bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Entrepreneurship among graduates: towards a measured response
Authors: McLarty Roy 
Published: March 2005

PurposeThe entrepreneurial potential of graduates has risen in the national agenda and has been attracting the interest of policy makers, educationists and development agencies in recent years. This paper focuses on a detailed study into the entrepreneurial activities of graduates in East Anglia and principally examines issues impacting on their business development.Design/methodology/approachSeven main issues were investigated: business establishment; location; premises; concerns; advice utilisation; education and training; and support requirements. A sample of 39 graduate businesses, which commenced in the past five years, was assembled and comprehensively assessed. The entrepreneurs' ages ranged from 20 to 26 years, with a mean business age of 2.4 years.FindingsFindings are significant in respect of each of the categories of investigation and principally confirmed that the graduates were poorly prepared for business activity. Two major issues of concern were confirmed, namely, marketing and finance, the latter of which increased as time progressed. Elements relating to all of the seven issues are explored at both business establishment and development stages, mainly because it was recognised that these would materially change over time.Originality/valueThe value and impact of business advice is explored and rated in respect of three sources – Princes Trust, Business Link, and Enterprise Agency. The paper concludes with an examination of the competency of graduates, through the introduction of three categories of competency and application of Gadenne's seven elements.
The assessment of formal management development
Authors: Rodwell John J. 
Published: March 2005

PurposeTo assess the impact of a course on the development of management competencies for students over the duration of the course, by examining changes in the competencies of the students. The potential impact of student learning styles was also examined in the study.Design/methodology/approachA “Pre, Post, Then” design and a combination of paired sample t‐tests, and alpha and beta change statistics were used to examine the change in competencies over time.FindingsThis study found that even a standard subject design had a significant and substantial impact on the management competence development of the students.Practical implicationsFrom the perspective of students‐as‐products, the base line provided here allows for the testing of alternative designs of educational systems, whereby alternative designs have to prove a benefit above and beyond that of a basic teaching system. Therefore, the present study should assist the field of management development to create a range of design options.Originality/valueThis study applies a powerful and under‐utilised research method to provide a base line of the amount of management development that can occur in a typical formal management course, but is unique in that it includes the impact of the students’ learning styles.
Perceived job characteristics and internal work motivation
Authors: Lee‐Ross Darren 
Published: March 2005

PurposeCurrently, a gap exists in the area of cross‐cultural research in organisations. Moreover, there is a consensus that many models of organisational behaviour have a Western ethnocentric bias. That is, they are unlikely to explain worker behaviour in non‐Western firms. The present study aims to test this notion by comparing the attitudes and work motivation between hotel workers in Australia and Mauritius.Design/methodology/approachA convenience sample of three 200+ bedroom, five‐star resort hotels, two from Mauritius and one from Australia, was identified for this study. All hotels were similar in size and key managerial and operational aspects. Using Hackman and Oldham's Job Diagnostic Survey, quantitative results from 125 respondents show that motivational disparities between hotel workers are likely to be culturally driven.FindingsThese suggest that, while Hackman and Oldham’s model is not wholly appropriate outside a Western culture, it provides a reasonable basis for future research and could be adapted by incorporating previously unaccounted‐for non‐Western cultural variables.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation of the study was the convenience sample used. However, findings are consistent with the initial proposition that models of organisational behaviour have a western ethnocentric bias.Practical implicationsIn practice, managers should avoid a parochial perspective and canvass for discrete, culturally‐based attitudinal information about their workers. For example, an increasingly participative style of management is currently popular in Western organisations. This would be unsuitable for Mauritian workers because autonomy is a “foreign” concept with which they struggle. Moreover, deference appears to be a powerful antecedent of motivation in the workplace irrespective of other model‐specified antecedents. Future research would need to explore them and scrutinise their exact relationship with worker motivation. International managers would be well advised to plan their behavioural diagnostics around these two variables.Originality/valueThis paper questions the role of “participative styles” of management among Mauritian hotel workers and the impact of deference as a cultural moderator of employee workplace behaviour. This represents a new area of research and thus has value for researchers and practitioners.
Enhancing managers'supervisory effectiveness: a promising model
Authors: Ralph Edwin G. 
Published: March 2005

