bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modeling of underwater wet welding process based on visual and arc sensor
Authors: Chen Bo , Feng Jicai 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper was to use visual and arc sensors to simultaneously obtain the underwater wet welding information, and a weld seam-forming model was made to predict the weld seam's geometric parameters. It is difficult to obtain a fine welding quality in underwater welding because of the intense disturbances of the water environment. To automatically control the welding quality, the weld seam-forming model should first be established. Thus, the foundation was laid for automatically controlling the underwater welding seam-forming quality.

Design/methodology/approach
– Visual and arc sensors were used simultaneously to obtain the weld seam image, current and voltage information; then signal algorithms were used to process the information, and the back propagation (BP) neural network was used to model the process.

Findings
– Experiment results showed that the BP neural network model could precisely predict the weld seam-forming parameters of underwater wet welding.

Originality/value
– A weld seam-forming model of underwater wet welding process was made; this laid the foundation for establishing a controller for controlling the underwater wet welding process automatically.
The power of purpose
Authors: Martin Dick 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– One of a business strategist’s most fundamental responsibilities is to help define the corporation’s highest purpose. This column explains why that duty has an even greater importance in a business environment plagued by “short-termism”.

Design/methodology/approach
– Personal viewpoint.

Findings
– The current business environment places such a high premium on short-term financial results that a corporation’s true customer-centered purpose can get lost.

Originality/value
– This is a personal viewpoint, informed by research and 32 year’s experience, more than 12 in the highest ranks of one of the world’s largest corporations.
Expatriates in the UAE
Authors: AlMazrouei Hanan , J. Pech Richard 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– Sending staff to international locations can be costly for employers as well as employees if the expatriate staff members fail in their ability to assimilate themselves or are unable to work within the construct of the foreign culture. From a strategic perspective, failed overseas deployments can have serious implications in both the firm’s reputation and unnecessary costs. We examine this issue within the context of deployments to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Design/methodology/approach– Questionnaires are used to examine the factors relating to expatriate leader adjustment in the UAE. The experiences of expatriate managers in the UAE are discussed.Findings– Our study found that well-structured pre-departure training had a positive effect on expatriate managers’ adjustment to working in the UAE. Mentoring was also considered to be highly effective as a means of preparing employees for an overseas deployment. A number of useful guidelines have been developed from the experiences of the expatriate managers surveyed in our research.Research limitations/implications– Practical implications The results provide notable implications for organizational leaders facing a posting to the UAE and human resource management specialists preparing people for work in the UAE. It also provides a practical model to be used by expatriate leaders to facilitate their adjustment to the UAE culture.Originality/value– Although there has been much research on cross-cultural adaptation, relatively little has been written on practical managerial adaptation, specifically in the UAE. This article helps address this imbalance.
Successful leadership in a rural, high-poverty school: the case of County Line Middle School
Authors: W. Klar Hans , A. Brewer Curtis 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– In this paper, the authors present a case study of successful school leadership at County Line Middle School. The purpose of the paper is to identify how particular leadership practices and beliefs were adapted to increase student achievement in this rural, high-poverty school in the southeastern USA.Design/methodology/approach– After purposefully selecting this school, the authors adapted interview protocols, questionnaires, and analysis frameworks from the International Successful School Principalship Project to develop a multi-perspective case study of principal leadership practices at the school.Findings– The findings illustrate the practices which led to students at this school, previously the lowest-performing in the district, achieving significantly higher on state standardized tests, getting along “like a family,” and regularly participating in service learning activities and charity events. A particularly interesting finding was how the principal confronted the school's negative self-image and adapted common leadership practices to implement a school-wide reform that suited its unique context.Research limitations/implications– While the findings of the study explicate the specific ways the principal adapted leadership strategies to enhance student learning, this study also highlights the need to understand how principals become familiar with their community's needs, cultures, norms, and values, and exercise leadership in accordance with them.Practical implications– The case offers an example of the need for context-responsive leadership in schools. In particular, it illustrates how this principal enacted leadership strategies that successfully negotiated what Woods (2006) referred to as the changing politics of the rural. To realize this success, the principal utilized his understanding of this low income, rural community to guide his leadership practices. Critically, part of this understanding included the ways the community was connected to and isolated from dominant sub-urban and urban societies, and how to build enthusiasm and capacity through appeals to local values.Originality/value– While it is widely acknowledged that school leaders need to consider their school and community contexts when making leadership decisions, less research has focussed on understanding how this can be achieved. This case provides rich examples of how this was accomplished in a rural, high-poverty middle school.
Evolution of government portals in India: mapping over stage models
Authors: Tripathi Rakhi , Gupta M.P. 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to assess whether the e-government stage models that have been developed in last one decade give a true indication of e-government growth in a developing country like India.

