bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Potential roles for performance support tools within library systems
Authors: van Schaik Paul , Barker Philip , Famakinwa Oladeji 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe aim of the research was to design and evaluate a prototype electronic performance support system (EPSS) for libraries.Design/methodology/approachBased on the theory of performance support and usability problems identified in the use of academic libraries, a performance support system for using the Dewey Decimal Coding system was designed, implemented and evaluated. The system embedded two components: a tutorial to develop knowledge and two games to develop skills. An experimental evaluation was conducted with three groups of students to assess the effects of the two components.FindingsThe study found that students found the system useful. There was a large difference in confidence in own knowledge (in favour of the groups who studied the tutorial component), approaching statistical significance. Although no major usability problems were identified, some specific problems surfaced that should be addressed in future work. Results from staff (who also used the system) confirmed the findings from students and also highlighted the scaffolding function of the EPSS.Research limitations/implicationsThis research has shown the viability of performance support for academic libraries. However, it identified issues for future research, including the inclusion of sound and speech, dynamic adaptability of content to make the system more suited to specific libraries and academic disciplines, and integration with existing library systems and virtual learning environments.Originality/valueThe study has extended the concept of performance support to the domain of academic libraries. Given its wide applicability, the system should be valuable to academics and students worldwide.
TERI Integrated Digital Library Initiative
Authors: Deb Subrata 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe paper seeks to describe the setting up of the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) Digital library, which provides better single window access for researchers to access the structured information from their desktop. The aim of this paper is to share the experience gained and invite comments and suggestions for further improvement.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes a case study of TERI's Integrated Digital Library resources and digitization in detail and how the digital resources can be accessed through a single window. It also deals with basic problems and suggests practical solutions.FindingsThe paper finds that TERI Integrated Digital Library has been created to provide access to all digital and digitized offline and online resources, online e‐journals, electronic documents and virtual resources, and virtual libraries. The purpose of the integrated library is to provide a single window to researchers, through which they can access all the resources (both digitally born resources and digitized documents). Once users are able to access the Digital Library homepage, all the electronic resources are accessible using linkages with a single click, no matter whether they are available in a database or as a simple file in a virtual collection. A physical digital library has been created to address access to all the LAN connected systems that provide CD‐ROM access and journals and books downloaded or purchased for all time free access to in‐house users.Research limitations/implicationsIntegration has helped in saving researchers' valuable time. Library management has become easier and much more effective than was previously the case. Any additions to existing resources are announced by e‐mail for user access. Future plans are to make the resources highly interoperable across platforms or applications, so that platforms should not be a problem. Once a search is initiated, the search engine from the main search window should be able to hand over the search to subsequent search windows for any given database (bibliographic and full text). Once a search is handed over to the subordinate search engines, it should be able to retrieve the items and display the retrieved items in the main window. Future libraries seem to have no escape from the integrated digital library approach other than to an integrated digital collection that will make all available resources accessible from a single window.Originality/valueThis paper could be useful for small and medium special and research libraries who do not have enough funds to start with commercially available digital library software. This paper shows the way to start using Open Source Software, which is easy to use and has been used by the libraries with little effort.
Telecommuting: alternative strategies for the Jamaican libraries
Authors: Rosalee Carr Mardene 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe paper seeks to show how telecommuting can be employed to advantage in the Jamaican library system.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire and a literature review were utilized in this research paper. The primary research tool was a 12‐question questionnaire that was administered to all levels of library staff across the island. Articles covered in the literature review ranged from 1988 to 2004. This range was used to give a general idea of telecommuting from early on to present day.FindingsThe paper finds that library staff all over Jamaica were interested in the concept of telecommuting.Originality/valueThe paper provides information as to the benefits of incorporating telecommuting into the Jamaican library system.
Developments in South African document supply: the experience of the University of the Witwatersrand
Authors: Zambri Janet Teresa 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo examine and report on the challenges and trials of document supply at the University of the Witwatersrand during the recent past.Design/methodology/approachThe article explores the impact of international trade embargoes on document supply and academic research, the role played by the individual and new technologies on document supply and its future.FindingsThe role of the individual is an essential part of document supply. Politics can adversely affect academic research capabilities and the invisible college and networking within the academic community has a role to play. Changing technologies have an impact on work flow and work methods.Originality/valueProvides insight for those working in document supply, particularly for those with an interest in South African developments.
