bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preparing for natural hazards: normative and attitudinal influences
Authors: McIvor David , Paton Douglas 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to further develop a model of natural hazard preparedness by examining the role of attitudes to natural hazards and their mitigation and social norms. It aims to examine whether social‐cultural factors influence the decisions people make regarding their relationship with natural hazards.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data were collected from 156 residents in Napier, New Zealand. A cross‐sectional design was used. Data were analysed using the AMOS 5 structural equation modelling program.FindingsPositive attitudes to hazard mitigation, existing in a social context that advocates adopting protective behaviours, belief in the effectiveness of personal mitigation (outcome expectancy) and good problem solving (action coping) skills increase the likelihood of adopting protective measures for earthquakes. The research identified how attitudes and social norms influence the perception of hazards and how people make preparedness decisions.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is needed to examine how hazard attitudes are formed, sustained and organized, as well as how they can be changed to facilitate the sustained adoption of protective measures. Work also needs to be directed to identifying those with whom normative comparisons are made and the relative influence of different referents.Practical implicationsThe findings argue for a move away from reliance on the passive presentation of information to people and communities that dominates risk communication. Rather, strategies for encouraging and sustaining positive discourse about hazards and their mitigation within a community should be prioritized in future risk communication work.Originality/valueProvides new insights into the relationship between people and natural hazards and provides empirical support for the inclusion of attitudes and social norms in risk communication work. It provides additional support for accommodating the social and cultural context in the development and delivery of risk communication strategies.
Sex and relationships education in schools: the views and experiences of young people
Authors: Selwyn Neil , Powell Eryl 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to investigate how young people are using school‐based sources of sex and relationships education (SRE) to obtain information and advice.Design/methodology/approachThe paper shows how anonymous self‐completion questionnaires were administered to young people aged between 12 and 19 years in three secondary school and six out‐of‐school youth settings (n=401). Follow‐up focus group interviews were conducted with 12 groups of young people from the school and out‐of‐school settings (n=57).FindingsThe paper finds that school lessons were the most frequent source of sex and relationships information for many young people. Lessons were reported to be most useful for students who were male, younger and more educationally engaged. School lessons were widely criticised by young people as predominantly focusing on biological aspects of sex and relationships and lacking a discursive or participatory element. Young people perceived a diminishing commitment to SRE by teachers as they progressed into later years.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper examines a predominantly working‐class sample of young people from one urban area of South Wales.Practical implications/implicationsOn the basis of the data analysis in this paper a number of suggestions are made regarding the nature of future school provision of SRE.Originality/valueThis paper raises awareness and highlights issues surrounding the role of schools, teachers and school nurses in sex and relationships education.
Mutual objective setting for partnering projects in the public sector
Authors: Swan Will , Khalfan Malik M.A. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe use of partnering has grown within the public sector of the UK construction industry. Central to partnering is the use of the partnering charter. The charter establishes the mutual objectives of the project team. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the types of objectives that are identified and the potential reasons for them.Design/methodology/approachA number of partnering workshops have been undertaken through one of the University of Salford's Enterprise Units, the Centre for Construction Innovation. Each of these generated a workshop report, which captured the discussions during the day. These have been analysed in order to establish the different mutual objectives that have been identified for different projects.FindingsThe results show that while the key issues of time, cost, quality and safety are still central to what teams identify as successful project delivery, issues surrounding management of relationships including external stakeholders, such as the public, are also prevalent. In addition, there is an increase in identified objectives surrounding sustainable development issues, covering social and environmental goals.Originality/valueThe findings provide strong indications that construction is moving towards a more complex regime of objectives in the context of value procurement and partnering arrangements. The objectives identified by the different project teams show that construction projects are now considering both soft management issues and sustainable development as central to the successful delivery of projects.
