bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The added value of facility management in the educational environment
Authors: Kok Herman B. , Mobach Mark P. , Omta Onno S.W.F. 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to define the added value of facility management (FM) in general and to develop a typology of facility services based on their added value in the educational environment.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on a literature review and first assesses the different aspects of FM added value. The different variables and relations between the use of facility services and their effects on the educational achievement are then conceptualised and studied.FindingsResearch shows that FM added value is the customer perceived trade‐off between the effects of the use of facility services on the outcome of their processes, its costs and risks. On this basis, a typology of facility services was constructed around their level of fixity and their influence on the learning outcome.Practical implicationsThe typology strongly indicates for FM when to engage in the decision‐making process relating to the educational environment in order to contribute to education. Also the typology is useful for deriving priorities for adjusting the current use situation of facility services to enhance their effectiveness in both a time and financially efficient manner.Originality/valueThis paper operationalises the concept of FM added value and provides several hypotheses and firm recommendations for further research to maximise the contribution of FM. The paper also presents a practical framework for evidenced‐based decision making on the use of facility services in the educational environment. It thus offers opportunities for FM to support the future learning landscape.
An initial approach to the integration of Web 2.0 technologies in the research environment
Authors: Millan Nandy , Bromage Adrian 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe paper comprises an extended discussion of the possibilities that Web 2.0 applications offer to doctoral researchers, and where such applications fit in the early twenty‐first century in the research environment. It explores the main issues associated with their use by doctoral researchers, and how these factors have influenced the design of a series of four information and communication technologies (ICT) development courses.Design/methodology/approachOver 29 Web 2.0 applications were reviewed and grouped into 13 subject categories in terms of how they might support the activities of doctoral researchers. The resulting categories were then themed into four different groups to facilitate the delivery in order to address where and how Web 2.0 applications can enhance doctoral researchers' activities.FindingsFour groups of applications emerged: social networking, online project collaboration, online virtual desks and reusable multi‐media. The four groups were developed into four courses that together comprise a new ICT skills development module intended for doctoral researchers.Social implicationsIn terms of portability, the 13 categories of web‐based applications identified could, when taken together, comprise the infrastructure for a complete research environment that can be accessed anywhere in the world on an internet‐connected PC or laptop. The aim of the module is to enhance the research experience of doctoral researchers by raising awareness of the potential and possibilities associated with using Web 2.0 applications in the research environment.Originality/valueThe paper offers both ICT developers and doctoral researchers insights into the possibilities and problems of using Web 2.0 applications in the process of academic research.
Introducing Backstage – a digital backchannel for large class lectures
Authors: Pohl Alexander , Gehlen‐Baum Vera , Bry François 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to report on the conception of a novel digital backchannel, Backstage, dedicated to large classes, aiming at empowering not only the audience but also the speaker, at promoting the awareness of both audience and speaker, and at promoting an active participation of students in the lecture. In learning settings with a large and typically passive audience, the goal of Backstage is to foster active participation and facilitate collaboration akin to small‐learning groups.Design/methodology/approachThe authors present the concept of a novel kind of digital backchannel that supports different forms of inter‐student communication via short microblog messages, social evaluation, and ranking of messages by the audience. The backchannel further supports immediate concise feedback to the lecturer of selected and aggregated students' opinions, making it possible to strengthen the lecturer's awareness of students' difficulties.FindingsThe concept is the outcome of a joint effort between computer scientists and educational scientists, and unifies technical and usability aspects with educational claims.Originality/valueThe concept combines computer‐mediated communication with elements of social media that not only foster active participation and collaboration among a large and otherwise passive audience, but also provide social means to self‐regulation and management of the backchannel discourse. The design of the backchannel is strongly influenced by findings of educational sciences.
