bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human resources control systems and performance: the role of uncertainty and risk propensity
Authors: Verano‐Tacoronte Domingo , Melián‐González Santiago 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to study the relationship between the HR control system and organizational results, examining the moderating effect of uncertainty and HR risk behavior.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyzes the relationship between HR control systems and organizational results introducing two major moderating variables as, uncertainty and risk behavior. The data used for this study comes from questionnaire responses by sales and human resource managers of 108 Spanish firms.FindingsThe empirical results show that these moderating variables have an influence on the success of the control system, but it can be stated that the control system has an independent impact on the organizational and sales force performance.Research limitations/implicationsSmall sample size and cross sectional study, and the use of subjective measures of company and HR performance are the main limitations of the work.Practical implicationsTo make correct decisions about HR control systems, managers should assess their environment and the composition of the workforce. There is not a control system that is good for all situations.Originality/value of paperAn analysis was made of an important non‐executive employee group, as the sales force is, and addressed the important issue of control and performance while the literature is focused on management control systems. The study does not limit the performance measures only to company variables, displaying customer satisfaction and human resource performance factors.
Dynamic capabilities: top executive audits andhoshin kanriat Nissan South Africa
Authors: Witcher Barry J. , Sum Chau Vinh , Harding Paul 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the use of top executive audits (TEAs) as part ofhoshin kanri(policy management) at Nissan South Africa (NSA). It relates these to the emerging importance of core competencies in the resource‐based view of strategy to discuss “nested” sets of dynamic capabilities and superior performance.Design/methodology/approachThe case study of NSA is considered in terms of how the firm defines its core areas, evaluates its business methodologies and management philosophies, and conducts its diagnosis of management. This was through real time internal company observation during an intensive phase of organizational change and documentation supplied by a senior manager.FindingsThe style of TEAs at Nissan is related to the concepts of “core competency” and “dynamic capability.” The core business areas of NSA are organization‐wide competencies necessary for competitive success, and the management of these is shown to be most effective in the form of a TEA, which in thehoshin kanriform, is arguably a nested set of dynamic capabilities.Originality/valueThe paper concludes thathoshin kanriand TEAs are used at Nissan as a higher order dynamic capability to develo0p both core competences in key areas of the business, and core capabilities in terms of its corporate methodologies and business philosophies. The recovery of Nissan during the East Asian Crisis of the late‐1990s was the result of improved productivity practices, such as the uses ofhoshin kanriand TEAs, and not just of economic recovery.
The effects of exchange rate variability on Malaysia's disaggregated electrical exports
Authors: Nyen Wong Koi , Cheong Tang Tuck 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the influence of exchange rate variability on the demand for Malaysia's top five electrical exports as classified by Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) product groups.Design/methodology/approachThe autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) modelling approach to co‐integration is employed in order to estimate the influence of exchange rate variability on export demand.FindingsThe empirical results indicate that foreign income and prices are important determinants of export demand for all of the five electrical exports, in both the long run and the short run, over the sample period 1990‐2001. More interestingly, this paper supports the view that exchange rate variability has an adverse effect on Malaysia's electrical exports.Research limitations/implicationsOne limitation of the study is the appropriateness of the ARDL modelling approach to examine the influence of exchange rate variability (which is stationary, I(0)) on trade behaviour such as export demand behaviour.Practical implicationsThis paper is important to policymakers for the design of both exchange rate and trade policies in order to promote export growth, which could lead to Malaysia's transition towards high‐technology industrialisation.Originality/valueThis paper examines the influence of exchange rate variability on the demand for Malaysia's top five electrical exports as classified by SITC product groups, information which is not available in the existing literature.
The roles of capital and technological progress in Vietnam's economic growth
Authors: Minh Ngoc Phan 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to measure the contribution of capital formation, labor, and technological progress to the growth of the Vietnamese economy, the impact of economic reforms (doi moi) since the end of 1986, and the rates of returns to capital and labor.Design/methodologyapproachCobb‐Douglas production functions are built for Vietnam's economy and then estimated using annual data for 1975‐2005.FindingsThe two major findings are that: technological progress was statistically absent in the growth of the Vietnamese economy throughout the period studied; and the most important source of economic growth is capital accumulation, accounting for between 84 percent and 89 percent of Vietnamese economic growth throughout the period 1975‐2005, and between 85 percent and 90 percent in the reform period (1986‐2005).Originality/valueThis paper is the first of its kind in the Vietnamese literature that successfully sheds light on, among other things, the roles of capital and technological progress in the Vietnamese economy during the period 1975‐2005. It also makes clear that Vietnam's economic growth has been fueled mainly by foreign funds and, thus, the continued heavy reliance of the economy on this financial source will make its growth unsustainable. In order to achieve sustainable growth in the coming decades, Vietnam must shift to rely more on productivity growth, which has been absent so far, and less on factor accumulation growth.