Technology readiness among managers of Malaysian construction firms
Authors: Jaafar Mastura , Ramayah T. , Abdul‐Aziz Abdul‐Rashid , Saad Basri 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the Technology Readiness Index (TRI) of the managers of Malaysian construction firms. Also, the backgrounds of the managers were examined to determine the influence of background on the TRI level.Design/methodology/approachThe TRI developed by Parasuraman was adopted to measure the readiness of construction firm managers. TRI refers to people's propensity to embrace and use technologies for accomplishing goals in home life and at work. Four hundred structured questionnaires were sent out to respondents.FindingsThe overall TRI score (M=3.18, SD=0.23) indicates that the managers are moderate in terms of their technology readiness. There are no significant differences in terms of technology readiness (TRI) across various demographic variables (e.g. gender, age, etc.), except for educational level. Individual dimensions of TRI, i.e. insecurity and overall TRI, show a significant difference at p<0.05 and p<0.01 to educational level, respectively.Originality/valueThe findings are discussed in relation to the emerging information technology era in Malaysia. CIDB extensively promotes ICT training for managers in the CI. Research and development should be promoted to enhance the technology readiness.
Succeeding in China: cultural adjustments for Indian businesses
Authors: Bhasin Balbir B. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a framework for understanding the differences in the cultures of China and India and to highlight the adjustments that will need to be made for Indian businesses to succeed in China.Design/methodology/approachThe use of historical background of cultures in India and China to define values, traditions and attitudes. Drawing conclusions based on this research in outlining areas where adjustments may help achieve success in business.FindingsProvides a list of adjustments that Indian businesses need to make to succeed in China.Research limitations/implicationsThe list is by no means exhaustive but serves as a starting point for empirical research on effectiveness of proposed adjustments.Practical implicationsAn extremely useful and practical source for Indian and global business executives planning to do business in China. An opportunity for academics to conduct follow‐up research.Originality/valueThis paper serves as a guide and offers practical measures in terms of behaviour for Indian and international companies doing or planning to do business in China.
National culture, business culture and management practices: consequential relationships?
Authors: Bhaskaran Suku , Sukumaran Nishal 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to trace the evolution of nationality‐based business organisations in Malaysia and review whether national culture, as determined by the nationality‐based work values, beliefs and orientations of the owners and managers of organisations, influences the values, orientations and practices of organisations.Design/methodology/approachIn‐depth literature review and “key‐informant” surveys, based on which a structured questionnaire was developed. After pre‐testing and finalisation, questionnaires were administered by fax on 1,248 Malaysian organisations selected through systematic sampling. The survey generated 376 usable responses. After testing for non‐response bias, usable responses were subjected to common factor, reliability and canonical correlation analysis.FindingsEven though there are significant differences in how business entities (delineated on the basis of the national culture of owners and managers) organise and conduct their operations, these differences cannot be attributed to the beliefs and orientations of the owners and managers of these organisations. Significant “cultural” differences are evident across organisations owned and managed by individuals of one nationality and significant “cultural” similarities are evident across organisations owned and managed by individuals of different nationalities. Many other factors such as the legal, economic and regulatory context of the organisation influence its values, orientations and practices more profoundly than the national culture of its owners and managers.Practical implicationsInterfacing managers should not stereotype the values, orientations and behaviours of organisations with which they interact based on knowledge about nationality‐based beliefs, behaviours and orientations of the owners and managers of organisations.Originality/valueProvides a challengingly different perspective from the conclusions in some of the most authoritative studies on nationality‐based organisational beliefs and culture.
λ/2 Microstrip rejection filter behavior due to ferrite thin film overlay in the absence of external magnetic field
Authors: Surve Vandan , Puri Vijaya 
Published: February 2007

PurposeTo study nonreciprocal effects in microstrip components due to ferrite thin film overlay.Design/methodology/approachThe possibility of obtaining non reciprocal characteristics in the X band microwave region in the absence of external magnetic field by a simple process of using Mg, Co, Zn ferrite thin films as in‐touch overlay over λ/2 microstrip rejection filter was investigated. Microstrip rejection filter is basically a reciprocal component. The ferrite thin films were deposited by electroless plating.FindingsIt was found that frequency, pH and ferrite overlay material dependent changes occurred and differences in forward and reverse loss also observed, in some cases greater than 30 dB. Owing to the overlay the rejection properties of the filter is lost and there is an increase in insertion loss. The best non reciprocal effects are seen at higher frequencies. The presence of permeability related effects like magnetostatic modes interfering with the normal propagation of the microstrip circuits might be causing the changes in the circuits.Originality/valueThere is scope for true planarisation of ferrite‐based components by using the ferrite in thin film form as in‐touch overlay.
