bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transfer of training: does it truly happen?
Authors: Awais Bhatti Muhammad , Mohamed Battour Mohamed , Pandiyan Kaliani Sundram Veera , Aini Othman Akmal 
Published: March 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this study is to highlight the importance of selected environmental, situational and individual factors in the training transfer process.

Design/methodology/approach
– This study proposes and tests a framework via structural equation modelling by including supervisor and peer support, instrumentality and learner readiness on 503 Malaysian bank employees. It proposes a modified and improved scale for learner readiness previously developed by Holton et al..

Findings
– As hypothesized, supervisor and peer support increase the motivation level of the trainee to transfer the learned skills. The findings of this study will help researchers to resolve the conflict among past researchers about the role of peer and supervisor support in training transfer process. In addition, an improved scale of learner readiness is used and the result indicates a significant relationship between learner readiness and transfer motivation. Furthermore, this study explains the importance of intrinsic rewards and finds that intrinsic rewards make trainees retain more skills and learned skills are transferred to the work place.

Practical implications
– The findings of this research would be helpful for human resource development professionals to develop effective strategies in order to maximize the training transfer and effectively manage the training program. The findings of this research explained the role of stakeholders – trainers, trainees, supervisors, peers and top management – which will maximize the training transfer at the work place.

Originality/value
– This paper examines new relationships among different factors which resist transfer motivation and training transfer at the workplace.
Open learning within growing businesses
Authors: Klofsten Magnus , Jones-Evans Dylan 
Published: March 2013

Purpose– Understanding the factors behind successful enterprise policy interventions are critical in ensuring effective programme development. The aim of this paper is to analyse an academic-industry initiative in Sweden developed to support knowledge-intensive businesses in expanding their operations.Design/methodology/approach– This paper describes a case study of a specific policy intervention to facilitate further business growth and development. Since 1986, 490 individuals from 194 companies have attended the Business Development Programme (BDP) organised by Linköping University. Through analysing interviews with participants on the programme, the paper examines the origins and motivations behind its creation, management and development.Findings– This study finds that future policy interventions in enterprise development must cultivate an open style of learning, similar to the principles of open innovation, which engages directly with the participants, is based on a process of informality and flexibility, reflects the needs of the business and includes engaged programme leadership based on a successful entrepreneurial track record.Practical implications– The programme has succeeded through an informal, flexible and needs-orientated approach that essentially reflects the needs of the participating businesses.Originality/value– Interventions that are targeted towards supporting established businesses could help to create wealth and employment. However, understanding the factors behind such interventions is critical in ensuring that policymakers design the most relevant programmes to assist support businesses that have the potential to grow.
Ratify, reject or revise: balanced scorecard and universities
Authors: Sayed Naqi 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the use of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) in universities. Initially directed toward profit‐oriented businesses, the BSC has since been adopted by many non‐profit organisations with seemingly diverse objectives. A number of primarily publicly‐funded universities and institutions, which are part of these universities, also embarked upon this strategic management approach. They soon discovered that the classical BSC approach and, for that matter, a modified approach suited for non‐profit organisations had to be further modified to suit their unique circumstances. As universities struggle to adapt the BSC approach to fit their needs, questions have been raised whether BSC is an appropriate strategic management tool for universities.Design/methodology/approachThrough a critical review of the discourse surrounding this issue and BSC of 30 universities around the globe, this article examines the use of BSC in universities.FindingsIt was found that concerns regarding suitability of this approach for universities are not only serious but most universities, by nature or circumstances, are ill positioned to mobilise substantial resources, lay the necessary groundwork and develop systems in order to benefit from this initiative. It was found that universities, which did adopt BSC, have diverse expectations, understanding and implementation strategies. Lack of understanding, an unclear success rate, slower new adoptions and subsequent abandonment of this approach by some of the universities suggest that the BSC approach may have failed to meet expectations.Originality/valueTo date little has been written on the use and suitability of the balanced scorecard in universities.
