bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Leadership and learning: facilitating self‐directed learning in enterprises
Authors: Smith Peter J. , Sadler‐Smith Eugene , Robertson Ian , Wakefield Lyn 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to show that a key aspect of learning and development of individual employees is that of self‐directedness. This paper will consider the role of the leader in facilitating workforce development in terms of employees' self‐directedness for learning. The research was designed to investigate the views that “learning leaders” in organizations have towards the development of self‐directedness in employees; and to identify strategies that are feasible in developing self‐directedness in operating organizations.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on a national research project undertaken in 12 organizations in Australia, representing a range of sizes and a number of industry sectors. Data collection involved interviewing learning and development managers in each organization to gauge the relative feasibility of the implementation of a number of pre‐identified strategies designed to develop self‐directedness among employees within operating work environments.FindingsThe research showed that: learning managers and leaders were generally well disposed towards the development of self‐directedness, and some had already moved to do so; and identified a number of possible strategies for implementation of varying degrees of feasibility. The paper will consider these findings in relation to the concept of a “learning leader”.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the research was conducted in a diverse set of 12 enterprises, applicability of the results across an even wider set of enterprises would need to be tested.Originality/valueThe findings of this research provide guidance to learning and development personnel on feasible strategies to use within their own organization to assist with the development of self‐directed learning among employees.
Employability, skills and training in Portugal (1988‐2000): evidence from official data
Authors: Tomé Eduardo 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the determinants of employability in Portugal.Design/methodology/approachCalculations were made using official data for 1991, 1994 and 1997 on education, skills and tenure, and on 1990, 1991, 1996 and 1997 regarding training.FindingsHigh skills, high levels of education and high levels of tenure seem to generate employability in Portugal. However, it was also found in Portugal that low skills, low education and low levels of tenure also generate employability, indicating that Portugal has a very dual labour market. Furthermore, in what concerns training, the public sector and the private sector seem to be complementary: when the investments are publicly financed they generate more employability, while privately funded investments tend to be a way of substituting untrained workers with trained ones.Research limitations/implicationsThe concept of employability used is linked to the growth of employment by sub‐sector of activity. This is a considerable limitation, but it was not possible to obtain better data, given that the study uses published data. A more detailed analysis is under way, using unpublished company‐based data, provided by the public authorities.Practical implicationsFirst, the Portuguese authorities should try to help the establishment in the country of companies that might extract returns from the skilled, educated and experienced workers that exist. Those actions would improve the employability of the HR possessors. Second, the Portuguese authorities should continue to support the investments in education and in training. That support would generate a form of Welfare State in which the public presence is considerable, far away from the liberal guidelines and ideas that tend to marginalize the public actions in the social domain.Originality/valueThe paper tries to apply the concept of employability to a country, and this is seldom the case in HRD studies, due mainly to lack of data.
The Learning Transfer System Inventory (LTSI) in Ukraine
Authors: Yamkovenko Bogdan V. , Holton Elwood , Bates R.A. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to expand cross‐cultural research and validate the Learning Transfer System Inventory in Ukraine. The researchers seek to translate the LTSI into Ukrainian and investigate the internal structure of this translated version of the questionnaire.Design/methodology/approachThe LTSI is translated into Ukrainian using a rigorous translation methodology. The instrument was distributed to 511 (430 – usable data) individuals from various organizations throughout Ukraine. The exploratory factor analysis (common factor analysis with oblique rotation) was used to analyze the survey data.FindingsThe factor structure of the Ukrainian version of the LTSI (ULTSI) paralleled that of the original instrument. Most items loaded on appropriate factors with loadings over 0.4. Two factors (Opportunity to Use Learning and Performance‐Outcomes Expectations) did not emerge as clearly as in the original instrument and require further research.Research limitations/implicationsThe instrument was distributed to a convenience sample which limits the external validity of the study. Some translation issues may have possibly influenced low loadings for few items. The questionnaires distributed in the Eastern part of Ukraine were problematic because the population there is mostly Russian‐speaking while the instruments were in Ukrainian. The study provides evidence of construct validity of the LTSI in the Ukrainian business environment. With the limitations outlined above further research can address translation issues and language barrier problems. Some items may be included that will suit the Ukrainian environment better, which may resolve problems in two factors mentioned above. New methods of instrument translation could be utilized in future as well as alternative statistical analyses (Confirmatory Factor Analysis).Practical implicationsThe ULTSI is now one of the first and few HRD tools in Ukraine. It can be used to assess the transfer climate in Ukrainian organizations in order to maximize the positive outcomes of the investment in training. As a diagnostic tool the ULTSI can provide necessary information about the environmental and organizational forces that are at play in a given organization, and it can help improve the results of training interventions.Originality/valueThis cross‐cultural study is one of the first efforts in existence to bridge the Ukrainian and Western cultures in terms of HRD. It provides a possibility for HRD methodology and theory to be introduced in Ukrainian businesses. At the same time, the study provides evidence of the construct validity and sound structure of the LTSI.
