bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Absorptive capacity in European manufacturing: a Delphi study
Authors: Jung‐Erceg Petra , Pandza Krsto , Armbruster Heidi , Dreher Carsten 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper sets out to discuss the results of a specific part of a Europe‐wide Delphi study that considers issues of absorptive capacity in European manufacturing. Owing to the importance to competitiveness of increasing innovative capabilities in manufacturing it is highly relevant to explore how a wide community of manufacturing experts experience the phenomenon of absorptive capacity and sense future developments.Design/methodology/approachA two round Delphi method was designed in which more than 3,000 experts from 22 European countries assessed 101 statements. This paper discusses eight statements focused on the issue of absorptive capacity.FindingsThe results show a general consensus about the influence of different inter‐firm relationships in acquiring external knowledge and a diversified knowledge structure for assimilating the acquired knowledge. The study also indicates some potential challenges and contradictions in managing inter‐firm relationships and knowledge diversity as well as perceived barriers for future developments of absorptive capacity.Research limitations/implicationsDelphi survey is an empirical method subject to the limitation of testing or inductively building theoretical concepts.Practical implicationsThe results of the Delphi study are predominantly centred on policy implication and on informing strategic decision‐making at manufacturing firms.Originality/valueThis paper discusses one of the biggest Delphi surveys ever conducted in Europe. Its comprehensiveness increases the value of the results.
Manufacturing strategies and innovation performance in newly industrialised countries
Authors: Prajogo Daniel I. , Laosirihongthong Tritos , Sohal Amrik , Boon‐itt Sakun 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a comparative study on the impact of manufacturing strategies and resources on innovation performance in two newly industrialised countries in the South East Asian region, Thailand and Vietnam.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach was employed. The survey data was drawn from 95 Thai and 44 Vietnamese middle or senior managers in manufacturing firms.FindingsThree major findings were noted in this study. First, there were no significant differences between Thai and Vietnamese manufacturing firms with respect to manufacturing strategies, resources, and innovation performance. Second, differentiation strategy is shown to be the strongest predictors for both product and process innovation across both countries. Technology management, however, only shows a significant effect on both product and process innovation among Thai firms. The other three manufacturing strategies (leadership, people management, and R&D) did not show a significant relationship with any of product or process innovations. Finally, the results of the moderating regression analysis, using country as a dummy variable, confirm that the effect of technology on product innovation is significantly stronger among Thai firms than Vietnamese firms.Research limitations/implicationsSmall sample sizes of both countries are the major limitation of the study. Future studies can advance this research by incorporating a larger sample size as well as focusing on more innovative industries, such as electronics, automotive and food industries.Practical implicationsThe results provide insights on the status of several key managerial practices among manufacturing firms in Thailand and Vietnam. The study highlights the lack of R&D intensity in manufacturing firms as well as its non‐significant impact on innovation performance.Originality/valueThis is the first empirical study to compare two newly industrialised countries in the South East Asian region in regards to manufacturing/operational practices, innovation performances, and differentiation strategy.
The appearance of security zones in US cities after 9/11
Authors: Hollander Justin B. , Whitfield Crofton 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo review the development of the security zone concept and introduce an approach for transforming these spaces into more effective public places.Design/methodology/approachThe literature review was conducted by examining major books and journal articles in the urban planning, urban design, and landscape architecture literature (1970‐2004).FindingsThe review found that an effective response to security zones is to initiate a strategic planning process utilizing local knowledge and design expertise.Practical implicationsSecurity zones have numerous negative socio‐cultural and aesthetic impacts on their neighborhoods. The findings of the literature review and the new approach introduced can be a good way to strike a delicate balance between providing for necessary security and mitigating against those negative impacts.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills a need in the property management community to understand and manage the openness/security dilemma.
