bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Considerations in the design of WBL settings to enhance students’ employability
Authors: Feldmann Louisa 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– A central aim of higher education is employability, in order to enable graduates to act in dynamic working environments. Internships as the prevalent work-based learning (WBL) settings offer such an opportunity during the studies; they are commonly used and broadly researched as interventions to improve students’ skills and competences. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influencing factors on students’ skills and competences that lead to employability in WBL settings.Design/methodology/approach– The paper provides a synthesis of relevant international empirical research on beneficial effects of the very common WBL setting, internship, to create a research framework across disciplines.Findings– The current research is characterized by a search for “best practices,” rather than a holistic and systematic view, acknowledging and taking into account different perspectives and their influence. It cannot sufficiently explain why employability in some WBL settings is enhanced more than in others. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the current understanding and evaluation of WBL as an experiential and situated learning experience. It is essential to take promotive factors from the university, the practical partner and the student perspective into account to understand employability enhancement. Based on these findings, a research framework for a holistic perspective on influencing factors of students’ employability is designed.Research limitations/implications– There is no empirical proof for the findings yet. Future empirical research may, therefore, be directed toward empirical testing of the impact of WBL settings.Originality/value– It is possible to infer recommendations for improving WBL settings from the three parties involved by interlinking situated and experiential theory.
Designing interorganizational information systems for supply chain integration: a framework
Authors: Kauremaa Jouni , Tanskanen Kari 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding on the essential managerial and technical decisions in the design of IOIS for supply chain integration (SCI). Toward this end, the authors elaborate on IOIS constructs in the SCI context, and propose a framework on the design of IOIS for SCI based on the current literature.Design/methodology/approach– The paper draws from prior literature on interorganizational information systems (IOISs) and supply chain management (SCM), and builds a conceptual framework that is illustrated by empirical examples from three case studies of a ten-year research program that focussed on e-business in SCM.Findings– Based on prior literature from several domains, the authors propose a framework, which combines the managerial viewpoints and the technical viewpoints for designing IOIS for SCI. The authors argue that these decisions form the basis for constructing three main elements of the IOIS for SCI design theory, namely, purpose and scope, design principles, and technical framework. Furthermore, the authors suggest that the real thread binding the decisions on all levels – purpose and scope; design principles; technical framework – is the flexible differentiation over use contexts, primarily over partners and focal interorganizational processes.Research limitations/implications– The key limitation of this work is the propositional nature of the advanced framework. However, the framework is strongly grounded in prior literature and is illustrated by examples from three empirical studies.Practical implications– The proposed framework provides a systematic tool for both the design and evaluation of the practical implementation of IOISs in SCI context. Furthermore, the results point explicitly to the implications of the benefits received from unilateral and bilateral modes of IOIS design.Originality/value– The synthesized framework and the observation of the requisite differentiation over use context complement prior work from multiple domains by discussing both managerial and technical questions of IOIS deployment within a single conceptualization.
A heuristic algorithm solving bilevel toll optimization problems
Authors: Kalashnikov Vyacheslav V. , Herrera Maldonado Roberto Carlos , Camacho-Vallejo José-Fernando , Kalashnykova Nataliya I. 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– One of the most important problems concerning the toll roads is the setting of an appropriate cost for traveling through private arcs of a transportation network. The purpose of this paper is to consider this problem by stating it as a bilevel programming (BLP) model. At the upper level, one has a public regulator or a private company that manages the toll roads seeking to increase its profits. At the lower level, several companies-users try to satisfy the existing demand for transportation of goods and/or passengers, and simultaneously, to select the routes so as to minimize their travel costs. In other words, what is sought is kind of a balance of costs that bring the highest profit to the regulating company (the upper level) and are still attractive enough to the users (the lower level).Design/methodology/approach– With the aim of providing a solution to the BLP problem in question, a direct algorithm based on sensitivity analysis (SA) is proposed. In order to make it easier to move (if necessary) from a local maximum of the upper level objective function to another, the well-known “filled function (FF)” method is used.Findings– The paper proposes and tests two versions of the heuristic algorithm to solve the toll optimization problem (TOP) based upon SA for linear programming (LP) problems. The algorithm makes use of an SA procedure for the LP problem at the lower level, as well as of the “filled” function technicalities in order to reach the global optimum when “jammed” at some local optimum. Numerical experiments with a series of small and medium dimension test problems show the proposed algorithm’s robustness and decent convergence characteristics.Practical implications– Numerical experiments with a series of small- and medium dimension test problems show the proposed algorithm’s robustness and reasonable convergence characteristics. In particular, while ceding in efficiency to other algorithms when solving small problems, the proposed method wins in the case of medium (higher dimensional) test models. Because of that, one can expect a serious real-life impact on the TOP when the proposed methods and/or their improved versions are developed further to be applicable in practice in the near future.Originality/value– The proposed algorithms are original and perform well when solving small and medium test numerical problems. The proposed heuristics aim at filling in a gap in a series of numerical approaches to the solution of TOP problem listed in the Introduction. To the authors knowledge, no systematic attempts to apply the SA tools to the toll assigned problem have been recently made. Moreover, the combination of these powerful tools with the “FFs” techniques brings forward some new global optimization ideas. Exactly these features build up the knowledge this specific paper offers in relation to previous relevant works.
Performance related pay, productivity and wages in Italy: a quantile regression approach
Authors: Damiani Mirella , Pompei Fabrizio , Ricci Andrea 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of performance-related pay (PRP) on productivity and wages of Italian firms.Design/methodology/approach– A unique data set for the Italian economy, obtained from the ISFOL Employer and Employee Surveys (2005, 2007, 2010), is used to estimate the relationship between PRP, labour productivity and wages, also controlling for an ample set of covariates. The authors performed standard quantile regressions (QRs) to investigate heterogeneity in associations of PRP with labour productivity and wages. In a second stage, the endogeneity of PRP was taken into account by using instrumental variable QR techniques.Findings– The econometric estimates suggests that PRP are incentive schemes that substantially lead to efficiency enhancements and wage gains. These findings are confirmed for firms under union governance and suggest that well-designed policies, that circumvent the limited implementation of PRP practices, would guarantee productivity improvement and wage premiums for employees.Research limitations/implications– The main limitation of the findings concerns PRP data, that do not offer statistical information on different types of schemes, at group or individual level.Originality/value– This paper is the first to investigate, on a national scale for the Italian economy, the role of PRP on both productivity and wages, in order to shed light on the efficiency and distributive implications, whereas most of the studies of related literature are restricted to one of those aspects.
Developing mobile learning practices through teacher education
Authors: Passey Don , Zozimo Joana 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
This paper explores the context, development and outcomes of a cross-European in-service training programme, developing mobile learning practices in school classrooms – MLEARN – in The Netherlands, England, Greece and Italy. This paper focuses on: contextual backgrounds; a training needs analysis; and initial, mid-term and final outcomes from teachers and learners.

