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Towards the incorporation of activity-based learning and reflection into Botswana information systems development practice
|
[
"Learning",
"Botswana ISD Practice",
"Cultural-historical activity theory",
"Developmental work research",
"Information systems development"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Information Systems Development (ISD) has seen significant evolution over the years, not only because of rapid changes in technology, but also due to significant advances in methodologies used. The methodology evolution has for example resulted in the general move from waterfall (structured) methodologies towards more agile methodologies with a view to achieving rapid application development. However, despite these changes there are still implementation challenges that manifest themselves in slow system uptake and minimal work improvement.\nStudy background and context: Current Botswana ISD practice model\nMethodology for the co-design process: Developmental Work Research (DWR)\nTowards an improved ISD practice model: Initial analysis of learning failure\nDiscussion: This study has provided a further example of how DWR can be applied in the co-design of work practice, especially where government and industry are involved (Hill et al. (2007)). In applying DWR to the collaborative review and redesign of ISD practice the key CHAT principles of historicity, contradictions, multivoicedness and expansion of the object were applied. The analysis showed primary and secondary contradictions in current ISD practice which contribute towards ineffective learning by social actors. The analysis also showed the multi-voicedness of activity systems as participants during the co-design sessions expressed differed perspectives on first of all current challenges and then what they viewed as solutions to those challenges.\nConclusion: This study has contributed to ISD practice through the incorporation of activity-based learning and reflection to current Botswana ISD practice. In addition, there have also been contributions to methodology through the manner in which DWR was applied. This is discussed next.\nChallenges and limitations: Although there have been some notable contributions to practice and theory, there have also been some research challenges and limitations.\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report on a co-design process that was initiated between government and the private sector in Botswana to redesign current ISD practice with particular focus on finding a solution for learning failure. Learning failure was analysed retrospectively using concepts of \"task conscious\" and \"learning conscious\" learning.\nDesign/methodology/approach: On the basis of a typical Botswana ISD project in which the lead researcher participated, inefficiencies and shortcomings in the standardised Botswana ISD process in terms of full utilisation of learning processes to support systems success were examined. Through the Developmental Work Research (DWR) methodology, which is based on Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) principles, IS practitioners from government and the private sector, together with users collaborated to redesign the current Botswana ISD work practice in order to address this shortcoming.\nFindings: The result has been the incorporation of activity-based learning and reflection into a proposed improved ISD practice framework for Botswana.\nPractical implications: Through collaborative redesign between government and industry, a new Botswana ISD practice model that incorporates activity-based learning and reflection has been designed, and findings from examination of the model suggest that it has potential to address current learning deficiencies and thus contribute to efforts of avoiding IS failures. There have also been contributions to DWR resulting from the way in which the methodology was applied.\nOriginality/value: This is the first known study that uses concepts of \"task-conscious\" and \"learning-conscious\" learning to analyse learning retrospectively and at the same time adopting the DWR methodology in the social context of a developing country such as Botswana.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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"Competence" and occupational standards: observations from six European countries
|
[
"Competence",
"Licensing",
"Vocational education and training",
"Occupational standards",
"Vocational qualifications"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The idea of \"competence\", and more specifically its expression through occupational standards of one form or another, has become an established if contested part of the European vocational education and training (VET) landscape over the past decade and more. Influenced partly by the British system of occupational standards and promoted via the European Union (EU) agencies CEDEFOP and the European Training Foundation (ETF), a steady growth has been apparent in the number of countries developing standards that are designed to reflect what is needed to act effectively in various occupations (CEDEFOP, 2009). However, while the number of countries developing competence standards is increasing, it is notable that support for occupational standards in the UK has declined in the light of their questionable impact on initial VET (e.g. Wolf, 2011), and at least in England the policy infrastructure geared to maintaining them is being dismantled. On the other hand, the use of competence standards, either taken from national systems or developed specifically for the purpose, to underpin occupational licensing and the award of professionally qualified status appears more successful. A recent comparison of six EU member countries - three with separate occupational standards frameworks, and three without, including one in each group with a tradition of self-governing, standard-setting professions - while unable to offer any conclusive evidence into the appropriateness of different systems, provides some useful insights.\nThe idea of competence: A substantial literature has built up around understandings and uses of \"competence\", both in the context of individual countries - within Europe particularly in France, the UK, and Germany - and comparatively; a summary up to 2004 is provided by Le Deist and Winterton (2005), and subsequent comparative European discussions include Mulder et al. (2007), Weigel et al. (2007), Winterton (2009), Brockmann et al. (2009, 2011) and Le Deist and Tutlys (2012). This literature points to significant differences in national traditions, as well as the need to distinguish between on one hand the conceptualisation of competence and on the other the way that it is applied in different VET and professional applications, both within and between countries. Several authors have also commented that usage in European VET instruments, particularly the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), fails to offer clarity (Winterton, 2009; Le Deist and Tutlys, 2012; Lester, 2015a).\nCompetence standards and VET in the partner countries: As part of the project ComProCom, each partner was tasked with summarising, under a set of common headings (listed in an appendix at the end of the paper), the use of competence models in VET and professional development in their respective countries. Partners were advised to draw on their own knowledge, refer to key documents and reviews, and if necessary contact the relevant authorities in their countries, but were not asked to conduct a comprehensive literature review. The UK report was written first and circulated as an example. Partners focussed on matters that needed to be taken into account in the development work within the project, but between them provided enough information to make some more general observations. The summaries that follow are based principally on these reports.\nObservations: The six countries in the study divide into those that have a national system of (occupational) competence standards independent of qualifications or curricula (the UK, Poland and Greece), and those where descriptions of competence are at least for initial VET an integral part of training curricula (Germany and Austria) or qualification specifications (Ireland). A further distinction can be made in that in Germany and Austria there is an identifiable occupational standard built in to the training specification even if it does not have any other application, while in Ireland the occupational requirements are more closely integrated into the qualification and cannot always be separated out as an \"occupational standard\". Recent policy changes suggest that the UK will take on some of the characterstics of the German/Austrian and Irish systems in the sense that both apprenticeship standards and the content of vocational qualifications will increasingly be developed directly.\nConclusions: The above analysis suggests some tentative conclusions about the use of competence standards in initial VET, for development of the existing workforce, and for the award of qualified or licensed status.\nAcknowlegement: This report was informed by national reports prepared by the ComProCom project partners. In addition to the two authors for their respective countries, the others were: Jochen Seibold and Jens Hoffmann, SBG-Dresden, Germany; Sinead Heneghan, Irish Institute of Training and Development, Ireland; Anna Koniotaki and Georgia Gonou, EETAA, Greece; and Erol Koc, die Berater, Austria. The authors are also grateful to Dr Georg Hanf, formerly of BIBB, for reviewing the overall report and an earlier draft of this paper, and contributing additional material to the section on Germany. ComProCom is supported by funding from the European Commission's Erasmus+ programme, via the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) in Greece. European Commission support does not constitute an endorsement of the contents of this paper, which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained in it.\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review the use of \"competence\" as a concept and through the use of occupational competence standards in six European countries.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Partners in an Erasmus+ project in each of the six countries prepared a review of the use of \"competence\" in their countries using a common template. The authors of this paper reviewed additional literature, summarised the individual country reviews and provided an analysis and commentary.\nFindings: \"Competence\" is becoming a widely used concept across Europe, but its interpretation and application both vary. Between them, the countries in the study illustrate the use of separate occupational standards, both as a national strategy and developed by self-governing professions; as well as competence embedded directly in qualification and training specifications. The use of separate standards as a mandatory component in national vocational education and training systems is questioned, while the use of appropriate standards for licensing and qualified status is largely endorsed.\nResearch limitations/implications: The country reviews were conducted principally from the perspective of informing the developments taking place in the project, so were not comprehensive and also differed in emphasis between countries.\nPractical implications: The study points to the need to avoid promoting any particular model of occupational competence at a European level, as opposed to seeking common ground that will aid mutual recognition of qualifications. It also cautions against the uncritical transfer of models and policies from one national system to another.\nOriginality/value: The paper provides additional evidence against \"policy borrowing\" without careful consideration of context, and contrasts the use of competence standards as part of a system-wide strategy with their tailored application for specific purposes.\n",
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Incorporating privacy requirements into the system design process: The PriS conceptual framework
|
[
"Privacy",
"Systems software"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The Internet as a contemporary data highway on which the global information society is built, is known for many security risks. The rapid development of new information infrastructures increases our dependability on the Internet and might lead to a vulnerable information society based on insecure technologies. In this way, individual privacy is seriously endangered and is becoming an international problem. Indeed, more and more personally identifiable information are electronically transmitted and disseminated over insecure networks and processed by websites and databases, which lack proper privacy protection mechanisms and tools. Therefore, the need for a methodology that considers and safely guards the privacy requirements (i.e. anonymity, pseudonymity, unlinkability, and unobservability) is immense. To this end, many countries have developed a privacy legislation framework, which only solves some legal aspects of privacy within country's borders. An international harmonisation of privacy legislations is needed but is hardly achievable due to cultural differences. From a software systems perspective, a number of security oriented technologies and architectures have been proposed in the literature. Despite the fact, that these architectures are more privacy oriented than security oriented, they focus only on specific issues without providing an intergraded solution for meeting all four basic privacy requirements. Furthermore, recent research supports the need for considering privacy requirements earlier in the system development process during the design rather than implementation level (Kalloniatis et al., 2004).This paper presents a new methodology, called PriS - Privacy Safeguard, for incorporating basic privacy requirements into the system design process. PriS provides a set of concepts for modelling privacy requirements in terms of organisational goals during the system design process. In addition, it describes a systematic way of working for analysing the impact of privacy goals onto the organisational processes and the associated software systems supporting these processes. PriS concepts are based on the Enterprise Knowledge Development framework described in (Loucopoulos and Kavakli, 1999, Loucopoulos, 2000). PriS methodology has a high degree of applicability on systems that wish to provide services to their users based on the four privacy requirements mentioned above like anonymous browsing, untraceable transactions etc.The paper is organised as follows. The next section provides a brief overview of privacy related research in the field of software systems development and identifies the need for a methodology that will address both organisational and technological concerns in an integrated way. To this end, the PriS conceptual framework and way-of-working are presented in the next section, and tested on the e-VOTE application. Finally, the paper reflects on the applicability of PriS and points to further developments.\nPrivacy issues and requirements: The term privacy is about complying with a person's desires when it comes to handling his or her personal information. Among other, this statement includes users' right to browse the Internet or use applications without being tracked unless permission is granted in advance (Cannon, 2004).Two definitions are commonly used for privacy. The first is given by two American lawyers, S. Warren and L. Brandeis who defined privacy as \"the right to be left alone\" (Warren and Brandeis, 1890). A subsequent definition states that \"privacy is the claim of individuals, groups and institutions to determine for themselves, when, how and what extend information about them is communicated to others\" (Westin, 1967)One of the main goals of privacy experts is to protect users' anonymity and illegal revelation of personal information for which they are custodians. The basic requirements that need to be considered for protecting user's privacy when developing Internet-based services are anonymity, pseudonymity, unlinkability and unobservability.Research efforts aiming to the protection of user privacy fall in two main categories: security-oriented requirement engineering (SRE) methodologies and privacy enhancing technologies (PETs). The former focus on methods and techniques for considering security issues (including privacy) during the early stages of system development and the latter describe technological solutions for assuring user privacy during system implementation.Requirements engineering methodologies addressing privacy issues\nThe privacy safeguard (PriS) methodology: PriS is a privacy requirements engineering methodology, which provides a set of concepts for modelling privacy requirements in the organisation domain and a systematic way-of-working for translating these requirements into system models.The conceptual model used in PriS is based on the Enterprise Knowledge Development (EKD) framework (Loucopoulos and Kavakli, 1999, Loucopoulos, 2000), which is a systematic approach to developing and documenting enterprise knowledge, helping enterprises to consciously develop schemes for implementing changes (e.g., the introduction of a new software system); an enterprise is defined as the organisation about which the proposed software system is to provide some service.Modelling of organisational knowledge in EKD is achieved through the modelling of:* organisational goals, that expresses the intentional objectives that control and govern its operation;* the \"physical\" processes, that collaboratively operationalise organisational goals; and* the software systems, that support the above processes. EKD adopts a goal-oriented approach to software engineering. For an overview of goal-oriented methodologies see (Kavakli, 2004).The EKD generic schema is shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, processes represent what needs to be done, goals justify why the associated processes exist, while systems describe how processes can be implemented in terms of appropriate system architectures. In this way, a connection between system purpose and system structure is established.PriS conceptual model\nApplicability of PriS methodology in the e-VOTE application: This section demonstrates the application of the PriS methodology on an electronic voting project (e-VOTE). A detailed description of the e-VOTE project can be found in EU-Information Society DG (2001).The electronic voting system\nConclusions: The e-VOTE case described above reflects the concerns of a large number of organisations that wish to offer Internet-based services without compromising users' privacy. Although a number of technological solutions exist, these cannot be applied without considering the specific organisational context, taking into consideration the different views of the stakeholders involved. PriS provides a methodological framework within which decision-making is based on a common language, the PriS conceptual model, and guided by a systematic way of working.Unlike existing security-oriented methodologies, which concentrate either to the design or the implementation level, PriS establishes a clear link between technological solutions and the system design process. In addition, PriS, specifically focuses on privacy goals (anonymity, pseudonymity, unlinkability, unobservability), rather than considering privacy requirements together with other non-functional requirements. This helps stakeholders to identify privacy-related issues in a more \"targeted\" way since they are guided by specific requirements and not by general issues and objectives.The appropriate solutions for accommodating privacy in the organisation domain in PriS, are progressively generated by studying the impact of privacy goals on organisational goals and processes in a top-down manner. Relating to existing organisational goals and processes proved to be very useful in clarifying and resolving privacy issues. In addition, this systematic way-of-working together with the use of standard keywords for defining this impact (improve, introduce, etc...) makes the whole process more understandable and enables the engagement of different stakeholders.Finally, guidance relating to the applicability of specific privacy-enhancing system architectures assists system developers to reach a decision regarding the proper system architecture, in an informed way.Application of PriS in the e-VOTE case also revealed a number of limitations, which form the basis of our current research efforts. One of the most challenging steps in PriS way-of-working is analysing the impact of privacy goals on enterprise goals and processes. Indeed, recognising which enterprise goals are affected, or the type of impact of privacy goals on enterprise goals, is not always straightforward. Expressing goals in a formal way can assist the automation of the whole process and enable the generation of alternative solutions for realising privacy goals. Furthermore, it will allow the development of appropriate case tools. Finally, guidance related to the selection of appropriate implementation solutions can be further elaborated to provide a list of specific contextual criteria to system developers for helping them select a specific architecture (e.g. cost, implementation complexity, training or experience required for maintaining the system, etc.)\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - To present a new methodology for incorporating privacy requirements into the system design process called PriS, and describe its applicability in the e-VOTE system for presenting methodology's way-of-working.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - PriS is a requirement engineering methodology focused on privacy issues. It provides a set of concepts for modelling privacy requirements (anonymity, pseudonymity, unlinkability and unobservability) in the organisation domain and a systematic way-of-working for translating these requirements into system models. The conceptual model used in PriS is based on the Enterprise Knowledge Development (EKD) framework. PriS models privacy requirements as a special type of goal.\nFindings: - Based on the analysis of a number of well-known privacy-enhancing technologies as well as of existing security requirement engineering methodologies, this paper pinpoints the gap between system design methodologies and technological solutions. To this end, PriS is suggested, with a view to providing a methodological framework for matching privacy-related requirements with the proper implementation techniques.\nOriginality/value: - This paper proposes a new methodology for addressing privacy requirements during the design process. It guides developers to choose the most appropriate implementation techniques for realising the identified privacy issues. PriS methodology has a high degree of applicability on Internet systems that wish to provide services that ensure users privacy, such as anonymous browsing, untraceable transactions, etc.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Interview: Jane Oates on collaborations between academia and government policy makers
|
[
"Partnership",
"Social change",
"Social policy",
"Education"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Jane Oates currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor to New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corizine, and the Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education, which provides coordination, planning, policy development, and advocacy for the state's higher education system. Prior to joining Governor Corzine in March, 2006, Jane was the Senior Policy Advisor on higher education, national service, adult literacy, education research, and workforce issues to the US Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP). While in the Senate, Jane was the chief staff to the Democratic members of the HELP Committee on two re-authorizations of the Higher Education Act, the re-authorization of the Office of Educational Research, the creation and implementation of the Workforce Investment Act, and The Carl Perkins Vocational Education Act.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this interview is to gain insight from the career of policy-maker and researcher, Jane Oates, on the collaborations between academia and government to effect social change.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This article is based on an interview with Jane Oates conducted in May of 2007.\nFindings: - Based on her experiences, she states that social change requires a three-way partnership between academia, government, and the people they serve. She makes specific recommendations for the ways these groups can find a common language to reach their shared goals.\nOriginality/value: - This account provides the unique perspective of a professional who has spent years in both academia and policy-making.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Poets House Show-case: selected titles 2010
|
[
"Poetry",
"Collections management"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: The Showcase is Poets House's annual, all-inclusive exhibition of more than 2,000 poetry books, chapbooks, broadsides, and multimedia works published in the USA. Poets House, a non-profit literary organization founded by Poet Laureate Stanley Kunitz and arts administrator Elizabeth Kray as a space for poetry in New York City, introduced the Showcase as a combination collection-development approach to building our library and a celebration of poetry publishing. We invite publishers to participate by donating copies of their new poetry titles, and in this way we continually add to our library all of the latest books, building one of the most comprehensive collections of poetry available to the public.\nIndividual collections: Ali, Kazim. Bright Felon: Autobiography and Cities (2009) Wesleyan University Press (HB $22.95, ISBN: 9780819569165)\nProse: Hoffman, Adina. My Happiness Bears No Relation to Happiness: A Poet's Life in the Palestinian Century (2010) Yale University Press (PB $20.00, ISBN: 9780300164275)\nAnthologies: Banerjee, Neelanjana, Summi Kaipa, and Pireeni Sundaralingam, eds. Indivisible: An Anthology of Contemporary South Asian American Poetry (2010) University of Arkansas Press (PB $24.95, ISBN: 9781557289315)\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Poets House, a poetry special collection in New York, hosts an annual exhibit of the preceding year's 2,100+ poetry publications in the USA. This paper aims to offer a selection of recommended titles that reflect the range of poetry titles including single-author works, anthologies, and prose about poetry.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper researched and requested donations of 2009-2010 poetry titles from US poetry publishers to assemble and display a comprehensive collection of poetry publications, from which a selection of 50+ titles was made. The selections should appeal to a range of poetry readers, from novices and students to poets looking to access the latest work from their peers.\nFindings: - More than 2,500 poetry titles were published in the USA between June 2009 and June 2010. These titles range from mainstream publishers to independent presses to artists' collectives publishing works from established poets as well as emerging and international poets.\nResearch limitations/implications: - Without a budget for collection development, the exhibit and resulting titles represent those which publishers have opted to donate to the library. Every effort is made to be all-inclusive, with the understanding that publishers may send only a selection of their list. The selected titles herein are based on the titles received for the exhibition.\nPractical implications: - For 18 years Poets House's annual Show-case has been the main collection-development tool. Publishers donate copies of their titles, which are arranged by publisher for a month-long exhibition. This approach enriches the poetry special collection, a unique poetry library built on community participation. The all-inclusive collection-development approach results in a full representation of poetry publishing.\nOriginality/value: - A selection made from a comprehensive collection of the year's poetry titles offers a sample of poetry publishing from big to small presses in the USA.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Surviving post-socialism: the role of informal economic practices
|
[
"Former Soviet Union (FSU)",
"Central Europe",
"Eastern Europe",
"Economics",
"Socialism"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: This special issue of the International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy devotes itself to the issue of \"Surviving post-socialism\", with a particular geographical focus on countries located in the former Soviet Union (FSU) and in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Six articles are included in this special issue. This special issue seeks to contribute to the existing body of literature on surviving post-socialism in general (Caldwell, 2004; Wallace and Haerpfer, 2002; Dunn, 2004; Wallace and Latcheva, 2006; Polese, 2006; Smith and Stenning, 2006; Stenning et al., 2010) and in particular, across all the papers included, pays particular attention to the role of informal economic relations and practices, as fundamental parts of wider economic relations across the FSU and CEE regions. Whilst the papers included in this special issue demonstrate the richness of empirical data, which can be generated, also they demonstrate how authors, located in different academic traditions - sociology, political economy and anthropology - can clearly contribute to debates regarding the role of informal economic relations in a number of theoretical and conceptual ways.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This paper represents an editorial for this special issue on \"Surviving post-socialism\", with a particular geographical focus on countries located in the former Soviet Union (FSU) and in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). In total, six articles are included in this special issue, which seeks to contribute to the existing body of literature on surviving post-socialism in general and in particular, across all the papers included, paying particular attention to the role of informal economic relations and practices, as fundamental parts of wider economic relations across the FSU and CEE regions. Whilst the papers included in this special issue demonstrate the richness of empirical data which can be generated, also they demonstrate how authors, located in different academic traditions - sociology, political economy and anthropology - can clearly contribute to debates regarding the role of informal economic relations in a number of theoretical and conceptual ways.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This paper attempts to synthesise the main contributions of the six papers within the special issue and in particular seeks to engage with core questions relating to how the empirical findings in these papers contribute to relevant wider theoretical and conceptual debates.\nFindings: - This paper finds that there is a high degree of linkages between the six papers, in particular relating to the issue of the intermeshing of formal and informal economic spheres.\nOriginality/value: - The value of this paper is that it provides an introduction, overview and clear and concise summary of the remaining six papers in this special issue on \"Surviving post-socialism\", outlining the special issue's core aims and contributions.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Promoting firm innovativeness through servant leadership and corporate social responsibility to employees
|
[
"Servant leadership",
"Corporate social responsibility",
"CSR",
"Innovativeness",
"Corporate social responsibility to employees"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Firm innovativeness is vital to firm survival, success and competitive advantage (Varadarajan, 2009). Innovativeness or innovation capacity is considered as the openness of an organisation to new ideas, new ways of doing things, creativity and so forth, which gives the organisation the chance to be the first to market new products and services (Calantone et al., 2002). However, the pursuit of firm innovativeness can be challenging and entails a series of costs. In this sense, firms differ in their degree of innovativeness because of the tension between the need to be innovative and the costs involved in making innovations happen (Prasad and Junni, 2017). Some scholars have recently explored the reasons why some firms are more innovative than others and have found that firm innovativeness is linked to organisational and managerial determinants (e.g. Prasad and Martens, 2015).Leadership style is one of the most important individual factors that promote firm innovation (Aragon-Correa et al., 2007). According to Topcu et al. (2015), managers should be encouraged to use leadership methods and create a convenient organisational climate which triggers employees' innovative behaviours.Thanks to social networks and the media in general, there is a public awareness of the misconduct of organisational leaders. Therefore, problems such as bullying leadership, abuse of power, unethical practices, toxic emotions, social isolation and alienation in the workplace and violation of employees' psychological well-being and work-life balance are common in contemporary organisations (Sendjaya et al., 2008, p. 402). The costs associated with these problems, including a loss of stakeholders' trust, have led to an increasing demand for organisations to be people-oriented and managed ethically, achieving their goals from a moral point of view (Rodriguez-Carvajal et al., 2014).This shift in the study of leadership has been reflected in an increased interest in servant leadership, as it highlights the followers' interests and morality (Peterson et al., 2012). In this context, servant leadership emerges as a leadership approach that is more relevant and timely than other value-laden leadership approaches (Sendjaya et al., 2008). Furthermore, Williams et al. (2017) pointed out that the number of empirical studies conducted using the servant leadership construct is insufficient.According to Williams et al. (2017), servant leadership is a suitable concept to promote creativity in the current context of knowledge and innovative organisations, as it serves the needs of the followers in an authentic and empowering manner. Gilley et al. (2011) described servant leaders as equal partners who, through a participatory approach, work alongside employees to promote individual and organisational success. Recent studies have found a significant relationship between servant leadership and innovation (e.g. Yang et al., 2017). However, to the best of our knowledge, little research has explored the underlying mechanisms that explain this relationship. Previous studies identified that the influence of servant leadership on different outcomes, including creativity, may be indirect. It is therefore necessary to study the mediating mechanisms in the relationship between servant leadership and different outcomes (Liden et al., 2014).Corporate social responsibility (CSR) offers a specific and focused context in which to explore leader impacts (Christensen et al., 2014, p. 175). However, the two disciplines have rarely been combined in the academic field, despite the acknowledged importance of studying the antecedents and consequences of CSR, focusing on how leaders affect this activity. In this sense, we address calls by academics to explore the relationship between leadership and CSR (Khan et al., 2018). Among the new leadership styles, servant leadership is the most appropriate style to move the theory about CSR forward (Christensen et al., 2014).Chen et al. (2016b) asserted that, despite this positive relationship, CSR comprises numerous dimensions that must be studied separately. It is unclear whether all dimensions are beneficial for innovation, so combining several dimensions may give an incomplete understanding of how innovation is fostered within firms. Therefore, these authors recommend focusing on a specific dimension of CSR when studying its influence on innovation. In this paper, we focus on corporate social responsibility to employees (CSRE).In the following sections, a review of the literature about servant leadership and CSRE is conducted. Considering previous research, relationships among these constructs and firm innovativeness are also established. Subsequently, details of the methodology used to analyse the proposed hypothesis are provided. The study finishes with the presentation of results, conclusions, suggestions for future research and evaluation of the limitations of the present research.\n2. Literature review and hypotheses: 2.1 Theoretical framework\n3. Research methodology: 3.1 Data collection\n4. Results: 4.1 Descriptive statistics and psychometric properties of the measurement scales\n5. Discussion: From a theoretical point of view, our results provide evidence of the importance of servant leadership in promoting CSRE, which, in turn, fosters firm innovativeness.The main contribution of the study is to the mediating effect of CSRE. Although servant leadership and CSR practices are theoretically linked (e.g. Van Dierendonck, 2011), recent research has highlighted that CSR as an outcome of servant leadership has been less studied and deserves more attention (Christensen et al., 2014). This study represents an effort to shed light on this gap.In addition, the results of this research contribute to the literature about the influence of leadership on innovation. Hughes et al. (2018) consider that little attention has been paid to newer leadership approaches, such as servant leadership, as predictors of innovation and creativity in the workplace compared to other leadership theories and styles. Nonetheless, different studies have already provided evidence of the positive effect of this type of leadership to promote organisational contexts that foster innovation (e.g. Panaccio et al., 2015; Ruiz-Palomino et al., 2019; Yoshida et al., 2014). The conclusions of the study allow us to add CSRE to the list of variables that help to explain how servant leaders boost innovation.Moreover, this research has implications for upper echelons theory and organisational identification theory, which were used to build up the foundations of the present study. Given that servant leadership and its consequences have been studied from different theoretical approaches (Eva et al., 2019), this work reinforces the theoretical framework for servant leadership research.This study proposes the following implications to help managers to increase firm innovativeness. Managers interested in increasing firm innovativeness within organisations should focus on the different leadership behaviours related to servant leadership: empowerment, servitude, accountability, courage, authenticity, humility and stewardship. Specifically, they should pay more attention to selecting people characterised by these dimensions and capable of extending their positive attitude to the rest of the employees. Recruitment and selection processes are paramount to build a servant leadership culture, because training can help accomplish this aim, but it has some limits. Personality characteristics are stable in time and, therefore, more difficult to change. Washington et al. (2006) found that certain values and attributes such as empathy or integrity are related to people who are predisposed to practise servant leadership. In the same vein, Eva et al. (2019) stated that it is unlikely that self-centred, dogmatic, narcissistic people can be trained to be other-centred, sensitive, empathetic, socially sensitive servant leaders. All in all, if recruiters are able to attract and hire managers with the characteristics associated to servant leaders, the training programmes to foster a servant culture could be more effective. Moreover, practitioners should focus promotion in accordance with these dimensions.According to our results, servant leadership may facilitate employee-based CSR actions, which, in addition to having an impact on the company's ability to innovate, have also been shown to influence a greater sense of belonging, higher levels of trust and commitment and increased participation of employees or job satisfaction. Therefore, promoting CSRE might be a way to improve the firm's reputation, and thus not only retain but also attract talented people. Thus, recruiters should communicate to potential applicants the values of the organisation related to CSR and servant leadership, as they may be particularly attracted by companies that embrace CSR practices because such initiatives can signal that the organisation acts with moral concern and treats its employees fairly (Rupp et al., 2006). Moreover, value fit is also relevant to job seekers because the organisation in which they work may become an important part of their self-concept and social identity (Dutton et al., 1994).Specific methodological limitations must be recognised in the present study. First, we administered the questionnaire only to managers (CEOs and HR managers), and therefore leaders estimate their own leadership behaviour. Although there are other studies that follow the same approach (e.g. Garber et al., 2009); future research should collect data taking into account other stakeholders, mainly employees. The present study is cross-sectional, and it would be interesting to study the development of the interaction between leaders and followers, which calls for longitudinal and multilevel studies. Apart from overcoming these limitations, further research could also expand upon the results of this paper by considering the influence of servant leadership on different types of innovation (e.g. radical/incremental) or different phases of the innovation process (e.g. idea-generation, idea-promotion, idea-realisation and implementation stages). In addition, a combination of objective (such as share of new products and patents) and subjective (managerial/employee) measures of innovation would also be advisable.On the other hand, the multidimensional nature of servant leadership may hamper the interpretation of the results of the study as they include many variables. Hughes et al. (2018) suggest moving away from broad leader styles and focusing on the dimensional effects of such styles on innovation and creativity. Consequently, it would be of interest to study separately how the different behaviours of servant leaders, such as stewardship, humility, forgiveness or altruism, affect CSRE and firm innovativeness and to compare their importance.Nonetheless, servant leadership and the study of its antecedents and consequences, especially when they are related to innovation, is a promising field of investigation, so more research needs to be conducted in this area. Other theoretical approaches can be considered when developing new theoretical models. Eva et al. (2019) suggest additional theories to expand the field, such as conservation of resources theory or situational strength theory. However, other approaches that have already been used to disentangle the effects of leadership on innovation, such as social learning theory (e.g. Ullah et al., 2017), can provide new insights into the relationship between servant leadership and innovation. Moreover, new moderating and mediating variables should be taken into account when studying these relationships (for a review, see Hughes et al., 2018).Furthermore, future research should be developed in other cultural contexts, since servant leadership or employee-based CSR is more likely to occur in some countries than others, depending on their orientation towards people, a greater or lesser power distance, as well as different legislation in labour matters.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Based on the upper echelons and organisational identification theories, this paper focuses on the relationship between servant leadership and firm innovativeness, as well as the underlying mechanisms that explain this relationship. More specifically, we analyse the relationship between servant leadership, firm innovativeness and corporate social responsibility to employees (CSRE).\nDesign/methodology/approach: A total of 285 Spanish firms took part in the study, and 570 questionnaires were gathered. Structural equation modelling was used to validate the proposed hypotheses.\nFindings: Results suggest that servant leadership has a positive relationship with firm innovativeness, and this relationship is fully mediated by CSRE.\nResearch limitations/implications: HR managers have an overall view of their company and of the behaviour of other leaders. However, future research should also consider employees perceptions. The present study is cross-sectional, and it would be interesting to study the development of the interaction between leaders and followers, which calls for longitudinal and multilevel studies.\nPractical implications: According to our results, managers could foster firm innovativeness if they select and promote leaders who display the different leadership behaviours related to servant leadership: empowerment, servitude, accountability, courage, authenticity, humility and stewardship. Moreover, training programmes should also foster these behaviours.\nOriginality/value: Few empirical studies analyse the relationship between servant leadership and innovation. The main contribution of the present research is to further the current knowledge of this relationship by disentangling the mediating role of corporate social responsibility to employees.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Dynamic interaction between higher education and economic progress: a comparative analysis of BRICS countries