Design/methodology/approach
– This exploratory study was conducted through a survey questionnaire from 300 portals of government departments and public sector undertakings (PSUs) in India.

Findings
– Results show that on e-government stage model; only 28 per cent of the surveyed government department have achieved the transactional stage whereas 58 per cent have reached at least a minimum level of vertical integration. On the other hand, 74 per cent PSUs are at transactional level and 69 per cent have achieved at least a minimum level of vertical integration.

Practical implications
– For achieving a one-stop government portal, integration stage can be achieved before the transaction level. Reason behind this being nature and requirement of the portal. There are fundamental differences in social and political factors of various countries that demand more customized local models.

Originality/value
– This study is the first to examine the evolution of government portals in India. The results lead to a number of insights such as there are few government portals that do not follow the proposed stage models and achieve the integration level before attaining the transaction level.
Money, morals and motives
Authors: Hollow Matthew 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to look in more depth at what motivates bank managers and bank employees to commit fraudulent offences at work.

Design/methodology/approach
– This exploratory study adopts both quantitative and qualitative methods to better comprehend what motivates bank managers and employees to commit fraud at work. Evidence is taken from a sample of 64 cases of fraud from the UK financial sector. The sample cases were then subdivided in relation to the occupational status of the offender and classified based on the motives of the offender.

Findings
– The research findings from this study indicate that, as with other sorts of white-collar crimes, financial pressures play a hugely significant role in motivating bank employees and managers to commit fraudulent offences at work. However, the nature of these financial pressures appears to differ significantly depending on what role the offender occupies within the bank. Thus, for cashiers and those in lower positions, personal pressures generally act as the motive, whereas for more senior management offenders, personal financial considerations tend to come second to those of the organisation as a whole.

Research limitations/implications
– The preliminary findings from this paper emphasises that there is a need for more research to be conducted on occupational fraud in the financial sector as to better understand what motivates insiders in the banking profession to commit financial fraud and other criminal offences.

Practical implications
– This paper will help accountants and financial regulators to better understand what motivates those in the financial sector to commit fraudulent offences at work. This, in turn, will enable them to better assess fraud risks and establish improved preventive and detective measures.

Originality/value
– The paper fills a gap in the fraud literature by providing an in-depth study that focuses exclusively on what motivates those inside the financial sector to commit fraudulent offences at work.
Health care managers learning by listening to subordinates’ dialogue training
Authors: Grill C. , Ahlborg Jr G. , Wikström E. 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– Middle managers in health care today are expected to continuously and efficiently decide and act in administration, finance, care quality, and work environment, and strategic communication has become paramount. Since dialogical communication is considered to promote a healthy work environment, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the ways in which health care managers experienced observing subordinates’ dialogue training.Design/methodology/approach– A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and documents from eight middle managers in a dialogue programme intervention conducted by dialogue trainers. Focus was on fostering and assisting workplace dialogue. Conventional qualitative content analysis was used.Findings– Managers’ experiences were both enriching and demanding, and consisted of becoming aware of communication, meaning perceiving interaction between subordinates as well as own silent interaction with subordinates and trainer; Discovering communicative actions for leadership, by gaining self-knowledge and recognizing relational leadership models from trainers – such as acting democratically and pedagogically – and converting theory into practice, signifying practising dialogue-promoting conversation behaviour with subordinates, peers, and superiors.Research limitations/implications– Only eight managers participated in the intervention, but data afforded a basis for further research.Practical implications– Findings stressed the importance of listening, and of support from superiors, for well-functioning leadership communication at work.Originality/value– Studies focusing on health care managers’ communication and dialogue are few. This study contributes to knowledge about these activities in managerial leadership.
Does celebrity credibility influence Muslim and non-Muslim consumers’ attitudes toward brands and purchase intention?
Authors: Mohd Suki Norazah 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– This study aims to distinguish between Muslim and non-Muslim consumers regarding celebrity influence on brands and purchase intention, and assess the relative importance of celebrity credibility, in terms of physical attractiveness, trustworthiness, expertise and product–brand congruency. The study also researches attitudes towards brands, and purchase intention and their ability to predict consumers’ religion.

