bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Japanese innovation processes
Authors: Ota Masaharu , Hazama Yohsuke , Samson Danny 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe aim of this study is to propose and test a model of innovation process management and to clarify the managerial strategies required to achieve it in Japanese enterprises.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted empirical tests of the model using the data from the questionnaire surveys of Japanese companies, and an illustrative case study.FindingsIt was found that there was a high likelihood that the IP of Japanese companies thought to have had success with innovation matched the proposed model. The support for the model from the Japanese data is sufficiently strong so as to suggest that certain managerial factors should generally be implemented in order to succeed with innovation. The authors then conducted a case study on a notably prominent Japanese company, Toyota, interviewing senior executives both in Japan and Australia. This was done in order to further verify and enrich the findings of the model development and the empirical survey study. The authors found specific practices and capabilities that were statistically significant in Japan's manufacturing companies in general, which were also deeply engrained within Toyota in particular. The importance of structured process in Toyota in particular and generally in the Japanese manufacturing sector was confirmed, comprising scanning, idea occurrence, strategy formulation, resource procurement, implementation and value creation.Originality/valueThis study is one of few that shows the particular approach used in Japanese manufacturing companies. That systematic approach led Japanese manufacturing companies to be at the forefront of innovation for three decades from 1975, and able to successfully expand internationally.
Negotiating future careers
Authors: Fossland Trine 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe management literature concludes that there is an increasing need for skilled migrants in Europe. A fresh comparative OECD study highlights Norway as one of the successful countries in terms of attracting highly qualified migrants. Regardless of this picture, many skilled migrants do not get their education recognised and face great challenges in their career development. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to this under‐researched field in management studies by focusing on skilled migrants’ careers development as a question of human capital and negotiations at a relational level.Design/methodology/approachThis study draws on interviews with recruitment agencies and life‐story interviews with high‐skilled immigrants, attending the programme “Global future – mobilisation of talented immigrants with higher education”, initiated by the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Enterprise (NHO) in Norway.FindingsRecruitment is a multi‐layered and relational process, involving different negotiators, negotiations and inequality regimes. Language skills, gendered expectations, networks, local knowledge and the attitude of employers play an important role in skilled migrants’ careers development and labour market participation.Originality/valueThis paper presents recent literature on highly skilled migration in Norway. By focusing on participants in a new type of recruitment programme for highly skilled migrants in Norway, the findings can give input to both employers and policy makers regarding the nature of integrating highly skilled migrants.
Library consortium: IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria experience
Authors: Comfort Ilesanmi Titilayo 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the library consortium experienced at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria. Activities involved improving researchers' timely access to resources for research for development.Design/methodology/approachThe approach taken was a librarian interview and observation of library records.FindingsThe consortium involves agricultural libraries in both developing and developed countries. Using the library software Inmagic database enhances the web‐based centralized online public access catalogue of all the participating institutions, the CGV Library. This enabled access to their comprehensive collections, promoting better library services to agricultural researchers. Hence, it bridges the digital gap between developing and developed countries. They are involved in joint acquisition of electronic journals and timely response to sharing their independent collections through electronic document delivery services.Practical implicationsThe paper recommends that Nigerian libraries, especially agricultural research institutes, could emulate the IITA library consortium.Originality/valueThe paper provides recommendations to libraries wishing to form consortia in Nigeria and notes the positive impacts that this would have on national development.
Feasibility study of digital document supply services in Iranian research institutes and academic libraries
Authors: Shabani Ahmad , Tabbakhan Mansoureh , Naderikharaji Fatemeh 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe paper's aim is to study the feasibility of establishing digital document supply services in libraries of research institutes and universities in Isfahan province.Design/methodology/approachThe research is of a descriptive survey type. The population under study included librarians working in academic and research institute libraries in Isfahan province. The data were collected via a researcher‐made questionnaire using a five‐point Likert scale.FindingsThe study indicates that the feasibility of establishing digital document supply services in academic and research institute libraries in Isfahan province is less than average, which is not desirable.Originality/valueThe paper provides information about the state of document supply services in Iranian academic libraries and research institutes.
