bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Agricultural financial market segments
Authors: Roucan‐Kane Maud , Alexander Corinne , Boehlje Michael D. , Downey Scott W. , Gray Allan W. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeFor agricultural bankers, agribusiness managers, and salespeople, understanding customers and their preferences and behaviors is crucial to success. The two goals of this paper are first to identify today's distinct market segments for financial products for US crop and livestock commercial producers, and second to predict segment membership based on observable characteristics.Design/methodology/approachCluster analysis was used to identify four distinct buyer segments for the purchase of financial products and services by US crop and livestock commercial producers. A multinomial logit model was used to predict segment membership based on demographic, behavioral, and business management factors.FindingsAlthough, traditionally, the financial services industry has segmented the market for commercial producers based primarily on sales/size categories; this research shows that this factor is not a significant predictor of behavior. Instead, this paper proposes a segmentation based on buying behaviors and identify four distinct market segments for financial products and services for US crop and livestock commercial producers: balance, price, convenience, and service. The balance segment being by far the largest segment.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the sample size means is representative of the US ag population, it may or may not be representative of the customers of a regional lender. Readers who are lenders are therefore advised to apply this methodology to their customer database and use the results of the paper as a quality check or benchmarking exercise. The findings also raise a number of issues, which require further research, such as how to implement a targeted marketing plan when there is one dominant segment and two other distinct segments.Practical implicationsLenders need to reconsider their market segmentation methodology.Originality/valueWhile there has been some research on market segments for retail financial markets, apparently there has been no work on market segments for agricultural financial products. This study exploits a unique dataset of 2,575 responses to Purdue's Large Commercial Producer Survey and the 2008 survey is the first time the survey included a series of detailed questions on how producers choose a financial service provider. This paper's findings will benefit agricultural bankers and agribusinesses that offer financing to their customers.
Inequality decomposition of farm family living expenditures and the role of the life cycle
Authors: El‐Osta Hisham S. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to use data from the 2007 Agricultural Resource Management Survey to assess the inequality in the distribution of farm family living expenditures. The impact on inequality of marginal increases in expenditure components with respect to aggregate expenditures is also addressed in the context of the life cycle and under various “equity” weights that reflect the extent to which society is averse to inequality.Design/methodology/approachInequality in the distribution of households' equivalent‐scale total expenditures E and of their K components is measured using the concept of the extended Gini coefficient (GE).FindingsResults show an unequal distribution of total expenditures, with “food including food away from home” and “clothing, personal care products, etc.” as the two expenditure items that are most suitable for either a subsidy or a tax‐hike. No discernable statistical difference is found when the elasticities of expenditures were estimated across two distinct age‐groups and across various levels of “equity” weights.Research limitations/implicationsResearch is based on cross‐sectional data and does not allow for dynamic assessment of expenditure elasticities.Originality/valueThe paper describes the use of an innovative non‐parametric method to estimate expenditure elasticities among farm households.
Factors influencing followers' perception of organisational leaders
Authors: Chong Eric , Wolf Helene 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThis study seeks to confirm the main factors in the followers' perception of leaders and to explore effects of collectivist values, age and work experience on followers' perception of leaders.Design/methodology/approachConfirmatory factor analysis is done for the 32‐item Romance of leadership scale and an exploratory multi‐level research in perceptions of 452 individuals in five cultural groups.FindingsThe study confirms the “influence” and the “interchangeability” of leaders as independent constructs in the followers' perception of leaders. The results indicate: older followers view leadership change more negatively than younger followers; with more work experience followers view the influence of leaders diminishing; differences in perception of followers from collectivist and individualistic cultures were inconclusive.Research limitations/implicationsA large proportion of the sample used in this study were young undergraduates with little work experience and exposure to organisational leadership. A more representative spread of age and work experience in a replication of this study will mean the findings could be generalised.Practical implicationsThe research suggests that inexperienced followers attribute more influence to leaders. With greater exposure at work they are likely to see limitations in their leaders' influence. As followers age they see leadership change as more troublesome for organisational performance. This could create cognitive dissonance among followers who see leaders as having diminishing influence but at the same time being increasingly irreplaceable.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the relatively limited amount of research on followers' perception of leaders. This will assist in understanding the determinants of effective leadership.
