bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A model of stock price adjustment after dividends
Authors: Rosa Borges Maria 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the stock price adjustment after a dividend distribution, allowing for different types of investors and market imperfections, including taxes and transaction costs.Design/methodology/approachAn arbitrage model is developed to determine the possible equilibria for the stock price adjustment, after a dividend distribution. The approach is theoretical, providing general results.FindingsThe model shows that, in the presence of different types of investors, a unique equilibrium only exists in the absence of transaction costs. The allowance for market imperfections, such as taxes and transactions costs, implies that there is not a unique equilibrium for the level of stock price adjustment following a dividend distribution event, but rather there is much possible equilibrium. It is showed that the observation of abnormal trading volume around the dividend event may give us some insights on the identification of which investors are present in the market.Practical implicationsOn future studies of the stock price adjustment after dividend distributions, it should be taken into account that there is no unique equilibrium.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this paper is to show that the existence of taxes and transaction costs precludes the determination of a unique equilibrium point for the stock price adjustment after a dividend distribution.
The fast‐moving world of MEMS technology
Authors: Bogue Robert 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a technical review of silicon micro‐electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology and its applications.Design/methodology/approachFollowing an introduction, the paper describes silicon MEMS fabrication and assembly techniques, considers a selection of commercially important products and their applications and concludes with a brief review of power MEMS research.FindingsSilicon MEMS fabrication technology is derived from techniques used in semiconductor manufacture and has yielded a diverse and ever‐growing range of sensors, actuators and other miniaturised devices that find applications in a multitude of industries.Originality/valueThis paper provides a detailed technical review of MEMS technology and its applications.
Precision assembly systems for medical devices
Authors: Connolly Christine 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the approach and technology of various companies making automated assembly equipment for medical devices.Design/methodology/approachThe structure of the medical device assembly market is introduced, and the expertise and applications of a small company working in the intermediate production market is described. The modular approach of Mikron Assembly Technology is examined in detail. Finally, a company making machines for very high‐volume medical device assembly is considered.FindingsThe development of new medical device products is dependent on many stages of verification and validation, providing niches for assembly machinery builders of very different sizes. Reliability and precision of assembly is vital for the correct operation of the products throughout their lifetime. Testing and inspection stations form an integral part of many assembly lines, to provide a high degree of process security and traceability.Originality/valueThis paper reveals the nature of the medical device market and shows how three different‐sized assembly machinery manufacturers operate in the sector.
The research challenge of French business schools: the case of the Grandes Ecoles
Authors: Thietart Raymond‐Alain 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to cover the emergence, history, and development of French business schools. It is a reflection on organizational tensions, more particularly within the Grandes Ecoles system, that the challenge of research has created following the schools internationalization of the last 20 years.Design/methodology/approachInstitutional theory, social dynamics, and history provide the frame of analysis.FindingsInternationalization of the French business schools context has transformed the rules of the game. Ability to produce international quality publications has become a competitive necessity to attract faculty and students. Research is now a priority to gain international credibility, hire new faculty and perform successfully in the accreditation process. The shift from teaching institutions to international and research‐orientated business schools has created tensions and new challenges that need to be met.Originality/valueThe paper provides an historical account of the French business schools evolution and of their new research imperative. It stresses the governance and strategic issues this new imperative creates.
Never tickle a sleeping bookworm: how readers devour Harry Potter
Authors: Patterson Tony , Brown Stephen 
Published: October 2009

PurposeHarry Potter is one of the world's most remarkable marketing phenomena. The purpose of this paper is to reveal that consumers interact with the Potter brand in a variety of ways, ways that parallel the four archetypal houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.Design/methodology/approachThe paper interrogates Pottermania by means of a longitudinal qualitative study of fans, non‐fans and neutrals.FindingsThe paper finds that, just as pupils at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and wizardly are many and varied, so too Rowling's readers come in several distinctive forms. In keeping with the prototypical characteristics of the Hogwarts houses, four Rowling reading archetypes can be tentatively identified: Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Slytherins.Practical implicationsThis paper shows, contrary to the stereotype, that there is much more to Harry Potter consumers than the long lines of enthusiastic fans standing outside bookstores at midnight.Originality/valueIn a world where brands are narratives and consumers are readers, this paper shows that there are several distinctive modes of “reading a brand” and evaluates their implications for the future of the Harry Potter franchise.
