bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The adoption and diffusion of eLearning in UK universities
Authors: Hardaker Glenn , Singh Gurmak 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThis exploratory study seeks to identifythe factors that influence the adoption and diffusion of instructional technology at five prominent universities in the UK. The study aims to examine the organisational factors that enable and inhibit organisational adoption and diffusion of innovation.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative exploratory case approach has been adopted to address the research question. In total, 36 semi‐structured interviews were conducted at five universities in the UK. The five diverse approaches to adoption and diffusion of instructional technology were examined; top‐down, integrated top‐down, bottom‐up, research‐driven and project‐driven approach.FindingsFor this research eLearning is conceptualised as innovation situated in the interplay between structure and individual and how this leads to adoption and diffusion. The paper argues that senior management need to acknowledge the need to bridge the gap between “local context” and top‐down strategic change. The findings suggest that there are tensions between “signification of meaning”, “power and dominance” and cultural norms in adoption and diffusion of eLearning.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of the research are significant in understanding the diversity of approaches to the adoption and diffusion of elearning. This provides insight for other universities in successfully managing the application of e‐learning.Originality/valueGiddens's structuration theory provided a sensitising framework for understanding the dialectical nature of adoption of eLearning within five universities in the UK. The tensions between institutional structures, such as strategies, training, access to technology, technical support and time resources, and levels of adoption can be captured by dialectic of control in Giddens's Theory of Structuration.
Creating the strategic learning environment at City University London
Authors: Quinsee Susannah , Bullimore Anise 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the creation of a new approach to the implementation of educational technologies at a UK Higher Education Institution. Driven by changes in technology, an evaluation of the virtual learning environment (VLE) provided the opportunity to reassess the application of technology to the curriculum. However, such an evaluation and subsequent implementation is not about technology but a social process of negotiation and stakeholder engagement. The paper seeks to explore the narrative of the evaluation to offer lessons to other institutions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes a storytelling approach as this enables greater emotional engagement with the reader as well as the description of the social and organisational aspects of such a VLE evaluation. This approach enables the difficulty of change in complex organisations, such as a university, to be addressed more fully.FindingsKey lessons from the evaluation of the VLE and resulting creation of the strategic learning environment (SLE) are drawn, which can be of use to other institutions. The main finding is the fact that such evaluations and implementation of educational technologies are not about technical factors but about opportunities and threats presented by such technologies to the educational experience. These findings also inform future development of the SLE at the institution.Originality/valueThis paper will be of interest to institutions that are undertaking evaluation exercises of their educational technology provision as well as those that are implementing new technologies or considering large‐scale organisational change.
The health of people with autistic spectrum disorders
Authors: Emerson Eric , Hatton Chris , Hastings Richard , Felce David , McCulloch Andrew , Swift Paul 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to summarise what is known about the health of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Design/methodology/approachThe paper aims to update the unpublished review and scoping paper undertaken by Swift for the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities; provide a conceptual framework for understanding the key determinants of the poorer health outcomes experienced by people with ASD; undertake a brief option appraisal of existing sources of data that may be of value in addressing the mortality and morbidity of people with ASD; and establish future research possibilities.FindingsThe limited literature suggests higher rates of mortality and morbidity among people with ASD.Originality/valueA simple conceptual framework for understanding the key determinants of poorer health of people with ASD is proposed. Options for studying the mortality and morbidity in ASD using existing data sources are also appraised and recommendations are made for future research in the area.
