bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reconfigurable production system design – theoretical and practical challenges
Authors: Rösiö Carin , Säfsten Kristina 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to explore theoretical and practical challenges to achieve reconfigurable production system designs.

Design/methodology/approach
– The empirical material of this paper includes a multiple-case study with an embedded design (Yin) including four cases, where each case represents a production system design project. The consideration of reconfigurability and its characteristics in the production system design projects was studied. To enhance validity, two real-time studies were combined with two retrospective studies (Leonard-Barton).

Findings
– For more than a decade foresight reports have pointed out the need for responsiveness to change through reconfigurability in production system design. In order to achieve reconfigurable production systems, three challenges were identified: to use a structured design methodology, to gain knowledge in reconfigurability and its characteristics, and to include the reconfigurability knowledge in a structured design methodology. Still there is no comprehensive support available for reconfigurability in the production system design process.

Research limitations/implications
– Limitations are mostly related to the chosen methodology approach, and additional empirical studies to establish generic results are required.

Practical implications
– By combining knowledge from the production system design field with the reconfigurable manufacturing system field a potential of meeting identified challenges is pointed out.

Originality/value
– This paper adds to current knowledge by pointing out three main challenges to achieving reconfigurable production systems. The paper also contributes with ideas on how to respond to these challenges.
Factors affecting institutional change: a study of the adoption of Local Agenda 21 in Spain
Authors: Llamas-Sanchez Rocio , Garcia-Morales Victor , Martin-Tapia Inmaculada 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– This paper aims to examine how Spanish local councils respond to changes in their institutional context by implementing a sustainable practice: Local Agenda 21 (LA21).

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper uses the institutional approach to explain the factors influencing the adoption of LA21. It develops a series of hypotheses about how specific institutional factors affect the town and city councils that have implemented an LA21, as well as the differences between local councils with high versus medium implementation levels.

Findings
– The analysis reveals some institutional factors that explain the process of institutional change, the outcomes of LA21, and the differences between local councils.

Research limitations/implications
– Only one respondent from each local council completed the questionnaire. The authors tested for common method bias and did not find it to be present.

Practical implications
– From a more practical point-of-view, the authors consider LA21 to be an effective instrument for improving both the sustainability of towns and the management of local councils.

Originality/value
– The paper proposes institutional theory as a perspective that can explain change in organizations. The main value of the research lies in its identification of the factors affecting the process of change and the outcomes of implementing a sustainable practice like LA21.
Overcoming organizational inertia to strengthen business model innovation
Authors: Huang Hao-Chen , Lai Mei-Chi , Lin Lee-Hsuan , Chen Chien-Tsai 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– This study aims to examine how open innovation can be effective in changing organizational inertia to create business model innovation and improve firm performance. It also seeks to explore whether the existence of open innovation has a mediating effect and influence.

Design/methodology/approach
– This study constructs a theoretical model to explore the relationship between latent variables and uses a questionnaire to collect research data. In the conceptual framework, organizational inertia is a second-order latent variable and comprises three first-order latent variables: insight inertia, action inertia, and psychological inertia. Open innovation is also a second-order latent variable, and consists of two first-order latent variables: outbound and inbound open innovation. To clarify the relationship between these latent variables, structural equation modeling (SEM) is used to test the goodness of fit of the theoretical model and research hypotheses. This study uses 141 small to medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) in Taiwan as the research subjects.

Findings
– The SEM analysis revealed that open innovation has a significant mediating effect on the relationship between organizational inertia and business model innovation, and the relationship between organizational inertia and firm performance; business model innovation also has a positive influence on firm performance.

Originality/value
– This study contributes the empirical analysis of SMEs to illustrate the role of open innovation on business model innovation processes.
Organizational change as practice: a critical analysis
Authors: Jansson Noora 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to challenge some taken-for-granted practices related to organizational change in order to understand how organizational change as practice is conditioned by mundane assumptions.

Design/methodology/approach
– A critical analysis of the taken-for-granted assumptions revealed by a literature review was conducted utilizing practice theory approach in which human behavior and social context are intertwined. Hence, the analysis of this theoretical paper focuses on practices, praxis and practitioners in organizational change.

