bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Management innovation and cultural adaptivity in international online banking
Authors: Singer Daniel , Avery Albert , Baradwaj Babu 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is both to determine Citibank's response to cultural diversity in the dynamic, highly competitive global market for online banking facilities and services, and whether or not international online bank web sites are constructed in a manner sensitive to the culture of their host country.Design/methodology/approachThis paper takes the perspective of managing innovation for shareholder wealth maximization where consumer behavior is mediated through the technology acceptance model (TAM) belief constructs. The incorporation of variables reflecting Hofstede's four‐factor framework in 45 country‐specific web sites operated directly by Citibank are compared with those variables in 189 web sites of indigenous banks.FindingsThe results suggest that culture has an important influence on international online banking web sites and that Citibank has adapted the form and content of its web sites to local cultural influences in a manner comparable to that of the indigenous banks. Further, the role of each of Hofstede's four cultural dimensions is seen to influence the form and content of online bank web sites. This finding confirms earlier research about the role of culture in the TAM.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this study are constrained by the extent to which the Hofstede framework actually captures the relevant dimensions of culture and the extent to which the measures of web site cultural attributes used in this study are valid. Further, the results are also limited by the fact that 23 of the Citibank web sites were located in countries for which Hofstede data were not available and by the small size of this study.Practical implicationsSuccess in the burgeoning and highly competitive online banking environment requires bank management to adapt their web sites to local cultural conditions. Small differences in language, the portrayal of individuals, and the background used in the site can significantly impact the acceptance of this distribution channel by the target population. This study confirms the importance of the cultural values of individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and power distance with respect to consumer acceptance of online banking.Originality/valueThese findings provide guidance for bank managers as they expand their online banking operations into the international arena. They also support research confirming the importance of culture in determining international consumer behavior within the TAM.
Key drivers for the continued use of RFID technology in the emergency room
Authors: Chen Charlie C. , Wu Jiinpo , Sheng Su Yu , Yang Samuel C. 
Published: April 2008

PurposeMore hospitals and caregivers are realizing the importance of radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology in the face of increased healthcare costs, medical errors, and pressure of governmental mandates. The necessity for and awareness of RFID has yet to drive its widespread adoption in the healthcare industry. As such, this study aims to examine key factors that contribute to the intention to continue using RFID.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts the expectation‐confirmation model (ECM) to study the intention of caregivers to continue using RFID as a vehicle to deliver emergency medical services. It is theorized that perceived usefulness of front‐end interoperability and back‐end interoperability along with performance expectancy contribute to confirmation experience, which in turn leads to satisfaction and ultimately to intention to continue to use RFID. The study surveys caregivers and staffs in the emergency room department of five hospitals in Taiwan.FindingsPerceived usefulness of front‐end interoperability and performance expectancy both have significant relationships with confirmation experience; confirmation experience has a significant relationship with satisfaction, which in turn relates to intention to continue using RFID. The relationship between perceived usefulness of back‐end interoperability and confirmation experience is not significant.Research limitations/implicationsThis study explains RFID adoption behavior using the ECM. Limitations of the study and possible future research direction are discussed.Practical implicationsThe results of this study should help hospital management to build commitment to the RFID system and help equipment vendors to build loyalty to the technology.Originality/valueThis study represents a novel attempt to explain RFID adoption behavior using the ECM. It is expected that the proposed framework and empirical findings can contribute to further understanding of how RFID is adopted and used in a hospital environment.
Redefining product strategies in China: overcoming barriers to enter the medium market segment
Authors: Fischer Thomas , Gebauer Heiko , Fleisch Elgar 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe article provides guidance for managers seeking to successfully position their products in the Chinese medium market segment.Design/methodology/approachData are collected and analyzed from about 25 international manufacturing companies.FindingsFindings identify barriers and challenges and give guidance during strategy preparation, formulation, and implementation for entering the Chinese medium market segment.Practical implicationsManagers benefit from a practical framework to overcome barriers during the strategy process on market entry into the Chinese medium market segment.Originality/valueNew strategic potentials and risks in China's emerging market make entry into the medium market for international firms an imperative step.
