bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of audit committees in managing relationships with external auditors after SOX
Authors: Hoitash Rani , Hoitash Udi 
Published: April 2009

PurposeRecent US reforms aimed at strengthening audit committees and their structure grant independent audit committees the responsibility to appoint, dismiss, and compensate auditors. The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between audit committee characteristics and auditors' compensation and dismissals following the enactment of the Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX).Design/methodology/approachA series of linear and logistic regression models were employed in a unique sample comprising of 2,393 observations.FindingsIt was observed that stronger audit committees demand a higher level of assurance and are less likely to dismiss their auditors. Further, an increase was found in auditor independence as measured by reduced board involvement and less dismissals following an unfavorable audit opinion. Overall results suggest that increased audit committee roles and independence after SOX contribute to auditor independence and audit quality.Practical implicationsThis research has implications for regulators, auditors, boards and academics. The paper highlights that although all audit committees had to improve as a result of SOX, the remaining variation in audit committee characteristics continue to be important to the demand for auditor and audit quality.Originality/valueThis study is the first to consider the association between audit committee characteristics and its extended responsibilities after SOX.
The best returns come from intangible resources: an integrated approach
Authors: Augusto Sequeira Camilo , Fernández y Fernández Eloi , Christina Borges Márcia 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to propose an integrated model for intangible resources, which will contribute to breaking down the old paradigm, and bring it to managers' attention that the best returns are likely to come from intangible resources.Design/methodology/approachThe theoretical approach is based on the concept of core competencies as defined by Hamel and Prahalad, and further developed in Andriessen's Making Sense of Intellectual Capital. It also explores the benchmarking concept presented in Viedma's “Intellectual capital benchmarking system”.FindingsBusiness practitioners and scholars have been developing new methods and models to understand intellectual capital. Unfortunately, these methods and models present a view on both tangible and intangible resources of an organisation that is non‐integrated and reinforces the traditional management focus on tangible assets only.Research limitations/implicationsThe method proposed here is being prepared to be tested in a large energy company under a three‐phase project (the object of future papers).Originality/valueThe paper describes a model and introduces a method based on it.
Designing operative productivity measures in public services
Authors: Jääskeläinen Aki , Lönnqvist Antti 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to find out how the productivity of public services can be measured in the operative level of organisations. In particular, the role of different output elements (tangible and intangible) is examined.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research approach is used. The current knowledge of the issue is presented by examining literature on public service productivity, intellectual capital and performance measurement. In the empirical part, the findings of the literature review are applied and further examined in the context of two services of the City of Helsinki, Finland.FindingsThe paper identifies tangible and intangible output factors in two case services. It also illustrates how the factors can be measured in practice. The empirical examination suggests that the challenges in the operative level productivity measurement relate especially to defining measures. Identifying of different output factors is an easier task.Research limitations/implicationsThe study presents and applies a novel approach of designing productivity measures for public services. More empirical studies using the approach are called for.Practical implicationsThe measurement approach presented here can be utilised as a basis for designing sophisticated productivity measures of public services.Originality/valueA key challenge in examining public service productivity relates to the intangible nature of services. Despite the great potential and practical relevance of the topic there seems to be no understanding of how to capture this feature in order to design valid productivity measures. The paper adds to the current knowledge by describing the process of designing measures for disaggregated components of productivity, shares practical experiences related to the design process and highlights the main challenges.
Intellectual liabilities: lessons fromThe Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Authors: Stam Christiaan D. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeIntellectual capital theory and practice predominantly focus on measuring and managing intangible assets. However, if one wants to balance the intellectual capital books, one should recognise both intellectual assets and intellectual liabilities. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to present a theoretical framework for measuring intellectual liabilities.Design/methodology/approachIdentifying intangible liabilities is identifying the risk of the decline and fall of organisations. One of the first extensive studies related to the causes of decline and fall is Gibbon'sThe Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. It seems as if the main lessons that were drawn from the study are also applicable to today's business environment. Therefore, the framework that is developed here is based not only on intellectual capital literature, but also on Gibbon's study into the causes of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.FindingsThe findings are combined in a framework for measuring intellectual liabilities. The main distinction within the proposed framework is the distinction between internal and external liabilities. Internal liabilities refer to the causes of deterioration that arise from the sources of value creation within the organisation. External liabilities refer to the causes of deterioration that come from outside and are beyond the control of the organisation.Originality/valueThe article explores a relatively new topic (intellectual liabilities) from a perspective (historical sciences) that is rarely used in management science.
