bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In vivo assessment of antimicrobial-treated textiles on skin microflora
Authors: Walter Nancy , H. McQueen Rachel , Keelan Monika 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– Antimicrobials may be incorporated into garments to protect the textiles, control malodour or to potentially reduce the spread of infection. Yet still not well understood is how antimicrobial-treated textiles may influence a person's resident microflora during wear, as limited in vivo testing has previously been carried out. The purpose of this paper is to assess whether normal skin microflora was altered as a result of contact with selected antimicrobial-treated fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach
– Three selected antimicrobial-treated fabrics (i.e. Fabric 1: triclosan; Fabric 2: zinc pyrithione derivative; and Fabric 3: silver chloride and titanium dioxide) were placed on the forearm of participants (n=19). Bacterial counts obtained under treated and untreated fabrics following 24 hours of occlusion were compared. The antimicrobial efficacy of fabrics displayed in vitro was also compared with the activity displayed in vivo.

Findings
– Two of the three fabrics (Fabrics 1 and 2) reduced bacterial populations on the skin following 24 hours occlusion compared to the matched control fabrics (Fabric 1: p<0.05; Fabric 2: p<0.001). Whereas, following occlusion with Fabric 3 bacterial populations were not significantly different than the matched control. The present study demonstrated that in vitro assessment of antimicrobial capacities of fabrics do not necessarily predict the effects of such fabrics during wear.

Originality/value
– The paper highlights that in vivo studies are a necessary and important tool for understanding the interactions of an antimicrobial-treated fabric with the wearer's skin. As well, the new method developed can be used by other researchers to examine the potential impact on skin microflora due to contact with antimicrobial-treated textiles.
The influence of manufacturing flexibility on strategic behaviours
Authors: Tamayo-Torres Javier , Barrales-Molina Vanesa , Nieves Perez-Arostegui Maria 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether the influence of manufacturing flexibility on firms’ exploration/exploitation differs between firms that possess Certified Quality Management Systems (CQMS) and firms that do not.Design/methodology/approach– The authors analyze a sample of 231 Spanish manufacturing firms, 131 of which had received some form of Quality Certification. The data were collected through a structured telephone questionnaire addressed to company CEOs. The relationships are modelled using regression equations, including interaction terms, in order to test for the existence of a moderating effect.Findings– The results show that certified companies exploit their own abilities, whereas uncertified firms tend to explore new knowledge. The authors also justify the importance of manufacturing flexibility for both options, exploration and exploitation.Research limitations/implications– The limitations of this research include the fact that the authors study a variety of forms of certification, not only ISO, and the fact that all companies belong to the same country.Practical implications– This study contributes to developing empirical knowledge of the benefits of CQMS in the firm.Originality/value– The paper develops a new model to improve manufacturing flexibility and Quality Management.
Scientometric assessment of Saudi publication productivity in computer science in the period of 1978-2012
Authors: S. Al-Khalifa Hend 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– This study aims to analyze Saudi scientific output in the field of computer science in Web of Science database, covering the years 1978 through 2012.

Design/methodology/approach
– The study involved analyzing 998 publications in terms of the publication count and its growth, citation, share of international collaboration, research areas and researchers’ productivity.

Findings
– The results show that the number of papers produced in computer science field has only increased after year 2007; this is because Saudi universities have applied a catch-up strategy to increase its research output. Also, our study reveals that the publication performance of Saudi scientists in computer science was domestic and suffers from low international visibility. Only two universities took the lead in the production of computer science research. Furthermore, computer science research trends in Saudi Arabia focused on engineering, followed by mathematics and telecommunications.

Originality/value
– Studies on international academic publication productivity in the Middle East, particularly in Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, are rarely found. In fact, bibliometric studies on Saudi researchers in the field of computer science are not available. Therefore, the originality of this study resides in being the first study to measure publication productivity of Saudi researchers in the field of computer science.
European influence in ITU-R: the end of an era of dominance?
Authors: Ali El-Moghazi Mohamed , Whalley Jason , Irvine James 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the European countries in Region 1 of the Radio Sector of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-R). More specifically, the focus is on the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 meeting to explore whether European influence is in decline.

