bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the remediation of Wikipedia to the iPod
Authors: Hahn Jim 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the results of a usability study of information search on mobile devices, seeking to understand mobile computing best practice in the design of library services.Design/methodology/approachThree second‐year undergraduate students took part in this semester long study. They are loaned iPods with a Wikipedia copy to use as desired. Usability data are drawn from search logs recording titles of the articles searched and an internet‐based survey completed by students.FindingsStudents characterize the nature of information searched for on the Wikipedia iPods as recreational. Students did not utilize the iPods for academic research. Search logs show students viewed articles primarily about objects.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this paper do not show generalized principles of mobile search. More data collected from additional sets of users are needed in order to articulate principles of mobile search.Practical implicationsIf it is the case that students will primarily make use of mobile computing for recreational or leisurely purposes then library services on mobile computing platforms must be designed accordingly.Originality/valueThe paper presents methods for the study of information search though mobile computing and poses questions resulting from this paper that require further study.
Building a sustainability collection: a selected bibliography
Authors: Beth Applin Mary 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a bibliography for collection development purposes. It is a list of fundamental reference books, serials, monographs, DVDs, and web sites for academic libraries that are supporting sustainability efforts on their campus.Design/methodology/approachResources are identified using subject article databases,American Reference Books Annual(2007, 2008),Choiceonline,Books in Print,Ulrich's, and Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher EducationPublications on Campus Sustainability(www.aashe.org/resources/publications.php). Numerous reviews of reference works and monographs are used to ensure the relevance and value. Brief annotations are provided.FindingsMore colleges and universities are signing on to the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment particularly with the new emphasis on greening from Washington, DC. The author conducted an extensive review of sustainability literature in an effort to develop a comprehensive bibliography of core titles for academic libraries that will be supporting sustainability projects and curricular initiatives of their college or university.Originality/valueThis is the first published bibliography of its kind of core sustainability titles for academic libraries.
Hunter S. Thompson and Gonzo Journalism: a guide to the research
Authors: Hoover Steven 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify and annotate resources related to Hunter S. Thompson and Gonzo Journalism.Design/methodology/approachNumerous searches are performed in online library catalogs, online databases, and web search engines to identify monographs, journal articles, multimedia titles, and web sites relevant to the topic. Resources located in the searches are then reviewed and annotated by the author and selected for inclusion in the paper based on their relative quality.FindingsA great deal of popular work has been devoted to Thompson and Gonzo Journalism, but also a surprising amount of scholarly analysis. Most primary source material is now available in monographic form, and critical literature is fairly evenly distributed between journal articles and monographs. Search results for Thompson and Gonzo Journalism are often complicated by a number of factors, but these can be compensated for by using search limiters.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the sheer volume of work, scholarly and popular, devoted to Thompson and Gonzo Journalism, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive evaluation of all of the materials on the topic. While every attempt is made to be inclusive, the goal of the guide was to include the best sources on the topic, and some resources are reviewed but not included because of quality issues. A number of un‐annotated bibliographies are referenced that would be helpful in directing readers to additional resources not included here.Originality/valueAlthough there are bibliographies of Thompson's work, none are annotated or prepared with academic researchers in mind. In addition, none of the bibliographies located in the course of researching the paper attempted to identify academic journal literature related to Thompson or Gonzo Journalism.
Assessing information literacy skills in the Technological Education Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece
Authors: Korobili Stella , Malliari Aphrodite , Christodoulou George N. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate student information literacy skills in the Technological Education Institute (TEI) of Thessaloniki, Greece, and examine whether courses and/or library seminars make any difference and contribute to the development of information literacy skills.Design/methodology/approachThe survey is conduct with students from all the departments of TEI that are enrolled at the sixth or seventh semester of their studies. The instrument of the survey is a structured questionnaire that included 12 questions, and measured a total of 73 variables.FindingsA significant percentage of the students have not completed an assignment in the previous semester, are not acquainted with the scientific sources available in the library, and have not attended an information literacy course and/or a library seminar. However, there is a slight difference between those respondents who have “attended an IL course integrated in the curriculum” and those who have not.Originality/valueThe approaches described here may be helpful to librarians when they prepare guidelines for a program that assesses the level of students with regard to information literacy skills.
