bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance measurement practices in manufacturing firms revisited
Authors: Gomes Carlos F. , Yasin Mahmoud M. , Lisboa João V. 
Published: January 2012

PurposeGiven the increasing emphasis on performance measurement and improvement, the purpose of this paper is to examine the current views of manufacturing executives on key aspects of performance measures. Specifically, this research focuses on current practices related to extent of use, predictive value and availability of information for 63 performance measures.Design/methodology/approachThis study was survey based. The research instrument used to collect the data was constructed based on the literature. Several statistical analysis procedures including regression analysis, cluster analysis and gap analysis are utilized to accomplish the objective of this study.FindingsThe results are compared to findings obtained from a previous study, conducted five years ago, to assess any potential changes with regard to the issues studied. The comparison of the findings from both studies revealed some similarities and significant differences attributed to the changing environment.Research limitations/implicationsThe focus of this study was Portuguese manufacturing organizations. It is quite possible that the findings may or may not hold in a global context. Since this study was survey based, it had all the limitations of survey‐based research.Practical implicationsDespite some limitations, this study provides practicing managers with useful information regarding performance measures and measurement practices. It has significant and direct implications to organizational performance information systems.Originality/valueThis paper represents an important step toward refining the theory and practice of performance measurement in manufacturing organizational operational context.
Explaining the effects of performance measurement on performance
Authors: Pavlov Andrey , Bourne Mike 
Published: January 2012

PurposeExisting research evaluating the effect of performance measurement (PM) on performance produces conflicting results, indicating that the effect is poorly understood. This paper aims to address this problem by proposing a theoretical model of the effects of PM on performance.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the PM and MCS literature, extracting the factors that help to explain the effect of PM on performance. Then it applies the organizational routines perspective as an analytical lens to tie these factors into a coherent explanatory model.FindingsA theoretical model shows that PM has three distinct effects on the organizational processes that deliver performance – the trigger, guidance, and intensification effects.Originality/valueThe paper employs the organizational routines perspective, moving beyond the description of the effects of PM on performance to offer a theoretical model explaining these effects. As such, it responds to a number of contemporary challenges in the PM field – most importantly, the broad need for a solid organizational foundation for the studies of PM and the explanation of the mechanism through which PM affects organizational performance.
Butoh: a bibliography of Japanese avant‐garde dance
Authors: Taylor Shea A. 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThis article's aim is to provide an annotated bibliographic resource guide for scholars researching butoh and academic and research libraries with collection development areas specializing in modern dance and/or Asian studies. Butoh is a Japanese avant‐garde dance form developed in 1959 as a reaction against Western influence in Japanese politics and culture. Butoh's founders, Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno, have created a dance movement that is growing in popularity in the USA, influencing psychology, fashion, music, art and architecture.Design/methodology/approachSearches were performed using a variety of databases, catalogs and online sources in dance and videos were reviewed at the New York Public Library of Performing Arts.FindingsUnlike most modern dance forms, butoh does not have a specific technique that can be passed down from teacher to student, yet it has characteristics (e.g. extremely slow movements) that create the butoh “look”. Butoh collections are fairly small, which will appeal to organizations with small budgets.Originality/valueNo other scholarly, annotated bibliography currently exists for those interested in researching or collecting information on butoh.
Application of ICTs in collection development in private university libraries in Kenya
Authors: Kasalu Syombua , Bernard Ojiambo Joseph 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to find out ways in which collection development practices in private university libraries in Kenya could be enhanced by the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs).Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on research that was carried out on the application of ICTs in collection development in selected private universities in Kenya. The study was done using a survey method. Three universities and a total of 72 respondents were purposively selected for the study. The respondents included librarians, faculty deans and postgraduate students from the three universities.FindingsThe findings indicated that ICTs were available in all the three selected universities but their application in collection development was not adequate in ensuring efficiency and in making sure that the library collections are effective in meeting the needs of the users.Originality/valueWith the changing information environment and users' information needs, libraries are being compelled to adopt ICTs in order to remain relevant and increase their value and meet the changing needs of the users. The paper recommends different ways of applying ICTs in all the processes of collection development to make the process more efficient and effective in meeting the needs of the users.