Interlending and document supply:a review of the recent literature – 55
Authors: McGrath Mike 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to provide a review of the most recent literature concerning document supply and related matters.Design/methodology/approachIncludes the reading of over 140 published works, including journals, monographs, reports and web sites.FindingsFinds that usage statistics are still not giving a clear indication of the importance of document supply but it is confirmed that the large proportion of demand comes from a small number of titles. Institutional Repositories are here to stay and expanding. Experience of e‐journals is appearing in the published literature with greater frequency with some interesting conclusions. Evaluation of Open Access journals are starting to appear with mixed results.Originality/valueProvides a useful source of information for librarians and others interested in document supply and related matters.
Domain decomposition and heterogeneous modeling used in solving a moving boundary problem
Authors: Jiang Bin , Bruch John C. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo provide an excellent numerical method to simulate an important industrial process – wet chemical etching problem.Design/methodology/approachA mathematical model describing the wet chemical etching process is formulated in terms of a parabolic variational inequality and a non‐overlapping domain decomposition (DD) method is proposed in the etching region, where a partial differential equation is treated in one sub‐domain, while a variational inequality is considered in the second sub‐domain. A Robin boundary condition with a parameter whose optimal value is to be found is enforced on the common boundary between these two sub‐domains. Finite difference technique with projection and the Crank‐Nicholson scheme for the time discretization are the major numerical tools utilized in this paper.FindingsThe proposed numerical method has achieved the best numerical performance for the famous wet chemical etching process among all the numerical schemes applied to this problem. It also shows the great computational power of domain splitting technique.Research limitations/implicationsLack of parallel supercomputer system limits the authors to perform further numerical tests with extremely large data. This will be done in the future.Practical implicationsThis is a very useful paper for the academic researchers and industry engineers who wish to develop more advanced numerical methods to simulate various kinds of industry processes along the research direction from this paper.Originality/valueThis paper provides a new and promising version of DD method in the field of moving boundary problems and offers a practical way to simulate wet chemical etching process for the engineers and scientists in the related field.
A methodology for the shape optimization of flexible wings
Authors: Vázquez M. , Dervieux A. , Koobus B. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo propose an integrated algorithm for aerodynamic shape optimization of aircraft wings under the effect of aeroelastic deformations at supersonic regime.Design/methodology/approachA methodology is proposed in which a high‐fidelity aeroelastic analyser and an aerodynamic optimizer are loosely coupled. The shape optimizer is based on a “CAD‐free” approach and an exact gradient method with a single adjoint state. The global iterative process yields optimal shapes in the at‐rest condition (i.e. with the aeroelastic deformations substracted).FindingsThe methodology was tested under different conditions, taking into account a combined optimization goal: to reduce the sonic boom production, while preserving the aerodynamic performances of flexible wings. The objective function model contains both aerodynamic parameters and an acoustic term based on the sonic boom downwards emission.Practical implicationsThis paper proposes a shape optimization methodology developed by researchers but aiming at the final strategic goal of creating tools that can be really integrated in design processes.Originality/valueThe paper presents an original loosely coupled method for the shape optimization of flexible wings in which recent and modern techniques are used at different levels of the global algorithm: the aerodynamic optimizer, the aeroelastic analyser, the shape parametrization and the objective function model.
Service innovation strategy and process: a cross‐national comparative analysis
Authors: Alam Ian 
Published: July 2006

PurposeOnly limited attention has been paid to the issue of new service development (NSD) in a cross‐national context. To address this critique of the literature a comparative cross‐national study of NSD strategy and process of financial service firms in Australia and the USA was conducted.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a cross‐sectional, survey‐based methodology. The US sampling frame included 274 large financial service firms situated in the Northeast region of the USA. The Australian sampling frame consisted of 262 firms situated in the Southeast region of Australia.FindingsThe data pattern suggests that the firms in both the countries use different new service strategies to compete in the industry and emphasize different sets of development stages in developing new services.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis has been restricted to two countries: Australia and the USA. This suggests the need for further comparative studies of NSD in other cultures/countries.Practical implicationsThe findings of this research support the notion that some of the key NSD practices may be common to all countries and cultures whereas others must be adjusted for national variations. The insights from this study can help service managers from both Australia and the US to better understand and manage their NSD programs in a cross‐national context.Originality/valueThe findings of the research are expected to advance one's understanding of the service innovation process by shedding light on the question of universality of factors and issues that relate to a firm's NSD programs.