Capitalising on ISO 9001 benefits for strategic results
Authors: Rusjan Borut , Alič Milena 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify and classify potential and verified benefits of implementing quality management systems (QMSs) according to ISO 9000 standards.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, mostly articles relating to implementation of the ISO 9000 QMS and its impact on customer satisfaction and business performance.FindingsThe literature adduces possible benefits of the effective implementation of the ISO 9000 QMS and searches for related support in published empirical research. The paper classifies the major identified and empirically verified benefits into four groups in relation to the balanced scorecard (BSC) approach to categorising company objectives. It also relates the potential benefits to specific standard requirements and the pre‐conditions that must be met in the implementation stage of the ISO 9001 in order to attain these benefits.Research limitations/implicationsThis study of the benefits has not focused on the standard releases, so the benefits are not shown separately for each release. Besides, there is less research on the latest releases (from 2000 and 2008) and thus perhaps none of their benefits has been recognised.Practical implicationsBy discussing the standards' requirements and the implementation approaches and circumstances that may impact on the effectiveness of the introduced QMS, such as motives for introducing the QMS and the strategic approach to its implementation, it tries to help management build their QMS so that potential benefits are realised.Originality/valueBy aggregating the outcome of several research papers the paper paints a “big picture” of the business benefits of effectively implementing the ISO 9000 QMS, which could be a step towards further research and help management and practitioners in companies to develop their QMS.
A modified FMEA approach to enhance reliability of lean systems
Authors: Sawhney Rapinder , Subburaman Karthik , Sonntag Christian , Rao Venkateswara Rao Prasanna , Capizzi Clayton 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to encourage the integration of Lean principles with reliability models to sustain Lean efforts on a long‐term basis. It seeks to present a modified FMEA that will allow Lean practitioners to understand and improve the reliability of Lean systems. The modified FMEA approach is developed based on the four critical resources required to sustain Lean systems: personnel, equipment, materials, and schedules.Design/methodology/approachA three‐phased methodology approach is presented to enhance the reliability of Lean systems. The first phase compares actual business and operational conditions with conditions assumed in Lean implementation. The second phase maps potential deviations of business and operational conditions to their root cause. The third phase utilizes a modified Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to prioritize issues that the organization must address.FindingsA literature search shows that practical methodologies to improve the reliability of Lean systems are non‐existent.Research limitations/implicationsThe knowledge database involves many tedious calculations and hence needs to be automated.Originality/valueThe paper has defined Lean system reliability, developed a conceptual model to enhance the Lean system reliability, developed a knowledge base in the form of detailed hierarchical root trees for the four critical resources that support our Lean system reliability, developed a Risk Assessment Value (RAV) based on the concept of effectiveness of detection using Lean controls when Lean designer implements Lean change, developed modified FMEA for the four critical resources.
Through hole plating of printed circuit boards using ultrasonically dispersed copper nanoparticles
Authors: Cobley A.J. , Comeskey D.J. , Paniwnyk L. , Mason T.J. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate if copper nanoparticles could be utilized for two types of through hole plating in printed circuit boards, namely: as a catalytic material to initiate the electroless copper deposition process; and as a “conductive” layer which is coherent and conductive enough to allow “direct” electroplating of the through hole. The employment of nanoparticles means that an effective method of dispersion is required and this paper studies the use of mechanical agitation and ultrasound for this purpose.Design/methodology/approachThe paper utilized drilled, copper clad FR4 laminate. The through holes were functionalized using a commercially available “conditioner” before being immersed in a solution of copper nanoparticles which were dispersed using either a magnetic stirrer or ultrasound (40 kHz). When the copper nanoparticles were utilized as a catalytic material for electroless copper plating, the efficacy of the technique was assessed using a standard “backlight” test which allowed the plating coverage of the through holes to be determined. As a control, a standard palladium catalysed electroless copper process was employed. The morphology of the electroless copper deposits was also analysed using scanning electron microscopy. In the “direct plate” approach, after immersion in the copper nanoparticle dispersion, the through holes were electroplated at 3 Adm−2 for 15 min, sectioned and examined using an optical microscope. The distance that the copper electroplate had penetrated down the through hole was then determined.FindingsThe paper has shown that copper nanoparticles can be used as a catalytic material for electroless copper plating. The coverage of the electroless copper in the through hole improves as the copper nanoparticle concentration increases and, at the highest copper nanoparticle concentrations employed, good, but not complete, electroless copper coverage is obtained. Dispersion of the copper nanoparticles using ultrasound is critical to the process. Ultrasonically dispersed copper nanoparticles achieve some limited success as a conductive layer for “direct” electroplating with some penetration of the electroplated deposit into the through hole. However, if mechanical agitation is employed to mix the nanoparticles, no through hole plating obtaines.Originality/valueThe paper has demonstrated the “proof of concept” that copper nanoparticles can be utilized to catalyse the electroless copper process, as well as their potential to replace costly palladium‐based activators. The paper also illustrates the potential for copper nanoparticles to be used as a “direct plate process” and the necessity for using ultrasound for their dispersion in either process.
