bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measuring organizational performance and organizational excellence of SMEs – Part 2: an empirical study on SMEs in India
Authors: Antony Job P. , Bhattacharyya Sanghamitra 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically establish an indigenously developed model for measuring organizational performance and organizational excellence, and to examine the relationship between organizational performance and organizational excellence.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a model based on seven variables, at the overall and work unit level, for measuring organizational performance and organizational excellence – tested by using a large sample. A structured questionnaire is developed for collecting data from 407 respondents from 230 organizations. Summated scale average method is used for calculation of organizational performance and a total correlation method is used for the calculation of organizational excellence.FindingsIt is established that organizational performance and organizational excellence could be measured by consolidating performance variables, using two different methods: performance can be measured by averaging the performance variable scores, and excellence can be measured by averaging the correlations of performance variable scores. Based on the study, a new general definition for organizational excellence is proposed, as “the outstanding measure of relationship of all performance variables influencing an organization's functioning”.Practical implicationsThe model, developed and tested for measuring performance and excellence, can be used by small and medium enterprises to evaluate their performance and excellence separately and periodically. The study helps managers to recognize organizational excellence as a measure needing special attention instead of taking it as an outstanding value of organizational performance.Originality/valueThe definition and model developed and tested for measuring excellence can contribute significantly to existing literature on excellence measurement. This will help researchers to study organizational excellence as a separate organizational behavior, instead of limiting it as a terminal value of organizational performance.
A note on probabilistic confidence of the stock market ILS interval forecasts
Authors: Hu Chenyi 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to associate a probabilistic confidence with the stock market interval forecasts obtained with the interval least squares (ILS) algorithm. The term probabilistic confidence in this paper means the probability of a point observation that will fall in the interval forecast.Design/methodology/approachUsing confidence interval as input, annual ILS forecasts of the stock market were made. Then the probability of point observation that fall in the annual forecasts was examined empirically.FindingsWhen using confidence interval as ILS input, the stock market annual interval forecasts may have the same level of confidence as that of the input intervals.Research limitations/implicationsAt the same confidence level, the ILS can produce much better quality forecasts than the traditional ordinary least squares method for the stock market. Although the algorithmic approach can be applied to analyze other datasets, one should examine implications of computational results as always.Practical implicationsResults of this specific paper may be interesting to executive officers, other financial decision makers and to investors.Originality/valueAlthough the ILS algorithm has been recently developed in forecasting the variability of the stock market, this paper presents the first successful attempt in associating a probabilistic confidence with ILS interval forecasts.
Knowledge construction and risk induction/mitigation in dialogical workgroup processes
Authors: Holford W. David 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how knowledge is constructed and risk is induced within the workgroup environment of a large North American aerospace company.Design/methodology/approachBased on an epistemological position on knowledge and risk, an initial conceptual framework is proposed. This is then evaluated and re‐constructed across a qualitative and ethnographic case study approach involving direct observations and interviews, whereby empirical results were interpreted and analysed across discourse analysis.FindingsA dialogical model is proposed describing both verbal and non‐verbal interactions between group members leading towards knowledge complexification on the one hand and risk mitigation on the other hand. Factors leading towards dialogical breakdown and subsequent risk induction are also presented.Research limitations/implicationsThis single case study prevents generalizing the findings across the entire firm in question, and by extension any manner of external validity outside of the firm's context. Additional workgroups/teams within the firm need to be evaluated, while similar studies in other institutions within the knowledge economy are to be envisaged.Practical implicationsWorkgroup managers must nurture an environment conducive towards mutual trust and respect, where individuals are given the time and freedom to express themselves, all the while being open to differing viewpoints and experiences. Coercive dialogue between members should be discouraged. It is proposed that this can be achieved across a parental “safety net” approach.Originality/valueThe paper presents the “how” and “why” of an effective dialogical knowledge constructing process occurring at the interpersonal level, attempts to propose how management can to help achieve this within their organisation, and attempts to bridge the areas of knowledge creation and risk induction at the interpersonal/workgroup level.
