bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of quality assurance measures on student services at the Japanese and Thai private universities
Authors: Gamage David T. , Suwanabroma Jaratdao , Ueyama Takeyuki , Hada Sekio , Sekikawa Etsuo 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to ascertain students' perceptions on quality of services provided by private universities in Thailand and Japan and how these affected decisions selecting a university. A comparative study aims to focus on how cultural and economic factors affected their decisions.Design/methodology/approachResearch design sought students' perceptions through empirical surveys on the type of factors which influenced their decisions in selecting a university. As the students needed to form their views on personal experience on services categorized into ten factors, the research sample included students with one‐four years of campus experience. The research instrument was a well validated questionnaire developed on a review of literature and a pilot study. For the main study, 1,900 Thai students from nine private universities and 703 Japanese students from two private colleges were invited to participate.FindingsFindings suggest that in selecting a university campus the university's reputation, academic staff, quality of the programs and job‐placement were the most important factors that influenced student decisions. The comparative analyses reveal many similarities and some differences between the two groups while Thai students had a higher degree of satisfaction than Japanese counterparts which may perhaps be attributed to economic disparities.ImplicationsFindings may not be generally applicable as the sample was limited and cultural contexts were somewhat similar. Yet, there were generic factors applicable to most universities.Originality/valueThese findings are valuable to university administrators and academics to improve the quality of services which are most important in influencing student perceptions in selecting a university.
Staying connected
Authors: van Woerkum Cees , Aarts Noelle 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to systematically explore the basic ideas of what organizations should do to get “in tune” with the environment they depend on.Design/methodology/approachLiterature was selected and studied in the domain of corporate communication, interactive modalities, and negotiation, and related to communication‐management of organizations.FindingsThe paper offers a well‐considered and structural overview of different communication tasks, how they are related, and how they can be managed coherently using the state‐of‐the‐art perspectives on effective communication.Practical implicationsThe paper provides a model that gives a better insight into the range of activities a communications manager has to deal with in the strategic planning phase and in the execution phase. Therefore, the model can be used to get a more balanced distribution of consts and efforts. In addition, the paper reveals the kinds of competences that are at issue, and therefore criteria can be derived to evaluate existing competence profiles. These criteria are useful in the recruitment of communication specialists, as well as in the training and supervision of staff members.Originality/valueAlthough numerous models can be found for depicting and categorizing the environment of organizations, little attention has been given to the way such continuous reflection can be achieved. This paper offers a global and systematic overview of the communication activities required. The model, developed in the paper, can be applied in comparative studies of corporate communication practices and how these relate to performances.
Reliability of wirebonds in micro‐electronic packages
Authors: van Driel W.D. , van Silfhout R.B.R. , Zhang G.Q. 
Published: May 2008

PurposeAt present, over 95 percent of the manufactured packages are still being wire bonded. Owing to the ongoing trend of miniaturization, material changes, and cost reduction, wire bond‐related failures are becoming increasingly important. This paper aims to understand these kinds of failures.Design/methodology/approachDifferent finite element (FE) techniques are explored to their ability to describe the thermo‐mechanical behavior of the wire embedded in the electronic package. The developed nonlinear and parametric FE models are able to predict the strong nonlinear behavior of wire failures and multi‐failure mode interaction accurately and efficiently.FindingsIt is found that both processing and testing environments as well as the occurrence of delamination strongly increase the risk for wire failures. The results indicate that processing and testing influences are much less than those of the delamination.Practical implicationsPackage designers should focus on limiting the occurrence of delamination around wire bond and/or stitch areas.Originality/valueCombining the strengths of predictive modeling with simulation‐based optimization methods, the optimal wire shape is obtained.
