bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How readable are mission statements? An exploratory study
Authors: Sattari Setayesh , Pitt Leyland F. , Caruana Albert 
Published: October 2011

PurposeMission statements are fairly ubiquitous, particularly among large organizations. However, if they are to have a chance of achieving the desired positive outcomes, they must first be readable and comprehensible to the targeted stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to investigate this issue, to answer the question of whether the mission statements of large companies are readable or not.Design/methodology/approachContent analysis and appropriate scores were employed to investigate the readability of the mission statements collected from a random sample of 100 firms in the Fortune 500 annual rankings.FindingsThe results indicate that on average, the mission statements of the studied companies are not that readable, and that in the case of many of them, the mission statements assume the readings skills of a university graduate.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this paper suggest that if the target audience of a mission statement is broad, and includes stakeholders such as customers and lower level employees, then firms would do well to test the readability of their mission statements, and revise them where necessary. Mission statements are not the only tools that organizations use to communicate with stakeholder. This encourages future research on readability analysis of other communication tools in firms. A larger sample of companies and other approaches to measure readability can be included in future research.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the related literature, as the level of readability of mission statements has received limited attention in the past.
Human rights organizations and online agenda setting
Authors: Meriläinen Niina , Vos Marita 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to better understand agenda setting by international human rights organizations in the online environment and at the same time contribute to agenda‐setting theory. The role of non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) in the area of human rights is clarified, and agenda setting and related concepts are discussed.Design/methodology/approachThe study focuses on how attention is drawn to human rights issues in online communication by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International. A content analysis of online forums of HRW and Amnesty International was conducted by monitoring their web sites and Facebook and Twitter pages over a period of three months. In addition, two expert interviews with representatives of Amnesty Finland were conducted to better understand how the organization's online communication activities relate to its policies in drawing attention to human rights.FindingsBased on this study, drawing attention to human rights issues is a goal that leads to active online communication. NGOs aim at attracting attention to their issues online by initiating a dialogue via online forums and motivating the public to participate in activities that may influence the media and the political agenda. The existing agenda‐setting research tends to emphasize the role of journalists in setting the public agenda, and mentions NGOs primarily as a source for journalists and as a political player. The online environment shows, however, that these NGOs mostly aim at setting the public agenda to create social change, while the media and political agenda are also not forgotten.Research limitations/implicationsThis study suggests that the interdependence of the media, public and political agendas is more complex than has thus far been considered in agenda‐setting theory, especially in the current online environment. It investigates online agenda setting by two international NGOs, but does not discuss the role of the media or the public at large in their relationship with these NGOs. As this study has a limited time frame, a content analysis over a longer period and interviews with representatives of a wider variety of NGOs could be a next step. Future research could also compare the online communication of NGOs with that of profit organisations.Practical implicationsThe findings show how agenda setting is supported by intricate multi‐platform activities in the present‐day online environment by the organizations studied in order to initiate a dialogue on societal issues. This suggests that in the online environment, the media, public and political agendas are becoming increasingly interrelated and within this triangle the public agenda seems to be gaining further in importance.Originality/valueThe impact that NGOs have on today's society is growing, and hence studying their online agenda setting is valuable from the perspective of corporate communication. International NGOs early on recognised the value of online communication.
The evolution of the employee engagement concept: communication implications
Authors: Welch Mary 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to make a contribution to corporate communication theory by considering the evolution of employee engagement and the role of communication in enhancing employee engagement.Design/methodology/approachDespite its importance for organisation leaders, there is considerable confusion about the meaning of employee engagement. This paper aims to provide a degree of clarity on the concept by identifying stages in its evolution and discussing its definition.FindingsSurprisingly, corporate communication literature has not yet adequately considered the concept. This may be due to confusion concerning the concept, and to concerns about overlaps with other constructs such as commitment. This paper tackles the gap in the literature with a proposed model of the role of internal corporate communication in enhancing employee engagement.Research limitations/implicationsThe article discusses linkages between engagement and communication which suggest research potential for the communication disciplines.Practical implicationsThere are practical implications of the model proposed here since it encourages communicators to consider potential engagement effects of communication strategies and tactics.Social implicationsThe paper encourages communicators to consider the communication needs of employees.Originality/valueThis conceptual paper provides an overview of employee engagement literature with a novel contribution identifying evolutionary waves in the development of the concept. It suggests a definition of organisation engagement as a dynamic, changeable psychological state which links employees to their organisations, manifest in organisation member role performances expressed physically, cognitively and emotionally, and influenced by organisation‐level internal communication.
