bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New performance measurement and management control systems
Authors: Watts T. , McNair‐Connolly C.J. 
Published: November 2012

PurposeFocusing on how performance management systems support control, this article seeks to provide two “next‐generation” performance scorecards – the Performance Wheel, suitable for most organizations and the Small Business Performance Pyramid, which acknowledges the unique requirements of small business. This development considers the historical development, increasing variety and often the poorly integrated status of performance measurement systems – one of business management's most important tools.Design/methodology/approachThe paper considers the issues of various performance measurement models – the Performance Pyramid, the Results and Determinants mode, the Balanced Scorecard – through the integration of perspectives, metrics and terminology. Further, it integrates the emphases of different approaches into a menu from which each enterprise can select the wisest option.FindingsThe Performance Wheel and the Small Business Performance Pyramid suggest these seemingly different models of control can be reduced to one overarching model. It incorporates and addresses the identified weaknesses of previous models and provides a comprehensive model of performance management that can be adapted to meet the needs of any form of enterprise – small to large, service to not‐for‐profit to manufacturing.Research limitations/implicationsThe implication for business is the development of two equally important models that allow the optimal application of practice to align with organizational‐specific decision making.Originality/valueThese new models overcome the “top‐down” or “bottom‐up” shortcomings of popular systems, incorporate the insights of enterprise control and integrate the importance of mission, strategy, critical success factors and key performance indicators as they apply to organizations.
Work time demands, work time control and supervisor support in the Australian construction industry
Authors: Lingard Helen , Francis Valerie , Turner Michelle 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis research aims to explore the relationship between work time demands, work time control and supervisor support in the Australian construction industry.Design/methodology/approachA survey was undertaken with waged and salaried construction workers in two construction organizations (n=261).FindingsWork time demands were positively correlated with time‐ and strain‐based work interference with family life (WIF) but inversely correlated with time‐ and strain‐based family interference with work (FIW). Work‐family enrichment was inversely correlated with work time demands and positively correlated with both work time control and social support from one's supervisor. Respondents with high work time demands and low work time control (or low supervisor support) reported the highest levels of time‐ and strain‐based WIF. The lowest levels of WIF were reported by respondents in low work time demands and high work time control (or high supervisor support) jobs classifications. However, jobs high in both work time demands and work time control reported the highest levels of work‐to‐family enrichment.Research limitations/implicationsThe results suggest that work‐family conflict and work‐family enrichment should be treated as two distinct concepts in work‐family research and that the job demands‐control theory is helpful in explaining work‐family conflict but that alternative theories are needed to explain positive work‐family interactions.Practical implicationsThe practical implication of the research is that reducing work time demands may be helpful in reducing work‐family conflict but that the provision of work domain resources is probably required to enable positive work‐family interactions.Originality/valuePrevious work‐family research has focused on job demands and resources separately, while the job strain literature has focused on the impact of job demands and the key resources of social support. The originality of this research is that it examines the extent to which different configurations of job demand and resource can explain experiences at the work‐family interface.
Comparative study of delay factors in Libyan and the UK construction industry
Authors: Shebob A. , Dawood N. , Shah R.K. , Xu Q. 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe aim of the research presented in this paper is to develop a new methodology for the comparative analysis and quantification of the impact of delay factors in construction projects.Design/methodology/approachA framework of delay analysis system (DAS) is developed using the findings from the literature review and industry survey. Frequency and severity index method are used to identify and compare the delay factors in Libya and the UK. Statistical experiments are used to test the relationship and confidence level of survey results. A case study of a building project is used to evaluate the functions of the DAS.FindingsThe survey illustrated that construction projects suffered more delays in Libya than the UK. The survey results indicated that critical delay factors are quite different in both countries. The case study found that a building project might be delayed by 41 to 46 days in Libya, or 34 to 38 days in the UK, when considering the most critical delay factors.Practical implicationsThe outcome of the study is expected to help policymakers, decision makers and others stakeholders within the construction industry to improve the industry's processes and reduce the impact of delay in the construction operations.Originality/valueThis paper provides a new methodology and a delay analysis system that assists construction managers to analyse and quantify the impact of delay factors in building projects. The system is also expected to provide timely information about possible delays so that necessary measures can be taken to reduce the impact of delays and improve project delivery.