The role of private sector organizations in the control and policing of serious financial crime and abuse
Authors: Gilsinan James F. , Millar James , Seitz Neil , Fisher James , Harshman Ellen , Islam Muhammad , Yeager Fred 
Published: May 2008

PurposeWhile the “Information Age” has provided the technological tools to “democratize” data and make it widely available to a vast audience of knowledge consumers, ironically it has also provided the materials for a tapestry of rules, regulations and processes that make it more difficult for individuals to access information relevant to both their public and private lives. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of the private sector in the control and policing of financial crime, and provide an empirical and theoretical framework for understanding the complex tensions created by the simultaneous expansion of both data sources and technologies to collect and format data to create marketable information “products.”Design/methodology/approachThree primary methods were used to gather the data for this research. Extensive literature reviews were conducted together with an analysis of existing data bases. Finally, a number of interviews were done with various corporate managers to ascertain their views of the existing climate of regulation and/or to determine their approach to monitoring financial crime.FindingsRegarding the private sector's role in the control of financial crime, this research found five distinct roles; each with its own dynamics and implications for successful suppression of unlawful conduct. The five roles are grudging informant, enthusiastic intelligence operative, agent provocateur, cop on the take, and officer friendly. A calculus of incentives and disincentives determines which role will be adopted by the private sector.Originality/valueSince this paper was exploratory in nature, resulting in a new taxonomy of compliance types, more in depth research ascertaining the empirical validity of each type would be in order. Such knowledge can help policy makers formulate rules and regulations that will enhance public/private partnerships in the control of financial crime.
Management of radical innovation and environmental challenges
Authors: Ölundh Sandström Gunilla , Tingström Johan 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the driving forces for taking environmental considerations to a higher level in a project involving radical innovation.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative case study is based on ten in‐depth interviews with respondents from the development team for the DryQ project at ABB.FindingsIn order to achieve substantial environmental benefits, radical product development is essential. Radical product development has attributes that differ from those of incremental product development. It is important that these differences be acknowledged when preparing to manage environmental challenges in development projects. In radical product development, environmental considerations should be taken into account very early on, at the strategic level of the design process. Setting challenging environmental targets and rewarding environmental improvements was crucial to the outcome of the project presented in this paper.Research limitations/implicationsThe research presented here describes one case in one manufacturing company. Readers can, however, learn from this case and apply the insights gained to their own research or use the findings to promote new thinking in their own organisation.Practical implicationsSuggestions are made about how to manage environmental considerations in radical product development.Originality/valueFew studies combine ecodesign and radical innovation theories, as is done here. Yet this is not a theoretical paper but an industry‐based study of eco‐innovation, from which researchers and practitioners can learn.
Constructing the first customer reference to support the growth of a start‐up software technology company
Authors: Ruokolainen Jari 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the important and distinctly under‐researched topic of first customer references, for which a basic descriptive framework is created. The paper also tests the framework, validating it by means of new insights obtained from a longitudinal case study.Design/methodology/approachThe present work is an embedded single longitudinal case study with two levels of analysis units: the company and its customers. Pattern‐matching logic and time‐series analyses are used. The idea is to compare the observed patterns with those introduced through the basic descriptive framework. Each case is analyzed, after which a cross‐case analysis is conducted over the specified time horizon. Programming theory is used to describe the iterative nature of the phenomenon of market entry, although natural language is used instead of formal notation.FindingsThe longitudinal case study demonstrates various operational aspects of the framework in practice. The study indicates the correct business operations setup model after each customer case. The case study generally reveals, from the perspective of competence marketing, that there are no failed customer cases if experimental knowledge has been gained.Practical implicationsIn order to evaluate capabilities of start‐up technology companies to enter the market, all customer cases should be evaluated, even the failed ones. Successful customer references may provide only a partial picture of the gained capabilities.Originality/valueThis paper explores the important and distinctly under‐researched topic of first customer references, for which a basic descriptive framework is created and will be of interest to companies trying to enter the very competitive business‐to‐business market for complex products.
Evaluation of a workplace health program to reduce coronary risk factors
Authors: Makrides Lydia , Dagenais Gilles R. , Chockalingam Arun , LeLorier Jacques , Kishchuk Natalie , Richard Josie , Stewart John , Chin Christine , Alloul Karine , Veinot Paula 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to docoment a randomized controlled trial, with follow‐up at three and six months, to determine the impact of a coronary risk factor modification program for employees.Design/methodology/approachIntervention participants received a 12‐week health promotion program involving exercise, education seminars, nutritional analysis and smoking cessation counselling. Outcome measures included differences in coronary risk factors of control and intervention participants between baseline and three and six‐month follow‐up visits.FindingsThe participants included 566 individuals employed in the Halifax area, Nova Scotia, Canada. They were between 19 and 66 years old with at least two modifiable coronary risk factors. There were statistically significant differences at three months in coronary risk score improvement, smoking cessation, physical activity level increases, body mass index reductions and serum cholesterol. At six months, improvements remained significant except for cholesterol. Reduction in blood pressure was not significantly different. Intervention participants compared to control participants showed significant differences in both cardiac and stroke risk at three and six‐month visits.Practical implicationsThis study demonstrates that employees had a significant coronary disease risk reduction as a result of a relatively short health promotion intervention. Benefits three months post‐intervention were not sustained to the same extent as during the intervention. This underscores the need for long‐term commitment with lifestyle changes and raises the issue of the need for a comprehensive approach that also addresses environmental factors.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the current research base on this topic as there are few well‐designed studies to reduce coronary risk factors for employees.
