bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Independence of board of directors, employee relation and harmonisation of corporate governance
Authors: Demirbas Dilek , Yukhanaev Andrey 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe main aim of this paper is to examine the role of the board of directors in Russia with specific attention to their independence, employee relations and ability of successful adaptation of the international standards.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a survey questionnaire to provide an empirical example from a transition economy to the corporate governance literature by exploring the attitudes of the 55 board directors from 30 listed companies on the Russian Trading System (RTS) Stock Exchange.FindingsThe respondents recognise the board of directors as an important instrument of efficient and good corporate governance practice. More surprisingly, they are also in favour of employee representatives on the board of directors and agree that board size and composition should be enhanced by employee representatives on the board.Research limitation/implicationsEven though 200 questionnaires were distributed and the response rate was 28 per cent, the authors know that they cannot generalise results for all directors of 1,414 listed companies on the Russian Trading System Stock Exchange from this level of response. In addition, questions might have some elements of subjectivity.Practical implicationsPolicy makers in Russia should continue reforms in Russian corporate governance to improve transparency and accountability to adopt international standards and to attract foreign capital.Originality/valueThis study is one of the most comprehensive studies to explain the role of directors of listed companies in corporate governance throughout a survey questionnaire in Russia. The authors believe that the study contributes to the literature in two ways: theoretically by examining the attitudes of Russian listed company directors in the literature and empirically by conducting a survey among listed companies' directors to evaluate the attitudes of boards of directors, and employee relations in Russia.
Knowledge exchange and community engagement: an academic library perspective
Authors: Sidorko Peter E. , Yang Tina T. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to document the strategies and initiatives developed in a major Asian academic library, aiming to enhance the library's role in promoting knowledge exchange and community wellbeing.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines the library's role in knowledge exchange at the university. It highlights a series of initiatives undertaken by the library that serve to promote community access to collections, services and special events. It also introduces ways in which the library has reached out to the local, regional and international communities.FindingsThe success of the initiatives is demonstrated in many ways including the devoted commitment to making information available to the public at both university and library level, extended access to the library resources and services, active public participation in the special events and the library's increased visibility and leadership in the local, regional and international communities.Research limitations/implicationsWhile many of the initiatives have been innovative and well received, the reality remains that the true emphasis of knowledge exchange within the university lies with the faculties. Licensing agreements also impose restrictions on access to the electronic resources by a larger user group. The traditional “closed door” policy due to the space shortage inevitably limits the library's ability to engage a wider community. Further studies need to be done on the investment and return of the book talks.Practical implicationsWhile it is often cited that public libraries are those that serve the community at large, this paper provides the perspective from an academic library viewpoint and emphasizes the view that such service should not be limited to public libraries alone and that academic libraries must play a role in community wellbeing.Originality/valueThe paper provides a practical example for academic libraries in attempting to play an active role in knowledge exchange and community engagement.
Ebooks in libraries: an overview of the current situation
Authors: Ashcroft Linda 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to provide an overview of the current situation regarding ebooks in both academic and public librariesDesign/methodology/approachThe approach takes the form of a review of the literature, drawing together findings from various published ebook surveys conducted over the past three yearsFindingsIt was found that there is a need for libraries to raise awareness about the ebooks they offer and how they offer them.Practical implicationsThe paper points up the importance of librarians having accurate knowledge about their users' concerns, which can be complex over the spectrum of ebooks, in order to obtain the “best deal”.Originality/valueThe paper draws together viewpoints from academic libraries, public libraries and ebook suppliers.
Embedded academic librarian experiences in online courses
Authors: Hoffman Starr 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to determine common and unique activities, promotional methods, time management strategies, and best practices of academic librarians embedded in online courses at six institutions.Design/methodology/approachThis is a mixed methods study using both interviews and quantitative data to study the activities and experiences of embedded librarians at six institutions.FindingsThe librarians and faculty involved in the embedded services reported unexpected benefits to the service. However, experiences with managing the time required for embedding along with regular reference duties varied, and scaling up the service from a few courses to a regular library service caused staffing issues for a few institutions.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was exploratory by nature and thus its scope was limited. Because only six institutions were studied, it is difficult to determine the true state of embedded librarianship in the USA. Future research should build on the foundation to determine outcomes for which embedded service is best suited and perform cost‐benefit analyses.Practical implicationsBecause embedded services can become popular quickly, individual librarians should work with library administrators to determine whether staffing a full‐scale service will be possible and plan accordingly. If a full‐scale service is not feasible, the service scope may need to be limited (for instance, to core courses or to specific academic departments).Originality/valuePast research on embedded librarianship has been limited to single institutions or to purposes and outcomes of the service. This paper provides a comparative study of embedded librarians at six institutions, and concentrates on the librarian's experience at each.
