bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Automated support of software quality improvement
Authors: Leung Hareton K.N. , Liao Li , Qu Yuzhong 
Published: March 2007

PurposeQuality improvement is critical to the success of software development organizations. Automated tools can greatly assist in the implementation of quality improvement. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the state of tool support of software process improvement.Design/methodology/approachThe authors first review three quality improvement models that can be used for improving the quality of software products, and then identify the required activities of the quality improvement effort based on those models. These activities identified then serve as a reference list to determine the support provided by commercial tools. The paper then conducts two surveys of software quality improvement tools and presents the results.FindingsThe results from two surveys indicate that: there is no tool that supports problem identification; most tools can provide several software process improvement functions to help software organizations to improve their process capability and the quality of their products; and there is no set of tools that can provide a complete coverage of all improvement activities.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the authors have conducted a detailed search on the internet to identify SPI tools, such a survey will miss those tools which have no presence on the internet. However, the authors are confident that their results can reflect what is available in the marketplace.Practical implicationsProcess practitioners will learn about the state of support available in the marketplace and what they may need to develop on their own to provide complete support for their improvement efforts.Originality/valueThe paper proposes a classification of software process improvement functions and present a first survey of software quality improvement tools. The results will be beneficial to process practitioners.
Measuring the results in B2C e‐commerce
Authors: Melián‐Alzola Lucía , Padrón‐Robaina Víctor 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the role and importance of results in B2C e‐commerce from the customer's perspective, together with impact on overall perceived quality and customer attitudes.Design/methodology/approachThe data base for this study was obtained from a sample of 191 individuals who had purchased on the internet and the techniques used in the statistical analysis of the data were as follows: principal components analysis, structural equations and regression analyses.FindingsTwo dimensions – cost and guarantee – explain value in e‐commerce. In the data resulting from the analyses, guarantee turns out to be a more important factor with respect to overall perceived quality and consumer attitudes than cost.Research limitations/implicationsIf a company manages to improve its e‐commerce transaction results, this will have a favorable effect on overall perceived quality and consumer attitudes. In other words, the result is as important as the process for a successful purchase.Practical implicationsThe scale, integrated for the dimensions “guarantee” and “cost” should help firms to identify and improve their B2C e‐commerce results from the customer perspective. Consequently, it will have a positive effect on overall quality, disposition to repeat and disposition to recommend.Originality/valueCompanies operating on the internet will find a number of suggestions in this paper on how to achieve competitive advantage through the successful management of their websites, improving results – guarantee and cost – to customers.
Six sigma in service organisations
Authors: Antony Jiju , Jiju Antony Frenie , Kumar Maneesh , Rae Cho Byung 
Published: March 2007

PurposeSix sigma has received considerable attention over the last four years in the UK service sector. The purpose of this paper is to present a review of the literature on six sigma as applied to the service industry, followed by a presentation of the key findings obtained from a pilot survey carried out in UK service organisations.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents some of the most common challenges, difficulties, common myths, and implementation issues in the application of six sigma in service industry settings. It also discusses the benefits of six sigma in service organisations, tools and techniques of six sigma for service performance improvement, key criteria for the selection of winning projects, followed by the results of a six sigma pilot survey in UK service organisations.FindingsThe results of the study show that the majority of service organisations in the UK have been engaged in a six sigma initiative for just over three years. The average sigma quality level of the companies was around 2.8 (approximately 98,000 DPMO). Management commitment and involvement, customer focus, linking six sigma to business strategy, organisational infrastructure, project management skills, and understanding of the six sigma methodology are the most critical factors for the successful introduction, development and deployment of six sigma.Originality/valueThis paper reports the first study on the status of six sigma implementation in UK service organisations. The findings and key observations of this paper will be of immense value to the six sigma academic and research community.
