bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of VET on transition to work for young people in Australia
Authors: Woods Davinia 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse and summarise the Australian research on the impact of vocational education and training (VET) on transitions to work for young people aged 15 to 24 years.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology involved the compilation of statistics on VET participation by young people and a review of research on the topic of young people and the longer‐term impact of VET on transitions into work. Research included in the review was restricted to Australian research published during or after 2005.FindingsThe findings suggest that young people who participate in VET experience better employment outcomes compared to young people who do not participate in post‐school education and training. However, the smoothness of the transition into work varies for young people who participate in VET programs. Programs linked to the workplace provide the most rapid and successful transitions while other VET programs, such as certificate I and II courses, often require further study at a higher level in order for students to achieve their desired job. The paper also shows that school VET programs have a particularly positive effect on transitions into work for early school leavers.Originality/valueThe paper consolidates the knowledge on how VET assists young people's transitions into work. By focusing on longitudinal research, the paper enhances the understanding of the longer‐term impact of VET for young people.
Gendered choices
Authors: O'Donnell Amy 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to report findings from a North East (of England) study co‐financed by the European Social Fund and the Learning and Skills Council to explore the issues around the provision of vocational training for women in Northumberland, focusing on the construction, engineering and manufacturing sectors. The aim of the research was to investigate the extent to which current vocational training provision is adequately meeting the needs of both women learners and employers in Northumberland.Design/methodology/approachThe research consisted of a survey of learning providers in Northumberland and the immediate surrounding areas; interviews with local and regional policy makers, practitioners and service providers; interviews with local employers based in the construction, engineering and manufacturing sectors; and finally, focus groups and interviews with a range of women across the county.FindingsFirst, the research implies that the social and cultural context of Northumberland and the wider North East region is an important factor in explaining the position of women in non‐traditional occupations in Northumberland. The research also implies that at present careers in the construction, engineering and manufacturing industries are not being promoted effectively to young people, particularly within schools. Finally, at all levels there is a clear need for the various agencies responsible for promoting non‐traditional occupations to women to work together more effectively.Originality/valueThis paper is of value to employers, policy makers and service providers seeking to encourage more young women into non‐traditional occupations, particularly within Northumberland and the North East region.
Transition of graduates from backpack‐to‐briefcase: a case study
Authors: McIlveen Peter , Pensiero Dominic 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to overview the Backpack‐to‐Briefcase project which established a set of prototype career development learning strategies for Australian university career services, with the aim of contributing to their services for supporting students and graduates to make a smoother transition into graduate employment and the world‐of‐work.Design/methodology/approachA case study analysis of the development and implementation of three career development learning interventions is described. These interventions include: employability skills workshops for students; career mentoring for students; and services to small and medium sized employers to support their recruitment and induction of new graduates into their worksites.FindingsThe prototype interventions developed in the project extended the work of the university's Career Service. The interventions were judged as having the capacity to be readily implemented by university career services. A key outcome was the success of the graduate‐induction initiative which engaged small and medium sized employers traditionally unfamiliar with or unable to enter the graduate recruitment market.Originality/valueThis case study highlights the value of university career services' contributions to undergraduate preparation for the world‐of‐work, particularly in regional areas. Furthermore, the case study highlights the importance of inter‐departmental cooperation within the university environment, and the value of university‐industry collaboration toward the goal of improving graduates' transitions into the workforce, particularly in rural and regional areas.
Quick guide to finding US Supreme Court cases
Authors: Bahr William L. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to provide librarians (and their patrons) with a quick method for finding United States Supreme Court cases in varied sources, including in databases and on internet web sites.Design/methodology/approachIn order to provide librarians (and their patrons) with a quick method for finding Supreme Court cases, the article will explain case citations and case names. In addition, the article will provide varied sources for finding a case on a particular topic, for finding a major Supreme Court case – by case name or by topic – and for finding current Supreme Court cases.FindingsIn 1989, a guide that offered a quick method of finding Supreme Court cases appeared in Reference Services Review. However, since the article's inception, numerous sources, including databases and internet web sites, have come into existence. As such, an update of varied sources for quickly finding Supreme Court cases is needed.Practical implicationsThe article is a useful resource for librarians (and their patrons) to quickly find Supreme Court cases.Originality/valueThe strategies and ideas presented in the article will provide librarians (and their patrons) with the means to quickly find Supreme Court cases.