Personal controlling as a management tool for library staff in the example of selected Polish libraries
Authors: Laskowska Jolanta 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe aim of this essay is to present the possibility of applying personal controlling as a tool used in library staff management.Design/methodology/approachThe studies involved analyze the strong and weak points of human resources (SWOT). Motivational system, promotion opportunities, wage policy, staff's qualification usage, training system and rationalization of employment in the various sectors, the level of satisfaction, work conditions, absenteeism and crew's fluency – were all taken into account during researches.FindingsBased on the survey it is possible to identify the strong and the weak points, opportunities and threats existing in the library, and thus eliminate accidental events and steer the activities in the future. The possibility of controlling usage in the libraries optimizes exploitation of owned human resources and contributes to the achievement of the library's purposes.Practical implicationsWeak points of actions and functioning of the library's crew create vicissitudes for librarians. Libraries' management should seek to acquire financial funds or material rewards, aiming at the modification of adopted rules and receipt of bonuses. The noticed and appreciated employee may feel fulfilled and may identify with the purposes of the entire library and would be motivated, and thus may raise the quality of services provided by the library.Originality/valueThe paper describes the first attempts at controlling the implementation of personnel in Polish libraries.
HRM and the use of personnel services: an empirical analysis of German firms
Authors: Alewell Dorothea , Hauff Sven , Weiland Katrin , Thommes Kirsten 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse how characteristics of the HR department and HR work, which relate to resource availability and resource needs, influence HR outsourcing. The study examines the subject of human resource (HR) outsourcing.Design/methodology/approachThe potential influence of firms' characteristics on HR outsourcing is analysed theoretically and empirically. The dataset (n=1,021) covers a broad spectrum of personnel services and is based on computer‐aided telephone interviews with chief executives and human resource managers of German firms.FindingsGenerally, we find that firm size and previous reorganization activities significantly raise the probability of an HR outsourcing. In contrast, there is no overall significant influence of central characteristics of HR work or the HR department on HR outsourcing in general.Originality/valueAlthough there is a trend toward the outsourcing of work, little research is being done on the relationship between the expected effects of outsourcing, the make‐or‐buy decision of decision makers, and the firm's characteristics themselves. This study sheds some more light on the relationship between HR outsourcing and firms' characteristics and finds some interesting relationships.
What can monopsony explain of the gender wage differential in Italy?
Authors: Sulis Giovanni 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to study gender wage differentials in Italy using first‐order predictions of monopsony‐search models. It compares empirical predictions of these models against other competing ones of wage determination in non‐competitive settings.Design/methodology/approachThe paper looks at the empirical relevance of the model in terms of third degree wage discrimination among men and women by estimating the labour supply elasticity to the individual firm. It also tests the monopsony model using a “natural” experiment. Italian administrative longitudinal data from INPS are used.FindingsWomen have lower elasticity of labour supply to the individual firm: employer size regressions indicate larger effects (and consequently lower elasticity) for women as predicted by the monopsony model. Using the theoretical dynamic monopsony‐search model of Burdett and Mortensen, wage elasticity of separations and recruits confirm this result. Using relative men/women employment effects resulting from institutional changes in wage indexation mechanism (Scala Mobile), it is found that relative male employment responded differently in the two periods to the exogenous relative increase in the wage differential, as predicted by the monopsony model. Search frictions explain about 50 per cent of the gender differential.Research limitations/implicationsNo role for discrimination. Better controls for rents and union status would be needed. More rich firm data would be needed.Originality/valueThe paper is one of the few attempts of testing implications of monopsony models in unionised labour markets, such as Italy, after some important reforms in wage bargaining agreements. The change in institutional agreements is an interesting test for different theories of wage determination.
