bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Information technology, an enabler in corporate governance
Authors: Elizabeth Abraham Sherly 
Published: May 2014

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand how information technology can be utilized as a driver of incentives in the decision‐making process of corporate governance.Design/methodology/approachThe existing theories in corporate governance are compared to understand the incentives offered to executives. Based on the analysis of the theories presented here, an incentive framework is proposed for corporate executives by utilizing the contributions of information technology.FindingsIt is found that find that the stakeholder perspective promotes a value‐laden approach to corporate governance as opposed to other views that are unilateral. The study posits tapping in to the values and beliefs of corporate executives to produce viable and lasting results as opposed to monetary incentives. Information technology is proposed as an “enabler” in empowering executives towards promoting a stakeholder perspectivePractical implicationsThe paper's recommendations can be used by researchers, executives and board members to enhance corporate governance through information technology.Originality/valueThe originality of the work presented here is in analyzing the affordances of information technology to enhance decision‐making in corporate governance. Information technology is proposed as an “enabler” in empowering executives and board members towards promoting a stakeholder perspective.
The sustainability of corporate governance – considerations for a model
Authors: Jones Alan L. , Thompson Clive H. 
Published: May 2014

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to seek comment on a proposed new model for measuring and monitoring the sustainability of corporate governance.Design/methodology/approachThe unprecedented combination of the scarcity of finance, low growth, and environmental pressures, together with new attitudes to employment, makes an extremely challenging environment that demands a more comprehensive concept of sustainability. It is redefined here to encompass the management of all resources, whether they be natural, human, environmental financial or social, and “Sustainable Governance©” is a framework that creates and monitors a structure that husbands the way that all resources are managed for today and for a long term sustainable future. To meet the challenge of the changing world, a 12‐point management model is proposed, together with a comprehensive rating system employed to analyse progress and benchmark competitive performance.FindingsCorporate governance cannot be left to chance in the business climate of the twenty‐first century. Public trust has been lost and boards will need to be seen to be in control not only of the present but also of the future. All resources will have to be treated as finite and accountability will be a byword in all corporations. To be sustainable, corporate governance must cover all aspects of corporate resources and activities and it must also be measured in a more formal and transparent manner. This article outlines a model that could be used for this purpose. It is taking measurement beyond the simplistic “scorecard” approach favoured in the past. It is a seed from which the authors expect to see a fertile growth and all comments are welcome to further the model and the process.Practical implicationsThe choice facing organizations in the twenty‐first century is either to react to each set of pressures that come along as they arise, or to take a hard look at the economic, environmental and social context in which they operate, and create a framework that will give them the ability to manage in a long‐term sustainable structure.Originality/valueThis supersedes the scorecard approach for monitoring corporate governance. It is new and untried but the authors seek input and comments from readers.
Interlocks network structure as driving force of coopetition among Italian firms
Authors: Simoni Michele , Caiazza Rosa 
Published: May 2014

PurposeThe prevalent literature considers interlocking directorates as a mechanisms of cooperation among companies, but if the same director seats on the boards of two companies that are in competition, interlocking directorates, matching cooperation with competition, become a coopetition mechanism. This article aims to argue that the analysis of both the structure and the evolution of interlocking directorates provides some relevant insights on the driving forces behind the coopetition among firms.Design/methodology/approachThrough a longitudinal study the authors analyzed relations among Italian listed firms belonging to financial or manufacturing sectors and traced the evolution networks of interlocking directorates among them. They then analyzed the coopetitive nature of interlocking directorates among firms acting in the same sector that are in direct competition and their impact on M&A processes.FindingsIt was evidenced that interlocking directorates among firms belonged to the same industry could be considered a coopetitive mechanism if they facilitate formation of deeper relations among competitors such as their integration through M&A.Originality/valueThis article offers a new perspective of analysis in interlocking directorates' field of research.
Organizational culture, intersectoral collaboration and mental health care
Authors: Fay Mitchell Penelope , Eleanor Pattison Philippa 
Published: May 2014