The effects of communicative interactions on meaning construction in group situations
Authors: Rose‐Anderssen C. , Baldwin J.S. , Ridgway K. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of communicative interaction on meaning construction in three focus group interviews.Design/methodology/approachWithin the framework of cultural‐historical activity theory, Bakhtin's perspectives of communicative interaction was applied to three interview cases on commercial aerospace supply chains.FindingsThese interactions are found to self‐organise without the control of any single actor. However, interventions by interviewees or the researcher affect the outcome when they create disturbances that go beyond the resilience of the established perspectives of the focus group community. The researcher's intervention or guidance is helpful in opening up reality perspectives of the community.Research limitations/implicationsFocus group interviews may be difficult to control by the researcher. The potential for gathering rich data may, however, out‐weigh that.Originality/valueThe paper illustrates how focus group interviews enhance the richness of data collection compared to other interview methods.
The effect of prompting to students with different learning styles
Authors: Papadopoulos Pantelis M. , Demetriadis Stavros N. , Stamelos Ioannis G. , Tsoukalas Ioannis A. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of question prompts on student learning in relation to their learning styles. The context of the study is technology‐enhanced learning in an ill‐structured domain.Design/methodology/approachThe study conditions were the same for all the students in the four learning style groups. Student learning style was the independent variable, while students' attitudes and task performance were the dependent variables of the study. Pre‐test treatment post‐test method was used. Students studied in a web‐based learning environment during treatment.FindingsThe integration of question prompts as student supporting tool in technology‐enhanced learning environments might not improve learning for all students alike independent of their learning styles.Research limitations/implicationsSmall uneven groups because the researcher has no control over the student distribution across the different learning style profiles.Practical implicationsThe suggestion for designers is to consider combining prompting with other scaffolding methods, in order to effectively support all students independent of their learning styles.Originality/valueThe paper combines learning in ill‐structured domains through cases and a scaffolding method based on question prompts focusing on contextual elements. The results of the study inform the designers of TELEs that although prompting can be generally helpful, parameters such as the students' learning style are able to limit the cognitive benefit emerging from the prompting intervention.
Everyday life as a creative experience in cities
Authors: Maitland Robert 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how overseas visitors experience off‐the‐beaten‐track areas and everyday life in London.Design/methodology/approachInitially scoped through quantitative research using visitor surveys involving some 400 respondents, the study was subsequently developed through qualitative research: 49 semi‐structured interviews with visitors from a wide range of countries.FindingsThese areas offer city visitors opportunities to create their own narratives and experiences of the city, and to build a cultural capital in a convivial relationship with other city users. At the same time, visitors contribute to the discovery of new areas for tourism ‐ and in some sense the creation of new places to visit.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research in other areas of London and in other world tourism cities is needed to develop ideas discussed here.Practical implicationsSubtler forms of tourism marketing are required to develop the potential of areas like those discussed in the paper.Social implicationsSome tourists and residents enjoy a convivial and complementary relationship in area development.Originality/valueThe paper focuses on everyday life as an element in the attraction that cities exert for tourists, and on the visitors' contribution to recreating the city.
Access to housing finance by the urban poor
Authors: Kyessi Alphonce , Furaha Germain 
Published: August 2010

PurposeAny attempt to improve housing quality goes concurrently with improvement of income level and with economic development. The purpose of this paper is to assess the viability of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in financing housing improvement for the urban poor.Design/methodology/approachIn order to understand in great depth the viability of MFIs in housing finance for the urban poor in Tanzania, the case study strategy was applied, with five sub‐cases, which form the smallest unit of analysis.FindingsMost housing financing initiatives carried out by governments and large financial institutions often end up benefiting the high/middle income segment. Administrative procedures, terms and conditions set up by the government and banking institutions exclude the poor due to their low affordability levels. As the poor cannot meet the set stringent conditions; the MFIs that are growing in numbers in Tanzania and other developing countries have been their alternative strategy for housing finance.Research limitations/implicationsClose linkage exists between the housing loans, housing improvement and poverty alleviation among the urban poor in informal housing settlement.Practical implicationsWAT‐SACCOS, a housing MFI, has devised a repayment schedule, which is viable, compatible and affordable for the poor. These types of institutions can be used as intermediaries between large financial institutions, including commercial banks and the poor, to make it easier for the latter to access housing loans. Public‐private and popular partnerships facilitate the availability of financial services for the urban poor.Originality/valueThe paper adds to the literature in that, whilst housing issues should continue to be at the top of development and political agenda, housing MFI assists in ensuring that the poor get access to housing, which is regarded as a poverty reduction asset.