Autoregressive analysis of Singapore's private residential prices
Authors: Chin Lawrence , Fan Gang‐Zhi 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of Singapore's private housing market with respect to its price movement using time series models.Design/methodology/approachThis paper analyses the price dynamics in the Singapore private housing market using the integrated autoregressive‐moving average modeling coupled with outlier detection and autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity modeling techniques.FindingsThe paper finds that private house prices are better modeled as an ARIMA (1, 1, 0) model with corresponding dummy variables. This suggests that housing prices may be characterized as the combination of a stationary cyclical component and a non‐stationary stochastic growth component over the past almost three decades. This affirms that the Singapore's private housing market is characterised by the weak‐form inefficiency.Research limitations/implicationsThe results show that even though ARIMA with dummy variables performs better to ARIMA with ARCH in dynamic performance, there is only marginal improvement on the original model. This suggests that the method for selecting intervention variables in the ARIMA modeling is worth further research with the aim of improving its predictive ability.Originality/valueThis paper incorporates the detection of outliers and intervention procedure in the modeling in order to analyse the impacts of extraordinary events such the recent Asian financial crisis and excessive market speculation on property prices and take them into consideration in forecasting price changes.
Impediments to the success of collective sales: lessons for the property consultant
Authors: Christudason Alice 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe paper aims to consider how collective sales may be achieved more effectively and speedily in the Singaporean context.Design/methodology/approachThrough an examination of Singaporean legislation, cases, market conditions and the residential price index, a range of factors has been identified as affecting the success rate of collective sales.FindingsThe paper shows that in the face of radical legislation that aimed to facilitate collective sales, there were various other factors that impeded the success rate of collective sales. Some of these factors were within the control of parties, whereas some were not.Practical implicationsThe paper points to the flashpoints in the collective sale process which property consultants can be mindful of during negotiations. Suggestions are made for the property consultant to adopt mediation techniques to expedite the process. This will result in time and cost savings for the parties involved.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the interplay of various factors other than legislation to facilitate collective sales. The paper will be of particular value to property consultants involved in negotiating collective sales, and owners of strata titled properties who wish to engage in collective sale of their development.
Property transfers within the Scottish public sector
Authors: Andrew Anthony , Pitt Michael 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe paper aims to explain the way the Scottish Executive, Scotland's devolved administration, transfers surplus property between its Departments, agencies and non‐departmental public bodies, which differs from the approach in England.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on government documents and professional standards to explain the revised administrative mechanism and the reasons for the way in which it is designed.FindingsThe paper explains the benefits the system is designed to bring about and its limitations.Research implications/limitationsThe paper is a professional practice paper designed to help practitioners who may be involved in such transfers of property, and to inform researchers in the field of public sector asset management of a new development designed to improve the efficiency of property transfer in the Scottish Executive's part of the public sector.Originality/valueThe paper will be of interest to practitioners involved in the transfer of public sector assets in Scotland, and those applied researchers with an interest in public sector asset management.
Automated valuation model: an application to the public housing resale market in Singapore
Authors: Faishal Ibrahim Muhammad , Jam Cheng Fook , How Eng Kheng 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to construct an appropriate automated valuation model to value Housing and Development Board resale flats in Singapore. The paper also aims to test the accuracy of the model by comparing the values generated with actual valuations performed by a property firm in Singapore. In addition, it seeks to examine whether models for the sub‐markets of Housing and Development Board resale flats based on location or type of flat are more “sufficiently accurate” than the general model.Design/methodology/approachUsing transacted data of 1,483 HDB resale flats, a hedonic price model is used to estimate housing price. The variables adopted include floor area of the housing unit, floor level of the housing unit, age, distance from central business district and distance from the mass rapid transit station.FindingsThe study found that the general model provides sufficient accuracy when producing valuations. The models based on sub‐markets, namely, “location” and “type of flats” produced reasonable levels of accuracy, although more variables could be added to the “type of flats” model to improve its reliability.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited to a few locations in Singapore. Future studies can include data from all over the island to provide better coverage.Practical implicationsThe automated valuation model could bring time and cost savings, which could result in higher profit margin for property firms. Thus, valuers could spend more time on complex valuations and issues. The model can also be modified to fit other property markets with appropriate characteristics (for example, high volume transactions).Originality/valueThis paper represents an initial attempt to apply the automated valuation model in the valuation of Housing and Development Board resale flats.
The importance of tenure to retirement housing purchasers and the impact of culture upon their attitudes to tenure
Authors: Livette Martin 
Published: January 2007

PurposeIn this paper culture is considered by marketers to have a profound influence on consumer behaviour, yet explanations of tenure preference ignore or dismiss culture as a factor underlying such preferences. This paper therefore aims to examine the attitudes of retirement housing purchasers to tenure, the effect of culture on these attitudes, and contrast some of the results of the research.Design/methodology/approachIn the paper data were collected by questionnaire. A sample of about 200 respondents was selected from all purchasers of retirement housing in the West Midlands region of the UK.FindingsThe findings in this paper demonstrate that culture is an important factor affecting retirement housing purchasers' attitudes to housing tenure and that home ownership is part of their way of life.Originality/valueIt is argued in this paper that culture cannot be dismissed or ignored when debating the tenure preferences of older people and the factors affecting these preferences; and that it is probably the prime factor underlying a “natural preference” for home ownership.