|
[
"Granger causality",
"Emerging markets",
"Higher education",
"BRICS",
"Vocational education",
"Economic expansion"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The term BRIC was first put forward by O'Neill (2001) in a research paper of Goldman Sachs that referred specifically to the Russian Federation, Federative Republic of Brazil, Republic of India, and the People's Republic of China as being at a comparable stage of socioeconomic development. A global economic power shift to these emerging markets was found, and it had already been taking place as the potential of this bloc grew smoothly and steadily and it was also anticipated to outshine the G7 league by the end of 2027 (Foroohar, 2009). At the end of 2010, the inclusion of the Republic of South Africa changed the name to \"BRICS\". The member countries thereby collaborate on the principle of non-interference and equality that looks for the maximum multilateral benefit, while they also aim to counterbalance the occidental longstanding hard power by smoothly transforming their economic force into stronger political influence (Lopes, 2015).\n2. Literature review: The aim of the literature review is to identify pieces of theoretical foundation relates to the analysis of human capital development, higher education structure and economic advancement and the interactions between them. Samuelson (1948) regarded increased economic output as an outward shift of the curve of production possibility frontier, suggesting that a country's output and services have been constantly growing, which was because of an increase in the resources and efficiency. Nevertheless, Lewis (1955) argued that economic growth was not only deemed the growth in output, but should also be the sustainable growth of the per capita value of output. Kuznets (1971) advanced another theory that includes two additional factors to consider: the increasing supply of goods and services epitomizes economic advancement, and institutional innovation and technological progress are the necessary and sufficient condition for economic development.\n3. Methodology: The aim of the current study is to examine the interactive relationship between development in tertiary education and the economic progress among BRICS countries. Therefore, a quantitative approach of inquiry is adopted based on a positivist worldview. This study is based upon the secondary data and the interaction between the higher education enrollment and economic expansion for each and every BRICS country will be investigated. The relevant indicators for the BRICS were collected from official websites of international organizations and they have a time span of 21 years starting from 1994 and ending in 2014. For simplification purposes, the population of total enrollment (EDU) can be used to indicate the size of higher education and use gross domestic product (GDP) as an index to evaluate economic growth. GDP figures for all BRICS countries were extracted from the World Bank national accounts. The gross enrollment population for each BRICS country was found on the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, and the value of which was calculated by multiplying the total population of the age group who are within five years after leaving secondary school by the gross enrollment ratio at the tertiary level. The GDP value of each country was then converted to the real term by using the 2010 official exchange rates to US dollars.\n4. Models and findings: 4.1 The interactive causal relationship between enrollment rate of tertiary education and economic progress of BRICS countries\n5. Evaluation & discussion: 5.1 Russia\n6. Conclusions: The first contribution of the current research is that this project investigated the dynamics between tertiary education and the increasing economic output in the BRICS countries, which provides useful insights into policy-making in terms of educational development among these countries. Various statistical results have demonstrated that during the studied period, Russian and Indian economic expansion Granger Caused the increased tertiary enrollment in these two countries. While China and South Africa's higher education enrollment Granger Caused improvement in both countries' economic expansion. The Russian government has been consistently attaching importance to the higher education sector as the country had a long-standing tradition of funding the tertiary education since the Soviet time. Indian economy took off gradually after 1991; the favorable economic performance has deemed a catalyst for the increased enrollment in tertiary education. Having started from a very fragile foundation, China and South Africa's main tasks were to increase the provision of basic level education to the broad masses of the people before they were able to pay extra attention to the development of tertiary education. However, the university graduates especially those in the field of science and technology in China and South Africa made a considerable contribution to the advancement of the economy by increasing productivity and supporting industrialization. Unfortunately, Brazil's Granger Causality could not be statistically figured out as the Brazilian data sets were neither stationary nor co-integrated of the same order. The actual results have been far from the ideal scenario, in which an interactive Granger Causality relationship was expected for each of the BRICS countries.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to gain a deeper insight on how education boosts economic progress in key emerging economies. This project is aimed at exploring the interactive dynamics between the tertiary education sector and economic development in BRICS countries. The author also aims to examine how the structure of higher education contributes to economic expansion.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The author uses the time series data of BRICS countries across approximately two decades to determine the statistical causality between the size of tertiary enrollment and economic development. The linear regression model is then used to figure out the different impact levels of academic and vocational training programs at the tertiary level to economic development.\nFindings: Data from all BRICS countries exhibited a unidirectional statistical causality relationship, except the Brazilian data. The national economic expansion Granger Caused increased tertiary enrollment in Russia and India, while in China and South Africa, higher education enrollment Granger Caused economic progress. The impact from tertiary academic training is found to be positive for all BRICS nations, while tertiary vocation training is shown to have impaired the Russian and South African economy.\nResearch limitations/implications: This project is based on a rather small sample size, and the stationary feature of the time series could be different should a larger pool of data spanning a longer period of time is used. In addition, the author also neglects other control variables in the regression model. Therefore, the impact level could be distorted due to possible omitted variable bias.\nPractical implications: Tertiary academic study is found to have a larger impact level to all countries' economic advancement, except for China, during the time frame studied. There is a statistical correlation between the education and economic progress. This is particularly true for BRICS countries, especially China. But the exception is Brazil.\nSocial implications: The government should provide education up to the certain level, as there is a direct correlation to the job creation and economic progress. Furthermore, the government should also work closely with industry to ensure growth of industry and creation of new jobs.\nOriginality/value: The comparative analysis and evaluation of the dynamic interaction of tertiary enrollment and economic output across all five BRICS nations is unique, and it deepens the understanding of the socioeconomic development in these countries from a holistic management perspective.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Information technology capability-enabled performance, future performance, and value
|
[
"Information technology capability",
"Firm performance",
"Future firm performance",
"Firm value",
"Information technology",
"Company performance"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: In recent years, IT investment has accounted for more than 50 percent of all of the capital investments made by US corporations (Laudon and Laudon, 2012). The link between information technology and firm performance is also of interest to IS researchers and practitioners (Stoel and Muhanna, 2009). However, early studies focus on the influence of information technology on performance, as measured by the accounting-based indicators in the current period. For example, Bharadwaj (2000) examined the relationship between information technology capabilities and firm performance. Subsequently, Santhanam and Hartono (2003) further used the sustainability view of information technology to determine the relationship between information technology capabilities and future firm performance. In addition, Wang and Alam (2007) and Muhanna and Stoel (2010) showed that information technology also has an intangible influence and a long-term influence, so they examined the relationship between IT capabilities and firm value, as measured by market-based indicators.Previous studies have examined the benefit that information technology brings to firms from different viewpoints. However, in studying the impact of IT capabilities, all of these studies only focus on a part of firm performance, future firm performance, and firm value. That is, they usually explore the influence of individual partial constructs. Furthermore, these three dependent variables are not clearly defined. This study demonstrates that there are significant differences between the three constructs (i.e. firm performance, future firm performance, and firm value), and that they each mean different things to firms. In summary, previous studies do not provide a complete structure to illustrate the different ultimate outcomes of the use of IT for firms. For this reason, the impact of information technology capabilities on firm performance, future firm performance, and firm value is simultaneously examined in this study.Specifically, this study has three objectives. We will first propose a comprehensive model of all the three factors to be considered at the same time for evaluation of a firm's IT capabilities; second, important variables will be clarified and defined clearly; finally, the results of the model validation will be compared with the prior findings in the literature to draw insights and implications for research and practice.\n2 Literature review: 2.1 Theory background and the underlying model\n3 Hypotheses development: The literature review begins with the most basic argument (i.e. IT capabilities influence firm performance). Further, based on the effect of time, current and future firm performance must be differentiated. In doing so, the lag effect and the sustainable effect of information technology can be explained. In addition, depending on measurement methods, the implications of firm performance and firm value are further identified and it is thought that IT capabilities simultaneously affect these two factors. In sum, IT capabilities simultaneously positively affect firm performance, future firm performance, and firm value.In addition, although previous studies have proposed separate arguments and verification for these constructs, no literature has simultaneously considered these viewpoints and examined them. Most studies have used one of the three constructs. For example, Bharadwaj (2000) only used firm performance; Bharadwaj et al. (1999) and Wang and Alam (2007) only used firm value. Some studies use two constructs at the same time. For example, Santhanam and Hartono (2003) used firm performance and future firm performance. Therefore, if these three measures can be used together to identify the value of IT, the value of IT can be better understood. The research hypothesis is proposed as follows.Research Hypothesis: Firms with superior IT capabilities (relative to all the other firms in the same industry) simultaneously have superior (a) firm performance, (b) future firm performance, and (c) firm value.\n4 Methodology: 4.1 Sample source\n5 Results: 5.1 Parameter test\n6 Discussion and conclusion: 6.1 Discussion of research findings\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to simultaneously determine the impact of information technology capabilities on firm performance, future firm performance, and firm value.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The secondary data for 480 matched-firms are collected from InformationWeek (which provides the IT capabilities ranking) and the Compustat database (which provides financial data).\nFindings: - The results show that IT capabilities positively and significantly influence all three constructs and that the significance level of firm value is higher than that of firm performance and that of future firm performance. That is, IT capabilities are more relevant to firm value, which represents growth opportunities, intangible assets, and innovation, etc.\nPractical implications: - Based on these empirical findings that IT contributes more to the long-term influences than to the short-term influences, firm managers should pay more attention to the strategic positioning that IT provides for firms rather than only enhancing the operational effectiveness.\nOriginality/value: - This study proposes a complete set of constructs, which includes firm performance, future firm performance, and firm value, to measure the different effects of information technology capabilities on firms and to discuss the corresponding managerial implications. Therefore, these three constructs can be further clarified and considered simultaneously. This has not been attempted by previous studies.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Gender and relationship differences in the perceptions of male and female leadership
|
[
"Performance appraisal",
"Managers",
"Peers",
"Supervisors"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Even though women have gained increased access to supervisory and middle management positions, leadership has been predominantly reserved for men in corporate, political, military and other sectors of society. Women are widely represented in management, typically in female-dominated industries (Cabrera et al., 2009) and in industries that are growing (Cohen and Huffman, 2007). Even in these industries, women are less likely to occupy upper-level management positions. Despite improvements over time, scholars have identified ongoing inequalities in the rewards, authority and mobility of male versus female managers (Reskin and Ross, 1992; Stainback and Tomaskovic-Devey, 2009). Research has identified a number of processes that contribute to sustained inequality (Ridgeway, 2001; Padavic and Reskin, 2002; Martin, 2004; Ely and Padavic, 2007; England, 2010; Huffman et al., 2010), ranging from beliefs about female inability to successfully perform in leadership roles, through the women's propensities to display fewer traits and motivations necessary to attain high-level positions (Ridgeway, 2011; Browne, 1999; Goldberg, 1993), to the idea that the lack of qualified women has created a \"pipeline problem\" (Oakley, 2000).\nMale bias in performance evaluations through the lenses of leadership and gender structure theories: Gender structure theory focuses on ways in which interactions between men and women reflect, reproduce or challenge the gender system (Acker, 1990; Charles and Bradley, 2009; Padavic, 1991; Wajcman, 1998). These interactions are based on beliefs regarding status and competences attributed to both genders, as well as on social roles that postulate the normative enactment of gender interactions (Ridgeway, 2001, 2011).\nGeneral influence of social homophily: exploring the male-centered bias in performance evaluations by evaluators of different sexes: Men are - or are taught to be - more competitive toward other men (Gupta et al., 2005) and are sometimes known to employ chivalry when competing with women (Eckel and Grossman, 2001). From this perspective, men may rate the performance of male managers lower than they rate the performance of female managers. There is, however, considerable research that suggests different evaluation outcomes.\nThe impact of interpersonal familiarity; differences in performance evaluations of male and female leaders by different organizational members: boss vs peer evaluators: While the authors expect that male evaluators, both bosses and peers, will provide higher performance ratings to their own sex relative to the assessment of female managers, and that all male evaluators will rate their male targets significantly higher than corresponding female evaluators, we also consider that organizational position might affect performance assessment.\nThe intensified impact of social homophily at upper organizational levels: performance evaluations of male and female leaders by evaluators residing at higher and lower organizational echelons: Kanter (1977) argued that with moving up the organizational hierarchies, powerful positions become characterized by increased uncertainty and necessitate quick and accurate communication about complex, interdependent organizational issues. The need for interpersonal trust and rapport intensifies at higher organizational levels, as these factors facilitate rapid communication and quick decision-making regarding important strategic and tactical issues. These characteristics place emphasis on discretion and trust among employees selected to advance up the organizational hierarchy. Higher-level managers, both bosses and peers, may therefore try to maintain relative social homogeneity among individuals they select to fill positions beneath them to achieve greater predictability and avoid the effort of dealing with people who are dissimilar. This dissimilarity may stimulate perceptions of lower trustworthiness and greater difficulty in interacting. Thus, minimizing uncertainty encourages homophily, as communication, decision-making processes and trust are facilitated by social similarity (Cook and Glass, 2014, Rivera 2012, Schieman and McMullen, 2008). As a consequence, the motivation to maintain social homophily, along with its postulated benefits for interpersonal communication and trust, may influence performance evaluations, as they are commonly used for decisions about promotion.\nAdditional sex differences impacting performance evaluations: impact of interpersonal competition on assessments supplied by male and female peers: We offer one additional hypothesis relating to the differences in performance evaluations between peers of different sexes. Peers are the organizational members in direct competition with evaluated managers for higher-level positions. The number of higher-level positions in any given organization is limited, and organizational members working side by side in same units, as well as those working in separate departments, are likely to compete for the same higher-level posts that oversee the work of multiple organizational sections, branches or divisions. The role congruity theory posits that women place higher emphasis than men on the quality of relations at work (Schieman and McMullen, 2008), whereas men are known to place higher emphasis on pay and advancement (Bartol, 1999; England and McCreary, 1987). This argument leads us to expect that male peer evaluators will rate a manager's performance lower than will female peer evaluators, regardless of the sex of the evaluated person. For these reasons, the authors propose the following hypothesis:\nMethods: Analysis methods\nMeasures: Dependent variable\nResults: Data screening was performed to establish whether all the assumptions of the regression analysis were met, with no significant issues revealed. Table II presents descriptive statistics. A notable finding from the analysis of the descriptive statistics is that bosses gave more varied - possibly more informed - evaluations of performance than did peers. Table III presents correlations between the variables. A notable finding based on analyzing the correlations has to do with the fact that managers in the public sector tended to receive higher job performance evaluations than those working in the private sector.\nDiscussion: This paper began by pointing to persistent gender inequality in the upper echelons of the workplace. Using a unique dataset that included performance evaluations of managers from a sample that included leaders from much of the developed world, hypotheses linking gender structure and performance evaluations were subsequently tested. The overarching research questions of this study asked whether, despite achieving workplace success indexed by a high organizational status, women managers received systematically lower evaluations than did their male counterparts, and whether or not there were any factors present that might have influenced this bias. We focused on investigating the effects of the evaluator's sex, type of organizational relationship that may influence perceived familiarity with evaluated managers (peer vs. boss), as well as possible effects of social homophily that was deemed to work the strongest at higher organizational echelons.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This research aims to investigate the differences in evaluations of job performance between male and female managers by those managers' immediate bosses and peers.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Drawing on gender structure theory, along with ideas about status characteristics, the authors use hierarchical regression to test the hypotheses that male and female bosses and peers deferentially evaluate the male and female manager's global job performance. The authors hypothesize significant two-way interactions (gender of the manager by gender of evaluator) in predicting a manager's job performance.\nFindings: The results suggest that while male peers rate female managers' job performance significantly lower than that of male managers, female peers do not discriminate between genders in their performance evaluations. Also, managers' bosses were found not to discriminate between genders of their subordinates.\nResearch limitations/implications: The limitations of this study have to do primarily with the data. While the data are rich on some dimensions, they are weak on others, especially with regard to the detail about the jobs the respondents did, detailed level of familiarity with the evaluated managers, as well as racial background. The data also do not provide information on the different facets of job performance, the evaluation of which could potentially be impacted by managerial gender; this study is focused exclusively on global job performance.\nPractical implications: The authors discuss various theoretical explanations of this pattern of results, as well as its possible influence on female managers' careers. Although the effect size of the negative bias that male peers exhibit toward female managers is relatively small, it may be argued that lower performance assessments can accumulate over years in multiple job evaluations, negatively affecting the career of female leaders.\nOriginality/value: The evaluations supplied by different organizational members gain importance with the increased use of 360-degree feedback instruments not just for developmental but also for the job performance appraisal purposes. While the job evaluations of managers' bosses have been investigated in the past with regard to the possible gender bias, this study provides the first known to the authors', evidence. Also, this study points to a direct bias in performance assessments, rather than a potentially more subtle, non-performance-based bias that affects the disparities in wages and promotions of female managers. Thus, this study helps to fill a significant gap in the literature on organizations and it may have practical implications for the advancement of female managers. In addition to this contribution, this study also provides data that may be useful in resolving the ongoing debate whether female bosses act more as cogs in the machine or as change agents in organizations.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Reducing food waste behavior among hospitality employees through communication: dual mediation paths
|
[
"Food waste prevention communication",
"Food waste behavior",
"Moral attitudes",
"Meaningfulness",
"Green role identity"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Climate change has been imposing negative effects on the life of human beings, who contribute directly or indirectly to the degeneration of the natural environment (Druckman and McGrath, 2019). One of their such behaviors is wasting edible food, which is linked with greenhouse gas emissions (Russell et al., 2017). Food waste prevention is a proactive act to exert direct impacts on the food supply chain efficiency as well as indirect impacts on the nature (Stancu et al., 2016). This theme hence has increasingly been gaining the attention of scholars and practitioners (Calvo-Porral et al., 2017; Chen, 2019). However, compared with research regarding the global impact of food waste, consumers' food waste behavior, to which research has recently devoted its attention (Chen, 2019; Pellegrini et al., 2019), has been less studied (Russell et al., 2017). Additionally, though scholars have acknowledged the salience of the synergy of various stakeholders' attempts in food waste reduction, food waste behavior research has tended to surround generic or household food waste behavior and its social, family or individual antecedents (Chen, 2019; Russell et al., 2017; Stancu et al., 2016) rather than food waste behavior in specific contexts such as workplace contexts. Food consumption during work or for work purposes for some types of employees such as frontline employees may amount even more than household food consumption. This research work aims to cover this void by unfolding workplace mechanisms underlying food waste behavior among frontline employees in the hospitality industry.\nHypothesis development: Food waste prevention communication, intention to reduce food waste and food waste behavior\nMethods: Sampling\nResults: Descriptive statistics of participants\nDiscussion and conclusions: Conclusions\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Food waste behavior in the workplace or work-related gatherings has been less researched compared to that in household context. This study aims to bridge this gap through unfolding how and when quality of food waste prevention communication mitigates food waste behavior among frontline employees in the hospitality workplace.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Participants in this research comprised employees from four- and five-star hotels operating in Vietnam.\nFindings: The results lent credence to the dual mediation channels of moral attitudes toward food wasting and meaningfulness of food waste reduction for the impact of quality of food waste prevention communication on employees' food waste reduction intention and their reduced food waste behavior. The contingency role of employees' green role identity was marginally confirmed for the nexus between employees' food waste reduction intention and their food waste behavior.\nOriginality/value: This inquiry advances the understanding of mechanisms underlying work-related food waste behavior among hospitality employees.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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The USA as a good comparator for UK in corporate governance
|
[
"Takeovers",
"USA",
"Corporate governance",
"UK",
"Comparative research",
"Shareholders’ rights"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Corporate governance as a field of study is premised on finding solutions to the harmful consequences resulting from the separation between ownership and control. The interrelationship between shareholders and directors or ownership and control has generally been the coalescing point in defining corporate governance. This paper endorses the definition by the economist and Noble Laureate Milton Friedman printed in 1970 in The New York Times, in which he argued that \"corporate governance is to conduct the business in accordance with owner or shareholders' desire which generally will be to make as much money as possible, while conforming to the basic rules of the society embodied in law and local customs\" (Laona and Gherghina, 2007). It is a definition premised on market value maximisation through the medium of the law. The aim is to find a solution to the separation between ownership and control by setting company objectives in line with the interests of shareholders, giving incentives to make managers serve those interests and balancing regulatory and market discipline.\n2. Defining corporate governance: The term \"governance\" was first explored by Plato in approximately 380 BC in his influential work \"The Republic\"[5]. Although Plato's work was purely about justice and philosophy, its reference to leadership, management, organisation and supervision made it influential for governments. The term became influential in subsequent work on the role of government in society. But it was until 1776 that Plato's ideas were used by Adam Smith in relation to companies. Adam Smith looked at how companies were governed and remarked on the potential conflict of interest that can emerge when the owners are not in control of their money. Plato's ideas remained influential for companies and governments well into the twentieth century. Classical works by economics and management theorists such as Berle and Means, Dodd (1932) and Coase (1937) picked up from Plato's ideas and sought to distinguish the way governance is used in the company to that in the government. They saw governance in companies as based on control and incentive, whereas governmental theorists viewed governance as based on rules and punishment (Kooiman, 1993).\n3. The USA as a good comparator for the UK: There are a number of reasons for selecting the USA as a comparator for the UK. The first reason is the similarity in market composition. The UK has a high presence of institutional investors in its listed companies and a number of individual shareholders (Investment Management Association, 2011). These investors are widely dispersed and have limited involvement in corporate decision-making. The UK has a significant securities market as a result, which facilitates the buying and selling of companies securities (Black and Coffee, 1997).\n4. Takeovers and corporate governance: For UK companies, it is essential to learn from US approaches to takeover regulation to benefit and compete with their companies. The reason behind the focus on takeover regulation stems from the recent surge in mergers and acquisitions and the crossover of managers from the USA. This makes it critically important that both countries implement adequate rules to govern mergers and acquisitions. Coffee (2007) argued that foreign firms continue to list on US markets because of their higher regulatory standards. He also argued that firms which cross-list on the US Stock Exchange gain significant valuation premiums (Coffee, 2007).\n5. Shareholders' rights: According to Professor Hu (1997), throughout the twentieth century, increasing shareholders wealth was the sole objective of public companies. There was a general consensus that corporations were economic institutions with an inherited role to serve society but with a sole aim of maximising shareholder value. This prompted the emergence of shareholder value theory to offer much-needed support to other corporate constituents (Williams, 2000). Shareholder value advocated that only after serving shareholders' interests may a company consider the interests of other stakeholders.\n6. Approach to carrying out a comparison: Some researchers have argued that it is not realistic to conclude that the entirety of law (statutory law, case law, legal practice and legal culture) in one country can ever become identical to another (Bebchuk and Roe, 1999). For example, the European Directives on Company Law provides for minimum harmonisation but leaves many gaps and may be applied differently, resulting in many differences among member states (Enriques, 2006). Thus, an overhaul of UK takeover law to move along US lines is not supported by research literature, rather they should cherry-pick rules and practices that could improve corporate governance and takeover regulation in the UK.\n7. Conclusion: The paper has explored corporate governance and explained why the UK can learn from the USA on takeover regulation and shareholders' rights. In these two similar market economies, the high presence of public companies has made the division between ownership and control a more pertinent issue. This similarity in market structure has been the uniting factor for these two countries and as managers cross-over into either country every year, putting in place an adequate system of regulating managerial conduct has forced these countries to take lessons from each other. Shareholder empowerment and takeovers are two areas in which most of the academic discussions on corporate governance has been largely focused. As shown, takeovers bring agency costs, which shareholders seek to minimise though legal and economic safeguards. Similarly, shareholder primacy under UK takeover law has put the interests of stakeholders under threat. What is surprising, however, given the similarity in market structure, both countries treat shareholders and regulate takeovers differently. In UK, shareholders are the decision-makers during takeovers, whereas the US business judgement rule leaves the decision-making power in the hands of directors. Similarly, shareholders in the UK have more involvement rights as compared to those in the USA.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to explore the reasons why the USA makes a good comparator for the UK when it comes to corporate governance.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The paper is largely theoretical.\nFindings: The paper finds that the USA has become a laboratory for ideas in corporate governance and the UK can learn a lot in areas such as takeovers and shareholders' rights.\nOriginality/value: The paper explains the reasons why the UK and the USA have dominated research literature in corporate governance. The findings and arguments raised throughout the paper are very original.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Sustainable school capacity building - one step back, two steps forward?