Risk propagation based dynamic transportation route finding mechanism
Authors: Shin KwangSup , Shin YongWoo , Kwon Ji‐Hye , Kang Suk‐Ho 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a novel risk assessment approach that considers the inter‐relationship between supply chain risks and the structure of network at the same time. To reduce the impact of the supply chain risk and enhance the flexibility of transportation route finding during the product delivery, the authors propose a way to model the risk propagation and how to integrate it with the supply chain network using Bayesian Belief Network (BBN). The key risk indicators (KRI) of each vertex and edge of the supply chain network which are measured or computed by the proposed approach can be utilized to develop the optimal transportation route in the execution phase.Design/methodology/approachBBN is utilized to illustrate the relations among supply chain risks which may take place in a certain vertex. To apply the BBN to the supply chain network, the authors develop the framework to integrate BBN and the supply chain network by using the general functions that describe the characteristics of the risk factors and inter‐relationships between vertices.FindingsBy using the proposed risk assessment and dynamic route‐finding approach, it is possible to reduce the unexpected cost from the supply chain risk and overcome the limitations of previous risk management strategies which focus on developing counter plans and assume the independency of supply chain risks.Practical implicationsThe proposed approach describes how to develop KRI‐BBN to model the risk propagation and to integrate the KRI‐BBN and supply chain network. The KRIs directly measured or computed by KRI‐BBN in real time can be utilized to alternate supply chain execution plans such as inventory management, demand management and product flow management. Transportation problem considering risk is developed to show how to apply the proposed approach and numerical experiments are conducted to prove the cost effectiveness.Originality/valueThe contribution of this paper lies in the way of developing KRI‐BBN to assess the supply chain risk and modelling of the risk propagation by integrating KRI‐BBN with supply chain network. With the proposed risk assessment approach, it is able to alternate the transportation route to minimize the unexpected cost and transportation cost simultaneously.
Evaluating clinical trial management systems: a simulation approach
Authors: Bérard Céline , Cloutier L. Martin , Cassivi Luc 
Published: January 2012

PurposeIf the use of information technology (IT) supporting clinical trial projects offers opportunities to optimize the underlying information management process, the intricacy of the identification and evaluation of relevant IT options is generally seen as a complex task in healthcare. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to examine the problem of ex ante information system evaluation, and assess the impact of IT on the information management process underlying clinical trials.Design/methodology/approachCombining Unified Modeling Language (UML) and system dynamics modeling, a simulation model for evaluating IT was developed. This modeling effort relies on a case study conducted in a clinical research organization, which, at that time, faced an IT investment dilemma.FindingsSome illustrative results of sensitivity analyzes conducted on error rates in clinical data transmission are presented. These simulation results allow for quantifying the impact of different IT options on human resources' efforts, time delays and costs of clinical trials projects. Notably, the results show that although the technology has no real influence on the duration of a clinical trial project, it impacts the number of projects that can be carried out simultaneously.Originality/valueThe research provides insights into the development of an innovative approach appropriate to the evaluation of IT supporting clinical trials, through the use of a mixed‐method based on qualitative and quantitative modeling. The results illustrate two critical issues addressed in the IS literature: the necessity to extend IT evaluation beyond the quantitative‐qualitative dichotomy; and the role of evaluation in organizational learning, and in learning about business dimensions.
Effective fabrication method of 3D ceramic photonic crystals with diamond structure
Authors: Chen Shibin , Li Dichen , Tian Xiaoyong , Wang Minjie , Dai Wei 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a novel and effective fabricating method of 3D ceramic photonic crystals with diamond structure.Design/methodology/approachThe reverse diamond‐structure resin molds are fabricated by stereolithography (SL), then ceramic slurry is prepared and injected into the molds under vacuum condition. Subsequently, ceramic photonic crystals are obtained after vacuum freeze‐drying and sintering.FindingsThe combination of SL, gel‐casting and freeze‐drying could be used to fabricate the 3D ceramic photonic crystals with diamond structure which have intact structure and minimal shrinkage. The samples have been tested and the experimental results indicate that their band gap is in the range of 10.14‐12.20 GHz, consistent with the simulation results.Research limitations/implicationsThe influence of fabrication process on the photonic band gap needs further study.Originality/valueThis paper presents a novel fabricating method of 3D diamond‐structure ceramic photonic crystals based on SL, gel‐casting and freeze‐drying. The method fabricates complex ceramic photonic crystals with high accuracy and helps further research in this field.
