bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Scenario planning with integrated quantification – managing uncertainty in corporate strategy building
Authors: Hirsch Sven , Burggraf Paul , Daheim Cornelia 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– This paper makes a case for the benefits of quantified scenarios as a foresight tool for strategic planning. First it aims to set the context of quantification approaches for strategic planning in foresight. Within world models, qualitative scenarios allow for a contingency perspective of the future, however their potential to be linked to strategic planning in corporate foresight is limited. In contrast to complex world models, forecasts on key indicators are easily applied to strategy processes, but lack the necessary capability to recognise uncertainty and decision points. The paper seeks to argue for a new participative and pragmatic approach in order to bridge the gap between the opposing approaches and aims to show how this quantification approach can be integrated with scenario construction on an operational level.

Design/methodology/approach
– The authors discuss a quantitative scenario process and argue for its suitability to corporate foresight. They then describe a range of leanings from various foresight projects that have successfully applied quantified scenarios to strategic planning.

Findings
– Quantified scenarios can increase the impact foresight thinking has on corporate strategic planning.

Research limitations/implications
– The paper outlines the methods and tools of quantified corporate foresight, it does not include empirical evidence or concrete case studies.

Practical implications
– The approach outlined here can be used in corporate foresight projects in order to improve the use of scenario planning for strategy.

Originality/value
– This paper is the first one to outline a process for scenario quantification within corporate foresight.
Gaps in female labor participation and pay equity: the impact of cultural variables
Authors: Munir Sidani Yusuf 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– This study aims to address gender gaps in labor participation and earned income. The paper assesses the role of education and cultural dimensions in impacting female labor indicators. The paper tests two separate models predicting female labor participation as a percentage of male participation (FPM) and female earned income as a percentage of male earned income (FIM) across 59 nations.

Design/methodology/approach
– Data were taken from those published by World Bank and International Labor Organization, in addition to the GLOBE study. The paper relies on relationships among such data to assess the hypotheses under investigation.

Findings
– FPM was explained by institutional collectivism, gender egalitarianism, and education. FIM was explained by gender egalitarianism and institutional collectivism. Contrary to expectations, in-group collectivism was not found to be a predictor in this model. Based on earlier research and this study, the paper presents the “female labor indicators model”.

Research limitations/implications
– More data need to be collected about gender-related attitudes and behaviors from a larger number of countries. There is also a need to collect culture data at the individual level not only at the country level. The model that the paper presents – explaining gaps in female participation and pay – deserves additional research support.

Practical implications
– There is a need for practitioners to be conscious of hidden forces that work against women who aspire to work despite their high educational levels. Improving women's labor conditions requires a concerted effort from many parties including government and private sector.

Originality/value
– The link between GLOBE's cultural dimensions and female labor indicators has not been sufficiently addressed in prior research. The paper suggests that explaining deficits in female labor indicators requires looking past economic and demographic variables into institutional and cultural factors. The paper presents a comprehensive model that helps in explaining gender gaps in participation and pay.
Political connections and corporate overinvestment: evidence from China
Authors: Su Zhong-qin , Fung Hung-gay , Yau Jot 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– Using panel data for the period 2004-2010, this study shows that political connections have a significant positive effect on corporate overinvestment in China while their interaction with related-party transactions has a negative effect. Results also indicate that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) controlled by the Chinese central government tend to have greater overinvestment than non-SOEs. However, their interaction with related-party transactions has an opposite effect on overinvestment, lending support to the conjecture that firm ownership structure plays a significant role in corporate overinvestment decisions. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– Panel data analysis and regression.

Findings
– This study shows that political connections have a significant positive effect on corporate overinvestment in China while their interaction with related-party transactions has a negative effect. Results also indicate that SOEs controlled by the Chinese central government tend to have greater overinvestment than non-SOEs.

Research limitations/implications
– The research shows some Chinese firms' behavior that indicates expropriation of minority stockholders. Policymakers should be aware of this issue as overinvestment is not good for the economy as a while. The limitation of the study is based on six-year data.