Retesting the CCAPM Euler equations
Authors: Azar Samih 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to reconsider the Euler equation of the Consumption Capital Asset Pricing Model (CCAPM), to derive a regression‐based model to test it, and to present evidence that the model is consistent with reasonable values for the coefficient of relative risk aversion (CRRA). This runs contrary to the findings of the literature on the equity premium puzzle, but is in agreement with the literature that estimates the CRRA for the purpose of computing the social discount rate, and is in line with the research on labor supply. Tests based on General Method of Moments (GMM) for the same sample produce results that are extremely disparate and unstable. The paper aims to check and find support for the robustness of the regression‐based tests. Habit formation models are also to be evaluated with regression‐based and GMM tests. However, the validity of the regression‐based models depends critically on their functional forms.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents empirical evidence that the conventional use of GMM fails because of four pathological features of GMM that are referred to under the general caption of “weak identification”. In addition to GMM, the paper employs linear regression analysis to test the CCAPM, and it is found that the regression residuals follow well‐behaved distributional properties, making valid all statistical inferences, while GMM estimates are highly unstable.FindingsFour unexpected findings are reported. The first is that the regression‐based models are consistent with reasonable values for the CRRA, i.e. estimates that are below 4. The second is that the regression‐based tests are robust, while the GMM‐based tests are not. The third is that regression‐based tests with habit formation depend crucially on the specification of the model. The fourth is that there is evidence that market stock returns are sensitive to both consumption and dividends. The author calls the latter “extra sensitivity of market stock returns”, and it is described as a new puzzle.Originality/valueThe regression‐based models of the CCAPM Euler equation are novel. The comparison between GMM and regression‐based models for the same sample is original. The regression‐based models with habit formation are new. The equity premium puzzle disappears because the estimates of the CRRA are reasonable. But another puzzle is documented, which is the “extra sensitivity of market stock returns” to consumption and dividends together.
Born global acquirers from Indian IT: an exploratory case study
Authors: Varma Sumati 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the phenomenon of the born global firm (BGF) in the Indian context. Specifically, the paper explores firm‐level characteristics (from the Indian IT industry) which act as initiating forces for firms which have made cross‐border acquisitions within five years of incorporation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses inductive reasoning to derive a theoretical framework of analysis, using constructs from the resource‐based view and institutional theory.FindingsThe paper posits that firm resources, personal and network characteristics of its founders, age of the firm and institutional factors act as the initiating factors for a BGF.Originality/valueThis is the first study on the phenomenon of the BGF from India, which is an important emerging market, and has pioneering value, contributing to the growing literature on the topic.
Reducing opportunistic behaviour through a project alliance
Authors: Laan Albertus , Voordijk Hans , Dewulf Geert 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide insights into how a project alliance contract is conducive to the development of cooperative relationships between client and contractor organizations involved in a complex project.Design/methodology/approachA longitudinal case study of a complex construction project was conducted in which the contract was changed at the end of the negotiation period from a design‐build into a project alliance form.FindingsData show that opportunistic behaviour is reduced when there is an incentive structure, as is to be found in project alliances, for client and contractor organizations to cooperatively realize the project. However, it is not sufficient for project partners to agree upon an appropriate incentive structure. For cooperative relationships to develop, they also have to put substantial efforts into reducing their remaining inclinations to make use of opportunities that arise to deviate from the alliance contract.Practical implicationsIt is shown that both principals and contractors not only need to carefully select staff for such projects; they also have to work with the people employed such that appropriate attitudes are reinforced and rewarded. Developing cooperative relationships in project alliances needs the surrounding working methods to offer support.Originality/valueThe longitudinal character of the case study offers exceptional opportunities for studying the dynamics in preventing and overcoming the deteriorating patterns of opportunistic behaviour that organizations regularly face in many traditional and design‐build projects.
Study on entrepreneurial process model for SIFE student team based on Timmons model
Authors: Zeng Fan‐qi , Bu Xiang‐zhi , Su Li 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to find the characteristic of entrepreneurial process for the student in free enterprise (SIFE) team in China, and to provide theoretical guidance for the entrepreneurial process of SIFE student team through a new Timmons model.Design/methodology/approachTaking an entrepreneurial project of Shantou University SIFE team as example, a Timmons model was proposed describing the SIFE student team entrepreneurial process based on the famous entrepreneurial process model established by Jeffry A. Timmons. The application value of the new Timmons model was proved by case analysis.FindingsThe paper summarized the main characteristics of the entrepreneurial model for the SIFE student team as: the nature of creation free enterprises, the excellent entrepreneurship networks, and the spirit of social entrepreneurship orientation. By case study, the paper proved the practical value of the new Timmons model by analysis of the key factors such as business opportunities, resources and entrepreneurial team, and their dynamic balance process.Practical implicationsThe new model proposed in the paper will have theoretical value to provide a direction for student entrepreneurial practice, the analysis of the characteristics of the new model will also enrich the research on entrepreneurship theory.Originality/valueThis paper is the first research on SIFE student entrepreneurial process in China. In the past two years, the authors observed dozens of successful worldwide SIFE students' practical projects, but few of them appeared in the literature. It is hoped that this paper can offer some constructive advice to the entrepreneurial process of the SIFE student team and enrich the theory of general entrepreneurial education.
