bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of government expenditure on education and health care in the Caribbean
Authors: Craigwell Roland , Bynoe Danielle , Lowe Shane 
Published: March 2012

PurposeInvestment in human development is considered a means of improving the quality of life and sustaining economic growth in the Caribbean. The purpose of this paper is to assess the efficacy of public spending on health care and education by evaluating the life expectancy and school enrolment rates of these countries.Design/methodology/approachUsing a data set containing 19 Caribbean countries over the period 1995 to 2007 for health care and 1980 to 2009 for education, a Panel Ordinary Least Squares model was employed.FindingsThe results revealed that health expenditure has a significant positive effect on health status, while spending on education has no appreciable influence on either primary or secondary school enrolment.Originality/valueUnlike previous Caribbean research, the paper explores a variable for quality in the education system, that is, the pupil‐teacher ratio. It also seeks to update the existing Caribbean literature by employing data from 1980 to 2009.
The role of human and social capital on the development of wooden furniture clusters in Sri Lanka
Authors: Nihal Padmasiri H.M. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how human and social capital assist in the development of clustered and non‐clustered firms in the wooden furniture industry in Sri Lanka. The study resulted in three major findings: the most experienced and educated entrepreneurs played an important role to secure their market introducing brand name for the product; human capital acquired through formal education and experience is highly significant for the performance of clustered firms than that of non‐clustered firms; and irrespective of clustered or non‐clustered, performance of the firms in the wooden furniture industry in Sri Lanka is significantly relying on social capital.Design/methodology/approachBoth cross‐sectional and time series data of 96 active firms related to the wooden furniture industry in Sri Lanka are used in this study. The data were collected through questionnaires which were distributed by visiting wooden furniture firms in Sri Lanka in the year 2010. To test the hypotheses, two dependent variables, namely, brand name dummy and the size of the firm (in value added revenue) were used.FindingsThe number of years of schooling of the managers and their operational experience within their own business have a positive and highly significant effect on the introduction of a brand name for the products in both type of wooden furniture firms (clustered and non‐clustered). Formal education and prior work experience as managers are more significant in the case of clustered wooden furniture firms than non‐clustered firms.Originality/valueThe author visited these firms personally and interviewed the managers. From this, the author tried to see how both human and social capital contribute to the firms' performance. According to the author's knowledge, this type of study has never been done before in Sri Lanka.
ISO/IEC 15504 measurement applied to COBIT process maturity
Authors: Walker Alastair , McBride Tom , Basson Gerhard , Oakley Robert 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe assessment of COBIT process maturity levels is fraught with a number of problems regarding the objectivity of the assessment results. Unlike ISO/IEC 15504, COBIT does not define an assessment model. The purpose of this paper is to align the behavioural aspects of the six COBIT process attributes with achievement results defined for the nine process attributes associated with the ISO/IEC 15504‐2 measurement scale. The authors believe that this alignment permits a translation of the ISO/IEC 15504 assessment data into an objective COBIT process maturity rating.Design/methodology/approachThe tables presented in the paper identify the COBIT process attributes, the applicable ISO/IEC 15504 process attribute achievement results and the aggregated rating that pertains to the selected achievement results. A final table lists the derived COBIT process maturity level in terms of the ratings for the ISO/IEC 15504 process attribute achievement results for an assessed process.FindingsThe objectivity of the aggregated result (COBIT process maturity level) appeals strongly to end‐users of this measurement result, particularly where contractual obligations must be satisfied.Practical implicationsThe method is useful where measurement rigour must be demonstrated in the computation of the COBIT process maturity levels.Originality/valueThis assessment and computational method was developed and trialled in the second half of 2010 in the context of the assessment of 13 information technology (IT) service management processes at two different customer sites. The material is of special value to service managers in companies that have outsourced IT service management processes to external IT service providers.
