bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The applicability of the Viable Systems Model as a diagnostic for small to medium sized enterprises
Authors: Burgess Nicola , Wake Nicholas 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis paper presents research into the use of the Viable Systems Model (VSM) in small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Research on the VSM has been focussed on large organisations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the usefulness of the VSM in diagnosing issues of viability in SMEs.Design/methodology/approachCase study research was undertaken in which semi structured diagnostic interviews took place with SMEs using the VSM as a diagnostic tool. The aim was to investigate whether the VSM would assist in diagnosing problems with viability and whether it could then prescribe and facilitate improvements in operations. Qualitative case study evidence is presented that shows the results of these interventions.FindingsThe paper reports some examples of operational problems that were exposed through the intervention process and shows some general conclusions to support the use of VSM for analysing operations and supporting small business viability. A number of “threats to viability” themes were apparent and these are discussed.Practical implicationsThe semi‐structured interview protocol created for the research could be used to diagnose viability issues in other SMEs and thus is of practical relevance to other organisations.Originality/valueThe VSM originates from the theory of cybernetics which can be broadly defined as “the science of effective organisation”. Previous use of the model has focused upon the viability of large organisations; the applicability of the VSM in a small business operational context has received little attention. The paper demonstrates the benefits of the using the VSM to pinpoint problems that threaten SME viability.
A framework for business analytics in performance management
Authors: Schläfke Marten , Silvi Riccardo , Möller Klaus 
Published: November 2012

PurposeIncreased business competition requires even more rapid and sophisticated information and data analysis. These requirements challenge performance management to effectively support the decision making process. Business analytics is an emerging field that can potentially extend the domain of performance management to provide an improved understanding of business dynamics and lead to a better decision making. The purpose of this positional paper is to introduce performance management analytics as a potential extension of performance management research and practice. The paper clarifies the possible application areas of business analytics and their advantages within the context of performance management.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs a literature based analysis and from this a conceptual argument is established. Finally, a business analytical model is presented to be used to undertake future research.FindingsThe paper clarifies the possible application areas of business analytics and their advantages within the context of organizational performance management.Originality/valueThe main implication is that the paper provides evidence of the use of business analytics for understanding organizational performance. Several insights are provided for management accounting research and education.
An intelligent e‐learning software for learning to write correct Chinese characters on mobile devices
Authors: Tam Vincent 
Published: November 2012

PurposeLearning Chinese is unquestionably very important and popular worldwide with the fast economic growth of China. To most foreigners and also local students, one of the major challenges in learning Chinese is to write Chinese characters in correct stroke sequences that are considered as significant in the Chinese culture. However, due to the potentially complicated structures of Chinese characters together with their stroke sequences, there are very few character recognition techniques that can effectively tackle the involved training task in an efficient and flexible manner. The purpose of this paper is to propose an intelligent and flexible e‐learning software based on learning objects to facilitate the learning of writing Chinese characters in correct stroke sequences.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts an incremental approach in designing the overall system architecture to emphasize on extendibility of the system. The basic features of the system including the evolution and pronunciation of each Chinese character can be embedded as a part of the learning object metadata to enhance students' understanding of Chinese characters. To demonstrate the feasibility of this proposal, a prototype of the proposed e‐learning software was built on smartphones such that students can learn anytime and anywhere.FindingsFrom the empirical evaluation of the e‐learning prototype for learning to write correct Chinese characters on mobile devices, it was found that foreign students can learn and practise the writing more effectively anytime and anywhere on their mobile devices after classes. Some initial positive feedback was collected. Furthermore, a more careful and thorough evaluation is planned to be conducted in relevant courses for foreign students in the upcoming Fall semester.Originality/valueThis proposal represents the first attempt to reduce the complexity while increasing the extendibility of the e‐learning software to learn Chinese through learning objects running on smartphones or mobile devices in general. More importantly, it opens up numerous opportunities for further investigations including possible integrations with other existing Chinese e‐learning systems.
