bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Periodical literature use by the pre‐final and final undergraduate students in Nigerian universities
Authors: Isaac Ajala Olugbenga 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe main objective of this study is to discuss the needs and the information utilization patterns of periodical literature amongst the pre‐final and final year undergraduate students in Nigerian universities. As a result, the study attempts to solve the following problems: What are the information needs of undergraduate students in relation to periodical literature? How do they go about seeking such information needed in periodical literature? How do they make valuable use of the information available to them in such periodical literature? What should the university libraries do to meet the information needs of these students in relation to periodical literature?Design/methodology/approachThe researcher aimed at studying periodical literature use by the pre‐final and final year undergraduate students in Nigerian universities. It is impossible to sample the entire population hence a cross‐sectional descriptive Survey design was employed as the most suitable because the population under study was fairly large and heterogeneous. A questionnaire was designed to know the attitude, interest and value of the pre‐final and final year undergraduate students. In order to have an accurate assessment, questionnaire was designed and distributed to collect vital information from the undergraduate students. Also, observation and direct oral interviews were also employed to supplement the information provided through the questionnaires collected.FindingsFindings show that 70 per cent respondents used the library once every week, undergraduate students need and utilize periodical literature materials for their information needs, the general purpose of using periodical literature was mainly for research among others.Originality/valueUseful in determining the periodical use by students as well as assisting serials librarian in planning.
Changing the way we look at libraries?
Authors: Rooney‐Browne Christine 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe current financial and political climate means that libraries are more accountable to their stakeholders and are under increasing pressure to justify their place and value in an ever‐changing information society. The purpose of this report is to discuss how one local library and information service has adapted to changes in cultural demands and user expectations to deliver a concept that communicates its social value to all of its stakeholders.Design/methodology/approachThe report combines quantitative and qualitative research techniques to determine the outputs and outcomes of the project and to assess if key objectives have been achieved.FindingsThe results of this evaluation confirm that the Look at Libraries Festival has been embraced by event attendees, staff, participants and the community. The research also illustrates that the demands and expectations of two communities can vary dramatically, posing the question: is it right to judge libraries so heavily on their outputs? The emerging impact of the festival also supports the argument that the local library service can support its parent body to achieve overall community objectives.Research limitations/implicationsThe research was conducted during a four week academic placement period within East Renfrewshire Council Library and Information Service. The depth of the research has been challenged by limitations associated with time and resources. Therefore, the findings must be viewed as preliminary and suggestive rather than exhaustive.Originality/valueThe case study reveals an innovative approach by a public library and information service to challenge perceptions, communicate changes in service provision, market public libraries, attract new members and establish an effective brand extension for the service.
New landmarks in Brontë bibliography
Authors: Duckett Bob 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to alert students, scholars and librarians to the many recently published works of reference on the life and works of the Brontë family. The paper aims to present an account of new major reference works, which are transforming the nature of Brontë scholarship, giving an insight into the development of literary studies in a field which has reached maturity and provides a benchmark for studies with other classic authors.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes the form of a literature review set against developing scholarship.FindingsAfter 150 years of scholarship, Brontë studies have reached a peak of maturity in the areas of biography, bibliography and textual transcription.Research limitations/implicationsThe greater reliability of recent texts necessitates a re‐evaluation of biographical and critical studies on the Brontë family. The paper indicates the rigorous standards required in author bibliography.Practical implicationsLibrarians need to update their reference collections.Originality/valueThe paper brings together disparate sources to provide a coherent overview.
Market entry decisions of US small and medium‐sized software firms
Authors: Ojala Arto , Tyrväinen Pasi 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate market entry decisions of the US software SMEs by analyzing the impact of the most obvious factors (cultural distance, geographical distance, country risk, and three market size variables) in traditional internationalization theories to target country selection. By investigating the influence of these commonly cited macro‐level factors, this study proposes the best indicator for market entry decisions of the US small and medium‐sized software firms.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a quantitative research approach applied to a sample of 100 US small and medium‐sized software firms.FindingsEmpirical findings in this study indicate that vertical (software) market size in a target country is the best single indicator for market entry decision and in themselves explain 63 percent of market entries. Thus, the findings in this study suggest that the vertical market size gives a better explanation for market entry decisions of software SMEs than the earlier widely used variables.Research implications/limitationsIntegrating earlier findings related to firm‐level factors with findings of macro‐level factors will help theory development and will facilitate obtaining a more holistic view of internationalization of knowledge‐intensive SMEs.Practical implicationsFindings in this study imply that managers should take an active role when they develop network relationships for the market entry. If a firm takes a passive role in networking, it might lose market opportunities available in the leading markets and end up in countries where the real market potential is low.Originality/valueThis paper highlights vertical market size, which has been largely ignored in earlier studies, as the most important indicator for international market entry decision.
