bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
School‐based management and paradigm shift in education: an empirical study
Authors: Cheong Cheng Yin , Mo Ching Mok Magdalena 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to report empirical research investigating how school‐based management (SBM) and paradigm shift (PS) in education are closely related to teachers' student‐centered teaching and students' active learning in a sample of Hong Kong secondary schools.Design/methodology/approachIt is a cross‐sectional survey research involving 31 secondary schools, 1,119 teachers and 7,063 students with seven sets of questionnaires: three for students, three for teachers and one for principals.FindingsThe results of analysis indicate the following findings. The greater tendency towards SBM of a school associates with the greater extent of PS from the site‐bounded paradigm towards the triplization paradigm in education. Both the measures of SBM and PS in education are closed related to teachers' student‐centered teaching (in terms of facilitating student learning, facilitating student thinking and facilitating student self‐reflection and assessment) and students' active learning (in terms of positive learning attitudes, application of various learning methods, learning effectiveness, multiple thinking in learning and satisfaction in learning). The profiles of “high SBM and high‐PS” schools are much more preferable than “low SBM and low‐PS” schools in terms of various measures of teachers' teaching and students' learning.Originality/valueEven though SBM and PS in education are strongly emphasized in ongoing educational reforms in different parts of the world, there is lack of empirical study to show how they are related to teachers' teaching and students' learning in practice. The findings of the research contribute to filling this research gap and advancing theoretical and practical understanding in such a frontier area.
India in the knowledge economy – an electronic paradigm
Authors: Bhattacharya Indrajit , Sharma Kunal 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to make a strong case for investing in information and communication technologies (ICT) for building up of quality human resource capital for economic upliftment of India. An attempt has been made to explore the possibilities of online learning (OL)/e‐learning towards building up of quality human resources in higher education for a developing nation like India. A comprehensive environmental scanning of various e‐learning experiments, tools, projects to facilitate e‐learning or various institutional level efforts has been carried out. The paper also seeks to highlight the options available with traditional institutes for deploying ICT and for implementing e‐learning.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a descriptive account of the contemporary situation in India with regard to education especially e‐learning and draws on a variety of secondary sources both published and unpublished.FindingsArgues that the development of e‐learning has been limited and reasons out why. The challenges of traditional face‐to‐face educationvis‐à‐vise‐learning in India are enlisted and suggestions for management of the e‐learning process by institutes which intend to venture into e‐learning are enumerated. The paper advocates the urgency for the traditional institutions to put an impetus on investment in ICT for providing e‐instruction for delivery of knowledge by riding the information super highway.Research limitations/implicationsPresents a review of literature developed from secondary sources.Practical implicationsModels of e‐learning that exclude any face‐to‐face contact may have limited prospects, but blended learning offers significant potential both on and off campus and should be pursued if the benefits of e‐learning are to be fully realized.Originality/valueThis paper provides a useful overview of a scenario of OL/e‐learning in India's higher education; and, from this summary of the present situation, goes on to suggest possible ways to transform the “digital divide” into “digital opportunities”.
Six sigma project selection using data envelopment analysis
Authors: Dinesh Kumar U. , Saranga Haritha , Ramírez‐Márquez José E. , Nowicki David 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThe evolution of six sigma has morphed from a method or set of techniques to a movement focused on business‐process improvement. Business processes are transformed through the successful selection and implementation of competing six sigma projects. However, the efforts to implement a six sigma process improvement initiative alone do not guarantee success. To meet aggressive schedules and tight budget constraints, a successful six sigma project needs to follow the proven define, measure, analyze, improve, and control methodology. Any slip in schedule or cost overrun is likely to offset the potential benefits achieved by implementing six sigma projects. The purpose of this paper is to focus on six sigma projects targeted at improving the overall customer satisfaction called Big Q projects. The aim is to develop a mathematical model to select one or more six sigma projects that result in the maximum benefit to the organization.Design/methodology/approachThis research provides the identification of important inputs and outputs for six sigma projects that are then analyzed using data envelopment analysis (DEA) to identify projects, which result in maximum benefit. Maximum benefit here provides a Pareto optimal solution based on inputs and outputs directly related to the efficiency of the six sigma projects under study. A sensitivity analysis of efficiency measurement is also carried out to study the impact of variation in projects' inputs and outputs on project performance and to identify the critical inputs and outputs.FindingsDEA, often used for relative efficiency analysis and productivity analysis, is now successfully constructed for six sigma project selection.Practical implicationsProvides a practical approach to guide the selection of six sigma projects for implementation, especially for companies with limited resources. The sensitivity analysis discussed in the paper helps to understand the uncertainties in project inputs and outputs.Originality/valueThis paper introduces DEA as a tool for six sigma project selection.