Benjamin Franklin's principles of political economy: a speculative inquiry
Authors: Dodson Edward J. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which Benjamin Franklin's understanding of political economy was shaped by his association with the French school of writers known as physiocrats.Design/methodology/approachThe paper works from direct statements by Franklin in his published works and correspondence and biographical sources.FindingsFranklin declared himself to embrace physiocratic principles and ideals but was not able to advance these ideals at home.Research limitations/implicationsFurther details are undoubtedly available from sources not translated from French into English.Practical implicationsThe course of history would have been significantly different had the physiocratic ideals become the basis for law and public policies.Originality/valueThe paper offers further evidence of the influence of the physiocratic school on Franklin, as one of the leading practical philosophers of his age.
World‐ownership, self‐ownership, and equality in Georgist philosophy
Authors: Moellendorf Darrel 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the accounts of self‐ and world‐ownership in the social philosophy of Henry George, and a Georgist social theorist Nicolaus Tideman.Design/methodology/approachThe accounts of George and Tideman are evaluated using the tool of conceptual and logical analysis.FindingsThe paper argues that although the institutional proposals of Georgist are important and worth serious consideration, there are fundamental problems with the Georgist accounts of self‐ and world‐ownership.Practical implicationsThe Georgist institutional recommendation of a land tax is not necessarily rejected by the criticism of the Georgist accounts of self‐ and world‐ownership.Originality/valueThe value of this paper derives from its careful analytic evaluation of the most basic concepts of the Georgist tradition. It serves, then, as a philosophical evaluation of that tradition and of those parts of the tradition that Georgism share with libertarianism generally. It also serves as a comparison of the basic commitments of Georgism and liberal egalitarianism.
Globalization and culture: four paradigmatic views
Authors: Ardalan Kavous 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show how different philosophical schools of thought view the relation between globalization and culture differently.Design/methodology/approachThis paper places the existing philosophical schools of thought into four broad categories: functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist, and radical structuralist. This paper then shows how each of these four broad categories view the relation between globalization and culture differently.FindingsThis paper finds that the functionalist paradigm views globalization and culture as universal, the interpretive paradigm views globalization and culture as particular, the radical humanist paradigm views globalization and culture as a domination ideology, and the radical structuralist paradigm views globalization and culture as causing conflict between classes.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper assumes that each school of thought can be located in one of the four broad categories of philosophical schools of thought. However, this may not be applicable to each and every philosophical school of thought.Practical implicationsThis paper implies that one would benefit by becoming familiar with other ways of seeing the same phenomenon. This paper shows that the relation between globalization and culture can be viewed at least from four different vantage points and therefore one would have a better understanding of the relation between globalization and culture if one becomes familiar with all four different view points.Originality/valueThe contribution of this paper is the advice that in the era of globalization it is better for people to become open‐minded because different people from different parts of the world have different perspectives and the best way to be able to live together is to learn about how others think.
Early retirement for mothers in Greece
Authors: Kaskarelis Ioannis A. , Tsilika Kyriaki 
Published: April 2009

PurposeGreek social security system has a provision, under which women who have children are entitled to exit the labour force and claim pension benefits after completing 20 years of work and at a fully productive age. The critical issue arising from this regime is that it seems that mothers are rewarded for their nature of being able to give birth to children, which is unfair for the rest of working people. This paper aims to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe reward of maternity should be given at the proper time, i.e. by subsidizing mothers to stay at home and breeding their children. For this purpose we set up a cost‐benefit analysis in an overlapping generation model in order to compare the present provision with an alternative, under which mothers are subsidized and abstain from the labour market for 15 years. However, this policy could be applied to either gender.FindingsIn the model we develop (as alternative) we show that this kind of provision, under certain parameters' values could be to the benefit of the social security system in pure financial terms, beyond the other positive qualitative externalities for the society.Practical/implicationsThis alternative policy could be proved more efficient in financial and economic terms for the social security system, but it could also influence family programming and increase birth rate.Originality/valueThe most valuable result is that children breeding and the occupation of one parent with this task are not deterministically inefficient, or waste of resources, for the economy and the social security system, as many economists (and other social scientists) insist. And on the other hand, breeding of children by their parents is precious for the society since it strengthens family and, through that, social bonds.
