bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
“Black Day to Freedom”: informal multicultural education initiative
Authors: Hardaker Glenn , Sabki Aishah 
Published: June 2007

Purpose“Black Day to Freedom” project was the culmination of five years of performance ethnography research that continues today in various forms through BeyondLabels. The title “Black Day to Freedom” came from an asylum seeker participating in a “free verse” workshop where all participants expressed their views on globalisation, social movement of people and identity. “Black Day to Freedom” his title, provides an insight into his perceptions of life and this framed a need to conduct further research into providing a voice for refugees and asylum seekers through informal multicultural education and associated visual arts expression.Design/methodology/approachThe research follows a performance ethonographic perspective into the informal multicultural education project specific to exploring expressions of identity of refugee by migrant artists.FindingsThe informal multicultural education initiative specific to exploring expressions of identity of refugee by migrant artists was highly personalised and immersive in style with both educators and learners being co‐producers. This immersive, challenging, absorbing project required a passion by all to the mode of communications (visual arts) and the subject focus of refugee identity. The key implication of the informal multicultural education initiative is the unique insights provided by the migrant voices.Research limitations/implicationsA key implication of this research into informal multicultural education practice in the context of supporting expressions of refugee indentity by migrant artists is the need for further research into pedagogy equity in the context of personalised learning design for non‐traditional learners. One key question for future studies would be how we can improve our understanding of the “bridge” between informal and formal education and as a consequence engage the non‐engaged from cultural diverse backgrounds in our educational institutions.Originality/valueProvides insights into multicultural education initiatives.
An electronic system to support novice teachers' reflective lesson design
Authors: Calandra Brendan , Brantley‐Dias Laurie , McNeal Kezia 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose an electronic support tool that can be used by teacher educators and novice teachers to foster habits of reflective, systematic instructional planning.Design/methodology/approachThe authors provide a rationale for their work, present a theoretical framework, propose a unique instructional design model, and illustrate one approach to implementing the model – as an electronic support system.FindingsThe paper discusses a feasible and novel approach to promoting habits of systematic lesson design combined with guided reflection. Although the authors describe a particular electronic system as context for this paper, the theoretical model is flexible in nature and can be applied in many modern teaching contexts.Practical implicationsIt is hoped that the approach can be refined and implemented as part of a systemic effort to address like issues in teacher education. The paper will be of particular value to teacher, educators and educational researchers focused on multicultural issues and technology.Originality/valueThe design model and support system discussed in this paper address pedagogical gaps typical of novice teachers, the complexity of technology integration, and tenets of critical thinking and reflective practice in a unique fashion. This distinctive combination was specifically designed for beginning teachers in today's multicultural teaching environments.
Data analysis and profiling
Authors: Scarisbrick‐Hauser AnneMarie 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper discusses the role and importance of data analysis and data mining within the context of direct marketing.Design/methodology/approachThe paper considers some of the prominent data analysis and data mining issues related to direct marketing. It has been designed to make those involved in direct marketing activities more cognizant of potential competitive advantages, and possible pitfalls, in the areas of data collection, analysis, and mining.FindingsIn order to be effective and successful, both strategically and tactically, a comprehensive data collection and analysis strategy must be incorporated into all aspects of direct marketing activities. This is illustrated through anecdotal evidence, industry sources, real‐life/real‐time examples, and a framework that can be employed by firms of any size.Originality/valueThe underlying value of the paper is that, beyond showing the importance of efficiently employing both existing and future data into the operational activities of direct marketing firms, it also provides guidelines as to how individual firms can establish a culture that enables the firm to use data as a means of leveraging competitive advantage resulting in increased growth and revenues.
Recruitment and retention of ICT skills among MNCs in Taiwan
Authors: Hu Mei‐chi , Zheng Connie , Lamond David 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe existing research on multinational companies (MNCs) tends to emphasise the diffusion of knowledge and skills in information, communication and technology (ICT) from the more advanced industrialised nations to less‐developed or latecomer countries. Few studies have examined the ICT work force supply and development of local ICT skills among MNCs' overseas subsidiaries. This paper aims to fill the gap by evaluating the issues relating to the host country's ICT work force planning and supply and the recruitment and retention of ICT skills among MNCs at their local subsidiary.Design/methodology/approachA survey of 100 MNCs in Taiwan, Republic of China was used for analysis. The self‐administered questionnaire was designed to examine the extent of difficulty experienced by MNCs in recruiting high, medium and low levels of ICT skills in the manufacturing and service sector. Attrition rate of the ICT skilled workers in Taiwan was also examined.FindingsThe results suggest some degree of ICT skill deficiency at the firm level, despite many efforts attempted by the Taiwanese government to develop and supply ICT skills at the national level. A gap between national advancement in technology and firm level of skills deficiency exists. These findings lead to consideration of a better alignment in providing local government support programs to meet MNCs specific skill requirements.Originality/valueThe study provides some insights especially for the emerging economy of China, which tends to heavily impose government intervention in developing strategic industries.