Gender and managerial level differences in perceptions of effective leadership
Authors: Muchiri Michael K. , Cooksey Ray W. , Di Milia Lee V. , Walumbwa Fred O. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine gender‐ and management‐ level differences in perceptions of effective leadership within a framework of new leadership models that focus on the processes of influencing self and others rather than leadership based on hierarchy.Design/methodology/approachA self‐report questionnaire was distributed to a sample of council employees. The responses were analysed using thematic matrix displays.FindingsMales and non‐management employees (when compared with female and management) perceived effective leadership as that which emphasises fairness, equality and honesty, develops staff, fosters workplace harmony, and is trustworthy. Female employees emphasised communication, decision‐making ability, and supporting the leader as being important to how a work unit could contribute to organizational leadership effectiveness. Employees at the management level underscored vision, supporting the leader, and integrity as being important to how a work unit could contribute to organizational leadership effectiveness. Female and non‐management employees highlighted employee development, contingent reward, communication and vision as being central to how organizational leadership could contribute to the effectiveness of the work unit.Originality/valueUnlike the literature that differentiates between charismatic and transformational forms of leadership, this paper views these two constructs as both being components of transformational leadership.
Robot Award of Japan
Authors: Kusuda Yoshihiro 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to report on the Robot Award of Japan and to review the award winners of 2010.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on findings at the exhibition, published papers and in‐depth interviews with award winners.FindingsThe Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry of Japanese Government is trying to create a new robotic business and the industry and academia is responding to it.Practical implicationsThe paper reviews the direction of Japan's robot business.Originality/valueThe paper focuses on commercial success and potentials rather than academic value or intriguing technology.
Imaging technology opens up new robotic applications
Authors: Bogue Robert 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to review the use of imaging technologies in robotics, with an emphasis on inspection applications and the control of autonomous robots.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a brief introduction, this paper first considers vision‐based robotic inspection systems and highlights a selection of recent applications. Second, it considers the use of vision in autonomous robot navigation and discusses some of the challenges and recent developments.FindingsThis shows that developments in machine vision have led to vision systems being used in a diversity of component‐level and in‐service robotic inspection tasks. It also illustrates that vision systems have a key role to play in the emerging generation of autonomous, mobile robots.Originality/valueThis paper provides a review of recent developments in vision‐based robotic inspection and autonomous, mobile robot navigation.
Motion mechanism concept and morphology of a single actuator tetrapod walking spider robot: the ROBOTURK SA‐2 Robot
Authors: Soyguder Servet , Alli Hasan 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis study seeks to develop a novel eight‐legged robot. Additionally, this study defines design and control of an eight‐legged single actuator walking ROBOTURK SA‐2 spider robot based on the features of a creatural spider.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the single actuator eight‐legged tetrapod walking spider robot was modeled on solid works and then the animation of the model was realized to ensure the accurate walking patterns and more stable walking. Based on this model, the novel prototype of the single actuator eight‐legged walking spider robot was constructed.FindingsA novel motion mechanism uses only one actuator for driving the system.Originality/valueThe modeled single actuator eight‐legged robot is original in terms of the developed motion mechanism.
An automated salmonid slaughter line using machine vision
Authors: Steen Bondø Morten , Reidar Mathiassen John , Aaby Vebenstad Petter , Misimi Ekrem , Skjøndal Bar Eirin Marie , Toldnes Bendik , Ove Østvik Stein 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe a new slaughter line for industrial slaughtering of salmonid fish. Traditionally, slaughtering of farmed salmonids – salmon and rainbow trout – was done manually by bleed cutting with knives. Using the new slaughter line that includes 3D machine vision and a bleed‐cutting robot, slaughtering is almost completely automated – nominally requiring only one person to supervise the line and manually bleed cut the fish not handled by the robot.Design/methodology/approachThe design approach of the salmonid slaughter line focuses on using 3D machine vision and a bleed‐cutting robot with four biaxial pneumatic actuators to handle the slaughtering of pre‐anesthetized salmon and rainbow trout.FindingsUnder normal operating conditions, the slaughter line is capable of automatically slaughtering 85‐95 percent of all fish at an average feed rate of 30‐80 salmon/min, and the remaining 5‐15 percent are slaughtered manually. Several issues have been discovered, that should be addressed to improve the slaughter line.Originality/valueThis paper presents a new complete salmonid slaughter line that has reduced the need for manual labor in salmonid slaughtering plants.