An information support service for moderators of SME company networks
Authors: Thimm Heiko , Boye Rasmussen Karsten 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the management process in company networks. A new information support service can assist network managers in the complex task of orchestrating members of the network to so‐called network actor sets (NAS) that deliver the “best fit” for incoming inquiries.Design/methodology/approachA corresponding conceptual framework and system approach is developed. The proposed system employs a pragmatic two‐phase multi‐criteria scoring scheme for orchestrating NAS under consideration of the specific needs of inquiries and, too, the company network as a whole.FindingsThe research indicates that the orchestration of NAS may be effectively performed by a corresponding information technology (IT) support service. Through the service orchestration decisions may become less influenced by human factors. The service will also lead to better transparency, traceability, and analytical possibilities regarding the inquiry management process. Networks with a high number of members and with many overlaps in company profiles and competences will find this service useful.Research limitations/implicationsFurther orchestration criteria will be explored in the future by a simulation study.Practical implicationsThe paper presents recommendations for structuring the inquiry management process in company networks to improve effectiveness by the use of IT. Also, it contains a sound framework for the implementation of the proposed service as part of IT infrastructures for company networks.Originality/valueThe paper presents major insights, concepts, and a system approach for a novel information support service for network moderators.
Diversified business groups and corporate restructuring in China
Authors: Zhao Jun 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the roles different ownership structures, the joint effect of related and unrelated diversification strategies, and previous performance levels have on the restructuring strategies of such firms.Design/methodology/approachAnnual reports of publicly traded firms in the two Chinese stock exchanges are used to collect data. Multiple regression and ANOVA analysis are used to examine the impact of ownership structure types, match between diversification strategies, and previous performance on the change of business scopes of the sample business groups.FindingsCompared to other ownership types, government owned business groups tend to increase their business scope during asset restructuring, while private business groups tend to decrease their scopes through divestitures and spinoffs. Poor previous performance is also found to be negatively related to change in business scopes. The “match” between related and unrelated diversification strategies of the business groups leads to increase in business scopes, while “mismatch” between these two strategies tends to lead to decrease in business scopes.Practical implicationsThis study provides some recommendations to managers and public policy makers in emerging economies. There is a need to monitor the changing institutional environment a firm operates in. It is up to the managers of business groups to determine the degree of market imperfections they are facing and the need to compensate with internal market mechanism and social exchange mechanism within the group structure. As China opens its door further to private ownership and foreign ownership, the pressure to increase efficiency and effectiveness along with the continuous improvement of the institutional environment will require that managers adopt strategies that can enhance the competitiveness of the firms, whether it is through further diversification or scope reduction.Originality/valueThis research deepens our understanding of restructuring strategies of Chinese business groups, by linking factors such as ownership structure, diversification strategies, and past performance to scope changes in these groups. It can broaden our understanding of corporate restructuring in transitional economies, such as China and India.