|
[
"Leadership",
"Sustainability",
"School capacity‐building",
"International trends",
"Educational change",
"Education"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction - the nature and importance of school capacity-building: When you drink the water, remember who dug the well (Chinese Proverb).The concept of capacity building came to prominence in the early 1990s in the context of national and international development. Initiatives such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have been instrumental in assisting the least developed nations through providing advice, training and support so that these nations can address endemic problems and build capacity for greater self-reliance and prosperity1. The later United Nations Millennium Goals (2000) also have at their heart the notion of building national and international capacity so that ultimately, people can lead better lives2.Not surprisingly, there has been a trickle-down effect in respect of capacity-building to the school level, although while the label may be relatively new, the concept is not. All new school leaders will no doubt give thought to the legacy that they will leave on their departure. Will the school, and in particular, the students, be better as a result of their actions? In what ways? How will this be achieved?The editors have taken the position, in publishing this special edition of the JEA, that there are three inter-related aspects to school capacity. The first refers to material features such as students, staff (teaching, administrative, other), infrastructure and other resources including finances. Often these material features are dependent on levels of student enrolment through fees and funding arrangements.The second aspect of school capacity refers to more intangible features such as school culture and climate, staff cohesion and motivation, distributed leadership capacity, principal effectiveness, professional learning, \"corporate memory\", pedagogical approaches and effectiveness and teacher quality. Effective leaders seek to increase both material and intangible capacity through their decisions, strategies and actions.The third aspect refers to wider resourcing and support for schools and education at systemic, state, national and even international levels (e.g. OECD). This can be difficult - it is disturbing how often, for example, government funding for key support mechanisms and resources for schools are \"turned on\" and \"turned off\", depending on extraneous factors such as the state of the economy, political ideological differences and the electoral cycle.In each of the three aspects mentioned previously it is not unusual to see a combination of \"carrots and sticks\" (Scott and Dinham, 2002) used in an effort to lift performance and build capacity in education, i.e. a combination of pressure, support, reward and \"punishment\" (see for example, No Child Left Behind (2001)3 and Race to the Top (2009)4 in the USA).A key question however, is whether any capacity-building of the kinds outlined previously is lasting or sustainable.\nSustainability: The issue of sustainability increasingly pervades modern life. Thus, at basically the same time as Al Gore's Oscar-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, drew worldwide attention to the vulnerability of a \"planet in crisis\" (2006), Dean Fink has pointed out in his paper in this special edition of the Journal of Educational Administration that his local golf course is under threat from a lack of water. It follows, of course, that education is not immune from critical issues associated with sustainability. Thus, as Viviane Robinson and her co-authors Stuart McNaughton and Helen Timperley make clear in their contribution, even in wealthy western contexts our most needy and marginalised students have made limited progress in recent decades in core skill areas and may in fact be losing parity with their better-endowed peers. The influence of socio-economic status (SES) on student achievement, and also participation in post-compulsory and tertiary education are, it seems, much greater than we would like. Similarly, Alma Harris shows in her contribution, the extreme difficulty of maintaining system-wide educational standards in an increasingly complex modern world.Not that such concerns are unacknowledged or unaddressed. In Australia, for example, environmental sustainability and education for sustainability have now been mainstreamed within and beyond schooling. The Australian Government has established the Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability (ARIES), the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI), the Education for Sustainability Grants Program, a National Action Plan, a National Council on Education for Sustainability, and a National Education for Sustainability Network. Additionally, Australia is participating in the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014). There are many other similar initiatives in Australia, including some from state and territory education authorities. This same generalisation undoubtedly applies to most, if not all, modern nations.\nSustainability in schooling: The authors have particular research interests in the dynamics of successful school capacity-building for sustainable improvement. The first author (Dinham, 2005, 2007, 2008) has spent more than a decade researching schools, faculties and teams of teachers who have managed to halt decline and turn around schools that were losing students, staff, resources and credibility. Leadership, and in particular distributed leadership, has been found to be a key factor in this turnaround process (see also Murphy, 2008), which, typically, can take six to seven years. This \"capacity-building work\" is not easy but it can be done. To quote a school executive member from one of the \"turn-around\" schools studied: \"In this school we make plans now, not excuses\" (Dinham, 2008, p. 141). Other key factors in building capacity which are closely linked with leadership include focusing on teaching and learning as the \"core business\" of the school, knowing every student as a learner and a person, making quality teaching a major goal and ongoing investment in teachers' professional learning. Clear and high expectations, strong personal professional standards and an authoritative leadership style have all been found to be key but there is an important warning which we take up later: these hard won gains can be easily lost with inadequate leadership succession.Thus, the first editor (Dinham) has demonstrated through his research that attention to improving the \"intangibles\" under the influence of effective leadership can result in improvement in material capacity, each of which can then influence sustainability.The second editor has recently completed research in \"IDEAS Project schools\" in Australia (Crowther, 2011) resulting in the creation of a six-factor dynamic capacity-building process. The process in question has been shown to be underpinned by a particular form of distributed leadership that has been denoted parallel leadership. Crowther's six dynamics of sustainable capacity-building are:1. Committing to revitalisation.2. Organisational diagnosis and coherence.3. Seeking new heights.4. Micro-pedagogical deepening.5. Invoking reaction.6. Consolidating success.Of critical importance in Crowther's model is that the relationship between principals and teacher leaders in successful school capacity-building varies substantially from one dynamic to another. For example, the principal is of standout importance in the first dynamic while teacher leaders dominate in dynamic 4 and \"parallel\" relationships come fully into play in the embedding/consolidating/sustaining dynamics (i.e. 5 and 6).\nThis issue: So, according to the editors of this special edition of the JEA, school capacity-building would appear to be of unequivocal importance in any serious consideration of \"sustainability\", not just of education but in wider societal and environmental terms.. But, besides our own experiences as researchers, what precisely do we know about education for sustainability and what does this special edition of the Journal of Educational Administration add to our understanding that is of \"sustainable\" value?It may be said that this volume follows on from, and builds on, four significant understandings that have accrued over a generation of scholarly inquiry and rigorous international research. First, it is very probable that the concept of sustainability enjoys a relatively brief lifespan of just two decades, having been introduced into the organisational literature by Peter Senge in 1991.Second, the most authoritative capacity-building model in existence today is regarded by some as that of Canadian educational theorists Coral Mitchell and Larry Sackney (2001). Their \"three spheres of capacity\" - personal, interpersonal and organisational - which have to be developed synchronistically if overall organisational capacity is to be enhanced and sustained, have been described as the most \"comprehensive\" approach to school capacity yet devised. Third, at least four other research-based initiatives of the past decade or more are also extremely important to any consideration of sustainable capacity-building in education in 2011:1. David Hargreaves' (2001) approach to school capacity-building through a focus on social capital, intellectual capital and leadership \"leverage\" strategies.2. Bruce King and Fred Newmann's (2001) location of \"instruction\" at the centre of continuous school development, supported by a range of change and improvement strategies.3. Michael Fullan's (2005) perception of successful capacity-building as dominantly a systemic and clustering function rather than a school level function.4. Andy Hargreaves' and Dean Fink's notion (2006) that global lifestyles and ecological conservation on the one hand, and school-based leadership and development on the other, are inseparable if school capacity is to be built and sustained in the face of changing people, changing circumstances and changing goals.Fourth, and finally, is a sobering rejoinder. That is, the above intellectual breakthroughs notwithstanding, prominent US researcher and scholar Linda Lambert (2007) has recently reminded educators worldwide that actual progress with sustained school capacity-building remains, at best, two steps forward, one step back:Islands of hope existed in each decade yet even these remarkable islands drop below sea level when founders, principals or key teachers, leave. As long as any one individual is indispensible, sustainability is a distant dream (p. 311).A logical and justifiable interpretation of these four highly significant insights is that, as educational leaders, we have come to fully appreciate the vital importance of \"capacity\", and we now have a range of convincing definitions to work with - but \"sustainable capacity\" remains largely a pipedream in the policies and practices of most schools and educational jurisdictions around the world. Schools and education systems are not isolated from wider contexts and events, nor should they be, but these changing conditions - both natural and man made - can put severe pressure on any gains in capacity and bring educational sustainability into question. As this is being written, Japan is suffering badly from the effects of the recent earthquake and Tsunami, while there are riots and turmoil over the collapse of the economy of Greece. Education capacity and thus sustainability will no doubt suffer in each country.As a further introductory statement to the seven papers that follow, we assert that, at some point in the latter part of the twentieth century, we as a society started thinking about education more as a cost than an investment and more as a marketable commodity than a right and means for social good. We became much more aware of the \"value\" of the inputs and outcomes of education. Other considerations also shaped our thinking, such as growing awareness of disparities in measurable educational performance and the role that factors such as SES, the quality of teaching, available resources and educational leadership can play in student achievement. Commensurate with these changes in our thinking were associated concerns regarding issues such as the quality and capabilities of those entering teaching; the quality of the preparation they receive, effective induction and retention in the first years of teaching; and devising effective teacher appraisal, professional development and recognition and reward systems (Dinham et al., 2008). Other key issues of concern of the past decade include the importance of providing a quality teacher in every classroom - the \"biggest equity issue in education\" (Dinham, 2010) - and that attracting, preparing, selecting and supporting educational leaders who can act as leaders of learning and steer processes of turning around and lifting up underperforming schools.After decades of research we now largely know what good teaching, good leadership and effective schools look like (Dinham, 2008; Hattie, 2009). As Richard Elmore (2006) presciently noted some years ago, the big challenge is up-scaling, and embedding these qualities so that they become the norm:How can good educational practice move beyond pockets of excellence to reach a much greater proportion of students and educators? While many children and young adults in school districts and communities around the country have long benefited from the tremendous accomplishments of successful teachers, schools, and programs, replicating this success on a larger scale has proven to be a difficult and vexing issue (p. 1).But while we may largely know the desirable outcome, or \"answer\", we are still unsure of the right \"questions\" or processes needed to get there. We do know that leadership is particularly important. It is possible to have good teaching in a poor school, but it is uncommon to have a good school without effective leadership. We also know that turning around a school, although difficult, is possible through the actions and influences of leaders working collaboratively with committed staff and seeking to develop the leadership capabilities of others. The best educational leaders consider leadership succession from the start, seeking to build leadership and other capacities in their school to the point that their departure will have minimal impact (Dinham, 2008; Moos and Johansson, 2009). Where capacity is not built or sustained, schools' futures can be threatened. As noted, it is possible for a school to go into decline very rapidly under poor leadership, something which calls into question the very notion of educational sustainability beyond a short horizon.More broadly, some significant contemporary thinkers have questioned whether the present model of schooling, which some have labelled industrial, is still appropriate and thus sustainable in itself.The authors of the chapters that follow were selected for two reasons: their international credibility as up-to-date researchers and scholars with understanding of important aspects of sustainable capacity-building; and their capacity to comment with authority on current school capacity-building initiatives in a national context of relevance to them. It would be fair to say that in all cases they have met, or exceeded, our expectations as editors.Three authors - Bruce King, Dean Fink, and David Hargreaves - have been referred to previously in our synopsis of the landmark capacity-building developments of the past two decades. The remaining authors and co-authors are equally important to this volume, as will be seen.The seven papers provide quite acute insights regarding the approaches to capacity-building being undertaken in different national contexts. These are summarised in Table I.So does this volume bring us any closer to transforming Linda Lambert's (2007) \"islands of hope\" into \"continents of sustainability\"?We think \"Yes\". Our analysis of the seven articles leaves us confident on three fronts:1. School capacity-building can be undertaken and achieved through a range of mechanisms, encompassing professional learning, within-school specialist analysis of instructional quality and associated learning conditions, alignment of key within and between school factors, and cross-school clustering and networking.2. School capacity-building can be sustained through both within and between school factors, including systemic devolution to enable important organisational capital to be maintained in the face of changing staff, systematic succession planning and implementation and a genuine emphasis on distributed leadership roles and functions.3. Successful school capacity-building is grounded in values that are associated with the sustainability of school achievements and outcomes. These values are inseparable from sustainability as a global social and ecological phenomenon. The leadership demands for capacity-building of this type are extremely complex, and require dispersed and distributed leadership functions and processes.With these words of introduction, we commend this special volume to you.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This paper aims to serve as an introduction to and overview of this special issue of the Journal of Educational Administration entitled \"Building organisational capacity in school education\". The co-editors have solicited contributions from authors in Wales, Australia, Canada, the USA, England, Hong Kong and New Zealand.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper reviews past and contemporary approaches to the issue of capacity building in education and in particular, sustainable capacity building. As well as reviewing key researchers and writers in this field, including their own work, the authors foreshadow and synthesise the other seven papers that make up this special issue.\nFindings: - The paper contends that building capacity in schools and schooling, while no means easy, can be both understood and accomplished. However, caution needs to be exercised because hard-fought gains in capacity building and sustainability can be quickly eroded under the influence of poor leadership or extraneous changes.\nPractical implications: - The paper serves as a framework both for the seven papers that follow and more generally for understanding and conceptualising sustainable school capacity building.\nOriginality/value: - The paper performs the function of framing current debates and pressures around sustainable school capacity-building in an international theoretical and practical context.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Comprehensive geriatric assessment in Swedish acute geriatric settings
|
[
"Documentation",
"Elderly",
"Evidence-based practice",
"Research utilization"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The older people population is increasing worldwide. Thus, there will be an increase in people developing age-related disabilities, as people live longer with chronic diseases, often more than one. The most problematic expression is clinical frailty, the age-related decline in many physiologic systems. There is a need for efficient methods to detect frailty and measure its severity in routine clinical practice (Clegg et al., 2013).\nComprehensive geriatric assessment: Rubenstein et al. (1991, p. 8S) defined comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) as a \"multidimensional interdisciplinary diagnostic process intended to determine a frail elderly person's medical, psychological and functional capabilities [...] to develop an overall plan for treatment and long term follow up.\" The CGA model emphasizes problem solving, functional status and prognosis with the aim to restore independence and alleviate distress. A multidisciplinary team (medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and nursing) develops a management plan in collaboration with the patient and relatives, involving rehabilitation, discharge planning, and co-ordination and follow-up personalized for the individual. The team is working toward a common goal using standardized assessment tools, pathways and documentation, which should include diagnosis, physical and psychologic functioning, environmental factors and social support (Rubenstein et al., 1995; Ellis et al., 2011).\nImplementing evidence-based practice: Implementing evidence-based knowledge in healthcare is a responsibility and a challenge (Carlson and Plonczynski, 2008; Estabrooks et al., 2003; Squires et al., 2011). Developing useful methods and instruments is the first step to improving healthcare. The second step is to implement the intervention so that it benefits the target population (Fixsen et al., 2011). Implementation is defined as \"a specified set of activities designed to put into practice an activity or program of known dimensions\" (Fixsen et al., 2005, p. 5). There is no universal model that fits all implementation types but some characteristics seem similar. It is advantageous to use a structured model before and during the implementation process (Fixsen et al., 2005), which is influenced by: organization, leadership, team, individuals and wider environment. In the preparation for implementation, it is important to recognize possibilities and obstacles on all levels (Cummings et al., 2007; Grol and Grimshaw, 2003; Fixsen and Blase, 2009). Even in the same work place, there can be different cultures that require different implementing strategies (Kirk et al., 2016). Another well-known implementation characteristic is the need to be prepared to go back and forward in the different implementation stages, to review the intervention and the implementation plan, to explain, introduce, educate several times and to persevere (Fixsen et al., 2005; Smidth et al., 2013; van der Zijpp et al., 2016, pp. 20-21). To implement a process, such as a new operating procedure, it takes two to four years (Fixsen et al., 2005). Our rationale was based on several years performing quality assurance work within Sweden's south-east region, combined with the need and wish for high quality, evidence-based geriatric care. Earlier topics included patients and relatives evaluating geriatric care, and how to involve patients in formulating rehabilitation goals. Using CGA as a framework that ensures evidence-based practice and patient participation was seen as successful in the continuing quality assurance work. The aim was to describe and scrutinize the CGA implementation process in six geriatric departments in three county councils in south-east Sweden. A further aim was to evaluate the intervention outcome by examining CGA documentation in the patient medical records and staff perceptions using CGA in daily work.\nMaterials and methods: Our study was a clinical follow-up to ensure CGA implementation process quality. The chosen method allowed the participating geriatric departments to use local implementation strategies and assessment tools. The implementation process is described following Fixsen et al.'s (2005) stages. Further, intervention effect/outcome and CGA usage were measured by patient medical record reviews and a questionnaire to the staff.\nResults: Exploration\nDiscussion: This was a shared implementation performed in several different departments, hospitals and county councils, all with their own culture to overcome, which implied several challenges. Throughout, there was a positive attitude to CGA, but compliance varied for different reasons. Cultural differences may influence professional roles, activities and sense making in a department. According to Kirk et al. (2016), it can be assumed that there are differences in culture between departments even within the same medical specialty. Despite these assumed differences, some strategies, e.g. the mini-seminars, worked well in most departments. Other strategies might have differed between the departments but also within a department over time. Preparation before implementation is therefore important for mapping readiness for change in the organization, among the individuals, and to map the relevance for change (Cummings et al., 2007; Kirk et al., 2016).\nConclusions and recommendations: Staff considered CGA to have high value for the geriatric patient. But establishing the implementation required continuous work, especially with high staff turnover. Successful strategies for this implementation were strong support from managers, small seminars, CGA rounds and reminders, such as pocket-sized focus cards. Our recommendations are to use a structured model for implementation, with clear leadership and support from managers. In addition, it is important that teams are prepared for long-term work, which requires both endurance and ability to make changes based on the clinical situation.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a widely used approach in geriatric care and involves multidisciplinary assessments focused on determining a frail elderly person's medical, psychological and functional capability to develop an integrated plan for treatment. The purpose of this paper is to describe and scrutinize the CGA implementation process at six acute geriatric departments in three county councils and to study the outcome by the documentation in the patient medical records, and the staff perceptions using CGA.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The paper describes the implementation process stages. Outcome measures were based on patient medical records reviews at baseline and follow-ups at year 1 and year 2. Staff perceptions of using CGA were gathered by a questionnaire at the second follow-up.\nFindings: The implementation had not yet reached sustainability so the implementation process must continue. Results show that documentation on the different areas increased in year 1, as well as the use of standardized assessment tools. However, results from the reviews for year 2 showed some decrease. Staff considered CGA to have high value for the geriatric patient but pointed out the need for continuing education.\nOriginality/value: Successful strategies for this implementation were strong support from the managers, small seminars, CGA rounds, good introduction routines for new staff and the use of reminders such as pocket-sized focus cards. A high staff turnover occurred during the study, which probably had a significant negative impact on the results.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Determinants of consumers' participation in the sharing economy: A social exchange perspective within an emerging economy context
|
[
"Ghana",
"Sharing economy",
"Collaborative consumption",
"Uber",
"Social exchange theory",
"Socio-emotional"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Recently, research studies on a number of innovative business models have emerged in marketing and tourism literature (Cohen and Kietzmann, 2014; Cheng, 2016). What these businesses models have in common is that they function in commercial sharing services of \"sharing economies\" (Botsman and Rogers, 2010). Sharing economy is an economic model based on consumers granting each other temporary access to their under-used assets (\"idle capacity\") from spaces to skills to stuff for financial or non-financial benefits (Botsman, 2013; Meelen and Frenken, 2015; Bocker and Meelen, 2017). Largely, the focus of sharing economy is to provide a platform for person-to-person transactions (Botsman, 2013). Although the exchange of goods and services among individuals has existed for years (Belk, 2009), the advancement in information communication, growth in collaborative websites and applications and social dynamism have contributed to the growth of this new business model. In this business model, service enablers (e.g. Uber, Airbnb, Luxe) connect customers (e.g. rider, guest, consumer) to service providers (e.g. driver, host, valet) via an online platform to transact business (Hamari et al., 2016; Kumar et al., 2017). These service enablers operate in many countries, both in developed and emerging economies such as Ghana. Uber, a ridesharing service for example, recently entered the Ghanaian market, and its service has been received by some people. Like any product or service, customers' adoption and usage is vital for the survival of the firm. Therefore, like any other services, there might be a host of factors that have influenced riders to adopt and use Uber services.\n2. Literature review: 2.1 Sharing economy and Uber\n3. Hypotheses development: As indicated earlier, this study uses the social exchange theory as the theoretical lens. The social exchange theory posits that parties engage in and maintain exchange relationships due to the benefits they will obtain (Blau, 1968). According to the theory, the parties involved in the exchange relationships have a resource that is of value to each other. These resources can be an economic resource or social resources or both. In this study, we see the resources in the exchange relationship are both economic and socio-emotional. We further identify social connections, customer prestige needs and trust as elements of the socio-emotional dimension of the social exchange theory that facilitate actual participation in the sharing economy. Similarly, we identify customer return on investment, search benefits and convenience as elements of the economic dimension of the social exchange theory which promote individuals' participation in the sharing economy. The elements together drive riders to participate in the sharing economy, that is, use Uber services.\n4. Methodology: 4.1 Sampling design\n5. Results: 5.1 Measurement model\n6. Conclusions: This study identifies the factors that drive customer intentions to participate in the sharing economy in a developing economy. Using Uber (a share economy taxi model) which allows individuals to make money from underused cars, we examine what drives riders' behaviour to use the service. From the results, a number of key conclusions can be made. The findings of this study indicate that trust (H2), customer return on investment (H4) and search convenience (H5) are the key factors that contribute to riders' usage of Uber service. These results are consistent with prior research on share economy (Priporas et al., 2017; Zhu et al., 2017; Wu et al., 2017). The findings therefore show that trust is another key variable of participating in social exchange (Homans, 1958). Thus, customers' higher trust in Uber services leads to a higher desire for usage of the service, confirming the influence of trust on participation. However, when trust is lacking, customers will not have the desire to participate in shared economy. The findings also show that individuals participate in a shared economy when it is economically beneficial as compared to other alternatives providing similar services. Time saving also proved important as the short time needed to access the service eliminated inconvenience.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Consumers' intentions to participate in the sharing economy have received much attention from researchers in recent times. However, little attention has been paid to consumers' actual participation in the sharing economy. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that drive customers in Ghana to use Uber.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The authors used surveys as the research design. There were 500 participants who were users of Uber. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires.\nFindings: The findings of this study show that trust, customer return on investment and search convenience are the key factors that contribute to riders' usage of Uber service. Furthermore, this study shows that consumers' need for prestige and social connection do not play a significant role in consumers' (riders') usage of Uber services.\nOriginality/value: Studies investigating consumers' participation in the sharing economy from an emerging economy context using the social exchange theory is limited. This study identifies elements of the economic and socio-emotional dimensions of the social exchange theory and the strength of their impact on people's participation in the sharing economy.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Go home and kick the dog: Spillover effects of experienced coworker incivility on customer-directed counterproductive work behavior
|
[
"Emotional exhaustion",
"Perceived organizational support",
"Coworker incivility",
"Customer-directed counterproductive work behaviour",
"Job calling"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Of the several types of work incivility, referred to as a particular form of low-intensity workplace deviance with ambiguous intent to harm targets that violate workplace norms for mutual respect (Andersson and Pearson, 1999), recent research has increasingly focused attention on coworker incivility due to its significant effect on employees' attitudes and behaviors (Ferguson, 2012). Coworker incivility is the set of low-intensity deviant behaviors that are perpetrated by one's coworkers (Sliter et al., 2012). Since coworker incivility is triggered by employee-to-employee interactions between a perpetrator (the person being uncivil) and a target (the person perceiving the incivility), it tends to have detrimental effects on targeted employees, their coworkers and organizations at large (Cortina and Magley, 2009; Cortina et al., 2001; Felblinger, 2008; Lim et al., 2008).\nResearch background and hypotheses: Coworker incivility and employees' unethical behavior\nMethod: Data collection and participant characteristics\nData analysis and results: Reliability, validity and common method bias (CMB) testing\nDiscussion: Based upon stress transmission/crossover theory and the JD-R model, we develop a theoretical framework that tests the main dynamics underlying how employees' experienced coworker incivility influences their customer-directed CWB. The results of our analyses support two of our hypotheses. Employees' experienced coworker incivility spilled over to customer-directed CWB via emotional exhaustion. Employee's job calling further moderated the effect of coworker incivility on emotional exhaustion. More specifically, employees' job calling moderated the coworker incivility-emotional exhaustion relationship in a strengthening way. Unexpectedly, POS did not exert a positive moderating effect, such that the relationship between coworker incivility and emotional exhaustion was weaker when POS was higher rather than lower. These findings have implications for the management literature on coworker incivility and job calling, as well as for practitioners.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the spillover effects of coworker incivility on customer-directed counterproductive work behavior (CWB) and how emotional exhaustion mediates the relationship between them. The authors predicted that job calling and perceived organizational support (POS) would moderate the relationship between experienced coworker incivility and service employees' emotional exhaustion, respectively.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Survey data from 252 frontline employees working at six full-service luxury hotels in South Korea were examined.\nFindings: The results indicated that experienced coworker incivility was positively related to customer-directed CWB. In addition, the relationship between experienced coworker incivility and customer-directed CWB was mediated by emotional exhaustion. Finally, employees' job calling attenuated the positive effects of experienced coworker incivility on customer-directed CWB. The theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed, together with its limitations and future research directions.\nOriginality/value: The main contribution of the study is to provide an empirical framework for how instances of coworker incivility spillover, which lead to the target employee's customer-directed CWB through emotional exhaustion, and how personal (e.g. job calling) may buffer against negative effects.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A best practice approach to learning compliance management in regulated industries
|
[
"Training",
"Records management",
"Best practice",
