bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Where are we going and what are we doing? Two seemingly opposing views with a unified message about the discrepancy between organizational behavior theory and business practice
Authors: Marques Joan F. 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to emphasize the need for critical review and realignment of business education as well as business practices to contemporary needs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyzes two compelling presentations from distinguished scholars in which they made a seemingly contradictory statement about the discrepancy between business education and practice. Subsequently, a critical analysis of the presentations is applied, through which some remarkable similarities emerge.FindingsThe paper finds that: there is a discrepancy between what business education knows and what it does; there is a discrepancy between what business knows and what it does; and the discrepancy on both ends should be attributed to multiple reasons, of which the most important one is: the resistance to adopt the change that epitomizes contemporary circumstances.Practical implicationsManagement and organizational behavior scholars should rethink their stance toward educating and preparing today's business students for the ambiguous workplace that awaits them. At the same time, business practitioners should start adopting reward practices that fit today's predominantly organic work environments.Originality/valueThis paper presents a viewpoint that is still rejected and considered unpopular among large groups of scholars who insist on a quantifiable and highly theoretical underpinning of their teachings, even though they are confronted with an increasing gap between their teachings and writings, and the highly volatile reality.
Endogenous complexity, specialisation and general education
Authors: Dilger Alexander 
Published: January 2012

PurposeComplexity is endogenous for humans and increasing at an accelerating rate. At the same time individual lives become better and even simpler. This seems to be a paradox for which this paper aims to offer a solution.Design/methodology/approachThe paradox and its solution are explained in some detail.FindingsSpecialisation is the missing link which fuels overall complexity and shelters individuals from it. Specialisation is a good solution for most problems arising from increasing complexity, although it results in some problems of its own and general knowledge is still needed as well as general education to obtain this knowledge.Research limitations/implicationsThe presented argument is quite general in itself and needs further elaboration and empirical testing.Practical implicationsAims and limits of specialised as well as general education are discussed.Social implicationsThe right kind and amount of general education increases welfare and efficiency.Originality/valueThis connection between complexity, specialisation and education has not been shown before (at least to the best of knowledge of the author, who has the same problems to deal with the complexity of all human knowledge as everybody else).
Challenging the traditional idea of leadership in UAE schools
Authors: Stephenson Lauren , Dada Robin , Harold Barbara 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThis study aims to review the characteristics and practices of teacher leaders identified in recent literature and to investigate the impact of the professional learning process on teacher leadership development as it unfolded in two government schools.Design/methodology/approachUsing a longitudinal qualitative case study of two United Arab Emirates (UAE) government schools engaged in collaborative action research the study used focus group interviews, dialogue, observations, field notes and retrospective analysis to collect and analyze data and used an inductive process of identifying themes and key content areas.FindingsThe study identified key issues that impacted the professional learning process and teacher leadership development in the schools. These included the sharing of leadership, school and cultural issues, shared motivation, formal and informal roles, content and pedagogical knowledge, critical reflection and interpersonal skills. The combination of these factors led to a cultural shift to collaboration as the “new normal”.Originality/valueTeacher leadership is an emerging field of study and is yet to be fully valued by educational leaders and teachers in the UAE context. This current study identifies a professional learning process that led to an important cultural shift from individual, isolated practice to collaborative and shared perspectives about teacher leadership and its impact on student learning. This results in a “new normal” in teacher leadership.
A curriculum model of a foundation for educating the global citizens of the future
Authors: Zinser Richard 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce a model for preparing young people to live in a global society.Design/methodology/approachThis paper discusses the need for a new approach to education that transcends subject disciplines and institutional boundaries by taking a global perspective; it provides a background of previous curriculum ideas, presents a multi‐dimensional model of educating for the future, and opens a dialogue on the implications for educators and policy makers.FindingsThe curriculum model for educating future citizens starts with a foundation of academics (contextual math and science), vocational skills and technological literacy, and process skills, which include system thinking and problem solving. The second level of the model consists of the study of world history and geography, and the language and culture of other countries. The third layer of the curriculum is altruism for people, the planet, and the future. The rationale for each component and specific teaching strategies are also presented.Originality/valueAs civilization makes the transition from the industrial era to one of sustainability, educational leaders around the globe ought to implement a learning system that prepares its young people for life in a unified society. This paper provides a starting point to explore what skills and concepts students should be studying to lead the future. The curriculum model provides an explicit outline of some of the competencies that will likely be required for whatever world scenario emerges.