Differences in perceptions of access to finance between potential male and female entrepreneurs
Authors: Kwong Caleb , Jones‐Evans Dylan , Thompson Piers 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine whether being female increases the probability that an individual feels difficulty in obtaining finance is a barrier to starting a business. The study aims to extend this to examine if a pure gender effect exists or whether it is the interaction of gender with demographic, economic and perceptual characteristics that plays the most important role in the perception of financial constraint.Design/methodology/approachThe data within this study are drawn from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) adult population survey between 2005 and 2007. The first stage of the study splits male and female respondents into separate sub‐samples and runs individual regressions on each portion of the sample. The second stage of the study combines the male and female portions of the sample to directly examine the differences in perceived financial constraint between genders.FindingsThe findings suggest that a greater proportion of women are solely constrained by financial barriers than their male counterparts. The gender of the respondent was also found to interact with a number of other personal characteristics in a significant manner.Practical implicationsThis finding suggests that policymakers should be encouraged to market the availability of start‐up finance from various sources to encourage women to attempt to obtain the necessary finance rather than being discouraged at the first hurdle.Originality/valueAlthough actual financial barriers faced by female entrepreneurs have been extensively studied, this is one of the first studies to focus on the concept of perceived financial constraints faced by potential female entrepreneurs.
Beyond the path of least resistance: the system quest
Authors: Sawhney Harmeet 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand how visionary system architects wean the development of a new technology away from the seductions of the path of least resistance – a complementary relationship with the entrenched system.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on two cases wherein critical players started pursuing visions of a full‐fledged system while the technology was still an appendage to an established one: Theodore Vail and the development of the Bell telephone system; and the US Navy and the development of wireless telegraphy. Vail's interests were of a commercial nature, securing competitive advantage over Western Union and future rivals. The US Navy's interests were of a geopolitical nature, overthrowing Britain's monopoly on trans‐oceanic cable telegraphy.FindingsThe pursuit of system benefits requires long‐term thinking. In terms of day‐to‐day actions it requires a persistent effort against the seductions of a complementary relationship or the path of least resistance. Vail was compelled to form a separate organization – AT&T – to maintain focus on system formation in the face of short‐term distractions. The US Navy pushed for rules against cross ownership of cable and wireless and opposed international treaties that clubbed the two technologies into the same category, as it wanted the latter to develop independently of the former.Originality/valueThe failure of anticipation, in the case of network technologies, is largely rooted in our inability to see beyond the path of least resistance. Drawing on strategies employed by Vail and the US Navy to wean the development of a new technology away from the path of least resistance, the paper alerts us to possibilities other than the seemingly obvious ones.
Ratings of counterproductive performance: the effect of source and rater behavior
Authors: Mann Sara L. , Budworth Marie‐Hélène , Ismaila Afisi S. 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine inter‐rater agreement on counterproductive performance between self‐ and peer‐ratings, and the factors that moderate this agreement. The factors investigated included self‐reported levels of counterproductive performance and known antecedents of counterproductive performance: conscientiousness and integrity values.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered (three to five peer ratings per individual) from 108 undergraduate students.FindingsThe paper finds that there was a significantly low correlation between self‐ and peer‐ ratings of counterproductive performance. Ratings given by peers were much higher than ratings given by oneself. Individuals and peers who are similar in the extent to which they engage in counterproductive behaviors were in agreement with respect to ratings of counterproductive performance.Practical implicationsThis study provided evidence that rater disagreement is a consistent phenomenon across dimensions of performance. In addition, rater perceptions of counterproductive performance have a significant impact on overall performance ratings; therefore individual differences between the rater and ratee may have a large influence on overall ratings in an organizational setting. There is some evidence in this study that peer ratings of counterproductive behavior vary depending on the rater's own counterproductive behaviors. The fact that rater agreement is influenced by the rater's own behavior implies that individual rater effects are influencing counterproductive performance measurement.Originality/valueThis study adds value by extending the literature on inter‐rater agreement to counterproductive performance. In addition, this study is unique in that it shows that a rater's own level of counterproductive performance can impact their ratings of others.
