bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
K‐economy in the SAARC integration: a comparative study among the member countries
Authors: Hossain Amzad 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine and compare the indicators of k‐economy to assess whether their status of development helps to improve such indicators in the SAARC. Furthermore, the study also aims to create linkage among the indicators of k‐economy, economic integration process in the SAARC, and the knowledge conversion model.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts comparative analyses of the indicators of k‐economy. Indicators are considered under three tracks such as: socio‐economic, economic and ICT infrastructure. Socio‐economic indicators – poverty index, literacy rate, public expenditure on education, R&D expenditure, enrolment of tertiary education, number of researchers in R&D, participation in international agency. Economic indicators – per‐capita real GDP, real GDP growth rate, share of GDP by sector, structure of trade, inflation and unemployment rate. ICT infrastructure indicators – telephone main lines per 100 people, cellular users per 100 people, broadband per 100 people, and internet users per 100 people. The data are obtained from publications, existing reports and web sites of international organizations.FindingsThe indicators of k‐economy demonstrate deprived developmental status with increasing trends in the SAARC member countries. As a result, SAARC demonstrates poor growth in terms of knowledge development as compared to other economic integrations in Asia such as APT. There is a considerable variation in most of the indicators among the member states as measured by CV (coefficient of variation) although they lay in low‐income county status. The people of the SAARC countries like to adopt with the ICT easily if the opportunity is provided. The study revealed that the countries in the SAARC should carefully follow the knowledge creation, conversion, implementation and reverse follow‐up process to meet specific indicator based needs of the specific sector of particular members considering their social and financial affordability in the local context.Research limitations/implicationsThe study does not use the same year's data for all the indicators applied in this paper due to lack of data availability.Practical implicationsThe findings of this paper will be useful to formulate effective policies to improve the indicators of k‐economy in the SAARC. This will be influential for the SAARC to be a competitive integration.Originality/valueThis study provides comparative empirical evidence of variation in the indicators of k‐economy among the SAARC member countries contribute to improve such indicators. The paper also creates linkage among the indicators of k‐economy, economic integration process in the SAARC, and the knowledge conversion model.
Revealing the role of privilege in free markets, equality‐under‐law and sustainability
Authors: Twomey Teresa M. , Harris Drew L. 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to provide techniques for distinguishing and analyzing privileges. With privileges revealed and categorized, the article provides an analysis of the impact different kinds of privileges have on free markets, equality‐under‐the‐law, and environmental sustainability. From this analysis arise recommendations for public policy aimed at improving efficiency and equality‐of‐opportunity in markets while encouraging more environmentally sustainable corporate behavior.Design/methodology/approachThe article calls upon a technique from sociology (“unpacking a knapsack”) to begin this exploration of privilege. It then uses the Harris‐Twomey typology to categorize various kinds of privilege and analyze their impact on free markets, equality‐under‐the‐law, and sustainability. The article uses examples to illustrate the importance of understanding the impact of privileges in developing effective public policy.FindingsIt is difficult to distinguish otherwise “invisible” privileges; having methods for identifying and categorizing privileges make them more visible. Second, the illustrative examples and accompanying analysis suggest that reducing the number of privileges granted by the state, especially those that are economically inefficient, will improve performance and equity across an economy. Where privileges are necessary for efficient resource use or market development, the state would improve efficiency and equality by charging fees equal to the opportunity costs borne by others or the cost imposed on others by the privilege‐holder.Practical implicationsUsing the techniques of analysis and following guidelines for public policies consistent with the principles explored here would be likely to improve access to and efficiency of free markets (making them more “free”), create a more level playing field (greater equality under the law) and diminish the negative environmental impacts of corporate activity by changing the incentive systems that currently encourage monopolistic tendencies in markets, concentration of power, and transference of environmental costs from corporations to the public.Originality/valueThis paper combines analytic techniques from Sociology, Economics, and Management to gain a fresh perspective on the existence and impact of privileges on markets, society, and the environment. This fresh perspective reconciles tensions between equality and efficiency and provides guidelines for effective public policies.