Process efficiency of the enterprise resource planning adoption
Authors: Yan Huang Shaio , Huang Shi‐Ming , Wu Tung‐Hsien , Lin Wen‐kai 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the performance of business processes, operational process efficiency and profitability of enterprise resource planning (ERP) pre‐ and post‐adoption in the long term. The paper also aims to examine the factors of ERP supplier types and firm size in Taiwan.Design/methodology/approachThe paper measures business process (structure capital value added and operational expense ratio), process efficiency (account receivable turnover and inventory turnover) and profitability (continuing operating income and net profit margin) of pre‐ and post‐adoption ERP. First, the overall samples are tested. Second, ERP performances are compared, classified as large, medium and small. Finally, the ERP performances, classified as international and local supplier, are compared using the Wilcoxon rank test.FindingsThe results show that the business process, process efficiency, and profitability increase in the fourth or fifth years. This shows that the benefits of ERP are evident in the long term. Regarding firm size, big firms enhance their business process through process efficiency and financial performance. Medium‐sized firms raise continuing operating income only in the first five years. Small firms show no improvement. The results show that the business process, relating to process efficiency and profitability, demonstrates significant improvements in implementing international ERP vendors. Adversely, firms using local ERP systems have a diminished outcome in overall performance.Practical implicationsThis paper suggests that when companies plan to adopt an ERP system, large firms possess more advantages than medium‐sized or small firms and international ERP vendors are preferable to local systems.Originality/valuePrevious research has rarely compared the results of process reengineering after ERP system implementation. This paper offers insight into ERP adopters in the electronics industry.
An automated syllabus digital library system for higher education in Ireland
Authors: Joorabchi Arash , Mahdi Abdulhussain E. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeWith the significant growth in electronic education materials such as syllabus documents and lecture notes, available on the internet and intranets, there is a need for robust central repositories of such materials to allow both educators and learners to conveniently share, search and access them. The purpose of this paper is to report on the work to develop a national repository for course syllabi in Ireland.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes a prototype syllabus repository system for higher education in Ireland, which has been developed by utilising a number of information extraction and document classification techniques, including a new fully unsupervised document classification method that uses a web search engine for automatic collection of training set for the classification algorithm.FindingsPreliminary experimental results for evaluating the performance of the system and its various units, particularly the information extractor and the classifier, are presented and discussed.Originality/valueIn this paper, three major obstacles associated with creating a large‐scale syllabus repository are identified, and a comprehensive review of published research work related to addressing these problems is provided. Two different types of syllabus documents are identified and describe a rule‐based information extraction system capable of extracting structured information from unstructured syllabus documents is described. Finally, the importance of classifying resources in a syllabus digital library is highlighted, a number of standard education classification schemes are introduced, and the unsupervised automated document classification system, which classifies syllabus documents based on an extended version of the International Standard Classification of Education, is described.
No more room aboard the ark! A UK higher education perspective on space management
Authors: Sharp Steven 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to highlight some of the ways in which UK academic libraries are responding to the increasing space pressures in both their library buildings and their external stores.Design/methodology/approachA survey of academic libraries looks at current practice, with examples taken from the University of Leeds and a number of other UK universities.FindingsThe paper finds that relegation of stock has become a fact of life, and withdrawal is becoming more common. It is clear that the shortage of physical space cannot be solved by institutions in isolation, and that a collective strategy is essential in order to guarantee long‐term sustainable storage of low‐usage material.Originality/valueIt is hoped that the examples discussed can help inform stock management decisions in other institutions that are starting to face storage problems.