Lessons from real estate partnerships in the UK
Authors: Dixon Timothy J. , Pottinger Gaye 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to summarise the main research findings from a detailed, qualitative set of structured interviews and case studies of Real Estate Partnership (REP) schemes in the UK, which involve the construction of built facilities. The research, which was funded by the Foundation for the Built Environment, examines the evolution of REPs in the UK and in Europe. The paper also aims to analyse best practice, critical factors for success, and lessons for the future.Design/methodology/approachThe research in this paper is based around ten semi‐structured interviews conducted with senior representatives from corporate occupiers, property consultants, legal practices and REP service providers.FindingsThe research in the paper demonstrates that REPs are particularly suited to the UK, where lease lengths are relatively long, and the level of corporate real estate owner‐occupation is often higher than elsewhere. It also shows that further research is needed to examine the future shape and form of the UK REP market.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is based on a limited number of in‐depth case study interviews. The paper shows that further research is needed to find better ways to examine REPs empirically.Practical implicationsThe paper is important in highlighting a number of main issues in developing REPs: identifying with occupier's objectives; risk transfer and size of contract; and developing appropriate innovation and skills.Originality/valueThe paper examines the drivers, barriers and critical success factors (at strategic and operational levels) for REPs in the UK in detail and will be of value to property managers, facilities managers, investors, financiers, and others involved in the REP process.
Innovation in practice: redeveloping the Australian national bibliographic service
Authors: Missingham Roxanne , Boston Tony 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to report on the redevelopment of the Kinetica service. The first phase of redevelopment is based on innovatively using new technology to enable searchers to find and get resources through a single resource discovery interface.Design/methodology/approachThe new search service will be launched in late 2004. The structure of the project and deliverables are described, together with details of the “get” component of the search service.FindingsThe Kinetica service provides Australian libraries with access to the Australian National Bibliographic Database, and international resource discovery services. Kinetica is currently being redeveloped with a new architecture based on a combination of a bibliographic data management system and a resource discovery system. With around 6 million searches a year, it is at the heart of resource sharing and cooperation between Australian libraries.Practical implicationsInnovative use of a software toolkit is enabling the library to achieve its goals for a national online service to support the Australian library network and allowing Australians to access resources in the nation's collections.Originality/valueThe paper is significant in outlining issues in developing a seamless national resource discovery and resource access service.
Challenges and issues in terminology mapping: a digital library perspective
Authors: McCulloch Emma , Shiri Ali , Nicholson Dennis 
Published: January 2007

PurposeIn light of information retrieval problems caused by the use of different subject schemes, this paper provides an overview of the terminology problem within the digital library field. Various proposed solutions are outlined and issues within one approach – terminology mapping are highlighted.Design/methodology/approachDesk‐based review of existing research.FindingsDiscusses benefits of the mapping approach, which include improved retrieval effectiveness for users and an opportunity to overcome problems associated with the use of multilingual schemes. Also describes various drawbacks such as the labour intensive nature and expense of such an approach, the different levels of granularity in existing schemes, and the high maintenance requirements due to scheme updates, and not least the nature of user terminology.Originality/valueGeneral review of mapping techniques as a potential solution to the terminology problem.
The use of electronic resources at IIT Delhi Library: a study of search behaviours
Authors: Ali Naushad 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe paper seeks to examine the use of electronic information services (EIS) among the users of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Library in Delhi, India.Design/methodology/approachBoth questionnaire and observational methods were used for data collection where 300 valid samples were collected. The analysis of data collected covers awareness of EIS services, use of e‐journals, advanced search facilities, acquaintance with electronic information sources, the purpose of using e‐information, problems faced by the users while using EIS, infrastructure facility available and satisfaction level of users.FindingsThe study found that Boolean logic and truncation are the most often used search facilities by IIT users. Lack of printing facilities, terminals and trained staff are the major reasons that would discourage users from accessing the EIS. The survey also reveals that some 60 per cent of users face difficulties while browsing e‐information.Originality/valueThe paper provides suggestions for the further improvement of EIS to fulfill the information needs and requirements of users at the IIT Library, Delhi.
