bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Key skills retention and motivation: the war for talent still rages and retention is the high ground
Authors: Glen Clayton 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThe paper sets out to examine effective, practical and holistic people strategies that address key skills retention, employee engagement, employee motivation and attendance gaps, with a view to positively impacting on organization costs, productivity and business performance. The paper also seeks to examine the value of assessment and feedback in talent engagement and retention, and to look at developing employees via experience‐based development initiatives.Design/methodology/approachThe paper commences with an assessment of a matrix of the “hot buttons” or “predictors”, which need to be consciously managed – with significant potential returns, where managed well. The paper examines a holistic matrix of nine employee engagement predictors: process; role challenge; values; work‐life balance; information; stake/leverage/reward/recognition; management; work environment; and product. Reference is made to a case study in which this matrix formed the basis of the organization's people management strategy.FindingsWorkplace context is key. Take a holistic view of the key elements of the business most likely to impact team engagement, motivation, attendance and retention, link individual assessment directly to the key drivers of the business, and recognize that key talent is likely to thrive on experience‐based career leverage opportunities.Originality/valueProvides practical guidance to senior HR professionals and business leaders for developing a successful strategy for key skills retention and employee engagement.
Management and leadership development: making it work
Authors: Cook Petra 
Published: June 2006

PurposeGiven the huge national and corporate investment in developing management and leadership capability, questions about the effectiveness of such development activities are valid, necessary and urgent. This paper aims to examine this issue.Design/methodology/approachThere were 1,000 respondents consisting of matched pairs of HR managers and line managers drawn from 500 organizations. The survey was carried out using archive data collected in 1996, 2000 and 2004.FindingsThe report provides evidence demonstrating how management and leadership development works when it is: a clear organizational priority with employers taking responsibility; linked to business strategy with established processes and frameworks; designed to build relevant competences and behaviors; and focused on long‐term tenure of employees.Research limitations/implicationsThis report continues the influential research series started in the mid‐1980s when the Chartered Management Institute worked with Charles Handy and others to analyze how the UK developed its managers. Studies were carried out every four years throughout the 1990s: the previous survey, “Achieving management excellence”, was carried out in 2000 and has been extensively referenced by Government, business and the media.Practical implicationsCommunicate to policy makers, employers and employees that there is clear evidence that management and leadership development improves organizational performance over time. Derive the greatest benefits by implementing management and leadership development (MLD) in a coherent and strategic way. Develop the skill‐sets associated with people management, leadership, customer care and motivation/teamwork.Originality/valueUniquely, this report provides key evidence of the links between investment and organizational performance over an eight‐year period to managers in public and private organizations across the UK.
Structure and function in retrieval
Authors: Gilchrist Alan 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThis paper forms part of the series “60 years of the best in information research”, marking the 60th anniversary of the Journal of Documentation. It aims to review the influence of Brian Vickery's 1971 paper, “Structure and function in retrieval languages”. The paper is not an update of Vickery's work, but a comment on a greatly changed environment, in which his analysis still has much validity.Design/methodology/approachA commentary on selected literature illustrates the continuing relevance of Vickery's ideas.FindingsGeneric survey and specific reference are still the main functions of retrieval languages, with minor functional additions such as relevance ranking. New structures are becoming increasingly significant, through developments such as XML. Future development in artificial intelligence hold out new prospects still.Originality/valueThe paper shows the continuing relevance of “traditional” ideas of information science from the 1960s and 1970s.
The information environment of women in Nigeria's public service
Authors: Mabawonku Iyabo 
Published: June 2006

PurposeWomen constitute a significant proportion of the Nigerian public servants. They have varied job related information needs and possess some information seeking behaviour. The study aimed to identify their job‐related information needs and assess the existing office information environment.Design/methodology/approachThe survey method, using questionnaire and observation techniques were used in collecting data from 158 women in the top cadre of the federal and three selected state ministries and parastatals.FindingsThe study found that most of the information needs were related to governance, education, religion, family and domestic matters. Only one‐third of the respondents regarded information on women as very relevant to job performance. Newspapers, magazines, newsletters, colleagues, and conversations were the main sources of information. Although electronic sources, especially the internet were not widely available, the respondents were enthusiastic to use them. They also perceived positive relationship between good information environment and job performance.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation of the study is the small sample considering that there are 36 states in Nigeria. Also, a study of all public servants, male and female, would have been better. The paper recommends an improvement to the information environment of the government establishments.Originality/valueAs not many studies have been done on women in public service and their information needs and use, the findings of this study will be useful to government and other decision makers in providing facilities and for infrastructural development to increase productivity of women and all public servants.
