bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Facilities Management Value Map: a conceptual framework
Authors: Anker Jensen Per 
Published: February 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework – the FM Value Map – to understand and explain the different ways in which FM can add value to a core business, and possibly to the surroundings.Design/methodology/approachThe value map has been developed based on inductive reasoning from an analysis of a large number of cases in an explorative empirical study of FM best practice in the Nordic countries of Europe. It has been tested and modified from discussions with practitioners in a Nordic FM project group and aligned with the current European standardisation of taxonomy for FM.FindingsThe FM Value Map was successfully tested in a number of case studies from companies in the five Nordic countries.Research limitations/implicationsThe present version of the FM Value Map is not seen as a final model, but as a result of an initial development. The model should be tested and validated further and also refined.Practical implicationsThe FM Value Map can be used in general to provide a better understanding of the value and contributions of FM, for instance by FM organisations in the dialogue with their customers.Originality/valueThe FM Value Map is a unique conceptual framework, and a comparison with other models shows that it provides the most holistic framework by including the impacts on the surroundings and all relevant stakeholders.
The story is the message: shaping corporate culture
Authors: Marshall John , Adamic Matthew 
Published: February 2010

PurposeWhile all companies hope to create a positive organizational culture, many of the most effective use corporate narratives to communicate company values. The purpose of this article is to identify common techniques used in these organizations and develop a framework for leaders wishing to employ this method.Design/methodology/approachThis article draws heavily on personal interviews conducted with individuals in organizations identified as having effective methods of corporate storytelling. The interview participants ranged from CEOs and other executives to rank‐and‐file employees. In addition, this article conducts a review of relevant literature on the subject and distills a set of key components of effective corporate storytelling.FindingsThis article identifies four distinct characteristics of effective corporate storytelling: purpose, allusion, people, and appeal. Narratives which are told with a particular purpose in mind, which allude to a company's history and role in the market, which are told by the right person to the proper audience, and which contain an inspiring emotional appeal are far more likely to impact corporate culture and employee behavior than those which fall short on any one of these categories.Originality/valueThis article outlines a simple and straightforward framework for corporate storytelling. For both business leaders hoping to use a narrative to enhance or change a company's culture and for those studying effective leadership techniques, this article offers new insights from successful corporate storytellers distilled from personal interviews as well as key ideas from a wide array of existing literature.
Using clickstream data to enhance business‐to‐business web site performance
Authors: Dale Wilson R. 
Published: February 2010

PurposeThis paper is designed to illustrate how clickstream data, collected from a B2B web site and then analyzed using web analytics software, can be used to evaluate and improve B2B web site performance. A number of issues in the application of clickstream data and web analytics software are to be identified and discussed.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach is used to present some of the technical issues in the field of web analytics and to demonstrate their value in B2B web site management. Three field experiments, focusing on incorporating ways to discourage shopping‐cart abandonment and the use of two different free‐shipping promotions, were used as the basic research method for collecting the data. Web traffic conversion funnels are used to conduct the analysis and present the findings.FindingsThe analysis of clickstream data using web analytics procedures serves as a useful tool in the enhancement of a B2B web site by investigating how visitors move through the web site conversion process and complete their purchase. Improved sales result from each of the three field experiments.Research limitations/implicationsResearchers may use the paper as evidence that web analytics methods can be applied successfully in a B2B application for a technology‐oriented company.Practical implicationsThe paper illustrates the use of clickstream data to measure the progression of web site visitors through the conversion process toward purchase.Originality/valueInsight is provided into the usefulness of web analytics as a framework for performance measurement that is used to drive success for B2B web sites.
The road to digital: building unique Afghanistan collections
Authors: Han Yan 
Published: February 2010

