bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of intellectual capital on firm performance: an investigation of Iran insurance companies
Authors: Alipour Mohammad 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of intellectual capital (IC) and its relationship with financial performance of Iran insurance companies during the period 2005‐2007.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 39 insurance companies were selected as the sample. Regression model (partial least squares) has been applied to examine the relationship between IC and companies' return on assets ratio (ROA).FindingsThe results of the research revealed that value added intellectual capital and its components have a significant positive relationship with companies' profitability.Practical implicationsThe VAIC™ method could be an important means for many decision makers to integrate IC in their decision‐making process, which allows insurance companies to benchmark themselves according to the IC efficiencies and develop strategies to enhance their company's performance.Originality/valueThis is the first research, which has used the data on value added recently calculated and published by Iran insurance firms in the “Value Added Scoreboard”.
Distribution channel conflict management: a Brazilian experience
Authors: Sperandio Milan Gabriel , Dorion Eric , da Rosa Matos José Alberto 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the mechanisms adopted by the distribution channel of a leading Brazilian truck manufacturing company, which generates various conflicts that have a negative impact on the performance of the channel operations, with a focus on the conflict causes. The study aims to expand the domain of distribution channel conflict management as a benchmark activity by exploring the potential sources of conflict occurring in a major Brazilian distribution channel.Design/methodology/approachThe research method is exploratory, using a case study from a major company of the automotive sector of Serra Gaúcha, Brazil. The distribution processes are analyzed in a real and specific context, implemented by means of individual, in‐depth interviews, with the application of a basic script of questions.FindingsThe findings indicate the existence of seven potential sources of conflict and 23 conflicting issues, considered relevant and of negative impact on the distribution channel performance of the manufacturing company.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample cannot be considered as representative but it is, to a certain point, reliable because it refers to one entity only.Practical implicationsThe results of this research can serve as indicators for managers of a company to invest time and the necessary resources for the maintenance and consolidation of the relationships with its dealerships.Originality/valueThe present work shows its originality through the study of consumers' preference for determined products and services as a conflict management basis for Brazilian national distribution channels' stakeholders. In this context, a distribution channel conflict case study may constitute an important empirical source of data for a benchmark strategy.
A combined application of structural equation modeling (SEM) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in supplier selection
Authors: Punniyamoorty Murugesan , Mathiyalagan Ponnusamy , Lakshmi Ganesan 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a new composite model using structural equation modelling (SEM) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for the selection of suppliers.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper the authors have made an attempt to arrive at the supplier selection score using SEM and AHP. An attempt has been made to develop a new composite model using SEM and AHP technique, based on the survey of 151 respondents. Attributes' weightage are found out using cluster analysis.FindingsBased on the output from the composite model, cluster analysis has been carried out to find out the strengths and weakness of each supplier on the influencing factors. Based on these findings, the supplier can improve on factors where they lag and can maintain the factors where they excel.Originality/valueIn this paper the authors have made an attempt to arrive at the supplier selection score using SEM and AHP.
Benchmarking of marine bunker fuel suppliers: the good, the bad, the ugly
Authors: Jørgen Anfindsen Ole , Løvoll Grunde , Mestl Thomas 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to construct a realistic best practice benchmark and develop a methodology for comparison of individual suppliers of marine bunker fuel. As is well‐known in this trade, unfair business behaviors in the bunker fuel market are not uncommon, resulting in financial losses for the buyers.Design/methodology/approachEstablishing a best practice will naturally involve some degree of subjectivity as there is not an a priori correct answer to this problem. Using the concept of membership functions from fuzzy set theory, a score can be derived from a best practice benchmark histogram. The main advantages of this method are its relative independence both of sample size and of the underlying distribution, as well as being computationally very efficient.FindingsThe authors' methodology turns out to be more powerful than standard descriptive statistics, as it is less sensitive to outliers and is well suited for small datasets and even single numbers. When applied to data for all suppliers worldwide, it is shown that the number of good suppliers is actually much lower than might be expected.Practical implicationsBunker fuel is a major expense for ship owners, and can easily reach $30 million/year for a single container ship. There is, therefore, a considerable interest in the market for benchmarking of individual fuel suppliers. The authors' methodology is also applicable to other quality‐related fuel parameters.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first attempt to benchmark actors in the marine bunker fuel industry and to quantify their behaviors.