Financial distress prediction of Chinese listed companies: a rough set methodology
Authors: Wang Zongjun , Li Hongxia 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo empirically estimate a rough set (RS) model in financial distress prediction for Chinese listed companies and assess its classification accuracy.Design/methodology/approachRS model is used to test the effect of financial ratios and some non‐financial ratios on the probability of financial distress with a sample of 212 financial distressed firms and 212 healthy firms through years 1998‐2005.FindingsGrowth ratio of per share of equity, net return on assets, earnings per share, interest coverage, ownership concentration coefficient, net profit margin, pledge, retained‐earnings ratio and total assets turnover have strong classification power in financial distress prediction of Chinese listed companies, especially the ownership concentration coefficient. Prediction model combining financial and non‐financial ratios outperforms the one just containing financial ratios.Research limitations/implicationsOne limitation of this research is that it relies on publicly available data and the RS method. Further research can be devoted to making comparisons between the RS method and other prediction methods, and constructing hybrid prediction models with the use of RS and other artificial intellectual methods as well.Practical implicationsIt is necessary to consider every aspect of the company when making financial distress prediction, not just financial ratios, to improve the explanatory power of the prediction model.Originality/valueThis study explores how financial ratios and non‐financial ratios, with the help of RS theory, under the restricted tradability of stocks in the emerging stock market, impact on corporate financial distress. The prediction model employed here considers not only accounting ratios, but also cash flow and corporate governance variables, thus improving the prediction accuracy.
Realising integrated e‐government services: a UK local government perspective
Authors: Sarikas Omiros D. , Weerakkody Vishanth 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to explore the challenges that local government face in the UK when implementing fully integrated electronic public services.Design/methodology/approachA case study based research approach using interviews with employees and citizens in a large local authority was utilised to examine both the government and citizen's perspective of electronic government (e‐government) and related service improvement efforts.FindingsFrom a theoretical perspective, process and information systems integration are identified in the literature as key challenges for enabling fully functional e‐government services. However, empirical research in this paper highlights that broader issues of technical, political, and organisational origin are of equal importance but tend to be overlooked in practice.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the empirical research discussed in this paper is limited to one local authority, its size, geographic location and ethnic diversity makes the local authority a good illustrative example of local e‐government implementation efforts in the UK.Originality/valueThe findings and issues raised in this paper are of practical importance to the UK public sector and elsewhere, and can aid to enable the identification of objectives, priorities and barriers to e‐government, and options for successful implementation thereof. Conversely, the process and information systems integration issues discussed in the paper is timely and novel as national e‐government efforts are now moving from initial e‐enabling efforts to a process transformational phase in the UK.
Integration of legal constraints into business process models
Authors: Olbrich Sebastian , Simon Carlo 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo demonstrate the value of formal process modelling languages for the description of legal constraints and their verification in public and private business processes.Design/methodology/approachA highly regulated governmental process in Germany – applying for premium rate service numbers at the German Federal Network Agency – is taken as an example to demonstrate that laws and rules define processes for those who want to use them. A novel formal process language is used to verify whether applicants' processes fulfil these constraints or not.FindingsWith the presented approach, contradictions between business processes of private organisations and the given laws could precisely be identified.Research limitations/implicationsThe results are currently restricted to the use of formal process languages as the one suggested in the paper. It would be helpful to extend the work on conceptual process models.Practical implicationsThe paper motivates a process‐oriented analysis of laws and rules. The approach can be used for both, verification after the event and as a normative guideline for the development of new workflows.Originality/valueThis paper identifies a need for formal process definitions as a medium to understand legal constraints and to behave in accordance with them.