Findings
– The results suggest that certain elements that are believed to be universal in organizational change are, in fact, particular within context. The key finding and message of this research is that organizational change in practice is a manifestation of particularity. The conclusion is that certain mundane assumptions condition organizational change practices by ignoring the importance of power, phronesis and paradox, which lie in human interaction within social context.

Research limitations/implications
– The proposal that the dominating discourse on organizational change involves some taken-for-granted assumptions, challenges scholars to question the ways organizations are currently studied, and perhaps draws more attention to power, context and particularity in future research.

Practical implications
– The analysis demonstrates that the social aspect of organizational realities is crucial in organizational change, and should not be underestimated by the practitioners in the process. This realism of practice complexity indicates that the pitfalls of organizational change are more context dependent and thus, more numerous than generally is assumed.

Originality/value
– This research contributes to both theory and practice by offering a critical view on some of the taken-for-granted organizational change practices. This paper also demonstrates originality by introducing the concept of “organizational change as practice” in analogue of “strategy as practice” (SAP).
Assessing the value dimensions of outsourced maintenance services
Authors: Toossi Amir , Louise Lockett Helen , Z. Raja Jawwad , Martinez Veronica 
Published: October 2013

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the diverse nature of tangible and intangible value dimensions that contribute to customers’ perception of value from outsourced maintenance services.Design/methodology/approach– A multiple case study approach has been adopted. Repertory grid, an in-depth structured interviewing technique, has been used in order to draw out the respondents’ hidden constructs in evaluating outsourced maintenance services. Data have been collected from four customer organizations of outsourced maintenance services, and a total of 33 interviews have been undertaken.Findings– The paper has identified a range of tangible and intangible value dimensions that are of importance in maintenance outsourcing decision making. The most important value dimensions for maintenance outsourcing were found to be specialist knowledge, accessibility (of the service provider), relational dynamic, range of products and services, delivery, pricing and locality. Although the paper has identified the most important value dimensions the paper also emphasizes the need to take into account the full range of value dimensions in order to understand the whole value pattern in an organization.Practical implications– The results will be of use for maintenance service providers to help them to improve value-adding capacity of maintenance services. The results can also be applied by customers to help them assess the value they receive from outsourced maintenance services.Originality/value– A different perspective on maintenance outsourcing value is provided. The value patterns in different organizations and the viewpoints of respondents in different organizational roles are described. The dynamic nature of these tangible or intangible values over time and their interrelationships has also been explored.
Impact evaluation of T&D at the societal level
Authors: Mourão Luciana , Eduardo Borges-Andrade Jairo 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to propose a training and development (T&D) evaluation model that includes new societal indicators, considering the growing demand to do so. Three complementary studies were done. Study I used a framework for T&D evaluation that includes societal impact in it. Study II investigated which levels of T&D Brazilian organizations use. Study III went deeper into practitioners' vision on such theme.

Design/methodology/approach
– Three multimethod studies were done, over ten years (2001-2011). Study I focused on the evaluation of a professional formation program and used a quasi-experimental design. In Study II a survey was done with 1,150 organizations, searching for T&D evaluation strategies. Study III was a qualitative research with T&D professionals on societal impact.

Findings
– Impacts at the individual, organizational and societal levels were identified in Study I. Study II showed that most Brazilian organizations measure solely the individual level. Study III identified that the societal impact is sole and rarely measured by public organizations and large business corporations where a T&D department is fully operating

Research limitations/implications
– The indicators of societal and organizational outcomes used are appropriate for evaluating a specific T&D program. Other programs would require their own indicators (e.g. absenteeism, health, well being).

Practical implications
– The results of this study highlight an increasing demand for the recognition of organizational and societal indicators in T&D evaluation. Practitioners should be aware of this fact.