Design/methodology/approach
Evidence was gathered about: contextual backgrounds through literature reviews and key informant responses; a training needs analysis through online survey responses from teachers and trainers; and outcomes of uses from five surveys, largely completed online by teachers and learners, after some 2, 3, 5, 9 and 13 months of use.

Findings
Findings from survey periods were compared to identify shifts and gaps. The training programme led to successful outcomes; there was rapid uptake and use of the mobile devices, as well as shifts in emphasis across the period of the pilot, dependent on contextual factors. But long-term integration requires focus on specific learning activities, as well as on integration beyond a one-year period.

Social Implications
Uses of mobile devices are increasing, across countries and age ranges. How devices can be used to support learning and teaching in contemporary contexts is not temporally independent. Country curricula, legislation, training programme access, and teacher and learner awareness and perceptions, all influence practice.

Originality/value
Teachers have limited access to training programmes in this field. This study investigated a key pilot in this under-developed research area. Key factors need to be considered when programmes are developed and run.
iMindMap as an innovative tool in teaching and learning accounting: an exploratory study
Authors: Wan Jusoh Wan Noor Hazlina , Ahmad Suraya 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the use of iMindMap software as an interactive tool in the teaching and learning method and also to be able to consider iMindMap as an alternative instrument in achieving the ultimate learning outcome.