The study of internal crisis communication: towards an integrative framework
Authors: Frandsen Finn , Johansen Winni 
Published: October 2011

PurposePrevious crisis communication research has primarily examined the external dimension of crisis communication, i.e. the crisis response strategies applied by organizations to protect and/or restore their image or reputation among external stakeholders in a crisis situation. The purpose of this paper is to set up an integrative framework for the study of internal crisis communication in private and public organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes a theoretical approach reviewing the literature on crisis management and crisis communication and discussing the concept of internal stakeholder and the implications of a staged approach.FindingsAn integrative framework for the study of internal crisis communication is developed based on two assumptions: first, that internal crisis communication research must start with a detailed study of the relationship between an organization and its internal stakeholders (in this case: the employees) to clarify to what extent internal crisis communication differs from external crisis communication; and second, that internal crisis communication research can best be systematized applying a staged approach (precrisis stage, crisis event, postcrisis stage) as an heuristic method.Originality/valueApart from a few exceptions, the internal dimension of crises, crisis management, and crisis communication has, by and large, been unexplored.
Terrorism and the internet: a double‐edged sword
Authors: Keene Shima D. 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the extent of the use of the internet by terrorist organisations to achieve their strategic and operational objectives.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology adopted consisted of an extensive literature review on topics to include Islamic terrorism, cyber crime, globalisation, and financial crime, supported by field work to verify findings.FindingsAl‐Qaeda has become a radical Islamic phenomenon held together through its global network of communities, both virtual and physical. One significant enabler has been the internet, which enables anonymous communication, aids recruitment, encourages the sharing of knowledge, as well as playing a significant role in the spreading of propaganda. The understanding of the use of internet‐based technologies, not only as a potential target for terrorist attack, but as a tool to achieve its ideological and operational goals, remains a neglected area of study requiring further focus.Originality/valueThis paper serves as a useful guide to alert and educate counter‐terrorism professionals, law enforcement and policy makers of the significance of the extent of the use of the internet for purposes such as operational planning, recruitment, psychological operations and fund raising. It is essential that these subjects should not be viewed as a peripheral issue to cyber‐terrorism, but instead, should be considered to be central to the existing counter‐terrorism effort.
Corruption as an obstacle to development in developing countries: a review of literature
Authors: Julius Otusanya Olatunde 
Published: October 2011

PurposeContemporary literature has paid scholarly attention to corruption from a variety of competing perspectives. However, broader accounts of the impact of corruption on development in developing countries are relatively scarce. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of corruption as a social impediment to development, which has a devastating effect on developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explores the relevant literature and the different perspectives that have been developed and conducted for investigating corruption in developing countries. The paper uses publicly available evidence to show that political, economic elite engaged in corrupt practices.FindingsThe evidence shows that socio‐political and economic development, politics, power, history and globalisation have continued to reproduce and transform the institutional structures and actors which have facilitated corrupt practices in developing countries. The review shows that large sums of government revenue have been undermined by the corrupt practices of the political and economic elite (both local and international), which have enriched a few, but impoverished most.Practical implicationsThe paper seeks to bring the anti‐social activities of political, economic and professionals under scrutiny and offers some suggestions for reforms.Social implicationsCorruption has played a major role in causing serious damage to the economic and social landscape in developing countries. This in turn, has undermined social welfare and also investment in the public services, thereby eroding the quality of life and producing a decline in average life expectancy.Originality/valueThe paper is a general review of literature and evidence on contemporary issues.