Social economy and social responsibility: alternatives to global anarchy of neoliberalism?
Authors: Golob Urša , Podnar Klement , Lah Marko 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to point out a way to overcome the circumstances that arose out of the global neoliberal system. It is argued that this is possible when all relevant actors in society cooperate and that a change in a way of thinking in the private sector needs to come from within.Design/methodology/approachThe paper searches the alternative to neoliberalism in the social economy and responsibility paradigms by examining their theoretical and normative standpoints linking them to practical views.FindingsThe paper argues that the solution to the hegemonic neoliberalism is the new model of social economy which can be put in force only by simultaneous cooperation of all key actors in a society, and especially a driving force behind the existing economic system – the for‐profit sector. Lately it seems that its actors have, indeed, more actively take over their role within social economy, acknowledging the importance of the socially responsible behaviour.Originality/valueThe paper introduces a four‐leaf clover model of social economy actors and integrates the social economy paradigm with the notion of social responsibility of the for‐profit sector.
Excel best practices
Authors: Balik Robert J. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeCurrently many jobs for undergraduate finance majors require that the student demonstrate advanced Excel modeling skills. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate and explain the Excel Best Practices which should enhance their financial modeling efficiency.Design/methodology/approachThe focus is a way to teach the Excel Best Practices when teaching financial modeling with Excel 2007. It uses a chronological modeling procedure that is consistent with current learning theory and the way students should use these Excel Best Practices. A capital budgeting replacement problem is used to illustrate many of the Excel Best Practices.FindingsIt was found that using a chronological modeling procedure is consistent with current learning theory.Originality/valueUsing the procedures mentioned in this paper should result in efficient financial modeling. Efficient models are created in less time, have fewer errors, if any, and are designed for ease of use.
An automation algorithm for harvesting capital market information from the web
Authors: Agrrawal Pankaj 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop an algorithm to harvest user specified information on finance portals and compile it into machine‐readable datasets for quantitative analysis.Design/methodology/approachThe Visual Basic macro language in Microsoft Excel is applied to develop code that is not constrained by the single‐query function of Excel. The core of the algorithm is built around the splitting of the URL connector line and the placement of a continuously updating variable into which are looped as many tickers as there are in the input list. The output is then written to non‐overlapping cells.FindingsNumerical information placed on major finance websites can be harvested into structured machine‐readable datasets by applying this algorithm.Research limitations/implicationsOne significant change in Microsoft Excel 2007 is that the worksheet is expanded from 224 to 234 cells, or to be more specific, from 256 (IV) columns × 65,536 rows (28 × 216) to 16,384 (XFD) × 1,048,576 (214 × 220). These new limits while allowing for a larger number of tickers, still constrain a single worksheet to 16,384 columns. For five fields per ticker that translates into roughly 3,200 ticker symbols.Practical implicationsThe algorithm extends user accessibility to websites that do not provide the facility of simultaneous downloading of information on multiple stock tickers. Furthermore, the procedure automates the downloading of multiple pieces of information (fields) and entire tables per ticker (record).Originality/valueAn exhaustive literature search did not find any paper that discusses a multiple ticker algorithm for web harvesting.
Portfolio optimization using the quadratic optimization system and publicly available information on the WWW
Authors: Kale Jivendra K. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe some optimization exercises which have proved to be very useful for introducing students to Markowitz‐style mean‐varience optimization.Design/methodology/approachThis paper describes two exercises that walk students through the process of gathering security price and dividend data, estimating the parameters of the joint distribution of asset returns, and then using a portfolio optimizer to construct mean‐variance efficient portfolios. It describes the basic methodology, and the more complex formulations of the portfolio optimization problem that are used in practice.Practical implicationsPortfolio selection is typically taught in finance courses as an abstract solution to a system of equations, and does little to connect the portfolio construction process to Exchange Traded Funds, stocks, bonds and other assets that are traded in markets. This study offers a practical approach to teaching portfolio optimization, that starts with gathering market data and shows how a quadratic optimization system is used to construct mean‐variance optimal portfolios.Originality/valueThe exercises in this case study prepare students to construct mean‐variance efficient portfolios for asset allocation with Exchange Traded Funds, and for building stock and bond portfolios, using market data and a portfolio optimizer.