Detecting potential technological fronts by comparing scientific papers and patents
Authors: Shibata Naoki , Kajikawa Yuya , Sakata Ichiro 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to propose a method of discovering uncommercialized research fronts by comparing scientific papers and patents. A comparative study was performed to measure the semantic similarity between academic papers and patents in order to discover research fronts that do not correspond to any patents.Design/methodology/approachThe authors compared structures of citation networks of scientific publications with those of patents by citation analysis and measured the similarity between sets of academic papers and sets of patents by natural language processing. After the documents (papers/patents) in each layer were categorized by a citation‐based method, the authors compared three semantic similarity measurements between a set of academic papers and a set of patents: Jaccard coefficient, cosine similarity of term frequency‐inverse document frequency (tfidf) vector, and cosine similarity of log‐tfidf vector. A case study was performed in solar cells.FindingsAs a result, the cosine similarity of tfidf was found to be the best way of discovering corresponding relationships.Social implicationsThis proposed approach makes it possible to obtain candidates of unexplored research fronts, where academic researches exist but patents do not. This methodology can be immediately applied to support the decision making of R&D investment by both R&D managers in companies and policy makers in government.Originality/valueThis paper enables comparison of scientific outcomes and patents in more detail by citation analysis and natural language processing than previous studies which just count the direct linkage from patents to papers.
Biomedical technology growth: a case study of forecasting in pulsed electromagnetic field therapy
Authors: Pretorius Leon , Winzker Dietmar H. 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to explore the benefit of forecasting emerging biomedical therapy technologies as well as the rate of diffusion of resultant biomedical products in the context of management of technology.Design/methodology/approachThe research method is exploratory using a case study approach. Techniques such as bibliometric analysis and the Bass diffusion model are utilized to assess the growth rate and market penetration of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) as a technology.FindingsThe penetration and growth rate of user acceptance of the technology in a global context are simulated across a 15‐year period. The technology forecasting model is also used in a case study to simulate the penetration of a product using ten years' medical application data of a patented pulsed electromagnetic field for biomedical therapy application in the global context. Useful correlation between bibliometric data for PEMF and real data for the case study is illustrated.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited to the case of PEMF data presented. Further research may be done on other PEMF technology applications.Practical implicationsAspects of a holistic management model that was developed for high technology companies are invoked in the practical realisation of the professional paradigm shift required when an emerging biomedical therapy technology is in the process of becoming mainstream.Originality/valueIt has been shown that technology diffusion traces exist for PEMF therapy technology as is evident from the bibliometric PEMF global data presented. Furthermore it is possible to simulate the PEMF therapy technology diffusion process with a Bass diffusion model incorporating innovation imitation and market size coefficients.
Proactive neighbor localization based on distributed geographic table
Authors: Picone Marco , Amoretti Michele , Zanichelli Francesco 
Published: September 2011

PurposeA large set of valuable applications, ranging from social networking to ambient intelligence, may see their effectiveness and appeal improved when supported by the large‐scale, real‐time tracking of mobile devices, either carried by humans or embedded into vehicles. A centralized approach, where few servers would collect position data and provide them to interested consumers, would hardly cope with the resource demand of the foreseen huge increase of users interested in location‐based services and with the flexibility needs of emerging user‐generated services. The purpose of this paper is to propose a decentralized peer‐to‐peer approach to cope with these requirements, for which positioning information flows directly among mobile devices incurring in limited data exchange.Design/methodology/approachThe authors propose a decentralized peer‐to‐peer approach for which positioning information flows directly among mobile devices incurring limited data exchange. A peer‐to‐peer overlay scheme is introduced called distributed geographic table (DGT), where each participant can effectively retrieve node or resource information (data or service) located near any chosen geographic position. Next, the authors describe a DGT‐based localization protocol that allows each peer to proactively discover and track all peers that are geographically near to itself.FindingsThe authors provide a performance analysis of the protocol by simulating several 1,000 users that move across an urban area according to realistic mobility models. The results show that the solution is effective, robust, scalable and highly adaptable to different application scenarios.Originality/valueThe new contributions of this paper are a general framework called DGT, which defines a peer‐to‐peer strategy for mobile node localization, and a particular instance of the DGT that supports applications in which every node requires to be constantly updated about the location of its neighbors.