Work engagement in eight European countries
Authors: Taipale Sakari , Selander Kirsikka , Anttila Timo , Nätti Jouko 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the level and predictors of work engagement among service sector employees in eight European countries.Design/methodology/approachThe work seeks to discover if job demands and resources, i.e. job autonomy and social support, affect work engagement in differing ways in different countries when socio‐demographical variables and work‐related factors are controlled. The study is based on a statistical analysis of survey data from Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Hungary, The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the UK in 2007 (n=7,867). The data represent four economic sectors: retail trade, finance and banking, telecoms and public hospitals.FindingsThe results show that the level of work engagement varies not only between countries but also between those four economic sectors within each country. Additionally, the findings indicate that demands decrease work engagement, while autonomy and support increase it. Although the effects are mainly the same across the countries, the article also points out some exceptions in this regard.Originality/valueAlthough the paper is built upon established theories about job demands and autonomy, it uses a newer work engagement approach, produces cross‐national knowledge about work engagement and its predictors. Cross‐national approaches to work engagement are still rare.
Unfinished business: Peter Townsend's project for minimum income standards
Authors: Deeming Christopher 
Published: July 2011

PurposePeter Townsend is one of the greatest social scientists of the twentieth century and best known for his pioneering research into poverty. This paper aims to revisit Townsend's early work discussing the measurement of poverty and attempts to operationalise his ideas for determining minimum income standards for healthy living.Design/methodology/approachThe article is based upon a secondary analysis of data taken from the UK Expenditure and Food Survey, a continuous cross‐sectional survey of household income, expenditure, and food consumption. Here, the sample has been restricted to an older population and the authors observe the relationship between household income and a healthy standard of living (indicated by diet) for people aged 60 years and over.FindingsMinimum income requirements for healthy living, for this population in the UK, are 37 per cent greater than the British state pension for single pensioners and 37 per cent for pensioner couples. It is also appreciably greater than the official minimum income safety net (after means testing), the pension credit guarantee.Practical implicationsObjective evidence‐based assessment of living standards are practicable but do not presently provide a basis for social policy in the UK or elsewhere apparently. Such assessment could provide a credible basis for helping to establish minimum income standards in official policy.Originality/valueRecent developments in the design of a British social survey have made it possible to operationalise Townsend's ideas for establishing minimum income standards over half a century after he proposed them.
Applied logistics knowledge impact on financial performance
Authors: Birou Laura , Germain Richard N. , Christensen William J. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between internal process improvement investments, applied channel logistics knowledge, and financial performance for make‐to‐order (MTO) and make‐to‐stock (MTS) manufacturers. This study takes the position that knowledge, specifically tacit or applied knowledge, may serve as a key indicator of organizational performance. In this study, the tacit knowledge exhibited in intentional logistics integration activities is captured in the construct applied channel logistics knowledge.Design/methodology/approachA structural equation model, controlling for firm size and demand uncertainty, is used to examine these relationships. A sampling frame of 1,264 senior manufacturing “executives” provided 222 usable surveys representing 210 firms.FindingsThe results show that for MTO firms, higher investments in internal process improvement relate to higher applied channel logistics knowledge, whereas for MTS firms, the relationship does not hold, and this difference is significant. In addition, the results indicate a positive relationship between internal process improvement investment and financial performance for MTO firms, whereas again the relationship does not hold for MTS firms. Both MTO and MTS firms show increased financial performance when applied channel logistics knowledge increases, although the increase in financial performance is significantly greater for MTO firms.Originality/valueHistorically, the success of integration strategies has been postulated to be equally effective for MTO and MTS firms, a “one‐size‐fits‐all” approach to improving system effectiveness. However, given the inherent differences in these manufacturing strategies, this speculation deserves further investigation and serves as the focus of this research. The use of the tacit knowledge construct applied channel logistics knowledge is also unique and of value in understanding supply chain relationships.
Spatially constrained scanning scheme applied for gap measurements
Authors: Omar Mohammed , Reddy Thotti Konda , Parvataneni Rohit , Zhou Yi , Alraoof Mayyas Abed , Qattawi Ala 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate an optical‐based scanning modality for the real‐time measurements of automotive interior gaps.Design/methodology/approachThe hardware is based on a charge‐coupled device detector acquiring a laser illumination. The laser is projected on multitude of substrates with different reflectivities and surface profiles; while the scanning is progressed manually through a hand‐held setup.FindingsThe proposed software identifies the optical gap location automatically and establishes a dynamic field of view.Research limitations/implicationsThe study conducts a tool reliability and repeatability study that yield an accuracy of 0.08 mm and a repeatability of less than 6.5 percent as user bias. The developed hardware/software combination, when compared with two commercial systems; a 3D scanner and an industrially packaged sensor unit used for exterior gaps, which provided repeatability values of 24 and 17 percent, respectively, with accuracies of 1.5 and 0.34 mm.Originality/valueNew hardware and software are developed in combination to operate effectively on different deco finish and gap separations.