PurposeThis paper seeks to discuss a grant‐funded digitization project for unique Afghanistan gray literature. It aims to address the digitization tasks, workflow, challenges, and solutions. Persistent identifiers, file‐naming conventions, page‐naming rules, and a digitization management system are discussed in detail since they were critical to the success of the project.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes the unique requirements of the project, and analyzes difficult issues related to the separation of pre‐digitization and post‐digitization in two remote locations. The approach includes persistent identifiers, file‐naming rules, page‐naming conventions and a digitization management system. After one and a half years of operation, the approach has been effective and efficient.FindingsThe paper analyzes the unique challenges for a long‐distance collaboration on digitization. Pre‐digitization and digital imaging were carried out in Kabul, Afghanistan, with all the physical materials located there, while post‐digitization and quality control were performed in Tucson, Arizona. The paper found that several components such as persistent identifiers, file‐naming conventions, page‐naming rules, and digitization management system were critical to the success of the project.Practical implicationsThe project demonstrates an approach to address a unique digitization project due to the separation of pre‐digitization and post‐digitization. In addition, the approach has served other digitization projects well.Originality/valueThe paper was written for both project managers and technical staff. Project managers can find out the usefulness of a digitization management system and understand digitization issues; while technical staff can find interests in a persistent identifier scheme, file‐naming conventions and page‐naming rules.
Comparison of Chinese and Indian consumers' evaluative criteria when selecting denim jeans
Authors: Jin Byoungho , Yong Park Jin , Sang Ryu Jay 
Published: February 2010

PurposeUS apparel firms have been relatively slow exploring Chinese and Indian apparel markets, despite the countries' tremendous growth potentials. To help US apparel firms successfully enter these promising markets, this study aims to compare evaluative attributes that Chinese and Indian consumers utilize when purchasing denim jeans.Design/methodology/approachData were collected in Shanghai, China and Bangalore, India.FindingsThe results of the study confirmed that Chinese and Indian consumers ranked attributes differently. Chinese consumers placed the highest importance on price, followed by fitting, brand country of origin, quality, and design, whereas Indian consumers placed importance on fitting, brand country of origin, design, price, and quality, in descending order.Research limitations/implicationsCaution needs to be exercised in generalizing the findings since the data for this study were collected from one city in each country. The study tested the idea that the importance of attributes would be different between Chinese and Indian consumers as their cultures and retail development stages differ. This idea was supported in conjoint analysis.Practical implicationsThe findings indicate that a regional approach, assuming that all Asian markets are the same, is inappropriate. Thus, US apparel firms need to pay careful attention to differences in each Asian market.Originality/valueChina and India have been compared frequently in various ways: growth potential, market size, and population. Surprisingly, however, no study has attempted to compare Chinese and Indian consumers' evaluative criteria for apparel products. This is the first empirical study to show the differences between Chinese and Indian consumers in evaluating apparel products.
Organizational trust and knowledge obtaining in industrial clusters
Authors: Niu Kuei‐Hsien 
Published: February 2010

