bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Training is now more than simply ticking the right boxes
Authors: Cadman Charlie 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to advance the view that the planned reduction in health and safety red‐tape in the UK, combined with growing industry demand for proven skills from contractors and suppliers as well as the cross‐skilling that has become so important during the recession, is changing attitudes to training in the UK.Design/method/approachThe paper examines the new regulatory environment and its effect on the requirements for, and provision of, training.FindingsThe paper argues that ensuring that employees have the right skills goes far beyond meeting regulatory obligations, and there is now a real opportunity to build strong, long‐term employee competency, minimize accidents and create the skills that reflect business needs.Practical implicationsThe paper reveals that, in times of austerity, by investing in effective Human Resources and leadership training, organizations can not only achieve greater competencies to meet client and service delivery requirements, but can also transform the effectiveness of internal business functions by harnessing the talents of existing employees.Social implicationsThe paper emphasizes that, while the UK government is stepping back from its prescriptive approach, industry is demanding that both direct and indirect employees are certified to undertake specific roles as a prerequisite for employment or a new contract.Originality/valueThe paper sheds light on the types and levels of training that are in demand, and can help companies to prosper, in the new regulatory environment.
Recruiting CEOs from an under‐used resource
Authors: by Gareth Bell Interview 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to provide an interview with Joanne Sellwood‐Taylor and Sharon Mullen of Mullwood Partnership.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides an interview with Joanne Sellwood‐Taylor and Sharon Mullen of Mullwood Partnership.FindingsThe research carried out by Mullwood Partnership leads them to suggest that senior human resource (HR) professionals may be ideally situated to become the next generation of CEOs.Originality/valueThe interview offers advice for HR professionals who aspire to progress into wider functional roles.
Accreditation in higher education in Chile: results and consequences
Authors: Espinoza Óscar , Eduardo González Luis 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze and discuss the results that the accreditation system implemented in Chile has brought to higher education institutions and undergraduate and graduate programs, taking into account both its positive and negative implications.Design/methodology/approachThe examination of the Chilean accreditation regime relies on descriptive statistics based on official data from several sources.FindingsIt appears that the Chilean accreditation regime has helped to establish permanent procedures for quality assurance in higher education institutions which has resulted in improving its internal processes, but still the system faces a series of challenges that have to be addressed in order to improve the higher education system as a whole.Originality/valueThe Chilean accreditation experience is placed within the discussion and context of accreditation systems around the world, and lessons which can be relevant to other countries are drawn.
Different academics' characteristics, different perceptions on quality assessment?
Authors: Cardoso Sónia , João Rosa Maria , Santos Cristina S. 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore Portuguese academics' perceptions on higher education quality assessment objectives and purposes, in general, and on the recently implemented system for higher education quality assessment and accreditation, in particular. It aims to discuss the differences of those perceptions dependent on some academics' characteristics, such as: gender, disciplinary affiliation, type of higher education institution and experience in quality assurance activities.Design/methodology/approachAn online questionnaire with Likert‐type answer scales was distributed to the Portuguese academic population (n=36,215). In total, 962 answers were collected from academics belonging to the public higher education system. Data were treated resorting to descriptive statistics, hypothesis tests and analysis of variance.FindingsPortuguese academics tend to support the majority of goals and purposes quality assessment may have, as well as the main features of the newly designed quality assessment and accreditation system. Nevertheless they tend to support more quality assessment mechanisms privileging improvement over control. This support is slightly more evident among female academics, academics from public polytechnic institutions, from medical and health sciences and with former experience in quality assurance activities.Originality/valueThe study adds to the discussion on academics' perceptions on quality assurance, highlighting the influence played at this level by some of their characteristics. It is especially relevant for those working either in higher education institutions or governmental agencies, since it may contribute to the design of quality assurance systems academics are more likely to support.
Things can get worse