Helping millennials find US Supreme Court cases online
Authors: Kelly Fischer Cheryl 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to provide non‐law librarians with two strategies for quickly helping millennials with online US Supreme Court research. The first strategy is to locate law‐librarian authored online research guides on the topic. The second strategy is to jump straight into one of the many free online databases that contain US Supreme Court opinions.Design/methodology/approachThe article demonstrates the abundance of academic law‐librarian authored legal research guides available on the internet and explains how to evaluate them. Additionally, the article provides examples of many free online databases that allow searching, browsing and retrieval of full‐text US Supreme Court opinions.FindingsMillennials looking for US Supreme Court opinions expect to be provided with digital research resources. Online legal research guides can help librarians find the latest online databases with full‐text US Supreme Court opinions. Widespread internet access to the entire run of US Supreme Court opinions is a very recent phenomenon. But today, several new web sites have made the entire run of US Supreme Court opinions available for free, vastly improving librarians' ability to meet millennials' expectations of immediate access to full‐text resources online.Originality/valueThis article provides librarians with two strategies for quickly helping millennials with online US Supreme Court research.
Information literacy: getting the most from your 60 minutes
Authors: Furno Christine , Flanagan Daphne 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis descriptive research attempts to determine whether students are retaining knowledge from a single information literacy (IL) training session and whether there are other competencies that need to be covered in a 60 minute IL session.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was designed to measure IL learning outcomes that included formulating search strategies, evaluation of resources, and resource recognition. The tool was administered to students registered in an English class who were required to complete IL instruction. Students were given the test prior to IL instruction and post‐IL instruction.FindingsThe results of the study show a number of areas where the IL training sessions could be improved to better use the allotted 60 minutes. The trainers' findings gave clear directions on where to focus their efforts and where positive results are being achieved. The questionnaire was easy to administer and helped to fulfill the objectives of improving the IL training.Practical implicationsThe questionnaire developed provides one more way for the IL team to assess student learning outcomes.Originality/valueThe value of this research has helped to provide structure to assessing the IL program and feeds into the current assessment culture. The questionnaire focuses on three common student learning outcomes which will be of value to academic instruction librarians.
The role of the library in the first college year: the Canadian perspective
Authors: Trescases Ursula 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe aims of this paper is to provide an overview on information literacy/library programs for first‐year students in Canadian universities and colleges.Design/methodology/approachThe paper introduces and discusses periodical articles, monographs and up‐to‐date research on the subject. It presents anecdotal evidence gained from web site searches of 169 Canadian post‐secondary institutions complemented by personal communications from library and student services staff.FindingsThe study provides information about several types of library services for first‐year students currently in use in Canadian academic libraries.Originality/valueThere is no evidence of research in the area of library services for first‐year college and university students in Canada. This paper complements research on information literacy/library programs offered through academic libraries in other countries by focusing solely on first‐year student initiatives in Canadian academic libraries.
The venture development processes of “sustainable” entrepreneurs
Authors: Choi David Y. , Gray Edmund R. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the venture development processes (or “entrepreneurial processes”) of “sustainable” entrepreneurs, i.e. entrepreneurs who create and build profitable companies that also pursue environmental or social causes. The paper aims to find how these mission‐oriented entrepreneurs achieve their business objectives while serving their social and environmental causes.Design/methodology/approachThe paper identifies 21 successful sustainable entrepreneurial companies in various industries ranging from apparel to biotechnology that were exemplary in their pursuit for sustainability. The paper examined their key decisions and activities in their “entrepreneurial process”, collecting most of the relevant information from published or self‐developed case studies.FindingsThe paper finds that most of sustainable entrepreneurs are an unusual breed with limited business backgrounds. Most obtain financing from non‐conventional sources and employ unorthodox, yet sound human resource management practices. They are shrewd in their marketing strategies and effective in running efficient, environmentally sound operations. Also, they find innovative methods for balancing their financial goals against their objectives of making a difference in their environment and society.Practical implicationsThe paper's findings help demystify and provide some insights into how values‐oriented entrepreneurs and their companies can simultaneously meet economic, social and/or environmental objectives.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the few studies that examine the business practices of for‐profit, sustainability‐oriented entrepreneurs. It is also one of the few formal studies that identify commonalities among a relatively large and diverse sample of companies. Most important, this research suggests practical guidelines for aspiring entrepreneurs to follow as they build their sustainable business ventures.