So you have strategy … how do you get it adopted?
Authors: Miller Anne 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to share the latest thinking in how to get innovative ideas and new strategies adopted.Design/methodology/approachThis article summarizes the model and techniques described in more detail in the book The Myth of the Mousetrap, How to Get your Ideas Adopted (and Change the World) by Anne Miller.FindingsNew ideas face four stages of resistance, in which people are blind, frozen, interested and integrated. In the first ideas are ignored because they do not fit, so you have to open their eyes, for example by changing their environment. In the second people are aware but insufficiently motivated. If you can give them a shock, connection and safety they will unfreeze. In the third, they are interested, but may oppose your idea, while in the fourth stage the new idea needs help to become normal, otherwise people will slip back into their old habits. All four stages must be addressed if ideas are to be adopted and changes to stick.Originality/valueThe paper helps busy executives learn new techniques to get their ideas adopted, and hence deliver results fast and make change stick.
Precision refurbishment of buildings: a façade refurbishment case study
Authors: Saari Arto 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a systematic refurbishment design procedure that allows precision refurbishment and thus enables the preservation of existing structures and their component parts.Design/methodology/approachThe participatory research method was chosen and was used to develop and test a precision refurbishment procedure. This involved preparing the programming and design documents of an ongoing refurbishment project in cooperation with the designer. The actual refurbishment work was carried out using the documents developed in the study.FindingsThe principal finding was that a thorough, objective analysis of the condition and functioning of the structures in question is essential for determining a precision refurbishment procedure of the type presented here. With the refurbishment design incorporated into the contract, including precise product specifications and drawings, the client will be in a strong position in relation to the contractor during the actual refurbishment process. The way in which the product specifications were presented in the refurbishment specification allows systematic and precise depiction of the content and focus of the refurbishment. At the same time, the level of detail in the product specifications can be easily “regulated”.Originality/valueThe paper offers a tested systematic method for drawing up precise and unambiguous refurbishment designs for building refurbishment projects.
Work‐life balance in the Australian and New Zealand surveying profession
Authors: Wilkinson Sara J. 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to establish and illustrate the levels of awareness of work‐life balance policies within the surveying profession in Australia and New Zealand. The culture and characteristics of the Australian and New Zealand work force are to be identified. The key aspects included in work‐life balance policies are to be illustrated and the perceived benefits for the surveying profession are to be noted. The paper seeks to posit that it is vital to comprehend the levels of awareness of work‐life balance issues within the surveying profession first, so that benchmarking may occur over time within the profession and second, that comparisons may be drawn with other professions.Design/methodology/approachThere is a growing body of research into work‐life balance and the built environment professions. Using a questionnaire survey of the whole RICS qualified surveying profession in Australia and New Zealand, this paper identifies the awareness of work‐life balance benefits within the surveying profession.FindingsThis research provides evidence that awareness of the issues and options is unevenly spread amongst professional surveyors in the region. With shortages of professionals and an active economy the pressures on existing employees looks set to rise and therefore this is an area which needs to be benchmarked and revisited with a view to adopting best practice throughout the sector. The implications are that employers ignore work‐life balance issues at their peril.Practical implicationsThere is much to be learned from an increased understanding of work‐life balance issues for professionals in the surveying discipline. The consequences of an imbalance between work and personal or family life is emotional exhaustion, cynicism and burnout. The consequences for employers or surveying firms are reduced effectiveness and profitability and increased employee turnover or churn.Originality/valueLeading on from Ellison's UK surveying profession study and Lingard and Francis's Australian civil engineering and construction industry studies, this paper seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of adopting work‐life balance policies within surveying firms and to establish benchmarks of awareness within the Australian and New Zealand surveying profession.
