bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The importance of marketing boards in Canada: a twenty‐first century perspective
Authors: Tamilia Robert D. , Charlebois Sylvain 
Published: February 2007

PurposeMarketing boards are an integral part of the farm economy in Canada. Their purposes have been debated for decades but seldom from a marketing perspective. Such an approach makes for an interesting way to study them. The purpose of this paper is to assess the pros and cons of marketing boards, suggesting how they can be made more responsive to market forces.Design/methodology/approachThe paper positions the need for Canada to bring agricultural market reforms. The wave toward freer access to world markets makes the study of supply management that more interesting and relevant in the twenty‐first century. A brief history of marketing boards is presented, followed by a discussion of their economic, social and constitutional impacts on Canadian society. Dairy supply management issues are discussed because they serve as the basis for comparative analysis, given that dairy trade liberation has been the most successful. The impact of marketing boards on consumers is well documented.FindingsThe research points out that marketing boards lack managerial savvy to make them more efficient and responsive to market changes. Logistical and supply chain management approaches seem to be lacking. A failure to respond to markets has resulted in lost market opportunities, both domestically and abroad. The quota values, the legal and constitutional powers of Canadian marketing boards and the interprovincial trade barriers, among other issues, have stifled entrepreneurship and innovation, all with rising prices to consumers. Trade liberation will not be easy to implement even if it is urgently needed.Practical implicationsSome of the suggested market reforms presented in the paper are bound to have repercussions not only on farmers and their current ways of doing business but on Canadian society as well.Originality/valueFew studies on marketing boards have been done from a marketing perspective rather than an agricultural economic one. It is the most current review of Canadian marketing boards. Marketing studies are needed to know more about how such boards are managed and function. They need to be more accountable. The recommended managerial studies on boards make the paper unique. While trade liberation is highly recommended for milk and dairy boards to meet world pressure, the paper does not call for their elimination.
The farmer's market organic consumer of Costa Rica
Authors: Aguirre Juan A. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to provide local authorities, consumers, retailers and vendors information about the consumer profile of shoppers at the organic farmers market that could be used for devising strategies for local organic market development.Design/methodology/approachThe survey included information about the socio‐demographic, product characteristics and motives to purchase the product by the organic consumer. The selection of persons to be surveyed was random. The location of the survey was “La Feria del Trueque”, the largest organic farmers market in Costa Rica. During February 2004, 280 surveys were conducted and in 2005, 200 surveys. A single database was developed on the outcomes of the analysis of variance conducted. In order to detect the variables influencing the money spent monthly on organic fresh fruits and vegetables products and rank their importance, an ordinal probit model was specified using a restricted procedure.FindingsThe organic consumer in Costa Rica appears to be largely of middle age, with high monthly family incomes, female the primary buyer and highly educated. With an average family size of four members, one third of its income is spent on food and between 12 and 20 percent on organic fruits and vegetables and there seems to be a limit of around 20 percent in relation to the premium they are willing to pay for organic products. The organic consumer in Costa Rica recognizing the “obvious” differences seems to be somewhat similar to the organic consumer in the USA, Canada and Europe.Practical implicationsThe similarities detected are significant for those looking to import and sell fresh and processed organic products in Central America, because they can apply international information to open the “local markets”, while they develop their local market research information. Buyers and sellers can use the information of this study to better negotiate local purchasing conditions. At the same time it will help local producers to improve its negotiations capabilities with the new international retailers arriving in Costa Rica.Originality/valueThe central objectives of this study are to identify the consumer profile of Costa Rica of those buying organic products at the organic farmers markets, and to determine the key variables influencing the consumer expenditures for organic products at the farmers organic markets.
Determinants of corporate sustainability: Thai frozen seafood processors
Authors: Setthasakko Watchaneeporn 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to gain a clearer understanding of key determinants that drive corporate sustainability and barriers that hinder its development.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs semi‐structured interviews with top and middle managers and site observations at two frozen seafood processing companies used as case studies.FindingsThe study reveals that the government, local communities, and top management leadership are the three primary factors influencing company integration of environmental and social responsibility into corporate strategies and practices. Interestingly, international buyers do not take the environmental and social impact generated by their suppliers into purchasing decisions. For them, quality, safety and prices are the main factors influencing their purchasing decisions. The two elements identified as the major barriers to change are: lack of a long‐term view of environmental and social sustainability and absence of a system perspective on the seafood supply chain.Research limitations/implicationsAs an exploratory study, findings cannot necessarily be extrapolated to broader populations. To improve generalization of the findings, future research should broaden the sample. It would also be beneficial to pursue comparative research between industries, countries and regions.Practical implicationsAdopting a system perspective to the organization with an emphasis on integrating environmental and social responsibility into corporate strategies and practices is a key to creating corporate sustainability.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to an increased understanding of the role of top management leadership in the creation of corporate sustainability. In addition, the research techniques used could be replicated in different geographic and product areas.