Top management team demographic characteristics, business strategy, and firm performance in the US airline industry
Authors: Goll Irene , Brown Johnson Nancy , Rasheed Abdul A. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on top management demographic characteristics, business strategy, and firm performance in the major US airlines.Design/methodology/approachThe relationships between management characteristics and business strategy are examined as well as the business strategy – firm performance relationships before and after airline deregulation. This is a longitudinal study (1972‐1995) that includes data from publicly available sources. Pooled cross‐sectional time series regression analyses were used with fixed‐effects to test specific hypotheses. The management demographics include age, tenure, education, and functional background. Business strategy was measured as low cost, differentiation, and scope. The study includes three measures of firm performance.FindingsThere were significant management demographics‐business strategy relationships in the deregulatory period. There were also significant business strategy‐firm performance relationships with deregulation.Originality/valueThis is a longitudinal study of management, strategy, and performance of the airlines from regulation to deregulation. It has performance implications for the major air carriers that are of interest to academics and managers.
Bad apples in bad (business) barrels
Authors: Li‐Ping Tang Thomas , Chen Yuh‐Jia , Sutarso Toto 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to attempt to use several variables measured at Time 1 to predict cluster membership (bad apples vs good apples) measured at Time 2 and investigate possible differences between business and psychology students in unethical behavior.Design/methodology/approachBusiness and psychology students' propensity to engage in unethical behavior (PUB), the love of money, machiavellianism, and risk tolerance at Time 1 and propensity to engage in unethical behavior at Time 2 (four weeks later) were measured. Cluster analysis was used to analyze Time 2 data and bad apples (Cluster 1, high propensity to engage in unethical behavior) and good apples (Cluster 2, low propensity to engage in unethical behavior) were identified. Then all the variables measured at Time 1 were used to predict cluster membership (bad apples vs good apples) measured at Time 2.FindingsIn three discriminant analyses, it was found that variables at Time 1 predicted cluster membership at Time 2 for the whole sample and the business sample, but not for the psychology sample. The differences between bad apples and good apples were significant for business students, but not significant for psychology students. Correlation data showed that the love of money was significantly correlated with machiavellianism and risk tolerance.Research limitations/implicationsStudents are not assigned randomly to business and psychology courses. Students' behavioral intention, not actual unethical behavior, is measured here. Can professors change people's love of money, machiavellianism, risk tolerance, and the propensity to engage in unethical behavior and enhance students' and future managers' ethical decision making? This issue deserves critical attention in future research.Practical implicationsIt is plausible that corruptions and scandals are caused not by lack of intelligence, but by lack of wisdom, or virtue. Professors and researchers may have to focus on ethics training, in general, and the bad apples in bad (business) barrels (mostly male business students), in particular, identify the most critical time and methods in teaching business ethics, enhance learning based on students' own experiences, and promote ethical values in schools, universities, and organizations.Originality/valueThis research shows the importance of incorporating propensity to engage in unethical behavior (PUB), the love of money, machiavellianism, and risk tolerance in identifying bad apples vs good apples across majors.
Environmental management in the United Kingdom: new survey evidence
Authors: Dahlmann Frederik , Brammer Stephen , Millington Andrew 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a snapshot of environmental management practices in the UK and discuss managerial responses to environmental issues in comparison with earlier research.Design/methodology/approachA telephone interview survey approach is adopted encompassing both quantitative and qualitative open‐ended questions with a sample of 167 UK companies stratified by firm size and industry sector.FindingsThe majority of firms are undertaking efforts to reduce their environmental impacts, yet economic considerations such as cost and risk reductions and achieving compliance with environmental legislation dominate firms' environmental behaviour. Especially small and medium‐sized firms appear to rely on relatively short‐term planning horizons, which ultimately prevent them from becoming more proactive in their environmental outlook. Comparison with earlier studies suggests that the overall behaviour of firms towards environmental issues remains reactive and economically‐oriented.Research limitations/implicationsDespite the growing salience of many environmental challenges, businesses fail to employ more proactive environmental strategies, suggesting that more has to be done at policy level to stimulate the incentives involved with adopting such an approach.Originality/valueBy using a mixed methods approach the paper aims to overcome problems of respondent identification and social desirability bias.
