bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the level of ICT integration and usage in teachers' curricula in Iranian schools
Authors: Moradi Saeid , Khalkhali Ali 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the level of ICT (information and communication technologies) integration and usage in teachers, curricula in Iranian schools.Design/methodology/approachThe data for the study were gathered through a questionnaire administered to 160 respondents who were school teachers. In total, 154 questionnaires were retrieved. This represented approximately 96 percent return rate. The data were analyzed quantitatively using SPSS. The core of the questionnaire was analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient statistical tool to determine the significant the level of ICT integration and usage in teacher's curriculum in Iran's schools. One‐way‐analysis of variance ANOVA was employed to test the relationships between variables and respondents' demographic profile (gender, age, qualifications and length of service). The statistical significance was set at p<0.05.FindingsResults showed that there were no significant differences in the overall ANOVA analysis based on the respondents' demographic information. Also, the results of the research showed that respondents were dissatisfied with the level of weak integration and usage of ICT into teacher's curricula.Originality/valueThe α reliability of 0.87 was obtained which shows a strong reliability of the research instrument.
E‐tail constraints and tradeoffs
Authors: Hofacker Charles F. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reveal how mental models inherited from offline retailing have impeded both the theory and practice of online retailing, and to suggest fruitful areas of research in online retailing.Design/methodology/approachThe mental models of physical retail suggest physical constraints of various sorts, and yet for the most part, the constraints acting upon the e‐tailer are instead logical, symbolic and cognitive.FindingsResearchers in e‐tailing could benefit from pursuing a set of interesting issues including assortment, customer‐to‐customer value creation, site design and structure, and the importance of network topology.Research limitations/implicationsThere are many new topics in retailing that can be explored by marketers, as long as we are willing to jettison some of our cherished terminology and ways of thinking. In effect, online, the retailing mix becomes human‐centric, rather than focusing on physical components.Practical implicationsThe skill sets needed to set up an e‐tailing presence are substantially different than those required for offline retailing.Originality/valueThe paper takes an unconventional view of the retailing literature, literature that goes back to the foundation of marketing as an academic discipline.
Culture, convenience or efficiency
Authors: Heijes Coen 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to define and test a supplier selection model for Chinese and foreign banks in China.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 12 reasons affecting customers' choice in selecting Chinese or foreign banks are developed and their respective importance are tested through 2,000 questionnaires which were distributed over the city‐zones of Hangzhou.FindingsSupplier performance in terms of responsiveness is of particular importance in preferring foreign banks, which are seen to have an advantage in terms of professionalism, innovation and client‐orientation. For Chinese banks only one selection reason belongs to an inherent advantage, a large and convenient network, with the other reasons deriving from government's protection and historical conditions. Surprisingly, cultural aspects such as “guanxi” or personal relationship are only of minor importance.Research limitations/implicationsDifferentiates customers only by way of age and salary and focuses on the eastern urban population. Another shortcoming is the lack of extended qualitative research.Practical implicationsWith the transition of the market for financial services in China customers will have increasing options to choose between Chinese and foreign banks. This paper offers valuable information regarding customer selection processes in China.Originality/valueWith most cross‐comparative research based on standard cultural dimensions, this study focuses on specific behaviour of Chinese customers in selecting services with Chinese or foreign banks, finding cross‐national differences to be less important than the characteristics of the specific market or product. This work also adds to the ongoing research agenda concerning Chinese customers' behaviour and Chinese banking.