Seeking to maintain the integrity of the fair trade model: a case study of Trade Aid importers
Authors: Stringer Christina 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe movement of profit‐orientated corporations into the fair trade value chain has caused some socially orientated fair trade organizations to question the direction the movement is taking. One organization at the forefront of the debate is Trade Aid (NZ), Inc. (hereafter Trade Aid), a New Zealand based socially orientated fair trade organization actively engaged in fair trade since the 1970s. This paper seeks to evaluate how Trade Aid is seeking to reformulate fair trade's vision of empowerment and partnership constructively.Design/methodology/approachA single case study approach is undertaken to examine how a socially orientated organization is adhering to and seeking to advance fair trade values. This research draws from the global value chain literature, which analyses how industries are governed. The relational co‐ordination or governance mode, which is characteristic of mutual dependency between supplier and buyer firms, is used as a framework for investigating the fair trade industry. Distinction is made between the corporate and social economy variants of the relational governance mode.FindingsTrade Aid's commitment to producer groups is demonstrated through various initiatives the organization is undertaking as they work both with producer groups and corporate actors to expand the fair trade market. Trade Aid is part of a worldwide socially orientated movement seeking to reformulate the vision of fair trade.Originality/valueTo date the fair trade literature has largely focused on socially orientated fair trade organizations in the Northern hemisphere. This research contributes to a gap in the literature in that it examines Trade Aid and the way this organization is addressing mainstreaming.
Quality‐centric soft admission control for video delivery over cognitive radio networks
Authors: Goudarzi Pejman 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe main purpose of the current work is high quality video transmission over cognitive radio wireless networks.Design/methodology/approachA soft computing technique based on fuzzy logic concept is introduced that can reduce the blocking probability and increase the perceived quality of video users.FindingsIt is found that by using soft computing techniques it is possible to increase the perceived quality and reduce the blocking probability in cognitive radio networks for secondary video users.Originality/valueThe main originality of this paper is twofold: at first the design philosophy in admission is quality of experience centric and second, soft computing techniques are used to decrease the blocking probability in cognitive networks.
On evaluating an approach for balancing the trade‐off on XML schema design
Authors: Schroeder Rebeca , Duarte Denio , dos Santos Mello Ronaldo 
Published: November 2012

PurposeDesigning efficient XML schemas is essential for XML applications which manage semi‐structured data. On generating XML schemas, there are two opposite goals: to avoid redundancy and to provide connected structures in order to achieve good performance on queries. In general, highly connected XML structures allow data redundancy, and redundancy‐free schemas generate disconnected XML structures. The purpose of this paper is to describe and evaluate by experiments an approach which balances such trade‐off through a workload analysis. Additionally, it aims to identify the most accessed data based on the workload and suggest indexes to improve access performance.Design/methodology/approachThe paper applies and evaluates a workload‐aware methodology to provide indexing and highly connected structures for data which are intensively accessed through paths traversed by the workload.FindingsThe paper presents benchmarking results on a set of design approaches for XML schemas and demonstrates that the XML schemas generated by the approach provide high query performance and low cost of data redundancy on balancing the trade‐off on XML schema design.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough an XML benchmark is applied in these experiments, further experiments are expected in a real‐world application.Practical implicationsThe approach proposed may be applied in a real‐world process for designing new XML databases as well as in reverse engineering process to improve XML schemas from legacy databases.Originality/valueUnlike related work, the reported approach integrates the two opposite goal in the XML schema design, and generates suitable schemas according to a workload. An experimental evaluation shows that the proposed methodology is promising.
A first step towards understanding Saudi political activities on Twitter
Authors: Al‐Khalifa Hend S. 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis study aims to understand the underlying social structure of Saudi citizens' interaction and discussion of political topics over the Twitter sphere.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs social network analysis (SNA) measurements such as centrality, eigenvector and graph density on tweets produced in June 2012 by the Saudi community.FindingsThe result of SNA reveals relevant differences in the patterns of interconnection among different political topics. It also provides insights into sociological characteristics of modern political issues in Saudi Arabia.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of this study resides in the lack of large data set for robust analysis.Originality/valueThis is the first study aiming to understand social network dynamics of Twitter targeting the Saudi community.