"Regulation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: The need for an organisation to track and monitor the training that each of its employees undertakes is not a recent innovation. Before e-learning became available many IT systems existed - often called training management systems - which held records of the training courses that an organisation's staff had undertaken, on subjects such as health and safety. These systems could prove to anyone who subsequently needed to know that a person had been trained and hence no culpability by the company could be admitted in the event of litigation following, for instance, an accident.\nFDA regulations: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates all organisations throughout the world which sell a wide range of consumables - for example, drugs, cosmetics, food and medical devices - to US citizens. Under 21 CFR Part 11, the FDA introduced regulations to achieve more efficient work practices and demonstrate the validity of information where computers were used to replace previously paper-based operations. Part 11 was designed to produce a minimum set of standards for electronic records and signatures, making them equivalent to conventional paper records. Importantly, these regulations apply not just to businesses in the USA but also to any company internationally selling into the US market. Regulation 21 CFR Part 11 is now a benchmark standard for any system which keeps electronic documents or uses electronic signatures.A learning management system will, of course, produce reports which may be used to verify or confirm certain events or facts. Therefore, in FDA regulated industries, an LMS needs to fully comply with 21 CFR Part 11 so that the records that it produces are acceptable to any FDA inspection.\nThe requirements of 21 CFR Part 11, Electronic Records: Part 11 covers many areas which require the keeping of electronic records. An electronic signature is not sufficiently robust on its own in the same way as a handwritten signature is on paper. The signature file could have been created and used by persons who did not own that signature and, hence, electronic documents have to receive special treatment in order to conform to Part 11. Similarly, the IT systems and procedures employed by the organisation must prevent the tampering or modification of electronic signatures.The FDA is empowered to carry out an audit of electronic records which will examine security, integrity and reliability. A trail of checks must be observable and verifiable, in order to pass this stringent examination. To make this requirement even more robust, the FDA added a range of requirements for the IT systems employed, which included stipulations on issues such as the number of computers connected to a network, the capacity of certain discs and even the expandability of the network.In order to comply with these FDA regulations, companies have had to employ rigorous procedures to ensure that the IT system, the operating environment and all the technical elements meet the specification requirements of Part 11. These procedures must be documented, regularly reviewed in line with any new changes to Part 11, and signed off by management.Initially, the interpretation of Part 11 was varied and, as a consequence, the FDA published its own guidance in August 2003 for the US food and drug industries. The FDA wants organisations to interpret the regulations narrowly rather than broadly to avoid unnecessary controls, and consequently has decided to restrict the scope of Part 11:... to records required to be maintained under predicate rules or submitted to FDA, when persons choose to use records in electronic format in place of paper format, Part 11 would apply. On the other hand, when persons use computers to generate paper printouts of electronic records and those paper records meet all the requirements of the applicable predicate rules and persons rely on the paper records to perform their regulated activities, FDA would generally not consider persons to be \"using electronic records in lieu of paper records\" [...]. In these instances, the use of computer systems in the generation of paper records would not trigger Part 11.However, this is still the most onerous and stringent requirement that an LMS would ever need to pass - so much so, in fact, that the Cobent Learning and Compliance System (LCS) is currently the only fully featured LMS that meets these guidelines.\nThe manual method of record keeping: Most LMSs employ a process which is open to a number of possible unauthorised interventions. As a result, many regulatory bodies would not accept printed records from these LMSs as evidence of training or even, in some cases, continuous professional development. In some of these systems the rights given to the administrator would enable the modification of the data, such as dates, training test scores, duration of the training and so on. It is not suggested that these changes would always be done maliciously, although this is conceivable, but they could occur accidentally - making the records worthless for the purpose for which they were intended.Another common procedure for an LMS would be where the training event was authorised by a manager through an automatically generated e-mail. But again, the proof of this procedure having taken place could be tampered with or lost - due perhaps to a lack of efficient back-up procedures. In both these cases, systems without the ability to provide an inviolable audit trail would make their use unacceptable in most compliance and regulatory environments.A particular example of this process is where employees need to be trained in a standard operating procedure (SOP), which may be required as part of regulatory requirements. In these situations, the compliance officer would generate a multi-page document which would describe a sequence of events to ensure that an individual is competent to carry out the SOP. This document would be numbered and registered under the personal signatures of various heads of department and QA approval. It would include revision control, purpose, scope, requirements, reference to the appropriate regulations or guidelines, roles and responsibilities and so on. But these paper-based documents are prone to problems such as illegibility, destruction or damage due to fire or water or can be spoiled because of something as simple as spilled coffee.If this process was made electronic, the data can be viewed but also analysed in many ways which are relevant to the training management team and to internal and external auditors. Regardless of the components in the training programme, such as online or hard copy manuals, SOPs, classroom training requirements, practical training on equipment, e-learning and so on, each item can be signed off by the insertion of the learner's username and password - that is, an electronic signature. Evidence of practical training (on-the-job training) may need to be inserted into the training record and, again, electronically signed by the training supervisor. Furthermore, an automated process is quicker, making it less burdensome on the administration.Even with electronic automation, the integrity and validity of the training document could be called into question under a compliance audit. Therefore, it is no longer enough just to provide an electronic equivalent of the manual process unless the system on which this is achieved passes the requirements of 21 CFR Part 11.Since the Cobent LCS system is compliant with the technical controls required for the storage of electronic records under FDA 21 CFR Part 11, the client can be confident that all data changes are recorded and security is assured through a comprehensive permission hierarchy and the administration of e-signatures.\nCompliance requirements in other sectors: Although the life sciences sector has the most stringently controlled requirements for training records at the time of writing, many other industries require that training is carried out and recorded for regulatory purposes. Whether it is financial services staff understanding the impact of regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) or Basel II or a construction worker being properly trained in on-site health and safety procedures, the questions are the same: how can an organisation efficiently, and in a compliant fashion, disseminate training and record completion statistics?Industries outside the life sciences sector can, by and large, record their training compliance in any way that meets minimum requirements. For many firms, this still means largely manual processes. However, organisations are now progressively choosing to follow the \"best practice\" model that the FDA regulations offers because of the efficiency gains of using a compliant LMS. The relatively modest investment required will not only provide peace of mind for management but it can also \"future-proof\" companies against a change to stricter regulations in their industry in the future. Best practice would, in any case, dictate the selection of an LMS that exceeds the required performance rather than merely meets it.The \"best practice\" model of using learning to ensure compliance is relevant to all industries because they will almost certainly have a regulatory training requirement for some or all of their staff. By looking at training compliance as an opportunity to introduce best practice learning management, (rather than as another process to tie down the compliance or training team) an organisation can not only guard against non-compliance but, at the same time, ensure training competence and improve administrative efficiency.\nConclusion: The consequences of failing to meet the requirements of regulatory bodies are far too serious to take lightly. Paper-based systems may have been adequate in some scenarios in the past but the inefficiencies of these administrative processes and the possibility of loss or damage to the records is now unacceptable in this risk-averse corporate atmosphere. Where regulatory compliance is required there are very few, if any shortcuts. Organisations that exist in a regulated environment cannot avoid the vicissitudes of the prevailing system and it is therefore incumbent upon them to collect the necessary data as efficiently and as easily as possible.Today, regardless of the industry, the data and reports showing compliance to regulatory needs must be robust and come from an unimpeachable source. The source must be tamper-proof so that no one can alter data without leaving some evidence of that change. The need for this sort of scrutiny has now been recognised in several sets of US guidelines - notably FDA 21 CFR Part II, FDA 40 CFR Part 3, DoD 5015.2STD and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (EUTA). Cobent LCS is one of the few available systems that can provide evidence for this sort of stringent requirement but it would be wrong to suggest that, just because these are all US-based guidelines, they and others may not be required in the rest of the world. It would not be an exaggeration to say that if, in choosing a system, your organisation exceeds the necessary regulatory requirements then this will be to its credit and, by so doing, provides all necessary security should an inspection or other event require records to be produced.The area where compliance and learning meet is now one where there is significant need for adherence to regulations. Failing to provide the necessary integrity in the process of training and collecting the required data is a risk that no organisation should take.Cobent Group provides solutions for e-learning, training and compliance-led process management across the entire range of international blue-chip companies, fast-growth start-ups, and public sector organisations. Cobent enables its customers to achieve regulatory compliance and learning management across the entire organisation, empowering them to manage compliance governance quickly and cost-effectively. Creating reports that are compliance-ready at the outset, Cobent delivers the market's most reliable, flexible, and compliant solution for distributing organisation-wide learning management via the web. Cobent works with organisations in the life sciences, government, financial services, education, retail and call centre sectors.For further information, see www.cobent.com\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The paper seeks to outline the increasing requirements for demonstrating that training has taken place within regulated industries and to examine how a learning management system can meet the most stringent requirements of best practice in this field.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper presents a review of regulated industries' requirements, especially 21 CFR Part 11.\nFindings: - Increasingly, regulated industries require companies to keep comprehensive records of training. The data and reports showing compliance with regulatory needs must be robust and come from an unimpeachable source. While manual record keeping can be easily flawed, electronic record keeping is not foolproof either - although one system now meets the requirements of the most stringent (US-based) regulations.\nOriginality/value: - This paper examines the growing requirements placed upon and the responsibilities of HR/training directors in regulated industries, and suggests a best practice method of providing tamper-proof training records.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Learning style preferences of undergraduate students: The case of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah, the United Arab Emirates
|
[
"Undergraduates",
"Learning styles",
"Learning style questionnaire (LSQ)"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Higher education students' learning styles and the factors influencing their learning style preferences have attracted the attention of academicians worldwide over the past decades (e.g. Honey and Mumford, 1982; Dunn, 1990; Felder, 1996; Rosati, 1999; De Vita, 2001; Loo, 2002; Abdelhamid, 2003; Naik, 2003; Kovacic, 2004; Huang and Busby, 2007; Mak et al., 2007; Charlesworth, 2008; Pallapu, 2008; Naik, 2009; Chan and Mak, 2010; Heffernan et al., 2010; Luck and Estes, 2011; Raju, 2011; Naik and Girish, 2012; Naik, 2013; Yousef, 2014, 2015, 2016a, b). Such attention is due mainly to the importance of knowing students learning style preferences not only for students themselves but also for educators and administrators. Literature has shown that the academic performance of higher education students is related to their learning styles (e.g. Christou and Dinov, 2010; Abidin et al., 2011; Komarraju et al., 2011; Yeung et al., 2012; Corbin, 2017; Din, 2017). As Massey et al. (2011) stated, \"knowledge of learning styles can enhance the ability of faculty to build on student experiences and construct new learning opportunities\" (p. 294). Additionally, Csapo and Hayen (2006) argued that an important element in effective teaching is understanding learning styles and the role of learning styles in the teaching/learning process. In the same direction, Tyndall (2017) claimed that the alignment of teaching and learning styles in the classroom results in students achieving higher grades. Educators could use students learning styles as a group selection technique. Research has shown that this technique is more effective than self-select technique (Bachman, 2010). Students learning styles could be used for the purpose of course evaluation (Nielsen and Kreiner, 2017).\nLearning style models: A number of definitions have been offered for the term learning style. Keefe (1979) defined learning style as \"being characteristics of the cognitive, affective, and physiological behaviors that serve as relatively stable indicators of how learners perceive, interact with, and respond to learning environment\" (p. 4). Dunn (1990) saw learning style as \"the way each learner begins to concentrate, process, and retain new and difficult information\" (p. 353). According to Loo (2002), learning style refers to \"the consistent way in which a learner responds to or interacts with stimuli in the learning context\" (p. 349). Felder (1996) described learning style as \"characteristics strengths and preferences in the way they take in and process information\" (p. 18). Learning style is also seen as \"the way in which a learner prefers to take in and process information\" (Rosati, 1999, p. 17). It is also defined as \"a description of the attitudes and behaviors which determine an individual's preferred way of learning\" (Honey and Mumford, 1992, p. 1). For the purpose of this study, Honey and Mumford's (1992) definition of learning style was adopted.\nLiterature review: A handful of studies have explored the learning style preferences of higher education students using the LSQ. Previous studies have been classified into two main groups, eastern studies and western studies.\nMethodology: Population and sample\nResults and discussion: The first question of this study attempts to answer is:\nConclusion: This study explored the learning style preferences of undergraduate students at AURAK in the UAE using the LSQ. It also investigated whether there are significant differences in students' learning style preferences due to their demographics. The results indicated that undergraduate students at AURAK have preferences for the reflector (15.0), pragmatist (14.2), theorist (13.9) and activist (12.3) learning styles. There are only significant differences between Emirati and non-Emirati students across the four learning styles and between single and married students in the theorist learning style.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to address the use of Honey and Mumford's Learning Styles Questionnaire (LSQ) to investigate the learning style preferences of undergraduate students at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) culture. It also investigates whether there are significant differences across the four dimensions of learning styles due to students' demographics.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Questionnaires were distributed to a sample of 200 undergraduate students at AURAK in the UAE. The majority of students were Arabic native-speakers. Descriptive statistics were used to present the main characteristics of respondents and the results of the study. The independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney test and Kurskal-Wallis test were used to find out if there are significant differences across the four dimensions of learning styles due to students' demographics.\nFindings: The results of the study illustrated that undergraduate students at AURAK have preferences for the reflector (15.0), pragmatist (14.2), theorist (13.9) and activist (12.3) learning styles. Moreover, there are only significant differences between Emirati and non-Emirati students across the four learning styles and between single and married students in the theorist learning style.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study has a number of limitations. First, the findings of the study are based on the data collected from only one university. Second, the sample is limited to undergraduate students and, therefore, it excludes graduate students who might have different experiences. Third, the results are based on a self-reported questionnaire which might affect the reliability of the results. On the other hand, it has a number of implications for educators and students. Educators will benefit from the results of this study in the sense that they need to adopt teaching styles and strategies that match the learning styles of the majority of their students. Students themselves will benefit from knowing their own learning style.\nOriginality/value: The present study validates a learning style theory developed in a western culture in an Arabic culture.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Media influence, fashion, and shopping: a gender perspective
|
[
"Gender",
"Consumer behaviour",
"Fashion leaders",
"Promotional methods"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The overarching assumption is that gender differences are learned based on social interaction and upbringing which leads to differences in clothing selection (Workman and Studak, 2006). Women often prefer to shop in social settings where they can interact with their peers. In general, women purchase fashion more due to desire or want as opposed to need or utility (Cho and Workman, 2011; Workman and Studak, 2006). In addition, women have been found to spend more time gathering information prior to making a purchase (Jackson et al., 2011).\nLiterature review: Theoretical framework\nMethods: Sample and data collection\nResults: Demographic profile\nDiscussion and conclusions: There is a wide variety of media available today and each type of media can have a different impact on consumers' awareness and purchase of fashion goods. Unlike previous studies which have examined the influence of individual media platforms (Apeagyei, 2011; Stefanone et al., 2010), this study used a new approach by examining media based on its method of dissemination: mass media vs personal media. In addition, few studies have examined the role of media on gender shopping behavior. For male consumers, mass media influenced fashion consciousness whereas personal media influenced fashion leaders. This suggests that men become more aware or conscious of fashion through the exposure of media presented to the masses, but only seek personalized and potentially fashion-related media once they have embraced their awareness and become fashion leaders. This further supports the idea of Bakewell et al. (2006) which indicates that male consumers who are not fashion conscious pay little attention to fashion and fashion-related media. Because personal media influences male fashion leaders, retailers who desire to target this market should incorporate promotions in men's fashion and health magazines or in the form of direct media sent through the mail or e-mail. In addition retailers should ensure that sales associates are knowledgeable about their products so that they may also provide personalized information. In addition, the relationship between fashion leadership and fashion consciousness supports previous research which indicates that men who are fashion leaders must also be fashion conscious or aware of fashion (Bakewell et al., 2006; Darden and Reynolds, 1972).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Promotional media and gender have been shown to influence purchase and shopping channel choice. The purpose of this paper is to better understand the role of media influence, fashion consciousness, and fashion leadership on shopping channel choice in regard to gender.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A survey was administered using a convenience sample of male and female students at a Southwestern University in the USA. A total of 408 surveys were used for analysis. The data were factor analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical software and a structural equation model was developed to test the hypotheses.\nFindings: The results indicate that while the media influence factor of mass media positively influences fashion consciousness for both males and females, personalized media only indicated significant influence on male fashion leaders. In addition, both male and female consumers indicated that fashion leadership influenced non-traditional over traditional retail channels.\nOriginality/value: This research uses social cognitive theory and the theory of symbolic interaction to better understand the impact of media and fashion on shopping behavior. This paper addresses the changing media types and how they impact behavior for both men and women.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Exploring the governance committee: the trinity's great forgotten
|
[
"Board of directors effectiveness",
"Governance committee"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: A Canadian financial market regulator, the Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) (2016; initial publication in 2009), has established governance guidelines that set out the roles and responsibilities of board members and board committees, especially the audit committee. Although applicable to financial institutions, this guideline suggests good governance practices that may be relevant to any type of business.\n2. Prior academic literature on governance committees: In light of descriptive studies, the composition of the governance committee refers to the size of the committee (Banerjee and Kaya, 2017), the independence of its members (Hall et al., 2005; Kukreja, 2013; Ugeux, 2004) and the presence of female directors (Lenard et al., 2017). The general role of the governance committee is to be \"concerned with the internal organization of the board\" (Murphy, 2011, p. 143). In other words, it is \"responsible for shaping the corporate governance of the company\" (Hall et al., 2005, p. 68). The specific duties and responsibilities of the governance committee have been described to some extent in Hall et al. (2005) and Leblanc et al. (2012). Oyerogba et al. (2017) developed a board oversight function index including 14 items related to the remuneration/governance committee function. Further business ethics descriptive studies depict the governance committee as a channel for receiving employee complaints (Lipman, 2007), a reporting authority referenced in the code of ethics of listed companies (Bodolica and Spraggon, 2015) and a board subcommittee that can help the audit committee strengthen business ethics (Marx and Els, 2009).\n3. Main concepts under study: In this section, we define the main constructs in light of prior research. Indeed, we refer to governance committee attributes in terms of composition, roles/duties and responsibilities and operations.\n4. Methodology: In this section, we first describe our sample, then data sources and data collection procedures. Next, we explain how concepts defined previously were measured, more specifically, how we measured the governance committee's attributes in terms of composition, roles/duties and responsibilities and operations. Then we provide details about how data were analyzed.\n5. Results: 5.1 Preliminary evidence\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to explore governance committee's attributes in terms of composition, roles/duties and responsibilities and operations.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Information on the governance committee and the board in general was collected from the websites of 167 Canadian firms. Financial data were collected from the Sedar database.\nFindings: Results uncover two patterns of governance committee attributes (composition, roles and operations), resulting in our characterization of governance committees as \"less active\" and \"more active.\" In light of additional analyses, the two groups also differ in terms of antecedents and impact.\nPractical implications: This study can help board members to enhance board effectiveness by describing governance committee attributes and identifying contextual factors that could lead to a more active governance committee. In addition, it suggests that such committee can improve financial performance.\nOriginality/value: This empirical research focuses on the governance committee, a largely unexplored primary board oversight committee. An index comprising 19 duties and responsibilities performed by the governance committee was developed.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Research output of librarians in the field of library and information science in Nigeria: a bibliometric analysis from 2000-March, 2018
|
[
"Nigeria",
"Universities",
"Bibliometrics",
"Library and information science",
"Research output",
"Academic librarians"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: To be competitive in the academic environment, librarians, like other faculty members, have received more and more pressure to do research and to show record of publications. Like other universities worldwide, LIS academics such as the professors, lecturers and academic librarians working in tertiary institutions, especially universities, must fulfill the research and publication requirements for promotion and tenure (Baro and Ebhomeya, 2012). Pressure to publish, which has increased over recent years, may cause some changes in the library literature, as academic librarians strive to meet this requirement. The number of publications an author has published is the first criteria for assessing a researcher output. Bibliometric studies are used to identify the pattern of publications, authorship, citations and journal coverage with the hope to give an insight into the dynamics of the field under consideration (Warraich and Ahmad, 2011). As librarians, or information professionals, bibliometrics is a useful research method for selecting useful journals or evaluating authors.Lotka's law of bibliometrics is one of the earliest (traditional) three most known bibliometric laws - Lotka's Law, Bradford's Law and Zipf's Law. Lotka's Law, being one of the prime laws of bibliometrics, is focused on the productivity activities of authors in a specific field of literature that anchored on scientific productivity. The law states that \"the number (of authors) making 'n' contributions is about 1/n2 of those making one and the proportion of all contributors, that make a single contribution, is about 60 percent\". This means that out of all the authors in a given field, 60 per cent will have just one publication and 15 per cent will have two publications (1/22times 60), 7 per cent of authors will have three publications (1/33times 60) and so on (Lotka, 1926 cited in Mishra et al., 2012).Generally, Lotka's law is \"inverse square law\" which states that for every 100 authors contributing one article, 25 will contribute 2 articles, 11 will contribute 3 articles and 6 will contribute 4 articles each (Lotka, 1926 cited in Mishra et al., 2012). Basically, Lotka's Law is on publication among authors and shows that only a small number of authors in a given field are highly productive. Publication count measures the total number of published items, such as books, journal articles, conference papers, etc., within a period. Publication count is, therefore, a measure of the productivity of authors, institutions, disciplines and countries by providing the total number of published items (journal articles, books, conference papers, etc.). For example, the usefulness of Lotka's law to librarians and information scientists is that they should know and track materials from the few prolific writers in the field of library and information science (LIS) rather than trying to chase all the publications of authors in that field, particularly in the face of limited fund. Librarians or information professionals, who develop Library Collections, databases or information services, do have difficulties in knowing which material should be included. In this case, bibliometrics can provide a tool for identifying the core for a collection in such a field. Bibliometric research in Nigeria in the field of LIS is scarce; therefore, the present study aimed at filling the gap.\nLiterature review: Bibliometrics practice\nMethodology: The study collected data from \"Current Index to Journal in Education\" and \"Library, Information Science & Technology Abstract\". The two databases were search starting from January - March 2018 using advance search tool by entering Libraries in the \"kw\" box and Nigeria in the author \"au\" box. During the search, only journal articles were selected. The choice of journal articles as document type was informed by the fact the journal article is the primary and common source of disseminating knowledge by scholars/researchers in any field. Books reviews, book chapters and other entries were not selected. The period for the search was from 2000-March, 2018.The target is on articles published by academic librarians working in university libraries or lecturing in library schools in Nigeria. This was collected from the author affiliations. Articles published by librarians working in other establishments in Nigeria were not selected. After the initial search results, the researcher cross-checked entries collected from the two databases and deleted repeated entries from Current Index to Journals in Education and only useful entries were selected. From the initial search, the following were collected: Current Index to Journals in Education = 335 articles, Library, Information Science and Technology Abstract = 1, 971 articles, totaling 1,106 articles from the two databases. They were found to be useful for analysis, 53 from Current index to journals in education and 1,053 from Library, Information Science and Technology Abstract.\nResults and discussion: Author productivity\nConclusion: The study analyzed the growth of academic librarians' research output in Nigeria and individual scholars' research productivity. It also determined the authorship pattern and degree of collaboration and ascertained the annual break-down of publications. Based on the analysis of 1,106 articles published by 1,021 academic librarians in Nigeria for the past 18 years (2000-2018), it could be concluded that only few authors are prolific in the field of LIS in Nigeria. The study, therefore, concludes that the author productivity was in agreement with Lotka's Law. The study, therefore, calls for LIS academics (professors, lecturers) as well as academic librarians in developing countries to publish their works with international journals that are visible and are indexed.It was also found that most articles were published jointly with colleagues either in the same university or other institutions. The degree of collaboration found in the present study is encouraging. This, in other words, leads to sharing of ideas with colleagues. The contributions of the LIS academics to the various journals increased during the years 2011 and 2012. This might be as a result of the awareness for the need to publish in other to be promoted.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the growth of academic librarians' research output in Nigeria; it examined their research productivity and determined the authorship pattern and degree of collaboration.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A total of 1,106 articles were retrieved from Current index to Journals in Education and Library, Information Science and Technology Abstract databases for the period 2000-March 2018.\nFindings: The study revealed that only few authors are productive in the field of Library and Information Science in Nigeria during the period under study. The author productivity pattern is, therefore, in agreement with Lotka's Law of inverse square. Top journals in which the academic librarians in Nigeria publish their works were identified. Of the 153 recognized universities in Nigeria, the study revealed that only few universities are productive. The years 2011 and 2012 recorded the highest contributions by the academic librarians. The findings also showed a high level of teamwork with most publications being produced jointly.\nResearch limitations/implications: The limitation of this study is that it only retrieved articles that were indexed by Current index to Journals in Education and Library, Information Science and Technology Abstract. Secondly, articles published by the academic librarians in local journals in Nigeria that are not indexed and not visible are not included in the study.\nOriginality/value: The findings call for researchers in developing countries to recognize that it is important to publish a substantial number of papers in journals that are indexed and are widely visible.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
An eye tracking study of minimally branded products: hedonism and branding as predictors of purchase intentions
|
[
"Branding",
"Retailing",
"Experimental Design",
"Eye-tracking",
"Hedonic and utilitarian consumption"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Brands are a ubiquitous occurrence in consumers' daily lives. Consumers are exposed to roughly 3,000 advertisements daily, and in the western hemisphere, individuals are surrounded by branded goods. From labels in a grocery store, the clothes they wear, to the food in their pantries, the average American can be exposed to up to 20,000 brands on a daily basis. In particular, packaging as a brand cue can offer the consumer quality signals that become essential in the buying process (Rettie and Brewer, 2000). According to Silayoi and Speece (2004), the critical value of packaging is offering the consumer a choice in competitive market conditions, as its features can underline those of the product. In addition, quality judgments are also influenced by the packaging.\nMinimally packaged goods and horticultural marketing: The literature in marketing communications and packaging stressing the value of carefully designed containers is abundant (Kuvykaite et al., 2015; Prendergast and Pitt, 1996). In particular, the package can offer the consumer cues that become essential in the buying process (Rettie and Brewer, 2000). According to Silayoi and Speece (2004), the critical value of packaging is the capacity to offer the consumer a choice in competitive market conditions, as its features can emphasize or accentuate those of the product. In addition, quality judgments are also influenced by the packaging. In a market where most products are packaged, how do consumers choose among products that normally do not offer additional cues through their packaging? Studies suggest that other features such as the shape of the item (Sundar et al., 2013), color (Bellizzi and Hite, 1992) and signage (Puccinelli et al., 2009) can play a significant role in influencing the purchase decision. Within this context, horticultural products such as plants often are minimally packaged (Behe et al., 2013). Thus, it becomes necessary to analyze consumers' use of point of purchase (POP) marketing communication strategies and tactics in evaluating these products.\nHedonic and utilitarian consumption: Products and services provide both symbolic (i.e. hedonic) and utilitarian functions, and scholars have suggested that products often serve as symbols that communicate meaning to others (O'Brien et al., 1977). These \"symbolic\" products are referred to as hedonic products and are posited to enhance an individual's self-concept. Levy (1959) suggested that consumers purchase products not only for their utilitarian value but also for the feelings and meaning they can elicit.\nBranding: Cue utilization theory (Olsen, 1972) posits that consumers experience uncertainty and different levels of risks when contemplating making a purchase (Cox and Rich, 1964). Previous research shows that perceived risks associated with a purchase (e.g. quality concerns, durability) is a critical factor that influences consumers' willingness to purchase new products (Nakhata and Kuo, 2014). According to cue utilization, consumers use multiple cues to make product-related judgments as a means to try to evaluate the quality of the product and subsequently make a purchase decision (Rao and Monroe, 1988).\nVisual attention: New lines of consumer behavior research have furthered the understanding of how consumers use visual cues that subsequently drive purchase intention. The literature posits that consumers' eye movements can offer objective information about individuals' attention, which leads to perceptions about product attractiveness, and the processes involved in product choice (Pieters and Warlop, 1999). For example, a previous eye-tracking study identified key cues in chocolate packaging that influenced buying decisions of young consumers (Shekhar and Raveendran, 2013) and found that respondents devoted considerable attention to the brands displayed on the chocolate packages. Rayner et al. (2008) investigated the relationships between visual attention and advertising processing and concluded that previously determined goals influence the places where a viewer (or consumer) looks in ads. In particular, they were interested in:\nMethods: Data for this study were collected as part of a larger investigation, comprising two studies. These studies were aimed at testing the effectiveness of visual attention in predicting consumers' purchases of horticultural products and were conducted in 2014 and 2015. In both studies, respondents' eye-tracking measures were collected using a Tobii X1 light eye-tracking device affixed to a 56-cm (diagonal measure) Flatron computer monitor. Following collection of physiological measures, respondents answered an online survey administered through Qualtrics. The questionnaire used for the study can be found in the Appendix. Data from the two experiments were compiled for this study, and only the variables described below were extracted, and analyzed, for this study.\nResults: Demographic information\nDiscussion: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between consumers' perceptions of product type (utilitarian vs hedonic) and the attentional processes that underlie decision-making among minimally branded products. We analyzed consumers' evaluation of potted live products and its influence on product choice. Our data demonstrated that respondents exposed to hedonic products (i.e. flowering annuals or perennials) reported having spent more on gardening plants and related supplies than subjects exposed to utilitarian products (i.e. herb and vegetable plants), which could be understood as an objective estimation of future spending in similar situations. Our findings are in line with previous studies (Wertenbroch, 1998) which suggested that there are differences in purchase behavior of hedonic and utilitarian products. Specifically, on average, our respondents who were exposed to hedonic products reported having spent almost $40 (37 per cent) more than those exposed to utilitarian products.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This study aims to test the relationship between consumers' perceptions of product type (utilitarian vs hedonic) and the attentional processes that underlie decision-making among minimally branded products.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study uses eye-tracking measures (i.e. total fixation duration) and data collected through an online survey.\nFindings: The study shows that consumers spend more time looking at hedonic (vs utilitarian) and branded (vs unbranded) products, which influences perceptions of quality.\nPractical implications: The findings of this research provide guidelines for marketing minimally branded products.\nOriginality/value: The authors showed that the product type influences the time consumers spend looking at an item. Previous findings about effects of branding are extended to an understudied product category (i.e. live potted plants).\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Adult learning theories: implications for online instruction
|
[
"Constructivism",
"Andragogy",
"Online instruction",
"Humanism",
"Adult learning theories",
"Behaviorism"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Online education presents a set of challenges for instructors that differ from face-to-face instruction. Researchers have stressed the need for different pedagogical principles for online learning (Huang, 2002). The current generation of students expects varied instructional styles and interesting and engaging activities that may be difficult to incorporate in traditional lectures. The field of education has been slow to embrace changes in student learning styles and dynamics. Learning theories, e.g. behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, humanism and several others, were developed considering traditional instructional approaches. With the advent of multiple online degree programs and emphasis on online instruction, as well as its use in corporate training, it has become imperative to revisit theories to evaluate their role in adult online instruction.\nResearch problem and purpose: Many instructional theories emphasize on learning (Kiely et al., 2004). No single theory or model provides complete knowledge about adult learners, learning context and learner understanding (Merriam, 2001). As including every theory is beyond the article's scope, we selected four major learning theories and discuss their implications for improving adult online instruction. Our goals for this manuscript were:\nSignificance of the problem: Instructors play a crucial role in the learning process by creating the right conditions for learning (Fayolle and Gailly, 2008). Working with adults in diverse settings at both individual and organizational levels, trainers apply theoretical knowledge to improve performance (Anderson and Gilmore, 2010; Arghode and Wang, 2016; McGuire and Cseh, 2006; Nafukho et al., 2009). Further:\nMethods: We reviewed the literature on learning theories utilizing the following databases: Academic Search Premier, ERIC and ProQuest. We used the following key search terms in researching the articles: adult learning, online instruction, behaviorism, cognitivism, andragogy, humanism and constructivism. Title and abstract analyses were used to judge each article's suitability for inclusion.\nTheoretical framework: The following sections describe the selected learning theories and their key assumptions.\nTheory comparison: Learning is the common theme among the theories discussed in this review article. The theory approaches, however, are different. Table I compares the theories and concepts on various parameters.\nCore beliefs, weaknesses and implications for adult online learning: In the following section, we present each theory's core beliefs, weaknesses and implications for adult online learning (Table II).\nRecommendations for future research: Learning theories deserve more attention in an online learning environment. The study of learning theories combined with an in-depth analysis of psychological and human resource literature will enable researchers to delve deeply into the subject. More qualitative studies are needed to explore further how an instructor's ability to utilize theoretical principles to improve instruction can make a difference in learning. There are more opportunities for research to be done to study the importance of the instructor's role regarding online instruction for adults and strategies to provide effective instructor presence. Moreover, more research should be done to understand how educators can focus more on the philosophy of adult education to design online instruction, as most of the emphases is on online content. More research should be done on the design of online instruction with regard to cultural attentiveness for adult learners to broaden the online learning experience (Milheim, 2011).\nPractice implications: Learning is central to human resource development (HRD) (Swanson and Holton, 2009; Yang, 2004) and \"involves the interplay between two interdependent dimensions of knowledge: acquisition and transformation\" (Lyons, 2009, p. 347). Researchers attribute great importance to learning and instructional theories (Yang, 2004). McGuire and Cseh (2006) emphasized that sound instructional design is integral to HRD, and HRD practitioners' roles are pivotal in improving individual learning in organizations (Koornneef et al., 2005).\nConclusion: Improving instruction is central to learning and teaching. While perusing the relevant literature, we struggled to find a theory of effective instruction. All theories of instruction presume that instruction will be more engaging and effective for learners; in other words, the theories suggest that learning cannot have the desired impact on learners unless the instruction is engaging and effective. Therefore, although the theories do not openly define the constituents of effective instruction, the theories' underlying premise is that instruction should effectively improve learning. Considering these points, we selected five theories of instruction that provide a theoretical background to the discussion. Finally, in-depth critical analysis of the theories presented in this article clarifies the conceptual relevance and applicability of the theories in the presented theoretical framework. As discussed in this article, each theory contributes uniquely in designing and conducting improved classroom and online instruction even though no single theory completely informs how adults learn. Augmenting learning still remains one of the most challenging yet fascinating experiences for HRD practitioners. Researchers and practitioners continue to research and enrich the instructional theory field (Ravn, 2007). With the concerted efforts of researchers, educators and practitioners, the field will continue to evolve further.\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: This paper analyzes critically four selected learning theories and their role in online instruction for adults.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A literature review was conducted to analyze the theories.\nFindings: The theory comparison revealed that no single theory encompasses the entirety of online instruction for adult learning; each theory explains some portion of adult online learning; theories are contextual; and components of all theories can be utilized to improve online learning.\nResearch limitations/implications: Adult learning theories and their roles in shaping online learning and instruction deserve more attention. The study of adult learning theories, combined with in-depth analysis of psychological and human resource literature, will enable researchers to delve deeper into the subject. More qualitative studies are needed to explore further how instructors' ability to utilize theoretical principles can improve online learning.\nPractical implications: This manuscript offers practical advice to instructors and other practitioners for utilizing adult learning theories for instructional enhancement.\nOriginality/value: This literature review uniquely contributes to filling the gap in human resource development literature by examining selected adult learning theories, comparing them and extending the theories' applicability and value in online instruction.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Ethics and corporate social responsibility integrated into knowledge management and innovation technology: A case study