FR4 loss measurement for high volume manufacture (HVM): where next?
Authors: Carre Paul 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to examine some of the requirements for an industrial strength loss measurement technique in FR4 laminate printed circuit boards and, in particular, to take a closer look at one new candidate method.Design/methodology/approachThe paper highlights some of the issues in transferring an essentially laboratory‐based measurement technique to high volume manufacturing, i.e. the shop floor. The paper uses the newly proposed SET2DIL method of characterizing loss, comparing results with established laboratory methods and discusses the practical issues, such as the design of new test probes and coupons, in its implementation.FindingsThe paper shows that current time‐consuming laboratory methods of loss measurement using vector network analysers (VNAs), with their associated high skill requirements, though accurate and reproducible, are not viable for the factory floor, with its challenging environment and, occasionally, lack of specialized expertise. The SET2DIL method of loss measurement appears to offer a robust and reliable method of measuring and predicting loss in FR4 and should achieve wide approval across the board manufacturing industry.Originality/valueThe results of extensive testing are compared favourably with the results of established reference methods using VNAs, showing good correlation, and the SET2DIL method is recommended as being suitable for use in a high volume production environment.
The discount rate for discounted cash flow valuations of intangible assets
Authors: Schauten Marc , Stegink Rudolf , de Graaff Gijs 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine the required return of intangible assets for eight different business sectors by means of an empirical study of companies from the US Standard & Poor's 500 index. The resulting required return is subsequently compared with proxies for the required return on intangible assets used in practice, such as the weighted average cost of capital (WACC).Design/methodology/approachTo determine the discount rate of the intangible assets the paper applies the weighted average return on assets method (weighted average return on assets (WARA) method). The paper finds the return on intangible assets (RIA) by setting the WARA equal to the WACC and solves the equation forRIA.FindingsFor all the identified sectors, theRIAis higher than the WACC. It is also shown that this return is higher than the levered or unlevered cost of equity of the company as a whole. In six of the eight sectors, the levered cost of equity appears to be the best proxy for the required return on intangible assets.Practical implicationsThe paper shows how the required return on intangible assets can be estimated. The required return is needed for discounted cash flow valuations of intangible assets.Originality/valueThis paper adjusts the WARA method applied by Smith and Parr. In contrast to Smith and Parr, the tax shield is included as a separate asset in the model. Consequently, the WACC before tax is used instead of the WACC after tax.