Language, academic, socio‐cultural and financial adjustments of mainland Chinese students studying in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheung Alan C.K. 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine language, academic, social‐cultural and financial adjustments facing mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong.Design/methodology/approachThe current study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods and included over 300 mainland Chinese students from seven major universities in Hong Kong. In addition to a survey questionnaire, in‐depth interviews were also conducted. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to recruit participants.FindingsThe findings indicate that though mainland Chinese students were satisfied with the quality of Hong Kong's higher education, many expressed that they were having language, academic, social and cultural, and financial challenges during their stay in Hong Kong. The results are consistent with the current literature to a large extent with some variations. Few differences were found by gender and between undergraduate and graduate students.Research limitations/implicationsTwo thirds of the sample was undergraduate students and only one third graduate students. Future research may want to include an equal number of participants from both groups to get a more balanced view. In addition, since the sample of our sub‐degree students was very small, generalization to this group will be inappropriate. Future studies are needed to explore the unique challenges facing these mainland Chinese students who are pursuing their sub‐degree in Hong Kong.Originality/valueMost of the current research is limited to mainland Chinese students studying in Western countries, such as the USA, the UK and Australia. Few studies to date examine adjustment problems of mainland Chinese students studying in Hong Kong. There is a need, therefore, to deepen our understanding of the major adjustment issues experienced by these mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong.
Effects of identity processing styles on academic achievement of first year university students
Authors: Seabi Joseph , Payne Jarrod 
Published: March 2013

PurposeAcademic achievement of first year university students in the international arena, as well as in South Africa, has been a point of concern for all stakeholders because of high failure and dropout rates. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of identity processing styles on academic achievement in first year university students. This study also explored the composition of students according to their identity processing styles, to determine the predominant identity style.Design/methodology/approachA non‐experimental ex post facto research design was employed. A non‐probability purposive sampling was used to select 430 first‐year university students with an average age of 18.94.FindingsThe findings generally revealed a non‐significant relationship between identity processing styles (normative, diffuse‐avoidant, informational) and academic achievement. However, the informational‐oriented students performed significantly better than diffuse‐avoidant group on academic achievement. Although comparable, most of the participants were located within the lower level of identity development (i.e. diffuse‐avoidant processing style), while those with mature sophisticated identity development (i.e. informational) were underrepresented.Originality/valueThis study makes novel contributions to the literature, especially related to the South African context, in view of the fact that most studies conducted in this area have been implemented in developed countries. It also provides insights regarding usage of the Identity Style Inventory in relation to the cultural orientation of South Africa.
Electrodeposition of lead‐free solder alloys
Authors: Goh Yingxin , Haseeb A.S.M.A. , Faizul Mohd Sabri Mohd 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to enhance the understanding on the electrodeposition of various lead (Pb)‐free solder alloys, so that new studies can be carried out to solve processing issues.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the available reports on the electrodeposition of tin (Sn)‐based solder systems and identifies the challenges in this area.FindingsCompositional control remains a major challenge in this area, where the achievement of desired composition for binary and ternary alloys is subjected to uncertainties. The use of chelating agents in the bath and optimization of parameters can assist the achievement of near‐desired alloy composition. Acidic plating baths are preferred due to their compatibility with photoresists but oxidation of stannous ions causes poor bath stability. Antioxidants, reducing agents and low oxygen overpotential anodes can suppress the oxidation rate and increase the lifespan of plating baths. Apart from chelating agents and antioxidants, various categories of additives can be added to improve quality of deposits. Surfactants, grain refiners and brighteners are routinely used to obtain smooth, fine‐grained and bright deposits with good thermo‐mechanical properties.Originality/valueThe paper provides information on the key issues in electrodeposition of Pb‐free solder alloys. Possible measures to alleviate the issues are suggested so that the electrodeposition technique can be established for mass production of a wider range of solder alloys.
Characterization of vapour phase soldering process zone with pressure measurements
Authors: Géczy Attila , Illés Balázs , Péter Zsolt , Illyefalvi‐Vitéz Zsolt 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a novel approach on the process zone characterization for direct feedback regarding the state of vapour, in order to assure a better monitoring, control and understanding of the process.Design/methodology/approachDifferent pressure sensors were applied in an experimental vapour phase soldering (VPS) station, where the hardware setup was dedicated to the current experiments. Static and dynamic pressure values were analyzed and correlated with additional thermal measurements.FindingsThe results reveal the dynamics of the vapour blanket generation. The correlated measurements show different stages of the process initialization, highlighting better accuracy than sole temperature measurements of saturated vapour identification. It is possible to trace the height of the available saturated vapour blanket with static pressure measurements.Practical implicationsThe VPS process may benefit from the more precise saturation detection, giving better control on the heat transfer, enabling more efficient production with the reduction of idle time, and resulting in better soldering quality.Social implicationsReducing the idle time of the VPS stations may result in better efficiency and smaller power consumption, reducing the environmental impact of the method.Originality/valueThe presented methods provide a completely novel approach from the aspect of process zone state variables and parameters characterization, focusing on pressure measurements.