Collaborative development of trusted mashups
Authors: Fox Ronan , Cooley James , Hauswirth Manfred 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the gap that currently exists between enterprise and consumer‐focused mashup tools in terms of personalized, trusted collaboration. The authors describe how Sqwelch, a semantically enabled mashup maker, addresses this gap during the design of mashups and in their execution.Design/methodology/approachSqwelch enables the composition of mashups based on the concept of trust explicitly specified by users through a visual interface. Taxonomies are used to enable lightweight mediation of payloads delivered through a publish/subscribe mechanism.FindingsThe authors demonstrate the use of Sqwelch as a proof of concept in the remote delivery of healthcare, and how Sqwelch has been used to address areas of trust and collaboration in the delivery of telehealth services.Originality/valueIntegrating trust and collaboration across the boundaries of enterprises is required where sensitive data are transferred across those boundaries in the expectation of the delivery of a service. Across these boundaries, the authors find variations in users' skills, their expectations, and their responsibilities. The prototype described here enables users to discover, compose, share and collaborate in the day‐to‐day use of systems that match personalized requirements.
A survey on self‐organized semantic storage
Authors: Mühleisen Hannes , Walther Tilman , Tolksdorf Robert 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show the potential of self‐organized semantic storage services. The semantic web has provided a vision of how to build the applications of the future. A software component dedicated to the storage and retrieval of semantic information is an important but generic part of these applications. Apart from mere functionality, these storage components also have to provide good performance regarding the non‐functional requirements scalability, adaptability and robustness. Distributing the task of storing and querying semantic information onto multiple computers is a way of achieving this performance. However, the distribution of a task onto a set of computers connected using a communication network is not trivial. One solution is self‐organized technologies, where no central entity coordinates the system's operation.Design/methodology/approachBased on the available literature on large‐scale semantic storage systems, the paper analyzes the underlying distribution algorithm, with special focus on the properties of semantic information and corresponding queries. The paper compares the approaches and identify their shortcomings.FindingsAll analyzed approaches and their underlying technologies were unable to distribute large amounts of semantic information and queries in a generic way while still being able to react on changing network infrastructure. Nonetheless, as each concept represented a unique trade‐off between these goals, the paper points out how self‐organization is crucial to perform well at least in a subset of them.Originality/valueThe contribution of this paper is a literature review aimed at showing the potential of self‐organized semantic storage services. A case is made for self‐organization in a distributed storage system as the key to excellence in the relevant non‐functional requirements: scalability, adaptability and robustness.
Perceived health value of ready meals and side dishes: regional and gender differences
Authors: Labrecque JoAnne , Dufour Jean‐Claude , Charlebois Sylvain 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThis study aims to examine gender differences in consumption frequency, perception of health value and enjoyment associated with two categories of convenience foods – snacks, and ready meals and side dishes – among university students in French and English Canada, the United States and France.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 376 women and 324 men replied to a self‐administered questionnaire that included general questions on attitude toward health and specific questions on consumption frequency, perception of health value and enjoyment attributed to products in both categories.FindingsVariance analysis brought to light differences in gender within each regional group. Overall, perceived health value of ready meals and side dishes, while slightly negative, is less negative than for snacks, whereas greater enjoyment is attributed to snacks. For all regions combined, men attribute a less negative health value to snacks and ready meals and side dishes than women do, and derive more enjoyment than women from ready meals and side dishes, whereas women enjoy snacks more than men do.Originality/valueThis study clarifies the specific food habits of young people aged 18 to 25 regarding convenience foods, a rapidly growing category that could aggravate the trend toward obesity.
Danish and Chinese adolescents' perceptions of healthy eating and attitudes toward regulatory measures
Authors: Chan Kara , Prendergast Gerard , Grønhøj Alice , Bech‐Larsen Tino 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThis article aims to examine young consumers' perceptions of healthy eating, contexts where healthy or unhealthy eating are practiced, and their evaluation of regulatory measures that discourage the consumption of unhealthy foods in two different markets.Design/methodology/approachA convenience sampled survey was conducted of 386 Danish and Chinese adolescents using a structured questionnaire.FindingsResults showed that perceptions of healthy eating were generally based on concepts such as balance and moderation. Unhealthy eating was most frequently practiced at parties and in festive periods. Hong Kong respondents were more likely to associate eating habits with healthy eating than Danish respondents. Danish respondents were more likely to practice healthy eating at schools than Hong Kong respondents. Making tanks of cold water freely available everywhere was perceived to be most effective in discouraging the consumption of soft drink. There were age, gender and market differences in attitudes toward selected regulatory measures that discourage the consumption of soft drinks.Research implicationsHealth educators and public health campaign designers should design health communication messages that target different perceptions of unhealthy eating, as well as different unhealthy eating contexts. Policy makers should be aware of the difference in local environmental conditions when designing regulations to encourage healthy eating.Originality/valueThe study is an innovative attempt to examine adolescents' perception of healthy eating and attitudes toward food regulatory measures in more than one consumer market.
