bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Do PISA data justify PISA-based education policy?
Authors: Araujo Luisa , Saltelli Andrea , Schnepf Sylke V. 
Published: April 2017

PurposeSince the publication of its first results in 2000, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) implemented by the OECD has repeatedly been the subject of heated debate. In late 2014 controversy flared up anew, with the most severe critics going so far as to call for a halt to the programme. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the methodological design of PISA and the ideological basis of scientific and policy arguments invoked for and against it.Design/methodology/approachThe authors examine the soundness of the survey methodology and identify the conflicting interpretations and values fuelling the debate.FindingsThe authors find that while PISA has promoted the focus on the important subject of children's education worldwide there are legitimate concerns about what PISA measures, and how. The authors conclude that the OECD should be more transparent in the documentation of the methodological choices that underlie the creation of the data and more explicit about the impact of these choices on the results. More broadly, the authors advise caution in the attempt to derive and apply evidence-based policy in the domain of education; the authors furthermore propose an alternative model of social inquiry that is sensitive and robust to the concerns of the various actors and stakeholders that may be involved in a given policy domain.Originality/valueThe issues and tensions surrounding the PISA survey can be better understood in the framework of post-normal science (PNS), the application of which to the PISA controversy offers a potential solution to a stalemate.
Added worker effect during the Great Recession: evidence from Italy
Authors: Ghignoni Emanuela , Verashchagina Alina 
Published: April 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to check the existence of the added worker effect (AWE) in Italy during the Great Recession.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used the Bank of Italy Survey on Household Income and Wealth to study factors driving the change in female work status over the period 2006-2012. The probit model was used to identify the timing, significance and the magnitude of the AWE. The authors also performed panel estimates to understand how women, positioned at either extensive or intensive margins, respond to the reduction in male hours of work which appear to be crucial for the AWE to manifest.FindingsThe authors find that with the crisis progressing, Italian women respond ever less to the reduction in male earnings, at the same time they become more responsive to the job loss by male partner which is the worst outcome. This means that the AWE survives, even if only in cases of serious hardship. It also remains when the reduction in male incomes is coupled with the reduction in their hours of work, suggesting that the redistribution of household chores is an important prerequisite for women to get into work.Originality/valueThis paper provides evidence on the AWE in Italy during the Great Recession. The authors took into account the peculiarity of the Italian labour market whose performance was affected by the use of the Wage Supplementation Fund. It masks part of the AWE when the standard methodology is used. By looking at the reduction in male earnings with or without a change in their work hours, the authors were able to reveal additional channels through which the AWE operates in Italy.
Project governance in public sector agile software projects
Authors: Lappi Teemu , Aaltonen Kirsi 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
Agile methodologies are widely used to manage the technical complexity of software development, and project governance can provide feasible means of organizational support for complex project success. The purpose of this paper is to: analyze the project governance practices of public sector organizations, illustrate what kind of impact these practices have on agile software projects and describe the tensions of agile project governance.

Design/methodology/approach
The research is based on qualitative research strategy and applies elaborative logic with analyses of three case projects in the Finnish public sector.

Findings
The findings of the research describe how project governance practices can be categorized into six dimensions: business case, contracting, controlling, steering, decision-making and capability building. The results illustrate how these practices either support or detract the performance of agile projects. The results also show that there are two interfaces to agile project that create most tensions to governance – the public sector and technology.

Originality/value
The study contributes to both project management and information and communication technology theories by combining technical aspects of agile methodologies with micro-level project governance practices. The study also adds original value to academics by introducing the new concept of “agile project governance.” The results of this study will allow public sector project organizations to design appropriate governance mechanisms for agile projects, and to identify the challenges and tensions that need to be considered and managed in the process.
Coping with lack of authority
Authors: Hällgren Markus , Lindahl Marcus 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and explore alternative coping strategies that may compensate for the limitations of weak governance structure in a product development project.

Design/methodology/approach
The findings are based on a single case study, including interviews and documents, of a product development project that consists of two interlinked projects in a large multinational company.

