bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An investigation of the range sensitivity of attribute weight in the analytic hierarchy process
Authors: Lin Shi‐Woei 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the range sensitivity of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and evaluate the effectiveness of using a bottom‐up approach to mitigate the possible range insensitivity bias in the AHP.Design/methodology/approachAn experiment was conducted to test the normative range‐sensitivity of four different methods: the AHP with bottom‐up evaluation; direct ratio weights; swing weights; and trade‐off weights. Also, the significance of the range‐sensitivity effects and the differences among weighting approaches were rigorously tested using various statistical models.FindingsResults show that the range sensitivities of AHP and direct ratio weights are significantly less than the range sensitivities of swing weights and tradeoff weights, suggesting that the bottom‐up evaluation approach might not be a feasible solution for the range‐insensitivity problem. This finding is consistent with the value‐comparison hypothesis proposed in an earlier study, and is partially supported by the theory of the multi‐dimensionality of attribute importance.Research limitations/implicationsIt is concluded that treating the attribute weights and performance scoring scales separately in the AHP or other multi‐attribute decision analysis models might lead to an arbitrary final ranking of alternatives. Therefore, it may be necessary to incorporate better elicitation procedures into the AHP models to ensure that attribute weights properly reflect the range or scale of measurement.Originality/valueThis study provides new evidence and issues words of warning of the range‐sensitivity effects in the multi‐attribute decision analysis.
Mental health in the left‐behind children in the Fujian Province of China
Authors: Albin Björn , Qin Jiang , Hong Zhang 
Published: March 2013

PurposeAn increasing number of people are migrating within the borders of China. Some migrants have to leave their children behind, and 58,000,000 children are estimated to be living as left‐behind children. Earlier studies have found severe mental problems in left‐behind children, but different factors could influence their mental health. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mental health of these left‐behind children and to determine possible influencing factors.Design/methodology/approachData for this study were collected in one province of the People's Republic of China with a validated instrument, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), to investigate behavior in 13‐to‐15‐year old children.FindingsNo significant difference was found in total difficulty score and in any subscale score of SDQ when left‐behind children were compared with children who were not left behind. A significant difference in emotional difficulty subscale score was found between girls who were left behind and girls who were not. Some socio‐economic factors such as poor family economy and living with relatives, friends or grandparents, were identified as risk factors.Originality/valueWhen strategies for support of the mental health in left‐behind children are developed, they will need to be individualized according to the gender, social and economic situation and focused on emotional and conduct problems.
Potential pathways from biopsychosocial risk factors to sleep loss due to worry: a population‐based investigation
Authors: Dregan Alex , Lallukka Tea , Armstrong David 
Published: March 2013

PurposeTypologies of sleep problems have usually relied on identifying underlying causes or symptom clusters. The purpose of this paper is to explore the value of using the patient's own reasons for sleep disturbance.Design/methodology/approachUsing secondary data analysis of a nationally representative psychiatric survey the patterning of the various reasons respondents provided for self‐reported sleep problems were examined. Over two thirds (69.3 per cent) of respondents could identify a specific reason for their sleep problem with worry (37.9 per cent) and illness (20.1 per cent) representing the most commonly reported reasons. And while women reported more sleep problems for almost every reason compared with men, the patterning of reasons by age showed marked variability. Sleep problem symptoms such as difficulty getting to sleep or waking early also showed variability by different reasons, as did the association with major correlates such as worry, depression, anxiety and poor health.FindingsWhile prevalence surveys of “insomnia” or “poor sleep” often assume the identification of an underlying homogeneous construct, there may be grounds for recognising the existence of different sleep problem types, particularly in the context of the patient's perceived reason for the problem.Originality/valueA typology based on reasons presents a different snapshot of the landscape of insomnia. Using patient's reasons to underpin a sleep nosology is an alternative way of sub‐dividing patients' symptoms which has some face validity given the “subjective” associations between reasons and symptoms.
Towards a diversity justice management model: integrating organizational justice and diversity management
Authors: Fujimoto Yuka , Härtel Charmine E.J. , Azmat Fara 
Published: March 2013

