bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shocking the legacy mindset™: management development and the internet
Authors: Scherpereel Christopher M. , Lefebvre Jeffrey R. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeAlthough this article's objectives include providing a primer on internet business strategy and a design guide for future management development efforts, the motivating objective is to expose traditional business leaders to the need to shock the legacy mindset of their organizations so that they will remain competitive in the twenty‐first century.Design/methodology/approachUses Lewin's three‐step change model – unfreeze, change, and refreeze, involving the IMPACT internet business simulation.FindingsJust as information technology progress has been slowed by the need to integrate with legacy systems, the new business opportunities available on the internet have been slowed by the legacy mindsets of traditionally trained managers. These legacy mindsets have become systemic in the conversations and cultures of most traditional organizations. Thus, an established company's successful venture into the internet space will likely depend on a significant change in organizational culture.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough this article was not developed to empirically explore the link between changed mindsets and organization success, some anecdotal evidence is offered that may motivate significant future research.Practical implicationsThrough the use of business simulations new conversations can be introduced and the organization change process can be started. By detailing some of the design considerations in the development of the IMPACT internet business simulation, this article exposes management development professionals to the benefits of business simulations and the educational challenges presented by the internet.Originality/valueThe article challenges business leaders and management development professionals to look at the internet as a threat to their organizational culture. If managers want to prepare their organizations for the future, they are going to need tools such as business simulations to shock their organization's legacy mindsets.
Outsourcing of public services and implications for managerial knowledge and careers
Authors: Lee Cooke Fang 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the role of managers in managing the inter‐organisational relationship. It investigates how the nature of work and career prospects may have changed for managers in both the public and the private sector under the public/private outsourcing relationships.Design/methodology/approachTwo case studies were carried out on the outsourcing of public services: PFI of a hospital and the outsourcing of housing benefits administration.FindingsThe most important task performed by managers with this boundary‐spanning role appears to be to enforce and achieve performance targets set out for the service provider firms which are then cascaded down to individual workers. However, these managers are subject to corporate surveillance themselves in the form of tightening targets and constant performance assessments, often through the intervention of the client organisations, and may experience even less job security.Research limitations/implicationsIn view of the significantly increased level of interdependence between the organisations in the outsourcing relationships and the managers who are managing the relationships, the multiple facets of this principle‐agency relationship need to be further explored beyond the traditional organisational boundary as the framework for analysis.Practical implicationsManagement knowledge is often context‐specific and cannot be readily codified. As such the knowledge of the managerial workers remains part of the competitive advantages of the organisation. How to acquire, retain and develop this body of knowledge is an essential part of the organisation and management development strategy of the organisation.Originality/valueThis paper provides insights into the (changing) role of the managerial workers in managing the public‐private outsourcing relationships.
The malpractice of marketing management
Authors: Thomas Michael J. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo draw lessons from Peter Ducker's change of heart during the half‐century between The Practice of Management in 1954 and his death in 2005.Design/methodology/approachCommissioned for the viewpoint series, with permission to think aloud.FindingsConcludes that marketing managers and marketing academics should consider their social and cultural role as “citizen professionals”, and the responsibilities that implies. Instead of talking vaguely about paradigm shifts, they should re‐think the future in the context of all‐too‐evident “discontinuity” (Drucker) and “disruption” (Fukuyama), and beware of “epistemopathology” (Thomas). The alternative is malpractice and mismanagement.Practical implicationsMarketing practitioners may need to be educated into a radically different conceptual framework for the new century.Originality/valueDraws attention to an unquestioned guru's latter‐day questioning of the very role of “management” in society, and proposes practical lessons for marketing management in the future.