Benchmarking of Indian mobile telecom operators using DEA with sensitivity analysis
Authors: Nigam Vineeta , Thakur Tripta , Sethi V.K. , Singh R.P. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to benchmark the Indian mobile telecommunication service providers for relative efficiencies. In this paper, a method for benchmarking performance of mobile telecom utilities based on data envelopment analysis (DEA) is presented. The paper discusses some concepts between quality performance and benchmarking and the results include performance efficiency and sensitivity‐based classification of utilities. Also, peer‐to‐peer comparison of inefficient with efficient utilities is provided. Based on these results, inefficient utilities can develop strategic plans to improve performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use DEA to measure comparative efficiencies of mobile telecom companies and two different DEA models, CCR and BCC, were applied to evaluate the relative efficiency of mobile telecom operators in India. Sensitivity‐based classification of utilities is carried out by removing one or more inputs or outputs from the base model to construct a new DEA model. Comparisons of DEA efficiencies from the base model with the structurally perturbed models show the impact on efficiency. Data include annual and quarterly reports showing various quality parameters.FindingsDEA is used to derive the benchmarks based on the comparison of the 126 utilities which include public sector undertaking (PSU) operators (MTNL and BSNL) and private operators of the Indian mobile telecommunication sector. The result includes performance efficiency and peer‐to‐peer comparison of inefficient utilities with efficient utilities. Based on these results, inefficient utilities can develop strategic plans to improve their performance. Sensitivity analysis, based on removal of one or more variables from the base model to determine changes in DEA efficiencies is done for selecting the strength of parameters of utilities for performance improvement.Practical implicationsBenchmarking of service utilities in the telecom sector is virtually non‐existent at the national level in India. This research identifies the different variables and then a model is prepared for benchmarking of the service providers in India. Based on the efficiency analysis, benchmarks can be set, and utility efficiency scores can be obtained based on the set benchmarks. These scores can help develop a strategic plan for mitigating the factors that contribute to the system inefficiencies.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the few published studies that benchmark the performance of mobile telecom services in India. This research promises to be amongst the first of the works carried out taking specific parameters of mobile telecom utilities of India.
Investigating “The Way” for Toyota suppliers
Authors: Marksberry Phillip 
Published: March 2012

PurposeToyota's management system, more formally known as the Toyota production system (TPS) is one of the most benchmarked business improvement strategies in modern industry. While many companies try to emulate Toyota's success using a variety of different approaches, most practitioners are not aware how Toyota replicates TPS at suppliers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the in‐house capabilities that are transferred from Toyota to suppliers as a way to more deeply understand how TPS can evolve.Design/methodology/approachThis work studies Toyota's supplier development practices by evaluating organizational documents using latent semantic analysis (LSA). LSA is a theory and method for extracting and representing the contextual‐usage and meaning of words and phrases by statistical computation applied to text. LSA is based on singular value decomposition (SVD), which is a mathematical matrix decomposition technique using factor analysis.FindingsThis work shows that Toyota targets processes, rather than whole systems, in assisting suppliers to be more effective at abnormality management. Findings also show that Toyota's approval process doesn't necessarily support major kaizen at suppliers yet does encourage minor day‐to‐day kaizen. Finally, this work reports that the Toyota Way for suppliers does not have to be adopted by suppliers, but does represent “A Way” to interact with suppliers to drive both culture and productivity simultaneously.Originality/valueThe paper uses a new method for analyzing Toyota's supplier development practices by mathematically representing and analyzing Toyota's organizational documents. This new method allows various components and features of Toyota's supplier development process to be represented and described in a way that offers many unique insights.
The importance of industrial ecology in engineering education for sustainable development
Authors: Biswas Wahidul K. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show how industrial ecology can facilitate the achievement of sustainable development through its incorporation into an engineering curriculum.Design/methodology/approachA model has been developed for assessing sustainability learning outcomes due to the incorporation of the concept of industrial ecology into undergraduate and postgraduate engineering programs. This model assesses how the Engineering Faculty at Curtin University has included a core engineering unit (Engineering for Sustainable Development) and four postgraduate units (Cleaner Production Tools, Eco‐efficiency, Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Technology) in its undergraduate and postgraduate engineering program, to enable modern engineering education to reflect the benefits of industrial ecology in the implementation of sustainable engineering solutions and decision‐making processes. Using this model, this paper demonstrates how the syllabus, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary assignment tasks, lectures and tutorials have been developed since 2006 in order to develop the concept of industrial ecology in undergraduate and postgraduate engineering education. The paper has also analysed the different teaching methods that have been applied since 2006 to generate increased student satisfaction in these new and challenging subjects.FindingsThe university environment can temper the potential outcomes from increasing the sustainability content in engineering education, given the general lack of student maturity in understanding the value of sustainability objectives together with course limitations on sustainability content and the arduous and lengthy processes involved in changing course curricula.Research limitations/implicationsSince the Engineering for Sustainable Development unit has been introduced only recently, it was beyond the scope of the research to interview graduate engineers who completed this unit to investigate how they have applied the concept of industrial ecology to achieve sustainability outcomes in their workplaces.Originality/valueThis research is distinct in that it investigated the implications of the incorporation of industrial ecology into the engineering curriculum.