The major difficulties and countermeasures of current university graduates' entrepreneurship in China
Authors: Qunlian Hong 
Published: September 2011

PurposeCollege students' employment is a significant problem in the process of China's economic development. Owing to the comprehensive effect, entrepreneurship has become the important way to solve the problem of university students' employment. The purpose of this paper is to analyze systematically the main difficulties of university students' entrepreneurship in China and present corresponding policy recommendations.Design/methodology/approachThis paper takes the conceptual analysis approach. Referring to the Nyawali and Fogel model of 1994, the paper constructs the key‐determinant model of China's university students' entrepreneurship and analyzes and explains the situation by adopting existing statistics and survey data about China's university students' entrepreneurship.FindingsAfter the global financial crisis, encouraging university graduates' entrepreneurship to create more employment opportunities has become the key strategy to deal with employment problems for China's government. This paper finds that, although the university students have some advantages, there are still several difficulties for university graduates' entrepreneurship. Effective countermeasures must be taken to strengthen the entrepreneurship capacity by enhancing entrepreneurship education, increasing entrepreneurship opportunities by improving the entrepreneurship environment and raising the entrepreneurship desire by perfecting financing system and then encouraging university graduates to start up businesses actively, so that more college students could become entrepreneurs.Originality/valueThis paper systematically constructs the key‐determinant model of China's university students' entrepreneurship. The policy recommendations for college students' entrepreneurship presented in this paper might be referred to by government to make decisions to improve university students' entrepreneurship support policy and enhance university students' entrepreneurship ability.
Creating a global network of shared service centres for accounting
Authors: Lindvall Jan , Iveroth Einar 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of the practice of IT‐enabled management control change, in particular how IT‐driven change is made possible from a practical perspective in a global context. It does so by investigating the redesign of the telecommunications company Ericsson's global finance and accounting function from an independent structure of numerous national chief financial officer units into one interdependent global network of shared service centres.Design/methodology/approachEricsson's transformation was followed by drawing mainly on interviews and documents. The data were analysed using narrative and temporal bracketing strategies for theorising from process data.FindingsThe paper illustrates how IT‐enabled management control change unfolds as a continuous interaction between a dynamic organisational structure (social dimension) and a less, but still, dynamic IT (material dimension) across time. The study also highlights how such a process is metaphorically similar to the form of a hermeneutic spiral rather than the common perspective of an arrow from the present to the future.Research limitations/implicationsThe focus of the paper is on positive organisational change and how transformation is possible from a strategic and managerial point of view. Hence, less focus is placed on the employee perspective.Practical implicationsThis paper stresses the importance of pre‐understanding, an openness to trials and learning, and a dynami stance towards the moving targets of IT and organisation.Originality/valueThe paper provides rich empirical material. The analysis includes contemporary issues, and the practice of IT‐enabled management control change.
Corporate social responsibility implementation
Authors: Smith Alan D. 
Published: September 2011

PurposeCorporate social responsibility (CSR)‐based strategies have become important concepts in dealing with firms' stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the processes of stakeholder legitimacy and interest detection, namely ethical considerations and community obligations, to promote CSR as an intangible strategic asset.Design/methodology/approachThe two relatively large service‐based firms (contrasting not‐for‐profit with for‐profit) that were selected for study were Pittsburgh‐based, namely the largest single employer of the metropolitan area of Pittsburgh (The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)) and WESCO, a distributor of electrical construction products and electrical and industrial maintenance products and the largest domestic provider of integrated supply services.FindingsIt was found that the management teams at UPMC and WESCO approach CSR‐based strategies and its initiative from completely different perspectives. UPMC functions a not‐for‐profit organization while WESCO is a for‐profit entity. They also approach CSR differently as a result from its geographically based service and product offerings, UPMC being more local/regional and WESCO going for global markets. These differences promote differences in the groups and types of CSR that each company is currently engaged in promoting.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates that both not‐for‐profit and for‐profit entities have a reason to be socially responsible, whether they are local or global firms. The overarching fact is that consumers expect firms to be conscience of the social concerns of the community in which they operate and socially responsible to the various stakeholder groups they serve.
