bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of intrapreneurship on corporate performance
Authors: Augusto Felício J. , Rodrigues Ricardo , Caldeirinha Vítor R. 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the influence of intrapreneurship on the performance of companies.Design/methodology/approachThe study develops and tests a theoretical model where the intrapreneurship is supported on the factors innovation, risk/uncertainty, risk/challenges, competitive energy, proactivity and autonomy, and the performance on the factors financial performance, growth and improvement and on the variable productivity. Based on a questionnaire, data from a sample of 217 medium‐sized Portuguese companies were obtained. The study used the confirmatory analysis method based on structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThe intrapreneurship has a multidimensional structure. This model proves its influence on the growth and improvement and the importance and explanatory power of this latent variable.Research limitations/implicationsThe techniques used to verify the effect of firm size and the age periods has not been sufficiently explored and the direct effect of latent variables of intrapreneurship on performance was not assessed. This work contributes to the theory highlighting the importance of factors in intrapreneurship and the influence of the context in the model.Practical implicationsIt was verified that the intrapreneurship has obvious effects on the measures of qualitative performance – growth and improvement. This is helpful for researchers looking for appropriate performance measures and for intrapreneurs aiming to get support for their decisions and evaluate their performance.Originality/valueThis study considers the separation of the propensity for risk in two latent variables and includes the autonomy to characterize intrapreneurship and demonstrates the importance of qualitative measures of performance perceived in the perspective of medium and long term.
Sustainability and supply chain infrastructure development
Authors: Ross Anthony D. , Parker Hamieda , del Mar Benavides‐Espinosa Maria , Droge Cornelia 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis study aims to examine logistics infrastructure, trade differences, and environmental and social equity factors, for a set of 89 countries.Design/methodology/approachFollowing recent work which uses secondary data sources for supply chain research at the country‐level, data were obtained from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund databases. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to compute country‐level efficiencies and ANOVA was used to do regional comparisons.FindingsThe analysis shed light on country‐level dimensions of logistics infrastructure and trade performance. It also provided insights regarding environmental (e.g. CO2 emissions) and social equity (e.g. health expenditure) dimensions for different regions.Research limitations/implicationsPanel data rather than longitudinal data were used to draw the conclusions. A more exhaustive study could consider a multi‐year timeframe. A limited number of dimensions were examined. As the study was exploratory, further work could consider a more extensive number of dimensions.Practical implicationsThe study has important implications for policy makers, since the attractiveness of various resource endowments like those considered here (environmental, social, supply chain logistics) can be seen to be associated with trade performance.Originality/valueThis is one of the few studies to explore efficiency differences (enacted through DEA and ANOVA analyses), differentiating the research from the usual country clustering approaches. It also contributes to the understanding of differences between countries from a macro perspective, which provides insights for firms intending to expand their supply chains.
Forms of employee negative word‐of‐mouth: a study of front‐line workers
Authors: Harris Lloyd C. , Ogbonna Emmanuel 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe aim of this article is to supply grounded empirical insights into the forms of negative word‐of‐mouth by front‐line, customer contact employees.Design/methodology/approachThe article adopts a qualitative approach through interviews with 54 front‐line employees in three retail organizations: food, clothing and electronic goods.FindingsThe paper finds four different forms of negative word‐of‐mouth behaviours which are labelled customer‐oriented, anti‐management/firm, employee‐oriented and anti‐competitor word‐of‐mouth. The paper shows how each of these behaviours varied in terms of the target audience (the intended listeners), the focus of attention (the focal point of comments), the motivation (the perceived rationale for the behaviour) and the extent to which employees perceived their own comments to be truthful.Research limitations/implicationsThe article calls for an expansion of research horizon to incorporate a fuller understanding of the dynamics of employee (mis)behaviour in the workplace in relation to resistance, subjectivity, instrumentality and clandestine control of certain aspects of workplace dynamics.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that managers should be concerned with front‐line employee negative word‐of‐mouth especially because some of the examples which were uncovered are potentially damaging to both financial and non financial performance measures.Originality/valueThe article contributes insights into the neglected area of employee negative word‐of‐mouth. The article argues that the identification of the forms of employee negative word‐of‐mouth is an important step towards developing a theory of employee negative word‐of‐mouth that is especially pertinent to front‐line service work. The article develops a series of propositions which future researchers may find useful in advancing research in this area.