The RISCOM model: dialogues and requisite organisation
Authors: Espejo Raul 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the issue of transparency in policy‐making processes.Design/methodology/approachDevelopment and application of conceptual framework for policy studies.FindingsComplementarity of Habermas's theory of communicative action and Beer's Viable System Model. Relevance of the ideas of requisite organisation in policy‐making and of “orthogonality” in social communications.Practical implicationsTransparency of policy processes is more than making information available to stakeholders; it is enabling the development of an effective organisational system for the policy of concern.Originality/valueThis paper relates Beer's organizational cybernetics and Habermas' political philosophy and produces an original model of transparency in policy‐making.
Requisite holism – precondition of reliable business information
Authors: Mulej Matjaz , Potocan Vojko 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to suggest a new way toward reliability of contents of business information, on which quality of business critically depends. Contribution considers two problems: how to innovate information support for business with non‐technological innovations? And how can enterprises improve reliability of information for their work?Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, qualitative analysis on the basis of the dialectical systems theory and business cybernetics is applied.FindingsModern markets require innovated business concepts. They include creation and implementation of requisitely holistic information support. Hence, enterprises need information management innovation. The use of requisite holism (as non‐technical innovation) to increase content‐reliability of business information is discussed. Matching information requirements by business cybernetics based on dialectical systems thinking can diminish errors by providing requisite holism.Research limitations/implicationsResearch is limited to three hypotheses and qualitative analysis in desk research. Practical experience is considered indirectly.Practical implicationsThe habit of limiting business information to financial information or marketing information separately as well as the habit of discussing mostly or even only, information reliability from technical support viewpoints, is attacked. An alternative is suggested.Originality/valueThe available literature does not provide for a similar model of how to provide information that is reliable in terms of its contents by matching Mulej/Kajzer's law of requisite holism.
Smart systems and environments
Authors: Rudall Brian H. , Mann C.J.H. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to review current research and developments with particular reference to smart systems and environments.Design/methodology/approachA general review and survey of, selected research and development topics.FindingsIllustrates the multi‐ and trans‐disciplinary natures of studies in cybernetics, systems and management science with a view to further research and development activity.Practical implicationsThe choice of reviews provides the awareness of current trends in these areas of endeavour.Originality/valueThe reviews are selected from a global database and give a studied assessment of current research and development initiatives.
Global warming and nuclear power
Authors: Andrew Alex M. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to give a review of reasons for believing that the problem of global warming is more urgent than widely assumed, largely following the lead of a recent book by Lovelock. It is argued that increased use of nuclear power is the best course, especially if fusion power can be achieved. A short note is appended referring to a previous discussion of interactions with Islam.Design/methodology/approachThis is performed by a review of developments on the internet, especially those of general cybernetic interest.FindingsGlobal warming poses a real and immediate threat which can be partly offset by increased use of nuclear power.Practical implicationsIncreased use of nuclear power is not only warranted, but also vital, and achievement of practical fusion power would be an enormous bonus.Originality/valueHopefully this is a valuable periodic review.