Authors: Karl Grebe Sasha 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the circumstances in which a crisis response strategy can compound a crisis, especially a corporate scandal, as evidenced by the case of AWB Limited, where the organisational damage of the “cover‐up” escalated the scandal further and caused additional damage to the company.Design/methodology/approachThe AWB case study provides a unique insight into the application of theories and research on crisis and reputation management and the specific challenges and risks of corporate scandals.FindingsAs a specific form of crisis, corporate scandals can easily descend into a secondary or “double crisis” if incorrectly managed, or even mismanaged.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper shows that the information provided to the Australian Government's Royal Commission and other documents relating to the management of the scandal by the company further embarrassed AWB and exposed the inappropriateness of the original defensive apologia crisis response strategy pursued by the company.Practical implicationsThe AWB case study provides an opportunity for alignment with the crisis response theories of Coombs and De Maria, based on the evaluation of the initial failed response strategy and the more appropriate response eventually undertaken by the company.Originality/valueThe paper offers the additional insights of the author (as a former member of the management team at the company) into the documents tendered to the Royal Commission, which have not been evaluated and studied for their contribution to crisis communication and crisis management.
Finite element analysis of thermal distributions of solder ball in flip chip ball grid array using ABAQUS
Authors: Boon Kar Yap , Azrina Talik Noor , Sauli Zaliman , Siow Fei Jean , Retnasamy Vithyacharan 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe increased use recently of area‐array technology in electronic packaging has similarly increased the importance of predicting the thermal distribution of area‐array solder interconnection. As the interconnection technology for flip chip package is getting finer and smaller, it is extremely difficult to obtain the accurate values of thermal stresses by direct experimental measurements. Different types of solder bumps used for interconnection would also influence the thermal distribution within the package. Because the solder balls are too small for direct measurement of their stresses, finite element method (FEM) was used for obtaining the stresses instead.Design/methodology/approachThis paper will discuss the results of the thermal stress distribution using numerical method via ABAQUS software. The variation of the thermal stress distribution with the temperature gradient model was evaluated to study the effects of the different material thermal conductivity of solder bumps used. A detailed 2D finite element model was constructed to perform 2D plain strain elastoplastic analysis to predict areas of high stress.FindingsIt is found that thermal distribution of solder bumps starts to propagate from the top region to the bottom region of the solder balls. Other than that, thermal stress effect increases in parallel with the increasing of the temperature. The simulation results shows that leaded solder balls, SnPb have higher maximum thermal stress level compared to lead‐free SAC solder balls.Originality/valueThe paper describes combination of stress with thermal loading correlation on a flip chip model. The work also shows how the different thermal conductivity on solder balls influences the thermal induced stress on the flip chip package.
Electronic device integrated with LTCC temperature stabilizer
Authors: Jurków Dominik , Lis Grzegorz 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the application of low temperature cofired ceramics (LTCC) technology in the fabrication of a novel electronic device, which consists of an antenna amplifier integrated with temperature stabilizer. The temperature controller consists of a thick‐film thermistor and heater, which has been optimized using geometry to achieve uniform temperature distribution on the whole electronic substrate.Design/methodology/approachLTCC technology was applied in the fabrication process of the novel device. The temperature distribution on the ceramic substrate and temperature stabilization time were analyzed using an IR camera. The heating ability of the heater was tested in a climatic chamber. The heater and thermistors parameters variability were estimated using a basic mathematical statistic.FindingsThe integrated device ensures proper temperature conditions of electronic components if the ambient temperature is lower than −40°C.Research limitations/implicationsThe presented device is just a first prototype. Therefore, the fabrication of the next structures and further experiments will be needed to improve structural drawbacks and to analyze precisely the device reliability and parameters repeatability.Practical implicationsThe device presented in the paper can be applied in systems working at very low ambient temperatures (even at −5°C). Moreover, a temperature stabilizer can increase the temperature of the whole device above −40°C, therefore, standard electronic components (which can work down to −40°C) can be used instead of specialized ones (which can work below −40°C).Originality/valueThis paper presents a novel temperature stabilizer.
The lean and agile purchasing portfolio model
Authors: Drake Paul R. , Myung Lee Dong , Hussain Matloub 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to present a purchasing portfolio model for determining purchasing strategy at the component level of a product to support business strategy, addressing weaknesses in the often cited Kraljic‐type models. The work draws on Fisher's model to match supply strategy to product nature. However, Fisher's model was criticised very recently by Lo and Power in this journal because it is unclear how the “leagile” option should fit into it. This paper addresses this issue.Design/methodology/approachThe new portfolio model is based on the literature, particularly Fisher's seminal work. It is then applied to two case studies; an electric boiler manufacturer and an elevator manufacturer, both in South Korea. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to position purchased components in the model.FindingsDifferent purchasing strategies should be assigned to different components according to their impact on the competitive priorities. As the electric boiler is a functional product, while the elevator is an innovative product, the case studies show how this can vary across the two product‐types identified by Fisher.Research limitations/implicationsThe new model has been tested on only two case studies, which limits the ability to generalise the findings. Future work will use the lean and agile purchasing portfolio model in research and knowledge exchange activities with other industrial partners to further develop and test its efficacy.Originality/valueThe new model captures the finding of Fisher and others that products should be classified as functional or innovation to determine their suitability for lean or agile supply respectively. However, this classification is extended here to the component level and with the addition of the leagile and non‐strategic supply options, and it depends on the impact a component has on the four competitive priorities; cost, quality, time and flexibility.