Scenario planning and futurology of the Persian Gulf post‐oil economy
Authors: Asghar Pourezzat Ali , Nejati Mostafa , Taheri Attar Ghazaleh , Mahdi Sharifmousavi Seyed 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the economy of Persian Gulf countries following a post‐oil economy. This is accompanied with a futurology study and planning of certain scenarios that can be applied to these countries.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies a futurology approach by investigating various scenarios to explore the Arab economy after oil. As such, a series of possible policies are proposed that can be undertaken by Arab countries depending on their public policy. Each of the suggested policies involves different scenarios that have been formed and analyzed using an era‐based cellular planning system.FindingsThe findings propose three main policies to be undertaken by Arab countries including: investing the oil income in miscellaneous economic baskets in order to minimize the vulnerability and maximize the profits; reducing the oil production in the coming years and transforming the one‐product oil economy to a value added petrochemical economy; and seeking new sources of income and wealth. In addition, findings emphasize the necessity for using renewable and lasting wealth resources and minimizing the dependency of countries on the oil economy.Originality/valueThe proposed scenarios in the study can act as strategic constructs in strengthening the scenario sets in the consecutive years and help develop other scenarios in the future. As such, this paper would be of interest to governmental advisors, strategic planners and policy‐makers involved in studies related to the Middle East.
Unexpected consequences? Bicameral policymaking shifts through term limits
Authors: Olds Christopher 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe imposition of term limits in bicameral (two‐chamber) state legislatures could produce unforeseen consequences in the policymaking process. Supporters of term limit rules have not considered that their imposition could fundamentally shift the sequence of policymaking in legislatures. This is important given that research on sequential bicameral policymaking suggests qualities of the lower chamber allow it to cultivate policy expertise such that the upper chamber will defer to the lower chamber in policymaking. This project aims to explore whether this proposed policymaking sequence exists in term‐limited states.Design/methodology/approachA comparison of policy adoptions in states with and without term limits is performed using an original data set on bill adoptions for all US bicameral legislatures that had a regular session between the years 2000 and 2006. Least‐squares regression models evaluate whether basic characteristics of legislatures are as relevant as term limit characteristics in explaining the level of outputs from the lower chamber in term‐limited states.FindingsIn states with term limits, the level of policy adoptions initiated by the lower chamber is lower than levels seen in states without term limits. This finding holds when controlling for other relevant variables that can potentially explain lower chamber productivity.Research limitations/implicationsThe study analyzes aggregate state‐level data and does not interview individual legislators in states with and without term limits on whether term limits can alter future legislative behavior.Originality/valueThis study is the first to examine whether the policymaking sequence differs between states that possess and do not possess term limit rules.
Technology forecasting for residential energy management devices
Authors: Daim Tugrul U. , Iskin Ibrahim , Ho Daniel 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to forecast the performance and adoption of residential energy management technology (REMT).Design/methodology/approachThe paper integrates scenarios, analogy and Bass diffusion model.FindingsFour different scenarios were identified. Bass curve parameters were extracted through many different existing devices, and then fit into each scenario subjectively to produce four different kinds of diffusion curves.Originality/valueThe approach and the model provide decision and policy makers to evaluate how they should position new energy management innovations based on the desired type of diffusion.
A study of adult protection referrals in two local authorities: an overview of findings for managers and practitioners
Authors: Cambridge Paul , Mansell Jim , Beadle‐Brown Julie , Milne Alisoun , Whelton Beckie 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report the key findings from a study of adult protection referrals collected by two English local authorities during 1998‐2005.Design/methodology/approachReferrals were analysed for patterns relating to risk with client level data supplemented by information from the local authority databases and from the Care Quality Commission. The analysis also examined associations between adult protection processes and outcomes and looked at how adult protection monitoring data could be improved to better inform safeguarding management and practice at local and national level.FindingsSexual abuse was most frequently reported for people with intellectual disabilities, who were also at higher risk of abuse when living out of area. Older people were most at risk of financial abuse in community settings and of neglect in residential care.Originality/valueThe study identifies patterns of risk in the abuse of older people and those with intellectual disabilities and informs preventive interventions. It also indicates priorities for improving the quality and comparability of adult protection monitoring data.