Exploring the logics of corporate brand identity formation
Authors: Blombäck Anna , Ramírez‐Pasillas Marcela 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore and analyze the logics at work when companies decide what corporate features to communicate; which eventually also accounts for their corporate brands' identities.Design/methodology/approachAs a case in point, the paper focuses on the concept of “family business” and investigates the rationale among companies to make particular reference to being such a company on their web sites – a decision the authors interpret as part of the corporate brand identity formation. Interviews are carried out with 14 CEOs in 12 small and medium‐sized family enterprises in a Swedish context. The paper employs a discourse analysis to distinguish patterns of corporate feature selection.FindingsThe results highlight how decisions that define corporate brand identity are not necessarily a consequence of rigorous marketing planning, but are sometimes made without concern for marketing matters. Three logics for the selection and formation of corporate brand identity features are identified: the habit, organic and intended logics. On account of these findings, a three logics model of corporate brand identity formation is developed, proposing differences between intuitive, emergent and strategic processes. In the intuitive process, managers construct brand identity based on tradition, instinctive beliefs and self‐perception. In the emergent process, the decision surfaces from active interplay between self‐perception among managers and the company's identity. In the strategic process, the decision is a product of an explicit brand strategy with focus on corporate communications.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample size is small. No large firms are included. The paper focuses on one corporate feature, namely, being a family business.Originality/valueResearch on corporate brand identity is still largely conceptual. Drawing on empirical findings, this paper contributes to available theory and to practical insight.
Identity, image and stakeholder dialogue
Authors: Kantanen Helena 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to focus on how corporate and regional identity and image build a framework for stakeholder dialogue in higher education institutions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on literature related to corporate identity and image. The approach is qualitative and the data consist of strategic documents and 23 focused interviews conducted with university and stakeholder representatives in three Finnish cities.FindingsThe paper outlines how corporate and regional identities are perceived by university managers and universities' local stakeholders. It claims that the identity and image of the university and the region concerned are among the central determinants of stakeholder interaction.Practical implicationsThe paper shows that identity and image are central phenomena to manage communication in higher education institutions. It emphasises that when merging institutions, valuable assets such as the history with local stakeholders may be at risk.Originality/valueThere is information on how university identity and image are formed through research merits and education, but very little knowledge on how they are formed through the so‐called third strand, regional service. The paper sheds light on this question.
Visual priming of pharmaceutical advertising disclosures: effects of a motivation factor
Authors: Wang Alex 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThis study seeks to examine how consumers perceive a pharmaceutical company's advertisement through visual priming of the disclosure featured in the advertisement.Design/methodology/approachAn online study with a convenience sample consisting of college students is used to examine the effects of a visually primed pharmaceutical advertising disclosure on attitude toward responsible advertising practice, trust toward the advertisement and attitude toward the advertisement.FindingsThe results reveal that consumers form better attitudes toward responsible advertising practice and higher levels of trust toward the advertisement when the disclosure is visually primed in the advertisement. However, visual priming of the disclosure may not enhance consumers' attitudes toward the advertisement. Further evidence indicates that allergy status, a motivation factor, has the main effect on attitude toward the advertisement. When consumers have allergies, they tend to form better attitudes toward the advertisement.Research limitations/implicationsDespite the inherent limitations of this study that have to be confirmed in future research, this study suggests that visual priming of advertising disclosure may enhance consumers' attitudes toward advertising practice and trust toward the advertisement. However, consumers' attitudes toward the advertisement are enhanced directly by personal relevance to the advertisement instead of visual priming.Practical implicationsBased on the results of this study, the study provides a more realistic and socially responsible advertising disclosure practice for attracting consumer attention and processing toward pharmaceutical advertising.Originality/valueThis paper adds value to the existing literature on corporate social responsibility and promotes the effective management of socially responsible business through two main approaches: adopting visual priming of pharmaceutical advertising disclosure; and implementing more responsible pharmaceutical advertising practices.
