bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Indicators for collection evaluation: a new dimensional framework
Authors: Borin Jacqueline , Yi Hua 
Published: October 2008

PurposeCurrently there is a need for an updated assessment model that addresses and reflects the ongoing diversity of issues related to collection evaluation in academic libraries. The purpose of this paper is to provide conceptual guidelines and a model to support collection evaluation and assessment in this time of unstable and constantly changing patterns of information.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides a literature review of the collection evaluation and assessment. Based on an analytical study of environmental factors and their relationship to, and impact on, the library collection, the authors propose a new model of collection evaluation to address the needs of the current environment.FindingsThe paper identifies environmental factors in collection evaluation, establishes a set of ratios that need to be addressed and finally, provides a set of indicators for collection evaluation and assessment that can be selected from, and adapted to each library's needs.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper bridges two different collection evaluation models, collection‐based and user‐based. It identifies that there is not a single appropriate collection evaluation method. It provides a different perspective to a body of literature that is mostly best practice‐based.Practical implicationsWith this research a new model is suggested that provides flexibility and adaptability. It offers a multidimensional approach that libraries can use and adapt to their specific situation.Originality/valueThe new model suggested here addresses a current need generated by a changing information environment. It adds a new approach to the body of literature in the area of collection evaluation.
C.S. Lewis: a guide to resources
Authors: Beard Marcie 
Published: October 2008

PurposeMany bibliographies of books about C.S. Lewis' works and life have been compiled in the past, but a bibliography of recent literary criticism addressing Lewis and his work is hard to come by. The purpose of this paper is to provide a bibliography of the best works recently published about C.S. Lewis and his writings.Design/methodology/approachMany different sources were used to find current popular works about C.S. Lewis and his writings. The author searched several databases, read several book reviews, and looked through the source itself when available in order to compile an annotated list of current works, which are viewed to be important additions to the literature about C.S. Lewis and his works.Practical implicationsThe resulting bibliography is not a complete list of everything written about C.S. Lewis in the past few years. Instead, the intent is to compile a research guide of the sources considered to be the most useful contributions to the works about C.S. Lewis that already exist.FindingsIncluded in this research guide is a list of quality biographies and literary criticism found in reference sources; a sample of book‐length resources focusing on Lewis' life, thought, and writings; short descriptions of periodicals that frequently discuss Lewis' work; and examples of popular databases and web resources dedicated to C.S. Lewis.Originality/valueIn addition to being intended for students, faculty, and those of the general public who are interested in reading about or doing research on C.S. Lewis and his works, this guide is designed for librarians who are trying to develop, maintain, or evaluate a collection on the topic.
Guest editorial
Authors: Harridge‐March Sally 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show how interactive capability enabled by Web 2.0 has increased the potential for organisations to add value to their offerings by allowing customers to interact with the organisation and other customers of that organisation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper briefly outlines the content of four articles contained within this special issue.FindingsTechnology has, and will continue to have, a great impact on the banking sector. However much financial service organisations want their customers to use technology, they must remember that technology should be there to enhance the service offering. It must be attractive to customers and offer them something of value. Once customers adopt internet banking and all it has to offer, organisations should continue to monitor operations to ensure that they are providing the best possible service to customers.Originality/valueIt is not enough for the organisation to benefit from reduced costs and speedier processes, the technology must be useful and helpful for customers. Customers need to feel reassured that the organisation and the technology are trustworthy, so that they will not expose themselves to risk when using it.