Interlending and document supply: a review of the recent literature: 81
Authors: McGrath Mike 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to provide a review of the literature concerning interlending and document supply and related matters.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on the reading of over 150 journals, as well as monographs, reports and web sites.FindingsImportant developments in ILL include OCLC's launch of an ILL resource particularly useful for public libraries. More on pay per view (PPV) and patron driven acquisition (PDA). The perils of journal usage measurement are identified in an important article and more on open access in the UK with more responses to the Finch report.Originality/valueThis is the only regular literature review that focuses on document supply and related issues.
Agile software development practices: evolution, principles, and criticisms
Authors: Misra Subhas , Kumar Vinod , Kumar Uma , Fantazy Kamel , Akhter Mahmud 
Published: March 2013

PurposeAgile software development is an emerging approach in software engineering, initially proposed and promoted by a group of 17 software professionals who practice a set of “lightweight” methods, and share a common set of values of software development. They consolidated their thoughts, and defined these methods as “agile”. The approaches are based on experiences and best practices from the past by the above‐mentioned group of 17 software professionals. The purpose of this article is to outline the history and evolution of agile software development practices, their principles, and the criticisms as reported by the software development community.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive literature review was undertaken to do this research.FindingsBased on the literature review, this paper provides a comprehensive document that helps the practitioners working in the area of the agile software development.Originality/valueThis article will provide comprehensive material for the researchers in the area of agile software development. It will also be very useful for the practitioners practicing software development in the area of agile software development.
The moderating effect of channel use on the quality‐loyalty relationship in multi‐channel e‐services
Authors: Sousa Rui 
Published: March 2013

PurposeServices provided through the internet (e‐services) are typically offered as part of a broader Multi‐Channel (MC) service package, combining these services with services delivered through traditional channels (e.g. phone, physical facilities). Customers of e‐services display heterogeneity in channel use, ranging from customers with a high Degree of Focus on the Internet (DFI) channel (internet‐oriented customers) to customers with a low DFI (low focus on the internet and strong reliance on traditional channels). The purpose of this study is to examine whether a customer's DFI moderates the relationship between e‐service quality (eSQ) and e‐loyalty behavioral intentions in an MC e‐service.Design/methodology/approachPerceptual and objective data were collected from multiple sources in a major retail MC e‐banking service (survey of online customers, transactional data and customer database).FindingsFirst, there is high diversity in DFI among e‐service customers; second, a customer's DFI negatively moderates the quality‐loyalty relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe study should be extended to other types of e‐services.Practical implicationseSQ seems to be a more important driver of e‐loyalty behavioral intentions for low DFI customers than for high DFI (internet‐oriented) customers. Different strategies may need to be employed to drive retention across customers with different levels of DFI. Specifically, driving e‐loyalty among internet‐oriented customers may require complementing eSQ investments with additional retention mechanisms (e.g. building communities or creating switching barriers). DFI should be recognized as a useful and readily available customer segmentation variable for devising loyalty strategies.Originality/valueThe study pioneers the examination of the impact of channel use on the quality‐loyalty relationship. It breaks new ground in proposing DFI as a relevant customer segmentation variable for e‐service research and practice. External validity is enhanced by the use of objective (rather than self‐reported), real‐world data to measure customer channel use.
A multicriteria optimisation model for reliability design of series‐parallel systems: part 1
Authors: Twum Stephen , Aspinwall Elaine , Fliege Jörg 
Published: March 2013

PurposeReliability is a major quality characteristic which has grown in importance as products/systems have become ever more sophisticated. Neglecting it could spell great losses in terms of patronage, revenue, and even lives. The purpose of this paper is to present a multi‐criteria optimisation model and methodology for the Pareto optimal assignment of reliability to the components of a series‐parallel system in order to maximise its reliability.Design/methodology/approachThe subsystems' reliabilities are maximised independently but simultaneously in order to maximise the overall system reliability, while a penalty function modelling cost of reliability improvement is minimised. The resultant continuous and nonlinear optimisation problem is scalarised by a convex combination of the criteria and the MATLAB Optimisation Toolbox is used to generate the solutions.FindingsThe results for an illustrative example problem extracted from the literature show that: higher reliabilities could be assigned to the components, in order to achieve or exceed target system reliability; cost increased sharply with slight improvements in the component reliabilities, and the model was stable under the weighting scheme used.Originality/valueThe novelty of this work is in: the multi‐criteria optimisation view taken of the design problem; the focus on the subsystems' reliabilities and cost as the criteria to be optimised; the use of the two aforementioned qualities for the purpose of Pareto assignment of component reliabilities in a system's design; and the use of the model and methodology in the context of series‐parallel systems.