PurposeContemporary organizations are increasingly paying attention to incorporate diversity management practices into their systems in order to promote socially responsible actions and equitable employment outcomes for minority groups. The aim of this paper is to seek to address a major oversight in diversity management literature, the integration of organizational justice principles.Design/methodology/approachDrawing upon the existing literature on workforce diversity and organizational justice, the authors develop a model based on normative principles of organizational justice for justice‐based diversity management processes and outcomes.FindingsThe paper proposes that effective diversity management results from a decision‐making process that meets the normative principles of organizational justice (i.e. interactional, procedural and distributive justice). The diversity justice management model introduced in this article provides important theoretical and practical implications for establishing more moral and just workplaces.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors have not tested the conceptual framework of the diversity justice management model, and recommend future research to take up the challenge. The payoff for doing so is to enable the establishment of socially responsible workplaces where individuals, regardless of their background, are given an equal opportunity to flourish in their assigned jobs.Practical implicationsThe diversity justice management model introduced in this paper provides organizational justice (OJ)‐based guidelines for managers to ensure that OJ can be objectively benchmarked and discussed amongst diversity stakeholders to continuously improve actual and perceived OJ outcomes.Social implicationsThe social implication of this conceptual paper is reduction of workforce marginalization and establishment of socially responsible organizations whereby those marginalized (e.g. people with disabilities) can effectively work in their organizations.Originality/valueThis is the first attempt to establish a diveristy justice management model, which incorporates normative principles of organizational justice into diversity management processes and outcomes.
The use of E‐Payment in the distribution of social welfare in Ireland
Authors: Csáki Csaba , O'Brien Leona , Giller Kieran , McCarthy J.B. , Tan Kay‐Ti , Adam Frédéric 
Published: March 2013

PurposeE‐Government programs often address problems such as institutional ineffectiveness, lack of transparency, or social exclusion. Financial exclusion and people's reliance on ineffective payment methods appear to be a well‐known problem world‐wide. Yet, despite the large number of related case studies and academic reports on the topic, little is understood about the impact governmental payment practices have on the financial behaviour of citizens. Few investigations address how governmental use of payment methods and related policies may impact citizen/consumer behaviour. Through investigating the move to E‐Payment based methods to replace the dominant use of cash and cheques in social welfare in Ireland, the purpose of this paper is to explore the recipient's view of this government project.Design/methodology/approachThe research is organized as an intrinsic case study where the unit of analysis is one large project. It aims at a rich description of one particular case by analysing data collected from two main sources of evidence: preliminary investigation is done by reviewing relevant documents, while primary data collection involved face‐to‐face surveys of social welfare recipients (using a short, structured questionnaire augmented with a few open‐ended questions).FindingsThe planning and execution of E‐Government programs often face barriers of mostly social and historical nature. As the results of this research indicate, these barriers might be hard to overcome as they are the result of certain behaviours and attitudes rooted in people's daily experience, such as their daily financial reality. Results also imply that the choice of an adequate E‐Payment method and migration scenario by governmental agencies will be crucial to the outcome. Implementation and education will also be critical.Originality/valueThis study reports on the influence governmental decisions related to social welfare payment methods may have on recipients' financial habits regarding the choice of payment options. It also shows how recipients' everyday experience and financial reality determine the way they relate to payment options.
Transforming local government by project portfolio management
Authors: Kristian Hansen Lars , Kræmmergaard Pernille 
Published: March 2013

PurposeAs public organizations strive for higher e‐government maturity, information technology (IT) Project Portfolio Management (IT PPM) has become a high priority issue. Assuming control is central in IT PPM, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how a Danish local government conducts control in IT PPM. The authors identify control problems and formulate recommendations to address these.Design/methodology/approachAdopting principles from Engaged Scholarship, the authors have conducted a case study using a wide variety of data collection methods, including 29 interviews, one workshop, and analyses of documents.FindingsIt is found that the local government relies vastly on informal control mechanisms and five control problems are identified: weak accountability processes between the political and administrative level; weak accountability between the director level and the IT executives; IT projects established on the basis of incomplete information about internal resources; lack of operational goals to hold IT projects accountable; and no account of actual IT project costs. The authors propose a model for highlighting how more formal control can be implemented and address the identified control problems.Research limitations/implicationsAs a single qualitative case study, the results are limited to one organization and subject.Practical implicationsThe paper has implications for IT PPM in Danish local governments and similar organizations in other countries. The paper shows that the lack of formal control mechanisms makes accountability between hierarchical levels difficult, which deprives organizations of the opportunity to pursue and display unambiguous value from their e‐government initiatives.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills an identified need to understand how local governments can improve IT PPM.
Where there's a will there's a way
Authors: Gaffney‐Rhys Ruth , Jones Joanna 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to explore inheritance planning amongst small business owners, which is important due to the complex nature of a business proprietor's estate and the fact that the latter sometimes have specific aspirations regarding the succession of the enterprise.Design/methodology/approachThe article highlights the problems that can arise if a business owner dies intestate and then considers the levels of will ownership amongst small business owners in South Wales and attitudes to inheritance planning.FindingsThe primary research conducted found that a significant number of small business owners have not made a will (51 percent) and that the reasons for not doing so are complex and varied.Originality/valueSeveral themes emerged from the study, such as the importance of contact with professional advisers, the impact of culture on inheritance planning, reliance on trust, the problems associated with complicated family circumstances and the effect of the current economic climate on attitudes to inheritance planning
Consumer insights for developing markets
Authors: Belk Russell W. 
Published: March 2013