Perceived risk and Chinese consumers' internet banking services adoption
Authors: Lifen Zhao Anita , Hanmer‐Lloyd Stuart , Ward Philippa , Goode Mark M.H. 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify risk factors that discourage Chinese consumers from adopting internet banking services (IBS). This market is experiencing fast growth; however, an in‐depth understanding of Chinese consumers within this is lacking. Perceived risk is a key construct in Western consumer decision making, whereas whether this is true in China's IBS market is rarely researched. An exploration of this dynamic market is therefore critical to develop theoretical and practical implications.Design/methodology/approachTo maximise the comparability with existing Western findings, the current research adopts a quantitative approach to measure Chinese consumers' risk perception. However, as the existing literature provides limited guidelines associated with the current context, exploratory research was conducted to establish a general understanding and to identify additional elements of this particular market. A detailed instrument was developed and examined Chinese consumers' risk perception in depth. Primary data were collected by self‐administered questionnaires containing 504 respondents from southern China. Exploratory factor analysis is employed to identify critical risk factors.FindingsResults indicate that the concept of perceived risk has merit in explaining Chinese consumers' decisions on whether to use IBS. Results clearly reveal that the significant risk barriers identified are influenced by culture and do not simply follow predominant Western patterns. Suggestions for banks are developed in an attempt to overcome these risk barriers.Originality/valueThe current research adds value to the existing literature in that findings reinforce the need to (re)examine Western theories from a more critical perspective. This also leads to a discussion addressing further areas for open debate and research.
Cross‐autocorrelations among asset classes
Authors: Miller Edward M. , Prather Larry J. , Imtiaz Mazumder M. 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine asset class cross‐autocorrelations at the macro‐level by exploring the return associations among mutual fund asset classes. The low transactions costs of trading mutual funds make this extension important since informed traders can potentially use mutual funds to exploit asset class return cross‐autocorrelations that were not exploitable with individual securities.Design/methodology/approachThe Granger causality tests and correlation results are employed to ascertain whether significant relationships exist among asset classes. Using a time series of 2,739 daily returns for 641 mutual funds comprising 20 asset classes, trading strategies are developed using the initial sample and evaluated out‐of‐sample on a risk‐adjusted basis.FindingsBoth the cross‐autocorrelations and Granger causality tests suggest that most of the domestic equity asset class returns can predict future global and international equity returns. Further, the trading‐rule portfolios provide a greater return per unit of risk (Sharpe and Treynor ratios) thus dominating all buy‐and‐hold portfolios. Risk‐adjusted excess returns (Jensen's α) of the trading rules are positive and statistically significant at the 1 per cent level. The results of trading strategies also reveal that there are no statistically significant return differences between load and no‐load funds.Research limitations/implicationsRedemption fees seem to be standard practice now, except for money market funds and funds specially designed for market timers. Thus, the trading strategy returns of this paper overestimate actual returns. However, investors may still find the proposed trading strategies beneficial because redemptions fees can be avoided if investors get the opportunities to trade in mutual fund supermarkets. The trading strategies may have implications for other international markets where the sizes and styles of the mutual funds' assets are increasing enormously with a few trading restrictions.Originality/valueA noteworthy and original contribution of this study is the two‐day Granger causality test. This paper documents that the duration of mutual funds' return predictability extends beyond a one‐day horizon. The duration of daily mutual fund return predictability is believed to be unexplored and should be of considerable relevance to practitioners and regulators.
Service failures and complaints in the family travel market: a justice dimension approach
Authors: Park Oun‐Joung , Lehto Xinran , Park Jung‐Kun 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis study attempts to provide insights into three justice dimensions that constitute a negative family travel experience and to examine the differences existing in industry sectors, service failure settings, and compensation types across the dimensions.Design/methodology/approachThe research dissected service failures in the family travel market based on the three dimensions of the justice theory. Qualitative data were collected and analyzed utilizing a modified procedure of the critical incident technique. Differences in industry sector, complaint setting, and compensation type were investigated through comparisons of service failure themes within the three justice dimensions using correspondence analysis.FindingsCritical incidents of family travelers were divided into distributional, procedural, and interpersonal justice categories. The distributive justice dimension showed the highest complaint frequency. Significant differences in justice dimensions were found in the industrial sector, complaint settings, and desired compensation types.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on data collected from only four public domains. For further research, log data could be collected to triangulate the result from public domains and improve the reliability of the research.Practical implicationsThe study has merit in pioneering an examination of the distinct dimensions of family travel service failures across all industry sectors. The results of this study will help tourism suppliers to provide total tourism products for family travelers.Originality/valueThe paper serves as the first exploratory research and contributes to methodological advances in the family travel market by combining justice dimension theory, the CIT approach, and more quantitative tools.