The chat reference interview: seeking evidence based on RUSA's guidelines
Authors: van Duinkerken Wyoma , Stephens Jane , MacDonald Karen I. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare established reference interview guidelines (RUSA) with actual reference provider behaviors in remote reference transactions. The data is used to argue that specific reference interview “best practice standards” should be developed for remote access reference services.Design/methodology/approachRemote reference transactions were examined for evidence of adherence, or not, to the RUSA guidelines and behaviors. The transcripts were also coded for showing evidence, or not, of user satisfaction.FindingsData from 1,435 virtual reference transcripts shows that in 82 percent of the reference sessions the user found the information needed. Analysis also shows that librarian compliance with RUSA‐recommended reference interview behaviors, especially in the areas of listening/inquiring and searching is frequently poor – possibly due to time constraints.Research limitations/implicationThis study adds to the empirically‐based knowledge on the reference interview process and virtual reference services.Practical implicationReference policies and procedures can be modified to accommodate patrons based on type of reference access. Education and training of reference staff can be customized to meet patron needs.Originality/valueThis paper develops a methodology for evaluating the reference interview in a virtual reference transaction and suggests modification of the RUSA reference interview guidelines for remote access reference services.
Retention begins before day one: orientation and socialization in libraries
Authors: Chapman Connie 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to promote the notion that an orientation plan and socialization to the culture of the organization are crucial components for the retention of library employees.Design/methodology/approachA review of selected literature was conducted from both within and outside librarianship to determine the relationship orientation and socialization have to retention.FindingsEmployee orientation is a multi‐stage process utilizing both formal and informal activities that help assist the employee to become part of the culture of any organization, including the library. A human resources program that includes well‐planned processes for recruitment, selection, orientation, socialization and retention will help a library be more competitive as librarians retire. Paying attention to these processes is increasingly important as we enter the period in which the baby boomer generation is moving toward retirement.Practical implicationsAs baby‐boomer librarians retire, libraries should strive to maintain retention by improving current orientation practices and assisting with socialization to the organizational culture. The orientation process and retention can be improved by the use of checklists, the support of the immediate supervisor, and appointing a mentor.Originality/valueThe paper provides considerations that may assist planning approaches for libraries considering future staffing in a shrinking employment market.
Digital learning objects: a local response to the California State University system initiative
Authors: Hunsaker Marci , Howard Francis , Liu Shu‐Hua , Davis Jennifer 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a virtual library plan created by library directors of the 23 California State University (CSU) system campuses. The information literacy portion of the project offers a repository of high quality interactive digital learning objects (DLOs) in the MERLOT repository. Therefore, DLOs created locally at the Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Library at San José State University (SJSU) focus on topics that supplement the “core” DLO collection.Design/methodology/approachThis case study presents planning assumptions for developing local content that complements a California State University (CSU) system collection of high quality interactive information literacy DLOs. The authors also offer suggestions from the professional literature that guide their application of such Web 2.0 tools as wikis, podcasts, and tagging to create supplemental learning modules for their local information literacy instruction program.FindingsWeb 2.0 Digital Learning Objects are essential components of an efficient academic information literacy program comprised of face‐to‐face and “on demand” virtual approaches. The California State University (CSU) system has identified a core set of DLOs, which are easily available in the MERLOT open access repository. Local development efforts, then, focus on the design and creation of DLOs of local significance.Practical implicationsLibrarians at the Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Library in San José, California, USA, are developing local content for Web 2.0‐enabled information literacy instruction. These developments occur within the context of a 23 campus initiative, originating at the Chancellor's Office, which has identified high quality information literacy digital learning objects (DLOs). This core open access collection intends to fulfill academic libraries'core instructional needs and is freely available to any library through the open access MERLOT repository by any libraryOriginality/valueThis paper recommends an approach for local production of virtual information literacy content which benefits from harvesting the “best of the best” currently available on the internet.