PurposeMultinational companies (MNCs) entering developing markets face cultural, language, and other barriers to understanding consumers. Ethnographic consumer insights research offers the best means of understanding needed product innovations and adaptations for these markets. This paper aims to focus on these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe paper emphasizes qualitative methods and gives examples of their successful application in developing markets.FindingsDespite a wealth of quantitative consumer data from surveys, online data, and secondary data analysis, these methods cannot provide a culture‐sensitive understanding of local consumers. Anthropological approaches are best situated to do this.Originality/valueWhile MNCs have global experience they can gain local experience by coming to see through the lens of qualitative consumer insights.
Mediating roles of commitment and corporate image in the formation of customer loyalty
Authors: Kaur Harsandaldeep , Soch Harmeen 
Published: March 2013

PurposeIdentifying the loyalty drivers to cell phone operators is extremely important in today's competitive environment. Consensus is absent in the marketing literature on how loyalty should be conceptualized and measured in the service industry. The purpose of this study is to test an integrative model to examine the relations among customer satisfaction, trust, commitment, corporate image, attitudinal loyalty and behavioural loyalty. It also aims to examine the mediating roles of commitment and corporate image on causal relationships between trust and loyalty.Design/methodology/approachData collection was done in two stages: in the first stage in which the primary purpose of analysis was pre‐testing, the authors collected data from 250 respondents. In the second stage, data were obtained from 855 mobile phone users in India via questionnaire. The data were analysed by structural equation modelling (SEM) in order to test all the relationships between variables in the model.FindingsThe findings supported the proposed hypotheses, which are consistent with the theoretical framework. Analysis showed that corporate image is an important determinant of attitudinal loyalty.Research limitations/implicationsIn order to generalize the findings, the proposed model should be studied in different service industries. This research does not examine the interaction effects between customer satisfaction and trust. Future researchers can test these interaction effects and study its impact on development of behavioural and attitudinal loyalty. The proposed model should be tested using a longitudinal research design.Practical implicationsFirms should focus both on attitudinal and behavioural loyalty to create truly loyal customers. A defensive marketing strategy is important for the highly competitive and maturing mobile telecommunications service market. Mobile phone companies should develop and reinforce marketing strategies focusing on factors (satisfaction, commitment, trust and corporate image) which have the greatest influence on retention.Originality/valueThis paper examines the mediating roles of commitment and corporate image in the formation of customer loyalty.
Evaluating event economic impact: rigour versus reality?
Authors: Davies Larissa , Coleman Richard , Ramchandani Girish 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on the methodologies used to evaluate major events. It aims to establish the most practically‐relevant methodology for analysing the economic impact of routinely‐held major events and to identify the key methodological issues for future consideration.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on empirical research undertaken by the Sport Industry Research Centre using the direct expenditure approach (DEA).FindingsThe DEA is the most pragmatic and cost‐effective method for evaluating the economic impact of medium‐sized major events. However, the approach is only as robust as the quality of data utilised to derive estimates. Key emerging methodological issues are measuring attendance, consideration of direct first‐round leakage and treatment of organisational spend and event surplus/deficit.Research limitations/implicationsThe DEA limits the measurement of economic impact to first‐round spending associated with an event. It is not suitable for measuring large‐scale mega‐events that require a more holistic and advanced method of event evaluation.Originality/valueThe paper considers the methods used to evaluate events in the context of balancing academic rigour with the everyday practical realities and constraints facing event organisers and researchers. It discusses existing and emerging methodological considerations and techniques for dealing with these. The paper will be of particular interest to researchers and practitioners from the event industry carrying out or commissioning economic impact studies.
Research productivity of accounting academics in changing and challenging times
Authors: Wills Debbie , Ridley Gail , Mitev Helena 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe aim of this study is to investigate factors considered to impact on the research productivity of accounting academics, and identify how the factors were related. The study aims to set itself within an international context of increased workloads, and revenue‐driven research and teaching.Design/methodology/approachA meta‐analysis was conducted of international studies from accounting and related business fields, published between 1988 and 2008, that examined factors influencing the research productivity of academics. A data‐driven approach to thematic analysis was used to synthesise the results, which were categorised into two time periods.FindingsThree clusters of factors that accounted for researcher productivity were found to have had most focus in related studies over the period. These were “Institutional characteristics”, “Intrinsic motivation” and “Knowledge, skills and other individual characteristics”. Hierarchical clusters of factors operating at government, institution and individual levels appeared to influence the research output of accounting academics.Practical implicationsIncreased understanding of the factors that affect the research productivity of accounting academics, and how they are related, has potential to benefit individual researchers and their institutions.Originality/valueModels identified in previous studies have not considered the impact of the relatively recent global market pressures on accounting academics. As the proposed model was developed from a meta‐analysis of many international studies it is likely to accommodate current global pressures better than previous models.
Shared service centres and management control structure change
Authors: Minnaar Reinald A. , Vosselman Ed G.J. 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to explore management control structure change related to the development of a shared service centre (SSC).Design/methodology/approachThe paper explores a transaction costs economics perspective (TCE‐perspective) on management control structure change related to the development of an SSC. Particularly, it explores and challenges the scope of such a perspective both in terms of contents (i.e. the nature of management control related to the dimensions of transactions) and process (i.e. the way change is effectuated). It does so by theorizing as well as empirically investigating management control structure change through a case study at PCM (a Dutch newspaper publisher).FindingsThe theoretical analysis broadens existing frameworks of management control structures by particularly pointing to the possibility of including governance structures for internal transactions and exit threats (connected to a market mechanism) in the management control structure of an organization. However, the paper's empirical investigations challenge the broader framework: the possibility of an exit threat was not explicitly considered by top management (“the designer” of management control). More profoundly, empirical investigations challenge the calculative approach of the change and show that the change in management control is to a large extent a drifting process.Research limitations/implicationsAn instrumental calculative approach towards SSC‐related management control change should be complemented with a relational perspective on such change, in order to further explore its drifting character.Practical implicationsA transaction costs economics approach to change in management control might provide practitioners with insights into the efficiency of specific management control structures.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the extant knowledge by both exploring and challenging a TCE‐perspective on SSC‐related changes in management control.
Lack of association between genetic polymorphisms of CYP3A4,CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 and antituberculosis drug‐induced liver injury in a community‐based Chinese population
Authors: Tang Shao‐Wen , Lv Xiao‐Zhen , Chen Ru , Wu Shan‐Shan , Yang Zhi‐Rong , Chen Da‐Fang , Zhan Si‐Yan 
Published: March 2013

