bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The tail behavior of extreme stock returns in the Gulf emerging markets
Authors: Maghyereh Aktham I. , Al‐Zoubi Haitham A. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeIn this paper, the aim is to investigate the tail behavior of daily stock returns for three emerging stock in the Gulf region (Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia) over the period 1998‐2005. In addition, the aim is also to test whether the distributions are similar across these markets.Design/methodology/approachFollowing McNeil and Frey, Wanger and Marsh, and Bystrom, extreme value theory (EVT) methods are utilized to examine the asymptotic distribution of the tail for daily returns in the Gulf region. As a first step and to obtain independent and identically distributed residuals series, the returns are prefiltered with an ordinary time‐series model, taking into account the observed Gulf return dynamics. Then, the “Peaks‐Over‐Threshold” (POT) model is applied to estimate the tails of the innovational distribution.FindingsNot only is the heavy tail found to be a facial appearance in these markets, but also POT method of modelling extreme tail quantiles is more accurate than conventional methodologies (historical simulation and normal distribution models) in estimating the tail behavior of the Gulf markets returns. Across all return series, it is found that left and right tails behave very different across countries.Research limitations/implicationsThe results show that risk models that are able to exploit tail behavior could lead to more accurate risk estimates. Thus, participants in the Gulf equity markets can rely on EVT‐based risk model when assessing their risks.Originality/valueThe paper extends previous studies in two aspects. First, it extends the classical unconditional extreme value approach by first filtering the data by using AR‐FIAPARCH model to capture some of the dependencies in the stock returns, and thereafter applying ordinary extreme value techniques. Second, it provides a broad analysis of return dynamics of the Gulf markets.
A conversation with Gary Hamel: it's time to reinvent management
Authors: Allio Robert J. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeGary Hamel, world renowned strategic thinker, has adopted the controversial position that “Management is the single largest constraint on business performance.” S&L wanted to find out what he means by this provocative statement and how firms benefit from his ideas. this paper aims to investigate thisDesign/methodology/approachStrategy & Leadership interviewed Hamel, who recently published the controversial book The Future of Management, to ask him why he believes a new management model is urgently needed.FindingsThe paper finds that Hamel says that, “Management as we practice it today is just another old technology that needs to be reinvented.”Practical implicationsHamel offers suggestions for leading management innovation and recruiting innovative leaders.Originality/valueHamel challenges managers to see that most firms are limited by their management model, which is characterized by bureaucratic processes and top‐down decision‐making, concentration of power at the top and deafness to contrary ideas.
How leaders can use powerful narratives as change catalysts
Authors: Denning Stephen 
Published: March 2008

PurposeModern leaders need to encourage their organizations to thrive on innovation and embrace opportunities to do things differently. Based on the author's experience training executives, the paper aims to conclude that successful leaders inspire enthusiasm for change through communication that is fundamentally differently from the traditional, abstract approach.Design/methodology/approachEffective leaders communicate by first getting attention, then stimulating desire and only then reinforcing with reasons. The paper explains the surprising method that works best in practice.FindingsThe paper finds a surprisingly effective change management skill: learn to tell simple, attention getting stories that enable audiences to recognize and choose future possibilities that they have hitherto missed.Practical implicationsAn ability to spark enthusiasm for change through the use of simple but powerful narratives becomes an essential competence for all leaders in the organization.Originality/valueThe paper reveals that the kinds of stories that are effective for leaders in stimulating desire for change are very different from what most people expect.
Academics as professionals or managers? A textual analysis of interview data
Authors: Chandler John 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the themes of professionalism and managerialism in how academics in England talk about their work in universities today. The aim is to examine how academics represent their work and to identify what kind of identifications they make in the process. In doing so, it is hoped to shed some light on how academics can position themselves in relation to managerialism in the English academy, while also exploring the value of a particular methodological approach to doing so.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs Fairclough's approach to textual analysis in analysing extracts from interview data as part of a critical discourse analysis of the work of academics in universities in England at a particular time.FindingsThe paper suggests that individual academics in middle ranking positions do not identify in a straightforward way either with managerialism or professionalism. Instead they perform ambiguous, ambivalent, complex and fluid positionings of the self in relation to the themes of managerialism and professionalism.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates that the use of Fairclough's approach to textual analysis can provide a rich picture of individual social positionings from relatively short extracts of interview data.