Innovations from the ICT‐based service encounter
Authors: Henten Anders 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for analyzing the dynamics of innovations emanating from ICT‐based service encounters. Many innovations are based on the direct encounter between employees and customers, and the paper aims to extend the analysis of such encounters to ICT‐based encounters.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses and merges different approaches in the existing literature and examines different modes of ICT‐based customer/employee interaction to construct a framework that will help understand how innovations are developed on the basis of a service encounter, which is ICT‐based.FindingsThe implementation of ICT in services contributes greatly to the innovation of services, but in order to better understand innovations in ICT‐based employee/customer interaction, a “service approach” is one of the important ways to move forward.Research limitations/implicationsThe service encounter approach offers a promising research avenue for understanding innovations from the ICT‐based service encounter. However, it needs to be adapted to the ICT‐based context and supplemented with additional approaches especially in the cases of ICT‐based services where the users also are producers.Originality/valueThe paper combines a service innovation approach with a service encounter approach and, furthermore, extends this combination to ICT‐based service encounters.
Mobile content and service delivery platforms: a technology classification model
Authors: Ghezzi Antonio , Nogueira Cortimiglia Marcelo , Balocco Rafaello 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis paper seeks to propose a technology classification model for mobile content and service delivery platforms (MCSDPs), the core of mobile middleware technology providers' (MMTPs) value proposition.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed model is grounded on existing literature and empirical research consisting of 40 in‐depth case studies with MMTPs and 102 semi‐structured interviews with top management from firms operating in the mobile content environment that already own or are interested in purchasing a MCSDP. Theoretical sampling was employed. The quality function deployment (QFD) technique was used to create the final technology classification schema.FindingsThe MCSDP technology classification model has three components: a MCSDP functional architecture, which describes platform structure in terms of its endowment of functionalities and capabilities; a MCSD classification schema, which allows the identification of a set of platform categories classified according to the range of functionalities usually possessed; and a technology classification schema consisting of a set of technology dimensions that directly influence platform efficiency and effectiveness.Practical implicationsThe proposed model can be used for mapping existing and future MCSDP offer in terms of technological strengths and weaknesses and thus support decision‐making by platform vendors and buyers.Originality/valueThe main contribution is the creation of a reference framework capable of rigorously modelling the emergent phenomenon related to the rise of middleware platform providers within the mobile content environment. The paper also contributes to extending the existing QFD literature, since it demonstrates the house of quality tool's usefulness in a new context of application.
CARDI: a model for working across disciplines, sectors and borders
Authors: O'Sullivan Roger 
Published: March 2012

PurposeRecognition of potential for greater all‐Ireland cooperation, pooling of expertise, and sharing of knowledge led to the establishment of the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI) in 2007. This paper seeks to outline the development of CARDI and in particular the delivery of its grants programme as a model for supporting ageing research to work across disciplines, sectors and borders.Design/methodology/approachUsing CARDI as a case study, this paper charts the organisation's development and in particular focuses on the development and learning from its grants programme, established to support ageing research in Ireland, north and south.FindingsCARDI has promoted and helped support the development of a community of researchers on ageing across Ireland via its grants programme, networking events and communication's strategy. There is growing momentum, interest and potential in an all‐Ireland approach to research on ageing and older people.Originality/valueResearch can and must play a vital role in informing future policies and services for our ageing population. This paper explores the development of ageing research in Ireland, illustrating a model for working across disciplines, sectors and borders when supporting and communicating research on ageing in Ireland, north and south, to the benefit of researchers, policy makers and older people.