De‐lagging Hong Kong's office price indices via State Space Model with Kalman filter
Authors: Chi Man Hui Eddie , Hung Yu Ka 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to find out whether lagging problems exist within Hong Kong's office values.Design/methodology/approachA State Space Model with the Kalman filter is deployed in detecting the extent of lagging errors in Hong Kong's office price indices, proffered by the ratings and valuation department (RVD).FindingsThe findings suggest that about one year of lagging errors exists in RVD's office price indices compared with the stock market property indices. Also, the finding suggests that the Kalman filter provides a more efficient form of estimates for real estate values and returns.Originality/valueWhile most studies investigating lagging problems of appraisal‐based returns concentrate on the US real estate market, studies in this regard for Asian countries (or cities) are few and far between. Hong Kong, in particular, is worth studying, considering its established role as a financial centre in South East Asia. This paper also provides some insights for further studies on the prediction of future real estate values, in particular those with fewer transactions.
Choice of property management system for residential strata developments in Singapore
Authors: Christudason Alice 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThis study aims to enlighten strata property owners about the importance of choosing the appropriate vehicle for the management of the common property in their strata development.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology employed for this inquiry is a case study of two residential strata‐titled properties. The two were selected on the basis that, although they share certain similar characteristics including age, tenure and locational attributes, each employs different systems of property management. Data were gathered mainly through interviews with the Property Managers and Chairs of the Management Council. Interviews were also carried out with professionals in the real estate industry specializing in property and facilities management.FindingsThe study reveals the various factors of which Management Corporations should be mindful when deciding what form of property management vehicle to use. Careful consideration of these factors will result in a decision that not only is cost‐effective, but also provides greater efficiency in the management and maintenance of the strata titled development.Practical implicationsCareful consideration of the factors revealed in the findings can result in a decision by the Management Corporation, which is cost‐effective. Evaluation of the factors will also result in greater efficiency in the management and maintenance of common property in the strata titled development.Originality/valueThis is an up‐to‐date comparison of two property management systems available to strata developments, in the context of the Singapore Land Titles (Strata) Act, which is based on New South Wales' legislation. The information is useful for strata owners and Management Councils in other jurisdictions in that it provides pointers on the choice of a property management system.
The impact of management measures on performance of outsourced professional housing maintenance services
Authors: Lam Terence Y.M. 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThis study seeks to investigate the actual impact of management practices on performance quality of the outsourced professional housing maintenance services in Hong Kong. Much of the literature is theoretically based and there is a knowledge gap in empirical confirmatory testing of the validity of the theories for effective management of the outsourced professional services.Design/methodology/approachIt was hypothesized that there was positive correlation between output performance quality and input management factors. Triangulation methodology was used to develop and test the correlation whereby literature review and qualitative interviews with the maintenance consultancy management practitioners of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) were used to generate the hypothesis which was then tested by quantitative regression, using data from the maintenance consultancies of the Authority.FindingsThe hypothesis was transformed into sub‐hypotheses, which were primarily positive relationships, between service quality and individual input factors of competition level, past performance, project leadership and quality benchmarking. Results of the qualitative and quantitative studies confirmed and validated the hypotheses, and hence substantiated that there is a significant correlation between performance quality and the relevant management practices in the outsourcing process of professional housing maintenance services.Research limitations/implicationsWhilst the correlation is validated in the context of professional housing maintenance services of the HKHA, it forms a conceptual baseline on which further research can build to test its significance for many other public and private sector settings, and for various professional property management services. Effective management measures can be identified to optimize performance quality.Practical implicationsThis paper establishes the validity of the impact of management practices that property managers can apply to enhance the quality of outsourced professional housing maintenance services for the benefit of their customers and organizations.Originality/valueThis study should contribute to management of outsourced professional services in the context of housing. Property managers can enhance the performance quality of their professional consultants by applying effective management measures so that they can optimize service quality to satisfy the ever‐increasing tenant and owner expectations of value for money property services from outsourcing.
Review of social landlords' implementation of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Housing Action Plan for Wales
Authors: Duncan Rosanna , Mortimer Julianne 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe main aim of this study is to ascertain the progress in implementing the actions contained within the BME Housing Action Plan for Wales, by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and social landlords in Wales.Design/methodology/approachThe research was carried out between December 2004 and May 2005. This paper discusses some of the main findings from the systematic review of BME housing strategies and action plans covering 22 local authorities and 32 housing associations in Wales.FindingsIt was clear from all aspects of the research that the WAG's BME Housing Action Plan for Wales is having a positive impact on the profile and awareness of BME housing issues in Wales. However, the degree and extent of progress varied throughout Wales.Research limitations/implicationsBME housing issues have a high profile in the social housing sector in Wales. It is important that this positive profile is maintained and does not lose momentum due to increasing and competing priorities.Practical implicationsCurrently, the lack of incentives for compliance (and penalties for non‐compliance) presents a potential disincentive to the long‐term sustainability of the present enthusiasm and momentum on BME housing issues in Wales.Originality/valueThis research is the first to evaluate the progress made by social landlords in implementing the WAG's BME Housing Action Plan for Wales.