Design/methodology/approach
– This article adopts in-depth case study of the 700-MHz issue. Qualitative data are drawn from semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders who participated at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 meeting.

Findings
– This article concludes that the influence of European countries in the ITU-R in Region 1 has changed. The influence of Arab and African countries has increased, with that of European countries declining. However, European countries remain more influential than their African and Arab counterparts.

Research limitations/implications
– This article sheds light on an often overlooked but pivotal element of the international spectrum allocation mechanism.

Originality/value
– This article sheds light on important developments in the international spectrum policy that are largely overlooked in the current debate.
Extending the expectation-confirmation model with quality and flow to explore nurses’ continued blended e-learning intention
Authors: Cheng Yung-Ming 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid model based on the expectation-confirmation model (ECM), flow theory, and updated DeLone and McLean information system (IS) success model to examine whether quality factors as the antecedents to nurse beliefs affected nurses’ intention to continue using the blended electronic learning (e-learning) system.Design/methodology/approach– Sample data for this study were collected from nurses at five hospitals in Taiwan. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed, 396 (79.2 percent) questionnaires were returned. Consequently, 378 usable questionnaires were analyzed in this study, with a usable response rate of 75.6 percent. Collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.Findings– Information quality, system quality, support service quality, and instructor quality contribute significantly to perceived usefulness (PU), confirmation, and flow, which together explain nurses’ satisfaction with the usage of the blended e-learning system, and this in turn leads to their continued system usage intention.Originality/value– First, the application of the ECM with the view of updated DeLone and McLean IS success model reveals deep insights into quality evaluation (including information quality, system quality, and support service quality) in the field of nurses’ e-learning continuance intention. Especially, this study additionally contributes to the identification of instructor quality that may lead to nurses’ continued blended e-learning usage intention. Next, the empirical evidence on capturing both extrinsic motivator (i.e. PU) and intrinsic motivator (i.e. flow) for completely explaining quality antecedents of nurses’ blended e-learning continuance intention is well documented.
Mental health literacy in non-western countries: a review of the recent literature
Authors: Furnham Adrian , Hamid Aseel 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to produce a comprehensive and tabulated review of the many and scattered papers on public mental health literacy, with particular focus on people's ability to recognise mental illness and beliefs about the treatment.Design/methodology/approach– This was a review and tabula study. Comprehensive tables describe studies: the first looks at the beliefs of three different groups (the general public, students and young people) within developed English-speaking countries, and the second on studies from non-English-speaking countries.Findings– Some illnesses like depression and schizophrenia are well researched and others like anxiety or personality disorders largely ignored. The conclusion considers terminological (the loose use of different terms), theoretical (little or no theoretical models) and methodological (heavy reliance on printed, culture-bound vignettes) issues in the developing area of research.Originality/value– No such review exists and this therefore should be of considerable value to people working in the area.
The role of workplace mediation: a critical assessment
Authors: Bennett Tony 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– Interest in mediation as an alternative strategy for managing conflict in the workplace has grown recently both in terms of theory, practice and government policy. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the efficacy of the process as practised in higher education, where its use is quite well developed. Its key aim is to increase the understanding of the process through a more qualitative sectorial analysis.Design/methodology/approach– The research took place over a six-month period in 2011. It is based on the views and experiences of 36 representatives from 16 universities across the North of England and four senior managers from mediation providers serving those organisations. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews with an average duration of one hour were undertaken with the majority of respondents with a small number of slightly shorter telephone interviews. All interviews were fully transcribed.Findings– The key findings of the research suggest that universities, whilst having similarities to other organisations in terms of the rationale, implementation and management of workplace mediation, have a practice also informed by some aspects specific to the sector. These include: the ethos of the sector, the nature of the academic labour process, its potential client base and also in its desire to network with others within the sector.Originality/value– The study offers a more in-depth understanding of mediation as practised in a cross-section of organisations in one sector and is in contrast to the predominantly more quantitative approach adopted so far in the mediation literature in the UK.
A comparative analysis of best human resource management practices in the hotel sector of Samoa and Tonga
Authors: Naidu Suwastika , Chand Anand 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to comparatively analyse the best human resource management (HRM) practices in the hotel sector of Samoa and Tonga.