The determinants of gender pay gap in Portuguese private firms
Authors: Manuel Coelho Duarte Carlos , Esperança José P. , Curto José D. , Santos Maria C. , Carapeto Maria 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to investigate the existence of gender segregation and to analyse the determinants of gender income disparity in Portuguese private firms.Design/methodology/approachThe main research instrument is a qualitative and quantitative questionnaire with 3,906 individuals from 75 Portuguese private firms. This paper uses separate multivariate ordered tobit models for men and women.FindingsIt is found that job segregation is one of the major sources of gender inequality in the labour market but does not contribute for a considerable gender pay gap. In fact only scant and nuanced evidence of a negative gap of 2.2 percent against women is found. However, no support for the contention that women are systematically underpaid if they work in occupations where females are predominant is found. When it comes to variable pay, differences between men and women are less significant than with base pay.Practical implicationsThe paper reveals that the under‐representation of women in high‐paying jobs and their over‐representation in low‐paying clerical and service occupations are key in explaining the existence of a glass ceiling. Despite that it appears wage disparity does exist, and that it will probably continue to exist, the results point towards a window of opportunity for women.Originality/valueThe paper shows that with a higher contribution of men in household and childcare activities, women will have more time and opportunity for lobbying activities, which will increase their opportunities for higher career.
Conflict management style in Uganda: a gender perspective
Authors: Manyak Terrell G. , Wasswa Katono Isaac 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to investigate whether differences exist in the conflict management styles exhibited by male and female managers at different organizational levels in Uganda.Design/methodology/approachUsing samples from organizations within Uganda, the paper utilizes the Rahim Organization Conflict Inventory to collect data.FindingsIndependent samplet‐tests of the hypotheses reveal that basically no statistically significant differences exist in the way men and women in Uganda handle conflict when dealing with subordinates, peers, or supervisors.Research limitations/implicationsResearch is restricted to a convenience sample of educated working men and women in the greater Kampala urban area. The findings serve to dispel the widely held myth that women in Uganda use significantly different management styles than men because of the patrilineal nature of the male dominated society.Practical implicationsThe paper shows that Ugandan women exhibit little difference from their male counterparts in how they deal with conflict. They also have much in common with their female counterparts in the developed world in confronting gender based discrimination in the workplace.Social implicationsThe findings of this paper neutralize some of the negative connotations about women in Uganda and may help lead to a protracted campaign to change the attitudes toward women in this patriarchal society.Originality/valueLittle is known in Africa about the conflict management styles of women because they are only now becoming a significant element in the economies of developing countries. This paper fills some of gaps.
Cummins India: brand leadership through service excellence
Authors: Varghese Thomas 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the fact that brand image creation is an elaborate and long‐term activity through consistent strategic initiatives and the importance of understanding customer expectations and delivering them consistently.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based mainly on the information gathered by conducting interviews with executives of the case study company (Cummins India Ltd), field sales and service team members of the company and some important customers.FindingsCummins in India has been the market leader in manufacturing diesel, gas, and dual fuel engines for various industrial purposes such as generating sets, industrial, mining, and marine applications. The case mainly focuses on the generating set market where customers look for a brand which can assure not only a quality product, but also quality service. It covers a series of activities initiated by Cummins India Ltd, that span about two decades to make available spare parts and service support to customers. The case is a description of the history of Cummins India creating an organizational structure with service focus, a culture of service orientation and the systems to ensure service delivery. This corporate brand image has contributed immensely to the success of the company.Originality/valueThe paper is based mostly on primary information gathered through interviews and provides an insight into various initiatives of a successful organization to develop a customer‐focused service strategy.