Mandatory public reporting
Authors: Birnbaum David 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss early experience with American state laws that are starting to mandate public disclosure of adverse outcome event rates from surveillance programs which previously were regarded as a solely confidential activity of internal quality review committees.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a literature review of sources identified from the PARADIGM database.FindingsResponding to public concerns prompted by the Institute of Medicine's widely read report on medical error, a growing number of states have legislated mandatory public reporting of adverse event rates. This change from an era of data held confidential by each accreditation‐compliant hospital or shared by voluntary participation in regional or national programs heralds dissatisfaction that cannot be ignored and a political response that cannot be impeded. However, to avoid repeating mistakes of early efforts, it is essential to recognize that meaningful mandatory public reporting will require adequate standardization of surveillance definition application, attention to differences in underlying patient populations, optimized frequency and format of data displays, and effective communication to shape and serve realistic public expectations.Originality/valueLearning from the experience of others can help future legislation balance technical concerns and right‐to‐know considerations so as to best serve the public good.
An analysis of the impact of human activities on water quality and ecological responses in the Suez Irrigation Canal
Authors: Mahmoud Ali Maha 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe Suez Irrigation Canal is the source of drinking water to a large community. Complaints have been raised regarding the odor and unpleasant taste of drinking water. The problems encountered reveled enrichment of the Canal with nutrients, degraded water quality and nuisance caused by algal growth. This paper aims to investigate these claims by evaluating the interaction between water and sediment with ecological indicators.Design/methodology/approachBioassessments were used as a primary tool to evaluate the biological conditions and identify the degree of water quality degradation in the Suez Irrigation Canal. The monitoring program integrates biological, chemical, and physical data assessment. Several field surveys were carried out to these areas during the period between March 2003 and February 2005 (over 23 months) for acquiring all possible information about the current situation and to explore the impact of human activities along the canal banks on the canal ecosystem. Seasonal variations of phytoplankton and zooplankton standing crop, species diversity as well as physico‐chemical characteristics of water, sediment, fish and aquatic weeds at the intakes of drinking plants and from the discharge of agricultural and domestic drains into the Canal were investigated.FindingsPreliminary field investigations showed great amounts of discharged wastes at several locations to the canal water creating unique conditions, which vary with changes of volume and properties of the discharged wastes. Rotifer and green algae for example demonstrated seasonal variable response to the ecological variations. Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamageton nodsus and Polygonum Salicfolium were the most common types of recorded weed. The Myriophyllum spicatum is the dominant submerged plant. The canal was characterized by high concentrations of HCO3‐ as well as high pH >8.2 which provides a favorable habitat for the growth of Myriophyllum spicatum. The results illustrated the ability of using the aquatic weed as biomarkers for monitoring heavy metals contaminates in the canal. The evidence suggests that there is a degree of selectivity in metals uptake and partitioning within the plant compartments.Originality/valueThe current paper adopts the idea of utilizing multiple organism groups in the bioassessment to effectively detect ecological change when they occur in one of the most important waterways in Egypt. These different organism groups are suited for detection various stressors, providing warnings and detection of stress impacts at different scales. The study presented provides decision makers with important information that can assist them in making objective decisions related to the design of monitoring programs based on scientific research.