Towards objective benchmarking of electronic government: an inter‐country analysis
Authors: Deng Hepu 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology for evaluating the progress of individual countries worldwide in their adoption of electronic government (e‐government) with the rapid advance in information and communication technologies (ICTs). Recognising the multi‐dimensional nature of the progress evaluation and comparison process, this paper formulates the inter‐country performance evaluation process in e‐government adoption as a multi‐criteria analysis problem and presents an objective multi‐criteria approach for solving the problem in an effective and straightforward manner.Design/methodology/approachSeveral indicators (criteria) for measuring the progress of individual countries for adopting e‐government have been reviewed, and existing approaches for carrying out inter‐country comparison on e‐government have been analysed. The need for the use of an objective approach for addressing the inter‐country comparison problem is discussed. This leads to the development of an objective multi‐criteria approach for effectively solving the problem in a straightforward and effective manner. The proposed objective approach is based on the concept of information entropy which is emitted from e‐government criteria used for determining the objective weights of the e‐government criteria. The principle of ideal solutions is used for effectively incorporating the objective criteria weights into the process of calculating the overall performance index for each country. As a result, an unbiased overall ranking of individual countries on e‐government can be obtained.FindingsWith the use of an example in the paper, the proposed approach is proved to be of practical use for addressing the inter‐country comparison problem on the progress of individual countries in their adoption of e‐government. The proposed approach is not only able to provide an objective view of the relative progress of those countries concerned but also pinpoint the areas that these countries can further improve to lift their overall profile worldwide on the adoption of e‐government.Practical implicationsThe methodology developed can be used as a decision‐making tool to support various levels of government and consultancy organizations worldwide in their effort to evaluate the adoption of ICTs in the government sector so that effective decisions can be made for enhancing and improving the use of the technology for more efficient and effective government.Originality/valueThe advantages of the proposed approach for addressing the inter‐country comparison problem on e‐government are the capacity of the proposed approach for adequately handling the multi‐dimensional nature of the inter‐country comparison problem and the provision of an objective view of the overall performance of those countries in the process of evaluating the progress of these countries in their adoption of e‐government. In addition the application of the approach can also help those countries pinpoint the areas that they can further invest their effort for further improvement.
Eight paradoxes of the social enterprise research agenda
Authors: Peattie Ken , Morley Adrian 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis paper summarises key issues arising from a comprehensive research monograph and accompanying discussion paper on social enterprise that reviewed over 150 sources. It aims to provide insight into the future development of the social enterprise research agenda, and how to attract scholars new to the field to contribute to it.Design/methodology/approachThe paper seeks to identify and address some of the difficulties faced by social enterprise researchers, in terms of defining their field, overcoming institutional pressures that may deter scholars from tackling the social enterprise research agenda and in dealing with some of its complexities.FindingsIn developing the monograph, two key themes were diversity and distinctiveness. Social enterprise is a form of business that is distinctly different to conventional commercial enterprise and that has an extraordinary diversity in organisational form, legal structure, purpose, culture, scale and scope. There are also a number of “paradoxical” elements to the research agenda for social enterprises arising from their “hybrid” nature.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings create many challenges for researchers, practitioners and policy‐makers, not least in terms of defining social enterprises consistently, and also in terms of understanding what makes them different to commercial enterprises and what the implications of those differences are.Originality/valueThe insights provided by this discussion should help to resolve and explain some of the debates and conceptual and practical difficulties that have hampered the development of the social enterprise research agenda.
Clinical leadership in UK health care: exploring a marketing perspective
Authors: Willcocks Stephen 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the application of marketing in health care, and in particular to assess its relevance to clinical leadership in the UK NHS.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses a marketing perspective using literature and policy material.FindingsThe paper suggests that a marketing perspective is relevant in the UK NHS. Health service reforms have created a market in which choice and competition are levers for improving performance. Central to this is the notion of patient choice. Marketing is a way of exploring these issues. The paper suggests that there may be resistance to ideas originating from the private sector, and this needs to be overcome.Practical implicationsMarketing offers a framework and a set of techniques with which to improve organisational performance and ensure a focus on quality in meeting the needs of the patient. The new payment‐by‐results funding system ensures that money follows patients. Providers will need to focus on quality to attract patients and track resulting funding streams.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates that private sector methods and techniques are relevant in the public sector, although one must take into account differing contexts.
Application of the PSE model for market entry: Ericsson enters the US market
Authors: Pehrsson Anders 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the application of the PSE model (perceived barriers to market entry; strategy competence; entry strategy) for market entry.Design/methodology/approachThe PSE model is presented and illustrated by Ericsson's entry into the mobile systems market in the USA. Advice on the application of the model is presented.FindingsThe case shows key lessons in entering an international market: the barriers as regards the necessity of adapting the technology to local standards, and the necessity of customer acceptance were perceived as particularly high; there was a high degree of relatedness with Ericsson's core competence, and substantial market experience was gained; and Ericsson preferred organic entry modes regarding its core products such as mobile telephony systems.Research limitations/implicationsThe lessons may be subject to tests in broader studies.Practical implicationsIn applying the PSE model, management would be advised to choose entry strategy and pay attention to entry barriers, business relatedness, and market experience.Originality/valueThe article turns a theoretical model into advice that is valuable for companies when they formulate international strategies. The case shows a practical model application.
