bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The internal labour market and the employment of temporary help workers in Spain
Authors: Matías‐Reche Fernando , Mar Fuentes‐Fuentes Maria 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo ascertain whether any relationship exists between the main processes of human resource management involved in the internal labour market (training and internal recruitment) and the use of temporary help workers (THW) in Spain.Design/methodology/approachTake into account the perspective complementary between internal and external employment systems, a questionnaire was sending by mail to a selected sample of companies to get information.FindingsThe results confirm that a relationship does exist between the use of THW and training and internal recruitment. Also reveal the effects of the size upon these processes and the use of THW.Research limitations/implicationsThe main drawbacks are that of not using a wider sample. The findings will not be fully extrapolable to other countries. Future works could be directed towards testing a model of the relationship between the use of THW and a greater number of parameters, and a wider sample of miscellaneous countries.Practical implicationsThe training effort (TE) per employee and internal recruitment may be positively influenced by the employment of THW, which may be a source of motivation and increased productivity on the part of the regular staff.Originality/valueThis paper shows that the use of THW could favour the appearance and development of an internal labour market, supporting the perspective that internal and external employment systems are complements.
Collaborative reference work in the blogosphere
Authors: Pomerantz Jeffrey , Stutzman Frederic 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper explores the use of blogs as a platform for providing reference service, and discusses Lyceum, an open source software project from ibiblio.org, for this purpose.Design/methodology/approachThe following topics are explored: the evolution of libraries' uses of blogs, the advantages of conducting the reference transaction as a collaborative effort, and the use of blogs as an environment that fosters collaboration. The argument is made that blogs may be used to good effect in reference servicesFindingsIt is argued that blogs may be used to good effect in reference services. Lyceum, an open source blogosphere application, is discussed as an environment for blog‐based reference service.Originality/valueTo date, blogs are not being used by a library reference services, and by few online reference service unaffiliated with libraries. This paper will be useful to libraries and other reference services interested in conducting the reference transaction as a community effort.
Visual information literacy via visual means: three heuristics
Authors: Harris Benjamin R. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper offers definitions and application scenarios for three interdisciplinary heuristics designed to encourage a more holistic view of texts with the objective of raising awareness and enhancing the information literacy of student researchers.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on the thesis that visual texts and images should be considered in information literacy theory and practice, a selection of three visual heuristics found to be useful in instruction session situations are explained and described in a practical teaching situation.FindingsThese three heuristics can be used in a number of ways for different audiences to encourage critical thinking about the context, components, and the communication process involved in presenting texts used by students (from books, to journal and newspaper articles, and web sites).Research limitations/implicationsThere are other useful heuristics that have not been considered within the scope of this study. Other readers and researchers may locate and discuss other means by which these ends can be achieved.Originality/valueA number of texts in the professional literature have discussed whether or not visual literacy and images should be considerations for information literacy advocates. Few have offered specific interdisciplinary examples that might be used to experiment with or achieve such an aim.
Information commons at Brigham Young University: past, present, and future
Authors: Whitchurch Michael J. , Jeffrey Belliston C. , Baer William 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show that the idea and implementation of information commons' is becoming more prevalent in the academic library community. Many of these have been implemented in what were once General Reference areas of libraries. This paper discusses the process and experience of the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University, including concept development, acceptance and implementation. In addition, the first 18 months of operation and our visions for the future of our implementation are contained herein. One of the major themes of the paper is that change in an information commons is inevitable.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a case study of the information commons implementation done at Brigham Young University.FindingsThe paper shows the implementation of the information commons at Brigham Young University has been very successful and it will continue to adapt as higher education practice at the University continues to change.Practical implicationsThis paper shows that the jury is still out as concerns “best practices” in information commons' design, Brigham Young University's experience constitutes a case study, which may very well emerge as an example of “best practice.”Originality/valueShows that the experience at Brigham Young University will help other academic institutions as they contemplate implementing an information commons or changing a current implementation.