Understanding empowerment from an employee perspective
Authors: Greasley Kay , Bryman Alan , Dainty Andrew , Price Andrew , Naismith Nicola , Soetanto Robby 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to examine the various meanings of empowerment for employees from their own perspective, the psychological dimension of empowerment and whether employees want to be empowered.Design/methodology/approachIn order to understand how employees feel about empowerment, it is necessary to ask them directly so that one can understand their perceptions. A qualitative approach is adopted, employing 45 semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews with employees. The aim of the interviews is to provide an insight into the meanings of empowerment for these employees.FindingsThe findings indicate that the employees do not recognise the term “empowerment” nor do they reference the term “power” in relation to themselves. However, they are able to relate to associated concepts, notably “personal responsibility” and “control over their work”. Empowerment for the employees was found to operate as a continuum, as the extent to which employees seek empowerment varies considerably. The innate feelings that employees have with regard to empowerment enable an insightful understanding of what empowerment means and the employee response to it.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is based on employees from one particular industrial sector. The research would benefit from exploration in alternative sectors.Originality/valueThe study examines the various meanings of empowerment for employees from their own perspective. Furthermore, it explores whether employees want to be empowered.
Navigating toward team success
Authors: Jenewein Wolfgang , Morhart Felicitas 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to outline a set of principles which enable companies and managers to effectively handle people as a resource and allow them to turn teams into high performance teams.Design/methodology/approachThe Alinghi sailing team's approach to establishing and managing a high performance team was explored by means of an ethnographic case study. The development, organization and leadership principles of the team were subjected to intense scrutiny. This was done by interviewing the key players in the different areas (sailing crew, design team and management) at different stages, by observation of the group at work and video analyses. To substantiate the findings from interviews and observations, workshops with team members and experts were organized.FindingsThe Swiss Alinghi sailing team was the undisputed winner of the famous America's Cup in 2003 and managed to defend it successfully in July 2007 – against strong competition. The principles implemented by team founder Ernesto Bertarelli also offer a valuable model for managers.Originality/valueThe study is a useful tool for companies and managers who wish to create and manage high performance teams.
Regulation and information asymmetry
Authors: McLaughlin Robyn , Safieddine Assem 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the potential for regulation to reduce information asymmetries between firm insiders and outside investors.Design/methodology/approachExtensive prior research has established that there are substantial effects of information asymmetry in seasoned equity offers (SEOs). The paper tests for a mitigating effect of regulation on such information asymmetries by examining differences in long‐run operating performance, changes in that performance, and announcement‐period stock returns between unregulated industrial firms and regulated utilities that issue seasoned equity. The authors also segment the samples by firm size, since smaller firms are likely to have greater asymmetries.FindingsConsistent with regulated utility firms having lower levels of information asymmetry, they have superior changes in abnormal operating performance than industrial firms pre‐ to post‐issue and their announcement period returns are significantly less negative. These findings are most pronounced for the smallest firms, firms likely to have the greatest information asymmetries and where regulation could have its greatest effect.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper does not examine costs of regulation. Thus, future research could seek to measure the cost/benefit trade‐off of regulation in reducing information asymmetry. Also, future research could examine cross‐sectional differences between different industries and regulated utilities.Practical implicationsRegulation reduces information asymmetry. Thus, regulation or mandated disclosure may be appropriate in industries/markets where information asymmetry is severe.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to compare the operating performance of regulated and unregulated SEO firms.
Female consumers' evaluation of apparel quality: exploring the importance of aesthetics
Authors: De Klerk Helena M. , Lubbe Stephna 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the role of aesthetics in female consumers' evaluation of apparel quality during the decision‐making process.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research style was followed and unstructured interviews and focus group interviews were chosen as data‐collection methods. A total of 45 unstructured interviews were held with 15 adult career women. The researchers used certain stimuli during the interviews, the aim of which was to give the participants something concrete to react to, and to put them in a specific decision‐making situation.FindingsIt was found that the sensory, emotional and cognitive dimensions of the aesthetic experience play a major role when female consumers evaluate the quality of apparel products during the decision‐making stage. The product's design and materials bring about these aesthetic dimensions. Especially colour and texture play major roles in bringing about the necessary aesthetic experiences.Originality/valueRetailers and e‐tailers should purposively draw their customers' attentions to the linkage between physical properties that influence important functional properties that may play a role in the satisfaction that consumers will experience when wearing the item. Findings have further implications for retailers' and e‐tailers' fashion merchandising strategies related to buyers and visual merchandisers.