Design/methodology/approach
– This study examined best HRM practices used by the hotel sector of Samoa and Tonga by using self-administered questionnaires. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 73 hotels in Samoa and 66 hotels in Tonga. Out of the 73 self-administered questionnaires that were distributed in Samoa, 58 usable questionnaires were returned resulting in a response rate of 79 per cent. In the case of Tonga, out of the 66 self-administered questionnaires were distributed, 51 usable questionnaires were returned resulting in a response rate of 77 per cent.

Findings
– The findings of this study show that there are 28 best HRM practices in Samoa and 15 best HRM practices in Tonga. This study also found that best HRM practices differ based on differences in internal and external environmental factors present in different geographical areas. The findings of this paper support the assumptions of the Contextual Paradigm of HRM and strategic human resource management.

Research limitations/implications
– This study is based on a single sector of Samoa and Tonga. A single sector study limits the generalisations that can be made across different sectors in Samoa and Tonga.

Practical implications
– Human resource managers should incorporate cultural, political, legal, economic and social factors in HRM practices.

Originality/value
– None of the existing studies have examined best HRM practices used by the hotel sector of Samoa and Tonga. This study is a pioneering study that comparatively analyses the best HRM practices used by the hotel sector of Samoa and Tonga.
The impact of person-job fit and person-organization fit on OCB
Authors: Farzaneh Jaleh , Dehghanpour Farashah Ali , Kazemi Mehdi 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– Drawing upon the social exchange theory and empowerment theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of perceived person-environment fit on organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB). Furthermore, this study assesses the roles of organisational commitment and psychological empowerment (PE) in this relationship.Design/methodology/approach– Respondents of this study were employees of the Iran Northeast Gas Transfer Company. Data were collected through conducting a survey on 500 employees, of which 412 questionnaires were used for further analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modelling, Baron and Kenny's (1986) procedure for examining mediator effect, and finally Zhao and Cavusgil's (2006) technique of evaluating moderator effect were utilised for the analyses.Findings– Results indicated that organisational commitment acts as a mediator between person-job (P-J) fit and person-organisation (P-O) fit and OCB. PE acts as a moderator between organisational commitment and OCB.Practical implications– This research has implications for approaches to human resource management in organisations.Originality/value– This study empirically synthesises the joint effect of P-O fit and P-J fit on a behavioural variable (OCB) in the social context of organisation and explains the mechanism of the effect. The pattern of relationships tested is relatively novel.
The position of relationship based practice in youth justice
Authors: Creaney Sean 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to consider the position of relationship-based practice in youth justice by looking at how “effective programmes” seem to have been given heightened importance over “effective” young person-worker relationships.Design/methodology/approach– By critically reviewing the literature on the topic, the paper promotes debate on the position of relationship-based practice in youth justice.Findings– It is argued that the young person-worker relationship is very important. A genuine and empathetic relationship can reduce the chances of re-offending and improve the child's personal, social and emotional development. By being respectful and listening attentively to children's “life stories”, barriers can be overcome, potentially resulting in lifestyle, social and behavioural change. However, although there is evidence that developing a trusting relationship is “effective” and that it is a key component of effective practice, what is less clear is how to practically secure the engagement of a child.Originality/value– In comparison to the emphasis on effective programme intervention, there has been less research done on the “characteristics” of effective staff practice in youth justice.
Strategic complexities and opportunities in Welsh youth justice: exploring YJB Cymru
Authors: Case Stephen 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– The paper presents and discusses the findings of a Strategic Insight Programme placement that explored the Youth Justice Board for Wales (YJB Cymru), a division of the YJB for England and Wales since the abolition of the regional structure in April 2012. The focus of the placement was on exploring the role of YJB Cymru in the development of youth justice policy and practice in the unique, partially devolved context of Wales. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– The research was conducted over a six-month period from February to July 2013. A multiple methods design was adopted, consisting of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (YJB Cymru staff, Welsh Government staff and Youth Offending Team staff), observations of policy and practice mechanisms (YJB Cymru meetings, YOT projects) and documentary analysis of YJB Cymru publications.