Knowledge‐based mobile learning framework for museums
Authors: Hsu Tien‐Yu , Ke Hao‐Ren , Yang Wei‐Pang 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to propose a knowledge‐based mobile learning framework that integrates various types of museum‐wide content, and supports ubiquitous, context‐aware, personalized learning for museums.Design/methodology/approachA unified knowledge base with multi‐layer reusable content structures serves as the kernel component to integrate content from exhibitions for education and collection in a museum. The How‐Net approach is adopted to build a unified natural and cultural ontology. The ontology functions as a common and sharable knowledge concept that denotes each knowledge element in the unified knowledge base, and associates each learner's learning context and usage with a content and usage profile respectively. Data mining algorithms, e.g. association mining and clustering, are applied to discover useful patterns for ubiquitous personalization from these content and usage profiles.FindingsA pilot project based on the proposed framework has been successfully implemented in the Life Science Hall of the National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS), Taiwan, demonstrating the feasibility of this framework.Originality/valueThis study proposes a mobile learning framework that can be replicated in many museums. This framework improves learners' learning experiences with rich related content, and with ubiquitous, proactive and adaptive services. Museums can also benefit from implementing this framework through outreach services for educational, promoting and usability needs from combining mobile and Internet communication technologies and learning services.
E‐books access models: an analytical comparative study
Authors: Anuradha K.T. , Usha H.S. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThough electronic books (e‐books) are not new, they are slow in their uptake compared to other types of e‐publications such as journals, newspapers. The possible reasons for this could be because the technology for creating/accessing e‐books (both hardware and software) is not yet matured. However, the recent involvement of many commercial publishers and aggregators in publishing and marketing of e‐books has triggered their use. This trend suggests making an analytical comparative study of the e‐book access model. The main purpose of this study is to analyse and compare offline and online e‐book access models.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper an attempt is made to analyse and compare three offline and three online e‐book access models by identifying various specific e‐book access model features. The access models are evaluated based on three‐point scale.FindingsIt is observed that among offline access models Microsoft Reader has most of the features well defined and among online access models, Ebrary has most of the features well defined.Originality/valueMany publishers and aggregators have started producing and marketing e‐books using different types of access models. There are several access models available and each one has its own merits and demerits. However, there has been no study carried out in comparing and analyzing these models. Hence this study is useful for all the stakeholders of e‐book industry viz., creator (author), publisher, aggregator, librarians and users of e‐books.
ICT literacy among the staff of West African university libraries
Authors: Olu Adeyoyin Samuel 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to ascertain the information and communication technology (ICT) literacy level among the staff of anglophone (English‐speaking) university libraries staff and their counterparts in francophone (French‐speaking) university libraries in West Africa.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted among the professionals, paraprofessionals and “other” members of staff of 28 university libraries comprising 24 anglophone university libraries and four francophone.FindingsThe result of the findings showed that out of about 370 professional librarians, only 179 of them were ICT literate while the remaining 191 professional librarians were ICT non‐literate. This constitutes an overall percentage of 48.38 percent for the literate professionals as against 51.62 percent for ICT non‐literate professionals. Also, out of 526 paraprofessionals, only 84 of them were ICT literate while the remaining 442 were ICT non‐literate. This also constitutes 15.97 percent for the literate paraprofessionals as against 84.03 percent for ICT non‐literate paraprofessionals. Other staff totaled 1,471. Only 190 of them were ICT literate while the remaining 1,281 were ICT non‐literate. This also constitutes 12.92 percent for the literate other members of staff as against 87.08 percent for ICT non‐literate other members of staff.Research limitations/implicationsOnly two categories of skills, “literacy” and “illiteracy”, without gradations between these categories could be considered. The questionnaires were not design to catch the grades of these two categories of skills.Practical implicationsThe paper concludes that of all the 28 university libraries surveyed, only the 40 Senegal university professional librarians have an ICT literacy level of 100 percent. Thus other West African university libraries should encourage all their professional librarians, as well as other staff, to become ICT literate.Originality/valueThe paper contains original work relating to the differences between English and French‐speaking university staff as regards ICT literacy and as such will be useful for library technology planners and educators.