Men's sexual orientation and job satisfaction
Authors: Drydakis Nick 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis study seeks to investigate the differences in three aspects of job satisfaction – total pay, promotion prospects, and respect received from one's supervisor – between male heterosexual and gay employees in Athens, Greece.Design/methodology/approachTo determine whether a job satisfaction gap exists, the job satisfaction of gay employees is compared to the job satisfaction of heterosexual employees after accounting for various asymmetries. The data were gathered as part of the Athens Area Study conducted by the University of Piraeus, University of Central Greece, and Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences.FindingsGay employees are found to be less satisfied according to all job satisfaction measures. Affect theory proposes that the extent to which one values a given facet of work moderates how dissatisfied one becomes when one's expectations are not met. Furthermore, the data enable us to estimate that gay employees’ job satisfaction is not associated more (as compared with heterosexuals’ job satisfaction) with adverse mental health symptoms. This finding is crucial given the rising interest between job satisfaction and life satisfaction. Finally, wage gaps against gay employees are found after accounting for basic asymmetries. Interestingly, however, the wage gaps grow for very dissatisfied employees and shrink for very satisfied employees.Practical implicationsAs long as, the general patterns in Greece suggest that homosexual employees face labor market discrimination, gay employees will report being less satisfied at work. Actually, in this study, job satisfaction is associated with wage inequality.Originality/valueThis research initiates efforts to compare job satisfaction based on sexual orientation.
Silence in the sexual agenda of a UK probation service
Authors: Beckett C. 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to interrogate ways in which sex and sexual orientation are excluded from the agenda of work relationships in one probation service.Design/methodology/approachThe research was conducted through conversational interviews with members of a team responsible both for supervision of colleagues and for development of supervisory practice. Straight and lesbian officers responded to a perceived lack of skills to effectively “work with” sexuality issues.FindingsResponses lead to discussion of the discursive “silence” of sex, and to the specific positioning of lesbian identity. Specifically, it critiques approaches to supervision that do not explicitly value lesbian experienceResearch limitations/implicationsThis small study does not include the voices of black or gay male officers. It also does not explore the experience of bisexuality.Practical implicationsThe finding of this research can be used to support development of good supervisory practice.Social implicationsThe paper sheds light on day to day interactions that “silence” experience of sexual orientation.Originality/valueThe paper draws on original research interrogating both lesbian and straight experience. In so doing it sheds light on both discursive practices of a sexual agenda and practice issues in supervision.
Diversity in the British NHS: the business versus the “moral” case
Authors: Johns Nick , Green Alison , Powell Martin 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the business case for ethnic diversity in the British National Health Service (NHS). It seeks to contextualise issues around diversity within the current political environment, and identify the barriers to diversity in the NHS. The business case has been very strongly argued as justification for introducing both managing diversity and equal opportunity initiatives – here the paper examines the inconsistencies of using that argument, and maintains that the only justification worth presenting is that based on (deontological) moral arguments.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is conceptual in nature exploring the respective cases for diversity using a broad range of the available literature brought together as part of a rapid evidence assessment. It does so in order to make some far‐reaching claims about the future justifications for active diversification of senior management in key public sector institutions.FindingsThe distinctions between the business and moral cases are false, in that both have ethical reference points. However, the business case is not only difficult to translate to public sector institutions; there are also evidential problems with its adoption. In light of this the conclusion here is that the moral (deontological) case is the only one that has any long term value for proponents of diversity.Originality/valueThe value of this paper is that it examines the confusion that surrounds different cases for advancing diversity as a policy aim and presents a clear delineation of them. It also draws out some of the – perhaps deliberate – blurring of the cases and underlines the huge problems with this all too common approach. Ultimately, it suggests that morality (deontological) arguments have most purchase in public sector organisations.
