bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Financing preferences of ethnic minority owner/managers in the UK
Authors: Hussain Javed , Matlay Harry 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to show that while mainstream finance for small businesses has been researched, hard to reach segments of the UK owner/manager population have eluded empirically rigorous investigation. The authors investigate the financing preferences of owner/managers in small ethnic minority businesses in the UK and examine their access to both formal and informal finance as well as the use of personal funding networks. The emergent results are compared with the findings from a matched “control sample” of white small business owner/managers.Design/methodology/approachIdentical, in‐depth, face‐to‐face interviews were used with a sample of ethnic minority small business owner/managers and a matched control sample of white respondents in the West Midlands region of the UK.FindingsFamily and close associate networks were very important for the support of both ethnic minority and white owner/managers. All the respondents required loans from banks and other financial institutions, both at the start‐up stage and in subsequent years. For the ethnic minority owner/managers, the initial importance of financial institutions declined over the years. In contrast, in the control sample, institutional borrowing needs increased considerably. Ethnic minority owner/managers showed a preference for less intrusive and more “user friendly” financing options that allow them to remain in full control of their businesses.Practical implicationsCaution is advised in the use and generalisation of results emerging from qualitative research that involves small samples of respondents chosen from a restricted area of the UK.Originality/valueThe research shows the importance of “user‐friendly” financing options for owner/managers.
Simulation usage in SMEs
Authors: O'Kane James , Papadoukakis Antonios , Hunter David 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to accurately model the existing manufacturing processes of a family‐owned small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME). The study was undertaken to provide the SME with information, so that potential improvements within the production facilities could be identified thereby leading to insights into potential savings, and waste elimination. Ultimately the research attempts to demonstrate that small businesses can benefit from adopting simulation as a decision‐making tool as part of their change management initiatives.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology is a case‐based simulation study of the production facilities of a SME. A base model and successive experimental models were developed to test various production scenarios.FindingsThe experiments demonstrated how simulation could contribute and assist in the implementation of TQM and change management philosophies within a SME environment. The initial models identified problems in the real system and the latter models showed how further improvements can be achieved, defects reduced and lead to the enhancement of the productivity. Therefore, in this way simulation assisted in the implementation of some of the fundamental principles of TQM philosophy.Originality/valueThe study is limited in that it is based on one case study and therefore, a further study that would include several case studies with cross section analysis is recommended. Furthermore, research that uses cases from both the manufacturing and the service sector is recommended in order to fully document the unique and valuable role of simulation in the execution of TQM and BPR management philosophies in the SME context.
The entrepreneur enabler: identifying and supporting those with potential
Authors: Thompson John , Downing Ron 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide greater and deeper insight into the entrepreneur‐enabling “big picture”, explore issues in matching suitable enablers with would‐be entrepreneurs, and consider policy implications in the light of government priorities.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws upon case research with business incubator clients. A number of relevant enabling roles are analysed.FindingsThere is a clear need to distinguish between when the enabler is focusing on the business or the business idea and when he or she is focusing on the development of the entrepreneur. At the same time it is important to assess whether a directive or non‐directive style is more appropriate.Research limitations/implicationsThis is fundamentally a conceptual viewpoint paper and it contains both anecdotal evidence and opinion.Practical implicationsThe paper offers a commentary on, and a framework for, matching enablers and would‐be entrepreneurs more effectively and discusses the relevance of the arguments for current policy priorities.Originality/valueAlthough some of the work has been published before (mainly in books) this paper contains substantial original and new work.
The business model impact of flexible spectrum management and cognitive networks
Authors: Delaere Simon , Ballon Pieter 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to give a short overview of European Union policy trends towards more flexible forms of spectrum management.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a business modelling analysis, scenario construction, policy analysis and roadmapping. It argues that both flexible spectrum management and the concept of reconfigurability do not eliminate the need for a number of centralised controlling entities, and even introduce a number of new ones, performing regulatory, commercial and technical functions of a diverse nature. One of the most prominent control entities, the Cognitive Pilot Channel (CPC), is presented, and three different configurations of the CPC are outlined. Subsequently, the potential impact of different CPC configurations on business models for wireless services making use of such a channel is explored.FindingsThe paper concludes that a hybrid model combining a meta‐level CPC with operator‐deployed channels might provide the best mix of technical and strategic control for operators, and value for users.Research limitations/implicationsThe study undertaken here is exploratory in nature since, for example, no exact estimations of cost and revenue, or harmonisation feasibility and roadmaps can be made at this time.Originality/valueThe CPC is a recent and potentially crucial concept which is not yet standardised or implemented and for which no business modelling analysis has been performed yet.