An examination of US dollar risk management by Canadian non‐financial firms
Authors: Faseruk Alex , Mishra Dev R. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of US dollar exchange rate risk on the value of Canadian non‐financial firms.Design/methodology/approachThe sample, from the Compustat database, includes all non‐financial Canadian firms with sales over $100 million. The study segregates firms into hedging and non‐hedging groups and applies statistical techniques to test if hedging enhances value.FindingsThe results demonstrate that Canadian firms that have higher levels of US$ sales tend to use derivatives more frequently through higher levels of US$ exposure. Firms that have both US sales and assets appear less likely to use hedging. Firms with an American subsidiary and use financial instruments to hedge have higher values. When operational hedging is used with financial hedging, it is a value enhancing activity increasing their market‐to‐book by 14 per cent and market value‐to‐sales by 40 per cent. Incremental impact of these two hedging strategies is to enhance value by 7 per cent.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample from Compustat captures large capitalization Canadian firms but ignores about 75 per cent of Canadian firms. There is a bias towards larger firms. Some hedging items are not disclosed on financial statements. A survey would enhance and complement these results.Practical implicationsThe paper finds that it is important for Canadian firms that have exports denominated in US dollars to hedge their exposure. The full value of hedging is reaped by using both operational and financial hedges.Originality/valueThis study is the first that examines US dollar risk management by Canadian firms.
Incremental changes and efficiency leaps in the improvement of internal effectiveness
Authors: Larsson Mats , Arif Mohammed , Aburas Hani M. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis paper highlights one of the limitations of the continuous improvement (CI) philosophy and contends that CI cannot go on forever. It further suggests that in order to further improve organizations need to increase the system boundary, and proposes ways of doing so.Design/methodology/approachIn order to highlight the limits of CI this paper describes a case study. Using a literature review, it further proposes nine ways of increasing system boundary.FindingsThe first finding is that CI is not limitless and there is a logical point where CI cannot be economically justified. At that point, the possibility of increasing the system boundary is required. This paper proposes nine possible ways of expanding this boundary.Practical implicationsThe paper presents ways of bringing about radical improvements by increasing the system scope. These ways can be explored by practitioners to bring about major improvements, once incremental improvements have been exhausted.Originality/valueThis paper presents ways for companies to explore radical improvement possibilities, once the incremental improvements have reached a level where they can no longer be financially justified.
Quality journals and gamesmanship in management studies
Authors: Macdonald Stuart , Kam Jacqueline 
Published: August 2008

PurposePublication in quality journals has become a major indicator of research performance in UK universities. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the notion of “quality journal”.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines the situation in management studies and finds dizzying circularity in the definitions of “quality journal”.FindingsThe paper finds that what a quality journal is does not really matter: agreement that there are such things matters very much indeed. As so often happens with indicators of performance, the indicator has become the target. So, the challenge is to publish in quality journals, and the challenge rewards gamesmanship. Vested interests have become particularly skilful at the game, and at exercising the winners’ prerogative of changing the rules. All but forgotten in the desperation to win the game is publication as a means of communicating research findings for the public benefit. The paper examines the situation in management studies, but the problem is much more widespread.Originality/valueThis original and topical paper concludes that laughter is both the appropriate reaction to such farce, and also, perhaps, the stimulus to reform.
Factors in absenteeism and presenteeism: life events and health events
Authors: MacGregor James N. , Barton Cunningham J. , Caverley Natasha 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship of stressful life events and health related events with sickness absenteeism and presenteeism (attending work while ill or injured).Design/methodology/approachA web‐based survey was conducted within a public service organization which had just undergone a significant downsizing, where the workforce was reduced by over 30 per cent.FindingsThe findings indicated that stressful life events were significantly associated with both presenteeism and absenteeism, to the same degree.Research limitations/implicationsThese results extend previous research in suggesting that employees are substituting presenteeism for absenteeism. However, different health risks (chronic conditions vs needing counselling support) were more likely to predict absenteeism than presenteeism.Originality/valueBy supporting a substitution hypothesis, the present study suggests that both presenteeism and absenteeism are important measures of employee health and organizational productivity.