Character centered leadership: Muhammad (p) as an ethical role model for CEOs
Authors: Beekun Rafik I. 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the leadership style of Muhammad (p) within a character‐centric framework as a useful alternative to the transactional, self‐centered model and the value‐neutral transformational approach that currently permeate business management. The author differentiates such perspectives from the character‐centered, moral approach to leadership suggested by the Qur’an and modeled by Muhammad (p), and proposes that this approach may be of practical use to CEOs.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual, comparative discussion of Muhammad's leadership style based on the primary Islamic sources is shown to have practical implications for the leadership process in management.FindingsThe current malaise in business leadership can be resolved by a new focus on character and on virtues.Practical implicationsThe character‐centered, moral approach of Muhammad provides exemplars of virtues and behaviors that, if emulated by CEOs, may help pre‐empt potentially self‐serving, individualistic and narcissistic tendencies.Originality/valueThe leadership model of Muhammad has been applied to a number of arenas before, but this is the first attempt at explicating the Qur’anic emphasis on the role‐modeling aspects of his character (khuluqin azeem). When fully expounded, it is likely to offer a more virtue‐centric alternative to transactional and/or transformational approaches to leadership and their associated relativistic values.
Practical wisdom for management from the Islamic tradition
Authors: El Garah Wafa , Beekun Rafik I. , Habisch André , Lenssen Gilbert , Loza Adaui Cristian 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the special issue on practical wisdom for management from the Islamic traditions.Design/methodology/approachThe guest editorial introduces the papers in this special issue, focusing on practical wisdom for management from the Islamic tradition.FindingsUsing multiple levels of analysis as well as both academic and practitioner‐oriented perspectives, this special issue demonstrates that the Islamic tradition offers valuable practical wisdom insights in multiple areas including leadership, human resource management, action learning, knowledge transfer and business ethics.Originality/valueThis issue represents the first exploratory contribution to the research on practical wisdom from the Islamic tradition, opening a new focus of research and contributing to management development.
4Es and 4 Poles model of sustainability
Authors: Agyekum‐Mensah George , Knight Andrew , Coffey Christopher 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe paper is conceptual in nature and explores the role and function of project management in the achievement of sustainability in the built environment by developing a 4Es (Economic, Effectiveness, Efficiency and Ethics) and 4 Poles (Economic, Social, Environmental and Technology) model of sustainability. The study also identifies that the existing debates on sustainability seem to marginalise project management's positive contributions to sustainable construction, as well as the importance of technology in the sustainability agenda.Design/methodology/approachThe paper consists of a literature review on the concept of sustainability, the contribution of the built environment to the sustainability problem, and an intellectual discussion of a proposed model for achieving sustainable development in the built environment. The body of this paper is divided into three sections: part one reviews “what is sustainability”, part two discusses the current state of sustainability including the importance of technology, and part three discusses the 4Es and 4 Poles model.FindingsThis research establishes the importance of technology in the sustainable development agenda. The paper proposes a 4Es (project management model) and 4 Poles (poles or factors of sustainability) model as a holistic approach to achieving sustainable construction. In addition, this paper proposes an extension to the definition of sustainable construction or development, as the existing definitions seem to be vague.Research limitations/implicationsThis research paper focuses only on sustainability in the built environment and sustainable development with reference to project management.Practical implicationsThe proposed model uses a project management approach, which does not allow trade‐offs, but promotes integration of the 4 Poles. This will contribute to the achievement of sustainable construction at every level of a project or organisation.Originality/valueThe proposed model is new within project management and the built environment. It also promotes technology as a core factor in achieving sustainable development.
An analysis of the development of China Digital Library for Visual Impairment website
Authors: Wei Zhang , Lirong Song , Chunming Li 
Published: November 2012

PurposeDisabled people are often disadvantaged groups with varying special needs. Therefore, acquiring knowledge, improving information literacy, and participating in social activities becomes a survival and development problem for many disabled people. As an information dissemination centre, libraries should assume the responsibilities and obligations of providing knowledge aids for the disabled. This paper aims to introduce the China Digital Library for Visual Impairment website, which provides knowledge services for people with visual impairment, and to describe and discuss its background, its construction, initial achievements, and future prospects.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts a case study analysis method, which takes the website of China Digital Library for Visual Impairment (CDLVI) as an example, introducing its resources development, service manners, developing mechanism.FindingsBased on the experiences of China Digital Library for Visual Impairment (CDLVI), the NLC will construct a perfect reading service system and knowledge network for the disabled, which provides personalized and convenient services, and creates good learning conditions for the whole special group of people with disabilities.Originality/valueThe paper provides an introduction to the CDLVI website, which provides services for people with visual impairment.
