bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using digital technologies to address Aboriginal adolescents' education
Authors: Pirbhai‐Illich Fatima , Nat Turner K.C. , Austin Theresa Y. 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how digital technologies were introduced in a collaborative literacy intervention to address a population long underserved by traditional schools: the Aboriginals of Canada.Design/methodology/approachSituated within a critical ethnographic project, this paper examines how digital technologies were introduced. The questions focused on: how can critical multiliteracies be used to engage students, in both academic and digital literacies development? In what ways does participation in multimodal media production provide evidence of teachers and students' critical literacy development?FindingsDigital literacies as a part of multiliteracies were developed in teaching contexts where learning is challenged by many factors.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper reports on the achievement and the struggles that remain. Implications for further research and teacher education are also drawn from the experience of implementing a broader definition of literacy in academic settings with Aboriginal students of Canada.Originality/valueThe inclusion of a digital curriculum provides possibilities for greater academic success for marginalized students in both mainstream and alternative schools.
Building information modelling demystified: does it make business sense to adopt BIM?
Authors: Aranda‐Mena Guillermo , Crawford John , Chevez Agustin , Froese Thomas 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to inform project management practice on the business benefits of building information modelling (BIM) adoption.Design/methodology/approachBIM needs to compete against well‐ingrained methods to deliver projects in a fragmented and rather traditional industry. This paper investigates 47 value propositions for the adoption of BIM under a multiple case study investigation carried out in Australia and Hong Kong. The selected case study projects included a range of public (1) and private (4) sector building developments of small and large‐scale. Findings are coded, interpreted and synthesised in order to identify the challenges and business drivers, and the paper focuses mainly on challenges and benefits for architectural and engineering consultants, contractors and steel fabricators. As a condition for the selection criteria all case studies had to be collaborating by sharing BIM data between two or more consultants/stakeholders. As practices cannot afford to ignore BIM, this paper aims to identify those immediate business drivers as to provoke debate amongst the professional and academic community.FindingsShared understanding on business drivers to adopt BIM for managing the design and construction process of building projects raging from small commercial to high‐rise.Originality/valueThe originality of the research reported in this paper is that it breaks from a proliferating series of articles on BIM as industry “aspiration” and as a “marketing” statement. The elicited drivers for BIM underwent industry, academic and peer validation.
New approaches in project performance evaluation techniques
Authors: Bower Douglas C. , Finegan Andrew D. 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe a Doctor of Project Management research study including summary of the literature review, the application of the combination of case study, survey and theory building research methodologies, key research findings and potential areas for future research.Design/methodology/approachThe research investigates the reasons for the limited adoption of earned value management (EVM) as a project performance evaluation technique. It proposes new extensions to this technique that will be beneficial to project management practitioners. The multifaceted research approach incorporates the following elements: a review of previous and current literature on EVM; a survey of project management practitioners on their practices and attitudes towards EVM; analysis of the known challenges of the EVM technique; development of techniques to address and resolve the EVM challenges; consolidation of those techniques into a single framework and implementation model; and validation of that framework and model through multiple methods.FindingsThe research confirms that EVM can be greatly enhanced and simplified though three key initiatives: include the cost assurance (i.e. risk transfer) provided by procurement contracts; measure project achievement and progress on the completion of each phase, rather than monthly; and combine the above into a simplified, single model.Originality/valueThis paper provides practitioners with an insight into how EVM can be enhanced and applied in project management organisations. In particular, the integrated PAVA technique should be particularly useful to projects using the rolling wave approach, as its recognition of phases provides a framework for short‐ and long‐term planning.
