bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Road‐mapping the societal transformation potential of social media
Authors: Ahlqvist Toni , Bäck Asta , Heinonen Sirkka , Halonen Minna 
Published: September 2010

PurposeThis paper seeks to discuss the outcomes of a road‐mapping research on social media project completed at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Social media refer to a combination of three elements: content, user communities, and Web 2.0 technologies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper utilizes socio‐technical road‐mapping to study the potential transformations of social media in the virtual and physical spheres.FindingsRoad‐maps were constructed in three thematic areas: society, companies, and local environment. The results were crystallized into five development lines. The first development line is transparency and its increasing role in society. The second development line is the rise of a ubiquitous participatory communication model. The third development is reflexive empowerment citizens. The fourth development line is the duality of personalization/fragmentation vs mass effects/integration. The fifth development line is the new relations of physical and virtual worlds.Originality/valueThe study of social media has been focusing mainly on its technological aspects from the current perspective. This paper forms a future‐oriented perspective to social media in a wider societal context.
Foresight on Taiwan nanotechnology industry in 2020
Authors: Su Hsin‐Ning , Lee Pei‐Chun , Yuan Benjamin J.C. 
Published: September 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to create a vision and obtain a consensus on Taiwan's nanotechnology industry in three dimensions (the 2007 situation, the R&D maturation time, and the 2020 scenario). It then seeks to foster a set of development strategies for Taiwan in 2020.Design/methodology/approachA Delphi‐based foresight study together with an expert discussion meeting has been conducted to obtain a consensus for Taiwan nanotechnology in 2020.FindingsThe paper provides the results of the first Delphi‐based survey on Taiwan nanotechnology development. The Nano Bio Medicine domain has greater maturity; the maturation time of most techniques will be 2010‐2015; Nanocomposite Material Technique, Nano Optoelectronic and Optical Communication, and Nano Storage show relatively high competitiveness. Self‐R&D and Technology introduced from overseas are the major development methods in 2020.Practical implicationsThe paper is of interest to foresight practitioners and policy makers at the industrial and government levels in Taiwan.Originality/valueThe paper is the first publication to identify Taiwan's 2020 nanotechnology development by Delphi‐based foresight investigation.
Future strategy for reducing violence against women: the Italian experience
Authors: Di Zio Simone 
Published: September 2010

PurposeThis paper proposes the use of martial arts as a means to combat aggressiveness and, at the same time, to provide a concrete and preventive answer to the problem of violence against women.Design/methodology/approachThe paper suggests the teaching of martial arts in school for both sexes, with a double positive effect: the reduction of the tendency to violence for boys and an increase in the defensive potential for girls. In both cases, looking to the long term, these synergistic effects could contribute to a reduction in violence against women.FindingsThe paper describes the Italian experience in teaching karate and judo at school. The Italian federation of judo, karate, fight and martial arts (FIJLKAM) was one of the first sports federations to have obtained the approval of a project for teaching its disciplines in schools. Thus, a lot of clubs of martial arts have been entering primary and secondary schools and they are teaching martial arts to children between 5 and 14 years old. During the school year 2008/2009 there were: 400 sports clubs implementing the project; 500 schools involved; 60.000 students participating.Research limitations/implicationsIn the paper two important points are proposed in order to achieve the goal: the obligatory inclusion of martial arts in school education programs by the government; and a scientific monitoring of the effects of these programs on the improvement of pupils' school performances and on the reduction of violence among boys.Practical implicationsIn many cases some parents and school administrators still think that including martial arts in school programs may lead to incidents and instigating violence. But, the Italian experience shows that after the implementation of right projects in the schools, both parents and school administrators radically change their opinions on martial arts. Most cases have shown that after the first year just the parents who were initially dubious about the project ask the school for the reactivation of similar projects for the following years.Originality/valueThe paper identified a long‐term strategy to combat the problem of violence against women.