Key decision‐making attributes for project inception
Authors: Smith Jim , Wyatt Ray , Love Peter E.D. 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on the intense research activity with regard to the project inception stage. The need to establish the project parameters and performance requirements is crucial to the success of any construction project. Many organizations have been developing approaches to assist everyone involved in this process. This study aims to provide some data on one approach used by the authors during these early stages.Design/methodology/approachOne approach to these early stages of the project is the use of a workshop‐based technique termed “strategic needs analysis”. Strategic needs analysis assists in these critical inception stages in the development of a project. Six action research studies based on these workshops were organized and analyzed by the authors. This has resulted in the development of a series of decision‐making attributes that capture the key characteristics relevant to the project inception stages.FindingsThis paper analyzes and identifies on a two‐dimensional scale the best‐ and worst‐performing of the identified attributes classified by the stakeholders in each study.Research limitations/implicationsThe conclusions to this research suggest that working during these early inception stages with briefing workshops is both challenging and difficult.Practical implicationsThe findings provide a springboard for pointing out how an ambitious approach like this will always lead to practical implementation problems. It also provides data to indicate where one can begin to try to overcome these deficiencies.Originality/valueData analysis and experience on this key stage of a project are now available to inform future researchers and practitioners in this complex but important area of activity.
Bridging the digital divide
Authors: Vahid Aqili Seyed , Isfandyari Moghaddam Alireza 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show how the digital divide has become a common metaphor originating from now nearly obsolete phrases such as “information have and have nots” and “information rich and information poor”. The article aims to focus on several dimensions of the digital divide that pertain to service as well as the responsibilities of libraries.Design/methodology/approachThis article places emphasis on the role of librarians and information professionals in bridging the digital divide by indicating some aspects related to it as evidenced in the literature including its definition, aspects, factors affecting, and internet users.FindingsLibraries are treated as one of the major social tools which can solve the information divide rooted in the digital divide and contribute to the realization of democratic society.Research limitations/implicationsThis article revolves around the authors' points of view. So, further studies, especially comparative research between developed and developing countries which vary in terms of digital divide rate, can help to understand the real role librarians and information professionals play.Practical implicationsRethinking the digital divide, librarians must redesign and redefine their service menu for their customers through thinking functionally. They also need to review the various IT devices and information services available and examine which can be employed to present a more effective library service. In addition, policy‐makers should consider the vital role that librarians can play in the realization of knowledge‐based society and sustainable development.Originality/valueThis paper provides a theoretical basis for librarians to be more active and sedulous and policy‐makers to be vigilant and place much value for information sector and its professionals, particularly librarians working in various libraries.
Improved rank‐niche evolution strategy algorithm for constrained multiobjective optimization
Authors: Chen Ting‐Yu , Chen Meng‐Cheng 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to improve and to extend the use of original rank‐niche evolution strategy (RNES) algorithm to solve constrained and unconstrained multiobjective optimization problems.Design/methodology/approachA new mutation step size is developed for evolution strategy. A mixed ranking procedure is used to improve the quality of the fitness function. A self‐adaptive sharing radius is developed to save computational time. Four constraint‐treating methods are developed to solve constrained optimization problems. Two of them do not use penalty function approach.FindingsThe improved RNES algorithm finds better quality Pareto‐optimal solutions more efficiently than the previous version. For most test problems, the solutions obtained by improved RNES are better than, or at least can be compared with, results from other papers.Research limitations/implicationsThe application of any evolutionary algorithm to real structural optimization problems would face a problem of spending huge computational time. Some approximate analysis method needs to be incorporated with RNES to solve practical problems.Originality/valueThis paper provides an easier approach to find Pareto‐optimal solutions using an evolutionary algorithm. The algorithm can be used to solve both unconstrained and constrained problems.
A parabolic cable element for static analysis of cable structures
Authors: Ren Wei‐Xin , Huang Meng‐Gang , Hu Wei‐Hua 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a finite element formulation of enhanced two‐node parabolic cable element for the static analysis of cable structures.Design/methodology/approachUnlike the assumed polynomial displacement interpolation functions, the present approach uses the analytical cable dynamic stiffness matrix to obtain the explicit expression of the static stiffness matrix of an inclined sagging cable by setting the frequency at zero. The Newton‐Raphson‐based iterative method is used to obtain the solution.FindingsIt is demonstrated that the present results agree well with those obtained from the nonlinear analytical theory of a parabolic cable and previous reported methods in the literature.Originality/valueThis paper proposes a two‐node parabolic cable element. For comparable accuracy with the truss element method, fewer numbers of such cable elements are needed.