Incorporating a virtual union catalogue into the wider information environment through the application of middleware
Authors: Cousins Shirley , Sanders Ashley 
Published: June 2006

PurposeTo explore the use of middleware to provide access to a virtual catalogue via Z39.50, allowing its integration with other services. To consider issues arising from the cross‐database search process and the problem of interoperability between systems.Design/methodology/approachMiddleware was used to establish a Z39.50 server for an existing virtual union catalogue, InforM25. The Copac physical union catalogue was used to carry out cross‐database search tests, investigating the value of query transformation by the middleware and illustrating many of the issues associated with interoperability in cross‐database searching.FindingsThe test results demonstrate the viability and benefits of using middleware to allow the integration of virtual catalogues with other services. The results also illustrate the range of issues affecting the performance of the virtual catalogue, with supporting evidence from the use of the Copac physical union catalogue for cross‐database searching via Z39.50. In particular the discussion highlights the issue of semantic interoperability, as well as emphasising the value of centralised virtual catalogue support.Research limitations/implicationsThe research was limited to work on a specific virtual union catalogue, that is InforM25, but the results highlight issues with general relevance in the development of any virtual catalogue. The need for more work on response times in the virtual union catalogue is apparent, along with the related issue of result set post processing.Originality/valueThis paper provides a practical demonstration of the issues important to those involved in making their local catalogue accessible to services, and individuals, outside their own institution, as well as those working on virtual union catalogue development.
Falling into capability learning traps
Authors: Harrison Jeannette , Boyle Emily 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how one firm – the British Shoe Corporation – eventually failed because, as a result of the strength of its predominant managerial mental model it fell into a number of exploitative learning capability traps.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a contemporary historical case study approach. This allows for a longitudinal study of the phenomenon. It examines the core concepts involved before moving on to consider the task environment in which the company operated, the origins and nature of its predominant managerial mental model, its performance over its lifetime and how and why it fell into the various capability learning traps.FindingsThe study found that the firm's predominant managerial mental model had a significant impact on its capability learning. It argues that to prevent other firms falling into these sorts of traps they should adopt scenario planning and seek out internal asymmetries.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited in that it only considers one specific case. More studies of the same sort need to be carried out before the findings can be considered generalisable. Again much more research is needed into the process of seeking out internal asymmetries, a recently developed concept with very little written on it.Practical implicationsThe paper provides advice on ways to prevent firms falling into the same sorts of learning traps as the British Shoe Corporation.Originality/valueThe paper is original in that it relates the problem of falling into capability learning traps to the predominant managerial mental model of the organisation. It provides a practical example of the phenomenon and discusses practical strategies that other firms can adopt to avoid suffering the same outcome.
Research on outsourcing results: current literature and future opportunities
Authors: Jiang Bin , Qureshi Amer 
Published: June 2006

PurposeOutsourcing emerged as a popular operational strategy in the 1990s and most of current literature was established in the same time. However, the result of outsourcing is still vague. The purpose of this article is to point out gaps in the current literature and examine the link between outsourcing implementation and firms' performance metrics by analysing hard data.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, current outsourcing research (from 1990 to 2003) methodologies are grouped by five categories: case study, survey, conceptual framework, mathematical modeling, and financial data analyses; research scope is identified by three areas: outsourcing determinant, outsourcing process, and outsourcing result.FindingsThis article figures out three main gaps in the current literature: lack of objective metrics for outsourcing results evaluation, lack of research on the relationship between outsourcing implementation and firms' value, and lack of research on the outsourcing contract itself.Research limitations/implicationsIf research is reported on in the paper this section must be completed and should include suggestions for future research and any identified limitations in the research process.Originality/valueBased on the literature review, the author provides the roadmap of future research on outsourcing results. To our best knowledge, this is the first comprehensive literature review which informs the major gaps and future research opportunities in outsourcing study.
