bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Culture and dental health among African immigrant school‐aged children in the United States
Authors: Obeng Cecilia S. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe paper examines African immigrant parents' views on dental decay and whether such views affect their decision to obtain dental insurance for their children. The paper also examines the cultural underpinnings of the immigrants' oral health care practices.Design/methodology/approachThe data for the study were collected in the states of Indiana and Virginia. The data were collected in 2005 by the author and a research assistant. A total of 420 parents (220 males and 200 females) took part in the research, answering questions about 601 children.FindingsThe results indicate that a sizeable number of African immigrant school‐aged children are denied dental health due to a combination of cultural perceptions on dental health (such as families taking responsibility for cleaning their teeth themselves), parental ignorance on dental health, parents' perception of dental health practice in the USA, and the parents' weak financial standing.Originality/valueThe study is of considerable importance to dental care providers, public health specialists, social workers, and more especially the school systems that have African immigrant children, because as people who provide information and guidance to such immigrants, knowing about how the immigrants' cultural backgrounds influence their decisions about dental care will help to serve the immigrants more effectively.
Where do Chinese adolescents obtain knowledge of sex? Implications for sex education in China
Authors: Zhang Liying , Li Xiaoming , Shah Iqbal H. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeSex education in China has been promoted for many years, but limited data are available regarding the sources from which adolescents receive sex‐related knowledge. The present study was designed to examine the sources from which Chinese adolescents obtain their information on puberty, sexuality and STI/HIV/AIDS, and whether there are any differences in sources of sex knowledge according to adolescents' demographic characteristics and sexual status.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected in 2001 in Changchun City, China. Unmarried adolescents 15‐19 years of age (322 males and 360 females) were included in a cross‐sectional survey using self‐administered questionnaires.FindingsSchoolteachers and mass media were identified as the two most important sources of sex knowledge. Sources of sex knowledge among adolescents on various topics (puberty, sexuality, and STI/HIV/AIDS) differed by the level of taboo associated with these topics in Chinese culture. The percentage of adolescents obtaining knowledge for puberty, sexuality, and STI/HIV/AIDS from teachers declined by topic (45.4, 30.7 and 18.4 percent, respectively), while the percentage of adolescents obtaining knowledge from television/movie increased by topic (6.7, 12.2 and 27.5 percent, respectively). Adolescents obtained knowledge on topics with less taboo (e.g. puberty) from teachers and obtained knowledge on topics with more taboo (e.g. sexuality, STI/HIV/AIDS) from mass media. However, this differs by having been sexually experienced or not. Parents were the primary source for sex knowledge on less taboo subjects. Doctors were the primary source for STI/HIV/AIDS knowledge. Sexually active adolescents obtained sex knowledge mainly from peers or mass media, while those adolescents who were not sexually experienced identified teachers and parents as the main sources of sex knowledge.Originality/valueThe current study illustrates that it is necessary to improve and enhance current sex education programs in China by recognizing and strengthening the role of parents, teachers, and health care professionals in adolescent sex education.
How effective are street youth peer educators?
Authors: Mitchell Kirstin , Nyakake Monica , Oling Juliet 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper explores “lessons learned” resulting from a process evaluation of a peer‐led HIV/AIDS prevention programme targeting street children and youth in urban Uganda. The purpose was to explore aspects of implementation that either enhanced or hindered the effectiveness of the peer educator (PE) role.Design/methodology/approachThe process data derive from three reviews conducted throughout the project lifespan. The reviews engaged participatory evaluation methods such as focus groups (four) and workshops (three), as well as drawing on monitoring data such as activity evaluations.FindingsThe street youth in this project made effective peer educators. We suggest that letting the target group choose their peers and focusing on street youth undergoing rehabilitation engendered ownership of PEs by the target group and accountability among PEs themselves. The role was highly coveted and the PEs became powerful role models. The most useful work of the PEs lay in helping their peers to leave the risky environment of the streets, hence reducing their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. By defining the role broadly and situating peer education activities within a broader strategy of capacity building and advocacy, we were able to remain sensitive to the context in which street youth make “choices” about their sexual behaviour.Originality/valueThis paper contributes significantly to our understanding of the effective implementation of the PE method in this setting. It will be particularly helpful to practitioners in the design stage of similar peer‐led programmes.