Researching the lived experience of corporate governance
Authors: Ahrens Thomas , Khalifa Rihab 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThis literature review seeks to engage with the discussion of the limitations of studying corporate governance processes as a “black box” by developing a theoretical framework for qualitative corporate governance research that can support the design of future hermeneutic research into corporate governance practices.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is to develop a qualitative research framework based on the methodological discussions in the business and sociology literatures, and compare it with existing alternative research frameworks in the corporate governance literature and three qualitative field studies in corporate governance.FindingsThis paper identifies methodological gaps that have made it difficult for extant qualitative studies of corporate governance to capture the complexity of the practices they have studied. This paper suggests three main implications for future qualitative corporate governance research: it should seek to articulate the multiple meanings of corporate governance rules, techniques, and processes as they arise in practice in order to facilitate a better discussion of the complexity of corporate governance practices; it should reflect on the role of the researcher in the field and his/her interactions with the subjects because through those interactions the multiple meanings of practice can be detected by the researcher; it should seek to articulate how the authors of research papers choose the contexts in which they place their observations from the field and how they variously zoom in and out of their fields of study to foreground either local detail or the wider contexts.Originality/valueThrough a close reading of alternative corporate governance research frameworks and qualitative studies this paper explains how future scholarly and practical corporate governance research can produce insights into the lived experience of corporate governance.
Developing the Flesch reading ease formula for the contemporary accounting communications landscape
Authors: Stone Gerard , Parker Lee D. 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to examine and critique the accounting literature's dominant readability formula, the Flesch formula. Furthermore, the paper sets out to propose refinement and augmentation to the formula with a view to expanding its applicability and relevance to researchers' attempts at better understanding and critiquing the effectiveness of accounting communications. This aim extends to setting a more robust foundation for informing policymakers' and practitioners' interest in implementing more effective communications with their target stakeholders.Design/methodology/approachThe paper offers an historically informed methodological critique of the current articulation and application of the Flesch formula, both generally and in accounting research. This critique forms the basis for developing proposed revisions and supplementary measures to augment Flesch's coverage. These are presented with sample empirics.FindingsIllustrative examples suggest that it is feasible and desirable to apply a revised formula that reduces Flesch's misplaced emphasis on word length by respecifying its sentence length variable, a probable cause of low readability. A reader attribute score further enhances the formula by integrating the considerable impact of readers' attributes on readability and accounting communication effectiveness. Supplementary measures, comprising non‐narrative communications dimensions, are introduced as a foundation for further research.Originality/valueThe paper provides not only critique but also refinement and augmentation of the much used Flesch readability formula for accounting communications research. It offers a first stage approach to encompassing potentially important communication elements such as readers' attributes, tables, graphs and headings, to date critiqued as potentially important but left unattended by accounting researchers. This offers the prospect of extending Flesch's application to contemporary accounting communications issues and questions.
Life cycle cost analysis on the operation of power generation
Authors: Sinisuka Ngapuli I. , Nugraha Herry 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the life cycle cost (LCC) on the operation of power generation. LCC is the total cost of ownership including the cost of the project or asset acquisition, operation and maintenance, and disposal. LCC includes both deterministic costs (such as acquisition costs, improvement costs and disposal costs) and probabilistic (such as the costs of failure, repairs, spare parts, downtime, lost gross margin). Most of the probabilistic costs are associated directly with the reliability and maintenance characteristics of the system.Design/methodology/approachTo be able to analyze failure data using appropriate cost profile in order to represent the fact that each failure has different prices, in different time periods at an economical cycle the new methodology of LCCA Diagram is proposed. Developing criticality ranking of sub‐system, calculating values of Weibull Shape Factor β and Weibull Characteristic Life η for each sub‐system, calculating the time to failure of sub‐system, calculating the mean time to failure of sub‐system using Monte Carlo simulation, determining several alternatives, failure mode and effects analysis and root cause failure analysis are parts of the methodology.FindingsTo give a sample of case study, the LCC on the operation of coal fired power plant (CFPP) 330 MW is analyzed. Five alternatives calculation of LCC will be simulated. Graph of cash flow, break‐even graph, and graph of cost/benefit versus risk made for a period of 30 years can be used to asses an effective management program and costs of power plant with a low risk.Originality/valueThe paper suggests that LCC can be used to asses an effective management program and costs of power plant with a low risk.