Accelerated internationalisation: evidence from a late investor country
Authors: Pla‐Barber José , Escribá‐Esteve Alejandro 
Published: July 2006

PurposeRecent studies are trying to adapt the explanation of the internationalisation process to new environmental conditions. This paper aims to offer evidence of the existence of a group of firms that use a speeded‐up internationalisation process.Design/methodology/approachCluster analysis and logit regressions are used on a sample of 271 Spanish export firms.FindingsThe results obtained support the claim that substantial differences do exist between fast and gradual internationalising firms. The firms included in the more international active group are characterised by: a proactive attitude on the part of managers with regard to internationalisation activities, a strategy based on marketing differentiation advantages and strong relationships with clients and suppliers, which encourage or facilitate their international activities.Practical implicationsThe results may favour reflection upon what are the most important factors for achieving an active, international strategy and how to respond to these demands. The stimulation of relationships between firms will reduce the uncertainty associated with the risks of foreign operations and increase the international competitiveness of firms.Originality/valueFrom a politics perspective the research suggests several ways to stimulate the acceleration of the internationalisation process.
Excitement or sophistication? A preliminary exploration of online brand personality
Authors: Okazaki Shintaro 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis study attempts to identify the brand personality dimensions that American firms intend to create in the mind of online consumers by using “forms of online communications” partially based on Ghose and Dou's earlier study.Design/methodology/approachThe operational definitions of brand personality stimuli are adopted from prior research on advertising creative strategies. A content analysis was conducted on 270 web sites created by 64 American brands in the USA, UK, France, Germany and Spain.FindingsA principal component analysis identifies five underlying dimensions of brand personality stimuli: excitement, sophistication, affection, popularity, and competence. The principal forms of online communications consist of stakeholder relations, direct/indirect sales, choice functions, connectedness, orientation, and product positioning. Multiple regression analyses confirm that there are modest but consistent associations between the intended brand personality dimensions and the forms of online communications.Research limitations/implicationsThe dimensions of brand personality stimuli are intrinsically traceable from the perspective of the creative advertising appeals that multinational corporations (MNCs) attempt to employ on their web sites.Practical implicationsThis study provides a practical observation relating to whether MNCs are attempting to create a uniform set of brand personality dimensions across global markets.Originality/valueThe present study contributes to the literature by its attempt to classify brand personality stimuli in terms of the cognition versus affection framework.
Beyond national culture: implications of cultural dynamics for consumer research
Authors: Samuel Craig C. , Douglas Susan P. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo develop a more thorough understanding of culture in a rapidly changing global environment.Design/methodology/approachThe recent literature dealing with ways in which cultural dynamics are influencing the nature and meaning of culture are examined. Different perspectives of culture related to three key components of culture, intangibles, material culture and communication, are explored. Based on this, directions for research on the content of culture are discussed as well as how it should be approached.FindingsCulture is becoming increasingly deterritorialized and penetrated by elements from other cultures. This is resulting in cultural contamination, cultural pluralism and hybridization. It has become more difficult to study culture as it is becoming diffuse. At the same time, it is becoming more important to study it because of its pervasive influence on consumer behavior.Research limitations/implicationsGiven that culture is no longer a phenomenon defined by and isolated to a particular locale, research on culture must carefully specify the role of culture, define the appropriate unit of analysis, isolate confounding influences and expand the range of contexts.Originality/valueThe parallel trends of globalization and multiculturalism make it increasingly important to develop a deeper understanding of culture and its various manifestations. For progress to be made, research designs must account for this complexity and span multiple contexts to establish the generality of findings. This will result in improved knowledge of culture and its role in molding consumption behavior.