Online exchanges among cancer patients and caregivers
Authors: Graffigna Guendalina , Libreri Chiara , Bosio Claudio 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe meanings attributed to the quality of a person's illness experience result from important processes of co‐construction not only between healthcare professionals and patients but also among patients and caregivers. In the case of advanced cancer, new treatments extend patients’ lives but they raise the problem of the quality of this “renewed time”. Lay contexts of exchanges appear crucial for orienting the attribution of meaning to the time with cancer and for sharing practices to manage it. Furthermore, the internet is becoming an important space in which cancer patients meet and construct knowledge regarding their illness. The aim of this paper is to study knowledge‐ and practice‐construction among advanced cancer patients and caregivers, and to explore the suitability of online forums for analysis of these processes.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses the results of a qualitative study based on one online forum for long‐term cancer patients (second relapse) and one for caregivers. The discussions explored show how patients and caregivers attribute meanings to their time with cancer. Verbatim transcripts of the discussions were analyzed according to the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) procedure.FindingsThe findings suggest the system of medical representations regarding health and illness should take greater account of other (lay) systems of representations and that the internet could be a valuable resource to support the development of spontaneous networks of patient and caregivers through which to organize health interventions and to involve patients and caregivers more closely in the care and cure process.Research limitations/implicationsThe study examines the experiences of a particular subset of patients/caregivers who were internet‐literate and might be considered more “active” in their coping with the disease over a fairly limited time span. These potential limitations are being remedied in continuing research projects.Practical implicationsThe authors’ experience with this research design suggests qualitative research may be particularly valuable in casting light on emergent phenomena such as spontaneous social networks on the internet, and in encouraging more participative forms of research engagement.Originality/valueThese findings may orient therapeutic interventions to be more closely attuned to the needs of long‐term cancer patients and their caregivers. Online forums enable participants to disclose experiences, share knowledge, and co‐construct “good practices” for illness management.
Gender differences in hedonic values, utilitarian values and behavioural intentions of young consumers: insights from Iran
Authors: Nejati Mehran , Parakhodi Moghaddam Parnia 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe current study aims to investigate gender differences in hedonic and utilitarian values on Iranian young consumers' intentions for eating in fast‐casual restaurants.Design/methodology/approachBy testing a sample of 189 young consumers, aged 18 to 24, this study applied descriptive statistics, hierarchical regression analysis and independent samples t‐test to analyze the collected data.FindingsThe findings revealed that both hedonic and utilitarian values are significant determinants of behavioural intentions to eat in fast‐casual restaurants. However, no moderation effect was found for gender in the above‐mentioned relationship.Research limitations/implicationsConvenience sampling technique applied in this research limits the generalizability of the findings.Practical implicationsFindings of this study provide invaluable insights about young consumers from a developing country, which has been rarely investigated. This expands the understanding about their consumption behaviour and the role of underlying values in their behavioural intentions.Originality/valueBy examining two distinct types of consumption values on the behavioural intentions of consumers, this study provides insights from young consumers in a developing country, namely Iran, which has been rarely investigated before.
Online usage motive and information disclosure for preteen children
Authors: Lwin May O. , Miyazaki Anthony D. , Stanaland Andrea J.S. , Lee Evonne 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to examine motivations for young consumers' internet use, how these motivations relate to children's privacy concerns and, subsequently, children's willingness to disclose personally identifiable information.Design/methodology/approachThe strengths of three common internet usage motives (information seeking, entertainment, and socializing) in predicting disclosure behavior are examined via survey research with a sample of children aged 10‐12.FindingsTwo of the motives – information seeking and socializing – are found to influence privacy concerns, which in turn, are shown to affect willingness to disclose information. Information‐seeking motivations were positively related to privacy concerns, while socializing motivations were negatively related to privacy concerns. Direct incentives are also found to increase disclosure.Originality/valueThe findings suggest that the uses and gratifications theory is useful for understanding children's privacy behaviors relating to information seeking and socializing motivations. Combining this with the varying levels of interactivity of websites that might satisfy various motives helps researchers begin to understand how particular motives may lead to increases or decreases in risky behavior; in this case, preteen disclosure of personal information.
The problem of identity in hybrid managers: who are medical directors?