PurposeTo describe the contextual supervision (CS) model, and to invite interested researchers to study its effects in a wider range of applications across a variety of management fields.Design/methodology/approachThe developer of the CS model summarizes how he refined and studied the original situational leadership approach to assist supervisory personnel in education to mentor teacher‐interns as they developed their classroom instructional skills.FindingsThe 15 years of accumulated CS findings have consistently identified several strengths and one lingering limitation with the model. Key strengths are that CS is intuitively appealing and relatively easy to learn and that it helps participants clearly conceptualize the entire supervisory process. The limitation is that there appears to be a small, but persistent, number of supervisors who, although trained in CS, tend to exhibit a mismatch of style with supervisee developmental level.Practical implicationsThere is enough research evidence to suggest that the CS model has potential to be adapted and studied by managerial personnel across a variety of other supervisory areas; and that it could enhance supervisors’ mentoring of protégés engaged in learning and/or improving the skills and knowledge specific to their particular fields.Originality/valueThe author invites collaborative inquiry across disciplines in order to have scholars and practitioners consider applying the CS model in their mentoring activities; and also to study and to disseminate the results in order to add to the research base on CS.
Have you met your organization's computer usage policy?
Authors: Foltz Charles B. , Paul Cronan Timothy , Jones Thomas W. 
Published: March 2005

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the effectiveness of computer usage policies in university settings.Design/methodology/approachStudents enrolled in business courses at three midwestern universities were divided, by class, into control and experimental groups. All subjects were asked to complete a survey regarding their awareness of university computer usage policies, consequences of misuse, and methods of policy distribution. The experimental group was exposed to sample computer usage policies. Two weeks later, all subjects were asked to complete the same survey again.FindingsResults suggest that most students have not read their university computer usage policies. However, the presence of a computer usage policy does influence students who have read those policies, but a single exposure is insufficient to influence all subjects.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample is limited to students from three universities.Practical implicationsWritten policy statements alone cannot serve as a cornerstone of security; multiple factors must be used to communicate the content of the deterrents.Originality/valueThis study notes that the existence of computer usage policies within a university (or organization) does not ensure that all users are familiar with the content of those policies and the penalties imposed for their violation. Providing a copy of computer usage policies to students (or employees) and verbally highlighting major points are not sufficient exposure to eliminate indifference about computer misuse.
A web‐based supplier evaluation tool for the product development process
Authors: Humphreys Paul , Huang George , Cadden Trevor 
Published: March 2005

PurposeResearch studies have revealed that supplier involvement in the design process is not widely practised. Aims to discuss the lack of an appropriate customer‐supplier interface to assess the suitability of suppliers with reference to design criteria.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes a mechanism for evaluating supplier involvement during product development. The assessment tool includes four types of indices to measure supplier involvement in design, namely: satisfaction index, flexibility index, risk index, and confidence index. These indices measure the extent to which both the customer requirements and the supplier capabilities match or mismatch and therefore reflect the potential or risk of signing a project contract.FindingsAnalysis within a multinational telecommunications company indicates that the selection methodology assists in reducing the product development timeframe since it automates the evaluation process and provides the procurement team with a flexible and responsive tool for assessing prospective suppliers.Research limitations/implicationsAdditional work is required to investigate the integration of other design factors, such as accessibility, degree of innovation and relationship type.Practical implicationsThe methodology has been refined and a prototype internet site has been developed to demonstrate a proof‐of‐the‐concept. A number of benefits and limitations of the system are identified.Originality/valueFirst, it identifies the need to define design‐related criteria for supplier involvement during the product development process. Second, a methodology is proposed which takes into consideration the ability of suppliers to provide solutions beyond the requirements specified by the customer and provides a mechanism for measuring the degree of uncertainty or risk associated with using a supplier.
Critical factors in adopting a knowledge management system for the pharmaceutical industry
Authors: Hung Yu‐Chung , Huang Shi‐Ming , Lin Quo‐Pin , ‐Tsai Mei‐Ling 
Published: March 2005