Performance management systems in an Indian manufacturing sector
Authors: Sripirabaa B. , Krishnaveni R. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe functions of a performance management system in any organization encompass diverse activities, which include the performance appraisal process. In order to design appraisal systems and appraise employees appropriately, organizations may enter into partnerships with external consultants. In addition, organizations are required to allocate financial resources to support not only the performance management system itself but also incentives for employees with superior performance. The purpose of this paper, using a model, is to investigate the influence of partnering and financial support on the functions of a performance management system. The capacity of the system to align its functions to help achieve an organization's strategic goals is also examined.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey elicited responses from middle‐level employees using a validated instrument. The variables included in the study were based on prevailing practices in performance management, which include partnering (or collaborating) with professionals external to the organization, the financial support made available to the system and the alignment of the functions of a performance management system with the strategic goals of the organization. The sample comprised 165 respondents selected from six organizations manufacturing automobile components in Coimbatore, India. Partial least squares, a structural equation modeling technique, was used to estimate the influence of the latent variables.FindingsThe results indicated that partnering has a negative significant impact on: the functions of the performance management system; and alignment. Financial support has a negative impact on alignment, whereas the performance management system's overall functions has a significant positive impact on alignment. Likewise, financial support has positive significant impact on the performance management system's functions.Originality/valueEmployees feel that appraisals are a continuous internal assessment process best conducted by those inside their organizations. External members can appraise employees at particular points in time but these appraisals do not reflect accurately an employee's overall performance across time. Hence, employees implicitly reject external appraisers and partnering in the performance appraisal process. The appraisal process was found to have financial support by way of incentives, pay increases and the allocation of bonuses based on performance. The paper usefully confirms that organizations must strive continually to design and implement HR practices that are organization specific and employee friendly.
Structuring organizations across industries in India
Authors: Singh Sanjay Kumar 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate structural patterns across industries in India. Organizational design is posited as a form of competitive advantage, which also helps Indian organizations build excellence.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a questionnaire to investigate the structural patterns of organization in 32 enterprises in India. The sample consisted of 1,532 participants across six industries. The data were analyzed usingSPSS v.15.0.FindingsThe findings suggest that the outward picture of structural patterns remains the same across industries but significant difference emerge in the inner core of the structural architecture of Indian organizations. For example, the inner core of the banking industry was found to be different from the other five industries studied.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that the links between organizational structure and national culture should be harmonious. Simultaneously, the structure of the organizations should be aligned with both the task and general environment of the business.Originality/valueThere is a scarcity of research into this domain of knowledge in India and the paper provides additional insights into the organizational structures of Indian enterprises across the major industrial sectors.
Supply chain management for SMEs: a research introduction
Authors: Thakkar Jitesh , Kanda Arun , Deshmukh S.G. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe some of the key areas that influence managing the supply chain in the small‐ and medium‐sized enterprise (SME) sector. It outlines in an informative and explorative manner the research environment of supply chain management (SCM) in SMEs in India.Design/methodology/approachInitially, the paper scans the environment of Indian SMEs using a self‐developed framework with the acronym immunity‐infection‐net resistance‐offerings and code of conduct (I2NOC). Having outlined the key characteristics of SMEs, the paper focuses on exploring selected issues for SCM in the SME sector.FindingsA literature review identified gaps in the research and a set of investigative questions were derived from the review. These questions help define the premise behind the research approach outlined in the paper. Investigative questions were further grouped to identify specific issues and/or areas of concern. Finally, the paper constructs a generic research problem, a tentative research methodology, projects outcomes of the research and sets out a critical path method (CPM) schedule for the time management of a research project.Practical implicationsSMEs in India vary in outputs, productivity and organizational characteristics. Since the late 1990s, globalization has forced many organizations in the engineering sector to enter the Indian market. Their low‐cost high‐quality products challenged Indian SMEs. The need to become competitive is now a matter‐of‐fact for all SMEs in India. This paper provides contemporary researchers in the areas of SMEs and SCM with knowledge that will help them (i) comprehend key research issues related to SCM for SMEs and (ii) define constructs, research variables and the nature of their research (that is, either exploratory or explanatory) with logical coherence.Originality/valueInitially, the paper proposes a new framework (I2NOC) for understanding the competitive advantage of SMEs. Subsequently, the paper introduces the central themes of SMEs and SCM, supported by various arguments and positions from the literature. The paper offers guidance to management researchers in developing, defining and presenting their research (especially in the case of business or management students undertaking doctoral research) in a systematic and convincing manner.