Assessing the impact of failures in service operations using experimental design with simulation
Authors: Gliatis Vassilis , Minis Ioannis , Myrto Lavasa Kiriaki 
Published: March 2013

PurposeFailures represent an important source of variability in service operations and a major performance challenge. As a consequence, the effective management of failures is a prerequisite to achieve lean services. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the operational perspective of failures; that is attempt to quantify the impact of critical failure parameters on key system performance measures, such as cycle time and work‐in‐process. The authors also analyze various operational concepts, or management practices, that service organizations use to address the effects of failures.Design/methodology/approachDiscrete event simulation was used to model the behavior of a typical two‐stage service system (front‐office, back‐office), and design of experiments to estimate the impact of significant parameters that characterize service failures, on key system performance measures. In a final experiment, three of the most common practices used by management to address failures, and the impact of these practices on system performance under different conditions were analyzed. The findings are validated through a case study in the financial services.FindingsThe results of this study suggest that failures and rework degrade the performance of service systems. This adverse impact is reinforced, if specific inputs of the system deteriorate, such as the ability of the service organization to deliver appropriate quality, to detect failures early and to be capable enough to recover timely and efficiently from failures. In addition, the results show that typical management practices used to address the impact of failures have strengths and weaknesses depending on the characteristics of both the service system and the failures. If this is not taken into consideration, the above managerial practices may lead only to short‐term improvements, while the main causes of failures will remain unsolved.Originality/valueAnalyzing the impact of failures in a service environment is a challenging task. This paper complements the existing literature on service failures by focusing on the related effects on operations. With the use of simulation, the authors quantify the impact of failures on key aspects of operations of the service system and also provide useful insight into the parameters that determine the effectiveness of various management practices used in practice to address failures. Finally, the authors use a case study in financial services to validate the results.
Techniques for impact evaluation of performance measurement systems
Authors: Franceschini F. , Galetto M. , Turina E. 
Published: March 2013

PurposeOrganizations often introduce performance measurement systems (PMSs) in order to evaluate the level of their performance, make comparison with competitors, and plan their future activities. Since indicators may affect the behaviour of the monitored system, the design and implementation of a PMS should always include the analysis of the impact it may exert on the organization itself. The aim of this paper is to suggest a methodology to evaluate this impact.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed approach is based on an impact reference model derived from the balanced scorecard (BSC) framework. The different perspectives of the BSC are interpreted as areas of impact within an organization. Structured steps for impact evaluation are described and specific techniques of analysis are introduced.FindingsA series of case studies, together with an analysis of advantages and disadvantages of the proposed method, are presented. Results show that, although many sets of indicators are usually able to meet the role of a PMS, they may exert a different impact on the context they are applied. The proposed methodology results to be a useful instrument for choosing the right set of indicators from the impact point of view. Finally, possible research paths to be undertaken for further developments of the proposed methodology are traced.Research limitations/implicationsThe application of the method is based on the assumption that managers charged with the analysis have a profound understanding of the specific contextual factors which may determine a reaction of the organization to a performance indicator or a PMS. Furthermore, at the moment, the methodology does not consider the possibility of interaction among different indicators in producing the impact.Practical implicationsThis paper may be used to guide the selection of the most appropriate PMS from the impact point of view. The proposed methodology can be very helpful instrument for an organization involved in the design of new PMSs. It guides the decision maker through the various phases: indicators definition, analysis of their properties, impact analysis, and choice of the set with the preferable impact profile.Originality/valueThe issue of impact has been long debated in literature. Many articles try to analyse the operative and strategic consequences of the introduction of a PMS in an organization. This paper proposes a methodology for a more structured and objective evaluation of the impact of new PMS before introducing it in a firm. This can result in a significant help for manager who have to find the best set of indicators for the performance evaluation of their organization or have to choose between two or more sets of indicator satisfying, in principle, the same representation objective.