Voltage scaling – a novel approach for crosstalk reduction in global VLSI interconnects
Authors: Kaushik B.K. , Sarkar S. , Agarwal R.P. , Joshi R.C. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeTo analyze the effect of voltage scaling on crosstalk.Design/methodology/approachVoltage scaling has been often used for reducing power dissipation of CMOS driven interconnects. An undesired effect observed due to voltage scaling is increase in propagation delay. Thus, a trade off lies between power dissipation and propagation delay with voltage scaling. However, voltage scaling can result in overall reduction of power delay product. Therefore, their lies an optimized supply voltage where‐in power dissipation and propagation delay can be optimized. Many of the previous researches have discussed about power dissipation and propagation delay only with voltage scaling. This paper for first time shows the effect on crosstalk in voltage scaled interconnects. In this paper, we primarily study the noise for an input signal having transition time of 50 ps. The simulations are run for interconnect length of 2 and 4 mm. These parameters are varied for four different cases of stimulations to aggressor and victim lines viz.VA(input at aggressor node A) andVB(input at victim node B) switching in same direction;VAis switching andVBat static low;VAandVBare switching in opposite direction;VAis switching andVBat static high.FindingsIt is quite encouraging to observe that irrespective of interconnect length and technology node used, an optimized voltage scaling reduces normalized crosstalk level.Originality/valueVoltage scaling can be effectively used for crosstalk reduction by the new era VLSI interconnect designers. This paper shows simulation results for crosstalk reduction in different nano‐sized CMOS driven RLC‐modeled interconnects.
Analysis of comparative advantage in the textile complex
Authors: Kilduff Peter , Chi Ting 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to present an exploratory investigation into ten‐year (1995‐2004) patterns of trade specialization among Eastern European and former Soviet Union Nations, assessing patterns of comparative advantage across the textile machinery, man‐made fiber, textile, and apparel sectors of the textile complex to determine whether these conform with both trade specialization and industry evolution theories.Design/methodology/approachA revealed symmetric comparative advantage index is employed to evaluate international competitiveness for 27 Eastern European and former Soviet Union Nations over a ten‐year period. Repeated measures ANOVA is used to determine the significance of the observed patterns across four income‐defined groups of nations.FindingsOverall, the pattern of export development and RSCA generally reflects expectations regarding factor proportions theory and industry evolution models. The RMANOVA partially confirms the observations. The analysis indicates that income group does not independently affect comparative advantage; however, the nature of products is the significant factor influencing national comparative advantage.Practical implicationsThe established models may be better at understanding those nations which have established relatively stable politic and economic environment, and been experiencing earlier stages of industry development, but appear less useful in predicting development patterns for those nations experiencing dramatic transitions from regulated to de‐regulated markets.Originality/valueThe patterns of national comparative advantage in a vertical textile complex are identified for Eastern European and former Soviet Union Nations. The dynamics of change over a ten‐year period following economic reforms are revealed.
Dynamics of Western career attributes in the Russian context
Authors: Khapova Svetlana N. , Korotov Konstantin 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to raise awareness of the dynamic character of career and its key attributes, and the embeddedness of their definitions and meanings in national social, political and economic contexts.Design/methodology/approachFeatures of three recent distinct social, political and economic situations in Russia are used to explore the meanings of nine key career attributes introduced by the Western career literature.FindingsIt was found that in Russia each of the nine key career attributes accommodates a different meaning compared with their original Western meaning, and that these meanings are continuously changing to reflect the current social, political and economic environment. In sum, this exploration revealed a dynamic character to career attributes, and their content changed depending on the underlying context.Research limitations/implicationsAmong key research implications are: a possibility of using Western career theories mainly as conceptual frameworks for studying careers in other countries; that current social, political and economic contexts need to be taken into consideration when studying careers in a particular country; and the “intelligent career” concept can be used to study careers in various cultural contexts, and to examine the interdependence between career and a national culture.Originality/valueThis paper examines the extent to which Western career concepts may be used to study careers in various countries around the globe. It notes the dynamic character of career and its related career attitudes. This paper also makes suggestions on how the “intelligent career” concept can be used for exploring career meanings in a particular national setting. Finally, this paper looks at specifics of careers in Russia, which are still underrepresented in the literature.