Investigating the deployment of project management
Authors: Yatim Faysal , Bredillet Christophe N. , Ruiz Philippe 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a summary description of the doctoral thesis investigating the field of project management (PM) deployment. Researchers will be informed of the current contributions within this topic and of the possible further investigations and researches. The decision makers and practitioners will be aware of a set of tools addressing the PM deployment with new perspectives.Design/methodology/approachResearch undertaken with the thesis is based on quantitative methods using time series statistics (time distance analysis) and comparative and correlation analysis aimed to better define and understand the PM deployment within and between countries or groups.FindingsThe results suggest a project management deployment index (PMDI) to objectively measure the PM deployment based on the concept of certification. A proposed framework to empirically benchmark the PM deployment between countries by integrating the PMDI time series with the two dimensional comparative analysis of Sicherl. The correlation analysis within Hoftsede cultural framework shows the impact of the national culture dimensions on the PM deployment. The forecasting model shows a general continual growth trend of the PM deployment, with continual increase in the time distance between the countries.Research limitations/implicationsThe PM researchers are offered an empirical quantification on which they can construct further investigations and understanding of this phenomenon. The number of possible units that can be studied offers wide possibilities to replicate the thesis work. New researches can be undertaken to investigate further the contribution of other social or economical indicators, or to refine and enrich the definition of the PMDI indicator.Practical implicationsThese results have important implications on the PM deployment approaches. The PMDI measurements and time series comparisons facilitate considerably the measurement and benchmarking between the units (e.g. countries) and against targets, while the readiness setting of the studied unit (in terms of development and cultural levels) impacts the PM deployment within this country.Originality/valueThis paper provides a summary of cutting‐edge research work in the studied field of PM deployment and a link to the published works that researchers can use to help them understand the thesis research as well as how it can be extended.
Islamic finance: regulatory framework – challenges lying ahead
Authors: Alexakis Christos , Tsikouras Alexandros 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the regulatory framework and key regulatory institutions and industry associations in Islamic finance today and highlight areas that merit increased attention.Design/methodology/approachA wide range of bibliography was reviewed, with particular focus on the standards published by the Islamic Financial Services Board and the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions. Regulatory topics of particular interest in the Islamic financial world are reviewed. An overview of the main Islamic regulatory institutions is provided. The paper ends with a set of hypotheses requiring further research.FindingsThe paper finds that the growth of the Islamic finance sector may be impacted by the: increased involvement in Islamic finance by Western regulators, as well as credit rating agencies; existence of sound accounting procedures; increased protection of stakeholders of Islamic Financial Institutions.Originality/valueThis paper provides useful information on the current status of the regulatory framework in Islamic finance and highlights areas for further research for academics and professionals alike.
China's exchange rate policy and fiscal expansion
Authors: McKinnon Ronald I. 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present an overview of China's exchange rate policy and fiscal expansion.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is a reprint of a Financial Times online forum contribution dated 10 February 2009.FindingsThe paper finds that there is a good economic rationale for China's wanting to keep the yuan/dollar rate stable.Originality/valueThis “perspective” piece written by a Professor of Economics is brought to a wider readership via its inclusion in Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies.
Competitiveness changes in China's quality vegetable exports post‐WTO
Authors: Liu Xue , Revell Brian J. 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine patterns of recent change in China's international export trade in high quality fresh‐vegetables between 2002 and 2005 since its WTO membership and some of the underlying determinants that will determine its future export opportunities.Design/methodology/approachA trade‐shares accounting and decomposition approach is adopted which enables the sources of change in China's aggregate export market shares be identified in terms of both structural effects (SEs) through the share‐shifts in world trade of its major trading partners and performance effects (PEs) of changes in China's penetration of individual markets.FindingsChina's underlying comparative advantage in labour‐intensive products such as fresh vegetables is reflected in the positive PE of its increase in share of world trade since WTO membership. There has been an emerging re‐orientation in its trade shares from E Asia to SE Asia, and to further penetration into the Russian Federation and US markets, but little overall evidence of significant enhanced penetration of developed country markets.Research limitations/implicationsThe methodology, whilst identifying the predominant sources of dynamic changes in trade shares, does not explain or model the causes of such developments. However, as such it is useful in focussing attention on where significant changes have taken place and hence where further research into modelling such bi‐lateral or multilateral trade flows would be fruitful. Originality/value – Hitherto competitiveness studies have tended to focus either on aggregate trade flows, or at the broad sectoral level such as agriculture. Those in relation to China have also tended to be of a predictive nature in assessing the potential WTO impact on China's trade and agriculture. This study addresses China's actual trade performance at the product category and individual product level, and examines the strategic implications for China's fresh produce export sector. It also assesses whether the initial expectations of positive gains in exporting fresh vegetables have been realised thus far, and what adjustments in China's global trading patterns have emerged in this sector.
