bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Competitive benchmarking technique for “the followers”: a case of Ukrainian dairies
Authors: G. Goncharuk Anatoliy 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The paper is devoted to develop the methodological technique for the implementation of competitive benchmarking in an industrial company in strategy of “the follower”. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– In the research, a non-parametric methodology of efficiency analysis is used. To solve the problem of finding the best competitor, the author proposes to apply the method of free disposal hull (FDH).Findings– The proposed methodological technique for the implementation of competitive benchmarking in an industrial company in strategy of the follower enables to gradually develop and make informed strategic decisions that ensure the achievement of efficiency frontier and a leadership in its market segment.Research limitations/implications– The research is limited by a single industry (dairy products). This is explained by requirement of technology (product, service) homogeneity when using FDH model.Practical implications– By a case of 60 Ukrainian dairies, the paper demonstrates how the author can use the proposed technique in a practice and what steps the author should make to find company benchmark and improve the efficiency. It is possible to use the results of this research to make competitive benchmarking for the other industries.Originality/value– This paper adopts FDH model for competitive benchmarking and implementing the strategy of the followers. The proposed technique enables to improve the various activities of the analyzed dairies.
Truck-sharing challenges for hinterland trucking companies
Authors: Islam Samsul , Olsen Tava 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– This study aims to explore the challenges of truck-sharing and effective ways of dealing with those in achieving supply chain collaboration and collaboration in transportation management (e.g. transport collaboration) for transport capacity expansion, and reducing carbon emission and traffic congestion for integrating environmental and social sustainability issues. This paper also reveals insights into successful shared-transportation and a reduction in empty trips.Design/methodology/approach– This exploratory qualitative study was conducted by means of interviewing road carriers from the container transportation industry.Findings– In a truck-sharing initiative, technical issues (e.g. carrying capacity) arise, some of which involve the container truck and some involving constraints that cannot be controlled, such as driving restrictions, seaport operating hours, and the presence of the large number of container categories pertaining to the industry. Therefore, a significant amount of “structural empty running” may always prevail. It should also be noted that some, seemingly vital, constraints can actually be changed, treated, or modified for better truck-sharing outcomes, such as building a foundation of trust and establishing coordination among road carriers.Practical implications– A probable solution to the problem of increasing hinterland transport capacity is to make appropriate use of the huge number of idle truck slots that exist; this could be achieved by encouraging the acceptance of the challenges of truck-sharing realistically and suggesting an approach to handling them.Originality/value– To broaden its appeal, truck-sharing initiatives must be able to overcome challenges by combining theoretical insight with an understanding of the practical aspects of such an endeavor. This original research fosters knowledge that is unique and which also has real-life applications in maritime logistics studies and supply chain literature for both port authorities and container road carriers.
Locating medium volume and complexity manufacturing: cases from the ski industry
Authors: R. Caskey Kevin 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– The paper aims to examine the location of manufacturing for the major ski brands. The motivation is to explain, while there are no major manufacturers in the USA, the major European manufactures do produce locally even though their labor costs are even higher than those in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper first describes mid-volume, mid-complexity manufacturing. It then describes the ski industry and ski manufacturing. It then proposes several factors that could drive the choice of ski manufacturing location. It then reports interviews with several top managers at major manufacturers and suppliers.

Findings
– The findings show that development time and innovation are major drivers in the European market. The desire to lead the market with innovative products precludes the use of manufacturing in Asia, where production and delivery times would be longer.

Practical implications
– The findings give an example of the ability of manufacturing to remain in higher labor cost countries if development speed and innovation are significant market drivers.

Social implications
– The health of manufacturing in Western Europe and North America is currently of significant political interest. Companies and government entities may consider what actions they can take to encourage innovation-driven markets.