Is the grass greener on the other side? Experiential learning, lifelong learning and career shift
Authors: Graff Jens 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to give a more appropriate picture of the new trend of career shifts in a late career.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses literature studies.FindingsThe paper gives a more apposite picture of experiential learning and career shift for mature people.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper gives no exact guidance in how to assess experiential learning.Practical implicationsAppreciating mature people's experiential learning gives employers a broader and richer hiring base, which is especially important in a period of shortage of employees.Social implicationsFor many societies the age distribution is unfavorable with too many mature people in pension age. The good thing is that many mature people are interested in staying active in the labor market.Originality/valueThe paper argues that a combination of academic and experiential learning probably will qualify individuals best for career shifts as it leads them to a higher order of competence. Career shifts will blow new air into a person's career and enrich them and the organization, which they serve.
University futures: Wikipedia uni, core‐periphery reversed, incremental managerialism or bliss for all?
Authors: Inayatullah Sohail 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to overview the futures of the university by analyzing critical drivers. It also aims to assess drivers identified a decade ago on university futures.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews drivers, trends and scenarios.FindingsThe paper finds first, globalization will likely continue but innovation will move to Chindia. Second, democratization has resulted by not as imagined a decade ago, rather, peer‐to‐peer or web 2.0 has changed the game. Three new scenarios are articulated: Wikipedia university; core‐periphery reversed and incremental managerialism. Bliss for all remains an outlier.Practical implicationsAsian‐Pacific universities instead of adopting the used future of the core will find it wiser to innovate and create new visions as well as to develop new global ranking systems.Social implicationsTraditional universities are the likely dinosaurs unable to thrive in a dramatically changing world. Increasing inequity in traditional western universities will likely further devalue higher education. New models of inclusion are required.Originality/valueThe paper articulates new scenarios of the future, and assesses trends identified a decade ago. It provides a strategy for university administrators to navigate the challenges ahead.
The demand of sustainable property investments in Germany
Authors: Schaefer Henry , Gromer Christian , Neligan Adriana 
Published: January 2012

PurposeSocially responsible property investments (SRPI) are seen as the emerging trend in socially responsible investing. The purpose of this paper is to raise the question of whether this trend is also valid for Germany. The results presented in this article are based on an explorative study among German institutional investors in the year 2007.Design/methodology/approachThe authors see the reasons behind the trend of sustainable building in the climate change and the resulting awareness of the investors on this topic. Likewise, the authors also see that more investors, predominantly institutional investors, are focusing on the emerging market for socially responsible investments (SRI). Considering these and the diversified portfolios of the institutional investors which usually include property investments, the authors are investigating the demand of these investors for SRPI in Germany. The investigation is based on an empirical study carried out in 2007 which should be understood as a prolonged insight into the investment preferences of German institutional investors towards SRI, in general, and SRPI, in particular.FindingsThe authors found that the market for SRPI is not growing as a result of an increased interest in SRPI as an emerging asset class, but rather as a consequence of a moderate growth in the property market. Some institutional investors find severe intransparencies in this emerging segment, while others do not perceive this new asset class as an attractive investment opportunity.Practical implicationsThe empirical study sheds light on the willingness of German institutional investors to invest in SRI with special reference to SRPI.Originality/valueThe empirical study shows the willingness of institutional investors which already invested in SRI to invest in SRPI, as well as the reluctance of investors with no experience in SRI to invest in SRPI.