RFID 101: the next big thing for management
Authors: Wyld David C. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis article examines the phenomenon of RFID (radio frequency identification) technology and its implications for both management practice and research over the next decade.Design/methodology/approachThe article examines RFID, incorporating the latest information and research findings on how the technology is being utilized today and planned for in the future. The article uses both academic and practitioner‐oriented resources to support its findings.FindingsRFID is an emerging technology that is forecast to grow exponentially in use over the next decade. RFID, which uses radio waves to identify objects, is projected to rapidly supplant bar code technology as the principal means of identifying items in the supply chain and in a wide variety of applications. This overview of the fundamentals of RFID is presented to give the reader a working knowledge of the technology.Research limitations/implicationsThe article looks over the horizon at implications for management research, outlining how this represents a greenfield opportunity for research directed at a wide variety of topics and settings in the broad management discipline.Practical implicationsThe article concludes with a look at RFID's implications for our day‐to‐day business and personal lives, including a number of cutting‐edge applications for the technology.Originality/valueIn this article, the author gives the history of RFID technology, how it works, how it differs from bar codes from a technical and operational perspective, and how RFID provides organizations with a unique opportunity to create value through the use of this new media technology.
Can a project champion bias project selection and, if so, how can we avoid it?
Authors: Lefley Frank 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper sets out to empirically investigate whether a “project champion” can have an undue influence at the project selection stage and, if so, how this can be both identified and controlled.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology is based on a single case study and is part of a much wider research investigation.FindingsThe case clearly shows that a “project champion” can have a biased influence on project selection. It was shown that in this particular case the “project champion” deemed the project‐specific risks to be lower than that suggested by other appraisal team members and that the strategic benefits to be derived from the project to be higher. Both these influences make the project look more attractive and can result in a project being accepted, which may not be in the best interests of the organisation. By using the financial appraisal profile (FAP) model the organisation was able to identify this bias and reduce its influence.Research limitations/implicationsGeneralisability is an issue with case studies. It is believed that this paper not only provides empirical evidence confirming what may have intuitively been suspected, but also provides a solution to the problem.Practical implicationsBy empirically identifying the adverse influence a project champion may have at the project selection stage will allow practitioners to take account of this bias.Originality/valueThis paper presents a model and case study that shows how project champions play a role and how this role may be used in evaluation of projects. Project champion roles in this environment have been only rarely studied.
What managers should know about ERP/ERP II
Authors: Beheshti Hooshang M. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the impact of enterprise resource planning (ERP) on organizations and discusses critical issues that should be considered by managers and decision makers who are considering implementing an ERP/ERP II system.Design/methodology/approachExtensive literature review and the author's professional experience on the topic provide the foundation for this article.FindingsERP/ERP II are designed to improve competitiveness by upgrading an organization's ability to generate timely and accurate information throughout the enterprise and its supply chain. The goal of an ERP/ERP II is to integrate all business units of an organization and to create a system that is capable of providing up‐to‐date and relevant information for the corporation's decision makers and employees as well as business partners. The investment that is required is significant, sometimes running into the hundreds of millions of dollars and the decision to purchase and implement an ERP system is one of the most important decisions a manager will have to make.Practical implicationsImplementing ERP systems often requires organizational change and commitment by top managers. Participation by decision makers and executives from the acquisition phase to the end is essential to the success of ERP/ERP II. Factors that managers should consider are outlined in the study.Originality/valueThis paper provides useful information to both academicians and practitioners who are interested in ERP.