An exploration of factors that contribute to the reluctance of SME owner‐managers to employ first destination marketing graduates
Authors: Martin Peter , Chapman David 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo examine the attitudes of small‐to‐medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, in order to identify obstacles to employment of marketing‐qualified graduates and devise strategies for improving the rate of graduate recruitment in the sector.Design/methodology/approachFocus groups, semi‐structured interviews and a postal questionnaire survey, yielding responses from 260 SMEs and 130 graduates, was built upon focus group discussions and semi‐structured interviews, and selectively followed up by in‐depth interviews.FindingsThere is a significant supply‐demand imbalance and a mismatch between the skills demanded by SME owner‐managers versus those taught in typical marketing syllabuses. Graduates' frame of reference is the world of big FMCG business; they do not understand the modus operandi of SMEs. Proposals are made for dealing with the resulting problems.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample is limited geographically and the response rate among SMEs characteristically low. A broader‐based extension of the study is indicated.Practical implicationsThe findings provide a recipe for the redesign of syllabuses and curricula to narrow the skills identified, to educate SME owner‐managers in the benefits of employing graduates, and to stimulate graduates to take more responsibility for their own development.Originality/valueEmpirical research of interest to policy makers, marketing educators and small‐business leaders.
A comparison study of customer satisfaction between the UPS and FedEx
Authors: Li Bingguang , Riley Michael W. , Lin Binshan , Qi Ershi 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to provide a comparison of customer satisfaction of two largest US parcel delivery companies, the UPS and FedEx.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is contrast the overall customer satisfaction and five critical factors (availability, responsiveness, reliability, completeness, and professionalism of service) that directly affect customer satisfaction for these two parcel delivery companies. Written questionnaire responses from university departments/units in the USA were collected and used for the comparison analysis. An independent samples t‐test was used to compare the ratings of customer satisfaction of these two parcel companies.FindingsThe paper find's no significant differences in the ratings of service quality of that these two parcel delivery companies provide with respect to both incoming and outgoing mail. The results of this research suggest that the similarity in ratings of service quality of these two companies explain their equally dominant positions in the parcel service industry.Research limitations/implicationsThe survey subjects only include units/departments within universities, with most of the participants located in Nebraska. By expanding the total number of surveys to include more industries and locations, this research could provide additional insight into the parcel service industry and customer satisfaction. Additionally, price of parcel delivery service was not included as a factor impacting customer satisfaction. Price of service may play an important role in customers' selection of parcel carrier.Originality/valueFindings of this research provide customers insights into the service quality of parcel delivery companies in order for them to make a choice of which carriers to use.
Impact of just‐in‐time inventory systems on OEM suppliers
Authors: Kros John F. , Falasca Mauro , Nadler S. Scott 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo analyze the impact of the adoption of just‐in‐time (JIT) production systems by different equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on the inventory profiles of their suppliers.Design/methodology/approachThe research is designed to examine five financial measures of inventory management performance over the years 1994‐2004. Three specific industry sectors where OEMs have adopted and implemented JIT principles are studied. These sectors include the automotive, electronics, and aircraft industries. A one factor analysis of variance is employed to the five hypotheses and Tukey's post‐hoc test is used to interpret statistical pairwise differences between level means.FindingsOverall, the research finds that OEM suppliers in the automotive, electronics, and aircraft sectors have shown mixed results in the impact JIT implementation has had on inventory performance measures.Research limitations/implicationsThe research focuses on three industrial sectors over approximately a ten year time frame that may limit its generalizability.Practical implicationsThe processes that influence the reduction in inventory levels may be in fact more complex and strategic in nature than an OEM adopting a JIT inventory policy. In general, strategic changes within the supplier organization would have to drive process improvements that lead to inventory reductions.Originality/valueThe paper provides focused research in an area that has received little attention in the current literature and is very topical to all academics and business professionals interested or involved in the area of JIT systems.
Manufacturing excellence through TPM implementation: a practical analysis
Authors: Sharma Rajiv Kumar , Kumar Dinesh , Kumar Pradeep 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo examine the need to develop, practice and implement such maintenance practices, which not only reduce sudden sporadic failures in semi‐automated cells but also reduce both operation and maintenance (O&M) costs.Design/methodology/approachA case‐based approach in conjunction with standard tools, techniques and practices is used to discuss various issues related with TPM implementation in a semi‐automated cell.FindingsThe findings indicate that TPM not only leads to increase in efficiency and effectiveness of manufacturing systems, measured in terms of OEE index, by reducing the wastages but also prepares the plant to meet the challenges put forward by globally competing economies to achieve world class manufacturing (WCM) status.Originality/valueThe paper presents an interesting investigation of TPM implementation issues which may help the managers/practitioners to prepare their plants/units to meet the challenges of competitive manufacturing in twenty‐first century by adopting and implementing TPM.