Reforming the legal framework for adult safeguarding: the Law Commission's final recommendations on adult social care
Authors: Spencer‐Lane Tim 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to set out the Law Commission's final recommendations for the reform of adult social care, with a particular emphasis on the recommendations for a new legal framework for adult safeguarding in England and Wales.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses each of the Law Commission's recommendations for adult safeguarding and contrasts them with the proposals put forward at the consultation phase of the review.FindingsThe paper argues that a single legal framework for adult social care, including adult safeguarding, with have substantial benefits in terms of legal clarity, consistency and efficiency.Social implicationsA clear and single legal framework is important for older and disabled people, and their carers, in order to understand fully their entitlements, and for local authorities and partnership agencies (such as the NHS and the police) in order to understand fully their responsibilities.Originality/valueThe paper provides a clear summary of the Law Commission's final report – in particular the recommendations for adult safeguarding.
Entrepreneurial marketing: a strategy for the twenty‐first century?
Authors: Morrish Sussie C. 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the author's view of the role of entrepreneurial marketing (EM) as a strategy to address the dynamic marketing environment of recent times.Design/methodology/approachThe author reflects on some significant marketing changes and provides some contemporary example of companies that have successfully adopted EM approaches and challenged traditional marketing wisdom.FindingsEM is best conceived not as a nexus between marketing and entrepreneurship, but as an augmented process, where both the entrepreneur and the customer are the core actors, co‐creating value within the marketing environment.Originality/valueWhile this is an opinion piece, the paper provides evidence of how EM can be adopted and applied by entrepreneurial firms and challenges marketers to create and control their own‐marketing environment.
Influence from entrepreneurship in marketing theory
Authors: Hultman Claes M. , Hills Gerald E. 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to point at some examples where entrepreneurship theory can influence the developments within marketing theory.Design/methodology/approachThe authors present conceptual arguments for an increased attention to findings within entrepreneurship theory in the future research and education of marketing.FindingsPresent mainstream marketing theory can be criticized for emphasizing managerial marketing behavior. Entrepreneurial activities are an important part of today's business world and this should be reflected in how we teach and research marketing. The research interface between entrepreneurship and marketing can, therefore, create fruitful developments for marketing. Some examples are: opportunity recognition processes; how marketing decisions are made and implemented; and strategic marketing.Originality/valueThe paper reflects the authors' opinion and provides some arguments for an increased focus on entrepreneurial aspects in future marketing education and research.
Entrepreneurship's relevance to marketing
Authors: Miles Morgan P. , Crispin Stuart , Kasouf Chickery J. 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to better define the contribution of entrepreneurship to the advancement of marketing thought.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a literature review that uses examples from the literature to propose new research directions.FindingsThe paper proposes research opportunities, and concludes that the contributions of entrepreneurship to normative macro‐marketing are largely absent.Practical implicationsThe marketing/entrepreneurship interface continues to be a connection that is difficult to define. Yet, it is an area with rich research potential, and it is critical that marketing embraces these opportunities to strengthen its strategic focus as a discipline.Originality/valueThe paper integrates literature from a variety of perspectives from marketing and related fields, and maps the marketing/entrepreneurship interface on Hunt's classification schema.
Entrepreneurial and SME marketing
Authors: Gilmore Audrey 
Published: October 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider marketing and its relevance to entrepreneurs and small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), and how entrepreneurs and SMEs owner/managers adapt and use marketing for their specific requirements during the life of an enterprise. Initially, the paper will give some background to the subject, including how entrepreneurs and SMEs owner/managers are defined and their value to the economy.Design/methodology/approachThe discussion draws from the academic literature and from experience of working with entrepreneurs and SMEs over a number of years. The background characteristics and frameworks of entrepreneurial and SMEs marketing are considered, with emphasis on a pragmatic approach, to try to understand how entrepreneurs and SMEs actually “do” business.FindingsThe main body of the paper focuses on the nature of entrepreneurial marketing typically used by SMEs. The key themes of the discussion are how entrepreneurs and SME owner/managers adapt standard marketing frameworks to suit their own enterprises, how they use networks to improve their business activity, the use and development of marketing management competencies and how they try to use and develop innovative marketing.Research limitations/implicationsFinally, the paper comments on the inter‐relationships and relevance of entrepreneurship and marketing for each other.Originality/valueIn practice, entrepreneurial and SMEs marketing is quite different from the marketing frameworks described in the standard marketing textbooks used to teach most undergraduate students. This paper illustrates how entrepreneurs and SMEs adapt and use marketing according to the needs of their enterprises.