A preliminary review of competitive reactions in the hip‐hop music industry
Authors: Cox Edmondson Vickie 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to explore the entry and success of hip‐hop entrepreneurs in the music industry and identify the competitive reactions of well‐established firms within the industry.Design/methodology/approachThe paper used anecdotal data and popular press coverage to trace the evolution of the hip‐hop music industry in the USA and discuss aspects of the marketing strategies of key players in the industry. Additionally, the strategic response of dominant firms to their success within the industry is explored.FindingsHip‐hop music and its ensuing culture is now a well‐established industry that has enormous marketing power. Although few championed their efforts in the beginning, the contributions of Black American entrepreneurs to the music industry is becoming increasingly recognized by existing firms within the industry and beyond. The failure of major record companies to capitalize on the hip‐hop phenomenon resulted in the creation of new ventures and a new industry. While one could argue that very few key Black American entrepreneurs remain in the industry, the impact and influence of these entrepreneurs and those that have been recruited by major labels suggests that the hip‐hop entrepreneurs should not be ignored.Originality/valueThis paper sheds light on the development of the hip‐hop music industry, which could be of value to aspiring Black American entrepreneurs and marketing managers of companies in other industries that target young urban customers as well as companies that are interested in forming partnerships with Black American entrepreneurs.
Inventory management in small and medium enterprises
Authors: Rajeev N. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide guidelines for entrepreneurs for implementing effective inventory management (IM) practices and presents the results of a survey of machine tool enterprises in Bangalore, India.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive analysis is used to present aspects of the findings, which reflect the current state of IM in machine tool enterprises. In addition, percentages, bar diagrams and correlation analysis provide a more accurate assessment of this industry sector.FindingsThe study identified several major problems in the context of IM in machine tool enterprises including the use of rule‐of‐thumb for IM, a low importance given to forecasting, random ordering of materials, low levels of training and development, and low computer use as well as a low importance given to purchasing and variable lead‐time. The study confirmed the need for managers in the machine tool sector to alter drastically their approach to IM.Research limitations/implicationsThis study of 40 SMEs in Bangalore should be extended using a larger sample representative of Indian SMEs in order to arrive at findings that are more generalizable across the machine tool sector in India.Practical implicationsThe managers of SMEs should consider seriously IM as a strategic concept simply because effective IM positively influences productivity. There is profound scope for improving the operations and performance of SMEs through the application of quality practices in IM.Originality/valueConsidering the lack of studies about IM in the context of Indian small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), this paper helps fill a gap in the literature. A review of the policy framework concerned with SMEs suggests that policymakers do not consider critically the role of IM and related issues. It is significant to note that there is no exclusive reference to improvement in IM within the policy documents. At the same time, the literature review suggests that effective approaches to IM can improve the productivity and competitiveness of SMEs.
A comprehensive study on profits and sustainable competitive advantages
Authors: Gonzalo Ramirez Pablo , Hachiya Toyohiko 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate which strategic resources or industry structural conditions help firms build up a competitive advantage and sustain it over time.Design/methodology/approachOur approach is based on one main variable. Firm‐specific profits (proxy for competitive advantage) were estimated as the difference between a firm's profits and the average profitability of its industry. From it, two measures of firm performance were estimated, the firm‐specific projected profitability (FSPP) and the persistence of firm‐specific profits (FSPPe) which were used two split the sample in two type of firms, out performers and underperformers.FindingsThe results suggested that FSPPe and FSPP are two different indicators of firms' performance and may not be influenced by the same factors. The results show that neither the FSPPe nor its sustainability is explained through strategic resources.Practical implicationsWhile intangible investments might help firms build up a competitive advantage, these might not help to preserve it.Research limitations/implicationsFurther examination on unobserved strategic factors should help gain better understandings of what makes out performers earn/sustain higher level of profits over time.Originality/valueInvestments on certain strategic resources above industry average can lock firms into persistent competitive disadvantages.