bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An experiment in teaching invention
Authors: Clark Andre 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that invention can be taught to business students who do not have the prior technical knowledge that is assumed to be a requirement for this kind of activity.Design/methodology/approachThis paper contains reflections on the results of introducing a specific course in inventing based on the insights of leading figures in the economics heterodoxy, who reject key tenets of the standard‐economics approach that treats invention as exogenous.FindingsThe result of this experiment suggests that teaching invention to business students is possible based on such foundations, as measured by the number of patent application made and granted.Research limitations/implicationsSince there is no widely accepted theory to explain invention, there is no control for this experiment. This theoretical limitation should not detract, however, from the evidence presented here that there is something of practical use in the heterodox tradition that is being overlooked in enterprise and business education.Practical implicationsThis paper provides one model for teaching an important aspect of enterprising behaviour and also has practical outcomes in terms of the invented items themselves. In addition, it serves to demystify an aspect of business activity that is often left unexplored in business studies curricula.Originality/valueThe paper is innovative at a conceptual and a practical level in providing both a foundation for the study of invention based on economic theory, and advice on how this can be taught to achieve practical and independently validated outcomes.
The effectiveness of entrepreneurship education in Malaysia
Authors: Yu Cheng Ming , Sei Chan Wai , Mahmood Amir 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to trace the development of entrepreneurship education in Malaysia; and to evaluate its effectiveness and limitations.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data are collected to reveal students' perceptions of the effectiveness of the entrepreneurship teaching and their knowledge about entrepreneurship.FindingsThe results show that entrepreneurship education in Malaysia is not matching students' skill expectations with skill acquisition. The findings also indicate that the level of understanding on “what is entrepreneurship” is still low among the respondents selected in this paper.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper only concerns students' perceptions towards the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education in their respective institutions. Results from this paper are limited in terms of their ability to demonstrate “actual” outcomes of entrepreneurship education.Practical implicationsThe paper provides an important exploratory analysis of the state of entrepreneurship education in Malaysia to enable further research to be taken in the area of entrepreneurship education. The findings provide valuable insight on effective teaching methodologies in the area of entrepreneurship education.Originality/valueThe paper expands the framework of Morris et al., Drucker, and Gorman et al. to provide a basis to improve the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education in Malaysia.
Homebased work: a review of research into themes, directions and implications
Authors: Tietze Susanne , Musson Gill , Scurry Tracy 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to systematically summarise and evaluate recent articles on modern homebased work (2000‐2009). In identifying the key recurrent themes and commonalities in the existing research, it brings order to the variety of contributions to provide future directions for inquiry and knowledge production.Design/methodology/approachPapers are identified through systematic keyword searches of multi‐disciplinary databases. The aim is to identify papers that explore the social/organisational embeddedness of homebased work, rather than framing it as a technology related phenomena/problem.FindingsThe review highlights some contradictory evidence about the potential for change entailed in homeworking practices and an absence of studies which focus on “less visible” workers engaged in homebased production. It also argues that few longitudinal studies exist which could address the question of the ability of homebased work to initiate change.Practical implicationsThe paper provides an evaluation of the literature to make sense of the diversity of themes and issues within existing research. The insights gained are of use to both academics researching this form of working and practitioners implementing it. Gaps within existing knowledge and directions for future study are also identified.Originality/valueThis paper is a timely review of the recent articles that have been published on homebased work.
Body art in the workplace: piercing the prejudice?
Authors: Miller Brian K. , McGlashan Nicols Kay , Eure Jack 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe prevalence of body art is on the rise; particularly among college age persons. This study aims to use group norms theory (GNT) and the justification‐suppression model of the expression of prejudice to examine the impact of body art such as tattoos and piercings on ratings of acceptability by co‐workers.Design/methodology/approachIn a full‐factorial two‐by‐two scenario‐based experiment the authors manipulated the presence or absence of face‐to‐face customer contact and the interdependency of the distribution of rewards.FindingsAfter controlling for participants' own tattoos and piercings, impression management, openness‐to‐experience, and agreeableness, the authors have found that an inside sales job and independent rewards are significantly positively related to acceptability but that their interaction was not.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of this study include the fact that it is a scenario‐based experiment using a fictitious co‐worker and that the sample is comprised of college students. However, manipulating body art in a live confederate would likely to have been impossible and college students are in the age group in which body art is most prevalent, making them logical candidates on which to examine the hypotheses.Practical implicationsEven those with body art themselves still prefer not to work with body art (non‐concealable) wearers in jobs with high levels of face‐to‐face customer contact or in jobs in which rewards are shared equally like team‐based sales.Originality/valueAn experimental design is used so as to manipulate only those characteristics of the work relationship hypothesized to be of interest, while controlling for extraneous variables like attractiveness and personality in the co‐worker, which vary greatly from person to person.
