bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An exploration of the potential of WWW current awareness services for oncology nurses
Authors: Fourie Ina , Claasen‐Veldsman Retha 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe potential of current awareness services (CAS) for oncology nurses is considered with special reference to the spectrum of WWW CAS that are available, their benefits and problems, and how these can be linked to the dynamic health environments in which oncology nurses may find themselves. The intention with the article is to show the need for exploring the value of WWW CAS for dynamic professional fields such as oncology nursing, and to offer a point of departure for research on their information behaviour. The WWW CAS that were identified might be used to get oncology nurses interested in using such services, as well as in participating in research on their information behaviour.Design/methodology/approachA literature study on the nature and value of CAS is combined with a cursory analysis of the literature of oncology nursing to provide insight into the professional demands that oncology nurses need to cope with, and the potential value of CAS for oncology nurses. Based on this a selection of WWW CAS suitable for oncology nurses is identified. Insight into the potential of WWW CAS for oncology nurses and the CAS that are available are combined with what can be learned from studies on information‐seeking behaviour to offer some suggestions on how the need for oncology nurses to use CAS available via the WWW can be further explored. In general the suggestions to explore the use of CAS would also apply to other professional fields.FindingsIt seems as if oncology nurses can benefit substantially from WWW CAS. To successfully implement such CAS, extensive research on the information‐seeking behaviour, information use and information communication of oncology nurses is, however, necessary. The article could be used as an instrument to gain oncology nurses' interest in WWW CAS, and willingness to participate in further research on their information needs and information behaviour.Practical implicationsOncology nurses' interest in CAS can be stimulated, and the article can be used as point of departure for further research. The article can also offer new opportunities for library and information (LIS) professionals to offer CAS in the health and other professional sectors, by reconsidering how one can use CAS available via the WWW.Originality/valueNo reports on CAS for oncology nurses could be traced, and there are also very few reports on the information needs and information behaviour of oncology nurses. The article hopes to pave the way for renewed interest in using CAS in demanding professional environments, and especially the health sciences, as well as to stimulate interest in research in information‐seeking behaviour in the health sciences.
Youth based segmentation in the Malaysian retail banking sector
Authors: Rugimbana Robert 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to address the important question of how to attract and retain a fragmented and ecologically diverse youth segment in a rapidly changing retail banking sector such as Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilises a combination of theoretical frameworks, and quantitative techniques to ascertain the most important motivational goals for Malaysian youth when making e‐channels choices.FindingsThis study generates empirical evidence which supports the general theory that prominent cultural values such as those that stress integrity of the referent group, self‐reliance and social identity are important influencers of the likelihood of adopting selected electronic banking channels.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is needed on all retail banking e‐channels apart from those currently most readily accessible in Malaysia. Similarly, researchers may consider other demographic segments for purposes of generating more robust theoretical frameworks.Practical implicationsService innovation characteristics as well as prominent cultural values that stress, self‐reliance, integrity of the reference group and social identity and compliance may have significant implications for marketing practice even where diverse youth segments are concerned.Originality/valueThis study is the first that seeks to ascertain the importance of prominent individual cultural values as predictors of consumer choice in the context of e‐banking services in Malaysia. Therefore, this study thus sets an important benchmark for further research in the area.
An analysis of main and subsidiary credit card holding and spending
Authors: Devlin James F. , Worthington Steve , Gerrard P. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis study seeks to examine why most multiple credit cardholders have a “main” card (i.e. a card used more often than others) and “subsidiary” cards (i.e. cards used less often or only in an emergency) and the spending patterns associated with main and subsidiary cards.Design/methodology/approachThe study is qualitative in nature, using a survey which contained open‐ended questions to acquire data. Responses were subject to content analysis to categorise the reasons given for having a main and subsidiary card.FindingsResults show that some 85 per cent of the 141 respondents indicated that they had a main card and the most frequently quoted reason for having such a card was the superior discounts and promotions which were offered by the card issuer. Not surprisingly, main cards were used for the broadest range of transactions, while subsidiary cards were used for a more restricted range of transactions, a majority saying that their subsidiary cards were held for “stand‐by purposes”.Research limitations/implicationsThe primary limitation of this study is that the generalizability of the findings cannot be guaranteed. Although there is no particular evidence that Singaporeans behave differently from others in the credit card market, replication of the findings in other countries would confirm the generalizability of the findings in this study.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that managers who market credit cards should aim to ensure that, at all times, the discounts they offer, the promotions they arrange and their loyalty schemes are superior to those offered by competitors. By meeting these aims, higher numbers of consumers, who are multiple cardholders, are likely to use their card as a main card, thereby generating more income for their credit card issuer.Originality/valueThe study provides an original insight into an important element of consumer behaviour in the credit card market and also offers guidance for marketing managers responsible for enhancing credit card ownership and usage.
