bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development intention of support staff in an academic organization in The Netherlands
Authors: Renkema Albert , Schaap Harmen , van Dellen Theo 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate which psychological determinants relate to the intention to participate in development activities. Psychological determinants such as attitude toward development activities, self‐efficacy, job satisfaction, organizational commitment and management support are related to the intention of support staff workers of a University Medical Centre in The Netherlands to participate in job‐related and/or career‐related development activities.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire study was conducted in a sample of support staff employees. By means of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the study analyses the relationship between the two intentional orientations and a number of determinants.FindingsAnalyses revealed that job satisfaction relates positively with the intention for job‐related development activities and negatively with career‐related activities. Surprisingly, there was no direct relation between management support and either of the two orientations of development intention. Furthermore, the study revealed that the respondents prefer development in their current job over career development to obtain other functions in the current or future organization.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough it is a small‐scale study focused on one labour organization, the paper presents two independent developmental orientations and reveals their distinct relationships with job satisfaction and organizational commitment.Practical implicationsThe paper argues that a better fit between HRD strategies and manager‐employee dialogue may encourage the influence of managers on development intention.Originality/valueThe paper discusses two independent developmental orientations and their distinct relationships with psychological determinants.
Personal initiative at work and when facing unemployment
Authors: Lantz Annika , Andersson Kin 
Published: February 2009

PurposeLearning at work generalises through socialisation into behaviours away from the workplace. The aim of this study is to give empirical evidence of a positive relationship between job design, self‐efficacy, competence efficacy and personal initiative at work, and proactive job search while under notice of redundancy and in unemployment.Design/methodology/approachThe results are based on a detailed work task analysis and self‐reported data by individuals who had been made redundant (n=176).FindingsThe paper finds that the theoretical model received substantial, but not full support. Job design has impact on personal initiative through self‐efficacy and competence‐efficacy as mediating variables between job design and personal initiative. Personal initiative at work affects proactive job search when facing unemployment.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation is that the respondents in general had jobs that were low‐skilled and routine. It is likely that a research group with larger differences in job design would show stronger relations between job design and personal initiative.Practical implicationsWork task analysis identifies conditions at work that minimise and mitigate individual initiative and makes it possible to correct them in order both to enhance organisational effectiveness and the individuals' long‐term employability.Originality/valueThe paper proposes that autonomy and complexity, which are the aspects most predominant in the study of how job design affects personal initiative and self‐efficacy, are too limited. The sequential completeness provides a broader or narrower scope of work tasks and more or less feed back which is crucial for learning and mastery‐experiences. Demand on cooperation, demand on responsibility, cognitive demand and learning opportunities affect initiative‐taking as well.
Knowledge sharing in an American multinational company based in Malaysia
Authors: Wai Ling Chen , Sandhu Manjit S. , Kishore Jain Kamal 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the views of executives working in an American based multinational company (MNC) about knowledge sharing, barriers to knowledge sharing, and strategies to promote knowledge sharingDesign/methodology/approachThis study was carried out in phases. In the first phase, a topology of organizational mechanisms for knowledge sharing was developed. A review of academic and practitioner literature provided the basis for this topology. In the next phase, a detailed field‐base case study of the knowledge sharing conceptualization in a large MNC was performed based on a sample of 81 employees.FindingsThe results show that most of the respondents agreed that there is a knowledge sharing strategy and there is a growing awareness of the benefit of knowledge sharing in the organization. However, it was worrying to know that 22 percent responded negatively to the statement “KS is important to the organization”. Also, 27 percent of the respondents were also not willing to share knowledge. The most effective method to promote knowledge sharing was to link it with rewards and performance appraisal. Top management support was also vital to ensure the success of knowledge sharing in the organization.Research limitations/implicationsThe survey did not cover the non‐executive level employees such as operators, technicians, facilitators and shift leaders due to difficulties in gaining access to these groups of people as they work in shifts. In addition, most of the operators would have difficulty in understanding the survey objective and content.Originality/valueWhile existing studies on knowledge sharing are more of a generalized nature, this study examines the perceptions about various aspects of knowledge sharing more in a country and company specific setting.