Design/methodology/approach
Out of 268 students of the management accounting at the University of Technology MARA (Terengganu), 97 students have participated in this survey to evaluate the effectiveness of iMindMap in teaching and learning.

Findings
Results indicate that the majority of the students acknowledged that iMindMap is more attractive than conventional teaching methods and found that iMindMap shows clearly how the points are all associated and linked together. Students could find that learning is an exciting experience and were able to visualize the whole course content remarkably via iMindMap.

Originality/value
This study presents an alternative instrument, which is innovative and interactive in teaching and learning, especially for accounting students where the students’ technology acceptance could also be viewed.
A critique of definitions in economics from an Austrian perspective: macroeconomics
Authors: Davidson Laura , Block Walter E 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to clarify definitions in economics.

Design/methodology/approach
– To apply the insights of Austrian economics to terms widely used in the profession.

Findings
– The authors find that the Austrian approach brings clarification to communication.

Originality/value
– The authors know of no other such attempt. Therefore this paper presumably has some originality.
Foreign banks in MENA countries: how important? How relevant?
Authors: Ghosh Saibal 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
– The role of foreign banks in impacting the behavior of domestic banks has been a relatively unaddressed topic in the literature. Employing bank-wise data on MENA countries during 2000-2012, the purpose of this paper is to examine how the behavior of foreign banks impact domestic bank performance. For this purpose, the authors focus on not only their profitability and stability, but also on broader numbers such as loan portfolio and funding costs. In addition, the authors also explore the impact of foreign banks on the growth of domestic economies and its implications for the allocation of capital and labor.

Design/methodology/approach
– The authors employ the dynamic panel data methodology as compared to alternate techniques owing to the ability of this technique to effectively address the endogeneity problem of some of the independent variables.

Findings
– The results suggest that foreign bank presence exerts significant spillover effects. At the same time, increased foreign banks appear to impel domestic banks to cut back lending. As regards its impact on growth, the results indicate that although labor does not exert any discernible impact on GDP growth, capital exerts a positive impact on output when foreign bank penetration is high, supportive of the real effects of foreign banks.

Originality/value
– To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the early studies for MENA countries to examine this issue in a systematic manner. Most studies of this genre focus on a limited set of banks/countries, thereby limiting their empirical evidence. By focussing on an extended sample of MENA country banks covering an extended period that subsumes the financial crisis, the analysis is also able to shed light as to how foreign presence impacts domestic bank performance.
An ageing world and the challenges for a model of sustainable social change
Authors: Angeloni Silvia , Borgonovi Elio 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– Although the world is rapidly ageing, the alarming explosion of youth unemployment seems to have removed the workforce ageing issue as a priority from the policy agenda. The purpose of this paper is to test and investigate the main needs and willingness to work among the older population, as well as the main advantages for organizations employing older workers.Design/methodology/approach– The main research objectives were: first, to explore the effect of demographic and socio-economic predictors on an older person’s intention to work; and second, to focus on the main advantages that should induce organizations to retain older workers in their workplace. The paper is based on a survey and an interdisciplinary review of the literature.Findings– The study indicated that educational level led to improved active behaviours in the labour market. In other words, people who obtained a higher level of education showed a greater likelihood to desire a prolongation of working life, while lower educational attainment may have lessened the willingness and capacity of older people to remain in the workforce. The main benefits for organizations with older workers are highlighted.Research limitations/implications– The survey has a number of limitations: the sample is small and was completed with reference to a single country, making it difficult to generalize results beyond this country study; the questionnaire relied solely on a few areas, while it would be better to gather additional information; the survey only targeted retired people, while it would have been interesting to also collect answers from workers nearing retirement. The association between individuals’ educational levels and their intention to work in later life suggests that continued development of educational programmes for workers could favour greater retention in the workplace.Practical implications– As the ageing population is an increasing phenomenon, the participation of older people in the labour force and lifelong learning should become commonplace in the perspective of a more equitable society. The main challenge is to rethink retirement, by abolishing the mandatory retirement age and by providing more flexible work options.Social implications– Changes in national system and corporate strategies are required to meet the economic challenges of ageing populations.Originality/value– This study advances research on age management because it provided evidence that educational background plays a fundamental role in determining the willingness to return to work. In addition, the paper proposes a new integrated approach of sustainable social change.
Dilemmas within commercial involvement in open source software
Authors: Ciesielska Malgorzata , Westenholz Ann 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature about the commercial involvement in open source software, levels of this involvement and consequences of attempting to mix various logics of action.Design/methodology/approach– This paper uses the case study approach based on mixed methods: literature reviews and news searches, electronic surveys, qualitative interviews and observations. It combines discussions from several research projects as well as previous publications to present the scope of commercial choices within open source software and their consequences.Findings– The findings show that higher levels of involvement in open source software communities poses important questions about the balance between economic, technological, and social logics as well as the benefits of being autonomous, having access to collaborative networks and minimizing risks related to free-riding. There are six levels of commercial involvement in open source communities, and each of them is characterized by a different dilemma.Originality/value– The paper sheds light on the various level of involvement of business in open source movement and emphasize that the popularized “open innovation” concept is only the first step in real involvement and paradigm shift.
The dimensions and effects of excessive change
Authors: Johnson Kevin J. 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
– Change excessiveness is argued as a critical contextual aspect of change management. The purpose of this paper is to identify three major dimensions to change excessiveness: change frequency, extent, and impact. A three-factor structure is proposed to broaden the emerging study on the contextual aspects of change. Its pertinence is proposed in addressing healthcare employees’ exhaustion, change-related uncertainty, and support for change.