Good guys wear black: uniform color and citizen impressions of police
Authors: Nickels Ernest 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to examine whether officer uniform color influences impressions the public forms about the character of police officers.Design/methodology/approachA survey using digitally manipulated photographic prompts was used to examine how various levels of officer race, posture, and uniform color as well as a number of other experiential, attitudinal and demographic variables influenced subjects' impressions of officers' character on factor scores constructed from a set of semantic differential scales.FindingsOfficer uniform color influences impression formation, but not in the expected manner. Black uniforms elicited more positive impressions of officers than did lighter uniforms.Research limitations/implicationsConvenience sample was drawn from university undergraduates.Practical implicationsDarker uniforms for police may enhance favorable character impressions formed by some sectors of the public.Originality/valueThe research instrument improves measurement validity over prior methods while maintaining a precise experimental control. Findings contradict the conclusions of prior research on public perceptions of darker vs lighter police uniforms.
The owner/manager's mentality and the financial performance of SMEs
Authors: Wijewardena Hema , Nanayakkara Gunapala , De Zoysa Anura 
Published: March 2008

PurposeDespite the fact that the mentality of owner/managers is an important aspect of their personality characteristics no prior study has made any attempt to examine its possible impact on enterprise performance during various stages of growth. Therefore, based on a questionnaire survey conducted in Sri Lanka, this study attempts to examine this aspect of small to medium enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachBased on a review of the literature, a conceptual model was constructed as the initial step in this research for visualising and testing the relationship between owner/managers' personality styles, operational approaches and financial performance. The model was then extended to reflect the relationship between owner/manager's mentality styles and financial performance over all stages of enterprise growth.FindingsThe results of the study show that there is a strong relationship between owner/managers' mentality and financial performance of their enterprises. Moreover, when owner/managers of these enterprises become more entrepreneurial minded in the introductory and decline stages their performance tends to be higher. However, this relationship is not seen to be significant in the growth and maturity stages.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can be useful to SMEs in any country as they show how the mentality of owner/managers is likely to affect the financial performance of their enterprises differently during different stages of growth.Originality/valueSince no similar research has been reported in the past this study takes its own independent approach and presents its analysis and findings as a novel addition to the small business literature.
Jordan Quality Award (King Abdullah II Award for Excellence (KAIIAE))
Authors: Rawabdeh Ibrahim A. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the essence of the Jordan Quality Award (JoQA) that has been developed and implemented in Jordan. The award characteristics, framework, examination criteria, objectives, benefits and comparative assessment are described. The JoQA is benchmarked with two international quality awards: Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and European Quality Award.Design/methodology/approachIn order to investigate the experiences of companies and gain feedback on the award's benefits, achievements, problems, and criteria weights, a questionnaire was developed. A sample of 49 companies which had applied for the award was selected to test a set of hypotheses regarding the award's objectives, benefits, problems, and criteria weights, and to determine areas of weaknesses and potential improvements.FindingsThe testing of the hypotheses shows that the objectives of the award, externally, and internally viewed benefit were achieved. However, various implementation problems exist. Based on the findings, a recommended change is proposed for the weights of the award criteria.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on a relatively small number of companies who had participated on one occasion in the award's process. Although the findings confirm the theoretical framework, more empirical work is needed to better understand the award's impact over a longer time span. Further research should also identify if and how the award influences the participating companies in managerial, technical and financial aspects.Originality/valueThe paper is unique insofar as it is the first to explore the experiences of users of the JoQA. It contributes to a better understanding of such awards' impact on organizations in developing countries.
Privacy regime, culture and user practices in the cyber‐marketplace
Authors: Jin Park Yong 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the congruence between policy supply and demand in Internet privacy as moderated by culture.Design/methodology/approachThis study consists of the two parts. The first part qualitatively examines policy harmonization efforts among Asian‐Pacific nations. The second part, based on survey findings, quantitatively analyzes differences between the US and Korean college students in regulatory attitudes toward information privacy. The aim, drawing on regime theory as a departure, is to measure the policy genesis and its effectiveness in operation.FindingsThe findings are two‐fold. First, contrary to the expectations, the notions of online privacy rights among the Korean respondents are strongly formed, with the regulatory demands widely shared with the US participants. Second, however, there exists a gap between the beliefs of information privacy rights and daily practices – the duality far more magnified among the Korean respondents.Practical implicationsThe results suggest the incongruence of the consensus between the two levels – of policymakers and of online users of different cultures.Originality/valueWhile most studies focus on internet policy genesis alone, this paper measures the policy effectiveness in its consumption to capture the operation of cultural values in everyday practices. Policy implications and alternatives for developing nations are discussed in the specific context of Asian‐Pacific nations.