Attracting for values: an empirical study of ASA's attraction proposition
Authors: Billsberry Jon 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to report an empirical test of Schneider's attraction proposition that organizations attract similar types of people.Design/methodology/approachThe person‐people (PP), person‐group (PG) and person‐organization (PO) fit of applicants to eight utility firms were compared with the similar fits of members of a suitable comparison group.FindingsThe results show an effect for person‐vocation (PV) fit but, once this is controlled for, all significant effects disappear. In other words, the PP, PG and PO fits of applicants to the utilities were no different from those in the comparison group once PV fit was controlled for.Research limitations/implicationsThese results suggest that applicants choose which organization to apply to based on their desire for a particular type of work rather than their attraction for particular companies, which is contrary to Schneider's attraction proposition. One reason for this might be the nature of graduates who are largely unaware of the organizational environments to which they are applying. Drawing from the interpersonal attraction literature, it is argued that applicants need familiarity, proximity and exposure to the organization for Schneider's attraction proposition to appear.Practical implicationsThese results suggest graduates choose vocations over organizations and that, if organizations wish to attract people who share their values, they need to put more effort into their recruitment efforts than those described in this study. The absence of an attraction effect suggests that, when applicants make attraction decisions based on their perceived fit, they may not be supported by an actual congruence.Originality/valueThis study extends previous work by including multiple conceptualizations of fit, by including person‐group and person‐people fits in addition to person‐organization fit.
A multivariate analysis of the determinants of auditors' opinions on Asian banks
Authors: Gaganis Chrysovalantis , Pasiouras Fotios 
Published: February 2007

PurposePrior studies on the determinants of audit reports focus on non‐financial sectors. In contrast, the present study seeks to examine the determinants of auditors' opinion in the banking industry, using a sample of banks drawn from nine Asian countries over the period 1995‐2004.Design/methodology/approachLogistic regression and a sample of 199 qualified financial statements and 4,403 unqualified ones are used.FindingsThe results indicate that Asian banks that receive qualified opinions are in general smaller ones, less well capitalized, less profitable and cost efficient, and appear to have excess liquidity. More external auditing requirements and less accounting and disclosure requirements in the banking sector, also increase the probability of receiving a qualified audit opinion.Practical implicationsKnowledge of the above mentioned characteristics could be of particular interest to banks' managers, investors, credit analysts and bank supervisors.Originality/valueDespite the economic importance of the banking industry, accounting researchers have done little to investigate the various relationships that exist between banks and their auditors. Furthermore, most studies focus on the US market and examine the pricing of audit services for financial institutions, the audit opinions on publicly‐traded savings and loans institutions that subsequently failed, the effectiveness of bank audit, the loss underreporting and the auditor role of examination of banks, the impact of accounting and auditing systems on risk‐shifting of safety nets in banking. The present paper extends the literature by investigating the determinants of external auditors' opinion on Asian banks.