Managing long supply chain networks: some emerging issues and challenges
Authors: Jain Vipul , Benyoucef Lyes 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe emergence of new manufacturing technologies, spurred by intense competition, will lead to dramatically new products and processes. New management systems, organizational structures, and decision‐making methods will also emerge as complements to new products and processes. This paper attempts to investigate technologies, systems and paradigms for the effective management of networked enterprise (supply chain networks), especially long supply chains. In doing so, the paper presents not only an exhaustive literature review to identify the complexities, gaps and challenges associated with long supply chains but also the emerging enabling technologies to support these gaps and challenges.Design/methodology/approachThe approach takes the form of an interview of industrials, researchers and a literature review.Findings“Competition in the future will not be between individual enterprises but between competing supply chains.” Business opportunities are captured by groups of enterprises in the same enterprise network. This is due to the global competition that forces enterprises to focus on their core competences.Practical implicationsThe paper presents a vision of the future technical issues relating to long supply chains and an insight into the future scientific and industrial advances required to meet future market and public demands.Originality/valueThis research work highlights the research issues and discusses the key enabling features, which will need to evolve and be perfected in industry in the future manufacturing networked enterprises and especially long manufacturing supply chains.
Unlocking the black box: line managers and HRM‐Performance in a call centre context
Authors: Harney Brian , Jordan Claire 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show the way to unlock the black box of HRM and performance linkages by exploring one of the key variables that mediates the link, namely whether line managers can stimulate improvements in firm performance by eliciting appropriate employee outcomes in a call centre context.Design/methodology/approachThe research draws on Purcell's “People‐Performance Model” as a sensitising framework to inform an in‐depth case study of a call centre. This provides a mechanism to unlock the HRM‐Performance black box by focusing on the ability, motivation and opportunities for line managers to perform and any subsequent impact on employee outcomes. Data were collected over multiple site visits by means of multi‐level interviews and a survey of telesales representatives (TSRs).FindingsResearch findings indicate that one large client exerted significant control over the HRM policies developed within the call centre. Evidence suggests, however, that line managers' interventions ameliorated some of the negative aspects of work tasks and the HRM imposed by this dependency relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is an exploratory attempt to better understand HRM‐Performance linkages in one specific context. Results are not generalisable across contexts or even within call centres, which can vary extensively. Nonetheless, the research suggests that exploring line management behaviour is a promising avenue for more extensive research.Originality/valueThis paper considers HRM‐Performance linkages in a service context. Results indicate that both external relations and line managers are critical mediating variables conditioning HRM‐Performance linkages, thereby lending support to the notion that hard and soft HRM practices are not necessarily irreconcilable.
Enhancing productivity in manual electronics assembly and inspection through illumination design
Authors: Quintana Rolando , Leung Mark T. , Chen An‐Sing 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify, study and quantify the effects of lighting on yield and productivity in manual electronics assembly (MEA) and inspection as a limiting work design criterion. The study also examines the potential interactions among lighting option, workers' age, and years of experience.Design/methodology/approachA three‐factor full factorial experiment is adopted to statistically evaluate the independent variables (process yield and assembly time) versus randomly selected levels of three factors: type of light (low pressure sodium, mercury vapor lamps, and metal halide lamps measured in foot‐candle luminaries), operator age, and years on the job. A residual analysis is also conducted to complement and corroborate the ANOVA findings.FindingsThe study finds that metal halide lamps, based on the ANSI recommended ranges of 186‐464 foot‐candles, lead to significant increases in labor productivity and through‐put, irrespective of operators' age and years of experience. Although these lamps have a significantly shorter life span than that of low‐pressure sodium and mercury vapor lamps, the realized benefits far exceed the incremental cost of illumination devices. The results indicate that a modest capital investment is able to generate solid improvements in yield and processing time in a typical MEA environment.Originality/valueThe relations between productivity and lighting intensity and type have never been studied in the area of MEA. This empirical study uncovers the effects through a systematic experimentation of this essential relationship in a typical MEA environment. The findings, which can be generalized to other facilities, are validated by an array of statistical procedures and proved to be significant. The paper contributes useful knowledge to the fields of engineering management and facility design.
Coaching for results
Authors: Ulrich Dave 
Published: May 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to help coaches better understand their approach to coaching and to help those being coached to have a sense of options in selecting a coach. And, to overview the field of coaching and offer a typology of approaches.Design/methodology/approachThis paper lays out the purposes of coaching, then review two models or approaches to coaching: behavior vs. results. Then goes through the steps for doing each.FindingsThis study finds that there are two ways to approach coaching, each with pros and cons and a clear methodology.Research implicationsWe could study these two approaches.Practical implicationsWe could help coaches do their work better and help those selecting coaches make more informed decisions.Originality/valueNo one has contrasted these two approaches to coaching and laid out the methodologies for doing each approach. This should help coaching move to a more rigorous definition of models and approaches.