Organizational adoption of e‐HRM in Europe
Authors: Strohmeier Stefan , Kabst Rüdiger 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine which factors influence the cross‐national organizational adoption of electronic human resource management (e‐HRM) in Europe.Design/methodology/approachMajor general and contextual influence factors are derived and tested based on a large‐scale survey with a sample of 2,336 organizations in 23 European countries using logistic regression.FindingsThe findings first reveal that e‐HRM is a common practice throughout Europe since two‐thirds of all organizations have already adopted e‐HRM. Major general determinants of e‐HRM adoption are size, work organization, and configuration of HRM. In addition, there are major cross‐national differences in e‐HRM adoption, unexpectedly revealing Eastern post‐communist countries to lead e‐HRM adoption.Research limitations/implicationsAbundance of general and scarcity of contextual factors imply that there should be further important factors of adoption not considered in this paper. Owing to its cross‐sectional character, the paper is not able to reveal findings of convergence or divergence of adoption over time.Practical implicationsHR professionals should be informed about the advanced state of e‐HRM adoption, while some general insights are offered which kind of organizations should take an adoption of e‐HRM into consideration.Originality/valueThis paper is a large‐scale sample‐based evaluation of cross‐national influence factors that drive organizational adoption of e‐HRM in Europe.
Advancement to partnership in public accounting firms in Hong Kong
Authors: Law Philip 
Published: October 2009

PurposeAlthough the prior literature has examined gender in analysing the factors underlying departures from and career progression in public accounting practices, the inconclusive results that have been obtained and the evolution of the situation over time bring about opportunities for further research. The paper reported herein differs significantly from earlier studies in that it uses both qualitative methods and quantitative analysis to explore the underlying factors (including gender) behind advancement to partnership in certified public accountant (CPA) firms in Hong Kong. This paper aims to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachSix variables are identified from the literature and used to develop a survey that is carried out amongst 241 CPAs in Hong Kong. The quantitative data collected are then supplemented by semi‐structured, face‐to‐face interviews with ten partners of CPA firms. Finally, logistic regression is employed to analyse the survey data and examine the associations between the six variables and advancement to partnership in CPA practices.FindingsThe results of this paper refute those of the prior literature that have found “years of service in the firm”, “analytical ability” and “physical appearance” to have an influence on career progression or advancement to partnership in CPA practices. Instead, it is found that “social networking” and the “internal locus of control” have a positive influence on such advancement. Gender also plays a role, with males being the predominate partners of CPA practices in Hong Kong.Originality/valueThe findings of this paper contribute to the accounting literature and enhance the understanding of the factors underlying advancement to partnership in CPA practices in Hong Kong. Future research is recommended to determine whether these findings can be replicated.
Altruism – an alternative value in policy formation and decision making
Authors: Gates Donald , Steane Peter 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose an alternative approach to the decision‐ and policymaking that has been practiced in most developed countries for more than a quarter of a century. Such policies followed, to a greater or lesser degree, the policies adopted in the UK and the USA since the period of the Thatcher and Reagan administrations, respectively. These policies proclaimed the supremacy of the market and downplayed government intervention in the marketplace.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws upon earlier research by the authors as well as upon published works of other researchers.FindingsSelf‐interest governed the way policies are formed and through a process of extreme capitalism financial leaders took ever‐increasing risks for which executives received lucrative incentive salaries. The recent crash suggests a failure in such policies and this paper proposes an alternative way of operating – the way of altruism. Selfishness and egoism are argued as endemic in economic rationalism and extreme capitalism, replacing selflessness that engenders policies more aligned to altruism.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited by the ability to examine all the research literature in the field at greater depth. However, the examination that has been possibly indicated that self‐interest and greed, endemic in extreme capitalism and economic rationalism, have made significant contributions to the recent subprime and global financial crises.Practical implicationsThis paper provides government and corporate policymakers with an understanding of an alternative value – selflessness as aligned to altruism – than the values of selfishness and greed that are endemic in economic rationalism and extreme capitalism guiding policies that led to the global financial crisis.Originality/valueThe paper fulfils an identified need and supports policymakers seeking to achieve just outcomes for all stakeholders across the globe.
Europe: is it ready for free movement of its workforce?