Eco‐campus: applying the ecocity model to develop green university and college campuses
Authors: Finlay Jessica , Massey Jennifer 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to argue that Richard Register's ecocity model offers a strategic framework to help guide sustainability initiatives in North American higher education (HE) institutions.Design/methodology/approachThis conceptual paper examines the theory of the ecocity and investigates the implications for its proposed building strategies for university and colleges, as institutions seek to create more sustainable campuses. The paper examines previous efforts to achieve sustainability and how the concept of the eco‐campus can be practically and productively applied.FindingsThere is no single campus that has fully embraced every facet of sustainability, but numerous HE institutions are strong leaders in diverse areas. The eco‐campus model provides concrete principles that proactively address HE institutions' ecological footprints and develops sustainable community practices.Social implicationsSustainability is a pressing social issue. As world leaders in research, innovation, and education, universities and colleges are key places to address this global issue and foster progressive action within current and future generations. The eco‐campus approach represents an opportunity to initiate a cultural paradigm shift, whereby university and colleges become global leaders in sustainability.Originality/valueWhile sustainability is now a cornerstone of research and teaching, North American HE institutions are faced with the challenge of realigning institutional practices, processes and resources to fully institute sustainability on campus. The eco‐campus model provides an innovative guide around which to hinge the development of sustainable institutional practices, structure progressive action, and foster meaningful change.
Factors contributing to institutions achieving environmental sustainability
Authors: James Matthew , Card Karen 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine what factors contributed to three universities achieving environmental sustainability.Design/methodology/approachA case study methodology was used to determine how each factor contributed to the institutions' sustainability. Site visits, fieldwork, document reviews, and interviews with administration, faculty, staff, and students from the participating institutions were employed as primary data collection strategies.FindingsThe six factors identified in the literature as contributing to environmental sustainability were present at all three institutions: green campus operation measures; campus administration, organization, and leadership; teaching, research, and service; campus‐wide actions and activities; institutional assessment of campus sustainability measures; and established methods for overcoming barriers.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was delimited to the six factors that were identified in the literature and the three institutions that participated in this study. The research will add to the literature on creating sustainable campuses and will also provide a foundation for further study on the progress and impact of campus sustainability efforts.Originality/valueA number of individual case studies have described what certain institutions have done. A smaller number of case studies have identified what factors have contributed to certain institutions' achieved environmental sustainability.
Impact Planning and Assessment of public libraries: a country level perspective
Authors: Streatfield David 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis is the first of a cluster of papers which seek to describe the work of impact planning and assessment (IPA) specialists at country level within the Global Libraries Initiative (GL) of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes the evolution of the approach to IPA developed by country specialists and outlines the main elements of the GL IPA Roadmap, which encapsulates this general approach. The Roadmap is a four‐stage process designed to ensure that IPA specialists know how to go about the needs assessment, baseline study and surveys involved in IPA at country level.FindingsThe paper underlines the need to collect required and recommended metrics for comparison and advocacy purposes and to take on the challenge of showing the impact of the country programmes in changing people's lives.Originality/valueThis paper shares the IPA learning at country level with people in other countries who may be contemplating public library evaluation at national, regional or local level or who are interested in impact evaluation.
Latvia
Authors: Paberza Kristine 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe developments and results of the Global Libraries Initiative project in Latvia, known as the “Father's Third Son” project, which started in 2006.Design/methodology/approachThis is an analysis of the results of the assessment of the impact of the “Father's Third Son” project so far among the public libraries of Latvia.FindingsPublic libraries in Latvia play an important role in reducing the digital divide. No one is left behind and the public library offers opportunities for everyone, with a library always in reach within 20 minutes. Survey data shows a high potential for public libraries to reduce social exclusion, especially in rural areas. The project team believes that after the full implementation of activities, every public library in Latvia will have competence, confidence, capacity and growing number of strong library supporters to advocate for sustainability.Originality/valueThe paper provides a wide range of improvement examples that can be easily transferred to other countries.