Tightening the link between employee wellbeing at work and performance
Authors: Renee Baptiste Nicole 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to show that, though essential, the achievement of business‐oriented performance outcomes has obscured the importance of employee wellbeing at work, which is a neglected area of inquiry within the field of human resource management. Instead the emphasis typically placed on the business case for HRM suggests a one‐sided focus on organisational outcomes at the expense of employees. With this in mind, this paper seeks to examine the effects of HRM practices on employee wellbeing and performance.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from a public sector (local government) organisation to identify the link between HRM practices, employee wellbeing at work, and performance. A preliminary staff survey of employees provides a brief overview of the link between HRM practices, employee wellbeing at work and performance.FindingsHRM practices adopted have a significant impact on employee wellbeing at work and tend to be more positive than negative. Overall a consistent result in the study was that management relationship behaviour in the form of support and development of trust, promoted employee wellbeing at work amongst workers. In general, the findings will prove helpful to human resource practitioners, management, policy makers and business practice.Research limitations/implicationsHRM practices that help to maximise employee wellbeing at work are not necessarily the same as those that make up “high performance” HR practices. Moreover, the promotion of wellbeing at work is not likely to be a result of the HRM practices but can be linked to line management leadership and relationships.Practical implicationsThe importance of management relationships, support and employees' trust was found to predict wellbeing at work. The decision by management to embrace the business case for employee wellbeing at work is likely to complement more conventional methods of improving employee attitudes and productivity, which in turn can enhance organisational effectiveness and decision making.Originality/valueThis paper builds on existing work within HRM and provides a framework for establishing the linkage between HRM practices, employee wellbeing at work and performance in the public sector that it is suggested could improve individual and organisational outcomes through enhanced efficiency and productivity.
Making just decisions: organizational justice, decision making, and leadership
Authors: Eberlin Richard J. , Tatum B. Charles 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show that participants read vignettes in which managers were assigned different roles. The vignettes depicted managers with two leadership styles (transformational/transactional) and two decision‐making approaches (comprehensive/restrictive). The managers were then rated on patterns of organizational justice (social/ structural). Leadership and decision‐making styles affected different forms of justice.Design/methodology/approachParticipants rated performance‐evaluation vignettes depicting leadership style, decision‐making approach, and organizational justice patterns on the part of hypothetical managers/leaders.FindingsManagers portrayed as transformational leaders were rated high on social justice, whereas leaders rated as transactional were high on structural justice. Managers portrayed as restricted in their decision‐making approach were rated lower on social justice compared with managers who used a more comprehensive decision style. Justice ratings were significantly influenced by leadership style and decisionPractical implicationsIt is suggested that an increased awareness regarding organizational justice is imperative for all decision and leadership styles, and that social justice can occur in brief but powerful encounters that can be executed by any manager or leader.Originality/valueIf organizations, managers, and leaders attend to justice issues, they will foster healthier and more productive workplace environments that extend beyond immediate performance indicators (e.g. budget, quarterly profits, sales and revenue). A focus on organizational justice will create long‐term performance cultures (by fostering employee development, extending genuine regard for employee contributions and wellbeing, and leveraging employee commitment), and lead companies to sustainability.
Problems in global strategic alliance management for European defence manufacturing firms
Authors: Butler Colin 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the problems which occur for European defence manufacturers in cross‐border strategic alliances.Design/methodology/approachThe survey uses a large‐scale questionnaire to collect data from a sample of firms from four European defence manufacturing countries and identifies those countries outside Europe with which the firms are forming alliances.FindingsThis paper finds that the degree of problems differs for firms from different countries.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is limited in that it does not collect data from partner firms outside Europe. The paper aims to identify differences which exist between the firms' experiences with alliances.Originality/valueThe paper is important as its shows that some firms from different European countries experience more problems in certain key areas in cross‐border strategic alliances than others.
A study on bench test for automatic transmission fluid friction durability
Authors: Hai‐jun Wei 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss a method that can evaluate the friction durability of automatic transmission fluid.Design/methodology/approachA small clutch was used to test the friction durability. The method adopts a similar sequence to that of SAE No. 2. Three commercial oils were studied. One of them meets the specification of the GM's DEXRONIIE and the others meet the DEXRONIII.FindingsThe results showed that two commercial oils have different friction durability. Two further samples were blended in the lab and friction durability was researched by this method.Originality/valueThe results showed that the samples have a good durability. The research indicates that the method is quite capable of distinguishing between some samples. The results also indicate the difference between the DEXRON specifications at friction durability.