Today's talent contest: the battle for talent in the UK is hotting up
Authors: Phillips Chris 
Published: June 2007

PurposeLooks at the increasingly competitive battle to recruit individuals in possession of scarce skills.Design/methodology/approachDiscusses the problems caused by an aging population in the UK and its impact on recruitment.FindingsAs the population ages, the pressure on traditional sources of talent intensifies.Originality/valueGives details of best practices that can help tackle the talent shortage.
Interview with Marcus Buckingham
Authors: by Rachel Brown Interview 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis article provides an interview with Marcus Buckingham.Design/methodology/approachAn interview with Marcus Buckingham, looking at his work for The Gallup Organization and also his views about management and leadership development.FindingsMarcus Buckingham answers questions about managers, leaders and the recent CIPD conference.Originality/valueProvides an insightful interview with Marcus Buckingham.
Strategies for successful CRM implementation
Authors: Nguyen ThuyUyen H. , Sherif Joseph S. , Newby Michael 
Published: June 2007

PurposeCustomer relationship management (CRM) is an information system that tracks customers' interactions with the firm and allows employees to instantly pull up information about the customers such as past sales, service records, outstanding records and unresolved problem calls. This paper aims to put forward strategies for successful implementation of CRM and discusses barriers to CRM in e‐business and m‐business.Design/methodology/approachThe paper combines narrative with argument and analysis.FindingsCRM stores all information about its customers in a database and uses this data to coordinate sales, marketing, and customer service departments so as to work together smoothly to best serve their customers' needs.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates how CRM, if used properly, could enhance a company's ability to achieve the ultimate goal of retaining customers and gain strategic advantage over its competitors.
Evaluating the security controls of CAIS in developing countries: an empirical investigation
Authors: Abu‐Musa Ahmad A. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the existence and adequacy of implemented computerized accounting information system (CAIS) security controls to prevent, detect and correct security breaches in Saudi organization.Design/methodology/approachThe first part of the paper introduces and discusses the literature review concerned with the CAIS security controls. The current paper introduces and discusses the main results of the empirical investigation. An empirical survey using self‐administered questionnaire, was carried out to achieve this purpose. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed on a random sample of Saudi organizations. Of them, 275 valid, usable questionnaires were collected and analyzed.FindingsThe results of the study highlight a number of inadequately implemented CAIS security controls, and some suggestions and recommendations are introduced to strengthen the weak points and to close the loopholes in the present CAIS security controls in Saudi organizations.Practical implicationsFrom a practical standpoint, mangers, auditors, IT users and practitioners alike stand to gain from the findings of this study.Originality/valueThe results presented in the paper help enable managers, auditors, IT users and practitioners to better understand and secure their CAIS and to champion IT development for the success of their businesses.
Information systems planning practices in Indian public enterprises
Authors: Goyal D.P. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo determine and analyze the information systems planning practices in Indian public enterprises.Design/methodology/approachThe study is an empirical investigation of Indian public enterprises and thus is primary data based. The primary data was collected from a scientifically‐computed sample of respondents through a pre‐tested designed questionnaire. Thus, the collected data was subjected to appropriate statistical methods to reach meaningful conclusions.FindingsThe findings from the study provide insights in IS planning practices in Indian public enterprises.Research limitations implicationsOnly two large enterprises in the public sector have been considered for the purpose of this study. Similar studies with a large number of organizations may further increase the reliability of the findings.Practical implicationsThe recommendations, based on the findings from this study, can go a long way in improving the health of information systems, which in turn, would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the organizations.Originality/valueThe research is original and is based on the primary data collection and interpretation.
