bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Work and depression in economic organizations: the need for action
Authors: Gray Harry 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to raise concerns about how depression in the work place is too often overlooked and to identify what needs to be done to benefit individuals and organizations affected.Design/methodology/approachThis paper defines the contexts, drivers and consequences of depression at work and goes on to identify some of the actions that need to be taken to support individuals and limit the impact on organizations and society.FindingsThere is a need for much better identification and care around depressions at work than is the case. Not only should GPs be more aware of depression as a work related issue, but organizations should note that much of their dysfunctionality is caused by depressed workers. It is proposed that serious attention be given to providing systematic and universal support by both employers and the NHS to deal with this great personal and economic matter.Practical implicationsThe paper should lead to further action by all the players in this aspect of the labor market.Originality/valueThe value of this paper is to raise the profile of an issue, depression, that is not talked about sufficiently but that has huge personal and organizational impacts. The reader is invited to consider the suggestions for action within their own organizations.
Information systems development: where does knowledge lie and how does learning occur?
Authors: Boateng Richard , Hinson Robert 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to delineate a road map for development and learning in organizations using information systems as a key trigger.Design/methodology/approachThis is a conceptual paper using arguments from the information systems development (ISD) literature.FindingsThe authors show that there are two knowledge sources, external and internal; and the interaction of these diverse knowledge sources is needed for the effective utilization of information systems as a development and learning tool in organizations.Originality/valueThe authors recommend that organizations should seek to learn during ISD processes as well as learning from the project outcome.
Ownership structure and underwriter spread: evidence from Japanese IPO firms
Authors: Suzuki Katsushi 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the relationship between the level of underwriter spread and ownership structure by using data from Japanese IPO firms that are issued during the years 1997‐2002.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses regression analysis to determine the effect of the ownership structure (board, bank, affiliated venture capital firms) on underwriter spread and on the post‐issue operating performance of IPO firms.FindingsThis paper finds several results that are in contrast with previous studies. The ownership by board members is positively associated with the level of gross spread but is not associated with post‐issue operating performance. The presence of a commercial bank in the ownership structure of IPO firms decreases the gross spread and increases the post‐issue operating performance of IPO firms. Issuers pay a lower underwriting fee as the ownership share of the lead underwriter‐affiliated VC increases, unlike that of other VCs.Originality/valueThe results of this paper, supporting certification and monitoring hypotheses, contribute to academic research. Most previous studies do not support certification effects.
The initial and long‐run returns of Japanese venture capital‐backed and non‐venture capital‐backed IPOs
Authors: Kirkulak Berna 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine initial and long‐run returns of Japanese IPOs in particular venture capital (VC)‐backed and non‐VC‐backed. The main research focus is on the performance of VC‐backed companies.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a comprehensive long‐run performance analysis. As such, it provides evidence using two performance methods: cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) and buy‐and‐hold return (BHARs). This paper uses updated data from 1998 through 2001 and presents a deeper understanding for the long‐run returns of Japanese IPOs.FindingsThe findings show that there is no statistically significant difference in the initial returns of VC‐backed and non‐VC‐backed companies. The evidence is inconsistent with the VC certification hypothesis that venture capitalists certify the true value of the firm and therefore reduce underpricing. Further, Japanese IPOs underperform in the long‐run. The fads hypothesis is applicable to explain the poor long‐run performance. The results suggest that although VC‐backed companies have high initial returns, they perform significantly worse over a three‐year time horizon than non‐VC‐backed companies.Research limitations/implicationsAn examination of the lock‐up agreements is necessary to understand negative returns. The results of this paper provide a good starting point for such a study.Practical implicationsThis paper highlights the stock returns of VC‐backed and non‐VC‐backed companies. It is hoped that investors and academics will benefit from the outcome of the current paper.Originality/valueTo date, there is no comprehensive study on the Japanese IPO market applying both CAR and BHAR long‐run measurements. This paper applies both measurements. Further, this is the first study of the long‐run performance of Japanese firms going public in Mothers and in Hercules stock markets.