What makes tourism an attractive industry for new minority entrepreneurs: results from an exploratory qualitative study
Authors: Pechlaner Harald , Dal Bò Giulia , Volgger Michael 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the factors that make tourism a particularly attractive industry for new minority entrepreneurs. Moreover, the paper aims to consider the interrelationships of this occupational strategy with the establishment of relations of new minorities with the rest of society.Design/methodology/approachA theory building qualitative approach was followed. Data were gathered by conducting five semi‐structured interviews in the Alpine tourism regions of Tyrol, South Tyrol and Trentino. A GABEK analysis was performed.FindingsThe findings suggest that the tourism sector is suitable for new minority entrepreneurship because of the relatively low entry barriers and because it values the competitive strengths of new minority members (international ties and trans‐cultural skills).Originality/valueThe value of this paper lies in its contribution to understanding better the reasons for new minority members to become entrepreneurs in tourism, considering also the socio‐cultural implications of this professional development. Particularly, the paper adds to the existing literature by showing that tourism is not only attractive because of a relatively easy entry but also because its key success factors suit the human capital of new minorities well.
The Chinese diaspora in Budapest: a new potential for tourism
Authors: Irimiás Anna 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how the architectural features of Chinese restaurants and shops influence the urban tourism destination image of Budapest.Design/methodology/approachPlace marketers' strategies highly influence the “brand image” of a city. Based on the current definition of brand image and on a historical overview of the features of Chinatowns, a comparative model was elaborated to understand how the spaces created by Chinese immigrants can influence the tourism and hospitality industry and contribute to competitiveness.FindingsThe findings show that London, Milan and Budapest have elaborated different approaches to integrate Chinese immigrants and these strategies contribute to the economic performance of cities. London enhances the city's cultural and creative diversity also through its Chinatown. The local authority in Milan neglects the benefits of Chinese settlements and aims to create a new hub of Chinese trade and services out of the city center. In Budapest, since the 1990s, the ethnic and economic landscape have been changed as a consequence of the influx of a large number of Chinese immigrants.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough common attributes and different approaches related to Chinese services were highlighted in the three cities, the time series analysis should be deepened.Practical implicationsThe research offers a new approach to consider Chinese tourism‐related services as a resource having a key role in regeneration of derelict areas in Budapest.Originality/valueThis study is an initial attempt to analyze the brand image of a city through Chinese tourism‐related services in a wider European context.
Multicultural festivals: a niche tourism product in South Korea
Authors: Sunny Lee Insun , Arcodia Charles , Jeonglyeol Lee Timothy 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine why people visit multicultural festivals, with the overall aim being to better understand the apparent popularity of multicultural festivals. The paper aims to provide key stakeholders with a platform upon which to better manage and improve multicultural festivals as tourism attractions.Design/methodology/approachAn on‐site questionnaire survey was administered at one of the multicultural festivals in South Korea in 2010. The reasons for visit were measured using a scale based on existing benefit scales, and literature related to multiculturalism. In total, 17 items were analyzed as visitor reasons for their visit. Demographic questions included age, nationality, the reason for living in South Korea if not a Korean, and gender. Out of 203 collected questionnaires, 183 were considered usable.FindingsIn total, five factors were identified as the reasons for attending a multicultural festival – family togetherness, escape, cultural exploration, socialization, and curiosity. The cultural exploration proved to be the most common reason for attending a multicultural festival for visitors.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study will help all key stakeholders to more fully understand what visitors want, and guide festival management to organize sustainable festivals as a niche tourism attraction. Due to the desire for cultural exploration, festivals should offer multicultural themed activities. Sport competitions can be good for socialization between migrants and South Koreans, or migrants themselves.Originality/valueAlthough multicultural festivals are held in many countries, there appears to be little research into the multicultural festivals in a country like South Korea, in transit from being ethnically homogeneous to becoming a multicultural society. This paper is a pioneer study in that particular discipline.