Cost‐based process weights for DPMO and the overall performance of an organization
Authors: Ravichandran J. 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a new approach in which cost‐based process weights are used to determine a unique weighted‐defects per million opportunity (DPMO) and its corresponding overall sigma level in order to classify an organization as either “world‐class,” “industry average” or “non‐competitive.”Design/methodology/approachIn order to achieve this objective, the proposed approach uses both internal and external performances of the products and processes in terms of costs involved to determine cost‐based process weights. These weights are then incorporated into the respective DPMOs for computing weighted‐DPMOs. Finally, a unique weighted‐DPMO and its corresponding sigma level are found.FindingsThe proposed method is a new one and it involves various costs for determining process weights. The findings reveal that the weight‐based overall sigma level is more realistic than the one that is calculated without weights. Further, the results of this study could provide interesting feedback to six‐sigma practitioners, as they are particular about DPMOs and return on investments in project implementations.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this paper are based on the weights of respective processes and their products that are calculated using various cost aspects. Determining such weights by means of any other process and product factors incorporating the effects of various marketing activities, if any, could extend its generality and fulfil the gap.Practical implicationsThe proposed method is simple to implement and the required data can be collected without any additional commitments. Also, it is more generic so that it can be adapted by organizations of any nature. This paper recommends change in the practice from simply using the DPMOs with equal importance to using the weight‐based DPMOs for evaluating overall sigma level (performance) of an organization.Originality/valueThe proposed approach would have a high value among six‐sigma quality practitioners and researchers as it provides a new and more realistic measure for overall performance of an organization during the evaluation process.
A comparative analysis and review of national quality awards in Europe
Authors: Mavroidis Vassilios , Toliopoulou Sophia , Agoritsas Constantine 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThrough the analysis of different initiatives of all EU countries in relation to business excellence models, there is a need to map these initiatives and to compare the most “interesting” quality awards of European Union by means of their substantial differentiation from European Foundation of Quality Management (EFQM) model. The aim of this paper is to propose the necessity for a diverse business excellence system, which respects the cross‐cultural differentiations of EU countries.Design/methodology/approachThis research is based on information gathered by means of structured questionnaires, telephone interviews with representative Quality Award organizations and other written material collected from literature.FindingsThe findings are summarized as follows. EU countries do not have a common framework to address business excellence, however the “European Quality Award” based on the “EFQM Excellence Model” is the most widespread in the previous decade. There is a tendency towards own developments on national quality awards in the current decade. There is a clear indication of Quality Awards “nature” across EU: there are the national ones which are supported by their governments in the sense of financial support to organizations and the private ones which are supported by associations, chambers, private organizations and non profit organizations. There is a tendency of all social and business partners (in the governmental and private sector) to participate in the organizations so as to administer and manage the awards and business excellence models. This participation varies according to the political system of the EU country.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper reviews only 31 major Total Quality Awards out of the 51 that are identified excluding entrepreneurship awards and regional ones that tend to represent their national quality awards. Future research could include a sector analysis, such as SMEs business excellence awards, or a thorough analysis of public sector awards.Practical implicationsThe paper reviews all major NQAs in EU and indicates an inclination to move from EFQM model to a more dynamic system of business excellence, which respects the diverse cultures of EU nations. The models, which are called TQM models, business excellence models or national quality award ones are used throughout the paper with the same meaning.Originality/valueThis paper is based on both a structured survey and on literature review. It is the first time that is proposed to be published.