Management education through e‐learning in India: an empirical study
Authors: Chawla Deepak , Joshi Himanshu 
Published: November 2012

PurposeE‐learning is emerging as a potential delivery medium for education and training. This is evident from the increasing number of educational institutions and organizations adopting e‐learning. In India, there has been an upsurge in the number of students going for management education. But, before management institutes embark on this e‐learning journey, it is important to assess student readiness for this medium. The purpose of this paper is to examine the awareness levels, degree of familiarity and readiness to accept e‐learning environment.Design/methodology/approachExploratory study and personal interviews were conducted to design the instrument which was administered to 240 students pursuing management education at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM‐A), which is a premier business school in India. A total of 154 duly filled questionnaires were used for data analysis. Factor analysis, cluster analysis and chi‐square test were carried out to meet the objectives of the study.FindingsFactor analysis resulted in identification of five factors which were given names. Further, two clusters were identified among the respondents. To examine if the cluster profile varied in demographic variables, a chi‐square test showed that none of the demographic variables are statistically related to the clusters.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample was comprised of students of a business school and therefore it may not be representative of all students studying business management. Second, since the sample comprised only 17 female students, generalization of results is difficult.Practical implicationsThe research holds relevance, as an assessment of prior exposure to technology and comfort level, attitude, behavior and motivation may determine the e‐learners’ readiness to adopt or not adopt this medium.Originality/valueThe paper brings forth student readiness for e‐learning as a medium of education in India. This may serve as a guide to those business schools which have started delivering management education or plan to deliver online education in future.
Follow the money
Authors: Cavelaars Paul , Passenier Joost 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe financial crisis that started in 2007 has led to a re‐thinking of financial regulation and supervision. One major lesson of the crisis is that supervisors should be “asking the big questions” (FSA). These are typically questions that are difficult to address, as they require a deep understanding of bank business models. The purpose of this paper is to provide the recent shift in prudential supervision towards the analysis of bank business models with a sound economic basis.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the economic literature on banking in order to answer what the authors deem to be the three central questions when analysing business models.FindingsThe bottom‐line for supervisors, in the authors' view, is that it is essential to understand where the profit comes from and what risks the bank or the banking sector is exposed to in generating those profits.Practical implicationsAnalysing bank business models goes beyond the traditional approach to prudential supervision, which mainly focuses on the adequacy of bank capital, liquidity and risk management. The analysis of business models implies a different approach to risk, starting from understanding a bank's activities, customer groups, distribution channels and sources of profits.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to bridging the gap between the economic literature on banking and the needs of bank supervisors. To the authors' best knowledge, this paper is the first addressing this particular issue. By giving an overview of the recent literature on banking that is relevant for understanding bank business models it helps to provide supervisors with a sound economic basis for assessing banks' business models.
Toward a better understanding of nonprofit communication management
Authors: Fisher Liu Brooke 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis study seeks to illustrate shared obstacles and opportunities that US nonprofit communicators face, broadening the understanding of nonprofit communication management beyond fundraising, donor relations, and social media practices.Design/methodology/approachA total of 35 nonprofit communicators from across the USA were interviewed. The participants represented a variety of nonprofit sizes that address a variety of issues.FindingsThe interviews revealed six common challenges that the participants face: politics, laws and regulations, media attention, evaluation, brand recognition, and employee engagement. The interviews also revealed four common opportunities that the participants face: job satisfaction, collaboration, communication value, and professional development.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings illustrate how nonprofit communicators in the USA address some shared experiences. In doing so, the findings lead to nine valuable areas for future research. Given that the findings are limited to the USA, future research is needed to examine nonprofit communicators’ shared experiences in other countries.Practical implicationsThe study builds on recent research examining how the environment in which communication management is practiced affects communication practices, thereby contributing to theory development that predicts effective communication practices via sector. In addition, the study serves as a call to action for researchers to address pressing management issues identified by nonprofit communicators.Originality/valueThe study builds on recent research examining how the environment in which communication management is practiced affects communication practices. In addition, the study serves as a call to action for researchers to address pressing management issues identified by nonprofit communicators.
Barriers to the implementation of innovative financing (IF) of infrastructure
Authors: Badu E. , Edwards D.J. , Owusu‐Manu D. , Brown D.M. 