Values and eco‐ and fair‐trade labelled products
Authors: Grankvist Gunne , Lekedal Hans , Marmendal Maarit 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to study whether preference for a product increased, or decreased, as a consequence of information that the product was either eco‐ or fair trade labelled. An additional purpose was to investigate associations between importance attached to values and preference for eco‐ and fair‐trade labelled food products.Design/methodology/approachEffects of information that orange juice was either eco‐ or fair trade labelled were studied in an experimental setting, with a sample of Swedish students. Importance attached to values was measured with the list of values (LOV) scale. Taste preference was the evaluated aspect.FindingsNo significant effects of the experimental manipulation were observed. Attaching greater importance to the value “warm relationships with others” was associated with a more favourable rating of the taste of both eco‐ and fair‐trade labelled juices. The value “security” was positively associated with an increased taste preference for the group exposed to the fair trade, but not the eco, label.Originality/valueThis paper provides knowledge about the characteristics of environmentally and ethically concerned consumers.
The future of leadership: where do we go from here?
Authors: Martin André 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis research paper seeks to identify that leadership is changing and will change even more in the next five years according to a recent study by the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL). This change is due to the increase in complex challenges that leaders face. Such challenges test the limits of an organization's current strategies and reveal the shortcomings of leadership. This article looks at ways leadership is shifting, the driving force of complexity, and the skills leaders need to be effective in the future.Design/methodology/approachThe study surveyed more than 350 mid‐ to upper‐level managers across the globe to explore the current and future state of leadership. Findings show 84 percent of surveyed participants believe that the definition of effective leadership has changed in the last five years. And more than 60 percent agree that leaders face challenges beyond their individual capabilities.FindingsThe four trends that are driving this shift in leadership are globalization, rise of complex challenges, a world of interruption, and leadership for longevity. Leaders in the future will need new skill sets, greater collaboration skills, organizational architect ability, more flexible style, to be open and adaptable to new ideas, and be able to find examples of positive disobedience.Originality/valueToday's leaders must be prepared for the future as globalization intensifies the complexity in an already complex world. With globalization and complexity come a greater temptation of interruption and higher levels of stress. With this increased stress, leaders must create a foundation of health to ensure that they have the energy for the challenging times ahead.
Developing agile leaders
Authors: Joiner Bill , Josephs Stephen 
Published: February 2007

PurposeWith mounting complexity and interdependence and the increasing pace of change in organizational environments, leadership agility has become a much‐needed competency. This article aims to report research findings that appear in a new publication.Design/methodology/approachThe study on which this article is based included a total of 604 subjects. Of these, 384 were participants in previous research studies that identified each manager's “stage of ego development” as measured by the Washington University Sentence Completion Test (SCT). The other 220 managers, who provided in‐depth case studies, were clients, interviewees, or evening MBA students, whose stage of ego development was also assessed.FindingsThis study identified five levels of leadership agility, each of which corresponds to a stage of adult ego development. It also resulted in the discovery of four leadership agility competencies (context‐setting, stakeholder, creative, and self‐leadership agility) and eight underlying capacities that evolve as managers develop from one level of leadership agility to another.Research limitations/implicationsFruitful areas for future research include: expanding knowledge about how leaders develop from one level of agility to another, identifying the competencies and capacities associated with the level beyond synergist, and better understanding the stages or levels of organizational development that parallel the levels of leadership agility.Practical implicationsThis research has significant implications for an “integral” approach to leadership development that places emphasis both on professional skills needed in complex, rapidly changing environments and on the mental and emotional capacities that underlie these skills.Originality/valueManagers and leadership development professionals both can benefit from the fresh perspective presented in this article.