Is saving really prior to investment? Time series and panel evidence in the WAEMU
Authors: Roche Seka Pierre 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThis study aims to re‐examine the direction of causality between investment and saving in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).Design/methodology/approachThe study is empirical, testing for Granger causality between investment and saving as well as for other pertinent variables in the determination of the two variables of interest. It uses two methods: co‐integration and decomposition of variances on the one hand, and dynamic panel on the other.FindingsThe use of recent developments in the treatment and analysis of time series data and the inclusion of relevant variables omitted in prior studies help to shed more light on the contradictory results that exist so far. The empirical result is a proof that saving is a real constraint on investment in the financially moderate economies of the WAEMU.Practical implicationsThe paper encourages own resource mobilisation for economic growth and development. Ideas generated in the study suggest that financial liberalization per se will not work unless enough flow of domestic savings exists in a country.Originality/valueIt is one of the recent attempts to investigate this issue within a group of African countries operating in an economic and monetary union. The strength of the paper is the use of various econometric methods to address the issue.
Limited attention and stock price drift following earnings announcements and 10‐K filings
Authors: You Haifeng , Zhang Xiao‐Jun 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThis study aims to examine whether limited attention leads to the market underreaction to earnings announcement and 10‐K filings.Design/methodology/approachThis is an empirical study involving statistical analysis of a large sample of data, obtained from Compustat, CRSP and Xignite Inc. Both portfolio analysis and multivariate regressions are used in hypotheses testing.FindingsThe following key findings are presented in the paper. First, we show that among large firms, investors under‐react more to the information contained in 10‐K filings than earnings announcements. Second, underreaction to earnings announcements tends to be stronger for small firms than large firms. Third, we find that companies report their earnings and 10‐Ks earlier when there is a higher demand for such information, and document a negative relationship between the degree of underreaction and the timeliness of such information release. Finally, we show that the recent ruling by SEC to accelerate 10‐K filing has little impact on the degree of investors' underreaction to 10‐K information.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study suggest that investors' failure to devote enough attention to an economic event leads to underreaction, and the degree of underreaction is negatively correlated with the amount of investor attention.Practical implicationsInvestors need to periodically reassess the informational contents of economic events, and allocate their attention accordingly, in order to avoid underreaction.Originality/valueThis study analyzes and the roles of limited attention in determining the degree of investor underreaction to earnings announcement and 10‐K filings. The comparison of the two related but distinct financial reporting events yields interesting insights.
Parity and disparity between two Chama oysters: the reproductive biology of the Indo‐Pacific C. pacifica Broderip, invasive to the Mediterranean Sea; and C. savignyi Lamy, indigenous to the Red Sea
Authors: Zurel Dror , Gophna Uri , Benayahu Yehuda 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe Indo‐Pacific oyster Chama pacifica Broderip, 1835 (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Chamidae) is rarely found in the Northern Red Sea reefs of Eilat (Gulf of Aqaba), where it is outnumbered by its indigenous congener, Chama savignyi Lamy, 1921. The influx of Eritrean biota from the Red Sea into the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal has led to the formation of massive Chama oyster beds along the Eastern Mediterranean shore. However, unlike the Northern Red Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean Chama beds are dominated by C. pacifica oysters, whereas C. savignyi is absent from this region. In an attempt to understand this difference in their respective distribution, the reproductive biology of both species was compared. Histological analysis of the male and female gonads, monitored monthly from March 2009 to August 2010 in both regions, revealed a similar reproductive cycle, comprising six stages: onset of gametogenesis, advanced gametogenesis, ripe, ready to spawn, spent and sexual rest. Female gonads demonstrated an additional, seventh stage – restoration, coinciding with inferred spawning of ripe gametes. Both species were found to be dioecious spawners, with a single, annual, temperature‐dependent inferred spawning period. Chama pacifica was found to reproduce efficiently in maximal Mediterranean seawater temperatures not experienced by the Northern Red Sea Chama populations. This study demonstrates the high invasive potential of an oyster species despite its rarity in its source region.