Business model analysis as a new tool for policy evaluation: policies for digital content platforms
Authors: Poel Martijn , Renda Andrea , Ballon Pieter 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to explain and demonstrate how business model frameworks can be used to understand market developments and to assess the role of policy in (multi‐sided) ICT markets.Design/methodology/approachThe research approach in the paper builds on integrated business model frameworks, which cover (much) more than the financial decisions of one single firm. A case study approach is implemented and tested in two studies on digital content platforms.FindingsRelevant policy instruments are identified and explored. To some extent, the findings are complementary or contradictory to the findings of existing studies on digital content platforms. The paper includes policy recommendations related to mobile and fixed content platforms.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of the study are due to the explorative and qualitative approach, and are to be complemented by other approaches. Policy makers and researchers can use the approach to analyse digital content platform developments and the impact of policy. Stakeholders in innovation processes can use the approach to address business models as well as policy issues for emerging platforms and services.Originality/valueThe use of business model analysis in the context of policy analysis is a relatively new approach that is inspired by research findings on information communication technology (ICT) platforms and multi‐sided networks, progress in business model studies, challenges in the policy mix for ICT, and the importance of case study methods for impact assessment.
Promoting sustainability values within career‐oriented degree programmes
Authors: Murray Paul E. , Murray Sheran A. 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to analyse an initiative to provide learners on “career‐based” programmes with opportunities to reflect upon their values within the context of sustainability.Design/methodology/approachAn international literature review relating values and behaviour to the sustainability agenda led to the development of “sustainability training” workshop activities for construction students at the University of Plymouth. The activities, drawing on good practice from a range of education for sustainability initiatives and the behavioral discipline Neuro Linguistic Programming, enable participants to elicit and reflect upon their core values and to relate these to key sustainability issues. Following multiple pilots the workshops were offered as voluntary field trials to students, their effectiveness being measured through structured feedback.FindingsThe feedback returns demonstrate the popularity of the enquiry‐based learning techniques utilized and the effectiveness of the individual activities in achieving their aims. Constructive criticism centred on the need to simplify some of the activity instructions.Practical implicationsThis research shows that open‐ended enquiry‐based learning techniques are useful for promoting sustainability values within educational programmes. As the activities described here are not discipline‐specific, they have potential to be adapted for similar disciplines at other institutions and for use with other career‐based disciplines.Originality/valueMuch is written about the need to embed sustainability values in the curriculum. This paper describes a method of fulfilling this need and may be of significant value to those attempting to embed sustainability within educational programmes.
Institutional motivations and barriers to the construction of green buildings on campus
Authors: Richardson Gregory R.A. , Lynes Jennifer K. 
Published: August 2007

PurposeTo explore the barriers and motivations to the construction of green buildings at the University of Waterloo (UW) by documenting and analysing the UW building process.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted 13 semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with key UW individuals as well as analyzing numerous internal reports in order to document UW's building process. Based on the literature, a set of key ingredients for successful green building projects is developed as a basis from which to evaluate UW's current practices.FindingsBased on the four key ingredients needs for successful green building projects at Institutions of Higher Education (IHE), UW was found to have weaknesses in all four areas including: a lack internal leadership amongst stakeholders with decision‐making power, a lack of quantifiable sustainability targets, an operational structure that does not reward building designs with lower energy costs, and lack of communication between professional designers, facilities management and faculty. While UW has implemented many green initiatives on campus, the current financial and organizational structure of the University's current system does lend itself to the creation and implementation of green buildings on campus.Originality/valueMost research at IHE document existing green building initiatives and the lessons learned from their design and construction. There has been limited research into the processes by which decisions to proceed with the construction of green buildings are made, particularly within large institutions. As a consequence, the research documents many of the pitfalls, traps, and solutions that are experienced during the construction of green buildings, but have limited knowledge of the reasons why some proposed green buildings never get developed. This research identifies barriers to the construction of green buildings within institutional decision‐making processes and makes specific recommendations for realizing green building construction based on the UW case study.