|
[
"Corporate social responsibility",
"Ethics",
"Corporate strategy",
"Knowledge management",
"Spain"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The integration of ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) into a firm's strategies (Sharp and Zaitman, 2010) is a key aspect for technology-intensive firms, as innovation has been proved an important factor in explaining the influence of CSR on firm performance (McWilliams and Siegel, 2000). One result of this integration is the creation of human capital, along with other intangibles such as reputation or culture (Surroca et al., 2010).The selection of one strategic alternative about CSR in an innovative company depends, to a great extent, on stakeholders' perceptions of the problem, and on a decision process which is based on a complex network of relationships among internally and externally affected groups (Mitchell et al., 1997). Moreover, certain ethical requirements also exist in relation to dignity and human rights, work conditions or environmental respect (Werhane, 2008, p. 471). Another issue to consider is the role played by knowledge management (KM) and culture as powerful tools to make the integration of CSR decisions into strategies possible (Donate and Guadamillas, 2010).In this paper the integration of ethics and CSR in the innovation strategy is analysed. We present a conceptual model that integrates the stakeholders' influence, the CSR strategy and ethical principles for human development into the firm's strategy. We argue that the main result of this integration process is the development of valuable intangible resources for the firm and that these relationships operate in both directions - i.e. that CSR influences innovation and vice versa. We show how this integration could be an opportunity to generate and sustain the competitive advantage of a company.The process is studied through a case study in a Spanish technology-intensive company, Indra. This technique was used as qualitative research methodology in order to analyse exploratory questions (Yin, 1994). The case study shows the links among aspects such as KM and CSR along with the innovative initiatives that have been used by this company in order to generate intangible assets such as the firm's reputation and legitimacy from the integration of ethics into its strategy.The structure of this paper is as follows. First, we analyse the integration of CSR in the business management of a firm with the aim of establishing an overview of this question. Second, we conduct the case study of the integration of CSR into Indra's strategies. Finally, we conclude with some reflections and lessons extracted from the qualitative analysis, which show the opportunity for innovative companies of generating and sustaining competitive advantages from the implementation of strategies based on CSR.\n2. The integration of business ethics, CSR and innovation: CSR includes a broad array of practices and strategies that a company develops in its efforts to attend their stakeholders objectives (Waddock, 2004). The strategic management literature poses the question of whether ethics and CSR may be a source of a competitive advantage by differentiating the firm (McWilliams and Siegel, 2001). It connects the social dimension with the development of intangible resources and firm performance from the stakeholder perspective and the resource-based view of the firm. This latter approach supports the statement that intangible resources such as innovation capacity (Klassen and Whybark, 1999), organizational culture (Howard-Grenville and Hoffman, 2003), human resources (Russo and Harrison, 2005) and corporate reputation (Strong et al., 2001) may enhance a CSR strategy and explain its performance owing to these intangible resources having a strong relationship with ethics and the social dimension of the firm (Surroca et al., 2010).The concerns and objectives of the stakeholders are key aspects to consider how to integrate CSR into innovation. As Norris and O'Dwyer (2004, p. 174) assert, a new paradigm for business has emerged, which accentuates firms' responsibilities to stakeholders, in addition to the oft revered shareholder (e.g. Freeman, 1984; Clarkson, 1995; Donaldson and Preston, 1995; Mitchell et al., 1997; Friedman and Miles, 2002). The way the company applies its ethical principles and how these are diffused thorough the organizational network affects the relationships with all stakeholders (Donaldson and Preston, 1995).The relationship between innovation, CSR and firm performance can also operate in reverse. The most profitable firms have more opportunities to create new knowledge and innovate (Helfat, 1997), enhance corporate culture (Denison, 1990), reputation and legitimacy (Roberts and Dowling, 2002) and develop human resources in companies (Wright et al., 2005).The application of CSR can lead to legitimacy. Legitimacy can be understood as the social justice through which an action is publicly validated; this is to say that it is recognised that the firm possesses a distinctive competence to provide a product or a service (Perrow, 1961). This is not an end in itself, but it can become a strategic resource (Dacin et al., 2007). The firm could be considered as a coalition in which the different stakeholders participate to gain their own benefit (Freeman, 1984). Managers progressively renounce the idea that CSR distracts them from their objectives (Freeman, 1984). They promote its integration in business (Donaldson and Preston, 1995). But there is still a lack of models or frameworks that show the way CSR can be integrated in corporate strategies on a permanent basis.In this paper a model is built that includes organizational innovation features over which ethical decisions influence, highlighting the significance of these on performance and competitiveness. It is suggested that the ethical conception of managers and their perception of stakeholders' requirements influence ethical organizational principles, and the results of managerial decisions and environmental changes lead to the evolution of both the demands and the ethical perception of managers.Ethical principles may be compatible with the best long term economic performance (McWilliams et al., 2006) and with the company's profits (Steiner and Steiner, 2000, p. 129). This is only possible if these actions are developed from a previous knowledge of their advantages and the way these should be integrated into the strategies (McWilliams and Siegel, 2001). This integration would imply the development of the stages included in Figure 1.As Figure 1 shows, formal CSR plans are established from the ethical posture of managers, the influence and relative power of the stakeholders and the organizational and strategic objectives of the company. Thus the first step for CSR \"strategization\" (Sharp and Zaitman, 2010) is a strategic approach based on ethical leadership, stakeholders' analysis and the consideration of general firm-level objectives. The next step is the communication of these initiatives to the stakeholders involved and affected by the consequences of them. Then these actions are implemented, resulting in outcomes regarding environmental, economic and social ambits. These results have to be assessed to justify their benefits and costs (Steiner and Steiner, 2000). The assessment should be based on criteria related to economic performance and intangible resources that have been developed or improved. These assessments can be made through audits, or measurement indexes developed by independent institutions. These institutions, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), are endeavouring to unify and homogenise indicators in order to create a group of CSR and ethical measures, which can be universally adopted.This is a dynamic and cyclical process. Due to changes in strategic objectives, the stakeholders' needs and their influence in corporate strategy may alter as well (Mitchell et al., 1997). Thus, an ongoing learning process is carried out which should help future decisions to be efficient, from economic and ethical points of view (Argandona, 2008).\n3. A high-tech company case: integrating innovation technology, ethics and CSR: For a firm, problems regarding the implementation of CSR mainly come from aspects such as human resources and cultural values, the adaptation of the organisational structure to the new situation and the generalization of CSR in processes and procedures. In this implementation process, knowledge management (systems) is an essential instrument because it allows the firm to propel, diffuse and channel knowledge flows about CSR initiatives throughout the company and beyond (stakeholders).Our main proposition is that CSR can contribute to the development of valuable intangible assets for the firm by improving its competitive context, which in turn depends on its (ethical) relationships with stakeholders. The following subsection shows how the implementation of CSR along with the use of KM for its generalization can contribute to the strategic objectives attainment of an innovative company.3.1 CSR implementation in Indra\n4. Conclusions: This study advances the understanding of the ethical dimension of a firm's decisions for human development and the relationship between CSR and innovation strategy. A model is proposed which includes innovation technology, culture, knowledge management, human resources practices and leadership as essential factors to integrate CSR into the company's strategies.The company analysed has acquired essential knowledge from its stakeholders' needs, to identify new business opportunities. This knowledge is integrated into the organisational base, and as a result the objectives of the firm take into consideration the stakeholders' goals. This knowledge is also then applied to the development of innovations. CSR and ethical values are integrated into the firm's strategies and they contribute to promoting confidence, which enhances Indra's reputation as a responsible company. Therefore the main conclusion of the case study is that the development and implementation of a CSR plan since 2006 has allowed Indra to improve its internal and external competitive context through a better exploration and exploitation of knowledge, along with stable relationships with its stakeholders.This shows that the increasing complexity of the competitive environment makes it necessary to manage two critical aspects:1. the creation of value derived from strategic knowledge; and2. the voluntary establishment of ethical behaviour guides for all organisational members.These decisions should be reflected in different ways:* a wide dissemination among stakeholders;* respect for transparency and the expectations of stakeholders;* the promotion of the participation of all members of the organisation; and* the establishment of stable relationships with different entities to spread knowledge and contribute to the well being of society.The main proposition of this paper is that the integration of CSR into a company strategy will affect innovation results, human resources development and the development of other valuable intangibles. Although the connection between CSR and financial results has not been analysed in this paper, it is likely that Indra can take advantage of this intangible assets in the long run, as certain scholars have shown (e.g. Surroca et al., 2010).The process of the integration of CSR into its activities is considered by Indra as an essential aspect that it leaves behind the consideration of the company as simply a financial profit seeker. In so doing, Indra wins the reputation of being a responsible company from its suppliers, customers, employees, shareholders and society in general. Therefore, for this company, business activities make both social and managerial sense, making social responsibility compatible with the search for financial profit (Steiner and Steiner, 2000; Porter and Kramer, 2006).As regards the limitations of this paper, we would point out, firstly, the difficulty of establishing causal relationships between CSR actions and performance Second, certain restrictions exist in relation to the study of these issues (ethical aspects, intangible resources), and some difficulties emerge in generalizing conclusions from the case study. Third, the cross-sectional nature of the study makes it difficult to extract unequivocal conclusions.Overall, this study shows that the foundations of competitive advantage for the firm can be extended to the application of ethics and CSR. The integration of these into the strategy could mean that long-term profitability improves, providing benefits to stakeholders.The most innovative firms managed by ethical leaders have an opportunity of ensuring that CSR and ethical principles are implemented in a coherent manner and, in so doing, they contribute to the attainment of economic efficiency, confidence and cultural identification. These innovative firms will be the most competitive companies in the near future.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The main purpose of this paper is to offer an analysis of how firms could integrate ethical values and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives into its corporate and business strategies, especially in relation to its knowledge management (KM) strategy, technological innovation and human development.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A model for the \"strategization\" of ethics and CSR - i.e. their integration into a firm's strategies - is put forward in this paper. In addition, this model is evaluated through a case study of a Spanish innovative company, Indra. Data were generated based on interviews with various managers involved in the development of CSR, KM and corporate strategies.\nFindings: - The paper provides evidence of the efforts this company is making in order to connect CSR initiatives with competitive advantage through the development of intangible assets such as human capital and innovation capacity, for which KM is an essential tool.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The case study is limited to one company in order to go deeper into the \"strategization\" of CSR process. Future studies will focus on a larger and more diverse sample of firms.\nPractical implications: - Important factors of influence, which have been observed in this process, have been extracted from the case study, such as the necessity of promoting the company's ethical principles through its corporate culture, the human resources practices which encourage the access to and the transfer of knowledge, and relationships with its stakeholders that allow the creation of knowledge, innovation and human development.\nOriginality/value: - The paper provides a model of integration of ethics and CSR into the company's strategy through four stages: establishment of CSR vision, diagnosis of CSR problems, development plan of CSR development, and communication. This model can provide a roadmap for managers in other firms in order to formulate and implement a CSR plan in accordance with the company's strategies and mission.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Parents' perception of teen's influence on family purchase decisions: A study of cultural assimilation
|
[
"New Zealand",
"China",
"Immigrants",
"Families",
"Youth",
"Consumer behaviour",
"Decision making",
"Cultural assimilation",
"Family purchase decision",
"Chinese family",
"Chinese immigrant family",
"Decision-making stages",
"Product types"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The teen market is substantial and growing which necessitates marketers to understand the teen purchase behavior for current sales and future brand loyalty (Goodrich and Mangleburg, 2010). There is a good stream of research which has shown that children play an important role in family purchase decisions varying by product, decision stage, child, parental, and family characteristics (Flurry and Burns, 2005). In recent years cultural diversity has increased with a significant number of children now growing up in families where more than one language may be spoken (Luna and Peracchio, 2005) and the migration of peoples has also influenced this change. Given the changing nature of the family, our work makes a compelling contribution because it measures whether parents have the same perceptions of their children's influence in regards to different products and family purchase decision-making stages in Chinese migrant families in New Zealand, and Chinese families living in China.\nLiterature review: The classic buying behaviour model\nResearch methodology: The population for this research is defined as urban middle-class (defined as having pre-tax income from NZ$2,500 monthly to NZ$8,333 monthly), with children's ages defined as from 13 to 19 years for Chinese immigrant families in the study who have been residing in New Zealand for between two and five years; and urban, middle-class (defined as having pre-tax income from Y=5,000 monthly to Y=41,667 monthly; as per Statistics China, 2005), with children's ages being from 13 to 19 years for the Chinese families residing in China. The rationale for choosing this income level is that fits into the widely agreed definitions of middle-class.\nData analysis and findings: Sample characteristics\nConclusions: This research set out to provide new insight for both academics and practitioners in terms of parents' perceptions of teens' influence. The main contribution of this research is the finding that cultural assimilation does have an influence on parents' perceptions of children's influence. This research fills a gap in the existing body of literature because there is no research focuses on the evaluation of the impact of cultural assimilation on children's influence on family purchase decision-making.\nImplications: The findings of this research have some implications for marketing practitioners. For example, it was found that teenagers in Chinese immigrant families in New Zealand are perceived by their parents to have higher levels of influence in family purchase decision-making than are teenagers in Chinese families living in China. This means that the former group of teenagers have more power to influence their parents' decision. Therefore, marketing practitioners could use specific advertising and other promotion marketing strategies to attract the attention of these teenagers to products and services, as it is an effective way to reach the Chinese immigrant families market. Similarly, Chinese immigrant families in New Zealand, or in other countries with highly individualistic and low power distance cultures, develop different cultural values to their counterparts in China. Therefore, marketers could use more Western promotional methods to reach this market segment.\nContribution of research: By reviewing the previous studies of parent's perceptions of children's influence on family purchase decisions, some cross-culture studies were found. Nevertheless, those studies simply compared children's perceived influence under different cultural backgrounds. That is, they did not investigate whether cultural assimilation influences parent's perceptions in this area, especially in New Zealand. This study investigated parents' perceptions of their children's influence in family purchase decision-making in Chinese immigrant families in New Zealand and in Chinese families in China, and then compares them. The main contribution of this research is the finding that cultural assimilation does have an influence on parents' perceptions of children's influence. This result fills a gap in the existing literature.\nLimitations of the research: The primary limitation of this research is the fact the Chinese immigrant families sample has only been chosen from Auckland, which might not accurately represent the whole Chinese immigrant population in New Zealand. Similarly, even though the Chinese families sample was drawn from nine different cities in China, because China is such a large country, the sample might still not accurately represent Chinese parents' perceptions of children's influence.\nFuture research: Due to the limitations of this research, future research could use a larger sample from across New Zealand, not just from one, or some, cities. Also, future research could use random sampling of the population in order to increase the accuracy of the results. Furthermore, researchers could try to investigate other classes of families, such as low-class, or upper-class, income families, and also include a wider age range of children.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cultural assimilation influence on family purchase decision making of Chinese immigrant families in New Zealand, and in Chinese families living in China.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The data were collected from 200 respondents. In total, 100 families have been chosen from each of these countries. The data were collected by the snowball sampling method across 11 different products and four decision-making stages.\nFindings: The results of this research show that cultural assimilation does have an influence on parental perceptions of teen's influence on family decision making. Chinese immigrants' teenage children in New Zealand were perceived as having more influence within the family than their peers in Chinese families living in China.\nResearch limitations/implications: The research used a sample size of only 100 respondents from each country. Furthermore, it used snowball sampling and mid-income group families only.\nPractical implications: These findings help marketers to gain a better understanding of the influence of cultural assimilation, and use specific marketing communication and promotion strategies.\nOriginality/value: The paper empirically demonstrates that Chinese parents living in China and Chinese immigrant parents living in New Zealand perceive their children's involvement in family purchase decision differently. Chinese immigrant parents perceive that their children are becoming assimilated with New Zealand culture. This is the first ever study done on Chinese Immigrant families living in New Zealand and Chinese families living in China by collecting and using the cross-culture data from New Zealand and China.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
On the conditions for the cooperative relations between family businesses: the role of trust
|
[
"Cooperatives",
"Trust",
"Family business",
"Cooperative inter-firm relations",
"Inter-firm cooperation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Family businesses represent a dominant form of enterprise in every nation and contribute substantially to economic growth throughout the world (Neubauer and Lank, 1998; Murphy, 2005). While there is ample evidence on influences, processes, and practices within the family business (e.g. Discua Cruz et al., 2013; Hadjielias, 2013; Hamilton, 2011), few studies have examined family business' inter-firm relationships (Pittino and Visintin, 2011; Roessl, 2005).\nLiterature: Cooperative inter-firm relationships and the cooperation between family businesses\nContext of study: We research family businesses interacting within a retail cooperative association in Cyprus (hereby referred to as Zenon). Zenon is a legal entity that is owned and controlled by the owners of forty small-sized (i.e. less than 50 employees) retail businesses. What makes Zenon idiosyncratic is the fact that its member base is purely comprised of family-owned and controlled businesses. Referring to family businesses, we denote enterprises where more than 50 per cent of voting shares are in the hands of the controlling family, the company is perceived to be a family business, and one or more family members participate in management (Westhead and Cowling, 1998). The partnering firms are small groceries - super-markets, which are owned and managed by respective families, and had been in operation years before the formation of the cooperative association. Zenon becomes a vehicle through which these small family businesses can maintain their continuity in an increasingly competitive market. Zenon is organised for the purpose of providing services to its member firms, including negotiations and bulk purchasing (and thus lower unit prices) from local and international suppliers, central warehousing, on demand distribution of purchased products to member stores, joint branding and advertising, and many more. As part of the memorandum of the cooperative, members pay an initial fee to join (that reflects the value of their share price) and pay apart from the cost of products that they receive, respective service fees that are critical in sustaining the cooperative's financial security and growth.\nMethods: A qualitative study is undertaken that is suited for building insight among relatively unexplored phenomena, which are largely contextually bounded (Bryman and Bell, 2011; Saunders et al., 2012). In pursuing understanding of a relatively unexplored phenomenon that is the conditions for the cooperation between family businesses, we adopt a case study research method (Eisenhardt, 1989; Eisenhardt and Graebner, 2007; Yin, 2009). We focus on a cooperative of family businesses (referred to as Zenon - see earlier section on the context) and delve deep into the way multiple stakeholders (including family and non-family members from respective family businesses in the cooperative and managers administering the cooperative association) explain the underlying conditions for cooperation among the member firms (i.e. family businesses) of the cooperative. We acknowledge the interpersonal character that inter-firm cooperative relations acquire (Ring and Van de Ven, 1994).\nFindings: Inter-firm cooperation as an extension of the relations between diverse families in business\nDiscussion: Figure 1 describes our findings, which build on the call of prominent scholars (e.g. Roessl, 2005; Lester and Cannella, 2006) to offer empirical insight on the cooperation between family businesses. Current knowledge does not convey a clear understanding of the conditions underpinning the cooperation between family businesses. Research in the family business maintains an inward focus, investigating primarily the family influence, and relevant dynamics unfolding within the family enterprise (e.g. Discua Cruz et al., 2013; Lumpkin et al., 2008; Steier, 2001). Our findings delve beyond this focus to shed light on the conditions that drive the emergence and maintenance of cooperative relations amongst family businesses. Our work builds on previous work that appreciates the need to explore the informal, social, and interpersonal dynamics underpinning the cooperation between firms, since these reflect more adequately the realities of inter-firm cooperation (Ring and Van de Ven, 1994; Smith et al., 1995). In focusing on the non-contractual aspects of the cooperation between family businesses and in exploring the role of trust in these relations, we shed light on a number of informal conditions whose presence and interactions help explain the reasons under which family firms come to cooperate together and the conditions that sustain their cooperation.\nConclusions: This study was conducted with the aim of shedding light on the conditions contributing to the emergence and maintenance of cooperation between family businesses. We have illustrated that trust, collective thinking, and altruism interact in a particular manner to explain the conditions needed for the on-going cooperative relations between family businesses. Our findings suggest that the presence of these conditions shape an environment where stewardship attitudes prevail, which are critical in brining different family members from diverse family businesses to cooperate together. These conditions of sustained cooperation between family businesses are reinforced through the bonds of friendship and the values congruence between diverse family leaders. Our paper builds also understanding on the emergence of such cooperation, suggesting that this may be attributed to the realisation of a number of family members (from diverse businesses) that they share corresponding family values, while friendship and trust between them become critical in in the establishment of cooperation between diverse family businesses. Our findings suggest that trust plays an instrumental role in the cooperation between family businesses. Trust shapes altruistic attitudes, collective thinking, and stewardship norms that engage diverse family leaders in inter-firm cooperation. Trust, from the other, is established through friendship and values congruence between family leaders, and becomes critical in the emergence of cooperative relations between family businesses. The positive role of trust in the cooperation between family business is moderated by critical events and self-interest; critical events appear to reinforce trust bonds between family leaders and thus cooperation between family businesses, while self-interest becomes disruptive in this relationship.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the conditions underpinning the cooperative relationships between family businesses. The role of trust is also explored, given the focus on informal conditions nested within the cooperation between firms.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A case study research method is adopted in this paper. This research is conducted within a cooperative association in Cyprus where 40 retail family businesses trade under the same brand.\nFindings: The findings suggest that cooperation between family businesses emerges and unfolds as a result of the presence and interrelationships between a number of critical conditions: trust, altruism, collective thinking, stewardship, friendship, and family values congruence. The work illustrates that trust becomes a catalyst to the emergence and maintenance of cooperative relations between family businesses. Trust between family leaders is important in building altruism, collective thinking, and stewardship norms amongst them, and helps in sustaining the cooperation between their respective firms. At the same time, trust (stemming from past friendship and values congruence between diverse family leaders) becomes important in bringing family businesses to cooperate together at first instance. Further, the findings stress the role of critical events and self-interest in moderating the role and influence of trust on the cooperation between family businesses.\nOriginality/value: This paper contributes to the family business field through new knowledge on the relations between family businesses and the unique conditions that shape their long-term cooperation.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Exploring the moderating role of context satisfaction between job characteristics and turnover intention of employees of Indian public sector banks
|
[
"Employee behaviour",
"Job design",
"Empirical study"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Past retention research has explored how job perceptions of employees predict their psychological feelings and thus affect turnover (Moore, 2000; Thatcher et al., 2002). Though job itself can be a significant predictor of an employee's turnover intention, s/he may also consider other factors when deciding to quit job; feelings about workplace characteristics may be one of them. In other words, an employee's satisfaction with the context in which s/he is working may affect her/his perception of the organization and may hence be another predictor of her/his intention to leave. The celebrated Job Characteristics Model (JCM) (Hackman and Oldham, 1976, 1980) assumes that context satisfaction, growth need strength and knowledge and skill may moderate the relationship between job characteristics and work-related outcomes including employee turnover. Of these, context satisfaction is seemingly less researched as a moderator. We have used JCM (or, simply, the Model) as the basis of this study and in our proposed model we have treated context satisfaction as a moderator between employees' perception towards job characteristics and their turnover intention. Following McKnight et al. (2009), we have considered job characteristics to represent worker perceptions about the task: its nature and content, including skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy and feedback. In lines with the Model, pay and benefits, supervision, job security, co-workers, autonomy, challenge and growth are taken as components of context to measure employees' satisfaction with their job context.\nRationale of choice of Indian banking sector: As per the report of McKinsey (2012) on the Indian banking sector, state-owned banks, referred to hereafter as public sector banks (PSBs), form the major share of the sector in terms of profits (about 65 per cent in 2009), assets (72 per cent) of banking assets and staff (about 78 per cent). However, in spite of their stature and presence in the economy, these banks face acute human capital-related challenges (McKinsey 2012); retaining employees is one of such challenges (McKinsey 2012; IBEF - Report on Banking, 2013). Expecting to witness an unprecedented loss of skills and competencies in the form of retiring senior and middle management executives over the next few years (BCG, FICCI and NBA, 2010), PSBs need to hire employees with both core and specialist skills, while simultaneously working to control attrition (IBEF - Report on Banking, 2013). As attracting and retaining fresh talent is a major test faced by the sector (especially PSBs), it is imperative to address issues related to human resource on a priority basis (BCG, FICCI and NBA, 2010). The above discussed issues call for extensive research to bring out suitable strategies to be adopted by PSBs for addressing the HR challenges, especially retaining employees for growth and survival.\nReview of literature: Turnover intention\nMethod: A survey was conducted across 19 PSBs in India. The head offices of all these banks were contacted explaining the objective and purpose of the study. With an initial note of approval from the headquarters of all these 19 banks, the zonal offices were mailed a request to conduct the survey, along with a soft version of the questionnaire. Managers of 25 branches replied with the permission to conduct the survey in their respective branches. The questionnaire was distributed to 297 (149 JMG Scale-I and 148 MMG Scale-II) employees of these branches, appended with a cover letter mentioning the purpose of the study and the affiliation of the researchers. It also assured the participants of anonymity and confidentiality. The language of the instrument was English. All employees were given sufficient time to complete the survey at work. The participants were also asked to provide their demographic information (i.e. age, gender and tenure of service) in the first section of the questionnaire. The process of data collection took around a month and the completed questionnaires were personally collected. However, 79 questionnaires had some missing data and hence could not be used further. The final number of usable questionnaires stood at 218 (109 JMG Scale-I and 109 MMG Scale-II), registering a response rate of 73.4 per cent.\nMeasures: The construct named job characteristics was measured by the five items used by Hackman and Oldham (1980), with each item corresponding to a core job characteristic. The measure has been widely used in studies related with banking sector (e.g. Oldham et al., 1976; Hadi and Adil, 2010). Items of the construct were \"How much autonomy is there in your job?\"; \"To what extent does your job involve doing a whole and identifiable piece of work?\"; \"How much variety is there in your job?\"; \"In general, how significant or important is your job?\"; \"To what extent does doing the job itself provide you with information about your work performance?\". Participants indicated the amount of each characteristic in their job using specific seven-point anchors, namely: (1) very little to (7) very much (a=0.752).\nResults: Table II shows the means, standard deviations and zero-order correlations among the variables. As can be seen from the values, context is significantly related with turnover intention (0.361, p\nDiscussion: In response to a perceived need for research to analyse the impact of job characteristics on work-related outcomes, we have investigated the influence of job characteristics on turnover intention of employees of Indian PSBs by including context satisfaction as a moderator in this relationship. Data on perception of employees support our model. The results have several theoretical and practical implications, which we would discuss here in turn.\nLimitations of the study and scope for further research: Although our research provides evidence pertaining to the moderating effect of context satisfaction between job characteristics and turnover intention, our results should qualify their soundness vis-a-vis the limitations inherent in the study.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: An employee's satisfaction with the work context may affect her/his perception of the organization and may hence be a predictor of her/his intention to leave. The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible mediating role of context satisfaction between employees' perception of job characteristics and their turnover intention and rests on the Job Characteristics Model (JCM).\nDesign/methodology/approach: Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the moderation hypothesis on sample data of 214 employees of 19 public sector banks in India. The population comprised both junior and middle management grade employees as these are expected to succeed retiring middle and senior management employees.\nFindings: Findings suggest that in addition to enriched jobs, context satisfaction is critical to establish a positive environment to lessen turnover intention of employees. This highlights the need for a positive and supportive work context to maximize the benefits of jobs with positive characteristics.\nOriginality/value: The study is important for academicians and practitioners alike as it is evidence to the underlying process of how perception towards job characteristics together with work context as a less researched construct of JCM may influence intention to quit. The findings find relevance in the Indian banking sector, where retaining talent is a major challenge.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Driving organizational change with internal coaching programs: part one
|
[
"Coaching",