Teaching and assessment for an organisation‐centred curriculum
Authors: Choy Sarojni 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to discuss the teaching and assessment strategies for an organisation‐centred curriculum.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a case study. Data were collected from interviews and a focus group with worker‐learners enrolled in a Graduate Certificate in Education (Educational Leadership) course.FindingsThe study finds that a project that piloted an organisation‐centred curriculum framework where learning was integrated in the context of the workplace met the needs of both individuals and their workplace. The success of such learning for a cohort of worker‐learners was contingent on especially designed teaching and assessment strategies, aligned learning and assessment to the strategic goals of the organisation where the cohort was based and to needs of the individuals. The evaluation of the strategies in the framework shows their potential to optimise learning outcomes for other cohorts and courses. It also highlights the importance of skilling learners for work‐integrated learning and making explicit the pedagogies and affordances available in the workplace.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates the transition from university‐centred to organisation‐centred curriculum that employs work‐integrated learning to meet the needs of the workplace and the learners.
Cutting through the confusion of contemporary work
Authors: Paton Steve 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the nature of contemporary work. There is much discussion surrounding the meaning of the term knowledge worker and the value these workers generate for the organisation. This paper agrees that the value to organisations of workers who possess knowledge is increasing but argues that the nature of the knowledge worker is unclear within current literature. It acknowledges that there is a high level of knowledge in contemporary work and that many workers can claim to be knowledgeable, however these workers while necessary to the firm do not provide it with competitive advantage.Design/methodology/approachThis paper argues that there are four tensions running through the literature on the nature of the knowledge worker and proposes that the elements that comprise knowledge work fall into three groups that are knowledge possession, knowledge activity and knowledge context. First, the nature of contemporary work and its relationship to traditional categorisations of work is discussed; second, worker types that have been proposed in the literature are discussed; third, the factors within work types that are relevant to knowledge are discussed; and a summary of the main points of contention and a proposal for the research direction that should be taken to progress this debate are presented.FindingsThis paper proposes that knowledge work should not be automatically associated with service work or new forms of work; the nature of knowledge work cannot be defined by one specific attribute; the elements that comprise knowledge work fall into three groups, knowledge possession, knowledge activity and knowledge context.Practical implicationsBased on these findings organisations must rethink their approach to identifying the characteristics that define the valuable activity that is knowledge work within their industry sector.Research limitations/implicationsFurther study must be carried out into the nature of the worker, not only in their embodiment of skill and knowledge but also into how they use it, what their work context is and the support they should be given while engaging in their activities.Originality/valueThe value of the knowledge worker lies in combining these elements in a specific way and applying this formula to further our understanding of the nature of the knowledge worker.
Cultural and social issues for knowledge sharing
Authors: Barachini Franz 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show that knowledge sharing is primarily based on a trading process – the business transaction process. Motivators as well as morale hazards for knowledge sharing based on existence needs, biosocial needs and cognitive needs are described.Design/methodology/approachAn industry survey followed by interviews discovers arguments supporting the business transaction theory. Results of the interviews are clustered and categorized according to Alderfer's pyramid. Morale hazards hampering knowledge sharing are derived thereof.FindingsThe comprehensive online survey, combined with personal interviews, supports the business transaction theory. According to this theory, knowledge sharing is based on a trading process. During this process, which can be regarded as information exchange process, people evaluate information on individual basis in an asymmetric way. Modern portfolio theory can help to understand the motivation behind this process. Motivators as well as morale hazards for knowledge sharing were detected.Research limitations/implicationsThe business transaction theory is valid independent from cultures. However, the findings about morale hazards are cultural dependent. These findings represent hopes and fears of the Central European society. It would be interesting to perform the study in other regions and to compare the results.Practical implicationsThe results are valuable for companies which plan to improve their rewarding and incentive systems.Originality/valueUntil recently researchers regarded trust, attitude and group support as the main drivers of successful knowledge‐sharing cultures. This paper shows that the underlying mechanism for knowledge sharing is rather based on a trading process.