PurposeThis study aims to investigate whether and how organizational culture moderates the influence of other organizational capacities on the uptake of new mental health care roles by non‐medical primary health and social care services.Design/methodology/approachUsing a cross‐sectional survey design, data were collected in 2004 from providers in 41 services in Victoria, Australia, recruited using purposeful sampling. Respondents within each service worked as a group to complete a structured interview that collected quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously. Five domains of organizational capacity were analyzed: leadership, moral support and participation; organizational culture; shared concepts, policies, processes and structures; access to resource support; and social model of health. A principal components analysis explored the structure of data about roles and capacities, and multiple regression analysis examined relationships between them. The unit of analysis was the service (n=41).FindingsOrganizational culture was directly associated with involvement in two types of mental health care roles and moderated the influence of factors in the inter‐organizational environment on role involvement.Research limitations/implicationsCongruence between the values embodied in organizational culture, communicated in messages from the environment, and underlying particular mental health care activities may play a critical role in shaping the emergence of intersectoral working and the uptake of new roles.Originality/valueThis study is the first to demonstrate the importance of organizational culture to intersectoral collaboration in health care, and one of very few to examine organizational culture as a predictor of performance, compared with other organizational‐level factors, in a multivariate analysis. Theory is developed to explain the findings.
Age‐related attitudes: the influence on relationships and performance at work
Authors: Josef Gellert Franz , Schalk René 
Published: May 2014

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the influence of age and age‐related attitudes on relationship factors. In addition, it seeks to assess how both factors affect care service work performance.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explores the influence of age and age‐related attitudes on the relationship quality among employees, affecting performance in mentally and physically demanding work settings. The authors conducted the research in six residential homes for the elderly in Germany (152 respondents) and collected the data with questionnaires. Data are analyzed by multi‐hierarchical regression analyses.FindingsResults show that age‐related attitudes (intergenerational cooperation and the perception of older employees' capabilities) are important factors influencing the perceived quality level of in‐group cooperation. Both age‐related attitudes and relationship factors influence perceived employee performance, and job satisfaction.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings contribute to understanding how age‐related attitudes influence relationships among employees, the relationship between employees and supervisor, and the effect on service performance. The mono‐cultural sample might be a limitation, as well as the composition of the sample: The majority of respondents were female.Practical implicationsFor leaders, supervisors and managers the results contribute to understanding how employees' age‐related attitudes, in mentally and physically demanding work settings, influence the quality level of relationships and outcomes. This is relevant in the context of leaders/supervisors promoting followers' individual development and group/team development.Originality/valueThe paper shows that in care service work with an increasing number of older employees, the positive perception of age‐related attitudes influences relationship quality and performance positively.
Healthcare board governance
Authors: Chambers Naomi 
Published: May 2014

PurposeIn the light of failings of the board highlighted by the mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry, this paper seeks to offer insights about how boards in general might develop in order to discharge their responsibilities for quality and safety in health care more consistently in the future. The paper also proposes to examine wider questions about the role, purpose, and impact of boards on organisations.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on literature from across the social sciences to assess the evidence for effective board working using a contingency and realist approach.FindingsThe examination leads to the identification of three key issues surrounding the construction and the development of boards. First, there is no evidence or consensus about an “ideal” board form. The rationale and evidence‐base, for example for the 1991 model for NHS boards in the English NHS, has never been set out in an adequate manner. Second, the evidence about effective board working suggests that there are some key principles but also that local circumstances are really important in steering the focus and behaviours of effective boards. Third, there is an emerging proposition that boards, including in healthcare, need to embody a culture of high trust across the executive and non executive divide, together with robust challenge, and a tight grip on the business of delivering high quality patient care in a financially sustainable way (high trust – high challenge – high engagement).Originality/valueThe paper argues that it is advisable to move away from a tendency to faith‐based and exhortative approaches to guidance, training and development of boards and that it is time for a root‐and‐branch inquiry into the composition, structure, processes and dynamics of healthcare boards in the interests of assuring patient safety.
Social value judgments in healthcare: a philosophical critique
Authors: Biron Laura , Rumbold Benedict , Faden Ruth 
Published: May 2014