PurposeThis study seeks to initiate an attempt to examine empirically the relationship between a firm's industrial cluster involvement, trust, and knowledge obtaining.Design/methodology/approachA field survey research method was used and data were collected from four international industrial clusters, which consist of 188 company responses. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data.FindingsThe study found that greater involvement in an industrial cluster can enhance a firm's knowledge‐obtaining practices. Further, trust partially mediates the relationship between industrial cluster involvement and knowledge obtaining.Research limitations/implicationsUsing self‐reported data could be a potential limitation of this study. It would be preferable to have other forms of data for study.Practical implicationsThe findings provide business executives as well as policy makers with a new way of thinking in respect of how to develop a firm's competitiveness in today's global economy by obtaining up‐to‐date knowledge through trusting relationships in industrial clusters.Originality/valueThe major contribution of the work is that it is the first attempt to operationalize the “industrial cluster” construct as well as to create a coherent model that logically links industrial clusters, trust, and knowledge obtaining for empirical test.
Linking firm and managers' characteristics to perceived critical success factors for innovative entrepreneurial support
Authors: Pansiri Jaloni , Temtime Zelealem T. 
Published: February 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to examine perceived critical success factors (CSFs) affecting the performance of small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and their relationship with firm characteristics. The paper also seeks to investigate the interdependence relationship among the perceived CSFs themselves using correlation coefficients.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is part of a wider study that was designed to investigate the perceived critical success/failure factors (PCSFs) affecting the development of SMEs. The study is based on a review of the literature, which provided a theoretical understanding of both CSFs and firm characteristics. This theoretical linkage was then tested using primary data that were collected through a two‐page questionnaire survey of 203 SMEs randomly selected from three cities in the Republic of Botswana. Principal component analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation was used to reduce the data. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to test the relationship between firm characteristics and perceived impacts of selected CSFs, and correlations were used to assess the relationships between the CSFs.FindingsThe study identifies ten sets of perceived CSFs affecting the performance of SMEs; statistically significant relationships between the perceived impact of selected CSFs and firm‐specific variables, indicating that the perceived impact of CSFs vary from firm to firm depending on their size, age, industry, and management profile; and statistically significant relationships among the selected CSFs themselves.Research limitations/implicationsThe study relies exclusively on a questionnaire as the data collection instrument, and many respondents were unwilling to participate in the survey. Therefore, it took the authors eight months to collect 203 questionnaires. This forced the authors to make some important changes from the original research proposal.Practical implicationsSME managers and advisors should not deal with CSFs individually, but should adopt an integrated and innovative approach to deal with them collectively. This approach should consider SMEs' uniqueness, given that these CSFs are perceived differently depending on firm characteristics. The paper forwards some research and policy implications for designing SME support and promotional interventions.Originality/valueThe paper uses well‐established and researched CSFs in the SME literature. To this end, the paper's originality and value lie in the investigation of these factors in Botswana. However, the findings are applicable to most SMEs, since they continue to suffer from the same problems worldwide.
When management and customers see eye‐to‐eye: the agreement factor and performance
Authors: Dessì Cinzia , Floris Michela 
Published: February 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to focus on management‐customer relations as a way to understand the competitive advantages of small/medium‐sized family businesses. The aim of this work is to verify whether management perceptions of business strengths and customer perceptions of the same strengths agree, and whether this agreement (perceptive concordance) can become an important factor in maintaining the firm's competitive advantages.Design/methodology/approachThe research is carried out through a single case study with a sample of 120 customers.FindingsThe findings indicate that when management and customers agree on certain business issues, performance benefits. Comparing management's perception of strengths and customers' perceptions of the same strengths allow one to relate what the firm thinks of itself to what the customer sees in it.Practical implicationsThe research offers useful information about the efficiency of the firm's external communications and demonstrates that a shared language between the firm and its customers does exist and is understood by both entities. Moreover, practical implications are related to customers' degree of satisfaction with respect to management beliefs, and to management's opportunity to correct the weaknesses revealed by the agreement factor.Originality/valueThe paper provides a different perspective on how to analyse competitive advantage inside small to medium‐sized family businesses with cases and specific analyses not considered in depth by the family business literature.
Re‐thinking the penetration of capitalism in the Commonwealth of Independent States
Authors: Williams Colin C. 
Published: February 2010

PurposeA persistent and recurring narrative is that capitalism has penetrated ever wider and deeper into all aspects of daily life across the globe. Recently, however, this has started to be challenged by an emergent post‐development body of thought that has displayed the shallowness of commodification in a number of global regions. The aim of this paper is to further contribute to this emergent critique of capitalist hegemony by evaluating the degree to which capitalism has managed to permeate everyday life in the Commonwealth of Independent States.Design/methodology/approachThe findings of a 2001 survey of household economic practices in eight CIS are analysed, namely Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.FindingsThis study reveals a shallow permeation of capitalist practices in the CIS and how an array of non‐capitalist economic practices remain a core integral component of these economies and heavily relied on by households to secure a livelihood.Research limitations/implicationsThis snapshot survey only displays that capitalism is far from hegemonic. It does not show whether there is movement towards greater reliance on the capitalist sphere.Originality/valueThis paper provides further evidence from the CIS to support the emergent post‐development critique of capitalist hegemony and opens up the future of work in this region to alternative possibilities beyond commodification.
Prestige as an indicator of knowledge exchange in the community of school technology coordinators
Authors: Lin Fang‐Ling , Chiou Guey‐Fa 
Published: February 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the sets of relationships, both physical and virtual, on which school technology coordinators (STCs) rely in exchanging problem‐solving knowledge. Using prestige as an indicator of knowledge exchange across school boundaries, a model of relational variables was constructed from social networks to explain the characteristics of personal knowledge exchange in STC communities.Design/methodology/approachThe analytical model designed for this research was based on social network theory. Egocentric interviews were conducted to collect relational data on knowledge exchange among STCs. Path analysis was applied to examine associations among relational variables.FindingsPrestigious STCs engage more in contributing knowledge to online communities of related competency than to STCs at other schools. They do not expend as much effort helping other STCs and only reciprocate within a smaller group from whom they have received advice. Online knowledge contributions have mediation effects for STCs with limited personal networks in becoming prestigious.Originality/valueFew studies have evaluated the sets of relationships on which teachers rely, to solve problems, and few empirical studies have focused on the features of personal knowledge exchange in a loosely coupled community of practice. This study uses prestige rather than job evaluations as an indicator for knowledge‐intensive workers to examine the knowledge‐exchange characteristics and demonstrate applicability to studies of communities of practice. The results also reveal deficiencies of knowledge dissemination in STC communities. These findings are relevant for studies of the information and communication technology practices of other professionals.
Managing sustainability performance through the value‐chain
Authors: Balkau Fritz , Sonnemann Guido 
Published: February 2010