Development of a learning system for a museum collection of print‐related artifacts
Authors: Fan Cheng‐Wei , Huang Jun‐Fu , Fang Rong‐Jyue 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the concepts of the digital collection of Taiwanese technological artifacts and reliable industrial technology, to proceed with the digitalization of the collected objects and their related literature, and to classify the pictorial, written, audio, and visual information of the database of the relief printing technology into groups with the principle focus on the National Science and Technology Museum collection.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes the application of the Metalogy software to develop a system that would satisfy the museum's managerial staff, researchers, and general viewers' demands on the same management and learning module.FindingsThe paper shows that a competitive digital collection web site has been implemented for the museum learning system.Originality/valueThe paper describes a very practical and useful learning system for the museum digital collection. This database can be developed as a system for the museum's technological artifacts resource, and thus become a precious digital asset of technological artifacts in Taiwan.
Contextualization of web searching: a grounded theory approach
Authors: Mansourian Yazdan 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to report selective findings of a wider study on interaction of users with web‐based search tools to underline the importance of context in information seeking on the web and to introduce some of the contextual elements of web search context.Design/methodology/approachA series of intensive and in‐depth interviews was carried out with a sample of the Biology Community at the University of Sheffield. Critical Incident Technique (CIT) was employed in the interview protocol and the collected data was inductively analyzed in the light of Grounded Theory approach.FindingsThe results strongly suggest that considering the context of search is a pivotal factor in understanding users' behaviours, feelings, and thoughts during the period of information seeking in an online environment. Five categories have been identified as the main contextual elements which affect search performance of end users. These categories include web users' characteristics; type of the employed search tool; search topic; search situation; and features of the retrieved information resources. Each category has its subcategories which have been illustrated in the paper.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was carried out based on a relatively small sample of academia and therefore the results cannot be easily generalized to the wide community of web users. The results of this study should be able to make information literacy education more effective by using information seeking behaviour research discoveries. This study demonstrated that the outcome of any information literacy courses would be more efficient if the contextual factors – which have been identified and illuminated in this study – were considered in the educational agenda.Originality/valueThe study possesses three characteristics that make it different from other studies in the related areas. First of all, it took an in‐depth insight to the interaction of end users with the web in real situations. Secondly it focused on a specific targeted group, the academic biology community. Thirdly the study adopted a qualitative approach, in contrast with mainly quantitative web research.
A novel self‐organising clustering model for time‐event documents
Authors: Hung Chihli , Wermter Stefan 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine neural document clustering techniques, e.g. self‐organising map (SOM) or growing neural gas (GNG), usually assume that textual information is stationary on the quantity.Design/methodology/approachThe authors propose a novel dynamic adaptive self‐organising hybrid (DASH) model, which adapts to time‐event news collections not only to the neural topological structure but also to its main parameters in a non‐stationary environment. Based on features of a time‐event news collection in a non‐stationary environment, they review the main current neural clustering models. The main deficiency is a need of pre‐definition of the thresholds of unit‐growing and unit‐pruning. Thus, the dynamic adaptive self‐organising hybrid (DASH) model is designed for a non‐stationary environment.FindingsThe paper compares DASH with SOM and GNG based on an artificial jumping corner data set and a real world Reuters news collection. According to the experimental results, the DASH model is more effective than SOM and GNG for time‐event document clustering.Practical implicationsA real world environment is dynamic. This paper provides an approach to present news clustering in a non‐stationary environment.Originality/valueText clustering in a non‐stationary environment is a novel concept. The paper demonstrates DASH, which can deal with a real world data set in a non‐stationary environment.