Design/methodology/approach
– Using questionnaires, a first pilot sample (n=131) was recruited to test the psychometric properties and validity of the three-factor structure, while controlling for affectivity. Structural equation modeling techniques following a two-step approach were used on a second sample (n=363). First a confirmatory assessment of the three-factor structure of excessive change is tested. Second, a full mediation effect of excessive change, as a second-order latent factor, regrouping change frequency, impact and extent as first-order factors, was modeled to predict a tripartite conception of change-related reactions: exhaustion, uncertainty, and support for change.

Findings
– The excessive change three-factor structure is validated, while showing its superiority over alternative models. The fully mediated model is confirmed. Therefore, the significant added effects of change frequency, impact, and extent are positively related to emotional exhaustion and cognitive uncertainty, while negatively related with behavioral support for change.

Originality/value
– This study contributes by proposing a three-factor structure to excessive change assessment based on previous and independent findings in the literature. It also contributes in modeling the added effect of change frequency, extent, and impact in the full mediation relationship of change excessiveness on a tripartite reactions to change in healthcare management settings.
Two paths to customer loyalty: the moderating effect of the differentiation level strategy in the performance-satisfaction-value-intentions relationship
Authors: Vera Jorge 
Published: April 2016

PurposeThis paper aims to show how consumers process information differently under two dissimilar types of brand strategies. By analysing data from dishwashing detergent consumers who evaluated two different brands, one with a high differentiated/performance/price brand (HB) strategy and other with a low differentiated/cost/price brand (LB) strategy, it is shown how the structural relationship between some constructs differ under each price brand strategy. With a structural path analysis, the product performance, customer satisfaction, customer perceived value and behavioural intentions relationship are assessed. Additionally, the moderating effect of the brand strategy in this structural relationship is tested.Design/methodology/approachData of a sample ofn= 273 Mexican dishwashing detergent users were analysed. Respondents evaluated two brands of dishwashing detergent. One brand followed a high differentiated/performance/price strategy (Axion) and the other used a low differentiated/cost/price strategy (Roma). Participants had to have been consumers of both brands of detergents. A structural path analysis to show the moderating effect of the brand strategy was implemented. A nested comparison invariance test for structural weights to corroborate differences was used, as well.FindingsResults confirm structural differences between both brand strategies in the constructs relationship. The HB strategy showed that both satisfaction and perceived value have a mediating effect between product performance and brand intentions; on the other hand, the LB strategy showed that only satisfaction has a mediating effect between these two constructs. The explanation amount for dependent latent variables was higher for the HB strategy than for the LB strategy.Originality/valueThis study offers a distinct view of the differentiated/quality brand strategy – low cost/price brand strategy duality. It provides a theoretical-empirical explanation of the cognitive processes that both strategies involve for a customer. As well, this study conceptually relates the generic strategies theory with the use of specific brand strategies.