Building knowledge: developing a knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities typology
Authors: Denford James S. 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to synthesize existing knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities research into a single typology for managerial and academic use.Design/methodology/approachBased on the resource‐based and knowledge‐based views, this study conducts a theoretically grounded typology development exercise based on an extensive review of the existing dynamic capabilities literature.FindingsThe paper identifies seven frameworks presented in the literature that showed some consistency in underlying concepts but conflict in nomenclature and application. Identifying over 80 uses of knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities in the literature review, three complementary dimensions that are common amongst the frameworks are identified and integrated into a consistent typology of eight knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities to encompass the extant literature.Originality/valueAddressing fragmentation in the knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities discourse, the paper advances the concept of knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities by organizing the existing literature and frameworks into a comprehensive and consistent typology. Moreover, this integrative typology allows managers and researchers to identify those capabilities in use and the commonalities between them. Finally, the paper identifies a new knowledge‐based dynamic capability that has not yet been identified in any existing framework.
Communities of practice foster collaboration across public health
Authors: Jennings Mabery Mamie , Gibbs‐Scharf Lynn , Bara Debra 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe complexity and responsibilities of public health make collaboration across multiple levels of government critical. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) effectively uses communities of practice (CoPs) to bring its staff together with partners to share, learn, and address public health problems. This paper aims to focus on CoPs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper assesses the value of CoPs to individual members, their organizations, and their public health domains; assesses whether the CoP Program has improved CDC's relationship with participants in various CoPs; and identifies barriers to participation or success factors that could be applied to the development of new CoPs. Responses from a random sample of active CoP members were analyzed using qualitative data analysis software to identify themes and answer research questions.FindingsThe results reveal clear benefits to individual members, their organizations, and public health disciplines including daily work efficiencies, expanded infrastructure, and enhanced relationships between CDC and its public health partners.Research limitations/implicationsThis qualitative research analyzed a small number of communities of practice spanning their launch through year 2; further study of a larger sample of public health CoPs, including sustainability factors, would build on this case study's implications.Practical implicationsPublic health practitioners seeking a collaborative approach to problem solving will find in this study some useful lessons learned from CDC; readers will be introduced to CDC's CoP Resource Kit and a public health collaboration portal, phConnect.Originality/valueWell‐facilitated, member‐driven, and highly participative CoPs are valuable tools for fostering collaboration essential to improving the public health system, and should be used more broadly across public health.
Beyond reduction: climate change adaptation planning for universities and colleges
Authors: Owen Rochelle , Fisher Erica , McKenzie Kyle 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to outline a unique six‐step process for the inclusion of climate change adaption goals and strategies in a University Climate Change Plan.Design/methodology/approachA mixed‐method approach was used to gather data on campus climate change vulnerabilities and adaption strategies. A literature review highlighted common themes in adaption research. Meetings, surveys, and a specialized workshop with climate scenarios were created to elicit campus and community input.FindingsThe majority of the peer‐reviewed and grey literature surrounding climate change adaptation planning is aimed at larger levels of organization than a University campus (e.g. nations, populations, regions, and cities). An original planning process was created to identify vulnerabilities, risks and strategies. Key vulnerabilities fell into three main areas of concern: energy, transportation, and built environment. Adaptation goals, objectives and strategies were outlined for the Dalhousie University Climate Change Plan, based on risk levels associated with vulnerabilities.Research limitations/implicationsThe adaption survey and workshop was created for this research. Small improvements were suggested for future use. The six weather scenarios presented at the workshop emphasized extreme events. Some participants felt that scenarios should be developed that feature smaller climate changes over a longer period of time. The prioritization activity used to establish risk needed to clarify the definition of risk being used. Future scenarios could include more consideration of socio‐economic factors.Originality/valueSpecific planning frameworks to create campus‐level climate adaptation strategies are sparse. A unique planning framework and workshop was developed to identify key climate change adaption strategies for universities.