How can China build purchase alliances in the world market of resource commodities?
Authors: Song Yuhua , Li Feng 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study China's strategy of purchasing resource commodities in international markets, what the Chinese government can do to change the current disorderly import system and how China can build purchase alliances to win in international bargaining.Design/methodology/approachA narrative inquiry is used to analyze China's strategy of purchasing resource commodities in international markets, and a game theory model is employed to study different manufacturers’ attitudes toward united negotiation and purchase alliances and the influence of government regulation on their attitude.FindingsThe paper finds that the “paradox of China's great market” in importing resource commodities is due to the constant increase of China's demand and China's disorderly import system. Government regulation will influence manufacturers’ attitudes toward united negotiation and purchase alliances. Purchase alliances may be the only effective strategy that can help China avoid price risk in international markets, because Chinese corporations cannot control foreign mines and the Chinese futures market cannot mature in a limited, short period.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis in the paper lacks sufficient theory and experiences. The game theory model is very simple and is not directly linked with purchase alliances. Owing to literature constraints, there are few foreign experiences about building purchase alliances.Practical implicationsThis paper advises the Chinese government and corporations what to do about the high import price of resource commodities and how to build purchase alliances to win in international bargaining, for example improving import regulations, recomposing the united negotiation group, forming a responsibility system and so on.Originality/valueThe paper forms an integrated agenda for China to build purchase alliances for importing resource commodities, and most policies could be carried out by the Chinese government immediately.
A comparison of distilled spirit consumption patterns in the United Kingdom and the United States
Authors: Meloche Martin S. , Stanton John L. 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show academics and practitioners the practical uses of syndicated data. Toward this end, an analysis of the distilled spirits industry in the USA and the UK is undertaken.Design/methodology/approachThe approach adopted draws on secondary data analysis using syndicated data to draw some preliminary conclusions and uses further analysis to support these conclusions.FindingsThe paper supports the usefulness of syndicated data when used creatively across different studies. It also points out the changing direction of distilled spirit consumption within the USA and the UK.Practical implicationsThis use of syndicated data helps the academic develop a fuller understanding of the key research questions and gives the practitioner a higher degree of confidence in the direction they take and in the future they anticipate.Originality/valueThis paper emphasises the usefulness of syndicated data.
Theoretical analysis of local search strategies to optimize network communication subject to preserving the total number of links
Authors: Mitavskiy Boris , Rowe Jonathan , Cannings Chris 
Published: June 2009

PurposeA variety of phenomena such as world wide web, social or business networks, interactions are modelled by various kinds of networks (such as the scale free or preferential attachment networks). However, due to the model‐specific requirements one may want to rewire the network to optimize the communication among the various nodes while not overloading the number of channels (i.e. preserving the number of edges). The purpose of this paper is to present a formal framework for this problem and to examine a family of local search strategies to cope with it.Design/methodology/approachThis is mostly theoretical work. The authors use rigorous mathematical framework to set‐up the model and then we prove some interesting theorems about it which pertain to various local search algorithms that work by rerouting the network.FindingsThis paper proves that in cases when every pair of nodes is sampled with non‐zero probability then the algorithm is ergodic in the sense that it samples every possible network on the specified set of nodes and having a specified number of edges with nonzero probability. Incidentally, the ergodicity result led to the construction of a class of algorithms for sampling graphs with a specified number of edges over a specified set of nodes uniformly at random and opened some other challenging and important questions for future considerations.Originality/valueThe measure‐theoretic framework presented in the current paper is original and rather general. It allows one to obtain new points of view on the problem.