Originality/value
– The paper provides an explanation for a significant portion of the manufacturing of a mid-volume and complexity product remaining in higher labor cost countries. As innovation and development speed are found to be major drivers, this can inform manufacturers in other segments where the products and market share characteristics with those found in higher-end downhill skis.
Structural relationships between cultural values and coping behaviors of professionals in the stressful construction industry
Authors: Y.S. Chan Isabelle , Leung Mei-yung , Yuan Tina 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– Coping behaviors are a popular area of research in relation to construction professionals, who are often compelled to face a great deal of stress while striving for good performance in a dynamic and demanding industry. The effectiveness of various coping behaviors on stress and performance of construction professionals have long been identified. However, factors associating with individual adoption of various coping behaviors are still uncertain. People from different cultural environments have different values and hence different preferences for coping strategies, which have different effects on construction professionals. Hence, the papers’ primary contribution to the overall body of knowledge is the establishment of statistical evidence that desired cultural values of construction professionals can influence their adoption of coping behaviors. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– A questionnaire survey was designed and conducted to investigate the relationships between cultural values and coping behaviors of construction professionals in Hong Kong (HK). Surveys were distributed to 500 HK construction professionals by fax, e-mail, or personal contact. Of these, 139 were returned, giving a response rate of 28.0 percent. Based on the data collected, a series of systematic statistical analyses, including factor analyses, regression analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM), were conducted using SPSS 15.0 and Lisrel 8.5.

Findings
– Based on the results of factor analyses and regression analysis, a SEM was developed which reveals the following: first, interpersonal integration triggers planful problem solving; second, a disciplined work ethos triggers positive reappraisal and alleviates emotional discharge; and third, interpersonal integration triggers a disciplined work ethos. A series of personal-, interpersonal-, task-, and organizational-level recommendations are given on how to encourage construction stakeholders to adopt adaptive coping behaviors through cultivating their cultural values.

Originality/value
– The current study adopted a series of systematic analysis approaches to provide empirical support of how Chinese values of construction professionals predict their adoption of various coping behaviors in the dynamic and stressful industry. Since different coping behaviors have different impact on performance of construction professionals, the findings provide indications for future studies on enhancing performance through the cultivation of various cultural values and the coping behaviors they thereby adopt.
A cluster randomised controlled trial of “Bookstart+”: a book gifting programme
Authors: O’Hare Liam , Connolly Paul 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of a free book gifting programme, called “Bookstart+”, in improving family reading outcomes.Design/methodology/approach– Bookstart+ consists of a pack of books and reading materials provided to families at their two-year-old child's statutory health visit. The pack is accompanied by a short priming demonstration, delivered by the health visitor, on shared reading. The evaluation took the form of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 460 families from the client lists of 115 health visitors.Findings– The study found evidence of: a positive significant effect on parents’ attitudes to reading and books (Cohen'sd=+0.192,p=0.034); no significant effect on parental attitudes to their child reading (d=+0.085,p=0.279); and a negative effect, approaching significance, on public library usage (d=−0.160,p=0.055).Research limitations/implications– The attrition rate was high, with only 43.9 per cent of the target families completing all of the research. However, this level of attrition did not lead to any significant differences between the control and intervention groups on their pre-test measures.Practical implications– The study provides recommendations for free book gifting service provision in relation to pack contents and delivery.Originality/value– This paper contributes to the limited international RCT evidence on free book gifting programmes.
A multi-stage analysis of antecedents and consequences of knowledge management evolution
Authors: Lin Hsiu-Fen 
Published: March 2014

Purpose–Drawing from knowledge-based view and balanced scorecard approach, this study seeks to develop an integrative model to examine the influence of two knowledge management (KM) strategies, codification KM strategy and personalization KM strategy, on the multi-stage KM evolution (KM adoption, implementation and institutionalization stages), which in turn affects balanced scorecard outcomes (financial performance, internal process performance, customer performance, and growth and learning performance).Design/methodology/approach–Survey data from 244 managers (currently and directly in charge of KM activities) in large Taiwanese firms were collected and used to test the research model using the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach.Findings–The results have revealed that both the codification KM strategy and personalization KM strategy are positive factors for stage-based KM evolution, but their relative importance differs across the three subsamples. Additionally, the results showed that the internal process and customer perspectives play a critical role in measuring performance during the earlier stages of KM evolution, while the financial and learning and growth perspectives emphasize the performance achievements from the latter stages.Practical implications–Since KM implementation is an evolutionary process, using both financial and non-financial measures to assess organizational performance through KM efforts, such as the four balanced scorecard perspectives, can take full advantage of stage-based KM evolution. The results indicate that the time-lag effect is critical to distinguishing different forms of organizational performance.Originality/value–Theoretically, this study aims to provide a research model that is capable of understanding the antecedents and consequences of staged-based KM evolution. From a managerial perspective, the findings of this study provide valuable guidelines to policy-makers and practitioners in accelerating KM evolution and achieving organizational performance.
Technology perceptions in employees' use of self-directed learning
Authors: E. Fleming David , B. Artis Andrew , M. Hawes Jon 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– Service firms can improve their adaptability in turbulent environments with knowledgeable employees. Self-directed learning (SDL) is one way that employees can improve knowledge, but this research area has not examined the role of technology in employee learning. This paper aims to discuss these points.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper uses nested regression to test hypotheses about the relationships between employee affinity for technology (AFT) and perceived corporate affinity for technology (PCAFT) on SDL project use in financial services employees, and extends Artis and Harris' conceptual SDL model.