The level of representative underwriting and the underwriting costs of REIT SEOs
Authors: Bairagi Ranajit Kumar , Dimovski William 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate factors influencing the underwriting discount for US Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Seasoned Equity Offerings (SEOs).Design/methodology/approachThe study provides new evidence on determinants of underwriting discounts with a comprehensive dataset of 783 US REIT SEOs from 1996 until June 2010. Ordinary least squares regressions are performed to estimate the effect of the level of representative underwriting along with other potential factors on underwriting discounts.FindingsThe study complements the well‐documented notion of the economies of scale in SEO underwriting discounts. The equally (value) weighted underwriting discounts averaged 4.21 per cent (4.10 per cent) with a declining trend over time. The findings of this study show the statistically and economically significant negative effect of the level of representative underwriting on the underwriting discounts, as well as the significance of the structure of underwriting syndicate in determining the underwriting discounts. The findings suggest that issuers can minimize the costs of raising secondary equity capital by optimally allocating the underwriting business among the underwriters.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the international REIT SEO literature by exploring new evidence behind underwriting discounts. The study includes data before and after the REIT Modernization Act 1999 and during the recent global financial crisis period.
IPO market timing: evidence from the operating performance of REITs
Authors: Sah Vivek , Seagraves Philip 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider the operating performance of real estate investment trust initial public offerings (REIT IPOs) as a measure to find additional evidence of market timing in this sector.Design/methodology/approachA sample of REIT IPOs is analyzed to determine the relationship between IPO clustering and several measures of REIT operating performance.FindingsThe results suggest that timing the market by marginal firms in the REIT sector would be difficult, due to the transparent nature of REITs, leading to lower level of informational asymmetry between REIT managers and investors. Consistent with results found for non‐REIT firms in industry clusters, no evidence was found of a significant difference between the operating performance of REITs which are part of an IPO cluster and those that went public outside of the identified cluster periods.Practical implicationsThis study shows that REIT market is efficient and would not allow REIT managers to time the market.Originality/valueUsing stringent measures of identifying REIT IPO clusters and operating performance as a measure to gauge market timing, this study differs from previous studies and provides additional and robust evidence of transparent nature of REITs that leads to reduced information asymmetry between managers and investors. This result supports the theory that REITs are more transparent and thus less likely to be over‐invested during IPO cluster periods.
The impact of landscape quality on property investment decisions
Authors: Roberts Claire , Rowley Steven , Henneberry John 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the investment decision‐making process of major stakeholders in the property sector, with a specific focus on determining the impact of location quality (the quality of the immediate and wider environment within which the site is located) on the property investment decision.Design/methodology/approachThe research was undertaken in the context of UK business parks in two regional property markets; South Yorkshire and the South East. Interviews were undertaken with key stakeholder groups adopting an innovative approach utilising graphics and visualisations to explore the impact of landscape quality on investment decisions.FindingsWhen landscape quality in business parks is considered holistically, it has only an indirect role to play in the property investment decision. Occupiers in South Yorkshire and the South East have low expectations of landscape quality on business park sites, but there are elements of landscape quality that occupiers appreciate and consider to add to the quality of the site. However, investors and developers do not consider landscape quality plays a role in their decision process. There exists the potential for the “removed” perspective of investors and developers to result in a dislocation between their perception of occupiers' requirement and reality.Originality/valueThis study represents the first attempt to explore, in detail, the role of landscape quality in property decisions of key stakeholders in the UK property market. It also uses innovative methods to convey complex concepts of landscape quality to non‐technical participants.
Valuation and land governance
Authors: Grover Richard , Grover Chris 
Published: January 2012

PurposeLand governance plays an important part in influencing the quality of valuations. The purpose of this paper is to review the different meanings of governance.Design/methodology/approachThe World Bank Indicators of Governance, Jones Lang LaSalle's Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI) and other data sources have been consulted.FindingsThe paper discusses what is meant by good governance and how this can be measured.Originality/valueThe paper presents some evidence to suggest that market transparency requires freedom of information and association, and is associated with factors such as the quality of institutions, the absence of corruption, and the quality of corporate governance.