Availability and security of blood results to new Foundation 1 doctors: closing the audit loop
Authors: O'Brien David , Pengelly Steven , Lambert Anthony 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThis study aims to quantify the provision of blood result logons to new Foundation 1 (F1) doctors in a large teaching hospital over the course of two years, with the audit used to bring about improvement over this time.Design/methodology/approachNew F1 doctors starting in August 2008 completed a questionnaire assessing their access to blood results and whether they had to resort to using other doctors' passwords. The results were fed back to stakeholders involved in F1 induction, and new F1s were audited again in August 2009.FindingsOn starting the job in 2008, 25 per cent of new F1s had pathology result logons and this rose to 78 per cent at eight weeks. None of the audit targets were met. The results were fed back to the IT department, the medical school and the Human Resources department with the result that in 2009, 90 per cent of the doctors had passwords on starting their jobs, with 100 per cent provision at eight weeks. All of the audit targets were met. Access and security improved considerably from 2008 to 2009.Practical implicationsEase of access to those staff requiring access to patient data is important for patient safety; this has to be balanced against data security. Extra resources may be required to provide secure access to large numbers of staff starting all at the same time.Originality/valueThis study shows the usefulness of audit as a tool for producing improvements in patient safety and data security in large organisations; very little literature has been produced on this topic.
Medical students' knowledge of data protection legislation
Authors: Naughton M. , Callanan I. , Guerandel A. , Malone K. 
Published: January 2012

PurposeMedical confidentiality derives from the Hippocratic Oath and has been affirmed in most codes of professional conduct, including the Irish Medical Council's guide to professional conduct and ethics. The Irish Data Protection Act 1988 and Amendment 2003 bring this responsibility into a legal forum. The aim of this audit is to assess how comprehensively medical tutors/consultants instilled knowledge and appreciation of confidentiality and data protection to medical students in a prominent Dublin University Hospital.Design/methodology/approachBreaches in data protection legislation by final year medical students were identified by means of a questionnaire. Changes were made to the curriculum (presentations, notices on students' e‐learning interface and induction manual) and to the exams in psychiatry, to increase awareness of data protection legislation. Students at the same point in their education were re‐assessed one year later to see if the interventions were helpful in increasing knowledge and improving adherence to data protection legislation.FindingsSignificant breaches of the data protection legislation at baseline and follow up were identified. Examples include: “Data shall be kept for one or more specified, explicit and legitimate purposes” – when asked if they would inform patients that assessments were for submission of a case report, 44 per cent at baseline and 56 per cent at follow‐up said yes. “Appropriate security measures shall be taken against unauthorised access” – 52 per cent password‐protected their computer at baseline and 59 per cent did at follow‐up. Of those that had no password protection at baseline, 70 per cent of their computers were used by others, with little change in this at follow‐up (68 per cent). At baseline 52 per cent kept a copy of reports on USB devices compared to 46 per cent at follow‐up. 26 per cent admitted to losing a USB device in the past. “Data should not be kept longer than is necessary for that purpose” – 63 per cent admitting keeping electronic copies of case reports on their computers following submission at baseline and 64 per cent at follow‐up. “Data should be made anonymous” – 96 per cent at baseline and 100 per cent at follow‐up used initials when submitting case reports to make the data anonymous.Practical implicationsWhat was disappointing was that, while knowledge and awareness of obligations under data protection legislation improved following intervention, breaches in compliance still remained.Originality/valueThis is the first such audit in Ireland on the provision of educational training in the area of data protection legislation to medical students. It is likely that that such breaches by medical students reflect the tip of the iceberg in relation to probable breaches amongst registered healthcare professionals. The challenge now facing the medical profession and healthcare services is to effect behavioural change to improve compliance with data protection legislation.
Restructuring services to reduce waiting times and prevent complications
Authors: Old Oliver J. , Rogers Timothy 
Published: January 2012

PurposeInguinal hernias are a common problem amongst neonates, and a potential source of significant morbidity through incarceration of the hernia. Expedited surgical repair can prevent incarceration and reduce complications. The department at Bristol Children's Hospital aimed to minimise waiting times for surgery thereby reducing incarceration and complication rates. This paper aims to examine how this was done.Design/methodology/approachBristol Children's Hospital provides local and regional (tertiary referral) services. Retrospective audit of waiting times from referral to surgery was performed against the departmental standard of four weeks. Data were collected on frequency of incarceration and any complications. Following service restructure, second cycle audit was performed to assess the impact of change.FindingsFirst cycle audit (n=74) found median waiting time 20 days, (Mean 28.4 days, Range 0‐138 days). A total of 28 per cent of patients waited longer than the target four weeks from referral. Incarceration occurred in 13 per cent of patients awaiting surgery. Two patients (2.7 per cent) experienced complications. Following service restructuring second cycle audit (n=28) found waiting times were significantly reduced (median two days, mean 7.0, p<0.0001). Only 7 per cent of patients waited over four weeks for surgery. There were no incarcerations or complications.Practical implicationsThis study demonstrates a successful model of service for management of neonatal inguinal hernias which could be adopted at children's hospitals throughout the UK.Originality/valueThis study highlights a successful audit process, in which the extent of a problem is quantified and analysed, strategies for improvement are identified and implemented, and second cycle audit confirms the impact of change and an improved service.
