bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
“Always work with a straight back”: the fallacies of modern management and the alternative
Authors: Petersen Verner C. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to show that the tools of modern management which are supposed to promote effectiveness, efficiency and responsible behaviour, may in fact contribute to the opposite, and to present the outline of an alternative based upon new ideas of self‐organisation and value‐based leadership.Design/methodology/approachPractical examples are used to discuss and demonstrate the problematic consequences of using management tools like detailed work descriptions, standards, comprehensive measurement schemes, and rule‐based specifications of responsibility. Constructed examples and emerging theoretical concepts are used to discuss and propose an alternative to the use of such tools.FindingsThe discussion indicates that the use of detailed work descriptions, standards, comprehensive measurement schemes, and rule‐based specifications of responsibility will result in mind‐less and care‐less behaviour by employees, while an alternative relying on self‐organisation and value‐based leadership might preserve and enhance insight, motivation and responsibility.Researchlimitations/implicationsThe paper is mainly a conceptual discussion using examples.Practical implicationsThere are important implications for the management of knowledge intensive companies and institutions. The paper refers to one large‐scale implementation of the alternative in a Danish bank.Originality/valueThe paper represents a first step in constructing an alternative to the tool‐based views of management found in mainstream theories.
Application of quality tools by the Saudi food industry
Authors: Abdulrahman Alsaleh Naser 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe food industry in Saudi Arabia is continually challenged by fierce competition from giant international food processing firms. In spite of that, it constantly shows signs of growth as reflected in its exports. The competition is expected to propagate after joining the World Trade Organization. An investigation identified the readiness and quality status of the Saudi food industry to endure the new challenge and survive the free trade market. The purpose of this paper is to examine the application of the quality tools in the production setups of this industry and to explore signs of TQM to evaluate its competitiveness.Design/methodology/approachA sample drawn from the Saudi food industry was exposed to an empirical survey supported by structured interviews to measure the quality standing of the industry. The survey results were statistically analyzed and presented.FindingsEvidence of the adoption of quality tools and an interest to exploit even more advanced quality measures indicate an encouraging future for the food industry in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, findings reflect enthusiasm of the sector to attain internationally recognized quality awards.Research limitations/implicationsThe motives that stimulate the Saudi industry to practice the quality standards were not investigated. Further exploration is necessary to diagnose the roots of these motives and ultimately suggests a set of guidelines to reinforce or alter the existing motives.Originality/valueThe findings of this study contribute to the prediction and formation of the future of the industrial sector in Saudi Arabia, especially after joining the World Trade Organization.
Salt‐free reactive dyeing of cotton
Authors: Chattopadhyay D.P. , Chavan R.B. , Sharma J.K. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeFibre reactive dyes are very popular for cellulosic garments as they are environmentally safe and having good overall fastness properties. But application of these dyes requires a very high concentration of salt. The salt released from garment dyeing increases salinity in drain water stream which has a negative impact on environmental ecology. The present work aims to eliminate the usage of salt during dyeing of cotton goods with reactive dyes.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology adopted here, for the elimination of salt in cotton dyeing, was based on the principle of cationisation (to develop a positive charge) of cotton. The same was achieved by subjecting the caustic pretreated cotton fabric samples to a treatment of 1, 2 dichloroethane followed by methylamine to introduce amino groups in the cellulose structure. The treated cotton when dyed from slightly acidic bath generates positive sites due to protonation in the amino group. The reactive dyes being anionic (negatively charged) in solution get attracted to the positive charges on the fibre which eliminates the salt requirements for satisfactory dye exhaustion.FindingsThe investigation was conducted for cold brand, hot brand and highly exhaustive reactive dyes. The modified cotton showed excellent dye exhaustion for all the dyes in the absence of salt. The treatment was found to improve the dye fixation also. The modification was assessed through elemental analysis.Research limitations/implicationsThis study may be further extended to viscose material after suitably modifying the treatment conditions.Practical implicationsA pretreatment to cotton which could eliminate the usage of salt in its dyeing with reactive dyes is revealed.Originality/valueThe study explored a newer technique of cotton dyeing without salt usage. Both garment dyeing units and fabric/yarn finishing industries would thus be helpful.