Hospital ability to attract international patients: a conceptual framework
Authors: Al‐Amin Mona , Makarem Suzanne C. , Pradhan Rohit 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe volume of international patients has been growing in the past 15 years, with developing countries gaining a larger market share. The international patients market is lucrative, given that hospitals may be able to attract an affluent clientele, and many patients from foreign countries who seek care require complicated procedures and treatments. The purpose of this paper is to build on previous work in the international business and health services fields, to develop a model that predicts a hospital's ability to attract international patients.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a synthesis of the literature on export ventures and patient choice to predict a hospital's “export” performance.FindingsIt is estimated that around 70,000 foreign patients travel each year to the USA to receive inpatient medical care. These patients not only benefit hospitals and medical professionals but also benefit the local community through money spent in hotels, restaurants, shopping, etc. Strategic management, international business, and health services research fields can help us understand how hospitals can be more competitive in attracting international patients. The authors propose that the following dimensions affect a hospital's export performance: hospital resources (hospital attributes, international competence, management commitment, and strategy); institutional environment; and domestic hospital industry factors.Research limitations/implicationsMore empirical work is required to test the authors' model.Originality/valueMost of the studies done on international patients were descriptive in nature. This is the first paper that builds a conceptual model to help us understand what determines a hospital's performance in the international patients market.
Continuing the evolution: towards sustainable HRM and sustainable organizations
Authors: Ricardo de Souza Freitas Wesley , José Chiappetta Jabbour Charbel , César Almada Santos Fernando 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThis article aims to put sustainability as a new step in the evolutionary pathway of human resource management (HRM).Design/methodology/approachThis article provides a literature review on the evolution of HRM and we reflected how HRM can contribute to organizational sustainability.FindingsThe study presents a sustainable HRM as a new step in HRM evolution. The study argues that sustainable HRM is completely necessary to achieve sustainable organizations and a more sustainable society.Originality/valueSustainability is becoming a key concept and a key element in the future of organizations, but little is known about the role of HRM in this process.
Investigating corporate social responsibility practices in Iranian organizations: an ISO 26000 perspective
Authors: Valmohammadi Changiz 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThis study seeks to explore how far Iranian organizations are involved with the concepts and domain of corporate social responsibility (CSR) mainly based on a descriptive analysis. Also to determine the drivers and barriers of CSR implementation in the context of Iran.Design/methodology/approachBased on the seven core subjects of ISO 26000 standard, namely organizational governance, human rights, labor practices, the environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, community involvement and development and also an in‐depth study of literature review the related elements of these core subjects were identified. The study collected data through a structured questionnaire. The 105 responses received were analyzed descriptively and the result presented.FindingsResults showed that the main reason for CSR implementation for these organizations is the increase of corporate identity and general reputation and the main barrier is general lack of knowledge or awareness of CSR. Also most of their efforts and activities are limited to philanthropic or sponsorship actions. Hence it could be concluded that CSR is a concept that is yet to be fully understood and appreciated among these organizations.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has been limited to Iran. Hence the findings and conclusions drawn from this research are representative of the Iranian context only. It is recommended in future to include other countries in this research. Furthermore, only one response represents the view of an organization. So the need to exercise caution in generalizing the results.Originality/valueThis study has the potential to enhance the understanding of CSR practices and initiatives, and drivers and barriers amongst researches and practitioners in the context of Iran. Also the research adds knowledge in the field of CSR within the context of developing countries and gives a particular focus on the Iranian organizations.