Factors influencing the adoption of online recruitment
Authors: Parry Emma , Wilson Hugh 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe internet is initially hailed as the future of recruitment and is expected to replace other media as the preferred recruitment method, but the adoption of online recruitment has not been as comprehensively predicted. In addition, empirical research regarding online recruitment from an organisational perspective is sparse. This paper aims to examine the reasons behind an organisation's decision to use online recruitment, and reports on the development of a model of the factors affecting the adoption of this recruitment method.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses in‐depth interviews and a survey of human resource (HR) managers with recruitment responsibility. The factors that affect the adoption of online recruitment are explored, and related to Rogers's diffusion of innovation theory (DIT) and Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour (TPB).FindingsFactors related to the adoption of corporate web sites and commercial jobs boards are found to be different, with positive beliefs/relative advantage, subjective norms and negative beliefs emerging in the case of corporate web sites and positive beliefs/relative advantage and compatibility for jobs boards. These results provide some fit with both Ajzen's and Rogers' factors.Originality/valueThis paper addresses an important area that is under‐researched academically and provides a basis for further research into how organisations may adopt online recruitment successfully.
Managing the HR function: the role of social capital
Authors: Truss Catherine , Gill Jas 
Published: October 2009

PurposeUnder public sector reforms, HR departments are under increasing pressure to demonstrate how they add value to the organization. This paper seeks to contribute to our knowledge of HR functional roles in public sector organizations by considering how social capital may influence perceived HR department performance. Most prior research on HR functional performance has focused on what HR professionals do, rather than on how they do it, yet such process factors have been shown in the literature on organizational strategy to be crucial determinants of long‐term effectiveness. This paper aims to use the framework of social capital as a means of conceptualizing HR processes, and investigates how these are played out in an exploratory study.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on four matched‐pair case studies in public sector organizations in the UK. A total of 77 interviews are conducted.FindingsThe research found that there appeared to be a link between HR social capital and perceptions of HR functional performance on the part of both HR staff and line managers.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a piece of case study based research in the UK public sector, and therefore the findings may not be generalizable. It would have been preferable to have had some hard metrics for HR department performance, but perceptual data was relied on instead. Further research is therefore recommended.Practical implicationsThe implication for HR practitioners is that attention needs to be paid to the structural and relational dimensions of how the HR department operates, as well as to what it does, if it is to be regarded as effective.Originality/valueThis is a piece of original research on a topic that has received almost no prior attention. Previous research on the link between HRM and performance has focused almost exclusively on HR strategies and policies and has neglected process and implementation. This paper presents some evidence to show that HR processes in terms of social capital may be an important element.
Does participatory decision‐making in top management teams enhance decision effectiveness and firm performance?
Authors: Carmeli Abraham , Sheaffer Zachary , Yitzack Halevi Meyrav 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how participatory decision‐making processes in top management teams (TMT) influence strategic decision effectiveness and firm performance.Design/methodology/approachData from 94 TMTs are collected from structured surveys. Each firm's CEO provides data on strategic decision effectiveness, and a senior executive member of the TMT provided data on participatory decision‐making processes and firm performance.FindingsResults show that participatory decision‐making processes in the TMT are positively associated with decision effectiveness, but there is both a direct and an indirect relationship (through decision effectiveness) between participatory decision‐making processes and firm performance.Originality/valueThis paper sheds light on the importance of joint decision‐making processes among TMT members for improving choices and enhances firm performance.