Refocus your business for improved performance
Authors: Jackson Stuart E. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeMany companies find that they have widely differing levels of profitability and success in different parts of their business. There are a range of well‐established accounting tools to quantify the variability in performance but managers still have difficulty taking action: perhaps dropping one loss‐making product line will negatively impact other parts of the business; perhaps a large customer has low margins but still helps to absorb fixed overheads. The purpose of this paper is to offer business leaders a way out of this dilemma.Design/methodology/approachIntroduces the framework of strategic market position (SMP) which allows managers to understand the linkages and boundaries between different parts of their business and to take needed actions around variations in performance. The central case study is C.H. Guenther & Son, a regional flour milling and food products company based in San Antonio, Texas.FindingsDescribes how C.H. Guenther applied the principles of SMP to refocus their business – with dramatic improvements in operating performance.Originality/valueThe way in which the case company reached a position to make adjustments to its sales and marketing priorities and arrived at a strategic prescription to follow thereafter, could be applicable to other companies.
Global airline alliances: sparking profitability for a troubled industry
Authors: Czipura Christian , Jolly Dominique R. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeMore than ever, as far as legislation permits, long‐haul airlines tend to group in alliances. This paper examines the historic developments of two alliances in terms of their potential for increasing profitability of individual airlines.Design/methodology/approachFourteen in‐depth interviews were conducted with airline executives belonging to the two leading alliances, SkyTeam and Star Alliance, as well as with aviation experts. In addition to the recent literature on alliances theory, the Internet was used to obtain data from international organizations, consultancies, universities and airlines – members and non‐members of an alliance.FindingsStar Alliance might be one step ahead of SkyTeam (in terms of scope, number of members, organization, age …). Star Alliance is not only bigger but its geographical scope is wider; the number of members in each region is more balanced. The Star Alliance Services GmbH as head organization provides members with a workforce dedicated solely to the goals of the alliance. But Star Alliance's advantage may be short‐lived, especially since the airline industry demonstrates one of the fastest dynamics of all industries, and government regulations change rapidly as well.Practical implicationsInter‐firm agreements in the airline industry have undergone dramatic changes and the future will bring additional transformations. The dichotomy between endogamic and exogamic partnerships is used to explain these changes. Previous agreements were endogamies: alliances between companies with comparable profiles mostly centered on back‐office activities as in Global Distribution Systems. Current mega alliances, such as SkyTeam and Star Alliance, are exogamies. They are alliances between companies mostly originating from distinct geographic territories. As such, they built on differences between partners regarding their networks. Their current focus is on front‐office activities to better serve customers and the alliances have used publicity to attract more customers. The main thrust is to increase the number of passengers so as to increase revenues. It is forecast that these mega alliances will again change their emphasis to back‐office activities to benefit from economies of scale and decrease operating costs.Originality/valueIs of value in highlighting how the issues indifferent kinds of alliances are not managed the same way. In exogamic relationships, partners must learn about and adapt to each other. The qualitative differences that exist between organisations can be a threat to the success of the alliance and must therefore be managed. In addition, the two types of alliances do not produce the same results. Endogamies standardize processes to obtain benefits of scale in at least one stage of the value chain. Exogamic relationships, in contrast, develop qualitative benefits that result from a synergy of different resources.
GM crops in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Ram Pillarisetti J. , Lawrey Roger , Radel Kylie 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model has been used to claim that genetically modified (GM) crops have substantial positive welfare potential for sub‐Saharan Africa. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine these claims with a view to seeing if this type of modelling provides any meaningful basis for agricultural policy recommendations.Design/methodology/approachOne particular study is examined to show that because any possible negative effects of GM foods are ignored, optimistic assumptions are made about increases in productivity and trade, and selective scenarios are used, the modelling must, perforce, result in positive welfare effects.FindingsIt is found that, because of the assumptions of the study and the restricted scenarios investigated, all the modelling can do is estimate the size of the supposedly positive benefits. A negative outcome is not possible.Practical implicationsIt is argued that the GTAP model is inappropriate for sub‐Saharan Africa and that the sweeping conclusions from this type of stylised modelling trivialize the complex poverty and socio‐economic problems of sub‐Saharan Africa.Originality/valueIt is demonstrated that, in this case, the GTAP model is not only redundant, but also can yield risky policy recommendations for sub‐Saharan Africa as it affects not only the livelihoods of millions of poor Africans but the ecological balance, biodiversity and economic independence of these nations.