Firms as credit suppliers: an empirical study of Spanish firms
Authors: María Rodríguez‐Rodríguez Olga 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purposes of the study are to: contribute evidence on the role played by ordinary commercial firms in providing finance to other firms by granting trade credit to customers; and test some theories about the motives of small and medium‐sized firms in extending such trade credit.Design/methodology/approachThe Generalised Method of Moments is applied to an unbalanced panel of small and medium‐sized firms in the Canary Islands (Spain). Analysis of data from a unique database is used to obtain consistent estimations and to test some proposed hypotheses about the determinants of extending trade credit.FindingsThe study finds that: firms with greater access to financial markets can serve as a credit channel for clients that have difficulties in obtaining institutional financing (thus supporting the theory of financial advantage with respect to trade credit); firms can reduce transaction costs through financing clients (thus confirming that “transaction motives” are significant in granting trade credit); and that trade credit between firms known to each other reduces problems associated with information asymmetry in financial arrangements.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings represent correlated inferences, rather than proven causal relationships. Moreover, some results are interpretive in nature; more detailed data and analyses could assist in investigating the relationships noted here.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the scarce empirical literature about the motives for granting trade credit by small and medium‐sized firms. This is also the first study to analyse this behaviour from a dataset of firms in the Canary Islands (Spain).
The uses and potential of biometrics in health care
Authors: Chandra Ashish , Durand Roger , Weaver Samantha 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of the utilization, attitudes, and concerns of health care consumers and providers about biometrics.Design/methodology/approachData were analyzed from a survey of 324 adult subjects, including 167 “health care consumers” and 157 “healthcare providers.”FindingsHealth care providers were found more accepting of biometric technologies than consumers, a finding that seems to follow from more familiarity and experience with those technologies. Feelings about the potential uses and limitations of biometrics were found to be more differentiated among providers than consumers. Yet, concerns about privacy and the need for information limits were identifiable as important feelings among providers and consumers alike. Finally, demographic characteristics only weakly to modestly distinguished concerns about privacy and confidentiality among health care consumers and providers.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings reported here suggest the need for additional research into the types of biometrics adopted in diverse health care settings and into the nature of innovators or early adopters.Practical implicationsIf biometrics is to gain acceptance, there seems to be a need for different promotion strategies for providers and consumers. Also, concerns for personal privacy will need to be considered.Originality/valueThis paper fills an important gap in understanding the uses, feelings, and concerns about biometrics among health care consumers and providers.
Management history in other places
Authors: Lamond David 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThis paper has been written to promote a multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary approach to the themes of management and business, especially in the exploration of the history of management and business.Design/methodology/approachThis paper incorporates a critical, comparative review of papers related to the scholarly communications in the Journal of Management History that have been published in other discipline‐based journals.FindingsThis paper demonstrates that, when it comes to scholarly consideration the subject matter can and indeed must be examined from multiple perspectives. This is not a new finding but one that reaffirms the importance of the multidisciplinary engagement and interactivity of business and management scholars, including when history is that subject matter.Originality/valueRather than being focussed on examining articles published within what might be called the “management history” literature, this paper has sought relevant articles outside that mainstream literature base, as a way of better understanding the interconnectedness of these different considerations.
A study of out‐sourcing versus in‐sourcing tasks within a project value chain
Authors: McKenna David , Walker Derek H.T. 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate a case of in‐sourcing a key resource verses using the standard mode of operation of utilizing an established out‐sourcing firm. The studied organisation is a large telecommunication firm in North America. The aim of the paper is to illustrate how a new approach to the organisational procurement decision making process to facilitate competitive advantage was influenced by simplicity rather than simple cost reduction.Design/methodology/approachSingle illustrative case study testing the usefulness of the composite out‐sourcing decision framework decision making framework together with a clear focus on total value adding elements of service delivery.FindingsThe analysis that in‐sourcing critical tasks or processes are advantageous to the case study organization as well as to the smaller internal department that it directly impacts.Research limitations/implicationsWhen undertaking business projects or programs of projects, there are many cases where business processes may be outsourced or sub‐contracted. While out‐sourcing does, and will in the future, play a large role in cost reduction and giving the buying firm the ability to focus on core competencies, there is still the niche market to in‐source critical tasks and retain critical resources. Decisions need to be based on value contribution rather than simple cost reduction.Originality/valueThis paper's value has been to illustrate some frameworks, tools and techniques used to explain how a particular insourcing/outsourcing decision was undertaken in a business project context and it explains the rationale behind decisions being made.