How has the implementation of the UK Freedom of Information Act 2000 affected archives and records management services?
Authors: Shepherd Elizabeth , Ennion Elizabeth 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider what the impact of the first six months of the Freedom of Information Act has been on archives and records management services in UK public services. The UK Freedom of Information Act was passed in 2000 and came into full operation on 1 January 2005. It gives people, regardless of nationality, a right to be told whether public bodies hold information and to be provided with that information. Similar legislation exists in over 50 countries including the USA, Canada, Australia and Ireland.Design/methodology/approachThe project undertook interviews with four case study organisations: University College London, the Metropolitan Police, Peterborough City Council and Soham Village College. Using the Department for Constitutional Affairs Model Action Plan, the researchers examined leadership and policy, training and awareness, information and records management, customers and stakeholders and systems and procedures.FindingsThe research showed that the four case study organisations coped well with the requests they received in the first six months of 2005. However, the systems would not have been robust enough had request levels been higher.Originality/valueArchives and records management services are a key part of FOI and should take an active role in research to establish best practice.
An assessment of well‐being of principals in Flemish primary schools
Authors: Devos G. , Bouckenooghe D. , Engels N. , Hotton G. , Aelterman A. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe goal of this inquiry is to indicate which individual, organisational and external environment factors contribute to a better understanding of the well‐being of Flemish primary school principals.Design/methodology/approachData from a representative sample of primary schools in Flanders (n = 46) were gathered through questionnaires (principals and teachers) and semi‐structured interviews (principals).FindingsThe quantitative and qualitative outcomes suggest that well‐being is a complex psychological phenomenon affected by a myriad of factors. The analyses indicate that general self‐efficacy and achievement orientedness are significantly correlated with several aspects of positive (i.e. job satisfaction and job enthusiasm) and negative well‐being (i.e. cynicism and personal accomplishment). With respect to school culture and structural characteristics, very weak almost negligible effects are noted. In addition, the analysis demonstrates the significant role school boards fulfill in explaining both positive and negative well‐being. Finally, the role of central government in generally is found to affect well‐being in a negative way.Practical implicationsThe findings of this paper provide important information for policy makers concerned with the improvement of the well‐being of primary school principals.Originality/valueAlthough prior research investigated the influence of different antecedents on well‐being, several limitations in method and conceptual framework yielded information of which the usefulness must be considered tentative. In this inquiry an attempt is made to overcome these limitations and contribute to the literature in a double way: this study adopts a concurrent mixed method approach of data collection; and well‐being is examined from a positive psychology (job enthusiasm and job satisfaction) and negative psychology approach (burnout), whereas prior research almost exclusively looked at the negative pole of well‐being.
Fashion clothing – where does it all end up?
Authors: Birtwistle G. , Moore C.M. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how consumers dispose of fashion products and how it might be possible to increase sustainable consumption of textiles.Design/methodology/approachIncreasing volumes of textiles are being produced, purchased and disposed of in landfill sites, which affect the environment. Research has identified the influences in increased purchase behaviour and the tendency to keep clothing for a shorter time. The primary research, undertaken in three stages, is an exploratory examination of the experiences of UK consumers and charity shops managers. Focus groups and key informant interviews were undertaken to achieve the objectives.FindingsThis qualitative study identifies consumers' lack of understanding of how this behaviour affects the environment and key informant interviews explore how clothing can be re‐used and recycled. The conclusions assess what can be learnt from the data and offer suggestions for future research.Originality/valueThe paper is a new area of research which has global implications.
