM research from 2007 to 2016 further developed the following research areas: the dynamics between leaders and teachers in leadership work, the potential risks of distributed leadership and the EdLAM challenges brought by the New Public Management and neoliberalism.

Originality/value
This study depicts state-of-the-art EdLAM research. It confirms the combination of bibliometric and content analyses as a useful approach for large-scale review studies. Finally, this review suggests future research directions.
The online users’ perceptions toward electronic government services
Authors: Camilleri Mark Anthony 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
This study aims to examine the individuals’ perceived usefulness and ease of use of the government’s electronic services (e-government). It also explores the effect of the social influences, as well as of the facilitating conditions, on the individuals’ intentions to use the government’s digital and mobile services.

Design/methodology/approach
The researcher has adapted various measuring items from the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and from the theory of acceptance model to investigate the participants’ utilitarian motivations to engage with the government’s online services. The analysis involved a two-step, structural equation modeling approach that included a confirmatory factor analysis that verified the constructs’ validity and reliability.

Findings
There was a satisfactory fit for this study’s research model. The findings revealed that there were direct and indirect effects that predicted the individuals’ readiness to use the e-government services. The results suggest that the respondents’ perceived usefulness and ease of use of this digital technology were significant antecedents for their behavioral intention to use it. The strength of these relationships was affected by the moderating variables, including, age, gender and experience. Yet, these demographic variables did not have a significant effect on the link between social influences and behavioral intention.

Originality/value
This study reported that the citizens felt that the e-government systems were useful and easy to use for them. The research participants indicated that they will continue accessing their government’s online services. Therefore, this research implies that the public services should continue improving the facilitating conditions, including the provision of service quality and capability; as well as secure the accessibility to their e-government systems via digital and mobile technologies. In conclusion, this contribution identifies possible research avenues to academia.