Originality/value
– This study uses indicators that are beyond the walls of the organization. It contributes to the development of T&D evaluation tools and points to new challenges towards societal effects of T&D activities.
Is the high performance organization framework suitable for Thai organizations?
Authors: A. de Waal Andre , Tan Akaraborworn Chiraprapha 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– Thai organizations are currently wrestling with the quality demands that are placed on them because of the approaching accession of Thailand into the ASEAN Economic Community. Thai managers are acutely aware that this will increase competitive pressures in their country, and are therefore looking for a technique which can help them create higher quality organizations and achieve sustainable high performance in the Thai context. This article aims to evaluate whether the high performance organization (HPO) framework can provide the necessary support.

Design/methodology/approach
– During two workshops in Bangkok, one for representatives of eight Thai profit and governmental organizations and one for staff and students of a Thai university, participants were asked to complete the HPO questionnaire. From the resulting scores three main areas of improvement were identified for Thai organizations which they should address in order to become HPO. These areas of improvement were discussed during the workshops with the explicit purpose of determining how they could be addressed in the Thai context.

Findings
– The research showed that Thai managers and employees understood the HPO questionnaire and were able to fill in this survey; the results of the HPO questionnaire yielded relevant areas of improvement for Thai organizations; and the HPO framework was seen as being a valuable technique for Thai organizations to improve in a sustainable way.

Research limitations/implications
– Further research should focus on testing the HPO framework in practice by implementing the recommendations in Thai organizations and then tracking the performance of these organizations in time. In addition, future research could look into the degree in which the characteristics of the HPO framework itself are suited to the Thai context, in comparison to other quality and performance improvement models and frameworks.

Originality/value
– This is the first research into the suitability of an HPO framework in the specific Thai context.
A framework for human capital indicators in knowledge- based industries: evidence from pharmaceutical industry
Authors: Mehralian Gholamhossein , Akhavan Peyman , Reza Rasekh Hamid , Rajabzadeh Ghatari Ali 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– During the last decade, intellectual capital (IC) has been widely considered as a critical tool to deliver successful business in an intensive knowledge environment. The main goal of this paper is therefore to develop and prioritize human capital indicators as an important component of IC in knowledge-based industries.

Design/methodology/approach
– Based on an extensive literature review, a valid and reliable questionnaire was designed. In order to gather data, it was sent out to 108 participants from academia and universities who were well qualified in pharmaceutical practice. Besides statistical analysis, the authors also used fuzzy TOPSIS technique as a MADM model in order to extract prioritization of indicators.

Findings
– The analysis indicates that there is little difference between academic and university respondents. Furthermore, the fuzzy TOPSIS results show that participants have high concerns especially about knowledge and skills of managers and employees.

Research limitations/implications
– The findings offer valuable insights in evaluating the state of human capital state as a key component of IC in knowledge- based industry.

Practical implications
– There is an immediate need that the policy makers and corporate managers wake up to the need and start to measure and disclose the intangible assets of firms. Intellectual capital measurement is also of primary interest for top executives of pharmaceutical firms in Iran.

Originality/value
– This is an initial and pioneering study to develop a valid tool to evaluate IC in the Iranian pharmaceutical industry. The present study provides a new aspect of performance measurement for research-based industries in emerging economies and would be a good topic for further research.
Determinants of dividend policies for ADR firms
Authors: F. Perretti Gizelle , T. Allen Marcus , Shelton Weeks H. 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– Cross-listed firms may face unique incentives for establishing dividend policies in comparison to US firms. This study aims to test the implications of the lifecycle and signaling theories of dividend policy in the context of non-US firms cross-listed on US stock exchanges via American depository receipts (ADRs).

Design/methodology/approach
– ADRs are classified according to the firms' dividend paying histories as regular payers, non-payers, former payers, new payers and switchers. Multinomial logit regressions measure the likelihood of dividend payers to pay dividends, as well as the possibility of a dividend amount increase, decrease, or no change, based upon previously identified determinants of dividend payments and a measure of economic conditions in the home country.

Findings
– The results indicate that firm size, growth opportunities, and the mix of earned and contributed capital partially explain observed dividend policies for ADR firms. Multinomial logit regressions reveal profitability and home-country macro-economic conditions significantly affect ADR firms' decisions to change their dividend policies.