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider some of the philosophical and bioethical issues raised by the creation of the draft social values framework developed to facilitate data collection and country‐specific presentations at the inaugural workshop on “Social values and health priority setting” held in February 2011.Design/methodology/approachConceptual analysis is used to analyse the term “social values”, as employed in the framework, and its relationship to related ideas such as moral values. The structure of the framework (process and content values) is considered in light of current debate in philosophy and bioethics about the political and moral aims served by these kinds of values, and the extent to which they are either suited to, or sufficient for, the policy context.FindingsThere is much to be gained by engaging with the arguments presented in the philosophical literature in order to further refine the framework. The framework should remain neutral in respect of the importance of procedural values in different contexts and should be as inclusive as possible in respect of the principles it includes. Further development would be best served by taking a multidisciplinary approach. The framework could provide a valuable space in which future debates about procedural/substantive values can be considered.Originality/valueThe paper brings philosophical and bioethics perspectives to bear on a new framework proposed for the analysis of social values in health priority setting. It identifies how such a practical, policy‐focused framework might be informed by engagement with deeper, and often unresolved, questions or principle around resource allocation in health.
Social values and health priority setting in China
Authors: Docherty Mary , Cao Qi , Wang Hufeng 
Published: May 2014

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the organisational and procedural arrangements for healthcare reform in China, and describe the role of social values in the relevant decision‐making process.Design/methodology/approachAn analysis of recent developments aimed at achieving universal coverage in China was undertaken in the context of describing the influence of underlying social values.FindingsThe key underlying social value was found to be social solidarity. Other values were implicit rather than explicitly stated, and were subservient to the overall aim of comprehensive coverage.Originality/valueThe paper shows that China is embarking on the largest‐scale health reforms in the world. There is an eagerness to share experiences with other countries in an attempt to ensure the success of the reforms. There is an increasing understanding of the need to make the values underpinning the reforms more explicit and, in particular, those concerned with efficiency and appropriateness.
Consideration of social values in the establishment of accountable care organizations in the USA
Authors: Keren Ron , Littlejohns Peter 
Published: May 2014

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce the new US health organizations called accountable care organizations (ACOs) which are expected to improve the quality and reduce the cost of healthcare for Medicare enrolees. It assesses the importance of ACOs, defining and articulating the values that will underpin their strategic and clinical decision making.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a social values framework developed by Clark and Weale to consider the values relevant to ACOs.FindingsIt is likely that social values could be made more explicit in a US setting than they have ever been before, via the new ACOs. Social values could start to form part of a local health economy's marketing strategy.Originality/valueACOs are very new. This paper identifies that they will need to be very explicit about the values relevant to them. The development of ACOs and the articulation of social values therein may even form the basis of a meaningful dialogue on the importance of assessing value for money or cost‐effectiveness in the wider US health policy environment.
Information‐seeking behaviour
Authors: Spagnoli Paola , Caetano Antonio , Tanucci Giancarlo , Lourenço de Sousa Vera 
Published: May 2014

PurposeDespite more than three decades of studies, the role of information‐seeking during organizational socialization remains ambiguous. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role played by information‐seeking behaviour during the organizational socialization process.Design/methodology/approachTwo different information‐seeking behaviors (implicit and explicit) were considered as mediators in the relationship between personality (extroversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness), organizational variables (LMX and POS) and organizational socialization outcomes (task mastery, social integration, role ambiguity, role conflict). Analysis carried out with SEM (structural equation modelling) on longitudinal survey data from 316 new police officers during their first six months of work showed interesting results regarding the two hypothesized mediators.FindingsIn particular, the results show that the two information‐seeking behaviors seem to be related to different paths that link personality and social‐exchange variables to organizational outcomes.Originality/valueThe paper's findings provide useful clues for a better understanding of the role of information‐seeking behaviour during the socialization process and highlight the importance of social support in predicting newcomer adjustment.
The parametered modeling technology study for the civil aircraft engine fan blade
Authors: Zeng Haijun , Sun Youchao 
Published: May 2014