Performance analysis of 5‐S teams using quality circle financial accounting system
Authors: Suresh Premil Kumar R. , Sudhahar C. , Dickson John F. , Senthil V. , Devadasan S.R. 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the practical feasibility of adopting a Quality Circle Financial Accounting System (QCFAS) for analyzing the performance of 5‐S teams.Design/methodology/approachFirst the literature was surveyed to study the state of the art of 5‐S. This study revealed the importance of analyzing the financial performance of 5‐S. Since, 5‐S contains tangible and intangible activities, it was decided to adopt the QCFAS to financially account it. The practical validity of this preposition was tested by conducting an implementation study in a unit of a multinational abrasive manufacturing company operating in IndiaFindingsThe literature review led to the finding that 5‐S could be used as an interweaving device for conglomerating world class paradigms such as total quality management (TQM) and quality circles (QCs). The practical implementation study revealed the compatibility of employing QCFAS for financially accounting 5‐S teams.Research limitations/implicationsThe implementation study was conducted in a Indian Company. This limited study threatens the general validity of QCFAS in financially accounting 5‐S. However, this threat is not expected to be severe because the company is a multinational company and the working atmospheres prevailing in it mimic those of companies situated in various parts of the world.Originality/valueThough 5‐S has been popular for some time, the research on it has been minimal. Further no research has examined the financial accountability of 5‐S. Hence, the contributions of this paper are original and valuable in helping to overcome a general reluctance to implement 5‐S.
Critical success factors of continuous improvement in the public sector
Authors: Fryer Karen J. , Antony Jiju , Douglas Alex 
Published: August 2007

PurposeTo determine the critical success factors (CSFs) for continuous improvement projects in the public sector.Design/methodology/approachTheoretical paper based on a literature review.FindingsIt would appear that there are factors that are important in manufacturing organisations that do not figure in service/public sector organisations and vice versa.Research limitations/implicationsAs few papers were identified, further research must be carried out into the CSFs to see if the differences between manufacturing, service and public sector organisations are substantiated.Practical implicationsThis work identifies aspects that must be in place for the successful implementation of a continuous improvement project and should be used by those wishing to initiate a project within their organisation.Originality/valueThis paper highlights the similarities and differences between manufacturing, service and public sector organisations.
Do the ends justify the means?
Authors: Willis R. , Chiasson M. 
Published: August 2007

PurposeERP systems continue to fail. One success factor that has received little attention in the literature is cultural fit – which emphasizes the need for ERP systems to be chosen and adapted to current organizational practices. However, the dynamics behind culture and its fit with ERP require investigation. This paper aims to fills this gap.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws upon cultural and linguistic concepts from Antonio Gramsci to consider how consent is achieved in ERP implementation projects. These concepts include positive (integral) and negative (decadent and minimal) hegemony, as well as the production and effects of normative and spontaneous grammars. The paper examined the implementation of an ERP in a logistics company, using interview and documentary evidence.FindingsThe findings reveal that, while consensus is apparently achieved across disparate groups and interests, it is achieved through the use of phrases which marginalized groups by their abstract and rhetorical nature. This implementation process allowed for the subordination of local interests, making it difficult to form alternative responses. It is concluded that decadent and minimal hegemonies prevailed, instead of an integral hegemony formed through continuous negotiation and debate across sub‐groups.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper suggests that studies of ERP implementation using Gramsci's concepts of negative (minimal and decadent) and positive (integral) hegemonies, that influence cultural fit, can aid the study of positive and negative forms of consent.Practical implicationsThe paper illustrates how cultural fit during ERP implementation could be achieved through technical and cultural change‐based grammars and languages which allow broad democratic participation.Originality/valueThis paper illustrates the value of Gramsci's concepts in IS research, and provides valuable insights into the dynamics of “cultural fit”.
Knowledge‐sharing in an online community of health‐care professionals
Authors: Hara Noriko , Foon Hew Khe 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is twofold: to examine the types of activity that nurses undertake on an online community of practice (APN‐l) as well as the types of knowledge that nurses share with one another; and to examine the factors that sustain knowledge sharing among the nurses from their local perspectives.Design/methodology/approachAn in‐depth case study with mixed methods was adopted to obtain rich and naturalistic data including online observations of the messages posted in APN‐l, interviews with 27 members of APN‐l, and content analysis of online messages.FindingsThe most common type of activity performed by members of APN‐l was “Knowledge sharing,” followed by “Solicitation.” Regarding the types of knowledge shared, the most common were “Institutional practice” and “Personal opinion.” The factors that have helped sustain knowledge sharing within the online community of practice include: a self‐selection; validation of one's practice with others who share a similar working situation; a need to gain better understanding of current knowledge and best practices in the field; a non‐competitive environment; the asynchronous nature of the online communication medium; and the role of the listserv moderator.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the growing knowledge base of communities of practice that span organizational boundary. Administrators can use the coding schema developed in this study to gauge current activities of existing online communities of practice. Additionally, they can use the six factors to sustain knowledge sharing community for fostering new/existing online communities of practice.
