bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of performance management on customers' expected logistics performance
Authors: Forslund Helena 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe main objective of this paper is to describe state‐of‐the‐art practices for handling logistics performance management in dyadic relationships. Another objective is to explain the relationship between logistics performance management practices and customers' expected logistics performance.Design/methodology/approachA logistics performance management model was developed and applied to 136 dyads of Swedish manufacturing companies and their most important suppliers. Two linked survey studies were conducted.FindingsA state‐of‐the‐art description of the activities in logistics performance management is provided, addressing the following questions in dyadic relationships: how often are expectations updated? Who is the customer's contact person? What is the contract situation? Which actor (customer or supplier) formulates performance targets, and who measures logistics performance? Some of these issues' relationships to customers' expected logistics performance were verified.Research limitations/implicationsThe contribution of the paper is mainly descriptive. A logistics performance management model together with descriptions of how the various activities are executed in dyadic relationships is presented. It is also explanatory, showing that some of these practices influence customers' expected logistics performance.Practical implicationsThis study provides knowledge of the impact of contact persons and contracts on customers' expected logistics performance, which could increase the possibilities for the supplier to meet customers' expectations. The importance of a collaborative discussion on performance management is emphasized.Originality/valueDyadic research approaches are rarely performed in logistics research. Studies highlighting the link between logistics performance measurement and logistics performance are also few. This paper will hopefully remedy this neglected area.
The impact of owner/managers' mentality on financial performance of SMEs in Japan
Authors: De Zoysa Anura , Kanthi Herath Siriyama 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to empirically test the impact of owner/managers' mentality on enterprise performance.Design/methodology/approachA mail questionnaire survey was conducted on a sample of SMEs in Japan. The questionnaire was mailed to the chief executive of each of the 1,523 firms selected for the survey. The total number of usable responses received was 367, giving a response rate of 24.1 per cent.FindingsThe overall results of the study show that when owner/managers of SMEs are more entrepreneurial minded in the introductory and decline stages of growth, their performance tends to be higher, and the same is true for the growth and maturity stages when they are more administrative minded.Research limitations/implicationsSince this research was unique in several respects and the survey was confined to only 367 SMEs in a single country it would be useful to replicate it using larger samples under different country settings.Practical implicationsThe research reveals that an enterprise will be better off at the introductory stage if its managers become more entrepreneurial minded through factors such as ambition, enterprising spirit, intuition and innovation. However, as the firm grows managers need to devote more attention to administration.Originality/valueIt provides far reaching implications for managers for achieving higher performance in different stages of a firm's growth.
Team roles and team performance in defence acquisition
Authors: Blenkinsop Neil , Maddison Annie 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to examine the extent to which Belbin's team role theories are relevant and can be used to predict performance in the context of the Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) responsible for acquisition within the Ministry of Defence (MoD).Design/methodology/approachA sample of seven IPTs across the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) and the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) completed Belbin's (1981) manual 8 Role Self Perception Inventory in order to determine their team role preferences. A team performance survey, developed by Barbara Senior in 2005, was then used to determine perceived process performance. The relationship between these two variables was examined in detail.FindingsThe results provide support to the proposition that Belbin's Team Role Theory is relevant in MoD acquisition. Certain team roles are more predominant in certain functional roles within IPTs and this duplication could have a negative impact on performance, given Belbin's assertion that “balanced” teams will perform better than “unbalanced”. The difficulties in objectively assessing team role balance (both narratively and statistically) are discussed in detail.Research limitations/implicationsWhilst a representative sample of IPTs was investigated, a longitudinal study of a more extensive sample is required to substantiate these initial findings.Practical implicationsBelbin's Team Role Theory provides a cost effective means of potentially improving performance in defence acquisition.Originality/valueWhile there have been some unpublished studies into functional roles in MoD teams, there is a research lacuna with regard to the examination of team roles as a factor influencing performance in defence acquisition.