A culture‐based approach to understanding the adoption and diffusion of new products across countries
Authors: Yalcinkaya Goksel 
Published: May 2008

PurposeFor international product managers, one critical question is how fast a new product is likely to be adopted and diffused in different nations. One possible way to answer this question is by collecting data on the diffusion in a large number of countries and analyzing them. However, one of the main problems associated with collecting data are the lack of sufficient early‐period sales data to ensure reliable estimations. The estimation process becomes even harder since word‐of‐mouth and imitation play significant roles in the adoption of a new product given that the spread of information in a social system is complex. The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationship among social interactions, cultural differences, and the adoption of new products, and propose a new technique to work with the complexity arising from social interactions, as well as the few data points.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual framework is presented and propositions are constructed.FindingsThe study suggests that, while social interactions are an important element for adoption of new products in every country, the strength of their impact on adoption varies across countries based on culture.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes by offering a deeper understanding of the impact of social interactions on international innovation adoption and provides a new foundation for the literature by combining individual heterogeneity, cultural differences, and word‐of‐mouth communication in one study.Practical implicationsUnderstanding the effect of cultural variations on the adoption of new products in a specific country will help management in the forecasting of demand by decreasing the perceived uncertainty of foreign cultural environments.Originality/valueEven though diffusion models often describe innovation diffusion patterns over time fairly well, it is unclear how social interaction processes in different countries influence the adoption and diffusion speed of new products. There seems to be a large gap in the international marketing literature since it has long been accepted that personal interactions play a key role in product adoption and dissemination and that individuals communicate differently in the different parts of the world. An understanding of social interactions role on adoption of innovation will contribute to the international marketing field.
Country classification and the cultural dimension: a review and evaluation
Authors: Vanderstraeten Johanna , Matthyssens Paul 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify, review and evaluate international marketing (IM) studies in the domain of cultural country classification (1985‐2006).Design/methodology/approachFirst, articles in which an “original” classification is developed are identified. Then, the paper characteristics are summarized using Ronen and Shenkar's characteristics. Eventually, Hunt's evaluation criteria are used to evaluate these classifications.FindingsSummarizing and evaluating the selected papers reveals that the authors of the selected papers do not always seem to explicitly consider Ronen and Shenkar's useful recommendations concerning questionnaire and sample characteristics. Moreover, evaluation seems to indicate that Hunt's evaluation criteria are not always met.Research limitations/implicationsIt is recommended that future cultural country classification researchers consider Ronen and Shenkar's recommendations. Moreover, researchers might explicitly specify the concept of culture and/or incorporating other influencing factors. It is also recommended that researchers develop their own classification scheme to check whether the scheme meets Hunt's evaluation criteria. Other researchers might try to contribute to a convergence of the cultural country classification domain by empirically testing newly developed typologies; refining studies; assigning other countries; and testing comparatively existing classifications.Practical implicationsPractitioners might think of grouping countries culturally for fine‐tuning marketing strategy. When seeking for co‐ordination and synergy, multinationals can use country cluster offices as a step‐stone or alternative to more centralized, global headquarters.Originality/valueBesides, Ronen and Shenkar's paper in 1985 – another evaluation paper in the domain of cultural country classification and IM was not discovered. The paper tries to offer some useful recommendations to both scientific researchers and practitioners.
The resource matching foundations of competitive advantage
Authors: Seggie Steven H. , Griffith David A. 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe extant international service marketing literature focuses heavily on the impact of globalization on the outward process of the internationalization of service firms. The purpose of this paper is to propose scholars examine international service marketing from a different perspective, that of the globalization of domestic markets and the existence of global segments throughout the world.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses resource‐advantage theory and a congruence approach to suggest that the alignment of resources with consumer needs in the globalized domestic market leads to competitive advantage for the firm.FindingsIt can be argued that this alignment will lead to the replication of the competitive advantage across global segments in expansion to new markets.Originality/valueThe paper provides two significant contributions to the literature: a new perspective for considering the globalization of services that incorporates the challenges of operating in globalized markets; and develops seven propositions that can serve as a foundation for a stream of research on the globalization of services.