Evaluating an environmental literacy requirement chosen as a method to produce environmentally literate university students
Authors: Moody Gwyneth L. , Hartel Peter G. 
Published: August 2007

PurposeFew US universities choose an environmental literacy requirement (ELR) as a method to increase student environmental literacy. Even fewer universities have evaluated their ELRs. The paper aims to assess the ELR at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Fall 2005 and Spring 2006 semesters.Design/methodology/approachA total of 7,268 of the 13,740 students (53 percent) currently taking an ELR course and the 86 of 100 faculty teaching ELR courses were surveyed with a voluntary questionnaire on their awareness, support, and satisfaction for the requirement. The assessment involved 58 courses with 120 sections.FindingsAlthough a majority of faculty (87 percent) was aware of the ELR, a majority of students (68 percent) was not. In spite of their awareness, most faculty (81 percent) did not know the specifics of the two ELR criteria. Both a majority of faculty (89 percent) and students (84 percent) supported the idea of an ELR. The ELR increased student knowledge (76 percent) and concern (65 percent) about environmental issues and changed some students’ behavior (26 percent). A majority of students (86 percent) and faculty (74 percent) were also satisfied with the ELR criteria and that the course they were taking (66 percent) or teaching (82 percent) satisfied the ELR. Most students (74 percent) thought that they were environmentally literate before taking an ELR course, although almost a majority of faculty (49 percent) thought students were environmentally illiterate.Research limitations/implicationsThe evaluation showed widespread support and satisfaction with the requirement, but strong leadership, publicity, and continuous evaluation is needed to improve the requirement.Originality/valueThe UGA's ELR could serve as a model for other institutions.
Lessons learnt from complaints by surgical patients
Authors: Saravanan B. , Ranganathan E. , Jenkinson L.R. 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the complaints received from surgical patients and provide suggestions to reduce them.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a retrospective study of 100 complaints received from surgical patients over a two‐year period between January 2004 and December 2005. Data was obtained through the complaints department and summaries of all the complaints were analysed.FindingsThere were 47 males and the median age was 58 years (range 13‐92). Of complaints, 44 per cent were received from outpatients and 56 per cent from inpatients. The main reasons for complaints from outpatients were appointment delays or cancellations (54.6 per cent), followed by clinical treatment (20.5 per cent), communication issues (13.6 per cent), attitude of staff (9.1 per cent) and miscellaneous (2.25 per cent). For inpatients, the main reasons were clinical treatment (39.3 per cent) followed by delay in admission/investigations (25 per cent), communication (17.9 per cent), attitude of staff (10.7 per cent) and miscellaneous (7.1 per cent). The outpatients complain mostly about administrative problems whereas inpatients complain about clinical care. Communication problems and staff attitude are the next most common in either setting. Providing patients with clear patient information about admission, treatment and waiting times would help to reduce complaints.Originality/valueThe paper shows that adopting an empathetic approach to patients and understanding their concerns and anxieties would improve patient satisfaction.
Survey of Venlafaxine prescriptions following the 2004 NICE guidelines on depression
Authors: Kinnair Daniel , Bruce Janet 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis survey was initially conceived as an audit to highlight the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (UK), guidelines on depression in 2004. In particular, the audit was to examine the guidance on the prescription of Venlafaxine, which required an electrocardiogram (ECG), and blood pressure measurements.Design/methodology/approachA retrospective case note review by the authors, of 123 patients prescribed Venlafaxine within Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust was completed.FindingsNearly 50 per cent of patients had a blood pressure measurement prior to starting Venlafaxine compared to only 6 per cent of patients receiving an ECG.Practical implicationsThe audit cycle could not be completed following the publication of a further set of guidelines that removed the need for ECG recordings.Originality/valueThis paper highlights how difficult it is for clinicians to keep up‐to‐date, and implement rapidly changing guidelines.