PurposeEnvironmental management has not kept pace with the challenges of globalization. Case studies show that life‐cycle management (LCM) can be an important alternative approach in managing sustainability, performance of products and materials along the value‐chain.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyzes case study models for LCM used in different circumstances. It compares the new forms of governance along the life‐chain, and the coordination of environmental management tools already in widespread use. Strengths and weaknesses are discussed with respect to other CSR methods in current use. The role of life‐cycle assessment (LCA) in prioritizing sustainability issues is highlighted.FindingsBusiness focuses on supply‐chain management to achieve its sustainability goals. Governments give emphasis to communication rather than legislation. Community and NGO pressure on the commodity resource sector has led to important multi‐stakeholder life‐cycle‐management. These approaches are most effective in a cooperative framework.Practical implicationsThe choice of the LCM model depends on the nature of the value‐chain and the sector involved. Companies have made progress in managing longer portions of their value‐chains. However, there is now a need to refine the management instruments used to implement LCM, as many of them were not intended to function at broad levels, for example, globally.Originality/valueMuch attention so far has been given to LCA techniques. The paper looks at management models that can transform LCA into effective action programmes for a higher level of sustainability.
The emancipatory role of information and communication technology
Authors: Shirazi Farid 
Published: February 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of internet filtering, and its impact on marginalized groups including non‐governmental organizations, female activists, ethnic, and religious minorities, the younger generation and the increase of the digital divide in Iran.Design/methodology/approachThe paper raises two main questions: to what extent do information and communications technologies (ICTs) and in particular, the internet, promote freedom of speech, and gender equality in Iran? What is the impact of state censorship and ICT filtering on these activities? To answer these research questions, the author uses narratives of the internet's usage along with a comparison study with other Middle Eastern countries to analyze the impact of ICTs on citizen's freedom of expression.FindingsThe paper argues that restrictions imposed on ICT tools and services by the Government of Iran which has been claimed to protect country's national security against the corruption and immorality imposed by Western countries not only affect the expansion of ICTs negatively but also civil liberties – thus increasing the digital divide internally, regionally, as well as on a global scale.Research limitations/implicationsAlbeit this research is limited to the case study of Iran, the author believes that lessens learned from the Iran's case study can be applied to other Islamic countries and in particular countries located in the Middle East region.Practical implicationsICT tools and services such as the internet and short message service are effective emancipatory media for citizens' participation and mobilization in democratic processes.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the existing knowledge and understanding of the impact of ICTs on freedom and democracy.
An empirical study of entrepreneurial orientation and degree of internationalization of small and medium‐sized Chinese manufacturing enterprises
Authors: Lan Qingxin , Wu Songxu 
Published: February 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a reliable and valid understanding of entrepreneurship and examine the relationships between small and medium‐sized Chinese manufacturing enterprises, the intensity of their entrepreneurial orientation and the degree of their internationalization. In addition, it examines whether entrepreneurial orientation would affect enterprises' internationalization strategies and their success.Design/methodology/approachThe seven‐step procedure for scale development is used and survey data have been utilized to conduct statistical analysis.FindingsThe paper finds that entrepreneurial orientation is positively related to the degree of internationalization, particularly amongst the small and medium‐sized Chinese manufacturing enterprises. The international experiences of enterprises have significant importance and positively affect the degree of their internationalization. In addition, the degree of their success depends greatly on their attitudes towards risk taking, their ability to diversify internationally and successfully compete with those already established in the market.Originality/valueA lot of studies have been conducted on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial orientation. However, few people have ever studied the relation between the degree of entrepreneurial orientation and internationalization. Empirical studies on the correlations between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance are not abundant in China. Furthermore, very few researches on the correlations between entrepreneurial orientation and internationalization have been conducted. The research presented in this paper is intended to bridge this gap. Through empirical analyses of their relationships, this paper shows how entrepreneurial strategies can stimulate competitive advantages and drive forward the international developments of the Chinese enterprises, particularly the small and medium‐sized.