Practical implications
– Stockholders should monitor the firms to mitigate the overinvestment problems in Chinese firms.

Originality/value
– This is the first paper to examine the overinvestment issue along with related-party transactions and political connections.
Local creativity for adapting to climate change among rural farmers in the semi-arid region of Ghana
Authors: S. Arku Frank 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– Climate change has emerged as an important theme in the current food security discourses, and although research on local people's adaptation to climate change is increasing, more research is needed to enable sharing of different coping strategies. This research can help policymakers in documenting effective coping strategies that helped to reduce negative impacts of climate change on farmers. The research therefore determined how farmers in rural Ghana use traditional knowledge to adapt to climate changes, and how well the local knowledge worked to enhance livelihoods. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– The study took place in three communities in Ghana. Sixty participants consisting 20 from each of the communities were recruited for the study. Data were collected through focus group discussions and semi-structured interview questions. SPSS software was used to analyse the data. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to rank the strategies in enhancing livelihoods.

Findings
– Men's and women's understanding of what constitute climate change are similar – change in the rainfall amount and distribution. The coping strategies are working as hired labourers, engaging in irrigated farming, practicing of professions learned, rearing of animals, and petty trading. While the importance of the strategies to men's and women's is different, the strategies they adopted appeared to meet their household requirements.

Originality/value
– The study reveals that local creativities can help in meeting rural farmers' needs during the periods of climate change. Consequently, this research has value for development organisations supporting farmers to effectively use their indigenous knowledge during the periods of climate change.
Application of Six Sigma methodology to a cataract surgery unit
Authors: Tolga Taner Mehmet 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– The article's aim is to focus on the application of Six Sigma to minimise intraoperative and post-operative complications rates in a Turkish public hospital cataract surgery unit.

Design/methodology/approach
– Implementing define-measure-analyse-improve and control (DMAIC) involves process mapping, fishbone diagrams and rigorous data-collection. Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), pareto diagrams, control charts and process capability analysis are applied to redress cataract surgery failure root causes.

Findings
– Inefficient skills of assistant surgeons and technicians, low quality of IOLs used, wrong IOL placement, unsystematic sterilisation of surgery rooms and devices, and the unprioritising network system are found to be the critical drivers of intraoperative-operative and post-operative complications. Sigma level was increased from 2.60 to 3.75 subsequent to extensive training of assistant surgeons, ophthalmologists and technicians, better quality IOLs, systematic sterilisation and air-filtering, and the implementation of a more sophisticated network system.

Practical implications
– This article shows that Six Sigma measurement and process improvement can become the impetus for cataract unit staff to rethink their process and reduce malpractices. Measuring, recording and reporting data regularly helps them to continuously monitor their overall process and deliver safer treatments.

Originality/value
– This is the first Six Sigma ophthalmology study in Turkey.
The PATH project in eight European countries: an evaluation
Authors: Henri Maurice Veillard Jeremy , Louise Schiøtz Michaela , Guisset Ann-Lise , Davidson Brown Adalsteinn , S. Klazinga Niek 
Published: October 2013

Purpose– This paper's aim is to evaluate the perceived impact and the enabling factors and barriers experienced by hospital staff participating in an international hospital performance measurement project focused on internal quality improvement.Design/methodology/approach– Semi-structured interviews involving international hospital performance measurement project coordinators, including 140 hospitals from eight European countries (Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia). Inductively analyzing the interview transcripts was carried out using the grounded theory approach.Findings– Even when public reporting is absent, the project was perceived as having stimulated performance measurement and quality improvement initiatives in participating hospitals. Attention should be paid to leadership/ownership, context, content (project intrinsic features) and processes supporting elements.Research limitations/implications– Generalizing the findings is limited by the study's small sample size. Possible implications for the WHO European Regional Office and for participating hospitals would be to assess hospital preparedness to participate in the PATH project, depending on context, process and structural elements; and enhance performance and practice benchmarking through suggested approaches.Originality/value– This research gathered rich and unique material related to an international performance measurement project. It derived actionable findings.
Using profit information for production management: evidence from Japanese factories
Authors: Arai Kohei , Kitada Hirotsugu , Oura Keisuke 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– This study aims to investigate the relative weight of financial and non-financial performance measures used to evaluate production managers (such as shop floor managers or foremen) in a modern manufacturing setting.