Single startup's failure to reshape individual/institutional memories to create a pen computer world
Authors: Chacko George K. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe singular success of Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. in rescuing IBM from dismemberment and destruction in terms of his shifting the institutional memory of 300,000 employees from corporate politics to customer service focus, has been expalined memory management explain failures as well?Design/methodology/approachChacko (memory management in survival decisions of corportions 1956‐2003, Barmarick Publications, UK, 2006) published a sequence of ordered procedures (protocol) of memory management: memory management disequilibria dimensions (MD)2 protocol. This paper applies the protocol to the birth and death of the GO computer.FindingsThe memory management disequilibria dimensions (MD)2 protocol analyzes accurately the Jerry Kaplan narrative of founding on August 14, 1987, the GO corporation to AT&T firing the last remaining employees of EO, the spin‐off of GO on July 29, 1994. (MD)2 Step 1: Chief Ntrapreneur officer will to win became a casualty, founder CTO/CNO Kaplan reflecting that money wasn’t the problem, but loss of faith of the chief financial officer on the viability, of the Software VP on the development schedules, of the CEO on market momentum, and of the CTO/ECO on the “stick‐to‐itveness” of the new management team.Orginality/valueThe habit patterns of thought and action that make a corporation/country unique are instructed/inscribed in individual/institional memory. This paper demonstrates that the (MD)2 protocol explains both success and failure, providing a basis to make memory management effective.
Off the rails: factors affecting track worker safety in the rail industry
Authors: Baldry Chris , Ellison James 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to focus on the serious but under‐examined incidence of fatalities and injuries among rail trackworkers. It identifies the pressures on trackwork, locating them within an analysis of the economic structure of the privatised rail industry and illustrates the consequences of these pressures at the operational level.Design/methodology/approachA series of semi‐structured interviews was held with management representatives of the infrastructure and maintenance companies, rail safety bodies and officials and representatives of the RMT. These were supplemented by focus‐group style discussions with track maintenance workers in Scotland and the North of England. The paper then relates these qualitative data to the analysis of recent major incidents which have involved fatalities of rail employees.FindingsWithin the structure of the post‐privatised industry, improvements to the safety regime are always in danger of being constrained by countervailing economic and organisational pressures. There is a marked discrepancy between the higher level safety structure and the experience of employees at track level.Practical implicationsThere is virtually no workforce input into the construction of safety procedures despite the fact that rail workers' commitment to the industry represents a large untapped resource for safety improvement.Originality/valueThe rail industry in general, and trackwork in particular, have been conspicuously under‐researched since privatisation.
Job retention and return to work of ill and injured workers
Authors: James Philip , Cunningham Ian , Dibben Pauline 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to put forward a conceptual framework which details the policies and practices that can potentially contribute to the effective management of long‐term absences, and hence the return to work and retention of ill and injured workers, and considers how far UK employers currently do have in place management arrangements which accord with those detailed in this framework.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptual framework detailed was developed by reference to secondary literature and the outcomes of a conference of relevant stakeholders. Available research evidence was then utilised to test the validity of this framework and to assess how far employers make use of the types of policies and practices identified in it.FindingsThe research evidence reviewed lent a good deal of support to the propositions put forward in the conceptual framework as to the processes and practices that are central to the development of effective workplace rehabilitation programmes, as well as the internal and external factors that potentially influence the adoption and operation of them. It also indicated that there is a good deal of scope for employers to do far more to support the continued employment of ill, injured and disabled workers, particularly in smaller organisations.Practical implicationsMore needs to be done to encourage employers to adopt the types of policies and practices detailed in the conceptual framework and careful thought needs to be given to whether this encouragement is best provided by legislative or non‐legal means.Originality/valueThe central issue addressed, namely the management of long‐term absence, is one that has been little explored in the existing human resource literature.
Libraries and environmental management
Authors: Rowley Jennifer 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper opens the debate on the contribution that libraries can, and might, make to their environment.Design/approach/methodologyAnalyses libraries' explicit commitment to environmental issues in their public statements. Suggests that they may be lagging behind major businesses. Challenges for libraries in relation to environmental management are discussed both in relation to strategic and policy issues, and in relation to the issues posed by digitization of information resources.FindingsThis paper finds that libraries' commitment to environmental issues is significant but implicit rather than explicit and there is scope for more coordinated debate, policy‐making and actions in this arena, especially in the face of some of the challenges that digitization poses.Originality/valueThe information contained in this article will be of interest to those involved in library management and specifically those committed to environmental issues.