"Management development"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nPart one: Part One of this paper focuses on organizational change and using coaches as change agents. It compares the use of external vs internal coaches including the areas of cost, complexity, retention, scale and breadth of impact as well as impact on the coaches. It also covers ways of using internal coaching from overcoming resistance and engaging leaders to where to focus the coaching.\n1. Change and change agents: Most large organizations are continually undergoing multiple change initiatives at an increasingly rapid pace.As Jeffrey Schwartz and David Rock illustrated in \"The neuroscience of leadership\" (Schwartz and Rock, 2006), change is pain: any kind of major change initiative requires people to apply focus and effort, to pay attention to bring about change.Most organizations need to develop this capacity to execute change more effectively. The Human Resources (HR) team is charged with driving the human side of change. HR teams (often downsized) do not have the time to focus on driving multiple change initiatives. These people need help; specifically from people who know how to facilitate change; they require thinking resources. So, it's natural that they should turn to coaches.Coaching has a proven impact: add coaching to an initiative to increase focus; to training and people learn more, up to six times as much in some cases. As change catalysts, coaches assist with managing the speed of, and smooth transition through change. There is an inbuilt resistance to change - so by minimizing the stress response, and error detection of the amygdala - we can make this process less painful. The emotional change required in organizational transition requires hardwiring of new learning through insight and action. Coaches can facilitate this process.Changes can be at all levels, e.g.:*driving the leadership pipeline through integrated coaching solutions - personal and organizational performance change;*shifting culture by transforming the quality of every conversation - conversational leading to culture change; and*lifting performance by improving retention and engagement - development leading to culture change.\n2. Internal versus external coaching: The most common approach to utilizing coaches to drive change is to hire external coaches. One survey of 55 large organizations found 100 percent of these organizations were utilizing them. However analysis shows that less than 1 percent of an organization has access to a formal coach. This is interesting, bearing in mind the \"Coaching at Work Survey 2002\" of 280 leading UK companies shows that 93 percent of managers believe that coaching should be available to all employees regardless of seniority.In the USA, 100 percent of organizations surveyed (Levinson, 2005) were using external coaching, 50 percent were using internal coaching.What usually happens when a company decides to adopt coaching is that HR gets the coaching bug, cultural audits show the need, some executives get on board and pilots show great promise. The other side of this is that senior leaders may need convincing due to the busy-ness of everyone and the seemingly high roll out cost.There are several factors that need to be considered when selecting a coach approach.2.1 Cost\n3. Utilising internal coaches: About three years ago, companies had sufficient experience of external coaching to see the benefits and were starting to take this to the next level - internal coaching.3.1 Overcoming initial resistance to internal coaches\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this two part paper is to outline a new way of utilizing coaching to drive wide scale organizational change.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The authors illustrate the various benefits to using internal coaches, flesh out the cost benefits, and highlight a range of ways that organizations can integrate coaching into their people, performance and culture frameworks. It covers training, design and implementation issues as well as looking at aligning coaching models with the organization's strategic approach. The paper draws on extensive case studies and posits some best practice principles, then addresses some of the key questions around this topic. This paper draws on interviews with over 50 internal coaches over two years, and several other research papers on this topic.\nFindings: - It illustrates how training leaders to be internal coaches is a more scalable, sustainable and robust approach to driving change and improving performance than hiring external coaches. Early indicators are showing significant increases in retention, engagement, productivity and performance, as well as ROI (17x), across organizations that have developed internal coaching.\nResearch limitations/implications: - Data is critical to understanding coaching impacts within organizational contexts. Thanks to those organizations using measurement, impacts to the business can be determined.\nOriginality/value: - This positive data is significant for organizations making decisions about introducing coaching initiatives, driving organizational change or adopting a coaching culture.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Reporting adverse events at geriatric facilities: Categorization by type of adverse event and function of reporting personnel
|
[
"Error analysis",
"Clinical incident",
"Incident reporting"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Adverse events are defined as unplanned events which cause, or have the potential to cause, harm to patients (Joolaee et al., 2011). Adverse events and patient care-related adverse events are a challenging universal problem (Gurwitz et al., 2005). The incidence of adverse events is estimated to be 3-4 percent in the international literature (Considine and Botti, 2004). In Israel, from 1992-2008, over 4,000 adverse events in the geriatric field were reported to Medical Risk Management (2011). Patients who suffer an adverse event are more likely to die or experience permanent disability than patients whose hospital course is unaffected by an adverse event. Adverse event reduction is a key strategy in decreasing mortality and morbidity related to health care, and nurses have long played a pivotal role in the prevention of many adverse events (Considine and Botti, 2004). The situation among elder residents of geriatric facilities is even more problematic since these facilities usually serve people with complex mental and physical states who are more susceptible to adverse events to begin with (Medical Risk Management, 2011). The presence of physiological abnormality, failure to recognize or appropriately treat physiological abnormality, and patients aged 65 years and older, have been found as prominent risk factors for adverse events (Considine and Botti, 2004). Accordingly, adverse events are a common occurrence in nursing homes. This can be illustrated by the 1.9 million medication administration adverse events that occur annually in the US among 1.6 million patients in nursing homes and long-term care hospitals. Over 40 percent of these adverse events are preventable. Nonetheless, to date only few studies have been conducted on adverse events in geriatrics in general and in nursing homes and long term facilities in particular (Wagner et al., 2005).\nMethod: Research design\nResults: Over the years 2008-2010, 1,364 reports of adverse events at the facility were amassed. Research findings show that each nurse reported 5.2 adverse events on average over three years (SD=5.9, min=1, max=32). The mean age of reporting personnel was 45.5 (SD=7.8, min=23, max=65) and their mean seniority at the facility was 20 years (SD=5.9, min=2, max=40). Registered nurses reported 934 adverse events (68.5 percent) and the rest were reported by licensed practical nurses (n=430, 31.5 percent), where 50 percent of the nursing staff are registered nurses. In addition, 955 of respondents were of Jewish origin (70 percent). Shifts on which adverse events occurred were staffed by 4 nurses on average (SD=0.9, min=3, max=7), and the average number of residents in each department was 31 (SD=3.2, min=21, max=40).\nDiscussion: Although adverse events involving care of elder residents in geriatric facilities are common, only few studies have been conducted on this subject to date (Wagner et al., 2005). Therefore, the current study examined a large database of nursing staff reports of adverse events at a geriatric facility. Examination of the data accumulated created an opportunity both to characterize adverse events as to the type of adverse events reported and their outcome, and to categorize reporting staff by age, seniority, and professional training. Research findings indicate a moderate positive correlation between respondents' age and number of reports and between respondents' seniority at the facility and number of reports. These findings are similar to those of Kim et al. (2007) who studied nurses' perceptions of reporting adverse events and patient safety in Korea and found that nurses with over ten years' seniority reported adverse events more often than nurses with less than ten years' seniority at the facility. This finding may be explained by the fact that nurses with less seniority feel more pressure and insecurity than veteran nurses, reducing their willingness to report adverse events. Another reason may have to do with the fact that senior nurses have more experience, contributing to better identification of adverse events, not to mention the fact that senior nurses were probably more aware of the regulations regarding adverse event reporting.\nConclusion: This study examined a large database of nursing staff reports of adverse events at a geriatric facility. Examination of the database enabled characterization of adverse events both in regard to the type of adverse events reported and their outcomes, and categorization of reporting nursing personnel by age, seniority, and professional training. Research findings indicate that falls are the most common type of adverse event, and a significant correlation was found between type of adverse event and harm consequently incurred by residents. In addition, older nurses with greater seniority at the facility were more inclined to report adverse events. Moreover, registered nurses were found to report all types of adverse events more than licensed practical nurses. This study highlights the important role that nurses can play in reporting and reducing adverse events. The role of the nurse is becoming increasingly complex, especially in geriatric facilities, which serve people with complex mental and physical states who are more susceptible to adverse events to begin with.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Adverse events and patient care-related adverse events are a challenging universal problem, among elder residents of geriatric facilities. The aim of this study was to examine which types of adverse events are characteristic of the geriatric center studied and which of the nursing staff reported this event.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Data were retrieved from the computerized adverse event management system at a large geriatric center in central Israel, and all adverse events reported over the past three years were examined.\nFindings: The study findings indicate that the most common type of adverse event was falls. Older nurses with greater seniority in the facility show a higher tendency to report adverse events. In addition, registered nurses were found to report more often than practical nurses.\nPractical implications: This study highlights the important role that nurses can play in reporting and reducing adverse events. The role of the nurse is becoming increasingly complex, especially in geriatric facilities, which serve people with complex mental and physical states who are more susceptible to adverse events to begin with.\nOriginality/value: Despite the large number of adverse events, few studies have been undertaken on adverse events in geriatrics in general, and in nursing homes and long-term facilities in particular. Answers to these questions will enable improvement in the quality of care provided and ensure a safe care environment for residents. Systematically examining types of adverse events and the characteristics of those who do and do not report them, can contribute to improvement of processes in the healthcare system in general, and in the facility in particular. Additionally, efficient investigation can improve the behavior of those who enable adverse events.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Continuing professional development: policies, practices and future directions
|
[
"Higher education",
"Qualitative research",
"Continuing professional development",
"Iran",
"Educational development",
"Faculty development"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: By addressing a case, this study provides an overview of the current state of faculty development (FD) in Iran and attempts to map the challenges and changes that have occurred in recent years. Iranian higher education (HE) has been affected by societal developments and changes in the globalised world. These changes do not only relate to globalisation, but also to factors such as the increased demand for accountability, HE institutions striving for \"excellence\" while, at the same time, experiencing competitive pressure to become more efficient, the expansion of student bodies in HE institutions and emerging information and communication technology-based initiatives. In order to adapt to and keep abreast of these changes and developments, some Iranian HE institutions have adopted innovative approaches aimed at empowering their key actors, i.e. faculty members.\nContinuing professional development: Continuing professional development, also referred in the literature as \"FD\", encompasses a wide range of interventions and activities aimed at improving faculty members' performances in their different roles as scholars, advisers, designers and evaluators of academic programmes and courses, academic leaders, contributors to public service and participants in institutional decisions, all of which contribute to a college's or university's mission (Gaff and Justice, 1978; Gillespie and Robertson, 2010; Groccia, 2010). These categories address the wide range of possible roles that faculty members are expected to fill in HE institutions and, consequently, how their competencies should be developed. Accordingly, CPD is seen as an ongoing process which tack place throughout the faculty members academic life.\nResearch method: A sequential, explanatory, multiple sources design consisting of two distinct phases was used to explore and map the characteristics of FD and to analyse the present trends of Iranian HE institutions (Creswell, 2012). Documents relating to a faculty's professional development (decisions, agreements, Job Structure Memorandum and other relevant documents and policies at the Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and the studied HE institution) were analysed first. Next, field records were collected by means of semi-structured interviews with faculty members in the given HE setting (Connelly and Clandinin, 1990). The audio-recorded interviews were then analysed and used to help to explain and elaborate on the data obtained from the analysis of the documents and policies.\nFindings: The analysis of the collected data led to the emergence of the following three themes: FD: policies and procedures, faculties' professional development in practice, and associated challenges and future prospects. These initial findings helped us to understand whether and how FD activities occurred and enabled us to map the challenges and complexities in faculties' CPD in Iranian HE. Further, the analysis highlighted possible solutions for developing a relevant and practical professional development.\nDiscussion and implications for practice: The findings of the study show that self-directed learning and ad hoc activities play a dominant role in FD in Iranian HE institutions. FD is often dependent on the efforts of individual faculty members, rather than planned throughout the organisation, i.e. it is the result of personal, rather than institutional interventions. University teachers are, thus, not required to obtain any pedagogical qualifications. There are also very few FD units or centres for structuring and systematically providing opportunities to develop faculty members' competencies. This is consistent with the findings of earlier studies of Asian HE institutions (see Chaudary, 2011; Phuong et al., 2015).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to focus on mapping the ways in which HE institutions enhance faculty members' professional development. More precisely, by introducing a case from one of the well-established universities in Iran, the authors aim to examine the focus of faculty development (FD) activities and how FD is conducted, with a view to shedding light on the challenges of and disparities between faculty roles and areas of FD in higher education (HE) in Iran as a developing country.\nDesign/methodology/approach: In order to explore and map the characteristics of FD and analyse the trends that Iranian HE institutions are experiencing in this area, a sequential explanatory multiple sources design, consisting of two distinct phases, was implemented (Creswell, 2012). In this design, the documents regarding the faculty professional development (decisions, agreements, The Job Structure Memorandum, and relevant documents and policies at the Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and the studied HE institution) were analysed first. Next, field records were collected by means of a series semi-structured interviews with faculty members in the given HE setting.\nFindings: The analysis of the collected data brought to the surface three themes, namely, FD: policies and procedures, faculties professional development in practice, and associated challenges and future prospects. These initial findings helped to understand if and how FD activities occur as well as map the challenges and complexities in faculties' CPD in Iranian HE. Further, it discusses possible solutions to develop relevant and practical professional development.\nResearch limitations/implications: This case study is partly limited to a group of faculty members' experiences and reflections on FD in one Iranian HE institution. Conducting additional surveys and observations with a large sample of the faculties and students may verify and consolidate the findings of the study and contribute to further insights on the ways faculties' professional development can be transformed.\nPractical implications: Taking into account the findings of the study, a dynamic framework for continued professional development of faculties in Iran is developed.\nOriginality/value: The findings of the study present valuable insights into the FD procedures, challenges and paradoxes that seem to shape FD in Iranian HE institutions. Moreover, the findings indicated much-needed structural modifications to simplify and harmonise the policies and procedures to harness profession development. To conclude, the initiatives and action plans that may contribute to FD and reshape the Iranian HE landscape is discussed. The applications and implications are also relevant for similar HE systems in developing countries.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The relationship between employee involvement, partnership management and supply performance: Findings from a developing country
|
[
"Employees involvement",
"Partnership",
"Total quality management",
"Supply chain management",
"Supply performance",
"Supply chain quality management",
"Automotive",
"Thailand"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Supply chain management (SCM) and total quality management (TQM) provide unique frameworks to develop involvement from all business stakeholders (Gimenez, 2004; Sohal and Anderson, 1999; Dean and Bowen, 1994). They have evolved along similar paths which diverged in terms of the degree of stakeholders' participation. Both emerged in response to the need to develop tactical strategies for operational functions (logistics for SCM and inspection for TQM), and then have been broadened in scope to gain synergy by integrating the concerns of all interrelated parties, including all internal functions and external business partners (Vanichchinchai and Igel, 2009). However, SCM focuses more on relationships with external business partners (Croom et al., 2000; Mills et al., 2004), while TQM places more emphasis on internal participation by employees (Yeung and Amstrong, 2003). Similarity in their ultimate integration and difference in their primary focus can result in synergy or conflict when implementing them simultaneously, and more research is needed to explore these implications (Vanichchinchai and Igel, 2009).This study aims to investigate the relationships among internal employee involvement in TQM, external partner management in SCM, and a firm's supply performance. The automotive industry in Thailand was studied because its supply chain is very complex and active in both SCM and TQM. Also, it is one of the major globally competitive industries of Thailand.\n2. Literature review: 2.1 Partnership management in SCM\n3. Measures: A partnership management measurement for the automotive industry in Thailand was developed based on the research of Li et al. (2006), Min and Mentzer (2004), Tan et al. (2002), Lee and Kincade (2003), and GSCF in Lambert et al. (2005). The TQM framework developed by Hoang et al. (2006) was the basis for employee involvement measurements. This was because, the framework emphasizes the soft people practices of TQM, and covers various quality award criteria widely accepted by TQM experts. It also was designed for industries in developing countries and then tested in Vietnamese industries. Supply chain performance measurements proposed by Min and Mentzer (2004), Li et al. (2006) and Gunasekaran et al. (2001) were applied to develop a measurement instrument for a firm's supply performance. To improve the content validity, these measurement items were assessed by four academic experts in SCM, and by three experts in the automotive industry in Thailand. The resulting partnership management measurements included seven items. Employee involvement measurements comprised seven items as well. Measurement of a firm's supply performance consisted of four sub-constructs:1. cost (three items);2. flexibility (three items);3. relationship (four items); and4. responsiveness (three items).A six-point Likert scale was applied to evaluate the employee involvement, partnership management, and supply performance in the companies surveyed.Back-translation of the questionnaire from English to Thai and back into English was conducted to avoid linguistic differences in Thai and English technical vocabulary. Then, a pilot survey was conducted to ensure that the respondents had no difficulties in completing the questionnaire. Twelve companies were selected from the database of the Thai Auto Part Manufacturer Association (TAPMA) and the Thailand Automotive Industry Directory. The key informants were executives in each company's SCM system. Since both paper-based and electronic questionnaires were planned to be used for the large-scale survey, the pilot questionnaire was prepared in electronic form to be delivered via e-mail in order to test the applicability of the electronic questionnaire. After receiving the returned questionnaires, the researcher contacted the respondents for comments. Overall, there were no negative comments about the length, format, content or clarity of the questionnaire. The measurement items are shown in the Appendix.\n4. Research method: 4.1 Data collection and sample\n5. Findings and discussion: The overall fit of the structural model was assessed with the same set of multiple fit indexes as those of the measurement models, with the following results: kh2/df ratio=0.82, p-value=0.9, GFI=0.96, CFI=1.00, NFI=0.986, NNFI=1.00 and SRMR=0.039. For path analysis, all t-values were well above the critical value at 1.96, with significance at 0.05. Employee involvement had a relationship with partnership management, as illustrated by the standardized estimate of 0.61 and t-value 5.96. Thus H1, which hypothesized that employee involvement has a direct positive impact on partnership management, was supported. Internal employee involvement in TQM led to improvement in external partner management in SCM. Additionally, employee involvement had a significant direct effect on firm's supply performance with standardized estimate 0.64, t-value 8.23. Then, H2 was supported. Employee involvement also had a significant indirect effect on a firm's supply performance through partnership management. The standardized estimate of the indirect effect was 0.19 with t-value 3.98. Therefore H3 was supported. This is because, although SCM emphasizes external partnership with customers and suppliers, real SCM implementation must start from internal collaboration among departments and employees. Coordination within an organization is a prerequisite of SCM (Lambert and Cooper, 2000; Croxton et al., 2001; Skjoett-Larsen et al., 2003). Therefore TQM, which focuses on employee involvement and management, is a foundation for partnership in SCM. In turn, both contribute to a firm's supply performance improvement. The results support the finding of Halldorsson et al. (2008) that intra-organizational integration is a prerequisite for inter-organizational integration. Gowen and Tallon (2003) found that management and employee involvement can improve supplier partnership. Harland (1996) suggested that soft behavioral features such as the attitudes, involvements, expectations and perceptions among supply chain partners are critical for the success of the partnership. Vanichchinchai and Igel (2011) studied the relationship between TQM and SCM in the automotive industry in Thailand and found that TQM can directly facilitate the implementation of SCM and can directly enhance the firm's supply performance. Moreover, TQM can indirectly improve firm's supply performance through SCM. However, there are some negative effects of disruptions caused by TQM especially when employees were not involved and did not clearly understand SCM requirements. Thus, they recommended that training in quality awareness, communication, involvement, goal alignment or adopting industry-specific quality management systems such as ISO/TS 16949 are recommended prior to SCM implementation. Lin et al. (2005) surveyed the impact of supply chain quality management in Taiwan and Hong Kong and found that quality management practices were significantly correlated with the supplier participation and selection strategy in SCM, and that this influenced business performance. Wellins and Rioux (2000) also advised that effective human resource management and involvement should be applied in SCM. Importantly, it should be observed that among a firm's supply performance sub-constructs, relationship had a strong standardized coefficient to its second-order construct both in path analysis and second-order CFA. This was in keeping with the emphasis of this research on relationship-based SCM.\n6. Implications and conclusions: While most SCM research has emphasized hard aspects, this study focused on soft issues of people and relationships. It found that internal employee involvement has not only a direct positive impact on external partnership management and firm's supply performance but also an indirect positive impact on a firm's supply performance through external partnership management. It confirmed that effective employee involvement is important in improving partnership in supply chains and in supply performance. Thus, in supply-chain quality-management implementation, obstacles regarding internal employee issues - such as internal resistance, inadequate skills and knowledge, fear of change, lack of participation, lack of a common perspective, and functional silos - should be improved. The viewpoints of employees should be changed from a power negotiation perspective to a collaboration perspective. Employees may resist supply chain partnership initiatives if they do not clearly understand the advantages of the initiatives, or feel that they will be negatively affected. Therefore communication about the rationale for the initiatives, and skills training for new SCM techniques, should be provided. Such programs should be offered to employees within the organizations and extend to cover external business partners as well. SCM managers should neither focus only on hard operational concerns nor on external partnership. They should also emphasize soft internal employee issues. Thus, TQM can be used as a foundation for SCM to achieve their ultimate integration, covering both internal participation and external partnership in the whole supply chain. Although TQM and SCM are large-scale management systems, managers should not consider them as separate entities. Both should be implemented together to achieve excellent performance (Figure 1 and Table V).\n7. Limitations and suggestions for future research: The distribution of the paper-based questionnaires was a convenience sample, and only 19 percent of the sampled companies provided more than one response. Future research should apply different random sampling methods to allow for more generalization of the results, and other data collection methods should be chosen to increase the multiple respondent rates. Although the measurement instruments, as well as the hypotheses, were comprehensively confirmed as reliable and valid by various statistical techniques, further studies based on the adaptation of these instruments in other industries or developing countries could be conducted to confirm their general validity. The samples in this research comprised only automotive parts suppliers. In future research, the automotive assemblers and downstream business partners could be studied together with the upstream suppliers to investigate the relationship along the whole supply chain. A firm's supply performance also should be extended to cover the performance of the entire supply chain.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This research aims to investigate the relationships among employee involvement, partnership management, and a firm's supply performance in the automotive industry in Thailand.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The measurement instruments for employee involvement, partnership management and a firm's supply performance were developed based on an extensive literature review, and validated by experts. They were pilot-tested, and analyzed using various statistical techniques to ensure reliability and validity in structural equation modeling constructs. A hypothesized model was tested through path analysis.\nFindings: - The study found that the measurements of employee involvement, partnership management, and a firm's supply performance are reliable and valid for Thailand's automotive industry. Employee involvement has not only a significant direct positive impact on partnership management and firm's supply performance, but also a significant indirect positive impact on a firm's supply performance through partnership management.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The distribution of paper-based questionnaires was a convenience sample. Although data from a sample of 211 companies was collected, only 19 percent of them provided more than one response. Future research should apply different random sampling methods, and investigate the reasons for and ways to improve the low multiple-response rate.\nPractical implications: - The findings are beneficial to managers in the automotive industry in developing countries who want to improve partnership management and supply performance through employee involvement.\nOriginality/value: - This study is one of the first to examine the linkage among internal employee involvement, external partnership management, and a firm's supply performance in the automotive industry in a newly industrialized country such as Thailand. It can be used in further research on the new concept of supply chain quality management.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Exploring consumers' attitude towards relationship marketing
|
[
"Consumer attitudes",
"Customer relationships",
"Relationship marketing"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Relationship marketing, defined as \"all marketing activities directed toward establishing, developing, and maintaining successful relational exchanges\" (Morgan and Hunt, 1994, p. 22), has had a tremendous impact on both the theory and practice of marketing during the previous decade and a half. Relationship marketing is common practice across many business-to- consumer contexts, is an important source of a sustainable competitive advantage (O'Malley and Prothero, 2004) and is a critical factor in the new economy (Gummesson, 2002). Companies continue to engage in various activities (such as offering loyalty programs, communicating with customers via phone and e-mail and training service employees to develop personal relationships with customers) in the hope of obtaining the many purported organizational benefits of relationship marketing, including higher retention, decreased price sensitivity as well as opportunities for up-selling and cross-selling (Dwyer et al., 1987; Pine et al., 1995; Reichheld and Sasser, 1990).\nLiterature review and hypotheses: Palmatier et al. (2006) note that relationships are two-sided and that the parties should share in the benefits of strong relationships. They refer to the seller as the party that implements relationship marketing with the intentions of strengthening the relationship with the customer (Palmatier et al., 2006). The benefits and shortcomings of relationship marketing have seen considerable research attention. Benefits that customers receive include special treatment, confidence, social and time-savings (Bendapudi and Berry, 1997; Berry, 1995; Gwinner et al., 1998; Reynolds and Beatty, 1999; Sheth and Parvatiyar, 1995). More recently, however, researchers have begun investigating the \"dark side\" of these relationships (Anderson and Jap, 2005; Fournier et al., 1998; Wendlandt and Scharder, 2007) as well as the reasons customers may not want to develop them in the first place (Ashley et al., 2011; Noble and Phillips, 2004; O'Malley and Prothero, 2004).\nMethod: A mailing list of 3,000 randomly selected consumers over the age of 18 years living in the 48 contiguous USA was purchased from a commercial research firm. The survey packet included a letter of introduction, a survey and a postage paid envelope. Two hundred and fifty-five surveys were returned for a 9 per cent response rate after accounting for undeliverables. Although a 9 per cent response rate was lower than desired, response rates less than 10 per cent have become somewhat common in marketing research (Neff, 2006). We assessed non-response bias by comparing early and late respondents on all constructs (Armstrong and Overton, 1977). Non-response bias did not appear to be a factor, as no significant differences emerged. Demographic information for respondents can be found in Table I. Although not intended to be a perfect representation of the US population, the sample characteristics suggest that various demographic groups are reflected.\nResults: Before discussing the results of our hypotheses, we first address consumers' attitude toward relationship marketing. Overall, consumers have only a slightly positive attitude, as the mean attitude toward relationship marketing score was 4.67 on a seven-point scale, just above the scale's midpoint. In addition, the median score was 5. The minimum and maximum scores were 1.00 and 7.00, respectively, and 30.6 per cent of respondents scored at or below the scale's midpoint. Respondents were divided into three groups: those scoring in the bottom third (Low), middle third (Middle) and top third (High) of the attitude toward relationship marketing scale.\nStudy 2: The results of Study 1 indicate that consumers in a national sample have only a slightly positive attitude toward relationship marketing. Further, there are no significant relationships between any demographic variable and attitude toward relationship marketing. However, even though consumers' attitudes are only slightly positive, a majority of consumers in this sample chose a company that practices relationship marketing over a company that does not. This finding is interesting in light of previous research that points to the notion that consumers are somewhat negatively disposed to relationship marketing efforts (Fournier et al., 1998; Noble and Phillips, 2004; O'Malley and Prothero, 2004). Finally, consumers' attitudes were significant in predicting their likelihood of developing a relationship with a company, the number of relationships that they have with service/retail companies, the selection of a company utilizing a relationship marketing strategy and the likelihood of providing companies with personal information. Contrary to suggestions in previous research, consumers' risk aversion actually decreased their overall responses to relationship marketing.\nMethod: The scales measuring the likelihood of responding to specific relationship marketing tactics were created using in-depth interviews and standard scale development procedures (Churchill, 1979; Gerbing and Anderson, 1988; Nunnally and Bernstein, 1994). All scales were pre-tested and utilized a seven-point Likert format. These scales can be found in Appendix 2. Upper-level undergraduate marketing students were trained in data collection procedures and instructed to recruit non-student participants only. The survey was administered online via an e-mail link of a Web page containing the survey. This approach has been successful in previous research (Arnold and Reynolds, 2003; Bitner et al., 1990).\nResults: Next, a structural model was estimated to test the proposed relationships. Overall, the fit indices indicated an acceptable model fit (kh2 = 410.13, df = 146, NNFI = 0.96; CFI = 0.97; RMSEA = 0.068). As predicted, attitude toward relationship marketing positively influenced the likelihood of participating in a company's frequency/reward program (g = 0.51; t = 10.59, p < 0.01), the likelihood of reading company communication (g = 0.46; t = 9.19, p < 0.01), the likelihood of developing personal relationships with company employees (g = 0.55; t = 11.23, p < 0.01), the likelihood of seeking preferential treatment from a company (g = 0.34; t = 6.50, p < 0.01) and the likelihood of seeking customized products from a company (g = 0.47; t = 9.37, p < 0.01). Therefore, H9-H13 were all supported.\nSummary: Relationship marketing has had a tremendous influence on marketing theory and practice. Although early research focused primarily on relationship marketing from the organizational perspective (cf. Dwyer et al., 1987), more recent research has investigated from the consumers' point of view (cf. Noble and Phillips, 2004; O'Malley and Prothero, 2004). However, this literature has tended to focus on the benefits and drawbacks to consumers (cf. Gwinner et al., 1998; Reynolds and Beatty, 1999; Noble and Phillips, 2004; O'Malley and Prothero, 2004). The purpose of this research was to determine consumers' overall attitudes toward relationship marketing and the impact that they have on specific tactics associated with these strategies. Understanding consumers' attitudes toward relationship marketing is critical to determining whether or not services and retail companies may realize the many benefits of relationship marketing (Fournier et al., 1998).\nManagerial implications: This research suggests that the development of relationship marketing theory and practice should take into account the fact that a sizable segment of consumers is not particularly interested in developing relationships with services/retail companies. Until recently, marketing theory and practice has assumed that customers were interested and willing to engage in these relationships. Thus, it has focused on the benefits of relationship marketing to both customers and organizations (Noble and Phillips, 2004; O'Malley and Prothero, 2004). Companies must realize that not all customers are interested in developing relationships, even some who are completely satisfied and loyal (Noble and Phillips, 2004).\nLimitations and future research: Some limitations should be noted. First and not uncommon to most survey research in marketing, the relationships between constructs in this study may be inflated because of common methods bias. Future research should investigate the research questions and hypotheses using multiple methods. For example, the scale could be used to collect data from individuals who are currently enrolled in loyalty programs to compare consumers' reported attitude with their actual behaviors. In addition, consumers who score higher or lower on the attitude toward relationship marketing scale could also be recruited to participate in laboratory experiments to assess the ability of the scale to predict certain behaviors and to develop behavioral profiles of consumers who are more (or less) relationship marketing-oriented. Future research could also use the scale in a field experiment with an actual company to measures consumers' attitude toward relationship marketing and to track consumers' responses to actual relationship marketing tactics. Given that the response rate for the national sample was 9 per cent, future research should also aim to use methods that may achieve higher response rates to avoid the possible influence of non-response bias. Study 2 used a convenience sample. Future research should attempt to reach other types of samples as well.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore consumers' overall attitude toward relationship marketing and to determine the influence of consumers' overall attitude on consumers' intentions and behaviors. Many services companies practice relationship marketing and customer relationship management. Although the benefits and drawbacks of relationship marketing for consumers have been established, little is known about whether consumers have a relatively positive or negative attitude toward relationship marketing practices.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This research investigates consumers' attitudes toward relationship marketing using a national survey of 245 consumers and a survey of 417 consumers living in the southern region of the USA.\nFindings: Although approximately 70 per cent of our national consumer sample had a somewhat positive attitude toward relationship marketing, about 30 per cent had a somewhat negative or neutral attitude. Furthermore, approximately 39 per cent of consumers in the study would choose a company that does not engage in relationship marketing over a company that does. The results also indicate that consumers' overall attitude toward relationship marketing impacts their likelihood to respond favorably to specific relationship marketing tactics.\nResearch limitations/implications: Some limitations should be noted. First and not uncommon to most survey research in marketing, the relationships between constructs in this study may be inflated because of common methods bias. Second, this research reports the results from two studies. Although one of the studies represents a national sample, additional research using the scales developed in this research is needed.\nPractical implications: This research indicates that consumers' attitudes toward relationship marketing impacts their willingness to engage in relationships with service companies and their response to specific relationship marketing tactics. Because consumer attitudes toward relationship marketing vary, companies should consider segmenting their customer base using this information.\nOriginality/value: This study extends previous research by using quantitative techniques to measure consumers' overall attitudes toward relationship marketing and assessing the influence of those attitudes on intentions and behaviors.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Why and how to build back better in shrinking territories?