Design of a multimedia traffic classifier for Snort
Authors: Marques Oge , Baillargeon Pierre 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose is to enhance the capabilities of a general‐purpose IDS solution with additional knowledge of multimedia file formats and protocols, to better handle multimedia‐specific security exploits.Design/methodology/approachThe authors have designed a multimedia traffic classifier, implemented as an optional preprocessor for Snort. The solution has been successfully tested with downloading and streaming traffic.FindingsTest results confirm that the additional specialized knowledge encoded in the preprocessor results in two significant gains: trusted multimedia contents can be identified and allowed to bypass the detection engine, with substantial computational savings; the IDS is now able to detect multimedia‐specific exploits which would otherwise go unnoticed.Research limitations/implicationsNot all multimedia‐related scenarios have been covered by the described implementation yet. The proposed solution is being extended to other file types and protocols, fine‐tuned, as well as tested more extensively.Practical implicationsSnort users interested in this work will be able to add the multimedia‐specific functionality – and enjoy the resulting benefits – with minimal effort.Originality/valueThe research reported in this paper is – to the authors' knowledge – the first effort to add multimedia‐specific knowledge to the operation of an IDS. In addition to being innovative, the proposed method is relevant for more than one reason, since it enhances the IDS capabilities while at the same time alleviating the computational cost of performing detailed traffic analysis in high‐speed networks.
E‐learning agents
Authors: Gregg Dawn G. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to illustrate the advantages of using intelligent agents to facilitate the location and customization of appropriate e‐learning resources and to foster collaboration in e‐learning environments.Design/methodology/approachThis paper proposes an e‐learning environment that can be used to provide customized learning. It utilizes a set of interacting agents that can personalize instruction based on an individual's prior knowledge as well as their cognitive and learning needs. The e‐learning agents monitor the e‐learning environment and improve learning and collaboration based on learners' prior knowledge, social characteristics and learning style.FindingsE‐learning agents should allow the discovery of new learning objects more easily, allow learners to customize materials presented to improve learning outcomes, and improve collaboration in the e‐learning environment.Originality/valueLittle prior research has been done on the use of agents in e‐learning environments. This paper proposes a set of e‐learning agents that, if implemented in online education or training environments, should provide tangible benefits to organizations.
Using meta‐abilities and tacit knowledge for developing learning based systems
Authors: Hisyam Selamat Mohamad , Choudrie Jyoti 
Published: June 2007

PurposeResearch has found that the implementation of learning‐based systems development is a complex issue since it requires the input of employees at all levels of an organization. Successful implementation is a challenge for organizations as the basic training and education offered by them and the particular experiences of the individuals on their own and other factors such as fear and ignorance prevent such actions. For this purpose, the addition of other elements is also required. This research aims to identify and explain the usage of the elements that can encourage employees to contribute the inputs necessary for learning‐based systems development.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve this aim, this research developed a conceptual framework based on the concepts of meta‐abilities and tacit knowledge externalization and sharing. To illustrate the application of the framework in a real life setting, a case study approach that involved a large manufacturing organization in Malaysia was employed.FindingsThe processes undertaken in the novel conceptual framework of this research should ensure that organizational information systems are subject to continual re‐examination and modification. By internalizing a system's operations, individuals can improve actions by acquiring better knowledge and understanding, which is the learning process. It was concluded that the future focus for the management of information in organizational learning should be towards the development of an individual's meta‐abilities and creating a suitable organizational culture and infrastructure such that knowledge sharing is promoted.Originality/valueGenerally, this paper offers a contribution by illustrating the application of a conceptual framework in a practical situation; thereby demonstrating a theoretical and practical understanding of the integration of staff members into the IS development process.
Heavy equipment management practices and problems in Thai highway contractors
Authors: Prasertrungruang Thanapun , Hadikusumo B.H.W. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis study is intended to investigate the current practices and problems in heavy equipment management as well as to identify practices capable of alleviating equipment management problems for highway contractors in Thailand.Design/methodology/approachEquipment management practices were identified and analysed by SPSS using a questionnaire survey. ANOVA test was used to reveal significant differences in equipment management practices among different contractor sizes. Relationships between equipment management practices and problems were also revealed.FindingsThe equipment management practices vary, to some extent, among different contractor sizes. While practices of medium and small contractors tend to be similar, practices of large contractors are different from those of smaller contractors. Large contractors often put more emphasis on outsourcing strategy for equipment management. Moreover, large contractors frequently dispose of or replace equipment as soon as the equipment becomes inefficient before incurring high repair costs. Conversely, smaller contractors tend to mainly emphasise on the company finance and the budget availability as they often rely on purchasing strategy, especially buying used machines. Overall, equipment practices of large contractors were found to be more successful than smaller contractors in minimising equipment management problems, including long downtime duration and cost.Originality/valueThis research is of value for better understanding practices and problems relating to heavy equipment management among different contractor sizes. The study also highlights practices that are capable of reducing problems relating to heavy equipment management for highway contractors.