A systemic theory of orbits in ecological networks
Authors: Lloret‐Climent M. , Esteve‐Calvo P.F. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to analyze ecological networks from a different viewpoint, using the concepts of orbits, coverage, invariant sets, etc.Design/methodology/approachA very simple view of ecosystems is presented, without delving into their multiple properties. Specifically, an ecosystem will be considered a system containing living and non‐living entities whose interrelationships include those of predator‐prey and competition. On interpreting that orbits are associated with ecosystems' direct and indirect paths, it is possible to present a much more conceptual design of ecological networks.FindingsAn ecosystem's two most important relationships, those of predator‐prey and competition, appear to be interconnected with the concepts of coverage, invariance and orbit, with multiple properties.Originality/valueThere are many interesting analyses of ecological networks' indirect effects that develop the quantitative and qualitative theory of ecological networks. What is new in this study is that it is the first dealing with orbits in the field of ecosystems.
Systemic yoyo model and applications in Newton's, Kepler's laws, and others
Authors: Lin Yi 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to show that systemic methods and thinking can be used to develop useful tools to address problems open in traditional science, such as Newtonian physics, universal gravitation, planetary motions, and the three‐body problem.Design/methodology/approachExpanded on the yoyo model introduced earlier for general systems, a new figurative analysis method is introduced in this paper.FindingsAfter establishing its theoretical and empirical foundations, this method is used to generalize Newton's laws of mechanics by addressing several unsettled problems in the history. Through the concept of equal quantitative effects, it is argued that this new method possesses some strength not found in pure quantitative methods. After studying the characteristics of whole evolutions of converging and diverging fluid motions, the concept of time is revisited using the new model. As further applications of the new method, one covers Kepler's laws of planetary motion, Newton's law of universal gravitation, and explains why planets travel along elliptical orbits, why no external forces are needed for systems to revolve about one another, and why binary star systems, tri‐nary star systems, and evenn‐nary star systems can exist, for any natural numbern≥2. By checking the study of the three‐body problem, a brand new method is provided to analyze the movement of three stars, visible or invisible. At the end, some open problems are cast for future research.Originality/valueThis paper shows for the first time in history that several well‐established laws in physics can be generalized using systemic thinking. Beyond that, an operative method of analysis is introduced to investigate problems that have been extremely difficult to handle in the scientific history. With adequate quantitative tools developed to accompany this method, it can be reasonably expected that an active systemic scientific era with a slightly different tilt from the contemporary science will follow shortly.
Hyperbox classifiers for arrhythmia classification
Authors: Bortolan Giovanni , Pedrycz Witold 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper sets out to design hyperbox classifiers of high interpretation capabilities. They are based on a collection of hyperboxes – generic and highly interpretable geometric descriptors of data belonging to a certain class. Such hyperboxes directly translate into conditional statements (rules) taking on the well‐known format “if feature1assumes values in [a,b] and feature2assumes values in [d,f] and … and featurenassumes values in [w,z] then classω” where the intervals ([a,b],…[w,z]) are the respective edges (features) of the corresponding hyperbox.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed design process of hyperboxes consists of two main phases. In the first phase, a collection of “seeds” of the hyperboxes is constructed through data clustering being realized by means of the fuzzy C‐means algorithm. During the second phase, the hyperboxes are “grown” (expanded) by applying mechanisms of genetic optimization (and genetic algorithm, in particular).FindingsIt is demonstrated how the underlying geometry of the hyperboxes supports an immediate interpretation of arrhythmia data by linking the ranges of the features (parameters of the ECG signal) forming the edges of the hyperboxes with the two classes of the signals (normal – abnormal). A collection of comprehensive experiments offers an interesting insight into the geometry of the individual categories of the ECG signals and discusses how the resulting hyperbox classifiers link their geometric properties with the obtained classification rates.Research limitations/implicationsThe structure of the classifier is essential to enhance interpretation capabilities of the architecture and generate a collection of “if‐then” classification rules.Originality/valueThe study addresses an issue of design of highly interpretable, granular classifiers with the use of the technology of computational intelligence and evolutionary optimization, in particular.
Managing sustainable service improvements in manufacturing companies
Authors: Gebauer Heiko , Fleisch Elgar 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe paper aims to provide a better understanding of how cognitive processes limit service improvements in typical product manufacturing companies.Design/methodology/approachCase studies are the main tool for theory development. All investigated manufacturing companies have been seeking possibilities to enhance their profitability through services, because their products were mainly in the maturity stage with decreasing margins and profitability.FindingsThe objective was to show how companies can overcome the typical “cultural” habits and cognitive processes by offering some guidelines to managers seeking to establish sustainable service improvement programs.Research limitations/implicationsThe remarks are limited to product manufacturing firms.Practical implicationsThe key managerial implication is a method to overcome cognitive processes, which limit service improvements.Originality/valueThe paper establishes that cognitive processes form several feedback structures that all play a critical role in determining the success of service improvements.