Refined understanding of perspectives on employee‐organization relationships
Authors: Ni Lan 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the perceptions of organizational members about employee‐organization relationships (EOR) under the globalization context.Design/methodology/approachThe study used 58 qualitative interviews with both managers and employees in multinational and domestic companies in China.FindingsFirst, the unique features of employee publics determined the nature of EOR (why and how an EOR was established) and EOR was a multi‐level (interpersonal and organizational) and multi‐dimensional (job and task related vs human and benefits oriented) concept for most organizational members. Second, the outcomes of EOR, especially trust, control mutuality, and commitment were also determined by the multi‐dimensional nature of EOR. Finally, the influencing factors on EOR can be classified into three levels: individual (such as types of employees, styles of top management), organizational (such as developmental stages and types of organizations), and macro‐environmental (such as the overall employment prospect).Originality/valueThis study contributes to relationship management theory by refining different dimensions of EOR in different types of organizations. It improves the understanding about employee relations and suggests useful and unique relationship cultivation strategies for EOR.
Outsourcing as symptomatic: class visibility and ethnic scapegoating in the US IT sector
Authors: Ganesh Shiv 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to analyze recent debates about outsourcing in the USA, using examples from IT sector, especially in the context of India.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a critical commentary and uses methods based in rhetorical criticism.FindingsThe author argues that to fully understand the outsourcing issue, it has to be considered a symptomatic discourse rather than a causative one. Specifically, it is argued that the outsourcing debate in the context of IT work evidences class issues in as much as it involves white collar visibility. Moreover, the debate is also symptomatic of ethnic tensions in the form of ethnic scapegoating. Some implications of the debate are discussed.Originality/valueThe paper is of value to those interested in debates about outsourcing, and highlights the importance of a communication‐oriented perspective.
A metaphor for knowledge management: explicit islands in a tacit sea
Authors: Hicks Richard C. , Dattero Ronald , Galup Stuart D. 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the current thoughts on knowledge management (KM) and to develop a metaphor to combine these thoughts in a new way that effectively conveys the different types of knowledge and ways of managing it.Design/methodology/approachThe literature on the transition of data to knowledge is reviewed. A popular paradigm in KM states that data are integrated to create information and information is integrated to create knowledge. This paradigm is represented as a pyramid‐shaped hierarchy with knowledge at the top, information in the middle, and data on the bottom. Why this paradigm is a simplistic and limited view of knowledge and KM is discussed.FindingsThe “explicit islands in a tacit sea (EITS)” metaphor is explained and discussed in the context of knowledge and knowledge management (KM).Practical implicationsThe EITS metaphor more accurately and completely describes knowledge in the context of KM. The practical implications of this metaphor are its flexibility and transparency of the transitional actions that affect the evolution of data to knowledge.Originality/valueThe EITS metaphor is an evolution of the prevailing frameworks and removes the apparent limitations in earlier frameworks. The paper provides a paradigm shift in the discussion of KM.
The concept of knowledge in KM: a dimensional model
Authors: Meyer Bertolt , Sugiyama Kozo 
Published: February 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to sharpen the concepts of tacit, implicit and explicit knowledge by linking them to findings from cognitive psychology and memory science and thus finding a possibility for measuring non‐explicit knowledge.Design/methodology/approachA review of KM and cognitive science literature leads to a dimensional model of knowledge types that links the concepts from KM to more specific concepts from psychology. One central assumption of the model was empirically tested and put into practice in one small‐scale KM project.FindingsThe concepts in KM can be linked to concepts from psychology and thus receive theoretical support. The developed model enables psychometric access to a part of non‐explicit knowledge through structural assessment techniques. Furthermore, the model has proven to be of value in a practical application in KM.Research limitations/implicationsThe experiment and the practical application are too small in scope to provide full support for the model. Further research is required.Practical implicationsA fraction of non‐explicit knowledge can be measured with structural assessment techniques. This can be used in the quantitative evaluation of KM projects as these techniques allow the quantification of individual knowledge increase. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of individual project‐relevant knowledge is useful for post‐project analysis.Originality/valueThe paper integrates findings from several scientific fields for use in KM and presents a novel view of classic KM concepts. The developed model is of importance to both researchers and practitioners.