Corruption, firm growth and export propensity in Kenya
Authors: Kimuyu Peter 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper draws from research that sought to explore the structure of corruption in Kenya and its implications on the performance of firms.Design/methodology/approachThe research takes the form of descriptive and econometrics analyses of Investment Climate Assessment data sets.FindingsKenyan manufacturers spent significant proportions of their annual sales on unofficial payments including kick‐backs on government contracts. There is also evidence of co‐movement between such unofficial payments and red‐tape, suggesting that corruption does not play any greasing function. Not only does corruption undermine firm growth but also reduces the propensity to export. The findings uphold others that demonstrate the deleterious consequences of corruption.Research limitations/implicationsFurther work is needed in tidying up the methods of collecting corruption data. Although a battery of strategies was used to reduce potential response biases common in corruption data, the information leans towards perceptions so that the findings remain tentative.Practical implicationsThe results should be of interest to policy makers and researchers and should put the fight against corruption on a firmer footing.Originality/valueThe paper establishes that corruption undermines the performance of firms.
The mix of qualitative and quantitative research in major marketing journals, 1993‐2002
Authors: Hanson Dallas , Grimmer Martin 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to determine the mix of qualitative and quantitative research published in major marketing journals.Design/methodology/approachThis study involved a content analysis of 1,195 articles published between 1993 and 2002 in three prominent marketing journals.FindingsIt was found that 24.80 per cent of articles employed qualitative methods in some form, and 46.28 per cent quantitative research. The main justification provided for use of qualitative methods was the ability to provide more insight or a deeper understanding of the phenomenon under investigation. No increase was seen, however, in the amount (year by year) of qualitative research published over this period. This paper accounts for the continued dominance of quantitative research using linked historical, social and practical arguments.Practical implicationsThe issue of method is central to marketing research. Understanding of the actual (as distinct from espoused) orientation of marketing researchers and journals is an aid to researchers intent on publishing their work.Originality/valueThis is the largest content analysis conducted of research in marketing and, in addition to the findings of the analysis, the explanation offered for the dominance of quantitative methods is of value to researchers.
Management development in New Zealand
Authors: Ruth Damian 
Published: February 2007

PurposeTo give an overview of prevalent views on and practices in management development in New ZealandDesign/methodology/approachEmploys a questionnaire, mainly Likert‐scale, to interview human resource managers and line managers in 86 companies in New Zealand. The research model and instrumentation is based on existing research on management development in Europe.FindingsMany of the tensions and inconsistencies exhibited between assumptions and practices and a variance of views indicate that at national level management development is rather incoherent and further research would be justified. For example, it is widely assumed that experience makes a good manager, but mentoring is rated lower than external courses as a source of development. There are often substantial disparity of views between HR managers and line managers.Practical implicationsFirms wishing to develop coherent management development processes could be guided by the disparities revealed in this research.Originality/valueThis research is the first step towards international comparative data on management development for New Zealand, and the model allows for direct comparison with existing European data.
Culture, organizational learning and selected employee background variables in small‐size business enterprises
Authors: Graham Carroll M. , Muyia Nafukho Fredrick 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between four independent variables educational level, longevity, type of enterprise, and gender and the dependent variable culture, as a dimension that explains organizational learning readiness in seven small‐size business enterprises.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory correlational research design was employed to survey 498 employees in seven small‐size business enterprises in the Southern and mid‐Western United States.Findings– Three pseudo‐interval variables (education, longevity, and type of enterprise) accounted for 15.3 percent of the variance in the dependent variable culture as a means to explain organizational learning readiness.Research limitations/implicationsGeneralizing results beyond the specific context of small‐size business enterprise may not be possible. Thus, the interpretations are limited to the seven small‐size business enterprises studied.Practical implicationsCertain types of enterprises form learning cultures conducive to organizational learning readiness more than do others. Also, seasoned employees may have developed a keen sense for detecting deficiencies within the learning infrastructure.Originality/valueThis study focused on variables not previously studied in small‐size business enterprises that explain organizational learning readiness. Thus, the results of this study will benefit the small‐size business entrepreneur interested in building a learning culture.