The impact of CRM 2.0 on customer insight
Authors: Greenberg Paul 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to look at what CRM 2.0 is and how it impacts customer insights. It will show how CRM 2.0's incorporation of social tools and strategies with traditional operational functions meets the demands of twenty‐first century “social” customers.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a combination of independent research by the author for the last decade and third‐party sources. This means direct client consulting, interviews with senior corporate management and copious access to expert sources and documents.FindingsThe new breed of customer requires corporate transparency, authenticity and interaction. To affect this intelligent, aggressive social consumer, richer insight than that of the past is necessary. CRM and social tools use combined provides the capability for this insight.Research limitations/implicationsCRM 2.0 as a fully integrated strategy and system remains immature, though the integration of CRM traditional technologies with social networks is ongoing and increasingly coexistent. CRM 2.0 thus must be seen as strategically maturing but technologically immature.Practical implicationsAny company that understands that their customers are demanding something more and different will adopt CRM 2.0 strategies to gain greater insight into their customers and to support creation of mutual value.Originality/valueBy systematically providing an understanding of how contemporary customers act and what they demand and how CRM 2.0 satisfies that, this adds to contemporary scholarship and modern business practice.
Collaboration and collective learning: networks as learning organisations
Authors: Peters Linda D. , Johnston Wesley J. , Pressey Andrew D. , Kendrick Terry 
Published: August 2010

PurposeFirms collaborate for many reasons; however, sharing resources would seem a primary motive. This paper seeks to argue that in many instances firms collaborate to become part of a knowledge network – to learn about their industry and collectively use their knowledge to serve their own customers more effectively in a competitive environment.Design/methodology/approachThis is a conceptual paper; however, the authors illustrate the work with examples from the automotive industry.FindingsThe authors conclude that it is necessary to expand traditional approaches to understanding networks to include the nature and purpose of the interactions between the firms, as well as the structural features of the network and the development of shared meaning and consensus among the network participants.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors demonstrate the need to take a broader view of learning and collaboration in networks.Practical implicationsThe automotive and other industries are beginning to witness firms collaborating with competitors and other firms that can add value through collective learning. What seems certain is that for many industries the basis of future competition will be collaborative learning communities versus collaborative learning communities rather than OEM versus OEM in competing for resources and market share.Originality/valueThe paper examines how and why firms interact and how this influences what learning is shared, and how such learning is utilised by the firms involved. The paper explores the concept of collective learning, and discusses how the nature and purpose of the interactions between network partners facilitate key learning capabilities.
“It's ideally suited for that purpose, so we won't be using it that way”
Authors: Steele Kirstin 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine possible reasons behind apparent absurdities in the library.Design/methodology/approachThe paper looks at a renovation project at Daniel Library, Charleston, South Carolina and the problems encountered because of its previous history.FindingsThe paper finds that some changes are unavoidable as cost‐saving measures; some might be due to the sort of person who enters library work.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper highlights personality types in library work and the history of library security systems.Practical implicationsThe paper reveals that not all planning decisions are as stupid as they look.Originality/valueThe paper encourages readers to think about why they make the decisions they do.
A call to action
Authors: Linn Mott 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to point out that it is likely that if research is to be done about library finances, working librarians will probably have to take the lead.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses why librarians should take charge of doing research about library finances.FindingsMore research needs to be done to help librarians maximize their resources.Originality/valueThe paper is a call for librarians to take action to overcome the dearth of research done about library finances.
A place for books: fundraising for collections
Authors: Silverman Emily 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this essay is to provide suggestions for raising money for collections.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses and gives examples of strategies to raise awareness of giving opportunities to support library collections.FindingsThis paper suggests that traditional fundraising for collections has become more difficult, and innovative appeals are required to attract donors.Originality/valueThe value of this paper is in its presentation of examples and strategies for raising funds to support collection building.
Occupational stress of Catholic primary school staff: a study of biographical differences
Authors: De Nobile John J. , McCormick John 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate relationships between biographical variables of gender, age experience and employment position and occupational stress of staff members in Catholic primary schools.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data were collected from 356 staff members from Catholic primary schools in New South Wales, Australia. Research hypotheses were tested using multivariate analysis and comparison of means.FindingsAge, gender and position are found to be related to three out of the four identified domains of occupational stress as well as overall occupational stress. In addition, male staff experience higher levels of general occupational stress than their female colleague overall.Practical implicationsThe findings hold implications for school systems and school administrators in relation to teacher retention, schools as organizations and gender issues. Further research regarding stress of teacher's aides is also recommended.Originality/valueThe paper includes non‐teaching staff and investigates the role of employment position as a biographical variable.