Libraries and the mobile revolution: remediation=relevance
Authors: Leigh Jacobs Michelle 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to look at the big picture of where academic libraries fit into the mobile revolution.Design/methodology/approachUsing Jim Hahn's accompanying article, “On the remediation of Wikipedia and the iPod,” the author comments on what remediation means for the academic library culture as a whole. The reflections are based on observations of current trends in technology and the emergence of a mobile culture. A definition of this generation of library users is suggested – the ING (information now generation). Editorial in nature, the paper also discusses some new technologies and how they might be applicable to the technological growth of libraries.FindingsThis reflection of current trends encourages librarians to look/listen, explore, apply, prevail when it comes to applying emerging technologies to the library world.Originality/valueThe paper offers insights into how librarians can prepare themselves for the “Remediation Revolution.”
Student perceptions of federated searching vs single database searching
Authors: Armstrong Annie R. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare the efficacy of two approaches to finding articles on a topic by measuring student perceptions of the ease‐of‐use of the search process and the perceived relevancy of search results retrieved using both a single multidisciplinary database and a federated search tool.Design/methodology/approachStudents are asked to search both a federated search tool and a single multidisciplinary database, record their searches and respond to a series of quantitative and qualitative questions regarding their experiences with searching both search tools.FindingsStudy results indicate a slight preference for federated searching over single database searching based on perceived relevancy of results and likeliness of future use. Study data supports equal promotion of single database searching and federated searching to undergraduate students.Practical implicationsThe results of this paper have practical implications for reference and instruction librarians teaching undergraduate students and library users in general to find the most effective, efficient and manageable approach to finding articles on a topic.Originality/valuePrevious research comparing federated searching to other research methods uses prescribed topics outside of an actual class setting, while this is a naturalistic study in which students searched for articles on a research topic of their own choosing for a required research assignment. A previous study compared federated searching to navigating and searching numerous databases. This paper compares a federated search tool to a single multidisciplinary database.
Course instructor perceptions of computer‐generated bibliographic citations
Authors: Martin Justine L. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate course instructor perceptions into personal and classroom use of computer‐generated bibliographic citations. The paper aims to provide guidance as librarians promote and teach automated citation services to the academic communities.Design/methodology/approachCourse instructors at one university completed a quantitative survey about computer‐generated bibliographic citations. Questions focused on instructor use of automated citation services, if they generally reduce grades for bibliographic errors, if they would reduce grades for specific computer‐generated citation (CGC) errors, and would they advise students to use automated citation services at various course levels.FindingsThe results show a majority of course instructors do not use CGCs for their own research or promote the citation services in the classroom. A majority of respondents generally reduce student grades for bibliographic errors and would continue to do so for CGC errors. The data show specific types of automatically generated citation errors are more detrimental to student grades than others. Furthermore, results indicate course level impacts instructor promotion of CGCs.Practical implicationsThe results provide librarians with helpful data, from the course instructor perspective, as they promote and teach computer‐generated bibliographic citations.Originality/valueLiterature on computer‐generated bibliographic citations tends to focus on technical and comparative aspects of citation services, or users' product opinions. This paper explores course instructor use, course promotion, and bibliographic grading of automatically generated citations to enhance advocacy and instruction of these services.
A survey of Iranian academic reference services in terms of librarians' discipline
Authors: Moradi Iraj , Hariri Nadjla 
Published: October 2009

PurposeConsidering the significant difference between the discipline reference librarians graduate in and how reference services are offered, this paper aims to test such a hypothesis by focusing on reference services offered by central libraries of Islamic Azad Universities (IAU) distributed in different regions and provinces of Iran. A second purpose of this paper is to suggest an independent organizational structure for reference departments of Iranian academic libraries.Design/methodology/approachResearch population is composed of 75 reference librarians working in central libraries of 33 IAU branches. To collect data a researcher‐made questionnaire including 82 items is posted to mentioned libraries.FindingsThere is a significant difference between reference librarians' discipline and how reference services are offered in IAU central libraries.Practical implicationsIranian academic authorities are advised to take the suggested organizational structure into consideration and meet Lewis's five strategies. In particular, reference librarians based on their discipline and education level should be brought together and not isolated in small departments. Additionally, for reference services to keep pace with users' needs academic libraries should employ expert and skilled reference librarians who hold library and information science academic degrees and can provide user education.Originality/valueThis paper describes an organizational structure for Iranian reference librarians that is based on their educational background and training.