On the Swarming of Vorticella.
Authors: Fox H. Munro , Newth H. G. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryVorticella campanula and F. chlorostigma periodically form swarms of free‐swimming individuals. All the members of a sessile group leave their stalks at the same time. The resulting swarm is held together by mucus which the free‐swimming animals secrete. After a time the swarmers settle again in groups, and grow new stalks. Swarming is apparently not connected with asexual reproduction or with conjugation. Its cause is unknown.
15. The Breeding Characters of Salmon in Relation to their Size.
Authors: Tchernavin Dr. V. 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARY.The breeding changes in salmon have attracted much attention from scientists and a considerable number of papers have been published on this subject (see Appendix), but the factors upon which the degree of development of these changes depends have not been studied.One of these factors is the size of the breeding fish. The influence of this factor is great, and no clear understanding of the breeding characters is possible without such a study. Apparently all the various changes in the breeding salmon, growth of bones, cartilages, and teeth, changes in scales, thickening of the skin, changes in muscles and in colouring, etc., depend upon the size of the breeding fish.A preliminary study could not detect any difference between a ripe salmon parr (male 87 mm. long) and other parr salmon (with juvenile genitals) of the same age, locality, and size. In a male grilse 532 mm. long the breeding characters are obvious; in a male 1003 mm. long these characters are developed to an extreme degree.The present study is very limited. Only the skulls of salmon were studied from a small series of breeding specimens, eleven males from 532 mm. to 1003 mm. long and six females from 602 mm. to 910 mm. long. (Details of the material are given above.)The results of this study can be thus summarized.
GROWTH, SIZE AND REPRODUCTION IN DAPHNIA (CRUSTACEA: CLADOCERA)*
Authors: GREEN J. 
Published: August 2010

Factors influencing the growth of Daphnia are summarized; it is shown that lack of oxygen inhibits the growth of Daphnia magna.
Synchronization of egg laying by females in samples from natural populations has been found on several occasions.
The pre‐adult growth of Daphnia has been studied by rearing 207 specimens belonging to eight species in standard conditions. The greatest growth increment does not always occur at the end of the adolescent instar; it may occur at the end of the pre‐adolescent instar or more rarely even earlier.
Initial size influences the instar in which maturity is reached; as the initial size increases the animals tend to become mature in earlier instars.
In single samples from natural populations a direct correlation has been found between the size of the females and the number of eggs carried in their brood pouches. This applies to several species of Daphnia and certainother Cladocera (excluding the subfamily Chydorinae).
Synchronous fluctuations in the size of parthenogenetic females and the number of eggs in their brood pouches have been found in a population of D. magna.
Factors influencing the size of eggs and young are analysed. Within a species the following factors are operative: egg number in relation to the size of the mother, the age of the mother, inherited racial or clonal characteristics, available food and temperature.
The size of the ephippial eggs of D. magna varies with the size of the female producing them. The ephippial eggs may be bigger or smaller than the parthenogenetic eggs.
The eggs of thirty‐three species of Cladocera have been measured. The larger species produce eggs which are slightly larger in relation to maternal size than those of the smaller species.
A mature female of D. magna can assimilate enough material during each instar to produce eggs with a dry weight at least equal to that of her body after the eggs have been laid.
The dry weight of the parthenogenetic egg of D. magna diminishes by 16 to 25 per cent during embryonic development.
A NOTE ON THE PYGMY RIGHT WHALE,CAPEREA MARGINATAGRAY
Authors: DAVIES J. L. , GUILER E. R. 
Published: August 2010

Summary.Three Tasmanian strandings of the Pygmy Right Whale are recorded for 1956 and some details of the external appearance of one of these are given. Existing descriptions of the species need some modification and amplification. A table showing the known occurrences of the species, together with locality, date, sex, body length, skull length, authority and present whereabouts is presented and from this information certain suggestions as to the status and habits of the animal are made. The species probably represents an archaic stock which has survived in the Southern Hemisphere with a relic distribution by developing peculiar bottom dwelling habits.