Does life insurance activity promote economic development in India: an empirical analysis
Authors: Ghosh Amlan 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe role of financial institutions and financial intermediaries in fostering the economic growth by improving the efficiency of capital accumulation, encouraging savings and ultimately improving the productivity of the economy has been well accepted by now. Recent studies show that the insurance industry can improve the economic growth through financial intermediation, risk aversion and generating employment. This study aims to find the relationship between life insurance industry and economic development in India.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses the VAR‐VECM model to find out the long run and short run relationship (if any) between life insurance growth and economic growth along with Granger causality test to suggest any causal relationship.FindingsThis study finds that there is long term relationship between life insurance industry and economic development in India. And the Granger causality test suggests that life insurance sector improves the overall economic development in India and the reverse is not significant.Research limitations/implicationsThe only limitation to study the relationship between life insurance sector development and economic development is the data set which has been used is annual data as the quarterly data were not available for insurance industry.Practical implicationsThe study documented the long run relationship between life insurance industry and economic development in India and finds that the life insurance sector improves the overall economic development in India. This would help us to understand the implications of the life insurance market development in the post reform era.Originality/valueThere is a dearth of literature on the Indian economy in relation to the insurance sector, specifically the life insurance sector. This is the first attempt to study the impact of life insurance development on Indian economy after the reforms initiated in the insurance sector.
State‐level borrowing costs under deregulation – an Indian experience
Authors: Dey Shubhasis , Nair Sthanu R. 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the effect of deregulation of government securities market on the cost of market borrowing of 14 major states in India.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical models explaining changes in interest rates on market borrowings of the Indian states under consideration are tested. The stability of the empirical relationships are then evaluated using structural breakpoint tests conducted around known periods of deregulation in the government securities market.FindingsThe stability tests clearly pointed to difference in the dynamics of market borrowing rates pre and post deregulation for overwhelming majority of the states in the sample.Research limitations/implicationsThe question pertaining to whether government securities market deregulation reduced or raised states' market borrowing rates is left unaddressed in the current study.Originality/valueAn empirical assessment of the effects of deregulation of the government securities market on the cost of states' borrowing in India is imperative considering the key role played by them in the provision of various public services. The data set created to conduct such an analysis is unique and has the potential to uncover more interesting features about state‐level borrowing in India.
Behavior of participants in a defined contribution pension scheme
Authors: Pande Alok 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to ascertain the behavioral issues in the usage of GPF (a DC scheme) by government employees in India. Using a unique data set of employees working in a central government office this paper attempts to ascertain whether the employees are utilizing the GPF in a way in which it was intended to be.Design/methodology/approachThe paper utilizes the hypotheses testing approach in studying the behavior of participants.FindingsThe results suggest that employees in GPF accounts do not have sufficient balances to take care of their retirement needs and they are using these accounts more as long term saving accounts rather than retirement accounts. Besides, employees suffer from inertia in making contributions as well as withdrawals from their GPF accounts. Finally, the data demonstrate that there are gender differences in savings and women tend to have higher balances than their men counterparts.Research limitations/implicationsDue to the small sample size the generality of the results is limited.Practical implicationsThe results have the potential of influencing policy design in the post reform pension system.Originality/valueAlthough the pensions literature has extensively covered the liabilities of the governments in defined benefit (DB) plans for their employees, not much literature is available on how government employees are utilizing the benefits which were intended for them in both DB and defined contribution (DC) schemes. The data set used in the study is unique and is the first attempt to understand government pension benefits in an empirical manner.
The environment and space, not phylogeny, determine trait dispersion in a subtropical forest
Authors: Liu Xiaojuan , Swenson Nathan G. , Zhang Jinlong , Ma Keping 
Published: January 2013