PurposeThe objective of this study is to discuss the critical success factors involved in implementing a knowledge management system (KMS), in order to enhance a firm's competitiveness, while keeping costs to a minimum.Design/methodology/approachBased on field studies and a literature review, this study outlined 32 variables in the implementation of a KMS. The research targets were on members of the Taiwan Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management Association (TPMMA). Out of the 355 questionnaires sent, 98 valid questionnaires were returned, resulting in a valid return rate of 27.6 percent.FindingsAfter completing the statistical analysis, seven factors were determined to be critical: a benchmarking strategy and knowledge structure; the organizational culture; information technology; employee involvement and training; the leadership and the commitment of senior management; a learning environment and resource control; and evaluation of professional training and teamwork.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper chooses members of TPMMA as research targets; thus, to apply this study to other than pharmaceutical industries requires further research.Practical implicationsStrategy and organizational culture are important in the adoption of a KMS. This study has determined that the pharmaceutical industry has paid special attention to benchmarking strategy. Adopting a KMS can be easy with a core department to maintain proper function of the system. However, companies should utilize the intangible assets available through a KMS to attain full participation from the employees to ensure the success of implementing an effective KMS.Originality/valueThis paper identifies critical factors in adopting a KMS for the pharmaceutical industry. That can offer pragmatic indication for those companies intent on introducing a KMS.
Alternative means to implement ERP
Authors: Trimi Silvana , Lee Sang M. , Olson David L. , Erickson John 
Published: March 2005

PurposeTo discuss relative advantages and disadvantages of internally operated ERP‐ and ASP‐delivered ERP functionality, and present the possible future of these alternatives.Design/methodology/approachA thorough review of recent published papers dealing with advantages and disadvantages of ERP and ASP is presented. A good balance of theoretical analysis and real‐world application examples of ERP and ASP is maintained. Some of the disadvantages were discussed from the managerial perspective. Based on these approaches, the possible future direction of ERP and ASP is explored.FindingsToday, organizations need ERP functionality to cope with the increasing complexity and competitive forces in the environment. Thus, ERP‐ and ASP‐delivered ERP systems are widely applied, often with disappointing consequences. The choice that organizations must make should be based on a thorough review of the advantages and disadvantages of each alternativevis‐à‐viscorporate strategies and resources.Research limitations/implicationsA good managerial overview of ERP and ASP for enterprise solutions. Discussion is based on the managerial perspective of the roles of ERP in organizations.Originality/valueThis paper focuses on the weaknesses of ERP and ASP rather than glorifying their functions.
The implementation gaps for the knowledge management system
Authors: Lin Chinho , Tseng Shu‐Mei 
Published: March 2005

PurposeThis paper proposes a fully holistic framework of the “Knowledge Management Gap” to demonstrate the management gaps that might occur when implementing the knowledge management system. Design/methodology/approachThe relevant literature is reviewed, and then the concept structure proposed.FindingsThis study identifies reasons for knowledge gaps and demonstrates several fundamental approaches to avoid them. Furthermore, corrective actions are proposed to enhance the success of the implementation of the knowledge management systems.Research limitations/implicationsThis study tries to explore the factors associated with knowledge management gaps. This research is an exploratory study, so the results are only propositions; hence an empirical survey should be carried out in the future.Practical implicationsThis framework is expected to provide a convenient way to audit the knowledge management gaps, and thus enterprises can make corrections and adjustments accordingly to greatly enhance their chances of success, while implementing the knowledge management systems.Originality/valueAn innovated framework of “KM gaps” is proposed to fully illustrate the management gaps that might occur during the implementation of knowledge management. Furthermore, the actions to reduce the misfit between the capability and implementation of KM systems are also demonstrated.
Adopting virtual private network for electronic commerce
Authors: Chou David C. , Yen David C. , Chou Amy Y. 
Published: March 2005

PurposeTo identify the content of virtual private network, the suitability of virtual private network for e‐commerce transactions, and the economics issue of virtual private network.Design/methodology/approachA range of virtual private network concepts and technologies are identified and compared. The capability, suitability, and pros and cons of adopting virtual private network for electronic commerce are discussed. An economic analysis is used to compare the cost and benefit of adopting virtual private network in organizations.FindingsThis paper provides information about virtual private network technology. It also indicates the advantages and disadvantages of adopting virtual private network for electronic commerce practices. The economic analysis provides a real example of technology adoption decision making. Strategic implications of adopting virtual private network are detected.Practical implicationsThe economic analysis on adopting virtual private network provides an example of information technology selection decision for the electronic commerce community.Originality/valueThis paper provides an economic approach to analyzing the decision process for information technology adoption. It suggests that the integration of virtual private network into electronic commerce architecture would perform secure and inexpensive online transactions for adopters of this new technology.
A support system for mediating brownfields redevelopment negotiations
Authors: Sounderpandian Jayavel , Frank Nancy , Chalasani Suresh 
Published: March 2005