Illuminating the role of the project owner
Authors: Andersen Erling S. 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the findings from a research project in Norway on the role of the project owner. The research was carried out in order to gain a better understanding of how project owners are handling their tasks, to identify areas for improvement and focus on challenges facing those being in this position. The research also studied which factors involving project owners could significantly improve project success.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical studies of the current situation were carried out, aiming at getting a picture of common and best practice. Data on the current situation of project owners were first collected through a survey, giving representative results of all projects. Second, the project carried out in‐depth interviews with very experienced project owners and project managers. The second part of the research was based on the results from the current situation. It studied if changing negative aspects of project owner behaviour could improve project performance. A questionnaire survey was conducted.FindingsThe research was based on a certain perspective on the role of the project owner. It focused on the relationships between the base organization and the project and argued that the project owner should take an active role as they are responsible for establishing the project and securing the deliveries of the project to actually create vital changes to the receiving organization. The first survey showed that common practice was not living up to the author's perspective. Interviews with the most professional people showed that they were doing better than the average. The final survey showed that project success could be enhanced when the project owner takes an active part in the socialization activities of the project, directed by implemented project management work guidelines. Project success may also be strengthened by a project management governance structure consisting of close cooperation between project owner and project manager throughout all phases of project work.Research limitations/implicationsThe research should be followed up with similar studies in other countries.Practical implicationsThere is a need to educate and train project owners to make them more aware of their roles and responsibilities.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates the importance of focusing on the project owner. It shows that a more comprehensive understanding of the roles of the project owner would contribute to project success.
Classifying project management resources by complexity and leverage
Authors: Jugdev Kam , Mathur Gita 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework to classify project management resources as sources of competitive advantage.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on the resource‐based view of the firm and project management literature to explore the level of competitive advantage from 17 project management resources based on their degree of complexity and level of leverage in the project management process. This exploratory study drew on a small sample of practitioners in the classification.FindingsThe paper proposes a conceptual model to show the relationship between four categories of resources and their contribution to competitive advantage by being valuable, rare, inimitable, and organizationally supported.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is exploratory in nature and uses a small sample of practitioners.Practical implicationsThe authors believe that the classification of project management resources based on complexity and leverage provides a useful framework for managers considering the impact of investment in these resources for competitive advantage.Originality/valueThis paper provides a classification of project management resources based on the complexity of the resource and its leverage in the project management process. It is posited that resources that are complex and can be highly leveraged to develop further resources warrant attention as sources of competitive advantage.
Managing project problem‐solving patterns
Authors: Cavaleri Steven , Firestone Joseph , Reed Fred 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a process for managing project problem‐solving patterns. It focuses on shifting the emphasis of project teams toward a more collaborative and knowledge‐based style of dealing with challenges to project performance. The methods proposed in this paper encourage project managers to integrate processes for becoming more agile by tapping into lesson learned and knowledge gained to create higher quality solutions to problems.Design/methodology/approachThis paper proposes a conceptual framework for recognizing problem‐solving patterns and transforming problem solving from an individual passive event to a more open, agile active, systemic process. Several actual case examples are provided to illustrate applications.FindingsThe paper examines how taking a more open approach to problem solving in projects leads to better solutions. The proposed method and lessons from actual cases offer support to these proposals.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed models in this paper originate from the conclusions and observations drawn by the authors over many years of experience. However, they are not the product of a systematic research effort. This paper is intended to provide a new lens for project managers to view projects. It does not purport to declare findings of any research or analyze any sort of research.Practical implicationsThe conceptual framework provided in this paper is a practical one derived from the practices used in leading companies. The paper provides practical guidelines to aid project managers in recognizing and managing problem‐solving patterns to create better solutions to problems.Social implicationsModern society is plagued by the effects of ineffective problem‐solving initiatives in business, government, and not‐for‐profit organizations. Flawed proposed solutions exact a toll on organizations, their members, and the constituents they serve. This paper proposes a way of improving the quality of problem‐solving processes that may benefit a broad scale of people.Originality/valueThe concept of a problem‐solving pattern and a typology of problem‐solving patterns presented in this paper, provide project managers with a new way of conceiving of how problem solving can be used to improve project performance and adaptability.