Occupational stress in the chef profession
Authors: Murray‐Gibbons R. , Gibbons C. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider the occupational stress experienced by chefs and the moderating influence of coping behaviour and locus of control on stress outcomes.Design/methodology/approachA total of 40 working chefs were surveyed. They were asked to complete an occupational stress questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire. Differences were sought between gender and locus of control and stress measures, and correlations were carried out between key variables.FindingsThe reported stress was markedly higher than in previous research. Excessive workload, feeling undervalued and communication issues were common and bullying and threats of violence were present for some. Unexpectedly, locus of control was unable to predict stress experiences. Explanations were offered, such as the possibility that those who perceive they have a strong sense of control may believe that this, paradoxically, affords them the opportunity to engage in unhealthy behaviours.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of the research include the influence of the wider environment, specifically the history of political violence in the province, and its possible effect on stress outcomes. However, this may be negated by the many positive effects peace has brought over the last decade. In drawing conclusions it is important to note the limitations of the sample size and the self‐reporting nature of survey responses. Further research could usefully incorporate well‐being as well as stress measures, including physiological ones. It would be worth exploring further how one's sense of control affects perceptions of stress and, in turn, the coping behaviours engaged in.Practical implicationsPractical implications include the need for managers and head chefs to provide more feedback to employees, to validate their good work and to foster a supportive working environment. Norms in the working environment endorsing aggressive behaviour must be challenged. Staff appraisals should consider the need to have work that involves variety and challenge, especially where changes involve increases in workload.Originality/valueThis paper identifies some important ingredients to reduce distress and it will be of value to chefs and other kitchen staff and, more broadly, to those involved in people management.
Exploring service quality in the health and fitness industry
Authors: Lagrosen Stefan , Lagrosen Yvonne 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to discover quality dimensions for the health‐and‐fitness industry and to examine the salient aspects of the quality‐management practices of organisations in this industry.Design/methodology/approachThe research in this paper uses a grounded‐theory approach to a multiple case study of 15 companies in the Swedish health‐and‐fitness industry. Qualitative methods in the form of in‐depth interviews and observation are utilised for data collection.FindingsThe paper finds that a framework for fitness quality management is developed and presented. The quality dimensions are found to be “pleasure”, “mental change”, and “physical change”. The main enablers are defined as “relational competence” and “technical competence”. Other indirect enablers are also identified and described.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper shows that because the framework is based on qualitative data collection, the relationships are not quantified. This could be an objective of further research.Practical implicationsThe framework presented in this paper is useful for managers of fitness companies when designing and managing their activities.Originality/valueThe paper presents a novel framework of the salient features of quality in fitness services – an industry that has received little scholarly attention in the past. This research also contributes to the general understanding of service quality, and demonstrates the usefulness of inductive qualitative methodology in this regard.
Investigating and classifying clients' satisfaction with business incubator services
Authors: Abduh Muhamad , D'Souza Clare , Quazi Ali , Burley Henry T. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show that a business incubation/incubator program is an enterprise development strategy, aimed at accelerating the process of formation, development, survivability and growth of new enterprises by providing those new enterprises (clients) with a wide range of business assistance including physical facilities, business counselling and networking. This paper presents results of a research conducted to investigate the level of satisfaction/dissatisfaction of the clients with the provision of those assistance services.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper the level of clients' satisfaction/dissatisfaction with a service is calculated using a proposed framework in terms of the mean difference between the importance of the service and the effectiveness of incubator management in providing the respective service as perceived by the clients.FindingsThe results in this paper indicate that clients were generally more satisfied with facility related services than the counselling and business networking assistances services. However, there are significant differences between the perceived importance attached to a number of facility related services and the effectiveness of those services, suggesting a variation of the level of clients' satisfaction.Originality/valueThese findings have important implications for the management of business incubation programs, which are highlighted in this paper.
Mixed convection heat and mass transfer of non‐Newtonian fluids from a permeable surface embedded in a porous medium
Authors: Chamkha Ali J. , Al‐Humoud Jasem M. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeTo consider simultaneous heat and mass transfer by mixed convection for a non‐Newtonian power‐law fluid from a permeable vertical plate embedded in a fluid‐saturated porous medium in the presence of suction or injection and heat generation or absorption effects.Design/methodology/approachThe problem is formulated in terms of non‐similar equations. These equations are solved numerically by an efficient implicit, iterative, finite‐difference method.FindingsIt was found that as the buoyancy ratio was increased, both the local Nusselt and Sherwood numbers increased in the whole range of free and mixed convection regime while they remained constant for the forced‐convection regime. However, they decreased and then increased forming dips as the mixed‐convection parameter was increased from the free‐convection limit to the forced‐convection limit for both Newtonian and dilatant fluid situations.Research limitations/implicationsThe problem is limited to slow flow of non‐Newtonian power‐law fluids in porous media. Future research may consider inertia effects of porous media for relatively higher velocity flows.Practical implicationsA very useful source of information for researchers on the subject of non‐Newtonian fluids in porous media.Originality/valueThis paper illustrates simultaneous heat and mass transfer in porous media for power‐law fluids with heat generation or absorption effects.