Design/methodology/approach
– The research aim was achieved through an empirical study involving a self-administered questionnaire distributed to members of the public recruited from the Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia. Data were collected from 250 Muslim and non-Muslim consumers using a convenience sampling method. Their participation was purely voluntary. Multiple discriminant analysis via Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer program version 20 was used to answer the research questions.

Findings
– Empirical results of the multiple discriminant analysis indicated that celebrity expertise and attitudes towards brands strongly predict allocation to Muslim consumers rather than non-Muslim consumers. The relative importance of the celebrity credibility aspects from Muslim consumers’ perspectives was: celebrity expertise, celebrity attitudes towards brands, purchase intention, product–brand congruency and physical attractiveness. Muslim consumers are found to choose expertise but not trustworthiness. Muslim consumers’ faith or trust may be linked to the perception that products and services endorsed by the celebrities are in line with Shariah principles which are consistent with Islamic principles.

Research limitations/implications
– Respondents were randomly drawn from the Muslim and non-Muslim population of the Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia. Consequently, they may not represent the entire population of Malaysia. Future researchers could overcome the limits of generalizability by increasing sample coverage.

Originality/value
– The paper empirically justified the discriminating function among celebrity credibility elements in terms of physical attractiveness, trustworthiness, expertise, and product–brand congruency of Muslim and non-Muslim consumer attitudes towards brands and purchase intention. Thus, the results of this study offer a new forward motion to the findings of prior studies on consumer perception of celebrity credibility, which is not much covered in the literature in the Malaysian context between Muslim and non-Muslim consumer perspectives. The findings are able to add literature on Muslim consumer behaviour in the use of celebrities, as these celebrities could act as inspirational to the consumers.
Shared values and organizational effectiveness: a study of the Nigerian banking industry
Authors: Amah Edwinah , Ahiauzu Augustine 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which shared values influences organizational effectiveness and the extent to which shared values influences profitability, productivity, and market share.Design/methodology/approach– The correlational study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. Research questionnaires were administered; interviews were held with managers in the organizations studied. A total of 388 managers were randomly drawn from a population of 13,339 managers of all the 24 banks in Nigeria. The independent variable, “shared values” was measured by coordination and integration, agreement, and core values. The dependent variable, organizational effectiveness was measured by profitability, productivity, and market share. The measures used a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1-strongly disagree to 5-strongly agree. Spearman's rank correlation statistical tool was used to test the hypotheses.Findings– The result (ρ=0.555,p<0.05) (see Table II) shows a significant positive relationship between shared values and profitability. The result (ρ=0.504,p<0.05) (see Table III) shows a significant positive relationship between employee involvement and productivity. The result (ρ=0.359,p<0.05) (see Table IV) shows a positive relationship between employee involvement and market share. There is a significant positive relationship between shared values and organizational effectiveness.Research limitations/implications– The results cannot be generalized because the study was carried out only in the banking industry. Not all the questionnaires given out were retrieved. Some respondents were reluctant to give out information about their organizations because of fear that such information will get to their competitors. Relevant literature on the topic of African origin were scarce, thus most of the literature reviewed was from Europe and America.Practical implications– The results imply that increase in the level of shared values in organizations will enhance profitability, productivity, and market share. This means that “shared values” is associated with organizational effectiveness.Originality/value– The study provides increased understanding, prediction, and appreciation of human behaviour. It enables us analyse the relationship that exist between shared values and organizational effectiveness. The study significantly enhances the body of knowledge in this area of management as it provides reliable empirical results that can be used by scholars and practitioners. It will also help to alert managers on the implications of cultivating a culture of sharing values in the organization that can serve as a competitive advantage. The study will be a challenge to further research because of its findings.
Affirmative action quotas in Brazilian higher education
Authors: Kirakosyan Lyusyena 
Published: July 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this study is to address its drastic socioeconomic inequality and to compel its higher education institutions to diversify significantly while democratizing access to those schools. Brazil recently passed a sweeping affirmative action law requiring its public universities to reserve half of their available spots for low-income and non-White students. This article examines the underlying assumptions and implications of Brazil’s adoption of affirmative-action quotas for higher education.