Summary

A central aim of forest ecologists is to quantify the relative importance of different community assembly mechanisms in tropical and subtropical tree communities. Recent work in this field has focused on the importance of functional trait similarity and abiotic filtering. While important, none of this work has simultaneously: linked these trait dispersion patterns to the underlying abiotic environment, considered dispersal limitation and quantified the degree to which patterns of trait dispersion may be explained simply by shared ancestry.
Here we use data from a subtropical Chinese forest to accomplish this goal. We first examine the trait dispersion (leaf area, specific leaf area, seed mass, wood density, maximum height and five traits together) on local scales by comparing the observed trait dispersion pattern to that expected from a null model. Then we use a variance partitioning approach to examine the degree to which spatial proximity, environmental similarity or the phylogenetic dispersion of the species determine the observed trait dispersion.
The results show that, on local scales, trait dispersion is often non‐randomly filtered. Further the widespread trait clustering observed is largely explained by the environment and space, while the phylogenetic dispersion of species in a sample explains relatively little. This result further underscores that inferring an assembly mechanism from a pattern of phylogenetic dispersion is tenuous.
The work is important in that it is the first to partition the variation in tree trait diversity into its spatial, environmental and phylogenetic components and that it demonstrates that functional trait data often lack enough phylogenetic signal on local scales to confidently link patterns of trait and phylogenetic dispersion. Ultimately, the findings suggest a strong role for abiotic filtering and dispersal limitation during community assembly on local spatial scales and that shared evolutionary history plays a relatively small role.
Dosing time‐dependent effect of raloxifene on plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 concentrations in post‐menopausal women with osteoporosis
Authors: Ando Hitoshi , Otoda Toshiki , Ookami Hitoshi , Nagai Yukihiro , Inano Akihiro , Takamura Toshinari , Ushijima Kentarou , Hosohata Keiko , Matsushita Eiki , Saito Tetsuo , Kaneko Shuichi , Fujimura Akio 
Published: January 2013

Summary

Raloxifene, a selective oestrogen receptor modulator commonly used for the treatment of post‐menopausal osteoporosis, affects the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems and consequently increases the risk of venous thromboembolism. Because both the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems exhibit circadian rhythms, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dosing time of raloxifene on markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis, as well as on markers of bone metabolism.

Thirty‐nine post‐menopausal patients with osteoporosis were randomly allocated to two groups: one received 60 mg raloxifene once daily in the morning, whereas the other received 60 mg raloxifene once daily in the evening, for 12 months.

In both groups, the activity of coagulation Factors IX and XII was increased significantly after 12 months treatment compared with baseline. The activity of coagulation Factors II and V and levels of markers of bone metabolism (i.e. bone alkaline phosphatase and tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase 5b) decreased in both groups. The changes in these markers did not differ between the two groups. In contrast, the plasma concentration of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)‐1 increased in the group receiving the morning dose (mean change 40.9%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 9.4, 72.5), but not in the groups receiving the evening dose (mean change −0.3%; 95% CI −31.5, 30.9); these percentage changes differed significantly (P < 0.05).

Because an elevated concentration of PAI‐1 is known to be associated with the risk of venous thromboembolism, the findings of the present study suggest that the dosing time of raloxifene influences its safety. Further larger‐scale studies are needed to determine the clinical usefulness of chronotherapy with raloxifene.
Underreaction to Industry‐Wide Earnings and the Post‐Forecast Revision Drift
Authors: HUI KAI WAI , YEUNG P. ERIC 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACTWe test whether the post‐forecast revision drift is mainly attributable to investors’ underreaction to industry‐wide earnings news conveyed by analysts’ forecast revisions. We find a large drift associated with industry‐wide earnings news but no drift associated with firm‐specific earnings news. Consistent with the functional fixation hypothesis, we provide evidence that the post‐forecast revision drift is driven by investors’ underreaction to the higher persistence of industry‐wide earnings. Although prior research has focused on differential persistence of earnings components stemming from managerial reporting discretion, we provide evidence suggesting that investors do not fully understand the differential earnings persistence attributable to industry fundamentals.