Pressures exerted on managers by their superior and peer managers
Authors: Braithwaite Jeffrey , Westbrook Mary T. , Mallock Nadine A. 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how, and the degree to which, superior and peer managers exerted pressure on middle managers' work cross‐culturally.Design/methodology/approachAustralian (n=251) and Singaporean (n=340) health managers, respectively of Anglo and Confucian‐Asian cultures, rated the pressures exerted on them by managers, superior and peer (managers at the same level), regarding nine work pursuits, and described the nature of this pressure.FindingsSingaporeans reported greater pressure from superiors regarding people, customer, process and quality management. Australians and Singaporeans experienced similar pressure from superiors concerning financial, organisational, data, planning and external relations management. Singaporeans reported more pressure from peers in all work domains. In Singapore superior and peer managers applied pressure to similar activities but areas targeted by Australian peer and superior managers were not significantly related. Singaporean superiors were more likely to apply pressure through deadlines and appraisals.Research limitations/implicationsConvenience samples from one occupational sector may limit the generalisability of the results.Practical implicationsKnowledge of the degree and sources of stress encountered by middle managers in an Anglo and a Confucian‐Asian culture may enhance organisational communication both within and between these cultures.Originality/valueAlthough it is a crucial issue, pressures exerted on managers by superior and particularly peer managers regarding specific managerial work pursuits has received little attention, particularly from a cross‐cultural perspective.
Increasing organizational citizenship behaviors of Turkish academicians
Authors: Ertürk Alper 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the role of organizational justice and trust in supervisor in enhancing organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) of Turkish academicians.Design/methodology/approachData were collected via a web‐based questionnaire. A total of 1,018 academicians from public universities in Turkey participated in the study. The basic postulate of this study is that trust in supervisor will surpass the effects of employee perceptions of managerial fairness (i.e. distributive justice, procedural justice and interactional justice) as they jointly influence both OCBs directed to the organization (OCBO) and OCBs directed to the individuals (OCBI).FindingsThe findings in this paper indicate that trust in supervisor fully mediates the relationship between organizational justice and OCBO, however it partially mediated the relationship between organizational justice and OCBI of Turkish academicians.Originality/valueThis paper has contributed to the literature by investigating the combined effects of organizational justice and trust in supervisor on both OCBO and OCBI in a different cultural context and profession. Managerial and theoretical implications of research findings are also discussed.
The self‐rater's personality and self‐other disagreement in multi‐source performance ratings
Authors: Goffin Richard D. , Anderson David W. 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine relationships between a priori‐chosen personality traits and the tendency for a manager to rate his/her job performance more favourably than well‐acquainted superiors, peers, and subordinates do.Design/methodology/approachThe job performance of 204 managers was evaluated using multi‐source (i.e. 360E) ratings (self, subordinates, peers, and superiors). Managers also completed personality measures. Relationships between managers' personality and the tendency for managers to rate their own job performance higher than subordinates, peers, and superiors did were analyzed using advanced regression techniques.FindingsThe paper finds that self‐superior and self‐peer disagreement in performance ratings (i.e. self‐rating inflation) was associated with high Achievement and high Self‐Esteem. Additionally, self‐superior disagreement (i.e. self‐rating deflation) was associated with high Anxiety. Self‐subordinate disagreement was not associated with self‐rater personality.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper studied a single sample of financial services managers. Generalization requires cross‐validation with other occupational groups and organizations.Practical implicationsHuman resources professionals should be informed that self‐superior and self‐peer disagreement (i.e. self‐rating inflation) in multi‐source job performance ratings is potentially beneficial because it is associated with personality traits that can facilitate positive responses to feedback. Peers and superiors should therefore not inflate their ratings of managers in an effort to reduce self‐superior and self‐peer disagreement in ratings.Originality/valueThis study improved upon most previous investigations of this topic by using a field setting, considering a wider range of personality variables, using 360( job performance ratings (self‐, supervisor‐, peer‐, and subordinate‐ratings) rather than just a subset of these rating sources, and employing superior statistical procedures.
