bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Knowledge democracy and the implications to information access
Authors: Raza Ahmad , Sohaib Murad Hasan 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of “knowledge democracy,” deploying a pluralistic, and cross disciplinary and humanistic critique.Design/methodology/approachThis is a culturally pluralistic and humanistic interpretation of globally emergent form of learning pedagogy, particularly manifested in e‐learning.FindingsThis paper explores the concept of knowledge democracy in the context of knowledge and information revolution. It has been argued that knowledge democratization implies freedom and equality to access information and knowledge across cultures and societies, particularly in the context of globalization. It is asserted that a democratization of the notion of knowledge would cause a paradigm shift; the way instruction and education are socially structured in different social systems. The knowledge society provides a new spirit of global sharing of values, acceptance of others and learning to live with divergent worldviews. It is contended that e‐learning in particular sets a new global social opportunity to transcend regional, racial and national prejudices.Originality/valueThe paper underscores the significance of pluralistic and humanistic perspective on knowledge and e‐learning.
Inter‐cultural communication: a foundation of communicative action
Authors: Vuckovic Aleksandra 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a model of inter‐cultural communication that enumerates and structures latent factors affecting such communication and elaborates on the process of self‐reflection as a guiding mechanism of successful communication.Design/methodology/approachThe five factors and various moderators that are introduced in the model are discussed by making references to existing psychology, sociology and education literature and its integration with everyday examples. Following this, overview is an argumentative discourse on self reflection and its role in inter‐cultural communication.FindingsThe paper argues that inter‐cultural communication competence can only be attained when self‐reflective processes increase a person's awareness of her own culture, personality, identity in that particular situation and various other factors. Further exposes how these factors surface in everyday situations.Research limitations/implicationsThe model is at this stage purely conceptual and lacks concrete operationalisation. The factors do not necessarily present an exhaustive list.Practical implicationsBy identifying relevant factors and promoting the strategic employment of self‐reflective processes, the approach can alert individuals to become more aware and thus more successful in their inter‐cultural communication. The conceptual nature of the paper can also guide future empirical research aimed at facilitating inter‐cultural communication.Originality/valueThis paper provides an introductory, meaningfully structured overview of issues that impact on inter‐cultural communication. It ties established concepts together in a novel way that can guide individual growth in the domain.
Diversification of Chinese companies: an international comparison
Authors: Fan Joseph P.H. , Huang Jun , Oberholzer‐Gee Felix , Smith Troy D. , Zhao Mengxin 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic comparison of the level of business diversification in China and eight other large economies for the 2001‐2005 period. The reasons why publicly listed Chinese firms are more diversified than companies elsewhere are investigated.Design/methodology/approachData were collected on the number of business segments in which publicly traded companies operate from the Thomson One Banker database and analyzed using non‐parametric tests and regression analysis.FindingsThe mean number of business segments per firm varies significantly by country. Notably, there is no evidence in the authors' sample that emerging‐market companies are systematically more diversified than their developed‐market counterparts. In most countries, firms have become less diversified over time. However, there is no such trend in China. The level of diversification of Chinese enterprises does not vary over the authors' study period (2001‐2005), making Chinese firms the most diversified in the sample by 2005. China's growth rate does not seem to explain the higher level of firm diversification. However, the authors find that Chinese state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) diversify their operations more aggressively than other Chinese firms.Research limitations/implicationsOwnership data and business group affiliations were not available for all firms in the sample, making it difficult to control for these effects across economies. The study's findings are limited to publicly traded firms.Practical implicationsGovernment involvement in SOEs may be contributing to a divergence in the pattern of business diversification between China and other economies.Originality/valueThis paper quantifies anecdotal evidence that Chinese firms are more diversified than similar firms in other countries.
A comparison between I‐Ching's early management decision‐making model and western management decision‐making models
Authors: Hsu Mu‐Lan , Chiu Kuan‐Yao 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine the value of I‐Ching (also called Book of Changes), the ancient Chinese book of wisdom, which has been used for thousands of years to help people make decisions in daily life. Recently, eastern and western scholars have begun discussing how to apply the wisdom of I‐Ching to the field of business administration, particularly decision‐making practices.Design/methodology/approachA content analysis method was adopted to uncover possible modern management decision‐making constructs. The single words approach did not find frequently appearing words that integrated decision‐making constructs in the context of I‐Ching. Further uncovering I‐Ching's administrative decision‐making approach, the managerial decision‐making model of I‐Ching is explained, including the premises, the decision contingencies, and the decision process.FindingsBy using an academic comparative analysis method, as it applies to managerial decision making, I‐Ching's early management decision‐making model is subsequently compared with western management decision models, which include rational decision making, bounded‐rationality decision making, intuitive decision making, implicit favorite decision making, and garbage‐can decision making.Research limitations/implicationsThe majority of scholars that study I‐Ching focus on “practice divination” research, paying attention to the interpretation or critique of the text only. Unfortunately, related literature based upon a social science research foundation is limited.Originality/valueThe value of I‐Ching was determined to lie in allowing flexibility in the decision‐making process.