The FuturePerfect organization – leadership for the twenty‐first century: part 2
Authors: Guillory William A. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a solution to organizations attempting to adapt to unpredictable, accelerated change in the twenty‐first century.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is written in two parts, to be published in issues 1 and 2 of this journal in February and April of 2007, respectively. Part 1 suggests the solution to adapting to change is the adoption of an individual and organizational mind‐set that anticipates and molds change rather than one that continually adapts to linear, sequential change initiatives. This premise is based upon the assumption that the best way to adapt to change is to create it! This mind‐set is defined as creative adaptation. The model corresponding to this mind‐set is the FuturePerfect organization. The initiatives of the FuturePerfect model have been adopted to varying extents by leading‐edge organizations in various industries. In general, these are organizations that excel in performance and ensure the well‐being of its employees. The FuturePerfect initiatives are a fast response work force, knowledge management, cultural inclusion, creative adaptation, and customer integration. The two inseparable initiatives that are common to the implementation of all five FuturePerfect initiatives are diversity and cooperation. In Part 2 of this paper, it is shown how twentieth century initiatives transform to the seven FuturePerfect initiatives cited above. Then each of the seven initiatives is described, in detail, along with selected organizations that are presently or in the initial stages of implementing them.FindingsThe results of an analysis of these organizations confirm not only the emerging paradigm of teaming, collaboration, and cross‐functional knowledge management, but also the integration of knowledge, people, and cooperation.Practical implicationsGiven the rate of new emerging paradigms (a few years) successful organizations will have to more rapidly adapt or even anticipate (quantum‐thinking) future transformation in organizational operation.Originality/valueThe FuturePerfect model provides the most powerful and practical way of adapting to the unpredictable, accelerated change of the twenty‐first century. It also shows that global cultural compatibility is a critical necessity for the success of businesses operating throughout the world.
Europe's business brains: poorly led … and leaving
Authors: Barry Tom 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe aim of this research is to discover the special characteristics of technical professionals and the leadership skills required to manage, engage and retain these people. It also sought to establish leaders' assessment of their success in leading this particular group of people.Design/methodology/approachThe survey took place over a six‐month period in 2005 and 2006. 898 leaders of technical professionals were surveyed by e‐mail. Leaders from more than 30 organizations in a wide range of industries across four continents representing more than ten functional areas took part. The objectives were to discover: what are the most challenging issues faced by leaders of technical professionals today? What skills and strategies do these leaders believe are most important for success in their jobs? How effective do they think they are? What characteristics are common to the technical professionals they lead?FindingsA very broad range of findings described in the article and full report – available on request.Originality/valueThe findings of the report are entirely original and follow on from an earlier study conducted nearly 20 years ago. The paper is of value to leaders of technical professionals in many roles; IT, economics, finance, law, research etc. as they seek to understand the people they lead and to encourage high performance.
From aula biblioteca to biblioteca aula
Authors: Houston Cynthia R. , Spencer Roxanne M. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the integration of a school library program into the English language program of a Spanish school.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes the development of an English Language Arts Library Classroom (ELALC) in the English Program at the Col‐legi SEK Catalunya, P‐12 school near Barcelona, Spain.FindingsAs schools in Spain do not typically have school library media centers or school librarians, the ELALCs are a way to bring the concept of a school library into a school culture where the idea is unfamiliar. The primary English language teachers at the SEK believe that the ELALCs will be a motivating environment for English language learning that will increase their students’ motivation and involvement in learning.Practical implicationsSchool library programs and librarians can and should take more active collaborative and instructional roles in language acquisition.Originality/valueThe paper presents an innovative concept in providing school library skills and encouraging literacy by development of a hybrid library classroom or biblioteca aula, for P‐12 schools that do not have library programs.
The state of digitisation initiatives by cultural institutions in Malaysia
Authors: Abd Manaf Zuraidah 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the current state of digitisation initiatives by cultural institutions in Malaysia. Evidently no research has been conducted to investigate the state of digitisation initiatives by cultural institutions in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts an exploratory survey, to explore the state of cultural heritage digitisation. A total of 60 public cultural institutions in Malaysia were involved in the study.FindingsDigitisation of cultural heritage materials is not new in Malaysia. Different types of cultural heritage institutions have embarked on several digitisation projects. Various types of cultural heritage materials have been digitised and made publicly accessible.Practical implicationsFindings and discovery of the study are significant in providing a comprehensive background and scenario of organisation, description and retrieval of local content resources in electronic forms in Malaysia.Originality/valueThe outcome of the study will contribute to the new knowledge in managing digitised cultural and heritage resources in cultural and heritage institutions in Malaysia.