Authors: Joffe Megan , MacKenzie‐Davey Kate 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis article is drawn from doctoral research exploring the identity struggles faced by professionals who take on management and leadership roles. The research focused on the experience of medical directors – the most senior doctor‐manager with board responsibility for medical affairs. Based on the fact that a medical director is a hybrid manager this research has implications for any professional who takes on a managerial or leadership role while continuing to practice their profession. Some challenges of working as a hybrid are associated with the difference in orientations between professionals and managers. While the notion of who and what a professional is has changed and new forms of accommodation have been forged the hybrid identity remains a site of potential conflict for the individual and those they work with. The purpose of this paper is to explore the experience of the hybrid identity.Design/methodology/approachThe experience of the hybrid identity is explored through social identity theory (Tajfel and Turner).FindingsThe analysis reveals that the medical director role is ambiguous, that medical identity is robust and that medical management is difficult compared to clinical work. Managerial identity in general is constructed negatively and from the perspective of doctors. The importance of maintaining clinical credibility is both embraced as a resource which bolsters and maintains medical identity and so distinguishes medical directors from the taint associated with the pejorative managerial identity that doctors construct of managers.Originality/valueThe implications for the selection, training and development of doctors and medical directors are raised as are those for the relationship between doctors and patients, and doctors and the organisation. Some implications identified, specifically for leadership in practice are as follows: leadership/management is challenging and difficult compared to professional work; language use is significant for how leaders are perceived; language use has implications for leader effectiveness; early exposure to leadership for professionals is important; and leadership role definition is important for consistency and role credibility.
How to reform the power sector in Mexico? Insights from a simulation model
Authors: Fuentes‐Bracamontes Rolando 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address the question of how a developing country, like Mexico, can reform its electricity industry at the same time as addressing climate change issues.Design/methodology/approachThe objective is to provide a tool that policy makers could use to make better and more informed decisions if they decide to liberalise the power sector in Mexico. The problems they would face are difficult to address in an analytically tractable way using conventional economic models. Also, these problems are too idiosyncratic to solve by translating empirical experience from other markets. In response, a system dynamics model has been developed in order to test the impact of a range of different environmental and energy policies.FindingsThe paper finds that a reform setting where competition is allowed in fossil fuel technologies; while the public company (CFE) keeps control of hydro and nuclear capacity produce the most well rounded scores in terms of efficiency, CO2 emission reductions and political feasibility. The results could improve the policy implementation process by shedding light on the circumstances and policy choices that can exacerbate or minimise effects.Research limitations/implicationsA simulation of this kind would increase the understanding of these kinds of policies by providing structured insights into key uncertainties. They can also foster new ideas – in the energy sector have underpinned major policy initiatives. But results should be taken with caution, as complete validation of models is impossible.Practical implicationsThese results add to the policy implementation literature. For the case of Mexico that has not engaged in a specific model of deregulation, the use of simulation model would be very useful to predict flaws in the design of the new regulation and to prevent unwanted scenarios to happen.Social implicationsA judicious implementation of an electricity reform can help achieve lower carbon emissions reductions which would be beneficial against the climate change problem.Originality/valueTo the author's knowledge, the approach of analysing ex ante the environmental outcome of electricity reform using a simulation model in a developing country has not been treated in literature.
Policy instruments for a market penetration of low carbon technology in developing nations
Authors: Racine Thiam Djiby 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate impacts of policy instruments for market penetration of renewable technologies in South Africa. Based on the current debates about renewable energy policies and the comparative advantage of the country in terms of coal resources the author set up a framework focusing on renewable energy price subsidies, carbon tax and renewable energy portfolio standard.Design/methodology/approachUsing a simulation model through a linear programming approach the paper assesses impacts of those policies on fossil fuel and renewable energy sectors via business‐as‐usual and policy option scenarios. The business‐as‐usual assumes that there are not policy instruments mobilized to promote adoption and diffusion of clean technologies instead of a policy scenario where such policies are included.FindingsThe results of the analysis show that when the coal‐based resources are integrated in the simulation process, only carbon tax and renewable energy price‐based subsidies promote a transition towards a sustainable energy production, therefore reduce the associated environmental damage.Originality/valueMoreover, the paper also shows that in the case of carbon tax and renewable price subsidies, emission prices should be adequately scrutinized in order to guarantee a positive economic surplus.