Design/methodology/approach
– Using survey data from Japanese factories, the paper examines the association between the choice of profit, cost, and non-financial performance measures with two characteristics of manufacturing systems: interdependence and multi-tasking.

Findings
– The results indicate that interdependence has a significant and positive association with the importance of profit information, while multi-tasking is associated negatively with the importance of profit information, and positively with non-financial information for performance evaluation.

Originality/value
– In recent years, a significant shift has been observed in Japanese production management with many companies now focusing on profit information instead of cost information. For example, the past studies show that large Japanese manufacturing companies are now using micro-profit centres and include profit information when evaluating factories. However, little empirical evidence is available on performance measurement at the shop floor foreman level, and even less is known about the importance of profit information in the evaluation of these lower level managers.
Facets of DREaM
Authors: Cooke Louise , Hall Hazel 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– This paper aims to review the value of social network analysis (SNA) as a method appropriate to LIS research. SNA is used to investigate the effectiveness of a framework of methods adopted by the DREaM project to develop researcher-practitioner networks.

Design/methodology/approach
– Following a review of the literature on SNA, the paper reports longitudinal research from a whole population sample of the DREaM cadre of LIS researchers. Data were collected using a questionnaire at the start of the first DREaM project workshop, and at the final workshop. Data were analysed using Ucinet 6 software, and network diagrams were visualised using the Netdraw package.

Findings
– Findings demonstrate that the combination of linked workshops and use of social media throughout the DREaM project was successful in increasing the density of the researcher networks, forging new connections among participants. SNA was found to be a useful technique in investigating network development.

Research limitations/implications
– There is scope for further longitudinal research to investigate the sustainability and strength of the new network links forged.

Originality/value
– The use of SNA in the context of the development of researcher networks is novel in LIS research. The findings from this project indicate the potential of the DREaM methodology as a replicable framework for developing further research networks in other contexts. This paper represents a unique contribution in demonstrating through the use of SNA the extent of the extension of research networks afforded by the DREaM methodology.
National intellectual capital assessment models: a literature review
Authors: Labra Romilio , Paloma Sánchez M. 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on national intellectual capital (NIC) in order to identify and compare the main models to measure and report IC at the country level and to examine the differences from and similarities to the IC approach for firms.

Design/methodology/approach
– A systematic literature review was carried out using three scientific databases and the five most important journals. Additional information was also reviewed. The search covered the period from January 2000 to December 2012. The models to measure intangibles were analyzed and compared using qualitative and quantitative techniques.

Findings
– The literature review shows that although such literature is still nascent and relatively scarce, there is growing interest in measuring, reporting, and managing IC for countries as a whole. NIC studies have been published in a small number of journals and more theoretical work is required. There are two main types of methods to assess and report on NIC. Despite the differences among models, their findings tend to converge.

Practical implications
– The information obtained contributes to the selection of models. This selection can be based on pragmatic considerations, such as the availability of data.

Originality/value
– There are several models to evaluate intangibles at the country level and different ways to measure them. The paper offers comparative information about the models to aid in selection for managing intangibles at the country level.
Ethical paradigms as potential foundations of diversity management initiatives in business organizations
Authors: Gotsis George , Kortezi Zoe 
Published: October 2013