Is there a “business case” for board diversity?
Authors: Wang Yi , Clift Bob 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between board diversity, as represented by the percentage of female, minority or female and minority directors on the boards of directors, and firm financial performance, and to explore the potential determinants of board diversity, using data from the Australian corporate sector.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses the top 500 Australian companies as the initial data‐set. Firm performance measures include return on assets, return on equity and shareholder return. Several control variables are introduced in the regression analysis.FindingsThe results indicate that gender and racial diversity do not have significant influence on performance. It is reported that larger firms tend to have relatively more female members, and smaller firms or firms with larger boards may have more minority directors.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings should not be extrapolated to all firms as the sample is restricted to listed companies. To examine the complete impact of board diversity future research could consider non‐financial performance indicators.Practical implicationsThe analysis shows that greater diversity does not lead to poor performance, which suggests that gender and racial diversity could be achieved without a negative effect on shareholder wealth.Originality/valueIn addition to giving improved evidence on the effect of gender diversity on performance, the paper may be the first study which ascertains whether there is a “business case” for greater minority participation in boardrooms in the Australian context.
The effect of ownership concentration on CEO compensation‐firm performance relationship in New Zealand
Authors: Jiang Haiyan , Habib Ahsan , Smallman Clive 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of ownership concentration on CEO compensation and firm performance relationship in New Zealand.Design/methodology/approachThe paper applies regression analysis to data from New Zealand listed companies from 2001 to 2005.FindingsThe study finds a non‐linear effect of ownership concentration on CEO compensation‐firm performance relationship, that is CEO compensation is negatively (positively) related to firm performance in firms with high (low) concentrated ownership structure respectively.Research limitations/implicationsResults provide evidence for the proposition that ownership concentration at a high level in New Zealand does not constrain excessive management power, but exacerbates agency problems associated with executive pay. A highly concentrated ownership structure provides potential explanation for the misalignment between CEO compensation and firm performance in New Zealand. The positive effect of a low ownership concentration level on CEO compensation‐firm performance relationship suggests that monitoring the efficiency of large shareholders works better at a low ownership concentration level.Originality/valueBy exploring the non‐linear interaction between two governance mechanisms – CEO compensation and ownership concentration – the findings of the study make contributions to the current compensation and ownership literature mainly in two ways: although the non‐linearity between ownership concentration and firm value has attracted extensive research interest, little attention is given to the non‐linear effect of large shareholding on the CEO compensation contract in prior studies; and, in the context of a developed country with a small financial market, there are low regulatory “drag” and virtual absence of a litigation threat to organisations, as in New Zealand. This study suggests concentrated ownership as an underlying explanation for the misalignment between CEO compensation and firm performance.
Education for an accounting profession
Authors: Gaffikin Michael 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper seeks to present an invited response to a paper describing the historical relationship between the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (and its predecessor body) and the universities in New Zealand.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is conceptual and takes the form of a commentary/review of the findings of the principal paper.FindingsThe paper adds to the description in the principal paper and presents additional factors that are necessary in assessing the relationship between the professional body and the university sector.Originality/valueThe paper extends the discussion in the principal paper with some reflection on the nature of professionalism and argues that a broader appreciation of professionalism is necessary to judge the effectiveness of the relationship in question.
The impact of affective conflict on firm performance
Authors: Elbanna Said 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to develop and test an integrative model of the relationship between affective conflict and firm performance considering the control effects of four contextual variables, namely, decision motive, firm size, type of ownership and environmental hostility.Design/methodology/approachThis paper focuses on empirical data gathered from the Egyptian manufacturing sector. The measures of this study enjoy a significant degree of reliability and validity.FindingsThe results suggest that affective conflict is a significant predictor of firm performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe most serious limitation of the study is that data on the study variables are collected from one respondent in each firm. Another important limitation is that different kinds of conflict are not examined in order to explain the different roles which they can play in strategic decision making (SDM).Originality/valueThe paper contributes to knowledge in the area of SDM by developing a richer model of affective conflict in a region, i.e. Africa and the Arab world, where little research can be found.