A data envelopment analysis‐based balanced scorecard for measuring the comparative efficiency of Korean luxury hotels
Authors: Min Hokey , Min Hyesung , Joo Seong‐Jong 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to develop a balanced scorecard for measuring the comparative efficiency of Korean luxury hotels and then set the benchmark of performance standards for Korean luxury hotels in the increasingly competitive hotel industry. It also aims to identify the root causes of inefficiencies and then propose ways to improve the competitiveness of Korean luxury hotels.Design/methodology/approachThis paper proposes data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure the comparative efficiency of six luxury hotel chains in Korea, relative to prior periods and their key competitors. In particular, this paper develops the Charnes, Cooper and Rhodes (CCR) model that is designed to derive weights without being fixed in advance. Also, the results of the CCR model with constant returns to scale were compared to those of the Banker, Charnes and Cooper (BCC) model with decreasing returns to scale.FindingsThe paper finds that the declining efficiency within some Korean luxury hotels coincides with more aggressive government crackdowns on bad bank loans in the wake of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) financial crisis and the slow adaptation of some hotels into ongoing hotel industry restructuring. The deep discount in hotel room rates did not necessarily lead to increased room occupancy. The revenue increase is not significantly correlated with the enhanced profitability of Korean luxury hotels. The Korean hotel industry reached the stage of market maturity and therefore the mere expansion of the hotel capacity would not necessarily enhance the hotel's profitability.Originality/valueThis paper uncovers the financial weaknesses and strengths of the Korean luxury hotels and identifies challenges and opportunities for the Korean hotel industry. In addition, it helps Korean hotels formulate the future survival strategies by providing the detailed picture of where they stand in terms of competitiveness. This paper is one of the first attempts to utilise DEA to develop performance measures for hotels under the balanced scorecard framework. The proposed DEA can be easily modified or extended to similar settings in other hotels such as budget hotels or other countries such as USA and Japan.
Pay‐off selection criteria for quality and improvement initiatives
Authors: Thawesaengskulthai Natcha , Tannock James D.T. 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe variety of possible quality management (QM) and continuous improvement (CI) initiatives and their various possible permutations can make it difficult for a company to choose the best approach for their requirements. This paper aims to address the selection issue by presenting a method to compare popular QM and CI initiatives from the perspective of the pay‐offs, or expected benefits, to an organisation which successfully adopts the approach.Design/methodology/approachThe relevant QM and CI literature was analysed, examining key initiatives and their reported pay‐offs to the organisation. A matrix diagram approach is introduced which presents the extent and credibility of arguments advanced for these initiatives, in seven categories of pay‐off. A system of assessment is proposed, which quantifies the extent and weight of empirical evidence and estimates the strength of the claim for each pay‐off.FindingsThe pay‐off matrix summarises the claims in each of the pay‐off categories, assesses their credibility, and displays the similarities and differences for six key initiatives: total quality management, six sigma, ISO 9000, business process reengineering, lean and business excellence. Graphical pay‐off profiles are presented. Significant differences between the claimed pay‐offs for these initiatives are identified, analysed and discussed.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed matrix and assessment system attempts to support a comprehensive and rational approach to assess the pay‐offs of QM and CI initiatives. As with any analysis of literature, there is inevitably an element of selection, but this approach consciously attempts to avoid omission and promote objectivity. The analysis is based on articles published between 1990 and 2005. Hence, new research and additional evidence may change the weight and credibility of claims.Originality/valueThis paper suggests a way in which evidence from the literature might be most effectively used by managers for decision support in the choice of quality and improvement initiatives. A similar approach might also be used for other areas, where businesses face choices and a considerable body of evidence exists to assist the decision‐making process.
Control charts with predetermined sampling intervals
Authors: Rodrigues Dias J. , Infante Paulo 
Published: April 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate a new sampling methodology previously proposed for systems with a known lifetime distribution: the Predetermined Sampling Intervals (PSI) method.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is defined on basis of system hazard cumulative rate, and is compared with other approaches, particularly those whose parameters may change in real time, taking into account current sample information.FindingsFor different lifetime distributions, the results obtained for adjusted average time to signal (AATS) using a control chart for the sample mean are presented and analysed. They demonstrate the high degree of statistical performance of this sampling procedure, particularly when used in systems with an increasing failure rate distribution.Practical implicationsThis PSI method is important from a quality and reliability management point of view.Originality/valueThis methodology involves a process by which sampling instants are obtained at the beginning of the process to be controlled. Also this new approach allows for statistical comparison with other sampling schemes, which is a novel feature.