Findings
Two distinct procedures are identified to cope and manage effectively when there are weak project governance structures. The first procedure is a horizontal process of operational consensus-seeking where conflicts between projects are negotiated and resolved through communication between independent actors such as two project managers who are at the same hierarchical level within the same organization. The second process is a vertical process of strategic escalation where issues that have failed to be resolved are shifted upwards to a new hierarchical level where a new round of operational consensus-seeking is attempted.

Research limitations/implications
This paper complements the existing understanding of project governance with a project-as-practice perspective. Based on the findings the authors suggest that project governance needs to be nuanced in its understanding since a too-structured approach may in fact increase tensions in an organization.

Practical implications
Practical insights include how organizations may work with its project governance structures in order to avoid tensions. The authors suggest that, in particular, politically sensitive situations may be avoided by weak rather than strong governance structures.

Social implications
The authors find that weak governance structures may be efficient for the organization, but harmful to personnel, who become too focused on the task at hand.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge very little research has been attributed to project governance from a practice approach. Moreover, most attention has been given to strong structures, thereby not examining the positive implications of weak structures.
Optimism bias within the project management context
Authors: Prater James , Kirytopoulos Konstantinos , Ma Tony 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
One of the major challenges for any project is to prepare and develop an achievable baseline schedule and thus set the project up for success, rather than failure. The purpose of this paper is to explore and investigate research outputs in one of the major causes, optimism bias, to identify problems with developing baseline schedules and analyse mitigation techniques and their effectiveness recommended by research to minimise the impact of this bias.

Design/methodology/approach
A systematic quantitative literature review was followed, examining Project Management Journals, documenting the mitigation approaches recommended and then reviewing whether these approaches were validated by research.

Findings
Optimism bias proved to be widely accepted as a major cause of unrealistic scheduling for projects, and there is a common understanding as to what it is and the effects that it has on original baseline schedules. Based upon this review, the most recommended mitigation method is Flyvbjerg’s “Reference class,” which has been developed based upon Kahneman’s “Outside View”. Both of these mitigation techniques are based upon using an independent third party to review the estimate. However, within the papers reviewed, apart from the engineering projects, there has been no experimental and statistically validated research into the effectiveness of this method. The majority of authors who have published on this topic are based in Europe.

Research limitations/implications
The short-listed papers for this review referred mainly to non-engineering projects which included information technology focussed ones. Thus, on one hand, empirical research is needed for engineering projects, while on the other hand, the lack of tangible evidence for the effectiveness of methods related to the alleviation of optimism bias issues calls for greater research into the effectiveness of mitigation techniques for not only engineering projects, but for all projects.

Originality/value
This paper documents the growth within the project management research literature over time on the topic of optimism bias. Specifically, it documents the various methods recommended to mitigate the phenomenon and highlights quantitatively the research undertaken on the subject. Moreover, it introduces paths for further research.
A robust algorithm for project portfolio selection problem using real options valuation
Authors: Montajabiha Mahsa , Arshadi Khamseh Alireza , Afshar-Nadjafi Behrouz 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The principal concern of organization managers in the global rivalry of commerce environment is how to select the project portfolio among available projects. In this matter, organizations should consider the uncertainty intrinsic in the projects regarding an appropriate valuation technique within an optimization framework. In this research, the purpose of this paper is to formulate using a robust optimization algorithm to deal with the complexities and uncertainty inherent in the construction of the project portfolio.

Design/methodology/approach
First, a general mathematical formulation is presented, which in compound real options valuation is highlighted. This formulation gives managerial flexibility by correcting the deficiency of traditional discounted cash flow technique that excludes any form of flexibility. Then, considering a limitation on budget of the organization, an integer programming formulation to maximize the n-fold compound options for project portfolio selection is proposed. Finally, a robust optimization model is developed along with the robust combinatorial optimization algorithm, which is effective for solving problems under uncertainty.

Findings
Sensitivity analysis showed that projects in later phases of development, having survived several phases of pre-clinical and clinical tests, are worth more because they are more likely to pertain to business. However, the investment costs related to each project during development phases limit the number of projects that a company can bring to their final portfolio. Additionally, the analysis of conservatism level represented how project managers can quite easily determine their risk attitude and the corresponding portfolio composition. From a managerial point of view, the proposed framework is very useful because it requires only financial estimates. Hence, the proposed decision support tool can assist research and development (R&D) project managers in the pharmaceutical industry for making decisions.