Assessing analytical robustness in cross‐cultural comparisons
Authors: Dolnicar Sara , Grün Bettina 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to critically review past recommendations to correct for cultural biases in empirical survey data sets, and propose a framework that enables the researcher to assess the robustness of empirical findings from culture‐specific response styles (CSRS).Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes to analyze a set of derived data sets, including the original data as well as data corrected for response styles using theoretically plausible correction methods for the empirical data at hand. The level of agreement of results across correction methods indicates the robustness of findings to possible contamination of data by cross‐cultural response styles.FindingsThe proposed method can be used to inform researchers and data analysts about the extent to which the validity of their conclusions is threatened by data contamination and provides guidance regarding the results that can safely be reported.Practical implicationsResponse styles can distort survey findings. CSRS are particularly problematic for researchers using multicultural samples because the resulting data contamination can lead to inaccurate conclusions about the research question under study.Originality/valueThe proposed approach avoids the disadvantages of ignoring the problem and interpreting spurious results or choosing one single correction technique that potentially introduces new kinds of data contamination.
Training exercise in interpreting causal maps in tourism research
Authors: Woodside Arch 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe how to go about interpreting causal maps and provides an introduction to the literature of causal mapping.Design/methodology/approachThe paper includes two international causal maps showing the favorable antecedent conditions of Germans towards visiting Britain and the negative antecedent conditions of Brits towards visiting Germany. The paper provides training exercise questions with a solution in interpreting causal maps.FindingsThe training helps make implicit, automatic, thinking explicit and provides clues for the marketing strategist of actions necessary to changing long‐term negative implicit associations that potential visitors retrieve regarding tourism destinations.Research limitations/implicationsThis report does not include the results of applying the exercise in executive training programs. Does completing the exercise help improve decision making?Practical implicationsExecutives need to experience specific training exercises to improve decision‐making skills. Obvious solutions usually only become so only following experiencing the process of making decisions; such training exercises as the one this paper presents builds on this premise.Originality/valueThis paper breaks new ground in participative learning by executives to improve their skills by solving real‐life tourism marketing problems.
The overlooked rugged communitarians of Ireland
Authors: Ní Bhrádaigh Emer 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo provide a general review of religious entrepreneurs in Ireland from the late nineteenth to early twenty‐first century.Design/methodology/approachThe achievements of numerous male and female religious entrepreneurs' activities and achievements are described and discussed. Examples are given from Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Quaker religions in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.FindingsUp to the middle of the twentieth century religious life was often a path to higher education and the achievements of one's full potential. Up to that stage most of the enterprises established by religious entrepreneurs were schools and hospitals, housing associations, and textile and leather manufacturing. The enterprises were primarily aimed addressing the needs of the poorer sections of society. From the second‐half of the twentieth century to date, social services, tourism services and cross community organisations predominate. Many of the foundations of the so‐called Celtic Tiger lie in the pioneering work of religious entrepreneurs.Originality/valueIn linking entrepreneurship with religion, this paper highlights the valuable role many religious entrepreneurs have played in social innovation. Many references to web sites are provided, to allow readers to easily learn more about organisations of particular interest.
South Cone energy integration: a look from Brazil
Authors: de Oliveira Adilson 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe paper intends to offer an understanding of the regional energy integration in the South Cone of Latin America as perceived in Brazil.Design/methodology/approachIt assesses the Brazilian need of energy imports to balance its supply to demand and then reviews the strategy followed by successive Brazilian governments in order to move forward the process of energy integration domestically and, more recently, regionally. The reaction of the Brazilian energy establishment to the integration strategy implemented in the 1990s is studied as well.FindingsThe main findings of the paper are that the strategy pursued to regional integration (bilateral commercial contracts) is not providing the benefits originally envisaged and that the main reason for this outcome is the focus on the convergence of national energy regulations and policies.Originality/valueTo move the process of integration forward, the paper proposes that the focus should be on a multilateral agreement that can provide reliability to the national energy systems and can reduce domestic energy prices volatility as well. It is suggested that an agreement on the cooperative management of part of the large hydro and natural gas reservoirs available in the region offers the opportunity to institutionalize multilateral regional security reservoirs.