|
[
"Earthquake",
"Build back better",
"Disaster resilience",
"L’Aquila",
"Post-disaster sustainable reconstruction"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Any disaster is considered as a divide, a discrete phenomenon separating time and places within a \"before it\" and \"after\": a four-stage disaster cycle - preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation - is commonly recognized in literature exemplifying pre-disaster and post-disaster activities (Lettieri et al., 2009). However, these two facets of our reality are mutually inclusive and interconnected, since each \"reconstruction should dovetail into the next round of mitigation and preparedness works\" (Pelling, 2003, p. 13) because systems should learn from past events. Berke et al. (1993) stated that post-disaster recovery is the least investigated and most poorly understood among the phases of a disaster and recent studies confirm this statement (Mannakkara and Wilkinson, 2014; Olshansky et al., 2012). As explored by Olshansky and Chang (2009), a key tension in post-disaster contexts is the time compression between \"speed and deliberation,\" namely between re-building as quickly as possible the \"pre-existing city\" and transforming the affected area into an improved territory.\n2. Methods: The BBB original principles (Clinton, 2006) shown in Table I (left column) have been clustered by the authors (right column), following advises of the recent literature which discussed and redefined them (Kennedy et al., 2008a; Mannakkara and Wilkinson, 2013, 2014; Leon et al., 2009; Mannakkara et al., 2014). Principles 1 and 4 have been clustered addressing the necessary empowerment of local institutions and communities that emerges as a key element of this reconstruction. Principle 2 is kept in its original formulation, targeting the transversal topic of equity of the reconstruction. Principles 3, 5 and 10 share a common focus on long-term risk reduction and enhancement of disaster resilience through the re-building process. Principles 6 and 7 highlight the weight of forms of cooperation with NGOs and specialized agencies in post-disaster activities. Finally, principles 8 and 9 stress the promotion of just social and economic relaunch.\n3. L'Aquila earthquake: impacts on a shrinking territory: Although geographically Abruzzo region is located in central Italy, it is conventionally considered part of Southern Italy macro-region, having the fiscal advantages and support of the \"economic under-performance regions\" (OECD, 2013). Data from the 2011 National Census show that Abruzzo is one of the least populated Italian regions, having a low population density (121 inhabitants/sq.km compared to the average national value of 197) and a high ageing index (Abruzzo 167 percent, Italy 149 percent). Data retrieved from Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) Regional Regional Accounts in 2016 show the regional GDP per capita (EURO 24,000) and the disposable income of households per capita (16,200 euros) is lower than Italian average (GDP EURO 27,700; income EURO 18,200).\n4. Results and discussion: 4.1 The legislative recovery framework: toward a sustainable long-term post-disaster reconstruction?\n5. Conclusions: overcoming previous stresses means to BBB: BBB and its related principles should help in not bouncing back to pre-disaster states (and embedded vulnerabilities) but in guiding socio-economic and spatial transformations in order to address the root causes of vulnerability while enhancing resilience. Especially in conditions of spread social and economic fragility, the meaning of the \"better\" should refer to avoiding institutional inertia and overcoming development lock-ins of the pre-disaster trajectories (Khasalamwa, 2009; Mannakkara and Wilkinson, 2014). This paper has been framed around a specific case study characterized by socio-economic pre-disaster stresses, analyzed through the lens of BBB approach and principles. There are different critical reflections useful for the international audience that this paper would like to pose, related to the tensions and linkages between shock and stresses, recovery and development. The political discourses around \"build back as it was, and as fast as possible,\" which described the first years after L'Aquila earthquake, were in contradiction with the national laws regulating the reconstruction (Section 4) and with the aims of the Plans, which stated that a reconstruction should avoid to build back as it was, while introducing risk mitigation and socio-economic long-term recovery within the re-building aims. This is a common tension also reported by the scientific literature as the \"speed vs deliberation\" challenge (Kim and Olshansky, 2014; Olshansky et al., 2012). Digging into this tension, the paper demonstrated the paradoxes of fund assignments (Section 4.2) and how the reconstruction budget was mainly focused on the built environment recovery, also in areas where population is ageing and the housing stock is largely devoted to secondary homes (as reported in Table II). As already suggested within the literature by Yi and Yang (2014), budgets for infrastructures and buildings should be integrated in order to frame integrated and strategic projects for build more resilient communities (Mannakkara and Wilkinson, 2014). The reconstruction within the Seismic Crater highlighted how the \"structural mitigation\" - defined by Bosher as achieved through strengthening buildings and infrastructures via engineering design - prevailed on the \"non-structural mitigation\" mechanisms (community capacities strengthening, planning for flexibility, relocation in safer areas, etc.) (Bosher, 2014; Bosher et al., 2007). As explored through Section 4.2 point A, the reconstruction involved many different social groups and actors, even if we could argue about how much or in which way participation has been framed.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of build back better (BBB) in contexts affected by depopulation and shrinking economies discussing how and if its principles are able to drive the recovery pattern toward a sustainability re-development path.\nDesign/methodology/approach: BBB principles' usefulness in driving toward a sustainable post-disaster recovery has been tested in L'Aquila's area (Italy) - severely affected by an earthquake in 2009 - through interviews and analyses of reconstruction plans and policies.\nFindings: Although most of the BBB principles can be recognized within the intentions of plans and policies, the recovery process highlights a major fallacy in addressing the pre-disaster socio-economic stresses inducing to shrinkage and depopulation development lock-ins.\nPractical implications: Although most of the principles can be recognized in the intentions of plans and policies, the recovery process highlights a main fallacy of the \"BBB paradigm\": the need of addressing pre-disaster socio-economic stresses while recovering from the shocks was not explicitly nor implicitly addressed.\nOriginality/value: Shrinkage as a process of territorial transformation has been little explored in relation to natural hazards and post-disaster contexts. Indeed, while from one side BBB concept and principles drive toward a potential mitigation of the main risks while re-building, it results challenging to overcome the built environment re-building priorities to question whether, what and how to re-build while investing in socio-economic recovery. Reverting, or accepting, shrinkage could indeed implies to not build back part of the urban fabric, while investing in skills and capacity building, which, in turn, would be difficult to justify through the reconstruction budget. The tension between re-building (better, the built environment) and re-development (skills and networks, at the expense of re-building) is critical when BBB faces disasters happening in shrinking territories.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The holistic approach to training: Effective training is a complex activity with little resemblance to the traditional "monkey see, monkey do" approach
|
[
"Training",
"Training needs",
"Call centres"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Some consumers may have a low opinion of the training techniques used in call centers and other businesses using direct customer contact, based on their own experiences of trying to engage with operatives who are unable or unwilling to deviate from a fixed script. When training is conceived as something that occurs at a single point in time with the purpose of demonstrating the correct way to complete a task, then the result may be employees who are disempowered and unable to communicate with customers in a meaningful way.\nThe training needs analysis (TNA): Adrian Howes, Training Consultant at JaywingDMG, in Sheffield proposes an individualized approach to employee training starting with the essential step of the training needs analysis (TNA). This enables a business to approach training differently by analyzing exactly what type of training is required and when this should be implemented. The most effective approach may be to envisage training as a process rather than an activity. This promotes continuous evaluation of results and implementation of adjustments in training materials and methods to meet the changing needs of a business and its employees. The entire process should be constructed around clearly identified goals. If a business can express exactly what the expected outcomes of a training program are, then this can be monitored and alterations made to the structure, content or timing of training.Howes describes a comprehensive TNA as one that uses multiple forms of data collection and analysis. Understanding a corporation's goals, successes and mistakes is the key to designing a bespoke training package that can help a business to realize its goals, maximize its successes and avoid repetition of mistakes. Other information such as employee illness and attrition rates, conversion rates, sales target achievement rates and customer feedback provides valuable information that can be incorporated into the TNA. Qualitative data can be collected using surveys, individual interviews or focus groups. Observing employees as they conduct their daily business is also an excellent method of highlighting areas of good or poor practice. This also enables observers to gain a \"feel\" for the workplace. Is it a place where employees are happy and good lines of communication exist between employees and managers? A working environment in which employees feel valued and able to meet challenges often points to business success.Once a wide range of information has been accumulated and analyzed a training package can be developed to meet specific targets. This can be done in-house or by an external organization. However, if the need for radical change is identified through the TNA it may be strategic to use the services of a professional training agency with the proviso that materials can be retained and reused by the company receiving the training.\nMeasures of success: So what are the benchmarks for effective training? Ultimately, it must make a difference. This may be in terms of employee stability and retention, customer satisfaction, or increased sales or other measures of increased business activity and success. The most successful training should lead to all of these outcomes. Therefore setting up an audit trail should always be part of implementing or altering a firm's training strategy.Interim measures of success include employee satisfaction with the training and evidence of changed working practices following training. Effective training engages employees and makes them want to participate. It is congruent with the ethos of the firm and can help employees to feel part of the overall success of their organization. Modern theories of education point to the efficacy of interactive, experiential types of learning in creating positive learning environments. This is congruent with Howes' experience as he highlights the importance of using training activities that are both interesting and fun.\nTraining for everyone: Consideration of who requires training within a company is also important. Training should not just be for new starters but should include employees of different seniority at all levels of the organization. Everyone needs to periodically refresh their understanding of key skills and engaging in activities together can improve understanding between employees working in different parts of an organization.\nCase Study by Adrian Howes, Training Consultant at JaywingDMG: Adrian Howes' case study about using a TNA to design a bespoke training package at Moorhouse Group Ltd. illustrates all of the key points outlined above. A comprehensive needs analysis supported the development, implementation and auditing of an effective and interactive training package. Employees responded positively to the activities, and subsequent changes in working practices produced an overall rise in their firm's productivity. JaywingDMG provided training materials that were retained by Moorhouse Group Ltd. Employees kept individual training materials such as workbooks for future reference. Other parts of the training were later adapted for use in the induction process for new starters. This case study illustrates an holistic approach to training which is far removed from the \"monkey see, monkey do\" techniques with which the term \"training\" is sometimes unfairly associated. Modern training techniques promote a long-term view of training as an on-going activity that assists all levels of employees to appreciate the value of their work in terms of personal and organizational success. Employees who feel valued in this way are likely to work more effectively, maintain a loyalty to the organization and to be happier in their jobs.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.\nFindings: - A comprehensive needs analysis supported the development, implementation and auditing of an effective and interactive training package. Employees responded positively to the activities, and subsequent changes in working practices produced an overall rise in their firm's productivity. JaywingDMG provided training materials that were retained by Moorhouse Group Ltd. Employees kept individual training materials such as workbooks for future reference. Other parts of the training were later adapted for use in the induction process for new starters. This case study illustrates an holistic approach to training which is far removed from the \"monkey see monkey do\" techniques with which the term \"training\" is sometimes unfairly associated. Modern training techniques promote a long-term view of training as an on-going activity that assists all levels of employees to appreciate the value of their work in terms of personal and organizational success. Employees who feel valued in this way are likely to work more effectively, maintain a loyalty to the organization and to be happier in their jobs.\nPractical implications: - Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.\nOriginality/value: - Provides an easily accessible summary of relevant business concepts and presents them in a fresh way.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Services for distribution of tissue engineering products and therapies
|
[
"Histology",
"Genetic engineering",
"Supply chain management",
"Distribution"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Progress in the understanding the differentiation of cells, the regeneration of tissues, methods for expansion and manipulation of cells in vitro, and advances in biocompatible materials have raised hopes for restoring cellular or organ functions that have been lost due to injuries or chronic diseases (Lysaght et al., 1998; Langer and Vacanti, 1999; Lysaght and Hazelhurst, 2004). Tissue engineering (TE) may alleviate organ shortage for transplantation, change treatments for many illnesses, improve the quality of life of patients and perhaps even enable clinical \"spare part\" services (Garr, 2001). The potential of TE spans from generating new tools for plastic surgery, treatment of diabetes to therapies and even cures for central nervous system diseases, e.g. Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke and epilepsy (Husing et al., 2003). Notably, there is an acute need for organ transplants, as in the European Union (EU) alone over ten patients die every day while waiting for organ transplants (EUROPA, 2007).Before the most ambitious goals for TE evolve into reality, many biological, legal, technical, commercial and operational issues must be solved. Not only are patients involved, but also cells, tissues and living agents, known and unknown, maintain and transform living nature in often risky ways. The sourcing and matching of tissues for patients is ingrained in the fabric of society through funding of medical and research institutions, regulation, political influence and public interest that greatly impact on the quality standards imposed on TE services. Accordingly, due to the immense complexity of the field, our focus here is to anticipate the need for new services and to outline the development of high performance supply chains that in the long run determine the role of TE as a tool in clinical practice and health care.Several unique issues must clearly be solved as TE products may need to be manufactured on demand, where also the logistics and services for these novel products present an important cost factor. Furthermore, the distribution and storage of a large collection of heterogeneous TE products need to be coordinated with the specific needs (e.g. surgery schedules) of the users. A need for TE products could be linked to emergencies such as traffic accidents, burns or heart failure. Thus short lead time in production, timely delivery and customized service are imperatives. In other cases the need may not be as urgent, but logistics will be of vital importance as some products are constructed from the cells of the patient and the batch size in production is one. Novel customer support and customer assistance services must also be developed to address the needs of the patient, physicians and surgeons (Lewis and Sexauer, 2006; Kahan and Testa, 2008). As the shelf life of some products may be only 72 hours post-cellular harvest, any last minute change to the schedule of the physician or the patient may cause restrictions by the cell quality expiration (Lewis and Sexauer, 2006). Most importantly, TE products consist of living materials, the customer is strongly involved in the process, and the product and service has significant impact on human life and health.The present study aims at identification of the new services and supply chain structures required for TE-based products and therapies. This paper is organized as follows. First, the specific features of TE products are reviewed in terms of living materials and the associated unique risks involved, traceability and other regulatory concerns, and the requisite yet novel mindset of delivering the cure through commercially viable services, replacing that of explorative science and technology. Second, we introduce a framework for classifying and positioning different TE products and therapies throughout the respective lifecycles that helps in anticipating the future needs for logistic services and distribution channels as they will become imperatives within international health care organizations. Third, the analysis of service requirements is extended over all the actors and functional specialties of the supply chain for TE products. In conclusions, the relevance of suggested development areas of TE is reiterated as a case for anticipating and planning of the service needs of other advanced therapies emerging from future biomedical technologies.\n2. Specific service needs for TE products and therapies: The specific features of TE products are reviewed in detail so as to specify the requirements for commercially viable services posed by the handling of living materials, the associated unique risks involved, and the traceability and other regulatory concerns.2.1 Use of living cells is accompanied by unique service risks\n3. The framework for advanced medical services: We introduce a framework for classifying and positioning different TE products and therapies throughout the respective lifecycles, and illustrate its use in anticipating the future needs for logistic services and distribution channels with selective case analyses.3.1 The approach to service analysis\n4. Development of all supply chain services: 4.1 The evolving roles and functional responsibilities of the actors\n5. Conclusions: policy for delivering the cure: The present study has constructed a new framework for the analysis of TE products and services. This framework acknowledges the stages of the development as experimental, therapy and standard, the role and importance of logistics, and the separation of products and services. According to this analysis none of the studied TE products has yet reached the stage of standard service. Although many conventional products are also closely linked to services, the classification described in the present paper is more accommodating for TE as it connects the product and service dimensions and offers managerial suggestions accordingly (Tinnila and Vepsalainen, 1995). A central issue for the future commercial success of TE products and therapies is therefore the question of what types of services are necessary to support the commercialization of mass products or whether the focus should be on special services needed for custom products?A final question still arises from the above analysis: Will tissue engineering remain in the service intensive logistics end due to the aspect of life or can the practices and theories of efficient logistics be applied to a greater extent in the future? Many aspects affect on the transitions of products from experimental to standard. For the potential products and services to become unique, funding and financing of research plays a vital role, also permissive regulation is a lifeline to development. Technological development, sufficient demand and safety are important factors. In the transition to the final stage, logistics is one of the most important drivers, along with safety and regulation of the products. Products and services have to be standardized, their traceability and ease of transportation is emphasized, and the supply must function more proactively than during the earlier stages.Estimations for potential markets for TE products are still difficult to make, as this will depend also on the extent to which patients will be treated with TE options (Husing et al., 2003). Economic activity has recently been stated as having recovered, with Lysaght et al. (2008) estimating current sales as high as $1.3 billion. However, the estimate is based on a pooling of a variety of data on TE, regenerative medicine and stem cells. Such estimates may reflect a reoccurrence of previous overly optimistic estimates, which did not account for e.g. operational differences in global healthcare systems, reimbursement and cost of implementation of the necessary services. Moreover, reliable estimates should be based on clearly defined product classification. Clearly, business models for TE will not be akin to standard medical devices or drugs, where products are delivered as off-the-shelf, nor is it likely that single therapy autologous products could become profitable (Williams, 2005). Ultimately, therefore the clinical success of TE will be determined by the total cost to governments, insurance companies and individual patients, where the safe and reliable performance of the product is closely tied to the types of services available. These implicate the role of services as an important factor in the design and management of the supply chain of individual products, which must meet demands for traceability and patient follow-up over future decades. Reaching beyond the current commercial and clinical practices requires also insight into how society evaluates the price tag for safety and efficacy, cumulating in provision of sustainable logistics and versatile service institutions for the maintenance and quality of life.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Tissue engineering (TE) offers treatments for chronic, life threatening, degenerative illnesses and possibilities for restoring cellular or organ functions that have been lost due to injuries or hereditary conditions. However, a prerequisite for the use of TE products as part of future therapies is the development of strategies for safe and efficient supply chain management and versatile services spanning from product development to a follow-up period of possibly decades. The present study aims to explore the future needs for services and extended supply chains for safe delivery of health care, procurement, distribution and long-term follow-up of TE products and therapies.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Studies in operational disciplines and coordination systems for different types of supply chains and service networks are used to formulate a framework for developing services throughout product lifecycle. Case examples of TE products are presented to demonstrate complexity, microbial risks, services and long-term follow-up. The role of logistics and the necessary services are identified for products classified into experimental, therapy and standard products.\nFindings: - The paper finds that, through the stages, the importance of logistics increases from an enabler to becoming a strategic tool, emphasizing logistics requirements in establishing a viable TE supply chain. New dimensions to existing service operations frameworks are needed where proactive tissue sourcing, long follow-up periods, short shelf life and biological risks call for enforcing flexible services with tissue banks, detailed tracing, authorization and regulation.\nOriginality/value: - The paper presents the discovery of the logistics services and service institutions that will become imperatives for the future success of TE products and therapies.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
What is new in "a new history of management"?
|
[
"Management history",
"Organization studies",
"Management education",
"Modern history"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In their editorial introduction to a special edition of Business History, Usdiken and Keiser (2004) noted an increasing trend in the body of work around organizational theory which increasingly engaged in historical methods and explicit historical perspective to explore business organizations and their management. This apparent divorce and subsequent reunification, they said, rooted to the ahistorical character of organization studies during its development as a sub-discipline. This as part of the broader research agenda that emerged to better understand business and their management during the second half of the twentieth century. Mills et al. (2016) also recount how \"mainstream\" studies of organizations of the 1980s and 1990s were replete with examples and references to events in the past as a form to legitimize factors and explanations of the importance of a given theory, concept or study. Zundel et al. (2016) concurred while noting that such practice was not limited to publications in peer-reviewed outlets but was widespread within industry as, for instance, the use of historical narratives to establish and maintain identity claims. Zundel et al. (2016) also stated that the use of such narratives was problematic, while their impact on how scholars engage with the past was unclear. For instance, historical narratives have been used to perpetrate common myths and serve the interest of those in power while effectively silencing and marginalizing weaker people (Kenny, 2013).\nA new history of management - a flawed perspective: The book by Cummings et al. (2016) encompasses an introduction, nine chapters and a conclusion (which should have been called \"summary\"). Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 9 are entirely novel. The other half the book is a reprint of previous work, namely Chapter 4 draws on Cummings and Bridgman (2011); Chapter 5 on Bridgman et al. (2016); Chapter 6 on Hassard (2012); Chapter 7 on Cummings et al. (2016); and Chapter 8 on Rowlinson and Hassard (1993).\nDiscussion and conclusions: To summarize, if this book opens the thoughts and interest of others in the history of management, then it would be a positive force. Another positive aspect is that Cummings et al. have a valid point that there is a need to revisit management history in textbooks. Their claim that the first texts in management history appeared in the early 1970s (or too close to the formation of the field in the decades that followed the end of World War II) is timely and should provoke the revision and questioning of the straight-line, incremental narrative that stretches an arc from Sun Tzu and Adam Smith to the writings of Henry Fayol, Frederick Taylor, Mary Parker Follet and Elton Mayo, to present-day scholarship as well as reassessing the contributions of industrialists, management consultants and management in the public sector. But if we are to produce a \"new history of management\", then we ought to include other neglected constituencies (such as women, LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minorities, different forms of socio-economic racism or management and managerialism in recently-industrialized countries) and topics (such as ethics, the formation of standards, globalization or as the authors suggest, sustainability).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the contributions of the so-called \"Historic Turn\" in Organization Studies through the attempt by Cummings et al. (2016) to offer a new and alternative approach to teaching and researching the history of management ideas. A New History of Management is intended to be a provocation rather than a practical plan, and by their own admission, Cummings et al. (2016) prefer controversy to detailed analysis.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper offers a comment and reinterpretation of a single contribution to highlight deficiencies which are symptomatic of the post-modernist research agenda around the \"Historic Turn\" in Organization Studies. The argument develops through a critical reading of Cummings et al. (2016) to determine whether theirs is a thoughtful and serious piece of work.\nFindings: Cummings et al. (2016) invite us to revise and re-evaluate the genesis of management ideas available across textbooks. This by questioning some of the beliefs regarding the origins of management thought within textbooks aimed at both general management and the history of management thought. The premise of Cummings and colleagues is a timely and welcomed suggestion. So is their attempt to broaden the debate to alternative epistemological positions. They can potentially help to improve the emergence of conceptual and theoretical understandings of the history of managers', business and management thought. Although far from being exhaustive, the paper points to the large number of inconsistencies and poor historiography in Cummings et al. (2016). This is in line with other contributions to the so-called \"Historic Turn\" in Organization Studies. The central argument presented by this paper is the myopic and technically poor approach of the \"Historic Turn\". It is the case that Cummings et al. (2016) fail in their attempt to offer an alternative to established textbooks or explain the development of different approaches to construct systematic studies that, over time, consider the evolution of management, managers and those who have conceptualized their performance.\nResearch limitations/implications: This paper does not present new (archival) historical evidence.\nOriginality/value: The central contribution/ambition of this paper is to incentivize an advance of the current understanding of the origins and evolution of systematic thinking on management, managers and business organizations. The ambition of this paper is in line with Cummings et al. (2016) aim to incentivize research into how textbooks address the origins of management and management thought. Textbooks in both general management and the history of management thought, and the story told in them are important tools that speak directly to the ability of historical research to help advance the different disciplines that form general studies in business and management.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Export success factors of small- and medium-sized firms in Chile
|
[
"Developing countries",
"Small firms",
"Chile",
"Export strategies",
"Export success factors"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Exports are one important means for developing countries to increase GNP (Jaffe and Pasternak, 1994; Reynolds, 1997; Neupert et al., 2006). Most large firms in developing countries have substantial experience and consolidated export markets and are normally already involved in exporting activities (Hollenstein, 2005); on the other hand, small and medium firms (SMF) have a large and under exploited export potential that could be tapped into in order to help developing countries increase total exports. SMF play a significant role in the economic growth of developing countries (Reynolds, 1997; Kuwayama, 2001 p. 9; Gumede and Rasmussen, 2002). In many of these countries, as in Chile, these SMF employ a large proportion of the total workforce (Storey, 1994), they offer business opportunities to individual entrepreneurs, and they contribute to the diffusion of business activities throughout the economy (CCI, 1993). Because SMF generally hire less qualified workers (Mendez, 1996, p. 48), and are closely integrated to the popular social fabric (Di Tommaso and Dubbini, 2000, pp. 38-39), in Chile, as well as in many other developing countries, the economic and social benefits derived from the creation, sales, and exports of SMF are tied closely to the employment and well-being of a large part of the middle- and low-income social groups.\nLiterature review: Under increasing local competition and market saturation many SMF get involved in internationalization activities (Saee and Mouzychenko, 2003; Skrt and Antoncic, 2004), in spite of the many risks involved in the process (Manolova et al., 2002), some of which end up being a failure (Alvarez, 2004) and reporting no benefits at all to these units. Lu and Beamish (2006) contend that, for SMF, exporting is less risky than foreign direct investment as an internationalization strategy; therefore it has become their most frequent internationalization activity (Hollenstein, 2005). The success of this effort is highly uncertain, because the exporting capabilities of SMF are mediated by several factors, some related to their owner/manager personal characteristics and experience (Manolova et al., 2002; Ruzzier et al., 2007), internal factors such as workers productivity (Madrid and Garcia, 2004), and available total capacity (Cavusgil, 1984); as well as external factors such as international exchange rates (Klonowski, 2005; Lu and Beamish, 2006), and import tariffs and administrative restrictions in the importing market (Neupert et al., 2006). Therefore, in order to reap the benefits of exports, SMF managers need to develop highly effective export strategies by means of careful planning (Hutchinson et al., 2006), organizational improvement (Nummela et al., 2006), and information gathering (Gumede and Rasmussen, 2002; De Clercq et al., 2005). As a consequence, there are considerable learning benefits that could result because of the exporting effort; for example, in Chile (Alvarez, 2004) as well as in other countries (Bernard and Jensen, 1999 as cited by Gumede and Rasmussen, 2002) SMF exporters have been found to exhibit better organizational effectiveness when compared to non-exporters.\nHypotheses: Considering the model depicted in Figure 1, the literature consulted, and the official Chilean guidelines related to SMF exports (PROCHILE, 2005), the hypotheses were posited:\nMethodology: A questionnaire was developed to gather data related to how SMF carry out their exporting process, and to test the hypotheses. The questionnaire was subject to a pre-test, after which it was slightly modified, ending with a total of 47 individual questions using several measuring scales.\nGeneral export strategies: As was mentioned, the sample consisted of 56 per cent medium firms and 46 per cent small firms. In the sample, the size of the firm proved not to discriminate between successful and unsuccessful units. Therefore, it is not possible to support the unstated hypothesis that medium-sized firms are more successful than small firms regarding exports. This corroborates findings reported by Moini (1995, p. 26), even though contradictory evidence exists in this respect (Madrid and Garcia, 2004, p. 37).\nHypothesis testing: Of all the hypotheses only a few of them were supported statistically. The statistical tool employed was cross-tabulations, considering as independent variable the pre-classification of firms either as successful exporter, moderately successful exporter or non-successful exporter. The statistics used to determine the level of significance of the differences were Pearson's kh2, p-value, ph coefficient, Cramer's V statistics, and contingency coefficient, all of them as reported by the statistical package SPSS:\nDiscussion: After analysing the exporting activities of the firms in the sample, it was found that according to the classification of Klonowski (2005) they can be considered newcomers to the exporting process. Therefore, their strategies and business models are still in a state of flux, evidenced by how the quality and design of their products, and the increasing importance assigned to profits vary along time. The overall market penetration strategy adopted by these firms was the export of products they sold locally, accepting lower profits in their first exports. This strategy seems to have been very effective, because it has allowed them to achieve their main objective: increase the sales volume. In support of this increase in sales volume, successful exporters provide incentives for increasing production, and improve operations planning, therefore avoiding one of the problems encountered when exporting, that production capacity is not enough to fulfil purchase orders, helping avoid the capacity problem identified by Cavusgil (1984) for becoming an effective exporter.\nConclusions: Internationalization is a strategic decision that involves and affects all functional areas of the firm, particularly if they are small. Certified quality standards, incentives to increase production, improvements in operations planning, technically qualified innovative workers, and large percentage of sales devoted to frequent innovations are all internal measures that help SMF become more successful exporters. As well, allies in the destination markets and innovation partners locally make a substantial contribution to export success, reinforcing the notion that exporter SMF need to collaborate and innovate in order to become more profitable.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that could help differentiate between successful and unsuccessful small- and medium-sized exporter firms.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A causal model of the exporting process was developed from the literature, from which a set of hypotheses was posed and a questionnaire was made. A sample of 37 small and medium exporter firms in Chile was subject to the questionnaire. From the data collected, the critical aspects that could help differentiate between successful and unsuccessful exporting organizations were statistically identified.\nFindings: The following aspects are the ones that could allow the statistical differentiation of successful and unsuccessful exporter firms: incentives at the firm level for increasing output, improved operations planning, international quality assurance certification, large percentage of sales devoted to innovation, highly frequent innovations, qualified and innovative workers, local alliances for innovation, and the possession of strategic allies at destination\nResearch limitations/implications: The results of this research can be useful for intending small and medium exporter firms in Chile, as well as for firms in other developing countries. The results are based on a rather small sample of exporting firms in Chile; therefore, the generalizability of the results cannot be assured\nOriginality/value: A detailed model of the exporting process of small and medium firm (SMF) was developed that is a contribution of the theoretical framework related to SMFs' exports. The findings could be used by government agencies to offer better guidance to SMF intending to become exporters\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Assessing maturity development of purchasing management in construction
|
[
"Supply chain",
"Construction",
"Purchasing maturity"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The construction industry is plagued by hardly any increase in efficiency over the last years, while in industries like automotive the productivity improved substantially (Khanzode et al., 2006). Although developments in adoption of technology and tools have occurred, there were no big improvements in construction industry productivity (Fulford and Standing, 2014; Abdel-Wahab and Vogl, 2011). Many authors blame this lagging development in productivity to fragmentation, adversarial culture and lack of integration in the sector (Bresnen and Marshall, 2000; Aram et al., 2013; Egan, 1998; Voordijk et al., 2000; Saad et al., 2002). Although contractors spent up to 90 per cent of the project turnover on buying goods or services (Hinze and Tracey, 1994; Nobbs, 1993; Vrijhoef and Koskela, 2000), they do not take full advantage of opportunities to make use of external resources through buyer-supplier cooperation (Dubois and Gadde, 2000). Development and management of long-term buyer-supplier relationships at the cross-project level still seems challenging for all parties (Bemelmans et al., 2012; Bresnen and Marshall, 2000).\n2. Theoretical framework: Intense competition forces organizations to offer low cost, high quality and reliable products with greater design flexibility. Manufacturers utilized just-in-time and other management initiatives in the 1980s to improve efficiency and cycle time (Tan, 2001). Companies needed to increase customer focus and required their suppliers to mature along with them. They started to form partnerships with their important suppliers to focus on long-term relationships. In this way suppliers could be motivated to invest into adapting their processes to those of the final production line. When manufacturers experimented with strategic partnerships the concept of Supply Chain Management (SCM) emerged (Vrijhoef and Koskela, 2000). The term SCM has multiple meanings (Tan, 2001), but for our research we will use the definition by Van Weele (2014), defining SCM as: \"The management of all activities, information, knowledge and financial resources associated with the flow and transformation of goods and services up from the raw materials suppliers, component suppliers and other suppliers in such a way that the expectations of the end users of the company are being met or surpassed\".\n3. Research design: In this research on purchasing maturity development, a multiple case study has been conducted in the Dutch construction industry. In this section, the rationale of this multiple case research design is explained. Next, a description of the tool measuring the change of purchasing maturity and its characteristics is provided. Finally, the methods for data collection and analysis are presented.\n4. Case findings: In this section, the main case findings are presented. Table IV summarizes the change in maturity levels for each process obtained from the seven case companies. The eight strategic processes and the six enabling processes of the MSU-building model are presented on the horizontal axis. The numbers on the vertical axis of Table IV represent the maturity change per process as determined via the strict step method. For instance, Red Civil has grown from a level 3 into a level 4 maturity level on SP1, so the number 1 is presented in this box.\n5. Discussion: First, changes in purchasing maturity in general are discussed by using the van Weele (2014) model on the development of the purchasing function. Second, using the same model the focus is on the role of IT/IS and BIM technologies as trigger for increasing purchasing maturity.\n6. Conclusion: The objective of this paper is to measure and analyse the development in maturity of the purchasing function in the construction industry. In order to assess the development a multiple case study was executed. Seven Dutch construction companies were assessed with use of the MSU-building model. To measure the development in maturity an assessment was performed which was compared with a baseline assessment.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Prime contractors spent a substantial part of their turnover on purchasing. The management of the purchasing function therefore has a large influence on the overall performance of a prime contractor. The more developed the purchasing function is, the greater its contribution to success of the companies. The purpose of this paper is to measure and explain the development in maturity of the purchasing function in construction firms.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Based on a literature review, a theoretical framework for the assessment of purchasing maturity is provided first. Then a longitudinal multiple case study is executed in order to assess the maturity development of the purchasing function in seven construction companies. Results are compared with a historical baseline assessment.\nFindings: The results demonstrate an increase in the maturity of the purchasing function in general and in particular in the management of strategic relations. The case companies have reached a maturity in which they start to coordinate activities in their supply chains. Increased use of IT solutions enables a more integrated approach of the construction process.\nPractical implications: IT and in particular Building Information Modelling pave the path towards an integrated supply chain, which in turn enables the reduction of waste in the processes. Nevertheless, companies still struggle with the tension between project-based flexibility and long-term relations with suppliers.\nOriginality/value: The development of purchasing maturity was measured in a baseline measurement and in a second assessment performed five years later by using the exact same model and exact same case companies.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Reaping rewards of self-awareness: Training delivers confidence and understanding
|
[
"Self-awareness",
"Well-being",
"Reflection",
"Mixed methods"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Being \"self-aware\" is generally thought of as being a \"good thing\". After all, having some sort of idea about who we are, why we are here and doing what we do can surely help us to care more about those things and to think - in other words be aware - of where other people fit into the picture. Indeed, good self-awareness is reckoned by many experts in the field to lead to better fulfilment and well-being.\nLink between work and employees' health and well-being: Dispositional self-attentiveness can take two forms. The first, rumination, is a tendency to focus on negative self-perceptions and emotions and is a core process in depression, exacerbating negative mood, increasing negative thinking and impairing social problem-solving. The second, reflection, is the tendency to reflect objectively on the self and is associated with the positive outcomes of psychological mindedness, greater self-knowledge and better psychological adjustment.\nEmphasis on learning about one's personality type: The first type of training in the comparison, a generic self-awareness workshop, trained participants directly in three methods outlined in a seminal review by Wilson and Dunn (2004). The first method, structured introspection, is associated with greater well-being and has positive effects on health, academic performance and job outcomes. The second method is seeing oneself through others' eyes, and research shows that self-awareness can be improved by the use of individual coaching. The final method for improving self-awareness is that of self-observation. This approach can help to align conscious and unconscious goals, which in turn is associated with greater personal happiness. The training focused on teaching skills such as journaling, reflection, self-analysis and awareness of other people's perceptions.\nEvidence for benefits of using personality-based development activities: A positive relationship between self-awareness and well-being found in previous research was partially replicated for a work-related context. Reflection was positively correlated with job contentment and enthusiasm, while the association of rumination with negative affect found by other authors only partly transferred to the work environment, with rumination being associated with job-related anxiety. A positive relationship between job satisfaction and self-awareness found in previous research was not replicated in this study, perhaps because of the different measures of self-awareness used.\nComment: This review is based on \"A longitudinal, mixed method evaluation of self-awareness training in the workplace\" by Sutton et al. (2015). Their study aims develop a sophisticated understanding of self-awareness training and its associated outcomes in the workplace.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.\nFindings: Self-awareness was positively associated with job-related well-being and was improved by training. Employees reported gaining a greater appreciation of diversity, improved communication with colleagues and increased confidence.\nPractical implications: The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.\nOriginality/value: The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Impact of WEEE-directive on reverse logistics in Germany