A computational fluid dynamics analysis of a PEM fuel cell system for power generation
Authors: Carcadea Elena , Ene H. , Ingham D.B. , Lazar R. , Ma L. , Pourkashanian M. , Stefanescu I. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to present a three‐dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model that simulates the fluid flow, species transport and electric current flow in PEM fuel cells.Design/methodology/approachThe model makes use of a general‐purpose CFD software as a basic tool incorporating fuel cell specific submodels for multi‐component species transport, electrochemical kinetics, water management and electric phase potential analysis in order to simulate various processes that occur in a PEM fuel cell.FindingsThree dimensional results for the flow field, species transport, including waster formations, and electric current distributions are presented for two test flow configurations in the PEM fuel cell. For the two cases presented, reasonable predictions have been obtained, and this provides an insight into the effect of the flow designs to the operation of the fuel cell.Research limitations/implicationsIt is appreciated that the CFD modeling of fuel cells is, in general, still facing significant challenges due to the limited understanding of the complex physical and chemical processes existing within the fuel cell. The model is now under further development to improve its capabilities and undergoing further validations.Practical implicationsThe model simulations can provide detailed information on some of the key fluid dynamics, physical and chemical/electro‐chemical processes that exist in fuel cells which are crucial for fuel cell design and optimization.Originality/valueThe model can be used to understand the operation of the fuel cell and provide and alternative to experimental investigations in order to improve the performance of the fuel cell.
Buoyancy effects on upward and downward laminar mixed convection heat and mass transfer in a vertical channel
Authors: Azizi Youssef , Benhamou Brahim , Galanis Nicolas , El‐Ganaoui Mohammed 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe objective of the present study is to investigate numerically the effects of thermal and buoyancy forces on both upward flow (UF) and downward flow (DF) of air in a vertical parallel‐plates channel. The plates are wetted by a thin liquid water film and maintained at a constant temperature lower than that of the air entering the channel.Design/methodology/approachThe solution of the elliptical PDE modeling the flow field is based on the finite volume method.FindingsResults show that buoyancy forces have an important effect on heat and mass transfers. Cases with evaporation and condensation have been investigated for both UF and DF. It has been established that the heat transfer associated with these phase changes (i.e. latent heat transfer) may be more or less important compared with sensible heat transfer. The importance of these transfers depends on the temperature and humidity conditions. On the other hand, flow reversal has been predicted for an UF with a relatively high temperature difference between the incoming air and the walls.Originality/valueContrary to most studies in channel heat and mass transfer with phase change, the mathematical model considers the full elliptical Navier‐Stokes equations. This allows one to compute situations of flow reversal.
Japanese corporations: gender differences in re‐defining tacit knowledge
Authors: Luethge Denise J. , Byosiere Philippe 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis research aims to examine differences in male and female tacit knowledge conversion behaviours in Japan, essentially marrying the studies from knowledge creation and gender‐based management in an Asian context.Design/methodology/approachData are collected from a sample of 986 junior, middle and senior level managers in a Japanese firm, of which 14 per cent are women, examining socialisation variables from Nonaka's SECI model.FindingsThe study finds that female managers in Japan believe they attach more importance and perceive that they allocate more time to tacit knowledge socialisation variables than do males for all of the variables in question, although they rank the importance of the variables in much the same way.Research implications/implicationsThe study concludes that Kingston may be correct in his description of a “demographic time bomb” in Japanese society, as women begin to undertake similar management behaviours as men.Practical implicationsWomen focus on or show a preference for using certain types of information while men may focus on or show a preference for using different types of information. As more women move into middle and upper management in Japan, firms that better meet the needs and focus upon opportunities for women will be able to take advantage of the diversity these individuals bring to an organisation.Originality/valueBecause women are so sparse in Japanese management, few studies have examined their preferences and behaviours. This study gives us a window into the future of how women may act as their numbers increase in Japanese organisations.