Role of the HR environment on talent growth: an empirical study of industrial clusters in China
Authors: Weng Qingxiong 
Published: April 2008

PurposeIn order to reveal why there are favorable growing environments in industrial clusters (IC), the author examines the effects of the HR environment on talent growth from five aspects: industrial clusters economy (ICE), industrial clusters HR policy (ICHRP), industrial clusters living setting (ICLS), industrial clusters culture (ICC) and industrial clusters HR management (ICHRM).Design/methodology/approachThe sample for this study came from four IC in China. Exploratory factor analysis and SEM analyses were conducted to analyze data.FindingsIt proved that: the economy of ICE has a positive direct impact on the talent growth in the clusters; ICHRP has a positive direct impact on talent growth in the clusters; ICC does not have a direct impact on talent growth in the clusters; ICLS has a positive direct impact on talent growth in the clusters; the HRM of companies in IC has a positive direct impact on talent growth in the clusters; the culture and ICHRP has a positive direct impact on the HRM of companies in the clusters.Originality/valueThe paper helps to reveal why talent grows better in IC than in other regions. It offers theoretic support for government to set HR policy.
Energy policies in Latin America and the Caribbean and the evolution of sustainability
Authors: Garrón Bozo Mauricio 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe paper seeks to offer an evaluation of the energy sector's contribution to sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in the last 30 years.Design/methodology/approachSustainable development indicators proposed by Latin American Energy Organization/Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean/German Technical Cooperation are used, in conjunction with indicators proposed by IAEA, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, IEA, EUROSTAT and the EEA. They are based on objectives, priorities and available information and their values are analyzed in a period of significant changes in LAC energy policies.FindingsState and evolution of sustainability in LAC are presented at a country and sub‐regional levels. Some important remarks are drawn about energy policies' contribution to sustainable development and some key areas to improve are identified.Originality/valueThis research intends to highlight implicit deficiencies in energy policies that could suggest new priority guidelines for future policy decisions, in order to improve their contribution to sustainable development.
Energy contracting in Brazil and electricity prices
Authors: Lizardo R. Hermes de Araújo João , de Aragão da Costa Agnes Maria , Correia Tiago , Melo Elbia 
Published: April 2008

PurposeTo investigate the extent to which the contracting mechanisms instituted by the 2004 reform, in particular power auctions, have solved the investment hurdles created by the first reform.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyses the characteristics of Brazilian contracting and the experience so far with power auctions, concerning investments in generation and electricity prices.FindingsAuctions have been moderately successful, in the sense that they have attracted a fair number of bidders and electric companies have increased their value in the stock exchange, while keeping prices moderate. However, a number of other hurdles to investment – in particular clear and feasible criteria for environmental licensing – have to be solved in order to achieve the reform goals.Research limitations/implicationsThe format of power auctions is still going through a learning process; also, the experience has been limited so far, which severely hinders the use of quantitative tools. This could be the object of future research, after more data are available. Of particular interest will be the follow‐up of free bilateral contracting, which has grown significantly.Practical implicationsThis could be a useful reference for scholars interested in the recent developments in the Brazilian Electricity Supply Industry.Originality/valueAs far as is known, this is the first paper to systematically analyse the performance of power auctions in the Brazilian market. Its value lies in that it allows an objective evaluation of one central point of the 2004 reform.