A holistic approach for production outsourcing
Authors: Ray Amitava , Sarkar Bijan , Sanyal Subir 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop and demonstrate an outsourcing model in which constraint resource prevents the throughput of the organization.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes an integrated model by combining the Hurwicz criterion, the theory‐of‐constraints (TOC) and linear programming (LP) into a single evaluation model in a multi‐product constraint resource environment. A case study is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of this model. The decision model compares four alternatives: standard cost accounting, standard TOC, LP analysis, and our own solution, which is an approach that combines TOC, LP, and the Hurwicz criterion.FindingsThe numerical results show that this model is superior and more realistically optimizes resource allocation and measures the performance of the model.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is limited to the production processes that do not have multiple constraints.Originality/valueThis is the first time that the integrated model comprising of Hurwicz‐TOC‐LP model has been used to maximize the product throughput. Instead of calculating $ return per constraint minute, this method decides the priority of product and resource center that maximizes the product throughput in the constraint resource environment. It makes a significant contribution to the manufacturing organization where one can compare the financial performance of the organization by selecting the right decision model.
The role of stakeholders in town centre management: guidelines for identification and analysis
Authors: de Nisco Alessandro , Riviezzo Angelo , Rosaria Napolitano Maria 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the identification of stakeholders involved in town centre management (TCM) projects and the main areas of intervention according to their interests and needs.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed framework is tested in the town of Benevento, Italy. On the basis of stakeholder theory, key stakeholders were interviewed according to the different kinds of linkages they had with the TCM organisation.FindingsResults from the paper support a stakeholder‐based approach to the development of TCM projects. In addition, a set of categories is proposed to define and evaluate the overall town centre offer.Practical implicationsThe proposed framework can be used by cities or towns for the evaluation of the role of different public and private stakeholders in TCM projects, and for the assessment of their “stake” in the town centre.Originality/valueDespite the need to promote a partnership approach between the public and private sectors having been recognised as a vital ingredient for the implementation of TCM, literature is still lacking which provides clear guidance for stakeholder analysis. This is one of the first papers to propose a theoretical framework addressing this issue.
Space and place – Imperial War Museum North
Authors: Shaw Jonathan , Squire Scholes Ben , Thurgood Christopher 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to explore the Imperial War Museum North, located in Salford, and how it relates to both consumers and the wider area.Design/methodology/approachUtilising the work of Edward Soja, the authors aim to understand how his work serves to facilitate a greater understanding of both the museum itself as a space, and the role the physical place plays in the context of the local surroundings.FindingsIt is found that, the role of the museum is as a form of “culturally led regeneration”, in line with Soja's notion of “thirdspace”.Originality/valueThe paper will appeal to those who are concerned with town planning, urban regeneration and the role of museums in contemporary space and place.
R&D expenses and firm valuation: a literature review
Authors: Anagnostopoulou Seraina C. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the literature on R&D expenses and subsequent firm valuation and to briefly highlight some gaps and implications for future research.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is a review of studies on R&D and valuation between 1978 and 2007. The valuation issues have been grouped into general topics identified among the overall volume of research: economic characteristics, actual and forecast firm performance, capital structure, risk, and other topics which do not fit into the previous categories.FindingsThe paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the literature findings on a variation of valuation topics useful for internal and external users of financial statements of firms intensive in R&D investments. It sheds light on certain literature limitations and thus guides the users of financial statements regarding to which issues they should pay attention when analysing the financial statements of firms intensive in R&D.Research limitations/implicationsExisting research on R&D and valuation focuses mainly on the USA and UK and therefore raises issues of generalisation of the results.Practical implicationsThe paper provides a useful guide for the users of financial statements of R&D intensive firms, since it provides information on possible consequences of these expenses regarding a variety of valuation issues.Originality/valueThe paper fills an information gap by addressing a range of valuation issues on R&D and offers relevant information guidance to the users of financial statements.
Here today, but what about tomorrow?