Importance of development context in ICT4D projects
Authors: Prakash Amit , De' Rahul 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to show that the meaning of development influencing the design of ICT for development (ICT4D) projects is important in deciding what purpose they will eventually serve.Design/methodology/approachThrough a review of the literature on development and technology studies, the paper shows how different meanings of development guide technology usage and policy choice for land reforms. A case study of a land records computerization project in India is used to reinforce this claim.FindingsBy explaining alternative manifestations of interlinkages between development and technology, the paper demonstrates that the design choice, especially the content and service delivery model, for an ICT4D project gets influenced by the development context within which it is set.Research limitations/implicationsThe focus of the paper has been restricted to a limited context of information and communication technology usage – to land reforms as a development objective, in a relatively better‐off province of India. Future research will include ICT4D projects in other domains and in different socio‐economic settings.Practical implicationsThe findings will encourage ICT4D policy makers and project designers to broaden their perspectives of what constitutes development and explicitly acknowledge the importance of development contexts in influencing the outcomes of ICT4D projects.Originality/valuePrior research in ICT4D has not looked explicitly at the influence of development contexts in informing technology design. The paper attempts to fill this gap by tracing design choices to the contexts of technology use created through alternative understanding of the objectives of development. This can be of help to researchers looking at issues of technology use for societal development and for policy makers and project designers entrusted with the choice of technology.
Ethnicity, place, and communication technology
Authors: Kim Yong‐Chan , Jung Joo‐Young , Ball‐Rokeach Sandra J. 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the unique effect of ethnicity on people's internet connectedness. Internet connectedness is a multi‐dimensional relationship that individuals form with the internet.Design/methodology/approachSurvey findings from a study of four ethnic groups living in seven residential areas within ten miles from the Los Angeles Civic Center indicate that ethnicity has a significant unique effect not only on the rate of people's internet access, but also on the three dimensions of the internet connectedness index: context and history; scope and intensity; and centrality, after controlling for individual socio‐economic factors.FindingsThe results indicated that African‐Americans lagged behind other ethnic groups in all three dimensions of their internet connectedness. This suggests that the ways in which the internet is incorporated into people's everyday lives are likely to differ by geo‐ethnic areas.Originality/valueImplications of these results are discussed from a “communication infrastructure framework,” which provides an ecological framework to interpret the ethnic differences in the multiple dimensions of internet connectedness.
A numerical heat transfer study of slot jet impinging on an inclined plate
Authors: Ramezanpour Ahad , Mirzaee Iraj , Firth David , Shirvani Hassan 
Published: August 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to conduct a numerical study to investigate heat transfer in turbulent, unconfined, submerged, and inclined impinging jet discharged from a slot nozzle, utilising finite volume code FLUENT.Design/methodology/approachTwo re‐normalisation group k‐ε and the basic Reynolds stress models by using enhanced wall treatment for near wall turbulent modelling were applied and the local Nusselt numbers were compared with experiments. The enhanced wall treatment solves the fully turbulent region and viscous sublayer by considering a single blended function of both layers.FindingsIn inclined impinging jet by movement of stagnation point to the uphill side of the impinging plate, the location of the maximum Nusselt number moves to the uphill side of the plate. However, this movement increases by increasing of H/D and by decreasing of Reynolds number and inclination angle. For a flat plate impinging jet, the results were found to be less than 8 per cent different and for inclined impinging jet, more sensitive to H/D, 5‐20 per cent different in comparison with experiments. In addition, the flow streamlines were consistent with location of the heat transfer peak on the impinging surface.Research limitations/implicationsReynolds numbers in range of 4,000‐16,000, the ratio of nozzle height to hydraulic diameter of the nozzle (H/D) in range of 4‐10, and inclination angle of air jet and plate in range of 40‐90° were considered.Originality/valueA unique achievement of this study in comparison with experimental data was locating the exact peak of the local Nusselt number on impinging plate by change of Reynolds number, H/D, and inclination angle.