Originality/value
The first is the application of the n-fold compound options on portfolio of R&D projects and the employment of compound options value of a project portfolio as an objective function. The second one is a mathematical formulation of these concepts and solving it by the robust combinatorial optimization algorithm. The literature is lacking in the application of the robust combinatorial optimization algorithm to R&D project portfolio selection based on the generalized n-fold compound option model of Cassimon et al. (2004). Every framework from calculation of the n-fold compound option to solving robust combinatorial algorithm is programmed in Matlab software, since it can be used as a business support tool.
Occupier responses to sustainable real estate: what’s next?
Authors: Livingstone Nicola , Ferm Jessica 
Published: April 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is two-fold. Primarily, it examines the relationship between sustainable buildings and occupiers, by summarising the key extant literature. Secondarily, the paper proposes avenues for future research relating to the impact of sustainability on corporate real estate strategy.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews over 90 relevant publications related to sustainability, real estate market responses and corporate real estate, focussing on the role and response of occupiers. The approach concentrates on occupier strategies, specifically considering influences such as corporate social responsibility (CSR), landlord–tenant relationships, the changing occupier role and the “circle of blame”.FindingsIn recent years, literature has increasingly begun to reflect nuances in occupier responses to sustainable, prime, office real estate, with some conflicting findings as to the importance of sustainability. Location remains the dominant consideration in decision-making for occupiers, but sustainability is key to CSR and “value-add” in certain sectors. More effective use of sustainable buildings requires improved communication between landlord and tenant. The authors’ review demonstrates that challenges still remain in relation to the “circle of blame”. More research needs to be done in relation to the emergence of sustainability in the non-prime and retail sectors.Originality/valueThrough collating key literature in this topical research area, the paper provides a critical review of occupier responses to sustainable real estate, and, therefore, a fuller understanding of emerging market practices. Additionally, it suggests future research directions.
Research in global operations management: some highlights and potential future trends
Authors: Demeter Krisztina 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to shortly overview the research in international operations management (OM), to provide background to the papers published in this special section.

Design/methodology/approach
As a literature review, the paper investigates the past, present, and future of international OM. It is not a systematic review; the paper just highlights the most important international operational management research networks, streams and concepts in the field.

Findings
The paper finds that there is a time lag in the field of international OM compared to other research areas within international business and management. It provides some ideas for the future to be researched.

Originality/value
The paper gives a focused review on international research networks which has not been done before. It also identifies two different streams of researches in international OM: the stream investigating OM differences among geographical areas, and the stream dealing with issues of international manufacturing networks.
Green supply chain management practices and performance
Authors: Vijayvargy Lokesh , Thakkar Jitesh , Agarwal Gopal 
Published: April 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of organizational size on adoption of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices for the Indian industry. It also evaluates the impact of GSCM practices on organizational performance.Design/methodology/approachThis study aims to empirically test the GSCM model to investigate the present orientation of the Indian industry toward GSCM practices using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. The statistical inferences were drawn using the data provided by 161 Indian firms. This has compared the GSCM practice implementations among small-sized, medium-sized and large-sized organizations.FindingsThe study reveals that Indian organizations have shown a satisfactory implementation of majority of the environmental practices, except supplier ISO:14001 certification and Tier-II supplier evaluation. Out of 21 practices, medium-sized organizations have adopted GSCM practices at a similar level compared with large organizations, with three exceptions: existing environmental management systems, support from mid-level and top management and supplier evaluation for environmental practice. It was found that GSCM adoption can lead to equal improvements in operational performance for both large-size and medium-size organizations.Originality/valueThis paper makes two major contributions in the domain of green supply chain practices in India. First, it investigates the adoption of GSCM practices in organizations of different sizes (small, medium and large) and the impact of GSCM practices on the performance of organizations of different sizes. Second, it identifies the key areas for improvement and recommends a set of measures for improving the implementation of GSCM practices in Indian organizations.
Imprecise DEA framework for evaluating health-care performance of districts
Authors: Karsak E. Ertugrul , Karadayi Melis Almula 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to address performance measurement in the health-care sector, which gains increasing importance for most countries because growing health expenditures and increased quality and competition in the health sector require hospitals to use their resources efficiently. Health policy-makers and health-care managers stress the need for developing a robust performance evaluation methodology for health-care organizations.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents an imprecise data envelopment analysis (DEA) framework for evaluating the health-care performance of 26 districts in Istanbul, a metropolis with nearly 15 million inhabitants. The proposed methodology takes into account both quantitative and qualitative data represented as linguistic variables for performance evaluation. Moreover, this study reckons that weight flexibility in DEA assessments can lead to unrealistic weighting schemes for some inputs and outputs, which are likely to result in overstated efficiency scores for a number of decision-making units (in here, districts). To overcome this problem, a weight restricted imprecise DEA model that constrains weight flexibility in DEA is proposed.