CDM potential of windmill pumps in India
Authors: Purohit Ishan , Purohit Pallav 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe clean development mechanism (CDM) provides industrialized countries with an incentive to invest in emission reduction projects in developing countries to achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions at lowest cost that also promotes sustainable development in the host country. Windmill pumps could be of interest under the CDM because they directly displace greenhouse gas emissions while contributing to sustainable rural development. This study aims to assess the maximum theoretical as well as the realistically achievable CDM potential of windmill pumps in India.Design/methodology/approachTo estimate the CDM potential of windmill pumps in case of electricity replacement (by the substitution of electric motor pumps) regional baseline(s) has been used whereas in case of diesel replacement (by the substitution of diesel engine pumps) the IPCC emission factor(s) has been used. The authors have analyzed the financial feasibility of five designs of windmill pumps at ten select locations in India to justify the financial additionality of windmill pump‐based CDM projects. To analyze the future dissemination levels of windmill pumps logistic growth model has been used.FindingsThe annual CO2 emissions mitigation potential through windmill pumps in India could theoretically reach five million tones. Under more realistic assumptions about diffusion of windmill pumps based on past experiences with the government‐run programmes, annual CER volumes by 2012 could reach 13,000‐46,000 and 0.07‐0.3 million by 2020. This would require that the government sets the subsidy level for windmill pumps at a level that allows them to become viable with the CER revenue. From a macro‐economic point of view, this makes sense if the sustainability benefits are deemed sufficiently high to warrant promotion of this project type.Originality/valueThe paper illustrates the vast theoretical potential of CO2 mitigation by using windmill pumps for irrigation water pumping in India.
Industry features and energy efficiency in Indian small enterprises
Authors: Bala Subrahmanya M.H. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeHow do energy consumption, efficiency and economic performance vary between small enterprises belonging to two different product clusters whose production process and technologies differ?Design/methodology/approachThe objectives are analyzed based on empirical data gathered from a field survey of small enterprises with reference to auto ancillaries in Shimoga and brick‐making enterprises in Malur of Karnataka State in India. Simple averages, correlation and multiple‐regression techniques are used for the analysis.FindingsThe study brought out that higher energy intensity results in higher share of energy cost in total variable cost. Energy intensity had a negative relationship with value of output. Energy makes a statistically significant contribution to returns to scale. The classification of small enterprises into two groups based on above average energy intensity and below average energy intensity, and the subsequent regression analysis brought out that energy intensity had a positive influence on returns to scale in auto ancillaries whereas a negative influence on returns to scale in bricks enterprises.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample‐size formulation could not be done on a scientific basis due to the absence of comprehensive data on all small enterprises operating in the respective clusters and therefore, the findings may not be generalized.Practical implicationsIndustry specific characteristics must be taken into account while introducing “energy efficiency improvement” programmes as a means of enhancing competitiveness in “energy intensive” small enterprises.Originality/valueThe paper illustrates the scope for energy conservation and efficiency improvement in Indian small enterprises.
US oil import dependence: which way out?
Authors: Yañes Juan , Grosse Robert 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo explore the relationships among oil import dependence, energy (in)efficiency, and environmental damage for the USA. The goal is to illuminate possibilities for reducing oil import dependence.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses current information about costs of oil imports and energy alternatives for transportation vehicles, and environmental concerns, along with information about alternatives for energy provision for this purpose, to demonstrate feasible ways to reduce dependence, including government policy steps.FindingsThe USA is dependent on imported oil: two‐thirds of US oil used today is imported, and mostly used as gasoline for autos – close to 70 percent of all oil is used in transportation. This greatly affects the US BOP; oil imports cost almost US$300 billion in 2006. Current energy efficiency of auto engines is about 15 percent. Using hydrogen fuel cells would at least double this value, as well as reducing waste and completely eliminating carbon dioxide emissions. An efficient means of producing the hydrogen must be developed. A related problem is damage to the environment caused by greenhouse gas emissions. This problem also can be attacked by increasing engine efficiency, and ultimately by replacing gasoline in auto engines with alternative fuels such as hydrogen in fuel cells, as well as by reducing auto use, via mass transport. Policy alternatives include: encouraging energy efficiency via new technologies for vehicle engines; encouraging mass transportation; and higher production of fuels in the USA. Reducing demand via taxes, as in Europe, could reduce consumption, but at a cost to overall GDP unless alternative fuels become competitively priced.Research limitations/implicationsThe two main limitations on our recommendations are technology for making fuel cells more competitive, and willingness of government to take the needed policy steps. The practical implication is that dependence can be reduced with these steps.Originality/valueThe paper links the three corners of the energy triangle: dependence; efficiency, and environment.