Theory development in humanitarian logistics: a framework and three cases
Authors: Jahre Marianne , Jensen Leif‐Magnus , Listou Tore 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThere is a need for theory development within the field of humanitarian logistics to understand logistics needs in different stages of a crisis and how to meet these. This paper aims to discuss three dimensions identified in logistics and organization theories and how they relate to three different cases of humanitarian logistics operations – the regional concept of the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, the development and working of the United Nations Joint Logistics Centre and coordination challenges of military logistics in UN mandated peacekeeping operations. The purpose is to build a framework to be used in further studies.Design/methodology/approachA framework for the study of humanitarian logistics along three dimensions is developed, followed by a discussion of the chosen cases in relation to these dimensions. The framework will be used as basis for the case studies to be undertaken for the purpose of understanding and identification of new questions and needs for other or revised concepts from theory.FindingsThe paper shows the relevance of a wide literature to the issues pertinent to humanitarian logistics. There is considerable promise in extant literature on logistics, SCM and coordination, but this needs to be confronted with the particular issues seen in the humanitarian logistics setting to achieve further theory development.Originality/valueThe major contribution of the paper lies in its breadth of theoretical perspectives presented and combined in a preliminary theoretical framework. This is applied more specifically in the three case studies described in the paper.
Volatility, unpredictability and asymmetry
Authors: Carroll Alan , Neu Jens 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to develop the tentative hypothesis that common effective dynamics generate asymmetry volatility and unpredictability in the business, military and humanitarian logistics sectors.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines collaborative supply chain management (CSCM) concepts which integrate practical comparator cases to develop and justify the theoretical framework.FindingsThe humanitarian logistics sector can take “best practice” from business and military LSCM developments, but has specific problems of potential instability which require sector‐specific attention.Research limitations/implicationsHumanitarian logistics' “present state” is a zero sum model because of the fragmented nature and number of disparate actors, which generate the logistics system volatility, unpredictability and asymmetry common to unstable operations, and which formed the research rationale for this paper.Practical implicationsThe development gap identified can be resolved, and synthesis achieved, with the application of an intelligent system infrastructure.Originality/valueThis paper provides a development framework for a comprehensive set of universal techniques and a commonality in humanitarian logistics and supply chain management.
Advocacy to promote logistics in humanitarian aid
Authors: Whiting Michael C. , Ayala‐Öström Beatriz E. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to examine some of the more effective means of advocacy focused on promoting the unique role of logistics in the delivery of much needed humanitarian aid, and outlines some of the challenges as experienced in the outcomes of recent disasters such as the Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws from the limited literature available in humanitarian relief, the authors' first hand experience, input from colleagues in humanitarian logistics performance measures, attitudes in both the private sector and the humanitarian aid sector and other management factors to discuss how the role of logistics is still undervalued and under resourced.FindingsStrategic investment in logistics for humanitarian aid will impact positively on the delivery of humanitarian aid. Efforts are being made by NGOs, United Nations Agencies and to a lesser extent the donor community, but these efforts are fragmented.Practical implicationsIf logistics in humanitarian relief is supported and valued the effectiveness and predictability of humanitarian response will improve. Even small improvements in efficiency in logistics will result in significant savings in logistics costs.Originality/valueThere is little published in logistics for humanitarian relief and disseminating the importance of logistics in humanitarian aid and the challenges it faces will assist the donor community, the NGOs and the field logisticians in raising the profile of logistics.
The financial crisis and employee relations
Authors: Gennard John 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the response of industrial relations systems to the current financial crisis.Design/methodology/approachThis editorial outlines the effect of the financial crisis on industrial output, unemployment and redundancies. It then examines the impact in the banking and manufacturing sectors of the single European market before looking more closely at the impact on individual European countries. There is also a look at public policy, labour market mechanisms design to protect employment levels and workers incomes.FindingsThe financial crisis has led to large rises in unemployment and redundancies and to large falls in industrial output. Collective bargaining has played an important problem‐solving role in achieving a peaceful adjustment at the workplace to falls in product demand. Collective agreements have been concluded designed to preserve jobs by providing for shorter working time with the state providing compensation for the corresponding fall in income.Originality/valueThe paper offers insights into the financial crisis and employee relations.