Stemming the tide: dealing with the imbalance of customer relationship quality with the key contact employee versus with the firm
Authors: Wang Sijun , Davis Lenita 
Published: October 2008

PurposeCurrent relationship marketing literature has stressed the importance of building customer‐employee bonds. These efforts sometimes result in customer‐employee relationships that overwhelm or supersede the customer‐firm relationships. Previous studies report that such an imbalance weakens the firm's position with the customer. Very little research has investigated what factors contribute to the imbalance and its consequences for the firm's relationship with the customer. This research aims to look at customer relationship quality (RQ) imbalance, specifically the imbalance that favors the employee, and identifies six factors as important antecedents. Also studied are the customers' cognitive and emotional reactions to the termination of the customer‐employee relationship when RQ imbalance favors the employee.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 780 customer‐employee pairs from 72 service firms were surveyed using a structured questionnaire.FindingsAnalyses of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant group difference along all six antecedents and three consequences.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study suggest that imbalanced customer relationships might be prevented, or at least predicted, if the causes of such relationship structure are better understood.Practical implicationsService organizations should be aware of the negative consequences of imbalanced customer relationships and take necessary caution in their company policies in order to eliminate the negative consequences of imbalanced customer relationships.Originality/valueThis study is the first quantitative inquiry into imbalanced customer relationship issues, which are extremely important in the services industry. Thus, it enhances the literature on services management.
Creating value through communities
Authors: Buist William 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine how to create value through communities.Design/methodology/approachThe paper focuses on the importance of contacts, content and critical mass in a community and the key role of embracing change.FindingsThe paper highlights the importance of network “reach” and of a strategic, transparent framework known to the community. It contends that, without a guiding vision, there is no direction, and rudderless communities wither and die.Practical implicationsThe paper argues that those seeking to create and build a community need to design the environment in which it operates in a way that encourages and helps members easily to apply the most beneficial approach for all.Originality/valueThe paper defines the real value of a network as the extent to which people who do not know you are talking about you to other people you do not know.
C.K. Prahalad heralds a new era of innovation
Authors: Allio Robert J. 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis interview of C.K. Prahalad, one of the world's leading strategic thinkers, aims to offer corporate leaders a practical look at the radical concepts presented in his The New Age of Innovation (HBP, 2008), written with M.S. Krishnan. A lengthy review of the book is also in this issue.Design/methodology/approachThe questions for this interview were researched by a team of Strategy & Leadership contributing editors. The interview was conducted by Robert J. Allio, a consultant who has previously been a senior executive at major US and Canadian corporations and a business school dean.Practical implicationsPrahalad believes that many businesses will undergo a transformation in the near future as value shifts from offering products to providing co‐created personalized experiences.Originality/valueBecause his new ideas explore the cutting‐edge of management innovation, managers will likely appreciate having Prahalad explain how his new model works. It posits that value will be determined by one customer co‐created experience at a time, defined as n=1; and to compete successfully in this environment, firms must access resources from multiple outside sources, either local or global, defined as R=G. In this interview he discusses the practical steps needed to ready a company to compete in this new business landscape.
The new demography of the 21st century: part 1 – the birthrate surprise
Authors: Walker Martin 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe paper aims to reveal a surprising global drama now unfolding across the world: unpredicted demographic trends portend unexpected social transformations.Design/methodology/approachUsing recent research, the paper considers the startling implications of some current demographic trends.FindingsThe paper reveals that marketers and strategists need to radically rethink their mindsets based on new trends. For example, by the year 2050, more American babies will be born than Chinese ones.Research limitations/implicationsIt is important to note that trends in demography can be particularly misleading.Practical implicationsMany widespread assumptions based on previous demographic trends now seem to be misguided. For example, Northern and western Europeans are now projecting steady population growth over the coming half‐century.Originality/valueSurprising current trends and factors include: birthrates are falling across most of the developing world, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. The one glaring exception to this global trend is sub‐Saharan Africa, which by the end of this century may be home to as much as a third of the human race. Even as Russia is becoming rich with its oil and gas wealth, the death toll – attributed to alcoholism, smoking, improper nutrition, avoidance of healthcare, psychological stress – continues to be unnecessarily high and its young male workforce looks set to fall by half. A great religious revolution will take place this century, as Africa becomes the home of most Christians and to as many Muslims as Asia, and far more than in the Middle East.