Exploring community perceptions of the relationship between age and social exclusion in rural areas
Authors: O'Shea Eamon , Walsh Kieran , Scharf Tom 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to explore, for the first time, community perceptions of the relationship between age and social exclusion in rural areas of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.Design/methodology/approachThe paper builds on learning from a previous baseline cross‐border rural ageing study and draws its methodology from a broader ecological multi‐level approach. The research was conducted through focus groups with community stakeholders, which were undertaken in ten communities in different rural settings (village, near‐urban, island, dispersed, and remote) in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.FindingsIn total, four interconnecting thematic areas emerged as important in determining exclusion or inclusion for older people living in rural areas: place, economic circumstances, social provision, and social connectedness. Within these themes, various tipping points emerged as important for pathways into and out of exclusion, most notably local systems of social support and the mindset of older people themselves in relation to participation.Originality/valueThis research lays the foundations for understanding the lived experiences of older people on the island of Ireland and the pathways for their inclusion and exclusion in diverse rural areas, as seen through the lens of community stakeholders.
Older people's views of support services in response to elder abuse in communities across Ireland
Authors: Begley Emer , O'Brien Marita , Carter Anand Janet , Killick Campbell , Taylor Brian 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis paper seeks to present findings from the first all‐Ireland study that consulted older people on their perceptions of interventions and services to support people experiencing abuse.Design/methodology/approachUtilising a grounded theory approach, 58 people aged 65 years and over took part in focus groups across Ireland. Four peer‐researchers were also trained to assist in recruitment, data collection, analysis, and dissemination.FindingsParticipants identified preventative community‐based approaches and peer supports as important mechanisms to support people experiencing, and being at risk of, elder abuse. Choices regarding care provision and housing, as well as opportunities for engagement in community activities where they can discuss issues with others, were identified as ways to prevent abuse.Originality/valueThe development of elder abuse services has traditionally been defined from the perspective of policy makers and professionals. This study looked at the perspective of the end‐users of such services for the first time. The research also gave an active role to older people in the research process. The policy implication of the findings from this research is that enhanced attention and resources should be directed to community activities that enable older people to share their concerns informally thereby gaining confidence to seek more formal interventions when necessary.
Guidelines for nursing homes delivering end‐of‐life care to residents with dementia across the island of Ireland
Authors: Cahill Suzanne , Doran Daphne , Watson Max 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis study aims to contribute to improving quality of life for people with end stage dementia living in residential care settings by investigating the experiences of elderly spouses whose relatives died with end‐stage dementia in nursing homes in both Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI). A second aim is to develop guidelines for nursing home staff for the delivery of quality care to residents with end stage dementia in residential institutions.Design/methodology/approachThis study had two phases. Phase one involved conducting in‐depth qualitative interviews with spouse caregivers whose relatives had died from dementia in long stay care environments. Phase two entailed incorporating the information gathered through the in‐depth interviews into draft guidelines and disseminating these to a multi‐disciplinary group of health service professionals for their critical appraisal and ratification.FindingsFindings showed that the (EoL) care delivered was deemed by most elderly spouses to be of high quality, with person centred, individual, kind, professional care highly valued. Areas of dissatisfaction noted included poor communication, lack of involvement in key decision making, and poor symptoms control.Originality/valueBased on the study's findings, guidelines for the delivery of quality care in long stay residential institutions were developed in consultation with eight health service professionals. The authors hope these guidelines will contribute to improvements in the care of people with dementia at end of life and will form the basis for the future development of policy, practices and procedures.