The implementation paradox: intellectual property regulation in the Arab world
Authors: El Said Mohammed 
Published: September 2010

PurposeAlthough a large number of Arab countries are members of the World Trade Organisation and the Agreement on Trade‐Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, most of these countries were unable to structure a national intellectual property protection regime which takes into consideration their development plans. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the history of Arab countries' participation in multilateral trade and intellectual property negotiations and calls for the maximum utilisation by these countries of the intellectual property policy space available to them under international law.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws from the texts of international agreements and from the available literature on intellectual property. The paper also makes use of various international reports and studies on intellectual property and development.FindingsThe paper argues that due to the minimal participation and involvement by Arab countries in international trade and intellectual property negotiations, officials in these countries lacked deep knowledge and understanding about the technical and legal issues engulfing the regulation and implementation of intellectual property. The paper finds that those countries mostly active in negotiations were more able to capitalise on the system and to benefit from the available policy space in terms of national development. Finally, the paper provides recommendations aimed towards enhancing the policy space and utilising intellectual property for development purposes.Originality/valueThese findings are important for policy makers, officials and those interested in understanding the relation between intellectual property protection and development and how developing and Arab countries would be able to maximize the benefits from the international protection regime.
International business ethics
Authors: Tran Ben 
Published: September 2010

PurposeWhile international corporate unethical behaviors seem to permeate uncontrollably, it is nevertheless, not an incurable dilemma. The paper aims to address the key steps in achieving such governance: chief ethics officer, tone‐at‐the‐top, and whistle‐blower hotlines. With that said, this paper will also address the value of unethical behavior, both from a macro and a micro perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses an archival literature review to date on international corporate governance, and its challenges to achieve international corporate ethics compliance governance are analysed.FindingsOne of the greatest challenges for international corporations is establishing a setup that involves more than the board of directors and senior management, but every employee within the corporation. A key compliance challenge is creating an international corporate culture that tolerates and encourages employees to come forward and report improper conduct.Originality/valueInternational corporate unethical behaviors are not myths, should not remain taboo, and should be addressed immediately, for it is not an incurable dilemma. Those who do not learn from one's corporate unethical behaviors are deemed to repeat it. Those who do not learn from others' corporate unethical behaviors are deemed to commit it. Reputation takes time to establish but takes less time to ruin.
FSA imposes largest ever fine on an individual
Authors: Bremner Elisabeth , Subramanian Sumitra 
Published: September 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain the reason for the FSA's largest‐ever fine on an individual, for the FSA's continued emphasis on credible deterrence, and the likelihood of significant fines as a matter of course.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes Simon Eagle's role in a share ramping scheme, the FSA's findings in the Eagle case, and the upward trend in penalties imposed by the FSA in recent years.FindingsThe regulator has shown that it does not shy away from levying swingeing fines on individuals as well as firms, particularly in the case of those deemed not to have co‐operated.Practical implicationsIn light of these developments, both individuals and firms should pay heed to the potentially heavy consequences they face should they fall foul of the rules.Originality/valueThe paper provides practical guidance from experienced securities lawyers.
The new UK Financial Services Act 2010 makes significant reform; if trumped by recently elected coalition government proposals for a new regulatory structure
Authors: Yonge William 
Published: September 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to summarize and explain the recently enacted UK Financial Services Act 2010 (the FS Act) and the coalition government's proposals for a new regulatory structure.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explains the purpose of the FS Act, the statutory objectives of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and the FS Act's provision of the FSA with: an explicit financial stability objective, extensive powers to require information, extended enforcement powers, the power to prohibit or require disclosure of short selling, the duty to require authorized firms to prepare and maintain recovery and resolution plans, the obligation to make remuneration rules and the requirement to establish a new consumer education body. Explains proposals dropped from the FS Bill to secure its enactment during the “wash‐up” process. Summarizes the recently announced coalition government proposals for reform of the UK financial services regulatory structure.FindingsThe FS Act is a legislative response by the predecessor government to the causes of the global financial crisis, delivering significant reforms that seek to enhance financial regulation. The FS Act mainly amends the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the FSMA) in order to give the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) new objectives and duties and extend its powers variously. The recently elected coalition government has announced proposals for a new regulatory structure likely to take effect in 2012.Originality/valueThe paper provides practical guidance from experienced securities lawyers.