Findings
– Thematic analyses demonstrated that YJB Cymru has an increasingly important role in policy and practice development structures and processes in England and Wales more broadly (e.g. within the YJB for England and Wales) and in the Welsh national context specifically. YJB Cymru fulfills a role of dual influence – working both with government (UK and Welsh) and youth justice practitioners (mainly YOT managers and staff) to mediate and manage youth justice tensions in the partially devolved Welsh policy context through relationships of reflective and critical engagement.

Originality/value
– This study draws inspiration from the groundbreaking research of Souhami (2011) and builds on those findings to provide a unique insight into the organisation and role YJB Cymru in the complex and dynamic context of youth justice in Wales.
Executives with customer experience: wish and reality – the mantra of customer orientation
Authors: Bachmann Christian 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– This paper aims to describe the gap between the “customer orientation” as generally pretended by corporate top executives, and the actual focus of their respective officer mandates. It also aims to outline an alternative scenario in which “each and every executive board member is directly responsible for a given customer group or sales area”.

Design/methodology/approach
– This study analyzes the mandates of all executive board members of the 100 corporations stock-listed in Germany and Switzerland at DAX, MDAX and SMI index (as per annual reports and corporate homepages, on May 17, 2013). This study assumes that if customer orientation is a corporate core principle, then all officers will spend significant time with direct customer interaction and will have explicit responsibility for customers, sales markets or regions.

Findings
– Only about half of the analyzed (approximately 700) chief officers are directly responsible for sales markets or key accounts. The remaining half, instead, is heading mainly “functional” divisions (e.g. technology, legal). The proposed alternative scenario is outlined with its major practical implications.

Practical implications
– This study assumes that responsibility for client satisfaction and commercial success is systematically spread across all executive board members. Then corporate strategies are, by default, customer-oriented. Top management’s first-hand qualified customer experience helps them sizing their functional strategies. Such optimized functional strategies support the company’s market success – far from being trapped by silo mentality, or from becoming a goal in itself.

Originality/value
– This study approximates the ambivalence of “customer orientation” in real business practice as opposed to wish, and shifts responsibility to all top executives for putting credible customer orientation into practice.
The dark side of business models: the risks of strategizing through business models alone
Authors: Ghezzi Antonio 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– This paper aims at exposing the risks entrepreneurs and managers run whenever they focus on business model design alone, while disregarding other strategy analysis tools; disclosing what a business model is and is not; and proposing a checklist to frame business models within – rather than without – the process of strategic planning. The business model has recently gained popularity in the broad community of strategists, thanks to its apparent simplicity and straightforward applicability. Yet, business models have a dark side too, residing in their fuzzy relationship with strategy and little theoretical foundations.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper is based on a survey on 105 C-level managers involved in strategy formulation and business model design.

Findings
– The business model is often misinterpreted by strategists, who show a tendency to employ it as a substitute – not a complement – for traditional strategy analysis frameworks; however, such approach has significant downsides, as it fails to provide a holistic view on strategy. To exploit business models’ value, strategists should use them as instruments for business idea generation, strategy execution and innovation.

Practical implications
– Entrepreneurs and managers are faced with the pros and cons related to the use of business models, and are provided with action points to include the model in the overall business strategic planning.

Originality/value
– By questioning the current use of business models, the paper sheds light on its actual value and role in relation to strategy.
Can we alter behaviours without “culture change”?
Authors: Coulson-Thomas Colin 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of the article is to share certain findings of a five-year investigation.

Design/methodology/approach
– It draws upon under-pinning research reports and analysis of early adoptions of what the evidence suggests is the most affordable route to high performance organisations.

Findings
– Many corporate culture change programmes are unnecessary if their purpose is to quickly change behaviours and can be problematic in organisations that need to embrace a diversity of cultures and a variety of approaches and behaviours across different functions and business units.

Practical implications
– Performance support can be a cost-effective way of changing behaviour, ensuring people remain current and competitive and delivering multiple objectives without requiring a change of culture or structure.

Originality/value
– The article suggests that a “new leadership” and shift of emphasis is required.