Effects of personal values on customer satisfaction
Authors: Bloemer Josee , Dekker David 
Published: July 2007

PurposeDifferent authors suggest that personal values (as opposed to economic values of objects) are important antecedents of service satisfaction. This paper seeks to investigate empirically two specific processes that relate personal values to satisfaction with (financial) services (the value percept disparity model and the (value) disconfirmation model).Design/methodology/approachThe paper generalizes both models into a new value disparity‐disconfirmation model, providing testable conditions to evaluate and compare the validity of the original models. The paper specifies the model in terms of hierarchical linear models and assesses their empirical fit with data on 18 bank branches.FindingsThe results of the study best support the value disconfirmation model. Furthermore, the paper shows that in the research's setting of a financial service provider the external dimension of values is more instrumental in predicting satisfaction than the internal dimension.Research limitations/implicationsSince only a single service setting has been studied and a limited number of values have been focused on at one particular moment in time, the authors are hesitant to generalize the results beyond the scope of this study.Practical implicationsEmployee values are clearly associated with customer satisfaction. In fact, irrespective of their own values, customers do not seem to appreciate it when employees have values that differ from their own. Moreover, external values are more important than internal values in explaining satisfaction.Originality/valueThe paper is an empirical test of which model (the value percept disparity model or the value disconfirmation model) is better in explaining customer satisfaction, thereby providing conceptual clarity, theoretical parsimony and practical implications of the impact of personal values on satisfaction.
Time for a change: new approaches for a new generation of library users
Authors: Sadeh Tamar 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer some insight into changes that are occurring in the expectations and behaviour of researchers seeking scholarly information and the ways in which libraries and vendors are addressing these changes in light of the availability of Web 2.0 technologies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper investigates current trends in information seeking, defines and describes factors that contribute to an up‐to‐date, user‐centric library experience, and examines the movement of vendors and libraries toward such a library experience.FindingsThe paper identifies aspects of new library interfaces that attempt to satisfy the needs of today's information seekers and describes a new approach for creating a user experience layer for library collections. The Primo® discovery and delivery system from Ex Libris serves as an example of a library interface that was designed in light of this new approach.Originality/valueAs more organisations become concerned about the decreasing use of their library collections, this paper suggests ways in which libraries can adapt to the changing user expectations and maintain the relevance of their collections and services for today's information seekers.
Universidad del Bío‐Bío and California State University, San Marcos
Authors: Chu Melanie 
Published: July 2007

PurposeA comparative case study of two academic libraries in two continents aims to investigate reasons behind similarities and differences between Universidad del Bío‐Bío (UBB) in Concepción, Chile, and California State University San Marcos (CSUSM).Design/methodology/approachEmpirical data and interview transcripts are analyzed in the paper to provide insight into characteristics of academic libraries in an international context.FindingsThe paper finds that, while institutional age, student population size, and number of librarians are comparable, the services, usage, and collections at each library are distinct.Originality/valueThere are few international comparative case studies of academic libraries.
Social networking in libraries
Authors: Topper Elisa F. 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the impact that social networking has had on public and academic libraries.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a literature review and commentary on the topic of social networking.FindingsThe paper finds that libraries will have to reach users in their preferred methods of communication.Originality/valueThe paper shows the value of planning ahead for the future and the ways patrons are accessing information.
IFLA Presidential Meeting 2007‐2009 – “Libraries on the Agenda!”
Authors: Koren Marian 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a flavour of the content of the first IFLA Presidential Meeting 2007‐2009 held in Berlin, Germany in January 2007.Design/methodology/approachAn outline description of the issues, content and participants of this conference is presented in the paper.FindingsThe paper finds that the meeting ended with the declaration on free access to information, reaffirmed by participants from 26 countries.Originality/valueThe paper provides a brief conference report of value to library and information professionals on exploring ways to make libraries more visible in society.
The developing environment for strategy formation in the smaller local authority
Authors: Dereli Cynthia 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to build on a previous study of strategy in the public sector by Dereli in 2003. In the intervening period the environmental factors influencing local government's approach to strategy have changed considerably, particularly with the government's changed emphasis from best value to comprehensive performance assessment as its methodology for assessing local authorities. The impact of CPA on strategy formation in local authorities is the central focus of this study. The starting point for the research is the question of whether the tension between top‐down and bottom‐up strategy formation which was evident in the earlier study has disappeared, increased or been replaced by other tensions.Design/methodology/approachThe research involved semi‐structured interviews with Chief Executive Officers and middle managers in three smaller local authorities in England.FindingsThe research found that living with a top‐down/bottom‐up tension in the creation of strategy is almost a norm, but that there is also evidence of a further tension between strategy making and performance management, from which flow some concerns about the future of strategy in local government.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper records the views of local government officers, as key participants in the processes of strategy formation in their authorities as valuable evidence in a changing local government scene. The research acknowledges the external factors creating the new set of tensions in local government, which are examined here. It does not seek to examine the relative diachronic impact of these external factors, a piece of work which could usefully explore further the relation between pressures from the centre and local strategy directions.Originality/valueIn the present public sector context, where major reforms are on the horizon, the paper records a snapshot of opinion from key participants in strategy formation in three smaller local authorities.