The influence of corporate image, relationship marketing, and trust on purchase intention: the moderating effects of word‐of‐mouth
Authors: Lin Long‐Yi , Lu Ching‐Yuh 
Published: September 2010

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of corporate image and relationship marketing on trust, the impact of trust on consumer purchase intention, and the moderating effects of word‐of‐mouth between the influence of trust on consumer purchase intention.Design/methodology/approachConsumers of an online travel agency in Taiwan aged over 18 were taken as the research sample. Primary data were collected through convenience sampling. Regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe main findings are: corporate image has a significantly positive influence on trust, and commodity image has the most significant influence on trust, followed by functional image and institution image; structural and financial relationship marketing has significantly positive influence on trust, and structural relationship marketing has greater influence on trust compared with financial relationship marketing; trust has a significantly positive influence on consumer purchase intention; and positive word‐of‐mouth has a moderating effect between the influences of trust on consumer purchase intention.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of this study include: the data obtained in this study only reflected the correlations and cause and effect among the variables studied during a specific period of time; this paper only focused on tour agencies; consumers who used only the most popular online tour agencies were selected. Therefore, the samples might involve some bias. The implications of this study include: different types of corporate image will have different levels of influence on consumer trust. There is a need to support the previous study that relationship marketing has a significantly positive influence on consumer trust. The moderating effects of positive word‐of‐mouth between the influences of trust on consumer purchase intention must be examined. The influence of trust on purchase intention must be considered.Practical implicationsThe study findings reveal the need and importance for a company to improve corporate image continuously. The study indicates the need to emphasize the use of critical relationship marketing and to realize the nature and importance of the moderating effect of word‐of‐mouth.Originality/valueThe value of this study is combined theory and practical and finding four management implications and three practical implications.
A meta‐analysis of hotel performance. Continental or worldwide style?
Authors: Sainaghi Ruggero 
Published: September 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to look at the focal points of “research styles” which emerge from segmenting previous studies above all on the (continental) geographic basis of the empirical evidence employed and in particular according to their European, American or Asiatic origin. These three areas account for 88 percent of the articles identified. Geographic importance is primarily related to contextual differences and consequently to diverse research designs, in terms both of the dependent and independent variables used.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes a meta‐analysis of the literature. The databases for the observations proposed are made up of the main studies published in international journals in the last 20 years dealing with hospitality management, tourism and service management, despite having strategic management or special business functions as their focus, and using the hotel industry as their empirical basis. Bibliographical research made it possible to identify 180 articles.FindingsThe findings confirm the relevance of context in order to understand the research streams. 88 percent of the papers use evidence drawn from European (37 percent), Asian (32 percent), and North and Central American (19 percent) countries; five nations were taken as the basis for 67 percent of the articles examined. The present paper shows the strong link existing between the type of evidence used, research design (sample, kind of data, number of years), the choice of dependent and independent variables, thereby identifying three different research styles: European, American and Asiatic.Originality/valueThe conclusions show the strong influence which the source of evidence brings to bear on research design and hence on the factors characterizing the choice of dependent and independent variables. The conclusions also describe some evolutionary lines in the research which might reveal new perspectives in the studies of performance determinants.
Identifying future challenges for productivity research: evidence from Finland
Authors: Käpylä Jonna , Jääskeläinen Aki , Lönnqvist Antti 
Published: September 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to identify future challenges for productivity research.Design/methodology/approachThe research was explorative and qualitative by nature. It was carried out using two approaches: literature review and empirical analysis based on 38 interviews. All the interviewees were well‐known Finnish productivity experts, including both practitioners and academics. Literature review included a systematic examination of a selected set of international productivity articles, Finnish doctoral dissertations, research reports and studies related to productivity projects.FindingsThe paper offers a view of the current status of the productivity research field, especially from the Finnish perspective. The key productivity challenges as well as research themes and questions, which were seen relevant in the light of these challenges, are presented. In addition, some recommendations for how to go forward in the productivity research are brought out.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is limited to a Finnish point of view, and further research is needed to examine whether these findings apply also to other countries. There is a vast amount of existing productivity research available and, for practical reasons, the literature review focuses only on selected materials.Practical implicationsBy bringing out productivity‐related opportunities and challenges, the paper creates understanding about the applicable means to improve productivity in the future.Originality/valueThe paper helps researchers to develop productivity research forwards to grab at future opportunities and challenges.