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the elaboration of a comprehensive moral framework for designing and implementing diversity practices. In so doing, it employs distinct ethical theories that not only elevate respect for differences to an end, but also provide a set of principles, virtues or values conducive to the formation of an inclusive work environment.Design/methodology/approach– A literature review, in particular contributions critical to current implementations of diversity management, may provide the basis of a non-instrumental approach to diversity issues, allowing for an inclusive and participative workplace. The paper suggests that such an endeavor can be founded on the concepts of organizational virtue, care or human dignity alternatively. In this respect, a theoretical context demonstrating the very way these concepts influence and inform diversity issues, is elaborated, analyzed and properly discussed.Findings– Three distinct theoretical frameworks capturing the importance of major ethical traditions based on dignity, organizational virtue and care, for reconceptualizing diversity issues, are introduced. It is proposed that non-utilitarian philosophical ethics (and more specifically, Kantian deontology, Aristotelian virtue ethics or ethics of care) is in a position to provide a rationale for diversity policies that affirm the diverse other as a valued end.Practical implications– The authors argue that a corporation is in a position to develop ethically-informed diversity initiatives that may effectively combine performance with an affirmation of the value of the diverse other.Social implications– The authors argue that a corporation is in a position to develop ethically-informed diversity initiatives that may effectively combine performance with an affirmation of the value of the diverse other.Originality value– The paper offers certain insights into the particular conditions that may help organizations design and implement a diversity strategy facilitating thriving and fulfillment of diverse others, grounded on the priority of dignity, virtue or care respectively. Such a perspective, permeating vision, culture and leadership, is invested with a potential that overcomes the managerial instrumentality, so strongly denounced by the majority of critical diversity scholars.
Life restoration degree following minimal repair and its application for maintenance decision optimization
Authors: Jiang Renyan 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to address the issues whether or not minimal repair is effective for a repairable item with a known life distribution and when the minimal repair process should be stopped.

Design/methodology/approach
– The life restoration degree (LRD) following minimal repair is defined and related to the shape parameter of the distribution so that a choice between minimal and perfect repairs can be made based on the shape parameter. Three replacement policies with minimal repair are considered and the corresponding decision rules are derived to determine when the minimal repair process should be stopped.

Findings
– Main findings are: first, the LRD of minimal repair is inversely or approximately inversely proportional to the shape parameter, second, the effectiveness of minimal repair increases as the cost ratio of perfect and minimal repairs increases and the shape parameter decreases, and third, the unconditional mean residual life equal the mean time between the first and second failures.

Originality/value
– The results can be easily used for maintenance strategy selection and maintenance decision optimization of repairable items.
Conservation, invention, distribution
Authors: Goudeaux Annie , Poizat Germain 
Published: October 2013

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to focus on the professional activity development of prop makers. These professionals are responsible for creating a huge variety of objects for the stage, ranging from furniture and soft furnishings to weapons, statues, jewelry and animated models. A feature of the work is to create objects that are new almost every time. In Western Switzerland, there is neither initial training nor continuing education for the profession of prop maker. Therefore the aim of this study is to better understand the professional practices and informal learning of prop makers at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.Design/methodology/approach– Given their interest in the details of how work is learned and carried out, the authors used ethnographic methods to study the prop makers' working practices. These methods place an emphasis on the detailed observation of practices through intensive, long-term involvement. The fieldwork began in November 2005 and ended in May 2007. This period was organized into three phases articulating direct observation and participant observation. The data were processed according to the methodology of grounded theory. Theoretical sensitivity came from a number of sources; however, French-speaking ergonomics, and particularly the course-of-action theoretical framework, have largely determined our conception of activity and workplace learning.Findings– The results allowed the authors to identify the core of a substantive theory of prop makers' activity and self-construction. Three components formed the core of this theory: conservation, invention, and distribution (CID). These three components are essential to understanding how prop makers are able to achieve, maintain and develop professional expertise both individually and collectively in the near total absence of initial and ongoing training and in a context of constant demand for high technical performance.Research limitations/implications– Despite the limitations of this study and the need for caution, the study seems to have two main implications. First, it leads to the reaxamination of the concept of informal learning and to assume the self-constructive dimension of activity. Second, it encourages studies to question the triple developmental process: technical, individual, and collective. Further studies are needed to better understand the triple process of individuation (technical, individual and collective) that operates in work situations and to test the heuristic power of this notion to account for learning and development in the workplace.Originality/value– The originality of this work is to address the issue of professional development in relation to the work of Simondon Gilbert on technical invention and his theory of individuation.