Design/methodology/approach
– The article offers comparative analysis of Brazil’s efforts with the experiences with quota and diversity policies in higher education in other countries.

Findings
– It can be contended that, while the recent quota law in Brazil represents an important step in addressing socioeconomic and political inequalities, the measure is too limited in scope to empower historically disadvantaged populations and diminish future inequalities confronting these populations. This article concludes by underscoring the importance of efforts to develop a more comprehensive framing of affirmative action and diversity policies in Brazil’s higher education, along with a simultaneous reform of public secondary education in the nation.

Originality/value
– The article considers experiences with educational quotas in other countries and draws some useful comparisons and parallels to the Brazilian case.
The socio-materiality of designing organizational change
Authors: Stang Våland Marianne , Georg Susse 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the managerial implications of adopting a design attitude to organizational change.Design/methodology/approach– Based on an ethnographic study of a merger, the paper investigates the intricate interplay between architectural design and organizational change in the context of physically relocating an organization to a new office building. Emphasis is given to the socio-materiality of this double design process.Findings– The data suggests that taking a design attitude toward managing organizational change can allow different actors to participate in organizational design processes, releasing management from its traditional role as the keeper of the design solution.Research limitations/implications– Although based on a single case, the paper provides insights into the socio-materiality of organizational change that is relevant in other settings where developing new collective understandings of change processes are needed.Practical implications– A design attitude allows for multiple contributions to organizational change processes that can help reduce anxiety among those involved. The approach calls for openness, experimentation and the ability to balance different concerns. It can provide new ways of attending to resistance and produce valuable inputs to shaping organizations.Originality/value– This study contributes to the growing research on the role of material artifacts in organizational studies by providing a detailed account of organizational change as a socio-material achievement.
Principals leading successful organisational change
Authors: Jones Michelle , Harris Alma 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to focus on the way in which principals in different countries are securing successful organisational change through systematically building social capital. It argues that how a school works as a cohesive unit and how people collaborates will ultimately define organisational performance.Design/methodology/approach– The paper draws upon the international literature to explore how principals are building the social capital for organisational improvement but is not a review of the literature. It adopts a cross-cultural perspective and explores collective capacity building for organisational improvement.Findings– This paper concludes that “disciplined” professional collaboration is an important way in which principals can create and sustain the social capital for organisational change.Originality/value– The paper is a conceptual piece that proposes that creating social capital, rather than individual or professional capital, is now an essential task for principals seeking successful organisational change and improved outcomes. It explores the idea of “disciplined collaboration” as a methodology for building social capital in a rigorous, effective and sustainable way.
Principal preparation in Kenya, South Africa, and Canada
Authors: F. Webber Charles , Mentz Kobus , Scott Shelleyann , Mola Okoko Janet , Scott Donald 
Published: July 2014

Purpose– The International Study of Principal Preparation (ISPP) informs principal preparation in relation to change in schools. The paper aims to discuss this issue.Design/methodology/approach– The three-stage ISPP study utilized a mixed-methodological approach. Data were gathered in Kenya, South Africa, and Alberta, Canada utilizing a survey instrument that contained items that focussed on: problematic leadership responsibilities, prior leadership development experiences, and perceived adequacy of leadership preparation experiences.Findings– Leadership preparation in Kenya and South Africa was relatively unstructured, compared to structured university-based leadership preparation in Alberta. The assumption in Kenya and South Africa was that classroom teaching was adequate preparation, while Alberta respondents perceived teaching and leadership as discrete knowledge sets. Content of preparation experiences in Kenya and South Africa was mainly about teaching and learning, while in Alberta it was more about instructional leadership. Kenyan principals felt prepared for the principalship. Alberta principals stated that they were ill prepared to deal with day-to-day responsibilities. Senior South African principals felt they were not prepared for school improvement while younger principals felt they were adequately prepared.Practical implications– Findings suggest that providers utilize cross-cultural partnerships that incorporate technology-mediated dialogue and action research. Cross-cultural learning should be considered co-learning. Preparation should include partnerships between western institutions and informal groups of principals in settings such as Kenya and South Africa. The study informs policymakers, researchers, and school leaders.Originality/value– The cross-cultural comparisons in this paper inform understandings of the principalship in relation to organizational change in schools.