Organizational factors to the effectiveness of implementing information security management
Authors: Ernest Chang Shuchih , Ho Chienta Bruce 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the influence of organization factors on the effectiveness of implementing BS7799, an information security management (ISM) standard.Design/methodology/approachBased on literature review, a research model was formulated by extracting the antecedents of ISM, and an empirical study was conducted to show how the organizational factors influence organizations in carrying out BS7799.FindingsThe study result revealed that there were significant impacts of organizational factors, including IT competence of business managers, environment uncertainty, industry type, and organization size, on the effectiveness of implementing ISM.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample is limited to the organizational factors in Taiwan. It is suggested to replicate this study in other countries to reconfirm the result before adopting its general implications. Owing to the highly intrusive nature of ISM surveys, a cautious approach with rapport and trust is a key success factor in conducting empirical studies on ISM.Practical implicationsIT competence is conducive to ISM implementation through subjective norms, leadership, belief, and behavior of ISM activities. Environmental uncertainty positively influences the need for greater innovation, which increases the dependence on IT, and therefore makes the effectiveness of ISM more desirable. Companies in an industry sensitive to security threats should pay more attentions to ISM practice. Corporate executives should also realize the size difference for adopting appropriate ISM strategies.Originality/valueA research model was proposed to study the impacts of organizational factors on ISM, after a broad survey on related researches. The validated model and its corresponding study results can be referenced by enterprise managers and decision makers to make favorable tactics for achieving their goals of ISM.
An empirical investigation to IT corporation using collocational networks method
Authors: Li Yuanqin 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo study how the collocational networks method could be used to analyze textual contents in listed companies' annual reports written in Chinese, in an attempt to identify hidden facts that are not released in a listed company's financial statements.Design/methodology/approachThis research extended the collocation network analysis method from English textual contents to Chinese textual contents. The extended collocation network method was used to analyze an Information Technology company, Clever, listed in Shanghai stock exchange of China.FindingsUsing the extended collocational networks method, some hidden facts about a Chinese listed company's financial status could be identified, which were not reported in company's officially released financial statements.Practical implicationsThe extended collocation network method may supplement the commonly practiced fundamental financial analysis method in helping investors have a better understanding about the financial soundness of listed companies. This is especially important to investors in stock markets of some developing countries, including China. In addition, this method may help regulators of stock market, especially in developing countries, to identify possible loopholes of existing financial regulations as well as some inappropriate practices of some listed companies in disclosing misleading or incorrect financial data in their financial statements.Originality/valueThe first study using the collocational networks method to analyze annual reports of Chinese corporations listed in Shanghai stock exchange, a newly established stock market.
Real estate agency in China in the information age
Authors: Hin Li Ling , Wang Chen 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper aims at examining the emergence of the current structure of the real estate agency businesses in Beijing in the age of information technology.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilises the analytical framework developed under the Grounded Theory model by coding the interview results with six major real estate agencies in Beijing.FindingsThe model explains the metamorphosis development of a new sector of service agents in the society which itself is undergoing colossal changes in the socio‐economic system. The analysis shows that the impact of information technology does not pose a threat to these agents in Beijing in various circles, but works to increase the competitive advantages inducing more collaboration and market innovations.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited to the city of Beijing only and generalisation of the conclusion from the analysis needs to be qualified carefully for other cities in China, or even other countries.Originality/valueThe advent of information technology, especially in the last decade has set the momentum for changes in various sectors of our society. However, the impact is not felt evenly on each of these sectors in the society. The service industry is a typical example where a wide spectrum of sub‐sectors exists, ranging from close personal services such as hairdressing to information selling. The degree of impact from the new era of information revolution varies with the nature of each sub‐sector.