Originality/value
– The findings suggest macro-economic conditions affect dividend payment changes among ADR firms. The results also imply that the lifecycle and catering theories may help explain dividend changes among ADR firms.
“All of my bosses have been men” – on gender structures in the real-estate industry
Authors: Maria Staffansson Pauli Karin 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of the paper is to create an understanding of the gender structure in the real-estate industry in Sweden. Interviews were made with younger female and male graduates. The purpose is to distinguish how these younger graduates working in the industry react to the gender structure.

Design/methodology/approach
– Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 graduate younger women and men working in the real-estate industry in Sweden. As an input to the interviews a mapping of the gender structure was conducted, using annual reports of commercial real-estate companies and public housing companies in Sweden.

Findings
– The paper provides empirical insights that there were not any greater differences in the gender structure in Sweden, between 2001 and 2008 and none of the respondents were surprised. The symbols of men and the hegemonic masculinity – men more often holding leading and technical positions while women more often hold supporting positions in the industry – are important to understand the gender structure. In the industry the hegemonic engineering masculinity is also apparent.

Research limitations/implications
– The limitation of the paper might be the time period of the mapping; a longer time period might have shown a change in the structure and the amount of young female and male graduates interviewed.

Practical implications
– The paper includes implication for the development of the gender structure – awareness is the first step, in order to retain talented women and men.

Originality/value
– The paper fulfils an identified need to study the gender structure of the real-estate industry.
Thermo-mechanical performance of concrete with alternative binder material
Authors: Kirton Paula , Richardson Alan , Agnew Brian 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of changes to fundamental components of concrete; cement type, water/cementitious (w/c) ratio, aggregate size and age, on thermo-mechanical properties. Understanding the heat transfer properties of construction materials will enable a reduction in energy expenditure and associated CO2 emissions, contributing to a more sustainable built environment.

Design/methodology/approach
– Concrete specimens were subject to steady-state heat transfer test methods to determine thermal conductivity and specific heat values. Pore volume of specimens was determined using water displacement method.

Findings
– Cement type CEM I produced the lowest thermal conductivity values by a maximum of 30 per cent, cement type group CEM I corresponded to higher pore volumes and lower densities than cement type group CEM II. Specific heat was higher in specimens containing CEM II compared to CEM I, with cement type being the dominant factor that determines the specific heat capacity. The w/c ratio 0.55 provided lowest thermal conductivity values of the w/c ratio specimens, however, w/c ratio had no impact on the specific heat of concrete. Cement type was the most dominant component of concrete of the properties tested.

Originality/value
– The paper presents knowledge of the thermal performance of concrete with easily achieved changes to concrete mix design, which can be used alone or combined for maximum effect. Steady-state heat transfer techniques in a low moisture environment combined with pore volume testing, provides originality to the study of the behaviour of cement replacements as previous research has mainly been based on transient techniques. The use of steady-state heat transfer experimentation allows important thermal properties, thermal conductivity and specific heat to be calculated.
The regulation constraint modeling and semantic inferring in construction quality checking
Authors: Zhong Hu Yun , Zhong Botao , Luo Hanbin , Meng Hu Hai 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to explore the feasibility that an ontological approach can be applied to formalize the construction regulation constraint knowledge in a computer-interpretable way, for construction quality checking, during construction stage.

Design/methodology/approach
– The ontological and semantic web technologies are used to model the construction quality constraints knowledge into Axioms/OWL and SWRL rules. Protégé platform is selected to illustrate how the construction quality checking, based on the Axioms/OWL and SWRL rules, is achieved.

Findings
– The ontology and semantic web technologies can be an alternative way for modeling the construction regulation constraints in a computer-interpretable way, and can be implemented for the regulation-based construction quality checking.

Research limitations/implications
– The approach is illustrated only with given specific technical constraints examples, the generality and practicality of the approach need further investigation.

Originality/value
– The paper introduces an ontological and semantic approach to model and formalize the construction regulation constraints for construction quality checking, and proves the feasibility by the case studies. The proposed approach enables the regulations can be understood and retrieved semantically by computers, which facilitates the using of regulation codes.