Published: November 2012

PurposeFailure to resolve Ghana's infrastructure deficit, coupled with inability of traditional financing methods to meet current infrastructure demand, have triggered recent studies to explore strategic issues underpinning innovative financing (IF) of infrastructure. The purpose of this study is to explore potential impediments inherent in IF tools available to Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical aspect of the investigation used structured interviews and a survey questionnaire to gather data from project implementation agencies with experience of infrastructure IF. Factor analysis (principal component analysis) established which variables measured aspects of the same underlying dimensions.FindingsA total of three key challenges were identified, and explained in terms of: investment capacity; implementation and revenue mobilization. Findings provide an early failure signal when implementing IF.Practical implicationsConclusions and recommendations are of benefit to various international development partners and governmental and non‐governmental organizations that develop and/or implement infrastructure projects. Further research will seek to explore strategic, innovative solutions to on‐going challenges.Originality/valueKnowledge of the critical challenges facing implementation of IF remain scant and incomplete.
Corporate governance and real estate assets management in Nigerian banks
Authors: Tunde Oladokun Timothy , Tajudeen Aluko Bioye 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate the strategies adopted by Nigerian banks to integrate the management of their real estate assets into the overall business objectives.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaires were distributed to the corporate real estate managers of the 24 recapitalised banks in the country and supplemented with interview. The study adopted the descriptive method of percentages, mean and proportion methods for analysis.FindingsThe study found that Nigerian banks have distinct real estate units that manage their substantial real estate holdings, which they revalue at the open market basis every six months. The study also found that in spite of the fact that Nigerian banks have substantial real estate holdings, employees of the real estate unit spend more time on the core business of the organisations than on real estate activities. While some of them have sole responsibility for real estate activities, others are gradually shifting attention to the importance of their real estate assets.Practical implicationsThe study has major implications on corporate real estate management and banking practice in Nigeria. There is the need for organisations to re‐direct their focus towards the strategic perspective of CRE as an important and profit inducing tool of business. This may require exposing CRE executives to requisite training that will equip them for effective service delivery.Social implicationsInefficient real estate management can result in huge loss of shareholders fund by investors and subsequently affect the economy.Originality/valueThe study identified real estate as a “turn around” tool that can be adopted by bank executives to improve their financial status and a pro active step towards building an efficient and virile profession to handle the emerging corporate real estate management sub discipline in real estate.
Contesting methodologies
Authors: Bogdanovic Danijela , Dowd Michael , Wattam Eileen , Adam Alison 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on and evaluate focus groups and privacy diary/interview methods used in a qualitative study of on‐line privacy.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a discursive evaluation of two methods employed to study on‐line privacy, informed by and situated in interpretive and constructivist approaches to knowledge.FindingsThe paper argues for the value of qualitative research methods in study of on‐line privacy. It confronts the positivist paradigm that informs much of the work in the field by foregrounding the need for methodological plurality in the study of privacy as relational, situated, dynamic and contextual. It deals with the notion of “sensitivity” as well as introducing often neglected issue of logistical challenges in qualitative research.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the existing debates about the value of employment of qualitative research methods broadly, as well as in the study of on‐line privacy more specifically. It demonstrates a range of advantages and challenges in use of the two methods, providing recommendations of how to supplement them. It opens up the discussion of process of sensitizing of the participants and thus the “co‐construction” of knowledge.
Designing a new service in a university language centre
Authors: Chan Freeman K.H. , Lee Alfred 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to present the design of a new service in a self‐access language centre of a university in Hong Kong. A language action literacy program is being designed to promote independent learning and to support undergraduates in developing preferred qualities, including what the Kano Model would classify as excitement qualities.Design/methodology/approachQuality Function Deployment (QFD) is the decision support tool for selecting the literacy program contents to echo the Voice of Customer (VOC). The QFD exercises undertaken include: a telephone survey with 12 employers rating the importance of customer requirements; the program designers selecting program contents that match the customer requirements; determining the relationship between the customer requirements and the program contents; calculating the importance weighting of program contents; and determining the correlation between the program contents. The categorization of qualities by the Kano model is followed when discussing customer satisfaction.FindingsIndependent learning was rated as the most important of 20 customer requirements, and excitement qualities such as Critical thinking, Innovation, Creativity were rated as important. The QFD exercises led to the recommendations that seven types of literacy (e.g. Critical literacy, Activism & advocacy) and functional grammar should be prioritized as main program contents for empowering undergraduates to make an impact on a community or profession.Research limitations/implicationsSince the sample size of the importance survey was small, the new program would have to be evaluated by larger‐scale surveys after piloting.Originality/valueA review of literature found no report on QFD‐based design of self‐access language centre services; this study is likely the first of its kind.