Enhancing the quality and consistency of undergraduate dissertation assessment
Authors: Pathirage Chaminda , Haigh Richard , Amaratunga Dilanthi , Baldry David 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis paper sets out to examine methods that can be used to enhance the quality and consistency of dissertation assessment.Design/methodology/approachThe paper includes a review of literature on quality, consistency and criteria of dissertation assessment to highlight the current practices in higher education. A case study approach was followed to pilot a range of assessment approaches and criteria in an attempt to measure and ultimately improve assessment consistency within the case study school's dissertation module on undergraduate programmes.FindingsThis paper highlights the main findings of the literature and the case study phases. Outcomes of two dissertation assessment exercises, a workshop organised among dissertation assessors and an analysis of previous years' dissertation assessment results from a case study school are outlined. Findings from two dissertation assessment exercises revealed wide variation in the assessment of dissertations by the school's assessors. Hence, a dissertation workshop was organised to disseminate the results and to discuss the implications for the school's assessment practice, which identified several initiatives to enhance the quality and consistency of assessment.Originality/valueThe need to ensure quality, consistency and improved criteria of assessment is particularly emphasised within modules where assessment is through one substantial piece of work such as a dissertation. This study highlighted the many challenges that a Programme Leader faces when devising an assessment strategy for a dissertation module.
Antecedents and management of conflict
Authors: Wang Guofeng , Jing Runtian , Klossek Andreas 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics, job stress, and cognitive and affective conflict faced by Chinese top managers and how this conflict is resolved over multiple rounds of conflict situations.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was designed and submitted to Chinese top managers of firms located in Sichuan Province, PRC. Besides Likert‐type questions concerning demographic characteristics, job stress, and both types of conflict, contextual anchorage method was used to let top managers rank the conflict resolution styles they would prefer for solving a given situation of conflict.FindingsData were submitted to hierarchical regression analysis. It was found that age is in negative relation with job stress and that the higher the education level of top managers, the more cognitive conflict they will experience. In turn, the more cognitive conflict, the more affective conflict will be experienced. In addition, it was found that job stress is in positive association with cognitive conflict. Finally and most importantly, the findings indicated that Chinese top managers are inclined to using integrating to handle conflict. This seems to be generally inconsistent with traditional Chinese culture.Originality/valueThe paper accounted for respective calls that proposed to focus on the antecedent conditions of cognitive and affective conflict. Therefore, a framework containing important antecedent factors of conflict was proposed. As a first attempt, it integrated the relationship between job stress and conflict. Most importantly, and also as a first attempt, however, this study sought to identify the conflict resolution styles Chinese top managers applied over multiple rounds of conflict situations, whereas findings additionally differentiate between affective and cognitive types of conflict.
Cognitive source and clothing retail
Authors: Guercini Simone , Ranfagni Silvia 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to analyze the role of market knowledge embodied in sales outlet management and in particular to investigate in a static way the role of cognitive sources in relation, to the structural characters of the retail enterprise and its sales outlet on the one hand (the latter understood as a commercial product), and to performance (expressed as revenue achieved by the sales outlet) on the other hand.Design/methodology/approachThe survey and the results presented in the paper were carried out by administering a structured questionnaire to a sample of over 800 sales outlets located in the historical town centres of Florence and Prato and surrounding areas. This method analyzed the relations between the structural characters of the retail enterprise and the sales outlet, and also the relations with cognitive sources expressed in terms of activities, enterprise behaviour and performance. The theoretical model of reference tested is based on the relation between structural character, behaviour and performance.FindingsThe analysis demonstrates the presence of an association between cognitive sources and sales outlet performance values in the sample analysed. In particular a relation was observed between performance and event organizing and relative level of perception, and also between performance and importance attributed to the satisfaction questionnaire. This phenomenon can be interpreted as a tendency towards qualitative growth of the sales outlet, associated with awareness of the need to resort to alternative and complementary cognitive sources in order to become more competitive.Research limitations/implicationsThese first results are not absolute, but will be subjected in forthcoming research to verification and in‐depth examination.Practical implicationsThe paper proposes an interpretive model that could be adopted by managers to improve the use of market knowledge in outlet management.Originality/valueThis paper presents a valid model that will be interesting to both managers and academic researchers.