Summary

The precise pathogenic mechanism of antituberculosis (anti‐TB) drug‐induced liver injury (ATLI) is poorly understood. It may be associated with drug‐metabolizing enzymes, such as cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) of CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in the risk of ATLI in a population‐based anti‐TB treatment cohort.

A nested case–control study was designed. Each ATLI case was matched 1 : 4 with controls on the basis of age, gender, treatment history, disease severity and drug dosage. The tSNPs were selected using Haploview 4.2 based on the HapMap database of Han Chinese in Beijing and genotyped by TaqMan allelic discrimination technology.

Eighty‐nine patients with ATLI and 356 controls were included in the study. One tSNP in CYP3A4 (rs12333983), two in CYP2C9 (rs4918758, rs9332098) and two in CYP2C19 (rs11568732, rs4986894) were selected and genotyped. The minor allele frequencies of rs12333983, rs4918758, rs9332098, rs11568732 and rs4986894 were 36.0%, 41.4%, 1.1%, 5.7% and 35.7%, respectively, in the patients, compared with 31.7%, 42.9%, 3.4%, 8.9% and 35.1%, respectively, in the controls. No significant differences were observed in genotypes or allele frequencies of the five tSNPs between the two groups and none of the CYP2C9 or CYP2C19 haplotypes was significantly associated with the development of ATLI.

Based on the Chinese anti‐TB treatment cohort, we did not find a significant association between the risk of ATLI and genetic polymorphisms of CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19. None of the haplotypes exhibited a significant association with the development of ATLI in a Chinese tuberculosis population.