Findings
The proposed imprecise DEA approach sets forth a more realistic decision methodology for evaluating the relative health-care performance and also enables to determine the best district in terms of health-care performance in Istanbul.

Originality/value
This paper includes the quality dimension, which has been overlooked in previous studies, into the health-care performance evaluation of districts. Moreover, it circumvents unrealistic weight flexibility which may distort the relative evaluation of health-care performance.
Organization and usage of information resources at Deeni Madaris libraries in Pakistan
Authors: Habib-ur-Rehman Hafiz , Idrees Haroon , Ullah Ahsan 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
Deeni Madaris of Pakistan and their libraries are playing an important role in educating the large fraction of society. They have always been engaged in the development of social and cultural values of the Pakistani society. This study aims to investigate the organization of information resources and their utilization at Deeni Madaris libraries in the central Punjab, Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative research approach was adopted for this study. A questionnaire was developed on the bases of related literature and discussions with experts of librarianship as well as Islamic studies in Pakistan. The questionnaire was sent to 49 Deeni Madaris, of which five did not have libraries and four did not respond. Forty (81.6 per cent) Deeni Madaris responded and provided the relevant data about their libraries. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS 22. Mostly descriptive statistics were applied to calculate the frequencies, percentage, means and standard deviations. A two-tailed t-test was applied to check the impact of cataloguing and automation on the use of information resources.

Findings
It was found that majority of the respondents developed their own classification and cataloguing methods for the organization of information resources and did not have a proper retrieval system. Majority of the respondents were providing lending services to readers. Teachers and final-year students were the key users of the libraries. They mostly referred to books, theses and serials written in Urdu and Arabic language. The situation of library computerization was very weak; only 19 libraries had computers and 11 of them have partially automated the library activities. Library automation and catalogue put positive effects on the use of library resources.

Originality/value
The exploration of the literature showed that libraries of Madaris in Pakistan have always been a priority, but these libraries did not get a position in the library literature as they deserve. This study will fill this gap.
Intellectual capital, absorptive capacity and product innovation
Authors: Engelman Raquel Machado , Fracasso Edi Madalena , Schmidt Serje , Zen Aurora Carneiro 
Published: April 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the influence of intellectual capital on a firm’s absorptive capacity (ACAP), and of ACAP on product innovation. The authors argue that intellectual capital and other sets of intangible assets are mobilized by firms through dynamic capabilities such as ACAP. Product innovation is one of the results of this process.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative study was conducted, including 500 firms of different sizes, industries and technological intensities located in southern Brazil. The validity of constructs and the theoretical model were confirmed by structural equation modeling.FindingsThe authors found that intellectual capital does influence ACAP, albeit differently on each of ACAP’s dimensions. Acquisition, assimilation and exploitation of knowledge are more decisively influenced by structural capital, followed by human capital. The ability of transformation of knowledge is evenly influenced by structural and human capital, and more moderately so by social capital. The results also showed that ACAP influences product innovation, but each of its dimensions demonstrated a different impact.Practical implicationsThis study helps practitioners to identify the development of a firm’s intangible resources and its influences on product innovation. This characterization can serve as a benchmark for managers or private and public companies to define strategies and policies to stimulate innovation.Originality/valueFew studies present a theoretical discussion about the relationship between a firm’s resources and ACAP’s dimensions in broad empirical contexts or in emerging countries.