Home sewers' satisfaction with fit of apparel patterns
Authors: LaBat Karen , Salusso Carol , Rhee Jongeun 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe paper seeks to explore home sewers' satisfaction with the fit of garments made from home sewing patterns and to provide useful information to the home sewing industry to improve products and services for the target consumer.Design/methodology/approachHome sewers attending home sewing expos in the states of Minnesota and Washington were surveyed to determine satisfaction with fit of home sewing patterns and to determine factors that may affect satisfaction with the patterns.FindingsThe results clearly indicate that these respondents were frustrated with the fit of home sewing patterns and that their efforts to adjust patterns for better fit were typically not successful.Research limitations/implicationsThe limited sample does not allow generalization, but may lend some insight into problems the home sewing pattern industry may have in attracting and maintaining customer loyalty.Originality/valueAlthough there are many studies demonstrating consumer dissatisfaction with the fit of ready‐to‐wear apparel, few studies have focused specifically on the home sewing pattern industry. This industry could benefit from further understanding of its customer base.
Identification of differentially expressed genes in tobacco chewing‐mediated oral cancer by differential display–polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Nagpal J. K. , Das B. R. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  Identification of changes in gene expression that occur in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), after sufficient characterization, may yield novel molecular markers that may be useful in the diagnosis and disease management of oral cancer.Materials and methods  We used differential display–polymerase chain reaction (DD‐PCR) to study critically the global gene expression profile of the oral tumour versus normal epithelium. The differential expression of fished out cDNA were confirmed by Northern blot and reverse transcription‐PCR. The differentially expressed cDNA were cloned, sequenced and matched for homology in the GenBank database.Results  We identified 13 cDNA that showed differential expression. Out of these we selected four cDNA showing consistent reproducibility. One of the cDNA expressed exclusively in tumour had a homology to DEK, a putative oncogene, and is linked to leukaemia, various cancers, HIV infection and several autoimmune disorders. Another cDNA expressed only in tumour had homology to sorcin protein. Sorcin is a 22‐kDa calcium‐binding protein and is associated with drug resistance in various cell lines. Apparently, sorcin expression might be responsible for drug resistance of OSCC and poor prognosis. Another cDNA showing 10 times overexpression in cheek tumour as compared to normal had homology to CDK6 gene. Hence, it seems from our results that CDK6 is dysregulated during oral carcinogenesis. The fourth cDNA was overexpressed in normal as compared to cheek tumour, but did not show any match in BLAST search.Conclusions  We conclude that there is an enormous significance of these differentially expressed cDNA in oral cancer progression as they can serve as cancer markers to be used for diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.
Confocal laser scanning microscopy: using cuticular autofluorescence for high resolution morphological imaging in small crustaceans
Authors: MICHELS J. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryThe utility of cuticular autofluorescence for the visualization of copepod morphology by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was examined. Resulting maximum intensity projections give very accurate information on morphology and show even diminutive structures such as small setae in detail. Furthermore, CLSM enables recognition of internal structures and differences in material composition. Optical sections in all layers and along all axes of the specimens can be obtained by CLSM. The facile and rapid preparation method bears no risk of artefacts or damage occurring to the preparations and the visualized specimens can be used for later analyses allowing for the investigation of irreplaceable type specimens or parts of them. These features make CLSM a very effective tool for both taxonomical and ecological studies in small crustaceans; however, the maximum thickness of the specimens is limited to a few hundred micrometers. Three‐dimensional models based on CLSM image stacks allow observation of the preparations from all angles and can permit, improve and speed up studies on functional morphology. The visualization method described has a strong potential to become a future standard technique in aquatic biology due to its advantages over conventional light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.