Supporting quality improvement in the development of medical guidelines in Austria
Authors: Pferzinger Manfred , Thöni Magdalena , Huber Magdalena , Verena Pferzinger Iris 
Published: January 2012

PurposeUntil today a central register for medical guidelines has not been established in Austria. Hence, the study at hand aims to identify important success factors for medical guidelines in Austria in order to fully support the future activities of organisations developing these guidelines.Design/methodology/approachUsing a specially‐developed questionnaire, 137 potential Austrian guideline developers were asked about the anticipated benefits of a common guideline register and a standardised method for guideline development by means of a complete inventory count for Austria.FindingsApproximately 73 per cent of Austrian guideline developers know of existing online guideline registers. Nearly 77 per cent know neither of an instrument to evaluate the guidelines in a methodical way, nor of the Council of Europe's recommendation. Around 63 per cent expect an improvement in the quality of the guidelines by implementing a standardised method.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study provides the results of the first complete inventory count of guideline developers in Austria and can be used as an orientation for future activities.Practical implicationsThe realisation of the success factors would increase the quality of national guidelines and would boost the implementation of best practices such as evidence‐based‐medicine into the Austrian health care system.Originality/valueThe study shows for the first time the necessity of support in order to improve the quality of Austrian guidelines from the point of view of potential developers.
Addressing healthcare associated infections prevention through a fellowship training program
Authors: Masters Amanda , Birnbaum David 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the initial experiences in a new option of an established fellowship program, which can serve as a model that strengthens the next generation of our workforce for preventing healthcare‐associated infections.Design/methodology/approachHistorical narrative.FindingsThe CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship has a long history of success in producing future leaders for the public health workforce. As it expands into a healthcare‐associated infections option, it is addressing an area new to traditional public health departments. However, this also is an area where public health must be viewed as part of the continuum of healthcare systems, where tomorrow's professionals must be credible in a number of settings (health departments, hospitals, clinics and extended care facilities).Practical implicationsCSTE's first class of HAI Fellows offers a new model for producing the type of professionals necessary for the field of hospital epidemiology and infection control to achieve its full potential.Originality/valueThis is the first published description of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists new Applied Epidemiology Fellowship “HAI” graduating class.
Corporate governance and the timeliness of financial reporting: a comparative study of the People's Republic of China, the USA and the European Union
Authors: McGee Robert W. , Yuan Xiaoli 
Published: January 2012

PurposeTimeliness of financial reporting is one of the attributes of good corporate governance identified by the OECD and World Bank. Shareholders and other stakeholders need information while it is still fresh and the more time that passes between year‐end and disclosure, the more stale the information becomes and the less value it has. This paper aims to examine the timeliness of financial reporting in the People's Republic of China and to compare it to timeliness in the USA and the European Union (EU).Design/methodology/approachThe timeliness of financial reporting was measured by counting the number of days that elapsed between year‐end and the date of the independent auditor's report for Chinese companies listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and a selection of public companies in the USA and EU. Results were then compared to determine whether there was a significant difference. This study also compares timeliness data on the basis of audit firm to determine whether companies audited by one of the Big‐4 firms are more timely in their financial reporting than are companies audited by Chinese audit firms.FindingsThe paper finds that Chinese companies took significantly longer to report financial results than either the EU or US companies. EU companies took significantly longer to report financial results than US companies. The vast majority of Chinese company audits were not conducted by the Big‐4 accounting firms.Practical implicationsCompanies that are not timely in their financial reporting practices find it more difficult to attract capital. Their corporate governance practices are also seen as less than ideal, which has a negative effect on a company's reputation within the financial community. Thus, Chinese companies that are slow in reporting their financial results may suffer negative consequences in terms of reputation and ability to raise capital, all other things being equal.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to compare the timeliness of financial reporting for the People's Republic of China, the USA and the European Union.