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce parametered modeling technology for the civil aircraft engine fan blade, to design the fan blade rapidly and accurately.Design/methodology/approachThe entire fan blade consists of three crucial parts: blade airfoil, tenon and airfoil root. Blade airfoil with a free surface feature is formed through the blade profiles from the hub to tip in the radial direction. The non‐uniform rational basis spline (NURBS) is utilized to describe the blade profile. The geometry model of fan blade tenon is generated by extruding the sketch of the tenon. And the fillet section is designed to achieve the smooth transition of the up surface and the bottom surface of the blade root. Furthermore, the fan blade of a typical commercial engine is redesigned by the above method.FindingsThe stress analysis of the fan blade shows that the fan blade model designed in this work is reasonable.Originality/valueThe parametered fan blade model is presented on the basics of feature‐based modeling technology.
Administration of emergency antiepileptics in staffed care homes for people with intellectual disabilities in High Wycombe: survey of staff training status
Authors: Deepak Sharada , Obe Elizabeth , Attavar Rajnish 
Published: May 2014

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to ascertain the training status of staff in care homes for people with intellectual disabilities managed by the non‐health sector in High Wycombe, with regard to administering emergency antiepileptic medication and to identify training needs.Design/methodology/approachManagement of seizures in people with intellectual disabilities and epilepsy comes with its challenges. Although there are clear guidelines for the same, implementing them in the community, especially in the non‐health sector setting, raises the issue of training staff in the administration of emergency antiepileptic medication. A survey was undertaken in response to the varying staff training needs. A short semi‐structured questionnaire was designed and administered over the telephone to the managers of these care homes.FindingsLess than half of the care homes had staff trained to administer emergency antiepileptic medication. The commonest reason cited was their policy of admitting only patients with well controlled seizures. This paper identified the need for staff training and raising awareness amongst relevant healthcare professionals.Practical implicationsThe survey highlights the practical difficulties arising in the implementation of national and trust level healthcare policies in the community.Originality/valueThis paper is of value to clinicians working with people with intellectual disabilities and epilepsy, GPs, and staff and management in the care homes in the health and non‐health sectors. It raises questions around delineation of responsibility and communication between various professionals in various levels of care involved in managing people with intellectual disabilities and epilepsy to ensure provision of safe and effective care for this population.
Cultural adaptation of web design services as critical success factor for business excellence
Authors: Calabrese Armando , Capece Guendalina , Di Pillo Francesca , Martino Federico 
Published: May 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether cultural backgrounds of nations are expressed through the web design of their companies. Actually, it investigates whether, in countries characterized by the same cultural matrix and language but by different national backgrounds, the cultural specificities of a country are a critical success factor for web design and enablers of business excellence.Design/methodology/approach– Starting from a deep literature review, four research hypotheses on the relationship between cultural background and web design are formulated. By employing both the content analysis and the cross-tabulation methodology, these hypotheses are tested.Findings– Brazilian, Portuguese, Angolan and Macanese web sites show that companies operating in these countries are aware that cultural background is a necessary success factor to consider for improving cross-cultural management of computer-mediated communication. Indeed, the findings confirm that the internet is not a culturally neutral communication medium. By providing evidences of web site cultural adaptation, this study supports the use of a targeted approach to web site design and provides managerial guidelines for improving business excellence of companies’ online environment.Originality/value– The paper offers insights into the topic of a culturally adapted computer-mediated communication for improving consumer experience.
The susceptibility of the vulnerable: some realities reassessed
Authors: Lewis James 
Published: May 2014

Purpose– This intentionally short paper considers the wide range of interpretations of “vulnerability” since its 1979 adoption in disaster studies and proposes some necessary separation and re-categorisation of its current applications.Design/methodology/approach– The short history of the use of “vulnerability” in disasters studies is examined, contrasting present day contexts with those of its earliest use.Findings– “Vulnerability” is retained for its conventional place-based role, whilst superimposed social and political constraints are allocated to “susceptibility”, a term often used to define “vulnerability”; the two terms taking on equal mutually supportive roles. Separation of the two terms is supported by on example of their realities in war and post-war conditions, together with other examples not in contexts of war. Separation of terms suggests the issue of whether manifestation of vulnerability brings about additional personal susceptibility.Research limitations/implications– Implications are that both vulnerability and susceptibility may become better understood in disaster studies and its applications in the field.Practical implications– The media is seen as a possible eventual target for a published version of this short paper so that, in time, public as well as academic readership may be reached.Originality/value– Dissatisfaction occasionally expressed regarding uses of “vulnerability” has, so far, received little radical attention.