Benchmarking as a management and regulatory instrument for Caribbean electric utilities
Authors: Martina Steven , Hakvoort Rudi , Ajodhia Virendra 
Published: April 2008

PurposeOne of the most pressing questions facing small‐island development states (SIDS) is the appropriate way in which to operate and manage their infrastructure industries. After all SIDS are faced with high cost of infrastructure due to the narrow markets and diseconomies of scale and remoteness.Design/methodology/approachFor small‐island utilities in the Caribbean region, a benchmark has been performed to demonstrate objectively how utilities cost, as well as their service quality, compare over time and with other utilities. About 15 utilities of 17 Caribbean countries were included in the benchmark. Based on these outcomes, the current efficiency and possible efficiency gains were determined (which may differ significantly from the current “best‐practice” of utilities in developed countries) which provide a basis to set targets that are achievable.FindingsIn this paper, the conducted Caribbean benchmark studies will be further elaborated and the applicability as management tool and regulatory tool to compare performance within the region will be assessed. One of the preliminary conclusions of the study is that the incentive‐based approaches adopted in many countries do not necessarily work within the context of SIDS (and their specific characteristics and limitations), so that a different regulatory model needs to be developed.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis was performed based on data of one year. Analysis based on multi‐year data can provide trends in efficiency and will identify the development of the utilities' performance. Cost data was not used in this analysis due to lack of availability. Also, inclusion of reliability data representing frequency of interruptions and duration of interruption in the analysis would provide a more holistic indication of efficiency.Originality/valueThe paper offers insight into the current restructuring of the electricity supply in the Caribbean region.
From açaí to access: distributed electrification in rural Brazil
Authors: Zerriffi Hisham 
Published: April 2008

PurposeTo rigorously examine success and failure in the use of small scale technologies for rural electrification.Design/methodology/approachSemi‐structured primary field interviews plus secondary sources.FindingsBusiness model differences and influence of institutions important are important for understanding success and failure in rural electrification and the contribution rural electrification can play in rural development.Research limitations/implicationsData on the entire universe of distributed electrification efforts are unavailable. This highlights the need for better documentation of energy activities in rural areas.Practical implicationsThe development of new policies to guide rural electrification towards more sustainable and development enhancing outcomes.Originality/valuePrior studies have taken anad hocapproach to study previous projects and suffer from case selection bias since their scope is limited in geography (one country, region or even village), technology (only PV or only wind or only renewables), or end‐use (household electrification and productive uses). This study proposes a clear set of independent and dependent (as well as control) variables and looks across a range of cases to draw conclusions.
Planning paths for the electrification of small villages using decentralised generation
Authors: Contreras Zaida 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to illustrate and discuss the implications of the assessment and choice of electricity supply systems for rural communities of less than 500 inhabitants in Senegal. The paper is based on a study produced by Programme pour la Promotion de l'Electrification Rurale et l'Approvisionnement en Combustibles Domestiques, an advising body for the Senegalese Ministry of Energy and Mines.Design/methodology/approachThe profitability index Taux d'Enrichissement en Capital is used as the main criterion for the economic evaluation of four technologies: diesel mini‐grids, photovoltaic, hybrid (pv‐diesel) generators, and solar home systems. Household demand is derived from real data of socio‐economic studies which serve as the basis for determining market segments defined by the distribution of the willingness to pay and the levels of service.FindingsThe simulations from nine demand cases show that high investment and/or operation expenditure create an insurmountable barrier given the limited payment capacity of rural populations, demonstrating that projects in this context are not profitable without subsidies. However, decentralised PV generation technologies are already demonstrated to be the least cost solution when the village lies further than 5.4 kilometers from the transmission grid.Originality/valueThis paper describes a planning path that could enable a faster implementation of rural electrification programs in remote areas considering three main elements, namely; willingness to pay, reduction of levels of supply service and support of communal management. However, the focus of the present work is mainly devoted to an analysis of the first two elements. Finally, the paper addresses the issue of how these technologies can be better implemented by national agencies and investors, with potential application outside of the Senegalese case study.
Renewable technologies for rural electrification in Colombia: a multiple objective approach
Authors: Silva Herran Diego , Nakata Toshihiko 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThis study aims to present preliminary results from an integrated evaluation of electricity supply systems for rural areas using renewable energy technologies by means of a multi‐objective decision making methodDesign/methodology/approachGoal programming is applied to obtain the optimal system configuration meeting the electricity demand, based on the location's resource availability and taking diesel generation as the alternative of reference. The performance of the system is evaluated through four attributes: electricity generation costs, employment and two environmental impacts (CO2 emissions and land use). The model is designed for isolated rural area belonging to the non‐interconnected zones of Colombia.FindingsApplication of the method showed that biomass conversion technology has the highest potential and that renewable energy systems offer better performance than diesel generation. Reductions of more than 10 percent in unit electricity costs, land use rates and CO2 emissions can be achieved.Research limitations/implicationsInclusion of additional attributes and sensitivity analysis are matters of future research.Originality/valueThe methodology used in this study is an alternative means to perform evaluation of electricity supply systems integrating several aspects of technology and which is flexible enough so as to enable the inclusion of a wider scope of interests towards energy access targets.