The Egyptian mortgage practice
Authors: Hassanein Amr A.G. , El‐Barkouky Mohamed M.G. 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the current mortgage system in Egypt.Design/methodology/approachThe institutional and regulatory structures of two international mortgage systems, namely: the USA and the Malaysian were examined through an extensive literature survey. On the other hand, data on the Egyptian mortgage system were collected, analyzed, then compared to both practices.FindingsThe results identified several limitations in the Egyptian mortgage practice such as: inefficient procedures of property registration; absence of an efficient mortgage secondary market; relatively high‐mortgage lending rates; non‐existence of various types of mortgage instruments and lack of credit enhancement tools.Research limitations/implicationsThe study presented several recommendations for improving the existing mortgage practice, among which were: realizing a proper secondary market and lowering mortgage lending rates.Practical implicationsBy 2002, a sharp decline was experienced in the sales of housing units due to the various credit restrictions adopted by banks, coupled with high‐interest rates in relatively short amortizing periods. Accordingly, home finance process was held up, as the purchasing power of low‐ and middle‐income homebuyers was not sufficient to buy homes with such provisions. This situation imposed the need for a long‐term housing financing mechanism that would directly retrieve the residential construction sector.Originality/valueThis research was innovative in the sense that it directed the Egyptian Government's attention to the existence of Cagamas in Malaysia and accordingly, the first liquidity facility company in Egypt was established in June 2006.
Working memory and multi‐tasking in paranoid schizophrenia with and without comorbid substance use disorder
Authors: Thoma Patrizia , Daum Irene 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTAims  Addiction is a frequent comorbid disorder in schizophrenia and associated with poor outcome. The present study sought to determine whether addicted and non‐addicted schizophrenic patients are impaired differentially on the executive abilities of working memory and multi‐tasking which are relevant for maintaining abstinence.Design  Comparisons of executive performance in clinical and control groups.Setting  In‐patient setting.Participants  The cognitive profile of schizophrenic patients with and without comorbid substance abuse disorder was compared with that of patients suffering from major depression or alcoholism and healthy participants.Measurements  A range of cognitive tasks was used to assess: (i) the ability to update continuously context information in working memory and to use it for action selection; and (ii) the capacity to divide attention between different sensory input channels and to coordinate verbal and manual responses.Findings  Single‐diagnosis schizophrenic patients showed pronounced impairments on measures of online maintenance and use of context information. Their ability to coordinate different sensory input channels (divided attention) was also impaired. Addicted schizophrenics showed evidence of impaired sensory input management and of reduced context sensitivity, when age differences were controlled.Conclusions  The present study indicates severe working memory and multi‐tasking deficits in schizophrenia which are, however, not exacerbated by comorbid addiction.
Social cognition in alcoholism: a link to prefrontal cortex dysfunction?
Authors: Uekermann Jennifer , Daum Irene 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTAims Alcoholism is associated with a range of cognitive deficits. These deficits might be explained by the ‘frontal lobe hypothesis’ which suggests a specific vulnerability of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to the neurotoxic effects of alcohol. Social cognition is thought to be processed in the PFC, but so far only few studies have addressed the issue of social cognition deficits in alcoholism. This review aims to evaluate the deficits in social cognition in alcoholic patients. In addition an outline for future perspectives is given.Methods Medline and Psyclit searches were performed for a 30‐year period (1977–2007).Results Alcoholism is associated clearly with social cognition impairments which include emotional face and prosody perception problems, theory of mind deficits and humour processing difficulties.Conclusions In summary, the social cognition impairments are consistent with the frontal lobe hypothesis of alcoholism. Future studies should focus on (i) the delineation of the basic cognitive processes which underlie social cognition deficits; and (ii) their relevance as predictors of treatment outcome in alcoholism.
The role of national policies intended to regulate adolescent smoking in explaining the prevalence of daily smoking: a study of adolescents from 27 European countries
Authors: Schnohr Christina W. , Kreiner Svend , Rasmussen Mette , Due Pernille , Currie Candace , Diderichsen Finn 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTAims  This study seeks to examine whether contextual factors influence adolescents' daily smoking. A focus was placed on three modifiable policies operating at a national level, non‐smoking policy at educational facilities, price and minimum age for buying tobacco.Design  This study is based on a merged data set consisting of the 2001/02 Health Behavior in School‐aged Children (HBSC) study and national‐level data collected from the 2003 WHO European Tobacco Control Database and the World Development Indicators Database. HBSC is an international study including adolescents from 32 countries in Europe, Israel and North America. Data were analysed with multi‐level hierarchical regression models.Findings  The study found large differences in the prevalence of daily smoking among adolescents, and also large differences between boys and girls within some countries. The study found that smoking bans in schools were associated with lower odds ratios of daily smoking, which was the one positive association in the study. The study found no association between cigarette prices and adolescent daily smoking prevalence, and also the somewhat unexpected finding that having an age limit for allowing adolescents to purchase tobacco was associated with an increased risk of daily smoking.Conclusions  There was an association between mandatory national bans on smoking and lower smoking prevalence. This should be confirmed by studies that examine whether mandatory bans are more rigorously implemented than voluntary bans. If this association is causal, introducing mandatory bans may reduce adolescent smoking prevalence. The findings that price was unrelated to smoking prevalence undermine findings elsewhere that adolescent smokers are more price‐sensitive than adult smokers, but longitudinal studies are needed.