Soft‐system knowledge management framework for new product development
Authors: Shankar Ravi , Acharia Sourish , Baveja Alok 
Published: February 2009

PurposeIn today's knowledge economy, a major challenge for the managers is to effectively link the knowledge management (KM) initiatives with the ever‐changing organizational needs. The problem arises due to disjoint strategic alignment between these two, which is mainly due to inappropriate KM framework and adoption of some quick‐fix solutions to achieve business results. Hence, for effective management and utilization of knowledge assets, KM initiative should be dovetailed to link with key organizational goals like new product development (NPD), customer satisfaction and manufacturing excellence. The purpose of this paper is to propose a suitable KM system.Design/methodology/approachThis paper proposes an approach for KM system development to ensure a fit between the organizational needs during NPD and KM initiatives. Soft system methodology (SSM) has been adopted to design this framework.FindingsThis research identified a list of knowledge‐sharing methods, which help in intra‐level or inter‐level knowledge flow. The proposed framework highlights the hierarchal nature and bi‐directional flow of knowledge. Further, this work observed that there are two additional key enablers to effective knowledge management system – competency and infrastructure.Research limitations/implicationsThis work focuses on an auto‐component supplier in India. Therefore, this work is limited by the organizational culture, location, business model and the sector in which this research was done.Originality/valueThis paper suggests that a technical knowledge driven process like NPD has three strategic enablers – technology, people and process. The sustenance of the NPD process is affected by the balance among these enablers. Fundamentally, a comprehensive and integrative framework not only ensures a structured framework but also helps in better adoption due to stakeholders' buy‐in of the process.
Forecasting quantitatively using micro/meso/macro‐economics with scenarios for qualitative balance
Authors: Forge Simon 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to report on a novel approach to assessing long‐term policy and technology impacts. This approach combines a qualitative forecast with a tri‐level quantitative projection to provide a broadly socio‐economic analysis. It is aimed at forecasting problems, such as impact assessment for future policy formulation in the light of socio‐economic, technological and market developments.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a variety of research methods including scenario planning, and techniques taken from analysis of stochastic processes to identify and correlate behaviour, combined with the concepts meso‐economics, in order to produce more robust tri‐level quantitative estimations, driven by qualitative analysis.FindingsThe paper finds that it is possible to join micro‐economic behaviour to macro‐economic, using meso‐economics to attack what was previously seen as a difficult gap between the two. It also finds that quantitative forecasting, based on socio‐economic behaviour using the qualitative assessment from a scenario – i.e. from stories about the future – can form a basis for quantitative forecasting. Different scenarios may be linked to corresponding quantitative economic estimations using key indicator parameters at each economic level, those which are the most relevant to the scenarios, and so exploit statistical techniques across the three levels in a balanced fashion.Originality/valueThis paper summarises a novel approach, taking a fresh look at forecasting economic impacts assessments by shaping the quantitative form with a qualitative tool, while introducing the linking powers of meso‐economics. General economic theories in widespread use today seem to be weak when dealing with the non‐deterministic nature of real markets and economies and especially in linking micro‐economic parameters to macro‐economic. The approach attempts to resolve this dilemma. An example is presented of its use in a recent study.
Futures research at the frontiers of mind
Authors: Anthony Marcus 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to introduce futures researchers to simple and practical ways they can employ intuitive intelligence to enhance their research.Design/methodology/approachThe author outlines five specific intuitive tools which have been developed and are used regularly. The incorporation of these tools into the research process potentially makes research more efficient, meaningful and exciting. This paper contains a strong anecdotal component, to exemplify the processes. There is also a theoretical aspect. The author expands the mundane definition of intuition, and use it in the classical sense, where it incorporates the idea of the extended mind. This is referred to as “integrated intelligence”. While this definition places it beyond generally accepted definitions of intuition found in modern psychology, it has a long tradition in the history of art, literature and science right through to the modern era. It is also consistent with recent experimental scientific evidence. Further, it fits well into recent developments in critical and post‐conventional futures studies, where “other ways of knowing” are being increasingly legitimatised.FindingsIntuitive intelligence can be used by futurists to make research more fluid, efficient and excitingResearch limitations/ implicationsThe theory of integrated intelligence is a new theory and has not been tested. It lies beyond conventional approaches to research in the WestOriginality/valueThis is a highly original and innovative approach which enhances research.
Rethinking risk and return: Part 1 – novel norms for non‐normality?