VICNET and Victoria's virtual library: a decade of online achievements
Authors: Fitzgerald Brendan 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a historical overview of VICNET at the State Library of Victoria (www.slv.vic.gov.au)., to introduce VICNET's conceptual development and to explore some of the impact and achievements of VICNET.Design/methodology/approachThis paper looks at some of the published papers on VICNET and draws on the experiences of implementing and maintaining information and communications technology projects and services outlined in those papers. It also draws on the experience and opinions of the author as a senior manager within VICNET.FindingsVICNET recognized that the online‐networked environment required development in parallel of access, content and skills. Its internet service provider and web design and hosting activities underpin VICNET's remarkable growth. This has served to enhance its capacity to deliver government ICT information society projects such as Skills.Net (www.skills.net.au) and My Connected Community (www.mc2.vicnet.net.au). The importance of community web publishing and access to online information is emphasized in the development of the VICNET web site (www.vicnet.net.au) and other key online content initiatives such as Victoria's Virtual Library (www.libraries.vic.gov.au), the Gulliver consortium, the Open Road project (www.openroad.vic.gov.au) and the MyLanguage Portal (www.mylanguage.gov.au).Originality/valueThe paper gives to the wider global library sector an overview of a unique library‐based information technology initiative.
Training needs and methods of training in information technology in the oil industry libraries
Authors: Onyedikachi Amagada Gabrieline 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe study aims at investigating the need for training and methods involved in information technology in the government‐owned oil industries – Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) – with particular reference to the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) and the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI).Design/methodology/approachIn seeking solutions to the problems raised five research questions were formulated. The population consisted of the library staff, and the method of data collection was through interview.FindingsThe results, amongst others, revealed that the commonly used training method is the internal consultancy method.Originality/valueMakes modest recommendations that, if implemented, could benefit the librarians in the Nigerian oil industry from improved training, which will in turn benefit not only their users, but also the industry as a whole.
Learning from web information seeking studies: some suggestions for LIS practitioners
Authors: Fourie Ina 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo explore the value of web information‐seeking studies for practice, and to bring selected research findings and their potential to the attention of library and information science (LIS) practitioners.Design/methodology/approachBased on a selective literature review of web information‐seeking studies to highlight findings considered most relevant to LIS practitioners. A fairly extensive, but not exhaustive, list of sources was identified. Reasons for the gap between web information‐seeking theory in the form of research reports and LIS praxis are briefly considered.FindingsThe value of web information‐seeking studies is limited to theoretical and methodological growth if they do not also affect practice. Suggestions are offered on a selection of aspects of how LIS practitioners can incorporate findings from web information‐seeking studies. These include improved self‐knowledge and self‐efficacy of practitioners and users, adapted approaches to information literacy and user empowerment programmes, improved access to the full spectrum of the information infrastructure, a stronger emphasis on the link between information‐seeking and information use and knowledge generation, and involvement in pragmatic small‐scale research.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the scope of findings discussed is limited to a selection considered most important by the author, this could be supplemented by further reviews to allow for new findings and insights into practical implications.Practical implicationsShould stimulate LIS practitioners' interest in the results of web information‐seeking studies and their value for praxis.Originality/valueAlthough all research papers are concluded with recommendations etc., a similar literature review with specific guidelines for practitioners has not been published in the LIS subject literature.
Perspectives on the use and development of a broad range of e‐books in higher education and their use in supporting virtual learning environments
Authors: McClelland Robert J. , Hawkins Nick 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe paper aims to examine the problems, tensions, contrasts and complementarities surrounding the use of e‐books in developing learning environments for students in UK higher education.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use four case studies and a questionnaire to highlight developments.FindingsIt was found that users want some features of paper books to be preserved in the electronic medium, while also preferring electronic text to be written in a scannable style.Originality/valueThe authors suggest some recommendations for successful design based on an analysis of all experimental data and suggests that hand‐held devices and web site use in universities is probably secure for at least the next five years.