Parallels and distinctions between health care quality improvement and health care disparities reduction
Authors: Smith Wally R. 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to compare and contrast quality improvement in the domain of health care disparities with quality improvement in other domains.Design/methodology/approachThe author provides a descriptive essay and review to put forward the findings of their research.FindingsIn the USA, health care quality improvement systems have largely been accepted and institutionalized. Most if not all hospital and health care systems now have quality monitoring and improvement teams. In contrast, despite a plethora of stark reports in the literature showing that the US health care system has failed to deliver health care with equity when the care of Whites is compared with that of racial and ethnic minorities, there is not a parallel health care disparities improvement system in most health care settings.Practical implicationsParalleling many steps that have been taken to improve quality in general, health care workers and health systems must take steps to improve structures and processes of care to reduce health care disparities.Originality/valuePinpoints some important distinctions between improving structures and processes of care related to health care disparities, and those related to other aspects of quality improvement. Doing so will save lives, and in the process improve overall quality.
Dividend policy and payout ratio: evidence from the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange
Authors: Al‐Twaijry Abdulrahman Ali 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to identify the variables with an expected influence on dividend policy and on payout ratio in an emerging market.Design/methodology/approachBased on the literature, eight hypotheses were developed and tested using 300 firms randomly selected from the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange. Additional statistical analyses were presented.FindingsThe results suggest that current dividends are affected by their pasts and their future prospects. To a lesser extent dividends were associated with net earnings. Payout ratios (POR) were not found to have a strong effect on the company's future earning growth, but had some significant negative correlation with the company's leverage. Cash per share and share book value significantly and positively affect both DPS and POR.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study might be of interest to academicians and practitioners.Originality/valueThis paper explores the dividend policy and the payout ratio of listed companies in a fast‐growing market that has received inadequate research attention. The paper thus adds to the body of accounting knowledge.
Banks' risk management: a comparison study of UAE national and foreign banks
Authors: Hassan Al‐Tamimi Hussein A. , Mohammed Al‐Mazrooei Faris 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to examine the degree to which the UAE banks use risk management practices and techniques in dealing with different types of risk. The secondary objective is to compare risk management practices between the two sets of banks.Design/methodology/approachThe authors developed a modified questionnaire, divided into two parts. The first part covers six aspects: understanding risk and risk management; risk identification; risk assessment and analysis; risk monitoring; risk management practices; and credit risk analysis. This part includes 43 closed‐ended questions based on an interval scale. The second part consists of two closed‐ended questions based on an ordinal scale dealing with two topics: methods of risk identification, and risks facing the sample banks.FindingsThis study found that the three most important types of risk facing the UAE commercial banks are foreign exchange risk, followed by credit risk, then operating risk. It also found that the UAE banks are somewhat efficient in managing risk, and risk identification and risk assessment and analysis are the most influencing variables in risk management practices. Finally, the results indicate that there is a significant difference between the UAE national and foreign banks in the practice of risk assessment and analysis, and in risk monitoring and controlling.Originality/valueThe article will be of value to those interested in the banking industry.
The art of value creation strategy
Authors: Huang Xueli , Zhang Ruosheng 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a rich description of the contents and process of implementing the value creation strategy at a Chinese state‐owned company, Zhujiang Iron and Steel Company (ZISCo), and to identify the pattern of such an implementation process.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts a case study approach through personal reflection, 16 interviews with middle managers and employees, and collection of the company's internal documents.FindingsThe steps and pattern of implementing value creation at ZISCo are identified by starting at a key function – production, then expanding to other functions. Hard issues (functional value creation activities) as well as soft issues (organisational culture and HR policies) are tackled in the implementation process.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is based on a single case study, thus limiting the scope for generalising its findings. Practical issues in the implementation process are discussed, such as the identification of the leverage points and the influencing factors for creating value.Originality/valueThe paper provides a rich description of value creation in a highly successful Chinese firm. It offers practical guidance for managers to enhance their organisation's competitive advantage.
Corporate social responsibility in China
Authors: Qu Riliang 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to report on a study that contributes to the understanding of the determinants of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the largest emerging market, namely China.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is a survey of 600 hotels that resulted in 143 returned responses from top managers.FindingsMarket orientation is the most significant predicator of CSR followed by government regulations. In contrast, ownership structure is found to have little effect.Originality/valuePrevious research on CSR focuses on its nature and impact on business performance, and is carried out mainly in developed countries. This research contributes to one's understanding of the determinants of CSR in emerging markets like China.