Critical growth factors of ICT start‐ups
Authors: Lasch Frank , Le Roy Frédéric , Yami Saïd 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe present study in this paper seeks to deal with the crucial topic of growth determinants for ICT start‐ups. In this emerging industry high firm birth rates go hand in hand with a great risk of failure and only one firm out of three survives the first three years.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyzes 220 start‐ups of the ICT service sector and verifies the influence of individual and organisational factors on growth.FindingsThe paper finds that human capital and working experience have no significant impact on the success of young ICT firms.Originality/valueThe paper shows that critical growth factors are mostly financing and customer related variables (firm size and capital at start‐up, customer structure, regional market orientation, etc.).
Women entrepreneurs and strategic decision making
Authors: Ndemo Bitange , Wanjiku Maina Fides 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to explore the strategic decision‐making process by women owner‐managers of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in developing countries, focusing on environmental dynamics as a strategy for the development of the MSE sector. The paper reviews existing literature and experience on women leadership and decision‐making process.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reports on empirical evidence drawn from a pilot investigation in Kenya. A total of nine married women owner‐managers from different backgrounds were selected and a series of qualitative interviews conducted.FindingsEvidence in the paper finds that women, whether pushed or pulled into starting an enterprise, desire to make independent decisions. Lack of resources made them dependent on their spouses, thus limiting their capacity to make independent decisions. Those pushed into setting up subsistence enterprises had greater discretion in terms of decision making compared with those who started enterprises to exploit an opportunity and whose basic needs were comfortably met by the spouse's income. Other factors determining levels of decision making include: culture, level of education and poverty.Practical implicationsIn the paper the implications for policy include: promotional activities; creating appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks; capacity building programmes for potential entrepreneurs and their spouses, provision of child care facilities; and business support services and other intermediaries that might include dedicated financing programmes.Originality/valueThe paper shows that the respondents in this study were small in number, narrowly defined group of micro entrepreneurs who may or may not be similar to other small business owners. The data were indicative of subjects' individual circumstances, which may be entirely different from others' situations.
Canute rules the waves?
Authors: Myhill Martin 
Published: February 2007

PurposeTo consider the findings of a recent e‐resources survey at the University of Exeter Library in the context of the dominance of web search engines in academia, balanced by the development of e‐library tools such as the library OPAC, OpenURL resolvers, metasearch engines, LDAP and proxy servers, and electronic resource management modules.Design/methodology/approachReport of survey findings in the context of similar, recent research and articles.FindingsThe survey confirmed the very high usage, ease of use, confident use and user satisfaction in web search engines as the predominant means of accessing academic information. The survey also reveals the considerable use, user confidence, and search success of Exeter's various e‐library tools. A number of variations have been detected between user groups including part‐time groups, disabled users and those who do not own personal computers.Practical implicationsThe paper confirms popular conceptions about how academic users access information although it clearly identifies a vital, continuing role for e‐library tools which must accordingly develop and adapt to users' preferences.Originality/valueThe paper draws on aspects raised by recent international surveys and research. It reveals highly‐profiled survey findings in the context of the University of Exeter and a unique insight into the current use of e‐library tools in this setting.
Geospatial approach to regional mapping of research library holdings
Authors: Sedighi Mehri‐e‐ 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a report on the application of a Geographic Information System (GIS), ArcInfo, in the cataloguing of geosciences documents held by IRANDOC.Design/methodology/approachThe steps involved in the application are described: gathering the data and required input including the attribute and spatial information; pre‐processing the information; managing and analysing the data; producing outputs.FindingsThis research resulted in establishing a complete and comprehensive database of the geosciences, illustrating, analysing and reviewing all types of data available in the various databases of IRANDOC (geosciences related) simultaneously and easily.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough this investigation concentrates on very specific documents (the geosciences documents held by IRANDOC), its findings and the presented model of the plan can be generalised to collections of information related to the spatial position in some other areas.Originality/valueIn addition to quick and correct access to the data required in abundant volume, the spatial and subject data can be depicted in the forms of maps, tables and diagrams and also can be edited, updated and used in various ways. Also the way can be paved for identification and introduction of the various similar systems in different geographical areas.