The measurement of end‐user computing satisfaction of online banking services: empirical evidence from Finland
Authors: Pikkarainen Kari , Pikkarainen Tero , Karjaluoto Heikki , Pahnila Seppo 
Published: July 2006

PurposeAlthough research into the adoption and use of online banking services has grown in many parts of the world, the centre of attention has been largely on determinants of online banking adoption, not on users' satisfaction with use. This paper aims to test and validate the End‐User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS) model in order to investigate online banking users' satisfaction with the service.Design/methodology/approachA survey (n=268) was carried out using convenience sampling. An exploratory factor analysis followed by a confirmatory factor analysis run in LISREL 8.7 is used to test the validity of the model in an online banking context.FindingsThe survey results support three constructs (content, ease of use, accuracy) from the original model, indicating that the modified EUCS model labelled EUCS2 can be utilized in analyzing user satisfaction with online banking among private customers.Research limitations/implicationsThe obtained model suffered from two cross‐loadings between individual items. Another limitation concerns the sample obtained. Therefore, future studies should test the model with larger samples to verify the model in this context.Practical implicationsFindings of the study indicate that banks could improve end‐user computing satisfaction with online banking by concentrating on the three constructs obtained from the analyses. Moreover, the results indicate that banks can increase satisfaction of online banking services by personalising the service, allowing easier and more convenient use experience.Originality/valueThe paper makes a significant contribution by testing and modifying the EUCS model in the online banking context.
Can internal marketing be implemented within bureaucratic organisations?
Authors: Papasolomou Ioanna 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into some of the present issues and concerns facing the practice of internal marketing (IM) in the UK retail‐banking sector. Over the years banks have moved from being supply‐oriented to sales‐oriented in their approach to business and more recently have espoused the notion of becoming marketing‐oriented. In order to achieve marketing orientation it is desirable that banks should adopt IM concepts and procedures.Design/methodology/approachThe research study aimed at building theory in the area of IM through case study research carried out at branch level. It was primarily qualitative since the aim was to uncover people's views and experiences of IM corroborated by documentary and quantitative data sources. A total of 35 business units from seven different UK banking organisations situated in Stoke‐on‐Trent, Cannock, and Stafford were studied.FindingsEvidence seems to suggest that, while the banks may espouse the ideal of instilling a strong service mentality and customer orientation, the bureaucratic nature of their organisations stands in the way of facilitating this outcome.Research limitations/implicationsOnly one industry is represented in this study. The focus on banks is topical, given the environmental dynamics of marketing in the UK, although the empirical data's parochiality undermines their generalisability. However, this need not be an issue if it is set in the context of the UK market as a whole. Similarly, only branch personnel were researched and only banks from a certain geographic area participated in the study.Practical implicationsThe research findings raised questions regarding the ability of banks to adopt and implement change initiatives such as IM when their bureaucratic/mechanistic structure often hinders their efforts.Originality/valueThe study's findings present interesting challenges for further systematic research regarding IM among practitioners and academics.
The effects of customer contact on conformance quality and productivity in Chinese service firms
Authors: Xu Kefeng , Jayaram Jayanth , Xu Ming 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to examine how service enablers such as resource management and human resource management practices, identified in prior research as vital, influence both conformance quality and productivity performance. The paper also aims to study how the level of customer contact, a major service differentiator, could moderate the influence of such practices on performance.Design/methodology/approachUsing sample data from 249 service firms in China, hierarchical a regression analyses is employed to test the research questions.FindingsThe results indicate that there are common resource management and human resource management practices that positively affect both conformance quality and productivity. Importantly, besides its direct and positive effect on conformance quality and on productivity performance, the level of customer contact was found to have a contingency effect on the relationships between resource management or human resource management practices, and conformance quality or productivity performance.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research should consider including other developing countries, more service industries, and a longitudinal study if possible.Practical implicationsImplications of the findings on theory in services and managerial practice in the context of China are offered.Originality/valueThe theoretical value of the research lies in identifying the factors that simultaneously affect both conformance quality and productivity (which are often seen as competing goals) in service sectors, and their dependency on the level of customer contact.