Corporate social orientation in Japan and the USA: a cross‐cultural comparison
Authors: Smith Wanda J. , Singal Manisha , Lamb William B. 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe primary goal of this study is to conduct an empirical comparison of corporate social orientation (CSO) values held by US and Japanese students. The study also aims to test the stability of CSO with an exploratory assessment of the impact of international exposure on these values.Design/methodology/approachA total of 806 respondents were surveyed in the USA and Japan regarding their expectations of business organizations, their demographic attributes, and their level of international exposure. The survey results were compared using descriptive statistics, MANOVA and ANOVA.FindingsThe results support the assertion that CSO varies across individualistic and collectivistic cultures. Statistically significant differences were found between US and Japanese respondents in the relative ratings allocated to the four dimensions of CSO (economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary expectations). Results also indicate that CSO is a fairly stable set of values. International exposure was not found to have a statistically significant impact on CSO ratings.Research limitations/implicationsThis study offers support for the variability of CSO across students in different cultures. It also suggests that further studies are needed to fully assess the impact of people's experiences on their CSO. Based on the differences identified, managers in these settings can expect to have their performance evaluated differently by customers, investors, regulators, and other groups.Originality/valueThis study presents the first comparison of CSOs between the USA and Japan. The study also presents a preliminary test of the relationship between people's international exposure and CSO.
Organizational culture and compensation systems
Authors: Li Ling , Roloff Michael E. 
Published: April 2008

PurposeCompensation influences applicants' perceptions of a position's attractiveness, but there has been limited analysis of how different compensation systems might reflect organizational cultures and influence organizational attractiveness. This article seeks to explore these issues.Design/methodology/approachAn experiment was conducted in which 288 undergraduates reacted to scenarios describing a company that distributed salaries and benefits based on either merit or on seniority. Individual differences were also measured and analyzed. Analysis of variance and moderated regression were used to test the hypotheses.FindingsRelative to seniority‐based compensation systems, the cultures of organizations relying on merit were perceived to be more aggressive, reward‐oriented, and less decisive. Unexpectedly, the psychological contracts of organizations using merit systems were generally perceived to be more relational and less transactional than those using seniority‐based systems. Individual differences were not related to attraction to the organization regardless of its compensation systems. Finally, individuals were least attracted to organizations that distributed both salaries and benefits based on seniority relative to those using a mixed compensation distribution system or one based entirely on merit.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample was composed of undergraduates who responded to a hypothetical job scenario. The scenario only included information about how salary and benefits are allocated. Future research should use more experienced samples that are considering actual positions.Practical implicationsFindings indicate how information about compensation systems might be used in job descriptions to encourage applicants.Originality/valueThis study was the first to find that merit/seniority‐based compensation systems for determining salary and benefits reflect different organizational cultures to job applicants and influence job applicants' attraction to organizations.
A folded and functional protein domain in an amyloid‐like fibril
Authors: Sackewitz Mirko , von Einem Sabrina , Hause Gerd , Wunderlich Michael , Schmid Franz‐Xaver , Schwarz Elisabeth 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe effect of the polypeptide environment on polyalanine‐induced fibril formation was investigated with amyloidogenic fragments from PAPBN1, a nuclear protein controlling polyadenylation. Mutation‐caused extensions of the natural 10 alanine sequence up to maximally 17 alanines result in fibril formation of PABPN1 and the development of the disease oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). We explored the influence of fibril formation on the structure and function of a one‐domain protein linked to the fibril‐forming part of PABPN1. The well‐characterized, stably folded, one‐domain protein, cold‐shock protein CspB from Bacillus subtilis, was fused either to the C terminus of the entire N‐terminal domain of PABPN1 or directly to peptides consisting of 10 or 17 alanine residues. The fusion protein between the N‐terminal domain of PABPN1 and CspB formed fibrils in which the structure and activity of CspB were retained. In the fibrils formed by fusions in which the polyalanine sequence was directly linked to CspB, CspB was unfolded. These results indicate that the folded conformation and the function of a protein domain can be maintained in amyloid‐like fibrils, and that the distance between this domain and the fibril plays an important role.