Training design and transfer: contributions of Six Sigma
Authors: Chow Alan F. , Gillespie Finney Treena , Woodford Kelly C. 
Published: September 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to bring together the concepts of Six Sigma into the process of training design and training transfer.Design/methodology/approachThe concepts of the paper are supported with an actual example of their application to practice. The industrial example shows where the inclusion of the concepts of Six Sigma can make positive contributions to the design and transfer of training processes.FindingsThe application of the concepts to training design and transfer showed a positive contribution through a more structured process. Including the concepts of Six Sigma within the process of training design and transfer will provide the organization with additional support and structure to improve the overall success of the training design process, and improve the impact and effectiveness of the training itself.Research limitations/implicationsThe single example of application may limit the successfulness of the overall concept to training design overall. Based on the successful application in one industrial training setting, the impression that the concepts will adequately translate to additional applications is favorable.Practical implicationsThe success of the application shown in this paper suggests that further success is likely in other similar industrial applications. Expanding the application to other job training design processes should improve the overall process of training design in other areas and industries.Originality/valueTraining design and transfer are critical components to all areas of an organization that conducts any type of training. Application of these and other improvement methods and tools will improve the overall performance of the training process and the effectiveness of the training.
Total quality management practices and results in food companies
Authors: Psomas Evangelos L. , Fotopoulos Christos V. 
Published: September 2010

PurposeThe paper seeks to focus on the concept of total quality management (TQM) in a specific sector: the food sector. The purpose of this paper is to factorize the TQM concept by analyzing the TQM practices implemented and the results achieved from implementing such practices. It also aims to determine the means by which the quality management results are optimized.Design/methodology/approachA research project was carried out in 92 Greek food companies that were certified to ISO 9001:2000 and ELOT 1416 standard (hazard analysis critical control points, HACCP system certification). The data collection method used in this study was that of the questionnaire. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were applied to assess the reliability and validity of the latent constructs/factors (unobserved variables) of the TQM practices implemented and the respective results. The latent constructs/factors that had significant impact on the results achieved were determined through multiple linear regression analyses.FindingsThe analysis revealed four latent constructs/factors regarding the TQM practices and three latent constructs/factors regarding the results achieved through implementing such practices. According to the findings, a company's quality improvement is equally influenced by the adoption of quality practices by the top management as well as process and data quality management. A company's quality improvement was found to be the factor that primarily contributes to customer satisfaction, while the customer focus is proved to be of secondary significance. Finally, the findings showed that market benefits are derived from customer satisfaction and a company's internal quality improvement.Research limitations/implicationsThe small sample size of the food companies participating in this study, the observed variables that were removed from the analysis for the benefit of the measurement model validity (convergent and discriminant) and finally the subjective character of the data collected are the limitations of the present study. However, these limitations suggest future research orientations.Practical implicationsThe determination of reliable and valid latent constructs/factors of the TQM practices implemented may help food companies to focus their efforts in specific directions, in order to build and implement a robust TQM model. Furthermore, detecting reliable and valid latent constructs/factors of the results achieved through TQM practices implementation may motivate the food companies to strengthen their efforts in broadening their management system towards the TQM philosophy and business excellence. This may help food companies withstand the current business downturn.Originality/valueThe paper describes in a reliable and valid manner a framework that consists of the main pillars of the TQM practices implemented and the results achieved in a specific sector: the food sector.
Performance measurement and intranets: a natural partnership
Authors: Denton D. Keith 
Published: September 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain how the intranet can be used to improve performance measurement and management.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a reflective in nature with a need tool to help managers manage.FindingsThe importance of measuring performance and setting standards is well known. A good performance measurement system helps groups, departments, or organizations communicate their current situation and future needs. Therefore, it is critical to measure the right things and to provide critical real‐time information to decision makers. Today's intranets have the potential solve these issues.Originality/valueThe paper offers insights into how intranets can aid performance measurement.