Knowledge management: modeling the knowledge diffusion in community of practice
Authors: Huang Nen‐Ting , Wei Chiu‐Chi , Chang Wei‐Kou 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo propose a model which can demonstrate the knowledge diffusion phenomenon in the community of practice.Design/methodology/approachAn algorithm has been developed to illustrate the processes of knowledge diffusion between knowledge workers, and factor the coefficients of distance, willingness, motivation, and ability of comprehension and expression. Besides, two types of knowledge diffusion are proposed, i.e. the knowledge sharing and the knowledge discussion.FindingsChange of knowledge worker will affect the knowledge diffusion within community of practice. The knowledge level of knowledge workers will be increased if more members join the community of practice, and vice versa. Besides, the development of knowledge workers will be constrained by the budget allocated and time available.Research limitations/implicationsThe model developed is one of the few research papers that can quantify the knowledge diffusion within community of practice.Practical implicationsThe development of knowledge workers can be tangibly measured and linked to the budget and time constraints, as a result, the enterprises can plan, predict and improve the knowledge management initiate.Originality/valuePrevious papers are mostly descriptive in nature, and they are too abstract to be tangibly understood. The model proposed eliminates the drawbacks and expand the research areas by using a mathematical model.
Service‐oriented architecture is a driver for daily decision support
Authors: Granebring Annika , Révay Péter 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to explain why service‐oriented business intelligence (SOBI) happened, the new development and how to make a strategy to introduce daily decision support in the retail trade.Design/methodology/approachThe diffusion of business intelligence (BI) tools is operationalized on Rogers' innovation theory.FindingsThe article answered the question: How to draft a BI strategy for all parts of the retail enterprise? By excellent data warehouse quality; choosing an area for common decision support; starting simply, with metrics (sale, gross margin, number of customers) to get users started and then continue the iterative process of practicing more comparing and personalized BI.Practical implicationsRetailers meet a changeable world around where business decisions must be taken daily. In the retail industry, the customer's current demands control the supply of commodities, inventories and crew. Retailers have enterprise applications designed for their business processes, but also daily want to measure the performance. It is a question of from existing enterprise applications and databases design new decision processes and business flows that currently request BI data to be presented directly to operative responsible staff.Originality/valueExplains why there are attempts to combine the two broad architectural paradigms BI and service orientation. Service‐oriented architecture, BI, on line analytical processing, extract, transform and load, SOBI are discussed in detail.
A viable systems perspective to knowledge management
Authors: Yang Chyan , Yen Hsueh‐Chuan 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo provide the knowledge structure for an effective knowledge‐based organization which integrates knowledge into organizational goals.Design/methodology/approachThe structure, function, and process of a viable organization were discussed which provided a basis to construct a knowledge management (KM) framework and demonstrate knowledge structure in a knowledge‐based organization. Based on systems view and viable systems model (VSM), a range of recently published KM practices were reviewed to position various knowledge content.FindingsThis study proposed a viable systems framework for organizational KM based on the VSM of Beer. Using the viable systems framework, organizational knowledge can be classified into four categories. Knowledge content was articulated based on the systems view. Thus, knowledge structure of various management hierarchies can be captured.Originality/valueThe result contributes to the practice of knowledge executive by supporting the diagnosis and design of an effective knowledge‐based organization. The framework also provides a basis for future empirical studies on the relationships between KM strategies and organizational effectiveness. A specific KM strategy exists that can maximize the effectiveness of each of the four types of knowledge.
Emerging innovative systems
Authors: Rudall Brian H. , Mann C.J.H. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to review current research and developments with particular reference to emerging innovative management and information systems.Design/methodology/approachA general review and survey of selected research and development topics.FindingsIllustrates the multi‐ and trans‐disciplinary natures of studies in cybernetics, systems and management science with a view to further research and development activity.Practical implicationsThe choice of reviews provides the awareness of current trends in these areas of endeavour.Originality/valueThe reviews are selected from a global database and give a studied assessment of current research and development initiatives.