Tribological studies of S‐N type triazinyl‐containing polysulfides as additives in biodegradable grease
Authors: Yi Hongling , Dang Kunyang , Zeng Xiangqiong , Shao Heyang , Ren Tianhui 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThis paper sets out to study tribological properties, anticorrosive performances and thermal stabilities of two novel S‐N type triazinyl‐containing polysulfides {Bis[2,4‐bis(diethylamino)‐s‐triazin‐6‐yl] polysulfide (BBET‐PS) and Bis[2,4‐bis(di‐n‐butylamino)‐s‐triazin‐6‐yl] polysulfide (BBBT‐PS)} as additives in biodegradable grease, and to estimate the tribochemical mechanism.Design/methodology/approachExtreme pressure (EP) and anti‐wear (AW) properties of two compounds at different addition concentration were evaluated using a four‐ball machine. Their wear scar was analyzed with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and a scanning electron microscope.FindingsTwo novel S‐N type triazinyl‐containing polysulfides possess excellent load‐carrying capacity, good AW and show good corrosion‐inhibiting performance. The thermal stability of BBB‐PS is better than that of BBE‐PS. According to the XPS results, the triazinyl‐containing polysulfides react with the metal to generate a surface protective film consisting of sulfate, FeS and absorbed compounds containing organic‐N.Research limitations/implicationsThe antioxidant and biodegradability of the two novel compounds were not investigated.Practical implicationsTwo effective EP and AW additives were synthesized, and maybe potentially industrial applied lubricating grease additives.Originality/valueThe achievement of this study is the synthesis of two triazinyl‐containing polysulfides, which can be effective additives to improve the tribological performance of biodegradable grease.
Study on phosphorous‐free triazinyl disulfides as additives in combustion engine base oil
Authors: Zeng Xiangqiong , Yi Hongling , Wu Hua , Li Jing , Ren Tianhui , Liu Weimin , He Zhongyi 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to study the tribological properties, corrosion inhibition properties and action mechanism of two triazine‐containing disulfides, TOSS and TOMA, as additives in combustion engine base oil (5CST); those properties of an alkyl disulfide dodecyl disulfide and zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) were also evaluated for comparison to discover whether these additives could be used as potential substitute candidates for ZDDP.Design/methodology/approachTheir tribological performances were evaluated using a four‐ball machine. The worn surfaces were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)FindingsThe three additives have good load‐carrying capacity and corrosion inhibition properties comparable with those of ZDDP. The anti‐wear properties of the triazine‐containing disulfides TOSS and TOMA are good but a little inferior to those of ZDDP. The friction‐reducing performances of the additives are better than those of ZDDP. The XPS results show that absorption and tribochemical reactions occur to generate a complex boundary lubrication films comprising inorganic sulfate, sulfide, iron oxide and organic nitrogen, and sulfur‐containing compounds.Research limitations/implicationsThe anti‐oxidation properties are still to be estimated, and the synergistic effectiveness with other additives could be demonstrated.Practical implicationsThese additives are good extreme pressure and anti‐wear additives in combustion engine base oil and, through further modification of molecular structure or combination with other additives, they may be a potential replacement for ZDDP.Originality/valueTo reduce the cost, the products synthesized were not finely separated. Their tribological properties as additives in the widely used combustion engine base oil were first investigated and results indicate that they show excellent performances.
Design and implementation of an automatic condition‐monitoring expert system for ball‐bearing fault detection
Authors: Hajnayeb A. , Khadem S.E. , Moradi M.H. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to improve the performance and speed of artificial neural network (ANN)‐ball‐bearing fault detection expert systems by eliminating unimportant inputs and changing the ANN structure.Design/methodology/approachAn algorithm is used to select the best subset of features to boost the success of detecting healthy and faulty ball. Some of the important parameters of the ANN are also optimized to make the classifier achieve the maximum performance.FindingsIt was found that better accuracy can be obtained for ANN with fewer inputs.Research limitations/implicationsThe method can be used for other machinery condition‐monitoring systems which are based on ANN.Practical implicationsThe results are useful for bearing fault detection systems designers and quality check centers in bearing manufacturing companies.Originality/valueThe algorithm used in this research is faster than in previous studies. Changing ANN parameters improved the results. The system was examined using experimental data of ball‐bearings.