Findings
– The relationship between the antecedents and SDL project use depends on the type of project: induced, synergistic, voluntary or scanning. The main effect of AFT impacts all except induced projects. The main effect of PCAFT only influences synergistic projects. The interaction term influences induced and scanning projects.

Research limitations/implications
– This paper provides the first empirical test of antecedents of SDL project use in the marketing literature. Limitations include that only employees from financial services were used; future research is needed to determine generalizability.

Practical implications
– These findings show that what motivates employees to engage in SDL project can be a selection or an internal communication issue depending on project type. This should help managers to determine what steps can be taken to encourage employee use of SDL projects.

Originality/value
– Academically, this is the first paper in marketing to empirically test antecedents of SDL projects use and provides empirical support of Clardy's SDLP typology. Managerially, this is the first empirical guidance on how firms can increase employee SDL project use to enhance knowledge.
Entry points for government information: a comparative look at four sources
Authors: E. Malone Charles 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
- The aim of this article is to promote the use of free government resources to librarians and library users by focusing on four starting points for finding government information that is freely available.

Design/methodology/approach
- This article uses the No Child Left Behind act to compare the types of information that can be found in US Dept. of Education web pages, Congressional Research Service reports, General Accountability Office reports, and Congressional committee hearings.

Findings
- Each of the four government resources described in the article provides a wealth of information on the example topic. However, the information found from each resource is influenced by the mission of the organization, creating disparity in the depth of information offered and the manner in which it is presented.

Practical implications
- One can use the federal government agency that works in a subject area to find an overview, legal background, reports, and statistics on that subject, as well as information on how the agency is administering policies related to that topic. The Congressional Research Service can provide a broad outside overview of the subject along with pro and con issues related to the subject. The Government Accountability Office can add detailed analysis and criticism on the subject. Congressional committee hearings can provide testimony and reports from stakeholders and experts on the subject, offering a variety of viewpoints.

Originality/value
- This paper fills an identified need for comparison of these four sources as primary starting points for finding and using government information.
What Can Health Communication Science Offer for ACA Implementation? Five Evidence‐Informed Strategies for Expanding Medicaid Enrollment
Authors: KREUTER MATTHEW W. , McBRIDE TIMOTHY D. , CABURNAY CHARLENE A. , POOR TIMOTHY , THOMPSON VETTA L. SANDERS , ALCARAZ KASSANDRA I. , EDDENS KATHERINE S. , RATH SUCHITRA , PERKINS HANNAH , CASEY CHRISTOPHER 
Published: March 2014

ContextImplementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014 will require effective enrollment and outreach efforts to previously uninsured individuals now eligible for coverage.MethodsFrom 1996 to 2013, the Health Communication Research Laboratory conducted more than 40 original studies with more than 30,000 participants to learn how to improve the reach to and effectiveness of health information for low‐income and racial/ethnic minority populations. We synthesized the findings from this body of research and used them to inform current challenges in implementing the ACA.FindingsWe found empirical support for 5 recommendations regarding partnerships, outreach, messages and messengers, life priorities of low‐income individuals and families, and the information environment. We translated these into 12 action steps.ConclusionsHealth communication science can inform the development and execution of strategies to increase the public's understanding of the ACA and to support the enrollment of eligible individuals into Medicaid or the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Association of HLA‐DRB1 alleles and anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in Han and Uyghur patients with ulcerative colitis in China
Authors: Gao Feng , Aheman Ayinuer , Lu Jia Jie , Abuduhadeer Mireayi , Li Yue Xian , Kuerbanjiang Aihemaijiang 
Published: March 2014