Empirical study of interactions between knowledge management activities
Authors: Chen Le , Mohamed Sherif 
Published: June 2007

PurposeRecent knowledge management (KM) literature suggests that KM activities are not independent of each other, rather they interact with each other to form a process which receives input from both external and internal business environments, and then produces new knowledge for future utilisation. The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the relationships between KM activities within the construction business context in order to identify and map the pattern of their interactions.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was administered to a sample of contracting organisations operating in Hong Kong to elicit opinions of construction professionals on the intensity of KM activities currently being executed by their organisations in order to facilitate knowledge capture, sharing and utilisation. More than 150 respondents from 99 organisations responded to the survey. Additionally, a total of 15 semi‐structured interviews were undertaken to provide a unique perspective on many of the challenges facing local construction organisations when dealing with KM activities.FindingsKnowledge acquisition and utilisation play paramount roles in the development of the organisational knowledge asset. The higher the intensity of these two activities, the larger the organisational knowledge pool which, in turn, demands greater knowledge dissemination capacity. This dissemination capacity enables more active and intense responses to market changes and clients' needs, thus facilitating and stimulating acquisition and utilisation of new tacit knowledge, thus improving organisational business performance.Originality/valueInteractions between KM activities were empirically investigated, from a strategic perspective, in the construction business context.
Sustaining online teacher professional development through community design
Authors: Henderson Michael 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the role of community of practice in sustaining teachers' participation in a blended (face‐to‐face and online) professional development course.Design/methodology/approachA longitudinal multiple‐case study methodology was used in researching groups of five teachers in Australia and four teachers in the UK. The two groups independently participated in an initial face‐to‐face training day and then completed the professional development course via an online learning environment (Blackboard). The course was designed to facilitate community of practice cohesion. Data collection included surveys, data mining of online activity, discussion forums and e‐mails, and semi‐structured interviews.FindingsThe paper finds that the participants of both case studies demonstrated sustained engagement for more than twice the minimum requirement. While the Australian case study was sustained through a community‐defined regime of participation, the UK case study increasingly relied on the course facilitator to broker both practices and a community rhythm by which they could participate. Sustained participation in the Australian case study was supported by mutuality as seen in reciprocity of interaction and social engagement.Originality/valueTransformative professional development is dependent on a number of design principles, including that it needs to be sustained over time. The literature reveals that neither face‐to‐face nor online professional development, per se, sustains engagement. This research demonstrates that teacher participation can be sustained by designing for community of practice cohesion, in a blended mode of delivery with small groups of participants.
Designing interactive learning environments: an approach from first principles
Authors: Scott Bernard , Cong Chunyu 
Published: June 2007

PurposeToday's technology supports the design of more and more sophisticated interactive learning environments. This paper aims to argue that such design should develop from first principles.Design/methodology/approachIn the paper by first principles is meant: learning theory and principles of course design. These principles are briefly outlined, key features of which include: the use of knowledge and task analysis methodology; the use of topic maps; and learning design that supports adaptive teaching. The paper goes on to describe how this approach to course design has been applied at the UK Defence Academy.FindingsThe paper shows how conversation theory serves as a source of first principles for the design of interactive learning environments, as exemplified in the Course Assembly System and Tutorial Environment (CASTE).Originality/valueA principled approach to the design of interactive learning environments is of value in bringing order to a conceptually and methodologically confused domain of practice.
Virtual learning environments
Authors: Gerrard Catherine 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the need for accessible learning within the online environment by investigating disabled students' levels of engagement with a virtual learning environment (VLE) and the extent to which lecturers' use of the VLE made learning accessible.Design/methodology/approachA small focus group of undergraduate students with various disabilities was used to create a case study approach.FindingsThe paper presents key issues related to the pedagogical, practical and strategic use of a VLE, based on the perspectives of disabled students and raises many disability issues for teaching staff who are attempting to get to grips with the idea of bringing a VLE into their everyday teaching to complement their face‐to‐face teaching sessions. It offers a considered approach to the use of a VLE in meeting the requirements of the UK disability legislation and in responding to the needs of disabled students.Originality/valueBased on the perspectives of students, the paper offers a first‐hand insight into the pedagogical issues surrounding e‐learning and students with disabilities.