Meta‐learning approach to gene expression data classification
Authors: Feres de Souza Bruno , Soares Carlos , de Carvalho André C.P.L.F. 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the applicability of meta‐learning to the problem of algorithm recommendation for gene expression data classification.Design/methodology/approachMeta‐learning was used to provide a preference order of machine learning algorithms, based on their expected performances. Two approaches were considered for such: k‐nearest neighbors and support vector machine‐based ranking methods. They were applied to a set of 49 publicly available microarray datasets. The evaluation of the methods followed standard procedures suggested in the meta‐learning literature.FindingsEmpirical evidences show that both ranking methods produce more interesting suggestions for gene expression data classification than the baseline method. Although the rankings are more accurate, a significant difference in the performances of the top classifiers was not observed.Practical implicationsAs the experiments conducted in this paper suggest, the use of meta‐learning approaches can provide an efficient data driven way to select algorithms for gene expression data classification.Originality/valueThis paper reports contributions to the areas of meta‐learning and gene expression data analysis. Regarding the former, it supports the claim that meta‐learning can be suitably applied to problems of a specific domain, expanding its current practice. To the latter, it introduces a cost effective approach to better deal with classification tasks.
GAOC 2008 conference issue: accounting's role in organizational change
Authors: Bell Jan , Hoque Zahirul 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce and review papers incorporated into this special issue of the first biennial conference of the Global Accounting and Organisational Change.Design/methodology/approachA textual analytical approach is adopted to review the selected papers.FindingsA variety of themes emerge from the subject papers, including institutionalisation of organizational and accounting processes, top management and employee support for effective change processes, employee resistance to change, determinants of change, and economies of scale.Practical implicationsFindings reported in this special issue will provide organizational practitioners with better understandings of the effectiveness of the change process.Originality/valueFindings reported here will enhance the theoretical understandings of the adoption and successful implementation of organizational innovations including accounting.
Five easy pieces: a case study of cost management as organizational change
Authors: Ansari Shahid , Bell Jan 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe primary purpose of this paper is to merge two traditions in management accounting change – design theory and action research – to explain findings from a case study of introducing a cost leadership initiative.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is an example of action research in which design theory explains events related to the implementation of a strategic cost leadership initiative at Shell Gabon, a Royal Dutch Shell unit in West Africa.FindingsThe evidence shows that technical accounting changes are, in the final analysis, change management exercises. Implementing change requires thinking as a designer and employing the logic of conjecture rather than scientific deductive or inductive reasoning. Successful implementation requires conjuring an image of a future reality that does not currently exist and making that image persuasive by connecting it with the values of the organizational participants.Research limitations/implicationsThis case study provides five key lessons for future designers of accounting change. Implementers should: understand the mental models of organizational participants; show respect for the cultural values of the organization they are working in; meaningfully engage organizational participants; use structured processes to unfold change; and be ready to seize new opportunities and discard old game plans when necessary. The case study also reveals gaps in existing change management models and behavioural accounting theories.Originality/valueThis paper offers design theory as an alternative way of viewing organizational change and offers criteria for evaluating the use of design as a process and for assessing the value of the implemented change.
Performance management, budgeting, and legitimacy‐based change in educational organisations
Authors: Fowler Carolyn 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to document the types of and any changes in the budgeting and performance management practices of New Zealand primary educational organisations and explain why they occurred using an institutional theory framework. In doing so, it will provide an understanding of past budgeting and performance measurement and reporting practice, as well as consider the policy implications for the contemporary public‐provided primary education system.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a historical archival‐based case study approach.FindingsThe historical evidence suggests that from 1844 until 1859 budgeting and performance management practices in educational organisations changed as the provision and control of education moved from not‐for‐profit community‐based organisations to become a predominantly public function. The budgeting, inspection and performance management practices and changes observed in the primary education providers were directly related to their need to obtain legitimacy and procure resources.Practical implicationsThe detailed information regarding historical budgeting and performance management practices provides rich background material for researchers as well as suggesting that split responsibility and control between the community and government for education creates a tension between the two controlling bodies.Originality/valueThis paper is the first study of internal accounting and performance reporting practices in a mid‐nineteenth century New Zealand education context.