Competencies and human resource management: implications for organizational competitive advantage
Authors: Ordóñez de Pablos Patricia , Lytras Miltiadis D. 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe paper seeks to analyze in depth the organizational requirements for the exploitation of human resource management towards increased organizational performance, and to provide a conceptual framework for the analysis of human resource management in learning organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes the form of an extensive literature review on human resource management (HRM), organizational learning and human capital.FindingsThe major contribution is the Requirements Framework for the Adoption of Technology Enhanced Learning and Semantic Web Technologies, which can guide strategies of effective competencies management in modern organizations. This framework initiates an interesting discussion of technological issues that go beyond the scope of this paper.Research limitations/implicationsThe Requirements Framework provides the basis for an extensive specification of knowledge management strategies. A follow‐up publication will present the practical implications of the “theoretical” abstraction of framework and empirical evidence.Practical implicationsThe paper is a very useful source of information and impartial advice for strategists, HRM managers, knowledge management officers and people interesting in exploiting human resource management systems in a knowledge‐intensive organization.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills an identified need to outline methods and technologies for integrated knowledge and learning and competencies management support in organizations.
Navigation quality as a key value for the webpage of a financial entity
Authors: Bonsón‐Ponte Enrique , Escobar‐Rodríguez Tomás , Flores‐Muñoz Francisco 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe objective of this study is to measure the navigation quality of the corporate webpages of the principal European financial entities, given the vital importance of the accessibility of online content for the successful execution of their operational activities.Design/methodology/approachThe web quality model proposes a structure that allows the quality of corporate webpages to be analysed according to the three main quality criteria of content, presentation and ease of navigation (navigability). Bonsón et al. take this theoretical framework as their point of departure for analysing the webpages of the principal European financial entities, and they measure the quality of their content in the context of the extra significance these webpages will acquire when the new Basel II international regulations enter into force in the imminent future. In this study, a joint analysis is made of the results of both studies in order to classify European financial entities according to the strategy adopted for their web sites.FindingsThe size of the entity behind the corporate webpage is revealed as the key variable that explains better navigability. There is also a positive relationship between the navigability and the content presented, which shows that companies' strategies for improving the quality of their web site tend to be harmonised in respect of these two criteria.Practical implicationsThe approach of most of the entities to their web presence can be characterised as informational in the sense that they are making substantial efforts to improve the content, driven by impending new regulation. However, they are still not utilising various devices available to make their web sites easier to navigate. Better navigability would improve user access to the enhanced information provided.Originality/valueThe resources have been determined that are needed to improve navigability so that these entities can advance their web site strategies and provide a harmonious combination of adequate content and fast, easy access to that content.
Motivation and retention of key people in mergers and acquisitions
Authors: Kummer Christopher 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe most critical aspect leading to success or failure of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) is people‐related. Unfortunately, how to handle aspects of “people issues” remains one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish successfully. This paper aims to deal with the question of how to keep employees motivated and to retain them in such complex times as M&A transactions.Design/methodology/approachThere are a number of reasons why the challenge of motivation and retention of key people is so difficult to master. The paper identifies the five main challenges of motivation and retention in M&As and how to tackle them.FindingsThe key reasons why the motivation and retention of key people during M&As are so difficult to master are that often damage is done prior to the closing of the deal. It is hard to handle the speed at which M&As are concluded and so it can be difficult to quickly and efficiently identify the key people to retain. The right packages need to be designed to retain the right people and communication with employees retained, as well as those not retained, must be maintained.Practical implicationsKeeping key people motivated and committed will help to retain them even during such complex times as M&A transactions, but also beyond. It is essential to prepare, as early as possible, detailed integration plans that include the identification of key people and the design of retention programmes, with the latter assisting in meeting retention goals. Communication of these elements, and other deal‐related issues, must also be effectively maintained.Originality/valueThe paper provides guidance in motivating and retaining key staff in the event of mergers and acquisitions.