The balanced scorecard in health care: a multilevel latent variable approach
Authors: Giorgio Lovaglio Pietro , Vittadini Giorgio 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a practical conceptualization of the balanced scorecard (BSC) to describe the mechanism producing creation of monetary value for hospitals in the territorial context of Lombardy region (Italy).Design/methodology/approachThe authors propose a model‐building strategy that assigns key indicators to key performance areas, and identifies causal relationships between key performance areas. Second, the authors utilize a suitable statistical approach to estimate causal relationships among involved latent variables, taking into account the hierarchical structure of data. Utilizing a suitable data decomposition, the causal model is applied separately to the within data (hospitals) and to the between data (local health agencies).FindingsIn the measurement model a new latent construct (medical human capital) was found that resumes the amount of formal training and the performance of surgical staff in hospitals. The estimated causal models reflect the usual directional assumptions, supposed in a typical BSC causal scheme, with some differences. For local health agencies, fruits (financial measures) are strongly related to clinical processes (leaves) for which the medical human capital constitutes its unique trunk. However, for hospitals, fruits (financial measures) are directly linked to clinical processes and Patient Satisfaction.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations of this study are the lack of new independent data to validate the obtained causal structures and the limited number of indicators that reflect the deficiency of available information in regional administrative archives.Originality/valueThe present study may be useful to guide further efforts which attempt to conceptualize BSC in the health sector. As more information can be made available, other performance indicators can prove to be linked with this structure using the same methodology.
Despite the evidence – why are we still not creating more trauma informed mental health services?
Authors: Rose Suzanna , Freeman Chris , Proudlock Simon 
Published: March 2012

PurposeDespite evidence that exposure to traumatic events can be an important antecedent to a range of serious and chronic mental health problems – it appears that within the British National Health Service at least, this is still not fully understood nor acted upon. This paper aims to examine this evidence and asks why these findings have not been fully implemented in terms of updating practice.Design/methodology/approachA literature search was undertaken alongside relevant British DH policy. This resulted in a subsequent policy analysis.FindingsAlthough there have recently been changes in recommendation in clinical practice (e.g. CPA guidance) and policy (No Health without Mental Health) it appears that although some knowledge in this area has been changed into policy, its implementation remains “patchy”.Practical implicationsThis short paper outlines some of the evidence, examines current issues and highlights a possible pathway which might be of value in addressing this.Originality/valueThis short paper highlights traumatic exposure as an important antecedent to a range of mental health issues and highlights ways in which this may be assessed and, where relevant, addressed.
Benefits of choral singing for social and mental wellbeing: qualitative findings from a cross‐national survey of choir members
Authors: Livesey Laetitia , Morrison Ian , Clift Stephen , Camic Paul 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe aim of this study is to explore the benefits of choral singing for mental wellbeing and health as perceived by a cross‐national sample of amateur choral singers.Design/methodology/approachData consisted of written responses to open‐ended questions. These were derived from 169 participants selected from a larger dataset reporting high and low levels of emotional wellbeing on the WHOQOL‐BREF questionnaire. A majority of participants were female and aged over 50. A thematic analysis was followed by a content analysis and Pearson chi square analyses. Comparisons were made between different ages, genders and nationalities and participants with high and low reported emotional wellbeing.FindingsThe analysis revealed multiple themes covering perceived benefits in social, emotional, physical, and cognitive domains. There were no significant differences in frequency of themes across any of the participant sociodemographic and wellbeing categories. The results indicate that benefits of singing may be experienced similarly irrespective of age, gender, nationality or wellbeing status.Research limitations/implicationsImplications for further research include future use of validated instruments to measure outcomes and research into the benefits of singing in other cultures. The results of this study suggest that choral singing could be used to promote mental health and treat mental illness.Originality/valueThis study examines a cross‐national sample which is larger than previous studies in this area. These findings contribute to understanding of the complex and interacting factors which might contribute to wellbeing and health, as well as specific benefits of singing.
Capturing wellbeing at work
Authors: Shephard Valerie , Caan Woody 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to report on a 12‐item measure developed by the authors, which assesses and monitors the wellbeing of employees across an organisation: Wellness at Work (W@W).Design/methodology/approachThe W@W questionnaire for employees was delivered in parallel with a multi‐site survey undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive, during the development of their management standards. This paper reports its testing across a higher education workforce with 552 diverse participants.FindingsThis survey revealed that individuals with low or deteriorating “wellness” gave distinctive responses to questions about their future work, and enabled widespread discussion within the organisation about actions to improve employee wellbeing.Originality/valueW@W is a practical measure for use in workplace settings.