Identifying the UK's manufacturing challenges as a benchmark for future growth
Authors: Thomas Andrew J. , Byard Paul , Evans Roger 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to recognise the key manufacturing challenges currently facing UK manufacturing industry and to further identify the Key Developmental Areas (KDAs) (which includes technologies, systems and paradigms) which need to be developed and employed in order to ensure manufacturing firms in the UK become economically sustainable and are able to operate effectively in a global competitive market. The aim of the paper is to provide a benchmark for UK manufacturing industry to work from, after which future measuring instruments could be employed to track whether companies are meeting these challenges.Design/methodology/approachA survey into 100 UK manufacturing companies provides the basis for the identification of the challenges and KDAs. The findings from the survey are analysed against information obtained from existing strategy reports and foresight papers/studies to reach a point where the authors identify a balanced set of challenges and developmental areas obtained from this mixed research approach.FindingsThrough a comprehensive academic and industrial study, the authors identify and propose nine key manufacturing challenges for UK manufacturing industry to consider. Furthermore, the authors also identify a number of the KDAs which could be used to assist companies in meeting these challenges. The KDAs are not meant to be exhaustive but aimed to provide the underpinning support to the challenges proposed.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper proposes a set of key manufacturing challenges for UK manufacturing businesses to consider and apply appropriate technologies and systems to achieve business resilience. This paper will therefore be of benefit to the academic community in that it distils a wide range of academic theory and industrial practice in order to create a coherent body of knowledge. As with any survey work, the accuracy of information depends largely on the size of the survey. Whilst 100 companies were surveyed, a further extension to this number would always help to strengthen future research.Originality/valueThe identification of these key manufacturing challenges and their corresponding technologies, systems and paradigms is aimed at providing a new manufacturing perspective to both academics and industrialists. The challenges and developmental areas proposed provide the basis for a new and advanced manufacturing strategy to be developed for UK companies which aims to create economically sustainable manufacturing organisations.
The development of a lean park homes production process using process flow and simulation methods
Authors: Arturo Garza‐Reyes Jose , Oraifige Ilias , Soriano‐Meier Horacio , Forrester Paul L. , Harmanto Dani 
Published: January 2012

PurposeContinuous process flow is a prerequisite of lean systems as it helps to reduce throughput times, improve quality, minimize operational costs, and shorten delivery times. The purpose of this paper is to empirically demonstrate the application of a methodology that combines a time‐based study, discrete‐event simulation and the trial and error method to enable a leaner process through more efficient line balancing and more effective flow for a park homes production process. This method is replicable across other contexts and industry settings.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the UK park homes production industry and, specifically, a major factory that builds these homes. It compares the factory method to traditional on‐site construction methods. An empirical study of production times was carried out to collect data in order to analyse the current workload distribution and the process flow performance of the park homes production process. Finally, seven discrete‐event simulation models were developed in order to test different scenarios and define the optimum line balance for every section of the production process.FindingsBy combining time study, discrete‐event simulation and trial and error methods, the workload distribution and process flow performance of the park homes production line were analysed and improved. A reduction of between 1.82 and 36.32 percent in balancing losses in some sections of the process was achieved.Practical implicationsThis paper supports current knowledge on process flow improvement and line balancing by exploring and analysing these issues in a real‐life context. It can be used to guide production management practitioners in their selection of methods and demonstrates how they are exploited when seeking to improve process flow, efficiency and line balancing of production operations.Originality/valueThe study uses a real industrial application to demonstrate how the methodological combination and deployment of process flow improvement strategies, such as time study, simulation, and trial and error, can help organisations achieve process flow improvements and, as a consequence, a leaner production process.
A study of technology adoption in manufacturing firms
Authors: Kristianto Yohanes , Ajmal Mian , Addo Tenkorang Richard , Hussain Matloub 
Published: January 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the effect of technology adoption on operational competitiveness by taking an example from international manufacturing companies.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops a conceptual model to generate strategic flexibility and benefit for a manufacturing firm by managing manufacturing strategy and technology adoption with different leadership roles.FindingsThe results show that the leadership role is a significant factor to motivate strategic flexibility and generate higher benefit. For intellectuals, the mechanism provides a new approach to explicate technology adoption in a manufacturing company. Besides, it provides a deep‐rooted preliminary point for supplementary empirical assessment. The mechanism facilitates managers to expand their understanding of the leadership role for trust building and knowledge sharing in manufacturing firms.Practical implicationsWith that enhanced understanding, the managers can spotlight their actions, which help further to perk up their firm's competitiveness provoked by supporting the knowledge sharing activities through appropriate leadership roles.Originality/valueThe mechanism developed in this study is believed to be the first sober effort to provide a deeper theoretical understanding of trust building for improving operational competitiveness in manufacturing firms with a practical approach.