Impression management behavior: effects of the organizational system
Authors: Drory Amos , Zaidman Nurit 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare patterns of impression management in two organizational systems, namely, organic and mechanistic.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data were gathered from 23 employees by means of in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews. In addition, questionnaires pertaining to the use of impression management strategies toward superiors and peers were given to 208 employees from military and R&D organizations.FindingsThe results suggest that employees in mechanistic systems engage more in impression management behavior and direct their efforts more often toward their superiors than toward their peers, most frequently by using the strategy of “Ingratiation”. On the other hand, employees in the organic system sample use impression management to a lesser extent, and they direct it more equally toward superiors and peers. Their predominant strategy is “Initiation.” These results are discussed in light of the differences in the norms and structural characteristics of the two organizational systems.Research limitations/implicationsThe mechanistic system was represented by a military organization and there is disproportionate representation of males in the survey sample.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates the importance of the specific characteristics of an organizational system in shaping employees' impression management behavior.
The Job Demands‐Resources model: state of the art
Authors: Bakker Arnold B. , Demerouti Evangelia 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to give a state‐of‐the art overview of the Job Demands‐Resources (JD‐R) modelDesign/methodology/approachThe strengths and weaknesses of the demand‐control model and the effort‐reward imbalance model regarding their predictive value for employee well being are discussed. The paper then introduces the more flexible JD‐R model and discusses its basic premises.FindingsThe paper provides an overview of the studies that have been conducted with the JD‐R model. It discusses evidence for each of the model's main propositions. The JD‐R model can be used as a tool for human resource management. A two‐stage approach can highlight the strengths and weaknesses of individuals, work groups, departments, and organizations at large.Originality/valueThis paper challenges existing stress models, and focuses on both negative and positive indicators of employee well being. In addition, it outlines how the JD‐R model can be applied to a wide range of occupations, and be used to improve employee well being and performance.
Information ethics for twenty‐first century library professionals
Authors: Fallis Don 
Published: March 2007

PurposeTo provide an introduction to concepts and resources that will be useful to library professionals learning about information ethics.Design/methodology/approachThis paper argues for the importance of information ethics to twenty‐first century library professionals. It describes what various authors have said about how information ethics can be applied to the ethical dilemmas faced by library professionals.FindingsIn order to deal effectively with their ethical dilemmas, library professionals must have a good working knowledge of information ethics. Codes of professional ethics can help to provide such knowledge, but they are not sufficient. Courses on information ethics must be part of the education of information professionals. Such courses should provide library professionals with an understanding of ethical theories and how they apply to concrete practical cases. Such courses should also make explicit the connection between information ethics and the mission of the library professional.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of publications on the topic of information ethics and library professionals.Originality/valueThis paper provides library professionals with a concise introduction to information ethics.
From computer ethics to the ethics of global ICT society
Authors: Górniak‐Kocikowska Krystyna 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address the place of computer/ICT ethics in the global ICT society driven by knowledge economy.Design/methodology/approachThe paper focuses on three main issues: the evolution of the name of the leading technology of our times and, accordingly, the evolution of the name of the society in which this technology plays the leading role; some ethical dilemmas that the global ICT society will need to solve; global ICT ethics and the knowledge economy.FindingsThe paper suggests that global ICT ethics should be an ethics focusing on the dynamics of the relationship between the weak and the strong, the rich and the poor, the healthy and the sick worldwide – and it should explore the ethical problems from the point of view of both parties involved. That way, Global ICT Ethics can have a truly communicative character, and it can become an ethics that will be both a co‐creator and also a result of a democratic processes.Originality/valueThis paper should interest anyone concerned with ICT and globalization.