Using Web 2.0 technologies
Authors: Yu Mingmei , Yuen Allan H.K. , Park Jae 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to explore the perspectives of students, teachers, and parents in using Web 2.0 technologies.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on the focus group interview data collected from two groups of students, two groups of teachers, and one group of parents in a secondary school in Hong Kong.FindingsThe findings indicate that there is no divide in terms of access to computer hardware and the Internet. However, the results suggest that there are different types and levels of usage given to such technologies. The students were found to use Web 2.0 technologies very frequently but seldom for educational purposes. The parents appeared to know less about the Web 2.0 technologies although they are more concerned about the influence of such technologies on their children's development. The teachers used Web 2.0 technologies merely for observing students' online behaviors.Research limitations/implicationsDue to limited sample participants and the weakness of the focus group interview research method itself, the authors could not suggest that these findings should reflect the whole scene because it was just a reflection of a case under a specific context. In the future, more empirical studies with a larger sample and both quantitative and qualitative research methods must be needed in the future to understand the problem well.Practical implicationsThis study attempts to contribute to the literature on home‐school connection in education for the benefit of student development. Joint efforts must be made by school and home together to ensure the positive impact of Web 2.0 technologies on students.Social implicationsThese typologies draw attention to the ways how parents, students and teachers make use of Web 2.0 technologies.Originality/valueThis paper was an original research based on focus group interview data that fulfil an identified need to study how teachers, students, and parents are using the Web 2.0 technology.
Unstructured queries based on mobile user context
Authors: Xue Wenwei , Deng Hailong 
Published: November 2012

PurposeMany mobile devices today are equipped with diversified sensors that enable the acquisition of rich user context (e.g. GPS location, phone activity) for application utilization. With the growing usage of mobile devices in daily life, the problem of conveniently and promptly searching a piece of content that a user has viewed on his/her device before becomes more and more crucial. This paper aims to propose a context‐based query processing framework called UCQP that supports unstructured queries for content search in a user's access history.Design/methodology/approachBeyond the keywords related to the content properties, a context query in the framework is specified with freeform phrases that describe high‐level mobile contexts of the user at a previous time when the user viewed the searched content.FindingsExperimental results on a prototype system of the framework illustrate its good accuracy and small response time.Originality/valueTo tolerate the incompleteness and inaccuracy in user query texts caused by fading human memory, the authors develop several semantic query parsers that are tailored for different types of contexts using natural language processing and information retrieval techniques. The authors further propose a similarity model to rank the multiple result contents of a query by comparing context entities specified in the query and historical context values associated with each result.
A multi‐method approach for looking inside healthcare practices
Authors: Gorli Mara , Kaneklin Cesare , Scaratti Giuseppe 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore a specific multi‐method approach with which to detect and analyze professional practices in order to support organizational reflection and change.Design/methodology/approachBased on a case study, the paper describes the methodological choices made during the research process. The qualitative potentials of narrative and ethnographic orientations, and a package of data gathering tools, are analyzed in depth.FindingsThe paper presents the advantages and drawbacks of tools to articulate practices and to develop hypotheses for change. It emphasizes the approach's innovative value and potential in contributing to knowledge sharing in organizations, and the implications for researchers and participants.Practical implicationsThe paper furnishes concrete suggestions on how practitioners and researchers/consultants can be induced to pay particular attention to aspects of the operational knowledge that should accompany change processes. This appears even more strategic in healthcare organizations, characterized by the constant need to update the operational system in response to the introduction of new technologies, procedures, and protocols.Originality/valueThe paper discusses how research dimensions and results can be linked with action practices, while at the same time reducing the divide between researcher and practitioner. The value of the paper is that it presents tools known in the literature but analyzes them in regard to their use in real settings concerned with real‐world problems.