Authors: Floyd David , McManus John 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine what could be achieved through workforce mobility in Europe.Design/methodology/approachThe approach taken is a literature and case review.FindingsFindings indicate that full mobility of a European workforce is largely permitted and tolerated though a complex web of legal policy and constraints which need to be reviewed if full mobility is to be achieved within the European Union (EU).Practical implicationsThe paper draws on integration and trade theory to highlight the issues of mobility within the EU. The paper may prove useful to policy makers and researchers.Originality/valueThis paper allows researchers to gain an understanding of the issues in workforce mobility within the EU and build a conceptual portrait of the challenges faced by policy makers.
Pricing the lease during the contract: an in‐progress approach to lease evaluation
Authors: Carretta Alessandro , Nicolini Gianni 
Published: October 2009

PurposeLeasing evaluation is a subject that has drawn significant interest in economic circles for many years. The numerous models proposed in the literature have approached the topic from a variety of outlooks and approaches. The contributions made to date, however, all share what would appear to be an unwritten premise: namely, that leasing evaluation logically occurs prior to the start of the leasing relationship. The purpose of this paper is to eliminate this premise, in order to take an in‐progress approach to the evaluation of leasing.Design/methodology/approachThe evaluation approach is based on a model that takes into account both the real factors (the market value of the asset) and the financial aspects of the lease (interest rates on the market). The leasing price is arrived at by taking the sum of: the advantage offered by the leasing, as compared to potential purchase of the asset on the spot market; and the added yield provided by the leasing, as compared to alternative investments.FindingsThe paper finds that an in‐progress approach allows measurement of the value of a leasing even if the lessor and the lessee have already decided to initiate the leasing relationship. This approach is called for when one of the parties (the lessor or the lessee) is replaced, as well as in cases where pathological situations lead to the interruption of the relationship, plus instances where it is necessary to carry out estimates for accounting purposes. The need to evaluate the leasing in terms of its different components (real and financial) also emerges from the instructions contained in the IAS17 regarding leasing.Originality/valueThe contribution of the work to the leasing evaluation theme can be identified in a different perspective that can be useful both in a financial point of view and in an accounting one.
Lessors' recovery risk management capability
Authors: De Laurentis Giacomo , Mattei Jacopo 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to verify recovery risk management capabilities by lessors. It tests several hypotheses and finds out interesting specific results for lessors.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is empirical: two different database of leasing contracts are analysed with econometric methodologies.FindingsThere is clear evidence that: lessors are ex ante able to balance the probability of default and the loss given default case by case, using proper contract structures; and they carefully manage recovery procedures and strategies according to operations' characteristics.Research limitations/implicationsThe data used are large enough, but come from institutions concentrated in Italy. Future research could be extended to other relevant countries.Practical implicationsResults presented are verified in leasing companies which made a limited use of rating systems and credit risk model: they have been achieved by the continuous improvements of traditional lending practices. The development of modern reliable systems can enhance risk management capabilities; our findings can help building more structured and advanced credit risk management tools.Originality/valueThe paper adds to the literature in the sense that gives clear evidence of a neglected but important fact of real world credit markets: financial intermediaries have the capability of properly assessing risk components and manage loss given default (LGD) in order to control overall credit risk.
Automatic differentiation for electromagnetic models used in optimization
Authors: Enciu P. , Wurtz F. , Gerbaud L. , Delinchant B. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to illustrate automatic differentiation (AD) as a new technology for the device sizing in electromagnetism by using gradient constrained optimization. Component architecture for the design of engineering systems (CADES) framework, previously described, is presented here with extended features.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is subject to further usage for optimization of AD (also named algorithmic differentiation) which is a powerful technique that computes derivatives of functions described as computer programs in a programming language like C/C++, FORTRAN.FindingsIndeed, analytical modeling is well suited regarding optimization procedure, but the modeling of complex devices needs sometimes numerical formulations. This paper then reviews the concepts implemented in CADES which aim to manage the interactions of analytical and numerical modeling inside of gradient‐based optimization procedure. Finally, the paper shows that AD has no limit for the input program complexity, or gradients accuracy, in the context of constrained optimization of an electromagnetic actuator.Originality/valueAD is employed for a large and complex numerical code computing multidimensional integrals of functions. Thus, the paper intends to prove the AD capabilities in the context of electromagnetic device sizing by means of gradient optimization. The code complexity as also as the implications of AD usage may stand as a good reference for the researchers in this field area.