Authors: Powers Michael R. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper (the first of two) is to consider measures of risk commonly used in the analysis of both investment and insurance portfolios, and argue that there is a need for more appropriate measures to capture the uncertainty inherent in non‐normal (i.e. asymmetric and/or long tailed) probability distributions.Design/methodology/approachIn Part 1, the risk measures used most frequently in finance and insurance – i.e. the standard deviation (variance), value at risk, tail value at risk, default value, etc. – are reviewed and then the paper explores whether such measures are sufficient for all contexts, including those in which the subject random variable is characterized by asymmetry and/or long tails. As an alternative to conventional measures, the paper assesses the potential of a general p‐norm‐based definition of “risk”.FindingsVirtually, all commonly used risk measures, even those designed specifically to capture the behavior of asymmetric randomness, require that the underlying random variable possess a finite variance, or at least a finite mean. To overcome such difficulties, the paper considers a general definition of “risk” based upon a quantity closely related to the p‐norm – the p‐mean of absolute‐centered deviations (of which the standard deviation is a special case) – and show that this approach yields a single, but degenerate, result for all distributions.Originality/valueThe paper explores the use of p‐norm‐based measures in constructing a general definition of “risk” that is equally applicable to asymmetric and long‐tailed random variables as to normal random variables.
Ten years' analysis of sovereign risk: noise‐rater risk, panels, and errors
Authors: Erik Carneiro Pedro 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the informative power of rating agencies in the process of establishing sovereign risk, over a ten‐year period (1997‐2006).Design/methodology/approachFirst, following an earlier model, the concept of noise‐rater risk is introduced. Second, four panels were carried out to identify the most significant macro factors in determination of sovereign ratings, taking into account contemporaneous and lagged variables. The dependent variable is sovereign rating issued at the end of each year. Third, three kinds of errors committed by rating agencies when altering the sovereign ratings of emerging countries are defined.FindingsNoise‐rater risk amplifies the chances of noise traders obtaining higher returns than arbitrators. The panels show that, with the exception of debt, all other factors are sample dependant, and that variables and samples leave ample space for subjective factors. Analysis of errors demonstrates that rating agencies appear to lose their focus/modus operandi/principles in times of crisis, and that they commit more errors immediately prior and after the onset of a financial crisis.Practical implicationsThe paper argues for a cautious analysis of rating agency's informative power. Like any other stakeholder, rating agencies are influenced by cognitive limitations, erroneous beliefs, and the cost of acquiring and using information.Originality/valueThe paper uses behavioral finance methodologies to observe rating agencies and demonstrates, from its observations of sovereign ratings, that agencies tend to fail at times of financial turmoil, i.e. when they are most needed, by abandoning their “look at the future” principle.
On the accuracy of loss‐given‐default prediction intervals
Authors: Samuel Baixauli J. , Alvarez Susana 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to critically analyze the common assumption, made by many credit risk models such as the Moody's KMV Loss‐Calc model, of a β distribution for the loss‐given default (LGD). The paper shows that this assumption does not perform well in constructing analytic prediction intervals for LGD.Design/methodology/approachSimulation experiments were conducted to highlight the potential problems associated with this distributional assumption in constructing prediction intervals for LGD.FindingsThe simulation experiments show that, when starting from a different assumption concerning the shape of the population distribution, the beta distribution does not perform well in constructing prediction intervals for LGD.Originality/valueThe analysis performed in this study addresses a relevant subject. Indeed, a correct estimate of a credit exposure LGD is particularly relevant not only for internal risk management and management purposes, but also for regulatory reasons within the context of the internal ratings based approach of the recently approved capital regulation framework (Basel II).
Prediction of variability in mortgage rates: interval computing solutions
Authors: He Ling T. , Hu Chenyi , Casey K. Michael 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to forecast variability in mortgage rates by using interval measured data and interval computing method.Design/methodology/approachVariability (interval) forecasts generated by the interval computing are compared with lower‐ and upper‐bound forecasts based on the ordinary least squares (OLS) rolling regressions.FindingsOn average, 56 per cent of annual changes in mortgage rates may be predicted by OLS lower‐ and upper‐bound forecasts while the interval method improves forecasting accuracy to 72 per cent.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper uses the interval computing method to forecast variability in mortgage rates. Future studies may expand variability forecasting into more risk‐managing areas.Practical implicationsResults of this study may be interesting to executive officers of banks, mortgage companies, and insurance companies, builders, investors, and other financial decision makers with an interest in mortgage rates.Originality/valueAlthough it is well‐known that changes in mortgage rates can significantly affect the housing market and economy, there is not much serious research that attempts to forecast variability in mortgage rates in the literature. This study is the first endeavor in variability forecasting for mortgage rates.