The analysis of effects of shaft surface porosity on journal bearing using experimental and neural network approach
Authors: Sinanoğlu Cem 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate pressure distribution of the journal bearings with aluminium shafts with varying surface porosity in varying revolutions using experimental and neural network approach.Design/methodology/approachThe collected experimental data such as pressure variations is employed as training and testing data for an artificial neural network (ANN). Back propagation algorithm is used to update the weight of the network during the training.FindingsNeural network predictor has superior performance for modelling journal bearing systems with shafts of different surface porosities.Research limitations/implicationsBack propagation algorithm is used training algorithm for proposed neural networks. Various training algorithms can be used to train proposed network. The spectrum of the journal surface porosity can be enlarged.Practical implicationsFrom the experimental and simulation results, neural network exactly follows the experimental results. Because of that, this kind of neural network predictors can be applied on journal bearing systems in practice applications.Originality/valueThis paper discusses a new modelling scheme known as ANNs. A neural network predictor has been employed to analyze of the effects of shaft surface porosity in hydrodynamic lubrication of journal bearing.
Complaint behaviour of Malaysian consumers
Authors: Oly Ndubisi Nelson , Yin Ling Tam 
Published: June 2006

PurposeTo examine the post dissatisfaction behaviour of Malaysian consumers vis‐à‐vis their complaint behaviour and defection. Specifically, the relationship between public complaint behaviour (i.e. complaining to the organization), private complaint behaviour (complaining to family members and friends without a word to the organisation) and customer defection were considered. The research also investigates the moderating effect of gender and income in this relationship.Design/methodology/approachConsisted of a survey of 218 randomly selected customers of banks in Malaysia.Findingsshows that both public and private complaints are associated with defection, albeit the determinant strength of private complaint is more robust. These findings are generic as there is no gender‐moderated effect. However, income moderates the private complaint‐defection relationship. Lower income customers are more likely to defect without a word to the bank than higher income Malaysian bank customers.Practical implicationsEmphasises that an apparant each of complaints doesn’t mean that all is well. Also, stresses the need for encouraging complaints from customers and a system to hand complaints. Originality/value Income levels may affect a customers expression of dissatisfaction.
Reflections on public sector‐based integrative collective bargaining
Authors: Caverley Natasha , Cunningham Bart , Mitchell Lari 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to understand better how specific conditions such as the degree of trust developed from previous negotiations, the level of expertise/style demonstrated by the negotiators, the clarity of the bargaining issues and the ability of facilitators to use problem solving‐based techniques affect the success of an integrative collective bargaining process.Design/methodology/approachThe researchers propose that cooperation may be affected by specific conditions. These key conditions were used in the analysis of two Canadian public sector collective bargaining experiences where two of the authors served as consultants and lead negotiators within the British Columbia public sector.FindingsBased on the analysis of two public sector collective bargaining experiences, it is suggested that ensuring the clarity of the bargaining issues was an important catalyst in moving the bargaining agenda forward. In addition, the previous negotiations and the expertise/style of the negotiators were important in the fragile level of trust which developed. No one condition was responsible for the success of collective bargaining. Rather, various conditions are jointly important and supportive to the overall success of the collective bargaining process.Research limitations/implicationsAs a limitation, this research is exploratory in nature and cannot be generalized to other collective bargaining situations. However, the case studies and its subsequent analysis are intended to provide a template for expanded study of collective bargaining and the mutual gain process by suggesting that the process (medium) surrounding the intervention is as important as the intervention itself.Practical implicationsFor practitioners, particularly labor relation specialists, the article provides a suite of conditions and practical strategies that may influence the cooperative nature of bargaining within their respective organization.Originality/valueThis case study paper provides a conceptual framework for both scholars and practitioners to deconstruct and analyze inter‐organizational dynamics within a collective bargaining process.
Technoschism: the real world and libraries, librarians and our associations
Authors: Abram Stephen 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to examine how library associations have adapted to recent technological changes, and how this affects networking among members, providing professional development opportunities, and advocating for the profession and their users.Design/methodology/approachThe author examines 12 challenges facing library associations.FindingsThe paper proposes that library associations should base their organization around the three principles of sensemaking, influencing, and sharing stories.Originality/valueThe paper provides a useful insight into the problems of change management for library associations from the viewpoint of an experienced library professional.