Leveraging relationship orientation and its impact on relationship outcomes
Authors: Stewart Geoffrey T. , Zacharia Zach G. , Artis Andrew B. 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThis study seeks to: empirically measure relationship orientation along a continuum from operation to strategic; evaluate the impact of relationship orientation on the actual activities implemented within the relationship; and determine the impact of these relational activities on relationship effectiveness and business performance.Design/methodology/approachA survey research design following the total design method was used to collect the data. Multi‐item measures were developed to measure relationship orientation and relational activities while existing scales were used to measure competitive intensity and relationship outcomes. The study sampled purchasing managers and the unit of analysis in this research was the business relationship between a buying firm and supplier firm.FindingsThis study provides evidence that relationship orientation has a direct and positive influence on the manner in which buying firms execute relationships with supplier organizations. Additionally, the findings suggest firms with a strategic orientation would have a greater likelihood to implement the relationship in terms of utilization of interorganizational guidelines and resource commitment. Similarly, firms that have a more operational orientation would likely not expend as much effort in relationship implementation. Finally, the study demonstrates a positive relationship between the activities used in buyer‐supplier interaction and both relationship effectiveness and business performance.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the understanding of relationship orientation and in particular on how variation in relationship orientation impacts the nature of relational activities deployed in buyer‐supplier interaction.
The changing role of personal networks during Russian transformation: challenges for Russian management
Authors: Mattsson Lars‐Gunnar , Salmi Asta 
Published: March 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to discuss the important and changing role of personal networks for transformation in Russia, and the related challenges for management. Formal institutions supporting the transformation to a market economy have been weak and Russian managers still tend to rely on personal networks. While these networks are important in all economies, they play a different role in full‐fledged market economies than in planned economies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is conceptual and is based on literature on the nature of markets, the Soviet planned economy, and the transformation process in Russia. A business network approach is used to understand markets and focus on the dynamics of overlapping business and personal networks.FindingsOverlapping between business networks involving non‐Russian networks and between personal and business networks are important drivers of transformation. The challenges for management in Russia are both organizational and strategic, and transformation implies substantial changes in the network structures.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors recommend further empirical analysis of the role that the overlapping of business and personal networks plays in transformation, as well as its managerial implications.Practical implicationsThis paper shows why firms must build business relationships during transformation that are integrated in nature and in which personal relations support the technical, logistical, financial, and knowledge exchange dimensions.Originality/valueThis paper challenges the dominating view of transformation, which says that market exchange is transactional, impersonal, and competition‐driven. The paper analyzes transformation in Russia as a network overlapping process in which the role of personal relations changes.
Functional relevance of genetic variations of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and vascular endothelial growth factor in diabetic coronary microvessel dysfunction
Authors: Joshi Mandar S , Berger Philip J , Kaye David M , Pearson James T , Bauer John A , Ritchie Rebecca H 
Published: March 2013

Summary
The prevalence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is increasing worldwide and is associated with significant microvessel complications, of which nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy are the most commonly studied. Although clinically evident microvascular complications of diabetes are rarely seen in childhood, early vascular abnormalities develop during childhood and accelerate during puberty.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major mediator of angiogenesis, which is regulated by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) at several levels. Together, VEGF and NOS3 play an important role in the pathogenesis of the microvascular complications of diabetes.
Genetic variations in NOS3 and VEGF critically regulate endothelial survival and function and increase the susceptibility of patients to develop severe microvessel complications.
Identification of the risk factors for and improved understanding of the subclinical signs of these diabetic microvascular complications will enable implementation of therapeutic strategies, potentially changing the course of vascular complications and improving the prognosis of children, adolescents and young adults with diabetes.
Moreover, early detection of these variations may have a prognostic value or may suggest interventional approaches to regulate these proteins in patients with diabetes.