Authors: Adair Erickson Robin , Roloff Michael E. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on three organizational support factors that could potentially improve organizational commitment among downsizing survivors.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of 2,751 employees, a secondary analysis of employee survey data examined the hypotheses that customer service orientation (CSO) and equity would moderate the strength of the two‐way interaction between perceived organizational support (POS) and perceived supervisor support (PSS) when predicting organizational commitment among downsizing survivors. In this way, the impact of CSO (H1) or equity (H2) would be stronger when POS and PSS were low. A third hypothesis (H3) examined whether survivors' organizational tenure was positively related to organizational commitment.FindingsH1 and H2 were partially confirmed, indicating that CSO compensated most when PSS was low and that equity compensated most when POS was low among downsizing survivors. H3 was not confirmed as no positive correlation was found between survivors' increased organizational tenure and organizational commitment.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample was drawn from one US organization and, because this was a secondary analysis, established scales could not be used for some constructs. Most of the variance in the exploratory factor analysis was on the first factor, POS.Practical implicationsOrganizations should make every attempt to maintain or increase survivors' CSO and equity in order to improve organizational commitment. In addition, organizations cannot necessarily rely on their longer‐tenured employees to stay committed after a downsizing.Originality/valueThe study uncovered two previously unknown findings regarding the importance of CSO and equity to the organizational commitment of survivors.
Validation of the four‐factor Team Climate Inventory in Greece
Authors: Chatzi Sofia C. , Nikolaou Ioannis 
Published: August 2008

PurposeInnovation among team members has long been an area of interest to social scientists, and particularly to industrial/organizational psychologists. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factor structure of the Team Climate Inventory (TCI), a multidimensional team‐level measure of team‐working style, in Greece.Design/methodology/approachThe TCI was translated into Greek and administered to a total of 52 work teams (n=236 individuals) in clerical and shop floor working positions employed in a variety of jobs in the public and private sector.FindingsAn item analysis indicated that all original TCI items, except one, should be retained in the Greek version of the TCI. Further analyses yielded high internal consistency both for the full scale and for the four dimensions, and also acceptable discriminant validity among the four scales. An exploratory factor analysis was also successful in extracting the four original factors, accounting for 55.67 percent of the total variance.Research limitations/implicationsThe results provided further support for the validity of the original version of the TCI.Practical implicationsIt is concluded that the Greek adaptation of the TCI is a potentially useful instrument to measure group climate dimensions that may facilitate work teams' innovative capacity.Originality/valueThe findings provided support for the adequacy of the TCI to measure team climate for innovation in Greece
A data collection system to audit post‐newborn hearing surveillance programme: problems and possibilities
Authors: Yoong S. Y. , Spencer N. J. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBackground  Guidance documents on post‐newborn hearing surveillance and screen (Sutton et al. 2006; Bamford et al. 2007) indicated the need for a wider system to identify children with hearing loss after neonatal hearing screening. Recommendations were made for systems to be in place for recording screening activity and audit of the school entry hearing screen to provide information on coverage, referral and yield.Method  This project has two phases:

development of the data collection system for audit;
assess local service performance.

The focus of the work was on data entered into the child health system from children eligible for universal infant and school entry hearing screen. Linking information from a paediatric register of hearing impaired children allowed analysis of birth cohort data related to new diagnoses of sensorineural hearing loss. Available guidelines have not specified gold standards for coverage rates and locally endorsed benchmarks were set at 80% as minimum standards. Analysis of data was carried out on 2003, 2004, 2005, 1998, 1999 and 2000 birth cohorts. The child health system and the paediatric register were the main data sources for the audit exercises. Data extracted were computed for coverage, referral and yield.Results  Factors and situations contributing to difficulties in establishing a robust system were identified and addressed. Usable information could be obtained to influence current practice. Coverage rates for 2003, 2004 and 2005 cohort were 64.7%, 78.1% and 73.1%. Their respective referral rates were 1.4%, 1.2% and 2.6%. Coverage rates for 1998, 1999 and 2000 cohort were 74.9%, 75.6% and 71.4%. Their respective referral rates were 5.2%, 4.2% and 6.6%. The overall yield from universal screens was low.Conclusion  Our study showed that it was achievable to collect and analyse data on childhood hearing loss in the context of routine surveillance. There were, however, limitations to analysis of data and findings have to be interpreted with this in mind.