The use and future of electronic books in academic institutions in Nigeria
Authors: Ebiwolate Posigha Bassil 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the use and future of e‐books in academic institutions in Nigeria, to identify problems encountered in using e‐books and ascertain the future of e‐books in academic institutions in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a descriptive survey method supported by a questionnaire. The population of the study consisted of basic medical sciences and faculty of education lecturers made up of a total number of 122 academic staff.FindingsAlthough the survey sampled response was not large, it represented the university's lecturers. The study reveals that all the academic staff sampled in the university make use of e‐books. It also shows that both faculties investigated encountered constraints in the course of using e‐books. Finally it indicated that researchers' use of e‐books would double in the future.Research limitations/implicationsOnly 122 (20 per cent) of the entire population of the 640 lecturers participated in the study. Furthermore, the female and male respondents were not evenly distributed. Hence, the size of the population and the uneven distribution of males and females surveyed placed certain limitations on the level of generalization of the findings.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study may encourage library authorities to purchase and manage hardware and to negotiate for license issues for e‐resources to be done on time. It is also believed that the study will encourage the library to acquire more models of handheld devices and load them with e‐books from different vendors.Originality/valueThis is believed to be the first published study of the use and future of e‐books in Niger Delta University.
Open source integrated library management systems
Authors: Singh Manisha , Sanaman Gareema 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to study the open source integrated library management systems, i.e. Koha and NewGenLib, to inform librarians about what considerations to make when choosing an open source integrated library management system (ILMS) for their library.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides a detailed comparative analysis of both types of software, i.e. Koha (3.2.4) and NewGenLib (3.0), which are undertaken in the study. The methodology used for the study is “Evaluation method” which is followed with the help of structured evaluation checklist prepared after the thorough study of reference tools, reference statistical data available and related literature. Both types of software are evaluated and compared qualitatively and quantitatively.FindingsBoth types of software are web‐enabled and support library automation. Koha has more specific characteristics of open source ILMS. Koha needs to upgrade, modify and improve its features. Koha requires very little hardware and is easy to install. Koha has advanced database features. NewGenLib has better functionality of modules than Koha. More formats and standards are supported by Koha. Digital library functionality of NewGenLib is more specific in terms of technology, data structure and programming. Also NewGenLib provides more user help and support whereas Koha provides more user‐friendly downloads and a documentation facility. NewGenLib has more enhanced features which are significant for ILMS while selecting software for automation.Practical implicationsThe comparative analysis of the open source ILMS done in the study will help librarians in making necessary considerations while choosing an open source software for the library.Originality/valueThe paper presents a detailed evaluative study carried out using a comprehensive checklist designed for the study.
Networked library services in a research‐intensive university
Authors: Taha Ahmed 
Published: November 2012

PurposeThe paper aims to present a conceptual model for networked academic library services in a research‐intensive university. It also seeks to focus on the potential challenges that the networked library faces in responding to massive needs of the researchers for digital content in different forms and formats.Design/methodology/approachThe author conducted a personal interview (face‐to‐face, and email communication) with 75 research faculties and postgraduate students in the colleges of business, engineering, IT, and sciences at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). The approach to design the conceptual model for the research‐oriented library service was based on the feedback and observations of the interviewees on the pattern of query processing, research consultations (e.g. comprehensive, expert, topical search), e‐resources coverage, and relevance of the returns to their queries and information needs.FindingsThe proposed conceptual model demonstrates the virtual reference service, processing of research queries, online information search and retrieval, and data delivery to the researchers within a virtual research environment (VRE) in the UAEU. The study argues that the UAEU library should employ new strategies to meet the arising challenges of digital content and ongoing advances in information and communication technology (ICT), as well as considering how to embed itself within a research‐intensive university.Research limitations/implicationsThe personal interview does not claim to be all‐inclusive since the research faculties in the humanities and social studies were not reached. The inference of the study is encouraging the directors of the academic and research libraries to consider new models and strategies for providing reliable research‐oriented information services for supporting the emerging paradigm of e‐research activities.Practical implicationsThe study derived research‐oriented service implications for the subject librarians to engage effectively with the research‐devoted community either in the physical or in the virtual sphere, i.e. a two‐faceted sphere.Originality/valueAn extensive literature review revealed that there is a lack of scholarly works on research‐oriented library services that are provided by the academic libraries at the UAE‐based universities. The study is the first in the UAE to provide a broad understanding to an academic library in a research‐intensive environment for adjusting its web‐based information services. It presents also a suitable approach to embed librarians in the activities of the new paradigms of e‐learning and e‐science.