ObjectiveWe aimed to study the association between HLA‐DRB1 alleles and anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) among Uyghur and Han patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in China.MethodsAltogether 160 UC patients and 466 healthy controls of Uyghur and Han groups residing in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China were included. HLA‐DRB1 variants were identified from genomic DNA using polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing. Serum ANCA were determined by indirect immunofluorescence assay.ResultsAmong the Uyghur populations, the HLA‐DRB1*08 gene frequency was lower in the UC patients than in the control group (P = 0.012, OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02–0.91); however, that of HLA‐DRB1*13 was much higher in the UC patients than in the controls (P = 0.001, OR 4.32, 95% CI 1.92–9.74). In Han patients with UC, there was no significant difference in HLA‐DRB1 frequency between UC patients and healthy controls. The positive rate of ANCA in Uyghur patients with UC was significantly higher than in Han UC patients (P = 0.026), and ANCA positivity was associated with an increased frequency of HLA‐DRB1*13 in Uyghur UC patients, but no such difference was observed in the Han patients.ConclusionsGenetic polymorphisms of the HLA‐DRB1*08 and *13 may contribute to the clinical heterogeneity of UC between Uyghur and Han UC patients in China. In Uyghur UC patients, HLA‐DRB1*13 may be correlated with ANCA positivity.
Clinical and laboratory profile of childhood polyarteritis nodosa in a Bangladeshi tertiary hospital
Authors: Talukder Manik K. , Islam Mohammad I. , Rahman Shahana A. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIntroductionPolyarteritis nodosa in children is a rare necrotizing vasculitis affecting mainly small and medium‐size arteries.ObjectiveTo describe the different clinical patterns and laboratory profiles of polyarteritis nodosa patients in a tertiary care hospital.MethodologyThis was a retrospective cohort study carried out in the Department of Paediatrics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period January 2007 to December 2012. A total of 13 patients fulfilling the European League Against Rheumatism/Paediatric Rheumatology International Trial Organization/Paediatric Rheumatology European Society (EULAR/PRINTO/PRES) classification criteria were enrolled in this study. Data was collected via a predesigned questionnaire.ResultsAge range was 3–12 years, male : female ratio was 9 : 4. The duration of symptoms was 2–16 weeks. All the children had fever, anorexia and generalized weakness. Subcutaneous nodules were present in 77% of cases followed by arthritis and rash (69%), muscle pain (54%) and abdominal pain (38%). Impaired peripheral pulses were present in 54%, ulceration and gangrene was present in 31% and auto‐amputation was present in 15% of cases. All the patients had high erythrocyte sedimentation rates followed by neutrophilic leukocytosis and thrombocytosis (85% and 62%). Skin biopsy was positive in 77% of cases and angiographic abnormalities were present in 23% of cases.ConclusionMost clinical and laboratory profiles of polyarteritis nodosa in our center, such as age, sex, fever, rash, arthritis and abdominal pain, were mostly similar to other reports; however some late cases were found in this series with complications such as gangrene and auto‐amputation.
Has the incidence of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in Queensland been reduced with improved education in fetal surveillance monitoring?
Authors: Byford Sally , Weaver Edward , Anstey Chris 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundHypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) is secondary to intrapartum asphyxia and the fifth largest cause of death of children under five. Incorrect use and interpretation of intrapartum cardiotocographs has been identified as a contributing factor to the development of HIE. Therefore, RANZCOG introduced the Fetal Surveillance Education Program (FSEP) to improve education and practice of intrapartum care.AimTo investigate the incidence of HIE throughout Queensland between 2003 and 2011 during the introduction and implementation of RANZCOG FSEP.MethodsThe incidence of HIE admissions at each hospital in Queensland (2003–2011) was collated from Queensland Health Statistics Centre. RANZCOG FSEP provided data regarding course attendees throughout Queensland (2006–2011). Hospitals were grouped into four regions. Statistical analysis was conducted using StataTM (version 12.0) — data appeared to follow a damped harmonic model.ResultsThe posteducation (2006–2011) HIE rate was significantly lower (P = 0.02) than the pre‐education (2003–2005) rate. The final model predicted a stabilisation of HIE occurrence rate at approximately 160 events/100 000 live births by 2012. This rate was stable if the level of education was maintained but rose back to the initial rate of 250 events/100 000 live births if the education participation was discontinued.ConclusionsThis study identified a significant reduction in the incidence of HIE – a potentially life‐threatening newborn condition – between 2003 and 2011, during and following FSEP implementation. Notwithstanding the inevitable limitations of state‐based data collection, these results are encouraging. For such improvements to be sustained, education must reach all staff engaged in intrapartum care and be regularly repeated.