The role of the library associations and organisations in the changing library landscape
Authors: Ole Pors Niels 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThe paper seeks to outline the topography of Danish library associations and organisations and to analyse their role in the development of the libraries. Corporate trends and traits are used as the analytical framework.Design/methodology/approachThe paper focuses on cases and issues from the development of the Danish libraries and the research design is primarily desk‐top research combined with interpretations of previous research into the theoretical framework of corporatism.Practical implicationsThe paper offers some inspiration for cooperation among institutions and associations outlining some of the prerequisites for a solid corporation among different stakeholders.Originality/valueThe paper introduces a concept from political theory and uses it as an interpretative framework in relation to one of the cases of a rather successful cooperation in the library field.
Continuing professional development and workplace learning – 14
Authors: Smith Ian 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the role of communication during organisational change.Design/methodology/approachThe paper outlines five key rules for good organisational communication along with a suggested four‐phase framework for communicating effectively during times of change.FindingsThe paper finds that the role of communication during organisational change is important.Originality/valueThe paper provides a useful set of rules for good communication during organisational change.
How Japan sees the robotics for the future: observation at the World Expo 2005
Authors: Kusuda Yoshihiro 
Published: June 2006

PurposeAims to describe how Japan sees robotics for the future based on the author's observation of robots displayed at the World Expo 2005.Design/methodology/approachVisits with the Expo and the relevant symposium.FindingsJapan is convinced of the immense potential of the new robotic market.Originality/valueGives the Japanese view on robotics for the future to observers outside Japan.
Self‐adjusting robotic painting system
Authors: Omar M. , Viti V. , Saito K. , Liu J. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeAims to introduce a self‐adjusting robotic painting process for automotive fuel containers, capable of predicting the required correction action to avoid further defect production.Design/methodology/approachPresents the development, testing and on‐site implementation of a robotic thermal machine vision system designed for evaluating coat thickness and coverage attributes. Computer simulation is used to study the effect of the painting robot's program on the film build‐up.FindingsEffective technique for the real‐time detection of anti‐corrosive coat's pinholes and pop‐ups. A systematic study for this paint deposition scheme.Research limitations/implicationsThe presented detection system and the simulation program methodology could be further studied and modified for other painting applications.Practical implicationsProvides insights validated with on‐site results and systematic study for the automated or the manual adjustments of the robotic painting parameters.Originality/valueIntroduces a novel application of thermal imaging for evaluating coated surfaces. In addition, a first reported case study of automotive fuel container's painting process. Presents potential application to reduce the defects generation thus, improving quality, and reducing production cost.
Activation for what purpose? Lessons from Denmark
Authors: Lind Jens , Hornemann Møller Iver 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThis paper evaluates why activation programmes are still an important and core component of most European countries’ social‐ and labour market policies when it has become increasingly clear that the employment effects are most often either unknown or very small.Design/methodology/approachTo answer this issue, an in‐depth investigation of the evolution of activation programmes in the specific national context of Denmark is investigated.FindingsCharting in detail the evolution of labour market activation (or workfare) programmes in Denmark, this paper displays the ongoing intensification of activation policies and ways in which this has reduced the living standards of marginalised groups and explains this to be the result of a power block that has a wider intent of disciplining the whole workforce, not least by encouraging more people to work harder and for longer hours, and rarely with overtime compensation.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper explains the reasons for the continuing use of labour market insertion programmes when there is a lack of evidence that they are effective in achieving their goal of inserting people into employment.Originality/valueThis paper uses the notion of a power block to understand the reasons for advanced economies persisting with labour market activation programmes.
Assessing an integrated government documents collection
Authors: Latham Skaggs Bethany 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThis paper proposes describing the collection assessment process adapted to fit the integrated government documents collection at Jacksonville State University's Houston Cole Library.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on the Library's experience conducting an assessment of its integrated government documents collection using an adaptation of the WLN conspectus method.FindingsThe author describes the adaptations made, obstacles overcome, results of the assessment, and conclusions drawn from it.Practical implicationsAs a result of this assessment, procedures were established for future assessments of the collection, and the results of the assessment were used to aid in the selection process.Originality/valueThis paper provides a model for conducting an assessment of an integrated government documents collection that other libraries can follow and fills a gap in the literature of government documents collection management.