Foundational issues in information ethics
Authors: Einar Himma Kenneth 
Published: March 2007

PurposeInformation ethics, as is well known, has emerged as an independent area of ethical and philosophical inquiry. There are a number of academic journals that are devoted entirely to the numerous ethical issues that arise in connection with the new information communication technologies; these issues include a host of intellectual property, information privacy, and security issues of concern to librarians and other information professionals. In addition, there are a number of major international conferences devoted to information ethics every year. It would hardly be overstating the matter to say that information ethics is as “hot” an area of theoretical inquiry as medical ethics. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview on these and related issues.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a review of relevant information ethics literature together with the author's assessment of the arguments.FindingsThere are issues that are more abstract and basic than the substantive issues with which most information ethics theorizing is concerned. These issues are thought to be “foundational” in the sense that we cannot fully succeed in giving an analysis of the concrete problems of information ethics (e.g. are legal intellectual property rights justifiably protected?) until these issues are adequately addressed.Originality/valueThe paper offers a needed survey of foundational issues in information ethics.
Intelligent agent concepts in the modern library
Authors: Dent Valeda F. 
Published: March 2007

PurposeIntelligent agents – software components designed to perform complex tasks for the user (with or without the presence of the user) – are used in a variety of settings, from instant messaging and web auctions, to ATM network management and air traffic control systems. The technology also has applicability within libraries, adding a level of user‐oriented control and flexibility to activities such as digital collection management and virtual reference. The use of intelligent agents to assist users with their searches has perhaps the greatest potential. The purpose of this article is to provide background information on the use of agent technology in information settings, and review three library‐based projects that utilize agent technology in a practical way.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive literature review combined with brief case studies of practical applications of agent technology in three modern library settings. A conceptual model of a virtual, agent‐based personalized library is also presented.FindingsLibrarians and others in the information profession recognize the potential of agent technology within the library setting. The paper presents a number of practical scenarios for using agents, from supporting digital libraries and teaching information literacy to virtual reference.Practical implicationsThere are numerous implications for current and future use of agent technology in libraries, including how to engage IT staff in the development process, how to educate users about the benefits of the technology, and how to make sure library professionals have the skill set to allow them to participate in the conceptualization, design and implementation of agents.Originality/valueThere is a wealth of professional literature on agent technology and its uses, mostly from a computing or engineering perspective. This paper has value in that it presents the concept from a library perspective, and includes references to relevant library literature and projects.
Webmasters, web policies, and academic libraries: a survey
Authors: Hendricks Arthur 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to gauge how university libraries are currently handling web policies as well as to see if the role of the library webmaster has evolved.Design/methodology/approachA survey was created and an invitation to participate was sent to various electronic discussion lists. Most of the questions were quantitative and were coded to find trends in the responses.FindingsMost of the respondents either are reference librarians or webmasters, and they are mostly staff or faculty. As increasing numbers of resources become available electronically, university library web pages are going to continue to play an important role in academia. Survey responses indicate that most libraries (52 percent) have developed a web policy and 64 percent have formed a web advisory committee to maintain their web content. Responses also indicate the desire for further training in keeping up with the new technologies and the increased workload due to the time spent in maintaining web pages.Research limitations/implicationsActual policies could have been collected but it seemed beyond the scope of this paper.Practical implicationsDeveloping a policy or forming an advisory committee is desirable as technology becomes more sophisticated and content and resources are proliferating, as seen in the trends indicated by this survey. Therefore, the amount of the web work can be decentralized and should be shared by all parties involved in order to maintain and enhance the quality of the library's web site.Originality/valueWhile there have been many articles written about the role of webmasters in libraries, there appear to be few that deal with the policies of the library itself in regard to creating content for the web. This paper would be useful to academic librarians dealing with web policies.
Courseware and library services: bridging the gap for distance students
Authors: Scales Jane , Wolf Danel , Johnson Corey , Cummings Lara 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to model a practical solution to the lack of library modules within commercial courseware.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive examination of the technical, political, and practical issues surrounding this problem provides the framework for designing a dynamic administrative tool that facilitates information access for distance courses.FindingsThere are many different programming languages and models librarians can use to implement similar course modules. If librarians lack the skills to build these applications, student workers skilled in computer science can help.Practical implicationsThis and similar models of organizing resources and information for distance students has an immediate impact on services to online users, leveraging of resources and tangible benefits to the student.Originality/valueLibrarians need to build their own technological solutions to serve their users when the commercial world is not addressing a real need.