Internet banking and quality of service
Authors: Sadiq Sohail M. , Shaikh Nassar M. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to measure the quality of service from customers' perspective. With an enormous growth in internet banking, this paper discusses how banks can be competitive by providing quality services.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on a questionnaire survey conducted in Saudi Arabia. Based on an extensive review of literature, the paper uses empirical research to analyse service quality of internet banking services provided by banks in Saudi Arabia.FindingsResults based on a factor analysis identify three factors that influence users' evaluation of service quality of internet banking services. These factors are labelled as “efficiency and security”, “fulfilment” and “responsiveness”.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is useful for banks in order to improve service quality and retain/gain a share of the market in a highly competitive industry.Practical implicationsThe findings are important to enable bank managers to have a better understanding of customers' perception of service quality of internet banking and consequently of how to improve their satisfaction with respect to the online aspects of service quality.Originality/valueThis paper makes a valuable contribution given the fact that there are only a limited number of comprehensive studies dealing with the assessment of electronic service quality in banking environment.
The impact of office comfort on productivity
Authors: Haynes Barry P. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact that office comfort has on office occupiers' productivity.Design/methodology/approachThe author evaluates the literature that claims to make a linkage between the physical comfort of the office environment and the effect on the productivity of the office occupiers. Office comfort will initially be discussed as a generic concept and subsequently be broken down into sub‐components.FindingsThe review of the literature reveals that the evaluation of office comfort is a complex one. There appears to be no universally accepted definition of office comfort, and there is a clear lack of agreement as to how office comfort should be measured. This paper establishes that, there is enough evidence to support the claim that office comfort can affect productivity.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the debate by identifying the need for a common and universally accepted measurement of office comfort. It is proposed that this can largely be achieved by evaluating office comfort with a multi‐item scale, and adopting an office occupier perspective to any future research.
Insiders' timing ability and disclosure on corporate share buyback trading
Authors: Kim Jaemin , Varaiya Nikhil 
Published: March 2008

PurposeDue to insufficient disclosure on open market share repurchases in the USA, at any given point in time, outside shareholders have no knowledge of whether their firm is executing open market share repurchase trades. It is hypothesized that such information disparity between outside shareholders and insiders of a repurchasing firm creates asymmetric opportunities for insiders to time their sell trades in a period when the firm is engaged in buyback trading of its own shares. Insiders have an incentive to sell when the firm is in the market supporting the price by repurchasing its shares. The purpose of this study is to examine this hypothesis (insider timing hypothesis) by investigating insiders' trading activities during the periods of corporate share buyback trading.Design/methodology/approachMultiple regression analyses are used to explore relations among trades by insiders, corporate share buyback trades, and a number of other control variables.FindingsThis study finds evidence that insiders do increase the net number of shares sold in a fiscal quarter when the firm is in the market engaged in share buyback trading.Originality/valueThis study suggests the possibility of insiders' opportunistic trading behavior during the periods of corporate open market share buyback trading.
Does the environmental management standard ISO 14001 stimulate sustainable development?
Authors: Fortuński Bartosz 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the relation between the ISO 14001 standard and sustainable development, and to present a case study of the energy sector in Poland in order to provide an example of the influence of the environmental management system according to ISO 14001 on environmental quality and sustainable development.Design/methodology/approachThe relation between sustainable development and the environmental management system related to the ISO 14000 series is discussed by comparing these series with the ICC Business Charter for Sustainable Development. The case study is based on the analysis of the fulfilment of environmental goals and tasks, which are part of the environmental management system, introduced in the company under research.FindingsThe case study provides arguments that the ISO 14001 standard may support sustainable development, in particular when standard legal enforcement mechanisms are weak.Practical implicationsThe introduction of standards for business may be a tool for achieving sustainable development.Originality/valueThe paper shows an example of opportunity for business to contribute to sustainable development.