PurposeTo present a support system which will be useful to mediators of brownfield redevelopment negotiations between government and industry representatives.Design/methodology/approachThe support system optimizes a weighted utility function of the parties involved in the negotiation. It provides not only the optimal solution but also some sensitivity reports which the mediator can use to lead the negotiations in the most effective direction.FindingsThe spreadsheet technology is sufficient to solve the optimization problem and produce sensitivity reports in real time. Consequently, a mediator equipped with a laptop computer can lead the negotiations efficiently.Research limitations/implicationsIt is possible to achieve Pareto optimal contingent contracts among the stakeholders of brownfield redevelopment projects.Practical implicationsMany negotiations that were stalled in the past could be completed successfully using the support system presented here. New negotiations might be completed more efficiently than without the system.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to offer detailed guidance to mediators of brownfield redevelopment projects.
Looking at electronic resources librarians
Authors: Bergman Barbara J. 
Published: March 2005

PurposeThe position of electronic resources librarian emerged as a specialty to deal with the management of digital resources, but little has been written about the librarians now working in this specialty. This article aims to review the history of gender inequity in libraries, outline salary issues in libraries, and attempt to define what an electronic resources librarian is, with systems librarians being used for comparison.Design/methodology/approachElectronic resources librarians were surveyed for gender, salary, and other demographic information in an attempt to determine whether gender equity or gender stratification is occurring within their specialty.FindingsThe majority of respondents work in the USA, but 20 percent worked around the world. Results appear to indicate that males are not being favored over females for employment in this library specialty. Experience and geographic location were found to be the only significant factors affecting salary.Research limitations/implicationsFurther data need to be gathered from a greater number of electronic resources librarians in order to determine the validity of these results.Originality/valueElectronic resources management appears to substantially blur the line between public and technical services. This blurring could be an interesting aspect to examine more closely to see if the computerization of library resources is changing the definition of what librarians do as well as that of what libraries are.
The gate to understanding: Swedish libraries and immigrants
Authors: Jönsson‐Lanevska Yelena 
Published: March 2005

PurposeTo investigate the special services for immigrants which are offered by Swedish libraries on their different levels (regional, local and school) and how these services conduct themselves to the development of the harmonic multicultural society.Design/methodology/approachThe methods used in this research were interviews with librarians, the study of documents, followed by a comparative analysis. The guiding theory was a three‐phase model mentioned by Gillis Herlitz, according to which a newcomer goes through stages in an adaptation period. Phase 1 is described as a positive “honeymoon” phase, while phase 2 is a critical period of negative emotions, dominated by disappointment, which then ideally should be resolved in phase 3, where the individual reaches a balancing stage of cultural integration and successful adaptation.FindingsThe performances of public libraries on different levels seem to operate in a way that corresponds to the different phases in this model. The approach of the local libraries is more individual and psychological. Their services correspond to those immigrants, who find themselves in the “disappointment” phase, whereas the activities of the regional libraries are more informative and suitable for the “balancing” phase. The school libraries have the educational features and do not depend on the phase of immigrants’ adaptation.Research limitations/implicationsThe Public Library of Borås, The Library of Komvux (The Municipal Adult Education Library) and The Hässlehus Library (the library in the district occupied mainly by immigrants) were chosen for this study.Practical implicationsTo help immigrants overcome their difficulties of adaptation period in the new country.Originality/valueThis paper demonstrates how the libraries can act as a lifeline for immigrants.
Participation in the global knowledge commons
Authors: Chan Leslie , Costa Sely 
Published: March 2005

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a review of recent trends in the open access (OA) movement, as well as to discuss the significance of those trends for information access in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachAn analysis of the recent literature was carried out, focusing on the benefits of a greater information access in developing countries. The paper also brings together the diverse experiences from the authors on OA publishing and archiving with institutions in a number of developing countries.FindingsKnowledge workers in developing countries are now getting access to scholarly and scientific publications and electronic resources at a level that is unmatched historically. This is highly significant, if developing countries are to meet the millennium development goals. The OA movement and the growing number of Open Archive Initiative‐compliant institutional repositories promise to provide even greater access to resources and publications that were previously inaccessible. These low cost technology and interoperability standards are providing great opportunities for libraries and publishers in developing countries to disseminate local research and to bridge the south‐north knowledge gap.Originality/valueThis paper therefore provides recommendations for knowledge workers on how to actively participate in and contribute to the global knowledge commons. The results and recommendations contained in the paper should be of interest to authors, policy makers, funding agencies and information professionals in both developing and developed countries.