An analysis of Independent Schools Inspectorate reports to assess the state of school libraries in the independent secondary school sector in England and Wales
Authors: Turner Richard 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis research paper is part of a PhD research project into the management of secondary school libraries in the independent sector in England and Wales. It aims to demonstrate one method of providing qualitative evidence of library provision in such schools.Design/methodology/approachThis research paper uses the inspection reports of independent schools by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) as a qualitative source of information about the provision of school library services within the independent secondary school sector in England and WalesFindingsThe reports indicate that there is a wide range of quality in independent school libraries, just as there are in those schools run by local education authorities.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper outlines just one method of assessing the state of school libraries in independent secondary schools. Other methods are being used in the wider PhD research project.Practical implicationsBecause independent schools are by their very nature self managed and independently run, the use of ISI reports provides an autonomous, external appraisal of individual schools which will contribute to providing a clearer picture of the whole sector. The research will eventually provide practical advice and guidance to school library practitioners as well as the wider school librarianship and independent school sectors.Originality/valueThe use of inspection reports as a qualitative appraisal of independent schools will be original. While the general school library sector is researched, there has been very little done specifically on independent secondary schools, which educate 7 per cent of the secondary school population in England and Wales.
Self‐leadership behavioural‐focused strategies and team performance
Authors: Politis John D. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeExamines the relationship between the dimensions of self‐leadership behavioural‐focused strategies, job satisfaction and team performance. It also evaluates the extent to which job satisfaction mediates the influence of self‐leadership behavioural‐focused strategies on team performance.Design/methodology/approachInvolves a questionnaire‐based survey of employees from a manufacturing organisation operating in Australia. A total of 304 useable questionnaires were received from employees who are engaged in self‐managing activities. These were subjected to a series of correlational and regression analyses.FindingsThere are three major findings in this research. First, the relationship between self‐leadership behavioural‐focused strategies and job satisfaction is direct, positive and significant. Second, the relationship between job satisfaction and team performance is positive and significant. Finally, the results have clearly shown that job satisfaction mediates the relation between self‐leadership behavioural‐focused strategies and team performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe cross‐sectional nature of the study renders it vulnerable to some problems so that future studies should measure self‐leadership behavioural‐focused strategies, job satisfaction and performance using longitudinal data and/or data from multiple sources.Practical implicationsThe study suggests that organisations emphasising empowerment should utilise training programs aimed at developing employees' self‐leadership behavioural‐focused strategies that focus on self‐assessment, self‐reward and self‐discipline.Originality/valueThe paper is the first to examine self‐leadership behavioural‐focused strategies influences through a covariance structure analysis. It also clarifies the mediating affects of job satisfaction on the self‐leadership behavioural‐focused strategies/team performance relationship.
Organization communication, job stress, organizational commitment, and job performance of accounting professionals in Taiwan and America
Authors: Chen Jui‐Chen , Silverthorne Colin , Hung Jung‐Yao 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo further understand the impact of organizational communication and commitment on job stress and performance. Over the past 20 years, the constructs of organizational commitment and communication have been studied extensively but little attention has been paid to the relationship between them and other organizational variables such as job performance and stress. Also, differences between employees either in managerial or full time accounting positions and between respondents from the USA and Taiwan were evaluated.Design/methodology/approachDifferences and relationships were assessed using standardized and valid instruments measuring four organizational variables in Taiwan and the USA.FindingsNo country level difference in stress and communication levels were found but organizational commitment and performance levels were higher in the USA. At the same time, higher levels of organizational communication led to higher levels of organizational commitment and job performance in both countries. Rather surprisingly, stress levels were not found to be related to either organizational communication or job performance. Further, the only measure that indicated a difference between those in managerial and full time accounting positions was work performance which was higher for those doing full time accounting.Practical implicationsThe results are discussed in terms of their importance and implications for organizations, particularly those utilizing employees with professional training and operating in different cultures. The finding that stress levels were not reduced by increased organizational communication and had little impact on job performance suggests that in the accounting field stress may play a different role than it does in other professions.Originality/valueFurthers our understanding on the impact of organizational communication and commitment on job stress and performance.