The joint association of average volume of alcohol and binge drinking with hazardous driving behaviour and traffic crashes
Authors: Valencia‐Martín José Lorenzo , Galán Iñaki , Rodríguez‐Artalejo Fernando 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTBackground  Previous studies on alcohol‐related road safety have not assessed the joint impact of average volume of alcohol and binge drinking.Aim  To examine the joint and separate association of average volume of alcohol and binge drinking with hazardous driving behaviour and traffic crashes.Methods  Data were drawn from telephone interviews conducted in the period 2000–2005, with 12 037 individuals representative of the population aged 18–64 years in the Madrid region, Spain. The threshold between average moderate and heavy volumes was 40 g of alcohol/day in men and 24 g/day in women. Binge drinking was defined as intake of ≥ 80 g of alcohol in men and ≥ 60 g in women, during any drinking occasion in the preceding 30 days. Individuals were classified into the following categories: (i) non‐drinkers; (ii) moderate drinkers with no binge drinking (MDNB); (iii) moderate drinkers with binge drinking (MDB); (iv) heavy drinkers with no binge drinking (HDNB); and (v) heavy drinkers with binge drinking (HDB). Analyses were performed using logistic regression, with adjustment for sex, age and educational level.Findings  Frequency of inadequate seat‐belt use increased progressively across categories of alcohol consumption, with odds ratio (OR) 1 in non‐drinkers, 1.19 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.33] in MDNB, 1.69 (1.41–2.03) in MDB, 1.68 (1.24–2.29) in HDNB and 2.41 (1.83–3.18) in HDB (P for trend < 0.001). Compared with MDNB, alcohol‐impaired driving was also more frequent in MDB (OR 7.43; 95% CI: 5.52–10.00), HDNB (OR 7.31; 95% CI: 4.37–12.25) and in HDB (OR 15.50; 95% CI: 10.62–22.61). Lastly, compared with non‐drinkers, frequency of traffic crashes increased progressively across categories of alcohol consumption (P for trend = 0.028), although it only reached statistical significance in HDB (OR 2.01; 95% CI: 1.00–4.09).Conclusions  Self‐reported average volume of alcohol and binge drinking are both associated with self‐reported hazardous driving behaviour and traffic crashes. The strength of the association is greater when average heavy consumption and binge drinking occur jointly.
The cost‐effectiveness of a smoking cessation program for out‐patients in treatment for depression
Authors: Barnett Paul G. , Wong Wynnie , Hall Sharon 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTAims Smoking cessation programs are highly cost‐effective. The cost‐effectiveness of programs for psychiatric patients may be affected by differences in cost, efficacy, survival and quality of life. We evaluated cost‐effectiveness of a program for smokers being treated for depression.Design A randomized trial compared brief contact to a stepped smoking cessation program in 322 cigarette smoking mental health out‐patients. We determined the intervention's direct cost. Because smoking cessation may affect short‐term use of mental health care, we used administrative databases and self‐report to find mental health‐care cost.Findings The 163 individuals randomized to stepped care received an average of $346 of smoking cessation services, including $221 for computer‐mediated assessments of readiness to quit, and $124 for counseling, nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion. The cessation program was used by 53 participants. Total cost of smoking cessation and mental health services was $4805 in the stepped care group and $4173 in the brief‐contact care group (not significantly different). After 18 months of follow‐up, the stepped care group had 5.5% greater abstinence from smoking. Smoking cessation services cost $6204 per successful quit. Cessation services and mental health care cost was $11 496 per successful quit.Conclusion If smoking cessation yields 1.2 years additional life, the cessation services cost $5170 per life‐year, and cessation services and mental health care cost $9580 per life‐year. Even if quitting does not increase survival of depressed individuals as well as in other smokers, the stepped care intervention is likely to be regarded as cost‐effective.