|
[
"Logistics data processing",
"Germany",
"Linear programming",
"Laws and legislation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The adoption of the European Union's directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) causes essential changes in the field of electronic scrap recycling. Reliable projections of these effects are important for political decision makers since several degrees of freedom exist in terms of national implementation. Moreover, political decisions and legal adoption will influence development of the WEEE treatment system. The assessment of resulting effects in advance will be of high relevance for disassembly companies operating in this framework in order to anticipate expected changes.Regarding these aspects, the objective of this paper is the analysis and estimation of influences of the WEEE directive on material flows, processes and thus, cost structures. The contribution is structured as follows. First, an introduction to the current situation of treatment of WEEE is given. Requirements of the WEEE directive, resulting changes, and existing degrees of freedom in national adoption are presented. In order to facilitate regional allocation of material flows and processes, a linear material flow model is described. Based on this quantity structure, variable costs and revenues can be derived. Using this model, impacts on material flows and cost structures are estimated for different alternatives of implementation of new legal requirements. This analysis is done focusing on logistic aspects of a federal state of Germany (Lower Saxony).\nCurrent situation and imminent changes in WEEE treatment: Current situation\nMethodology: In Germany, there are sufficient capacities for treatment of electronic products (Halstrick-Schwenk, 2000). Thus, an analysis of the impact of the WEEE directive on existing infrastructure is required. However, it is not known how material flows and disassembly processes will be affected by new legal requirements and resulting logistic, economic and technical changes. In order to predict these changes, it is necessary to explicitly consider transformation (respectively, disassembly) aspects. Additionally, logistic aspects are to be taken into account.Reverse logistic and disassembly planning models\nCase study: treatment of entertainment electronics in Lower Saxony: In the following, a case study illustrating developments in WEEE treatment is presented for a region of Germany, the federal state of Lower Saxony. First, the model is validated as it is applied to the current situation in WEEE recycling in Lower Saxony. In a second step, application to different future scenarios allows estimation of impacts of WEEE directive on existing treatment structures. Since in Lower Saxony urban areas exist besides rural regions, the results are applicable to other federal states and regions in Germany.Data analysis\nPerspective: Within this contribution, future scenarios for treatment of WEEE are analysed. This is done using an activity-based material flow model optimising allocation of WEEE, disassembly activities and disassembly fractions within a given treatment system. The model is exemplarily applied to a federal state of Germany focusing on entertainment electronics. Based on this case study, conclusions and recommendations are drawn for political decision makers as well as for disassembly companies.However, with an enhancement of model and data, further recommendations may be deduced.A broader system definition embracing collection and mechanical processing seems promising for evaluation of integral collection and treatment systems. Moreover, an expansion of product categories to all WEEE categories and the enlargement of geographical borders to Germany or even Europe may proof beneficial.Because of missing data on products and disassembly activities, empirical studies were performed. However, only a limited amount of products and disassembly activities can be analysed in such studies. Thus, more elaborate studies or usage of OEMs information on products might help to enhance availability of data and thus, expressiveness of model results.Enhancement of the linear model, including aspects like learning curves or design costs for cooperation of disassembly companies may also be promising for deduction of more detailed recommendations. Additionally, questions on central/decentralised allocation of discarded products to network members, allocation of benefits within networks as well as implementation of incentive systems will become essential tasks as quantities acquired by the network centres rise. These aspects are currently tackled in a continuing research project founded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).The objective of model and scenario analyses is to derive recommendations for political decision makers, and disassembly companies. However, recommendations for OEMs or consortia of OEMs may be attained applying the model to specific products only. Results may assist strategic product design decisions or support calculation of product life cycle costs.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Owing to new legal requirements, essential changes in the field of treatment of electronic products in Germany are expected. However, consequences in terms of changes of organisation and material flows of the German treatment system are currently unknown. Thus, the objective of this contribution is to predict relevant changes occurring in this context. This lays the framework for a deduction of recommendations for political decision makers and actors of the treatment system.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Within this contribution, a linear, activity-based model is presented, optimising the allocation of discarded products, disassembly activities and disassembly fractions to actors of the treatment system. Parameter and model modifications allow forecasting of future developments. In a case study, the model is then applied to Lower Saxony, a federal state of Germany. This allows a validation of the model as well as an evaluation of future scenarios.\nFindings: - Based on this analysis, impacts of new legal and economic developments on the treatment of discarded electronic products are predicted. Conclusions and recommendations for political decision makers as well as for existing disassembly companies are drawn.\nOriginality/value: - The findings of this paper allow an estimation of the impacts of new legal regulations on the existing infrastructure for treatment of electrical devices in Germany. The applied methodology can be assigned to additional product categories and can be enhanced regarding the system boundary.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A review of Chinese food safety strategies implemented after several food safety incidents involving export of Chinese aquatic products
|
[
"Aquatic",
"China",
"Food safety",
"Trade",
"Traceability",
"Food controls",
"Fish (food)",
"Foreign trade",
"Quality systems",
"Water pollutants"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: In recent years, there have been frequent food safety incidents involving aquatic products in China. In some cases these incidents have seriously impeded exports. In 2002, for example, an import ban was imposed on aquatic products from China by the EU primarily due to the presence of residues from veterinary medicines, pesticides and heavy metals that exceeded EU standards. In 2007, further food safety incidents occurred that damaged the reputation of aquatic products in international export markets. On June 28, 2007 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a border closure for all farm-raised catfish, basa, shrimp, dace (related to carp) and eels from China. The reason was the presence of residues from drugs such as the antimicrobials nitrofuran, malachite green, gentian violet, and flouroquinolones that are not approved in the USA for use in farm-raised aquatic animals (FDA News, 2007). Subsequently, the EU, Japan and South Korea immediately followed the US lead. The EU also undertook a more rigorous examination of aquatic products from China and Korea and ruled that the 34 Chinese enterprises processing aquatic products were to be black listed and would not be allowed to export to the EU the same list of seafood products that had been included on the 2002 list; again for containing illegal drug residues. This incident received considerable media attention.Prior to the 2007 import ban, the US was the second largest recipient of China's processed aquatic exports (The FishSite.com, 2008) and the import ban had significant impacts on the Chinese industry. Hence, due to the food safety incidents in the USA and EU, drug residues in China's aquatic products became a serious impediment to exports. Further, in part due to the incidents in foreign markets, Chinese consumers are also voicing increasing concerns regarding the safety of the fish and seafood they consume. Water pollution, questionable fish-farming practices, poor quality control in processing plants and unreliable cold chain technology along supply chains have been the focal points of concern for domestic consumers. The dual threat of loss of exports and declining confidence among domestic consumers spurred the Chinese government to tighten food safety regulations for aquatic products. Given the size of the industry and the complexity of its supply chains, however, putting a well functioning modern food safety system in place has proved a major challenge for Chinese authorities. It provides an insightful case study in the challenges developing countries face in putting in place food safety regimes that allow consistent access to import markets. Without the ability to reduce the risk of withdrawal of market access, investment in industries with considerable potential to contribute to economic development will be inhibited (Kerr and Perdikis, 2003).The challenges faced by the Chinese government in devising a food safety system that could comply with importers' standards for aquatic products is, of course, just a part of the larger challenge of putting in place a legal and regulatory regime for food safety across the Chinese economy. In the strict command economy Maoist era all food production and processing, indeed the entire food supply chain, comprised state enterprises. Profit was not a motive - meaning that there was little incentive to cheat on food safety for private gain. Except for staples such as rice and wheat, which are low-risk in terms of food safety, supply chains tended to be short - perishable products such as fruit, vegetables and fish tended to be sourced locally (Liu et al., 2009a). During this period the economic model for the Chinese economy emphasised food self-sufficiency and generally eschewed international trade (Ceko and Kerr, 2000). Under this economic structure there was little need for a formal institutional architecture for food safety. Thus, China was starting virtually from scratch when the economic philosophy began to change toward formal integration into the international economy and a mixed private firm-state enterprise system - socialism with Chinese characteristics - under Deng Xiaoping in the latter part of the 1970s (Kerr and MacKay, 1997).The Chinese food safety system has struggled to keep pace with the rapid growth and radically changing structure of the economy (Liu et al., 2009a). There has been a rapid expansion of agricultural export opportunities and the founding of a plethora of small food processing firms (Xue and Revell, 2009). These developments have led to significant challenges for the regulatory system for food safety. Product safety incidents - both abroad and in the Chinese domestic market - have damaged the reputation of Chinese food products in importers markets and, at times, led to disruptive reductions in foreign demand (Liu et al., 2009b).Aquatic products have enjoyed a rapid rise in exports as China has joined the global economy. Given the inherent perishability of fresh seafood - the fastest growing export segment - ensuring food safety internationally has been an ongoing challenge and represents a microcosm of China's broader issues in this important area of public policy development.\n2. Expansion of production and growth of exports: Since 1978, China's aquaculture production has increased approximately 500 per cent, making it the largest producer of farmed seafood in the world. China's production represents over half of global production (China Environment Forum, 2008). The Chinese industry has experienced two important stages in its growth: first there was a production surge whereby by the early 1990s China became the world's largest producer. This was followed by a breakthrough in international markets leading to China becoming the largest global exporter in 2002. Thus, in the space of 30 years China moved from being characterised by small-scale production for the local market to a major player in the international market for seafood.China's aquaculture industry has undergone a tremendous expansion with an average annual growth rate of 12 per cent over the period 1996 to 2006. The ratio of farmed products to those arising from fishing has increased from 56:44 in 1996 to 71:39 by 2006 (Fang, 2007). Exports of aquatic products increased three-fold over the same period. Although the export of all aquatic products makes China the leading world exporter, the percentage of exported aquatic products has gradually approached that of product caught using fishing methods. If output arising from processing using foreign supplied materials is excluded, exported aquaculture products are now comprised of 80 per cent farmed products sourced domestically (Fang, 2007). A basic production structure has emerged with some high value added species; namely, herring, grass carp, silver carp and bighead carp - the four major fish commonly consumed in China - together with sea cucumber and abalone sold largely in the domestic market. Other aquatic products including eel, prawn, tilapia, yellow croaker, a range of shellfish, channel catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus), river crab and algae are channelled into both the domestic and overseas markets. Only 8.5 per cent of aquatic production was exported in 2006 (Fang, 2007). Hence, the Chinese aquaculture industry is, in general, not dependant on exports except in the case of a few species.\n3. Food safety challenges for China's aquatic products industry: When reviewing the difficulties faced by China's aquatic products exports during the period of rapid expansion, food-safety incidents account for 60 to 70 per cent of the total problems (Chen, 2007). The food safety problems faced by the aquiculture industry in China are similar to those of the food industry in general; the number one issue, however, is water quality. Rapid economic growth has led to widespread environmental degradation including pollution of water sources. Clean water is a central factor in the production and processing of safe seafood.Polluted water forces fish farmers to treat their fish and seafood with dangerous (often illegal) veterinary medicines, leading to a cycle in which heavily concentrated aquaculture operations with unnatural population densities, using excessive quantities of chemicals, antibiotics and feed further pollute water sources. The result is rising incidents whereby fish and seafood become diseased or contaminated. In some cases the diseases can spread to wild fish. Nutrient and chemical pollution rises in water that is already of questionable quality.Another challenge to improving the safety of aquatic products and the impact of their production on the environment is the farmer-entrepreneur seeking profit in an increasingly competitive system. The high degree of uncertainty associated with a rapidly changing business environment and opaque and insecure property rights has meant that farmers investing in this sector think short-term in their business dealing and land use decisions (Hobbs et al., 2002). Liability law is not sufficiently developed to provide an effective deterrent to under-investing in, or cheating on, food safety (Smyth et al., 2006). The threat of loss of reputation plays too small a role in motivating both fish farmers and processors. Every fish farmer is competing with other farmers who they know are willing to cheat and ignore legal obligations to gain a cost advantage. When combined with underdeveloped regulation and poorly implemented legislation, these weak incentives can lead to very costly incidents affecting human health in China and abroad.\n4. The effect of aquatic products incidents on China's aquatic export: Prior to the global economic slowdown in the wake of the financial crisis in 2008 but in the wake of major food safety incidents in 2007, Chinese aquatic products exports continued to increase though 2007 but the growth rate slowed appreciably. The total volume and value of trade in 2007 reached 6.53 million tons and US$ 14.46 billion; export volume and value are 3.06 million tons and US$ 9.74 billion. The export volume and value increased by 1.6 and 4.1 per cent over the previous year, but their growth rate declined by 15.8 and 14.6 per cent respectively. The export value of China's aquatic products, however, still ranked first among primary agricultural products (see Table I).China exports aquatic products to over 100 countries. Its major export destinations are Japan, the USA, the EU, South Korea, Hong Kong, and the members of ASEAN. Table II reports the volume and value of Chinese aquatic product exports for each of these markets. The share of the Japanese market exceeds 30 per cent of total Chinese exports of these products while the USA takes almost 20 per cent. The volume of exports going to Japan, the US, the EU and South Korean markets, which comprised over 75 per cent of the Chinese export market, declined 3.1 per cent 2006 to 2007. Comparing a relatively incident free 2006 with an incident plagued 2007, there is downward trend on most of exporting markets, e.g. 4.1 per cent for Japan and 0.8 per cent for the US on a volume basis. Only the EU market continued to exhibit growth.The export value of some of aquatic species grew over the 2006 to 2007 period while that of others declined (see Table III). The top five aquatic product exports, in descending order, are prawns, shellfish, eels, tilapia and large yellow croaker. Prawn, eel and the large yellow croaker exports declined by 9.1 per cent, 9.1 per cent and 6.9 respectively. The 2007 value of prawn exports to the USA and EU are US$ 0.2 billion and US$ 0.1 billion, respectively, down 33.6 per cent and 39.2 per cent over 2006. Eel exports to Japan, valued at US$ 0.52 billion in 2007, decreased 17.1 per cent from 2006 levels. The export value of shellfish, on the other hand, showed a modest increase of almost 4 per cent. Japan and the USA remain the main export destinations for China's shellfish, while only a small quantities of processed shellfish are exported to EU. Tilapia, in contrast, continued to exhibit a rapid growth in response to strong demand, particularly in the USA. The total value of exports increased 33 per cent in 2007.Table IV reports the exports of aquatic products by export processing classifications. Only near consumer ready products that have gone through a significant degree of processing and smoked/pickled fish - categories that represent lower food safety risks - show continued growth between 2006 and 2007. High valued fresh fish and seafood experienced significant declines in both their export volume and value in the wake of the major food safety incidents.While it may be difficult to draw firm conclusions regarding the effect of food safety incidents from a one-time year-over-year change, the declines are striking given robust performance of the global economy in 2006 and 2007 and the strong growth in China's exports in products not plagued by food safety incidents. Unfortunately, the global economic downturn in 2008 negatively impacted all exports making it impossible to draw inferences pertaining to food safety influences from the available data.\n5. China's food safety system prior to the food safety incidents of 2007: 5.1 The legal and regulatory regime for aquatic products\n6. Aquatic product food safety reforms after the 2007 incidents: The market closures, increased scrutiny by importing countries, loss of access to private sector supply chains in developed countries, decline in foreign consumer demand and widespread negative publicity in the wake of the food safety incidents of 2007, spurred authorities in China into a burst of activity aimed at restoring confidence in the safety of aquatic products. The regulatory regime has been tightened in the short run and the legal regime strengthened over the longer term. In the first instance, efforts are focussed on ensuring that all aquatic products in the country are free of hazardous drug residues. The new measures include a nationwide evaluation of the use of drugs in production, a blacklist of violators and improved education and training for farmers. The efficacy of these efforts in reducing the risk of food safety incidents, however, remains largely an exercise rooted in faith.6.1 Strengthening the legal regime for food safety\n7. Conclusion: China expects aquatic products to play a major role in its economic development. They are expected to assist in raising the protein level of the food supply and in alleviating rural poverty, especially through income generation and job creation for the rural poor. Exports are expected to be a major market outlet for aquatic products.Unfortunately, aquatic products require considerable efforts to ensure their safety. China reacted quickly to aquatic products incidents in 2007 in order to limit financial losses and to restore its reputation, particularly in international markets. The government of China has worked hard to improve aquatic products safety, promulgating a series of new regulations targeting aquatic product food safety. These include administrative provisions for traceability systems, food inspection, certification and labelling; implementation plans for the regulations and laws have also been formulated. The government has also moved to cooperate with the EU, the USA and other countries to enhance its food safety system and rebuild its reputation.While the Chinese government realises that regaining and retaining foreign markets for aquatic products requires a better resourced and designed food safety system, and has been moving forcefully to put a more efficacious regulatory regime in place, government oversight alone cannot create the incentives for the creation of a culture of food safety. Informal market-based institutions such as liability and reputation must play a major part. As yet, these aspects of a food safety system are largely absent in the aquatic products industry in China.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The rapid transition from a command to market-based economy in China has required the development of a food safety system for aquatic products where one did not previously exist. The pace of change has meant that food safety systems have struggled to keep up. In 2007 food safety incidents damaged the reputation of aquatic products in export markets. The Chinese Government has moved quickly to strengthen the safety regime for aquatic products. The purpose of this paper is to assess these initiatives in the context of their potential to regain international acceptance of Chinese aquatic products.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A regulatory assessment approach is used.\nFindings: - The findings are that increased government oversight alone is not likely to lead to a fully effective food safety system for aquatic products. The development of private sector-based incentives to encourage investment in food safety is an essential co-requisite to increased government oversight if China's access to international markets is to be assured.\nOriginality/value: - The value of this study lies in the light it sheds on the efforts of a major player in the international market for aquatic products to improve the efficacy of its food safety system. China's regulatory regimes are often opaque, limiting the ability of those wishing to assess the advisability of importing food products from China.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Institutional practices and vulnerability of shrimp fry catchers in the south-west region of Bangladesh
|
[
"Vulnerability",
"Institution",
"Fry catching",
"South-west region"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Institutional practices have discernible effects on bringing about new economic opportunities, reflected in terms of wage and employment gain and the resultant economic growth. At the same time, different institutional practices give rise to social dislocations displayed by narrowing livelihood opportunities, environmental degradation and changing social relations. Integration of the local economy with the international economy enlarges gainful employment opportunities, especially for women, although it exposes them to menial, risky, informal and uncertain working conditions. According to available evidence, this process of integration increases vulnerability for the poor in different regions of the world (Rahman, 2003), which is particularly evident in the shrimp producing south-west region of Bangladesh. An important dimension of the shrimp sector in the region is the gendered nature of employment.\n2. Data source: This study is exploratory in nature. The main objective of the study is to understand the dynamics of institutional practices in shaping socio-economic status and address the vulnerability of women shrimp fry catchers. The authors selected Batiaghata and Dumuria upazila[1] of Khulna district as the study sites. Most of the shrimp fry collectors in Batiaghata upazila are being displaced by riverbank erosion, while many of the fry collectors in Dumuria upazila have been suffering from limited livelihood options due to expansion of commercial shrimp cultivation. The authors randomly selected two villages (Hatbati and Phultala) from Batiaghata upazila and four villages (Malopara, Baratia, Gazinagar and Kadamtala) from Dumuria upazila for this study. A total of 57 randomly selected women shrimp fry catchers from the six villages were surveyed for this study. The authors used a semi-structured interview schedule to collect information from the respondents. The interview schedule included information on individual- and household-level socio-economic conditions, in addition to fry collection and related other information. The survey was administered during the months of June and July 2012. This study also elicited necessary information from local government representatives, government officers and key informants. Three key informants from the fry collectors were selected in order to achieve a detailed understanding of different aspects of fry catching. In selecting the key informants, the authors chose persons who had been engaged as fry catchers for more than five years and who had a thorough understanding of the economic, social and institutional aspects of fry catching. Moreover, the authors followed the observation method in order to understand livelihood options and locational differences in the study area. Table II summarizes the nature of data collected from each category of respondents.\n3. Result and discussion: This study has found that the average age of fry catchers is 40 years and the average household size is 4. More than two-thirds of the respondents were landless, living either on khas land[2] or on others' land. More than 80 per cent of fry collectors are women. Single/abandoned women or those who do not have any other dominant source of income are regular fry catchers. In contrast, women residing with their husbands or with other major sources of income tend to go fry catching only in the peak season, when the catches are higher.\n4. Conclusion: The shrimp sector has opened up new economic opportunities for fry collectors in terms of access to higher income and flexible employment. The analysis results indicate that income from fry collection alone is not sufficient for bringing about positive economic change for fry catchers. It can bring about optimistic economic change for women whose income from fry catching is supplemented by other sources of income. Fry catching, complemented by other sources of income, allows them to survive. However, this wage and employment gain for women results in negative health effects due to unsafe working environments.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the dynamics of institutional practices, socio-economic status and vulnerability of shrimp fry catchers in the south-west region of Bangladesh.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study draws on primary research conducted through face-to-face interviews with women fry collectors in the south-west region of Bangladesh. This study attempts to identify the nature and extent of the impact of institutional practices on the women engaged in catching fry regarding their positioning within the institutional framework.\nFindings: In the coastal region of Bangladesh, the shrimp sector has opened up economic opportunities for women in terms of access to income and employment. However, women have to make a trade-off between employment gain in terms of wage and health hazards caused due to poor working conditions. The findings of the study indicate that shrimp fry catching, complemented by other sources of income, can only help women to survive. The study also finds that the vulnerability of the fry collectors is the end result of mutually interacting institutional practices under different institutional domains. Accordingly, recommendations are made with a view to effectively utilizing social capital at the community level, which will be particularly helpful in raising fry catchers' voice in the local political arena and strengthening their position in the marketplace. Due to the higher preferences of buyers towards wild fry and the participation of a huge number of people in fry collecting, this study suggests rethinking government intervention in this regard.\nOriginality/value: This is original research focusing on the underlying structural and institutional factors behind the marginalization and vulnerability of women and devising policies that will enable modification of the factors that restrain women.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Participation in decision making: a case study of job satisfaction and commitment (part three)
|
[
"Job satisfaction",
"Trust",
"Employee commitment",
"Employee engagement",
"Internal communication",
"Participative decision making"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: When employees believe in and trust their management it motivates and encourages employees' participation in decision making which improves employees' efforts, benefits their job satisfaction and commitment to work. All of these factors, in turn, contribute to a trustworthy manager-employee relationship. While the literature supports this premise, there is little empirical evidence that patterns of causal inference in the relationship are clearly understood. This three part case focused on studying the relations between employee trust in management in a Quebec manufacturing company and their job satisfaction, intention to quit, level of employee participation in decision making and their commitment. The article found that \"employee trust in management is an important determinant of their willingness to participate in decision making. Insufficient employee participation in decision making in turn leads to low level of employee job satisfaction and employee commitment.\" Lack of employee commitment and engagement affects the employee's intention to quit. Part two of this article series analyzed and discussed the findings of the research. Part three of this series will give a summary, key recommendations and alternatives for the solution.\nDiscussion summary: The issues of the SV Systems International (SVSI) were low employee commitment, low employee engagement and turnover. Top management believed that these problems are caused by a low level of employee job satisfaction and tried to correct it by inviting employees into the process of decision making. However, their efforts were not successful. Overall, it can be confirmed that there is one major issue affecting the plant. Our research revealed a strong link between level of employees' trust in management and the number of other variables that were investigated and analyzed statistically. In particular, we found that level of employees' trust in management has a strong correlation with employee willingness to participate in decision making. We also found that willingness to PDM is highly correlated with employee job satisfaction. Refer to the Appendix for a summary of all data collected that was analyzed in Part Two of this article. According to our statistical analysis, employee job satisfaction is closely connected to employee commitment, and this variable has very significant inverse (negative) correlation with employee intention to quit. Figure 1 provides visualization of our findings.\nRecommendations: Trust is the belief in a person or organization's integrity, fairness and reliability (Piccoli et al., 2004). Trust is a positive expectation that another will not - through words, actions, or decisions-act opportunistically. The key dimensions underlining trust are integrity, competence, consistency, loyalty and openness. Based on the findings of the research, it is recommended that SVSI implement the following recommendations related to the improvement of the level of employees' trust in management:\nAlternatives for the solution: The following three alternatives were designed considering the mentioned recommendations above. They illustrate what SVSI can use to open the knowledge, experience, and motivation power that its employees may already express.\nPoints of consideration: PDM is a positive practice toward creating a significant level of employee trust in the organization. However, top management must understand that there is a critical difference for employees between going through the empty ritual of participation and having the real power needed to affect the outcome of the process. It allows the power-holders to claim that all sides were considered, but makes it possible for only some of those sides to benefit. Participation without redistribution of power is an empty and frustrating process for the powerless (for the employees). It may only worsen the situation in the organization.\nStudy limitation and extensions: Our sample size was constituted of 24 employees from the production department employees and ten office/administrative staff. The sample size of the office workers was not sufficient in order to have statistically significant results of the correlations between the variables for the production department employees, and for the office/administrative staff. This could have helped to determine the level of internal communication specifically, but also the level of all of the other variables for the two different groups of employees.\nFurther research: This case study research focused on trust as an antecedent of employee PDM. But there are other factors that may affect PDM, such as organizational structure and culture, leadership style and employee ability to participate. Further research could utilize this study's approach and investigate the linkage between employee PDM and these variables. We would also recommend that SVSI examine more carefully the reasons for low employee trust in management and high employee turnover. In addition, it would be interesting to compare the level of employee trust between the different company's divisions.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: When employees believe in and trust their management, it motivates and encourages employees' participation in decision making which improves employees' efforts, benefits their job satisfaction and commitment to work. All of these factors, in turn, contribute to a trustworthy manager-employee relationship. While the literature supports this premise, there is little empirical evidence that patterns of causal inference in the relationship are clearly understood. This three-part empirical case seeks to focus on studying the relations between employee trust in management in a Quebec manufacturing company and their job satisfaction, intention to quit, level of employee participation in decision making and their commitment.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This empirical case will test five hypotheses regarding seven variables influencing the level of employee engagement and commitment, employee turnover, employee participation in decision-making processes and job satisfaction.\nFindings: The article finds that employee trust in management is an important determinant of their willingness to participate in decision making. Insufficient employee participation in decision making in turn leads to low level of employee job satisfaction and employee commitment. Lack of employee commitment and engagement affects the employee's intention to quit.\nResearch limitations/implications: The sample size of the office workers was not sufficient in order to have statistically significant results of the correlations between the variables for the production department employees and for the office/administrative staff. This could have helped to determine the level of internal communication specifically, but also the level of all of the other variables for the two different groups of employees.\nPractical implications: This article offers useful insights for management in relation to strengthening interpersonal trust within an organization, introducing employee empowerment practices and increasing employee job satisfaction and commitment.\nOriginality/value: The findings provide empirical evidence to support theoretical models that link employee trust in management, participation in decision making, job satisfaction, commitment, and turnover intentions and highlight the impact of these factors on organizational performance.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
"Staying native": coproduction in mental health services research
|
[
"Change management",
"Mental health services",
"Learning organizations",
"Health services",
"Knowledge management",
"United Kingdom"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Why have we entitled this paper \"staying native\"?, First, it reflects our intent to explore the coproduction of mental health services research (HSR) between academic researchers and researchers who have themselves used mental health services: \"experts by experience\" (EBE). We define coproduction in the following manner, drawing on recent work on how knowledge is produced in contemporary society:It is transdisciplinary rather than mono- or multidisciplinary. It is carried out in non-hierarchical, heterogeneously organised forms which are essentially transient. It is not being institutionalised primarily within university structures. [It] involves the close interaction of many actors throughout the process of knowledge production and this means that knowledge production is becoming more socially accountable [...] Overall, the process of knowledge production is becoming more reflexive and affects at the deepest levels what shall count as \"good science\" (Gibbons et al., 1994, p. vi).Second, traditional research paradigms minimize the risk of \"going native\" by retaining a critical distance from research participants in order to reduce bias in the research process. Our research instead deliberately established a research framework that incorporated the experiential expertise of service user researchers (EBE researchers) to ensure that the \"native\" (participant) perspective remained integral to research findings. We argue that, in our project, neither side moved to adopt the perspective of the other, but a productive hybrid emerged. In particular, the EBE researchers exerted influence over the project and were not \"colonized\" by the academic experts, even though the project was located within a university: they did indeed \"stay native\". Nor did the academic side adopt a purely experiential form of research, although research methods evolved as a result of EBE involvement: they \"stayed native\" too. To pursue the anthropological metaphor, the two tribes met in a fruitful coproduction of knowledge.Policy context\nMethod: This paper describes and discusses a recent local experiment in research coproduction in an evaluation of service planning at a London Mental Health NHS Trust. The Trust was committed strategically to developing new planning systems which engaged a range of stakeholders, including service users. It was also committed to increasing service user participation in the research process. The Trust was willing to fund this current, small study in order to work these policies through into practice.New planning systems were introduced in the context of a comprehensive organisational change process within the Trust: from a clinically led service structured by clinical directorates to a manager-led service structured by geographical borough. We adopted a comparative case study approach for our evaluation because we felt that, in a small study, purposive selection of contrasting cases would offer an efficient means of seeking to explain processes of stakeholder engagement (Ferlie et al., 2005). Although we would be unlikely to collect sufficient range of data to develop a comprehensive understanding of the processes of engagement, the focus of this paper is on the process of knowledge production, rather than the study's substantive findings, and this will be reflected in the presentation of findings below.In the first phase of the study-structured observations, exploring meeting dynamics and chairing styles were made of new meeting structures, established within each borough in the Trust to engage different stakeholder groups (service users, carers, managers, and professional staff) in the organisational business of the Trust.In the second phase, two boroughs were selected for closer study as offering contrasting models of meeting structure (Borough A held a monthly closed meeting that included representatives of all stakeholder groups; Borough B held a monthly closed meeting for the Trust management team, and a bi-monthly open meeting to which all service users, carers, and professional staff were invited). Interviews and focus groups were held with representatives of meeting attendees as shown in Table I.Interviews and focus group with service users and carers were held in Trust meeting rooms. Interviews with managers were held in their offices. No Trust professional staff agreed to be interviewed. EBE researchers and conventional university researchers were all involved in the collection and analysis of data.Observation, interview, and focus group data were analysed thematically, first through a coding of transcripts, and then through a discursive, matrix approach (Averill, 2002). This approach sought to capture the different interpretative frames of reference of the different research team members in order to develop an analysis - and report to the Trust - that reflected the complexity of stakeholders' experiences.To facilitate investigation of the approach to coproduction of HSR research knowledge adopted in this study, EBE researchers kept reflective accounts of their involvement in the study and reflective discussions were held by the research team as a regular part of team meetings. A final focus group attended by the research team and facilitated by the lead organisational researcher enabled us to reflect on the research process and how it differed from conventional biomedical and HSR. It is these reflective findings that are reported below.\nFindings: Reflective accounts and discussions\nDiscussion: Participative forms of HSR pose important methodological issues which need to be considered carefully. This coproduced mode of research is moving away from orthodox Cochrane forms of research (Chalmers and Altman, 1995) - which stress meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials as the highest form of evidence - to designs which are often based on qualitative case study methods and which value experiential as well as academic knowledge.This case study builds on earlier HSR work from 1990s on the development of participative modes of needs assessment by the NHS health authorities which is now unduly neglected and requires rediscovery. The new purchasing organizations of 1990s were expected to act as \"tribunes of the people\", undertaking needs assessment work with their local populations that would enable them to commission more appropriate modes of service delivery (Ong, 1993; Popay and Williams, 1994). Ong and Humphris' (1993) interesting chapter outlines the development of rapid appraisal methods in deprived communities which can support such needs assessment processes. The variety of methods and data sources employed included a strong qualitative component.This tradition has obvious relevance to the more recent world class commissioning agenda in the NHS (Department of Health, 2007), requiring the inclusion of patients in innovative partnerships making informed choices about local service priorities. In addition, this approach can also be used by managers and applied researchers in NHS provider Trusts who want to shift towards more participative modes of service planning which can then help change traditional patterns of service delivery. In order to achieve this, however, NHS organizations will need to have access to applied research capacity and expertise in coproduction approaches.This case study also responds to the more recent call (Oliver et al., 2004) for well-documented experiments in new forms of coproduced HSR. The potential generalisable learning from this experiment adds to Baxter's \"key success factors\" in designing effective collaborative research, including: a shared empowering philosophy; building shared values; common language; and flexible research design (Baxter et al., 2001). Namely, this project suggests an important role for local \"tracks\" of repeated experimentation in which collaboration capacity slowly builds up over a period of time.Our conclusions are relatively optimistic. Going back to our original two questions, we conclude:1. The involvement of EBE researchers exerted powerful effects at each stage of the research cycle and was far more than cosmetic. Reflecting on our working definition of coproduction with which we began, our experiment demonstrated a transdisciplinary approach which saw the experiences and expertise of members of the team applied across the project, rather than a more conventional application of specific disciplines to specific tasks. Organisation of the research team evolved non-hierarchically as the project progressed. While management of the project remained within the university, the integration of mental health service users into the team ensured a critical focus on research process. We became interested in who we were and what difference that made to the research and felt that we were doing \"good science\" through this process of continuous reflection. Coproduced research emerged as a different mode from both quantitative biomedical research and qualitative HSR.2. The identity of the EBE researchers expanded in the course of the project as they acquired more conventional research skills. They did not \"cross over\" and become conventional members of the university, but retained their experiential identity, with a greater ability to connect insightfully and emotionally with service users and service issues, bringing important additional qualities to a mixed team. EBE researchers felt they had \"stayed native\" because of the recognition of, and investment in their EBE role, and because they could see at first hand how their experience-driven contributions to were retained through the life of the project. This gave them confidence to voice their experiential expertise even while they acquired academic expertise. The academic researchers brought their traditional concern with rigour and method but they also learnt in the course of the project much more about the fruitful role of experience and emotional engagement in mental health research (which is a rather different model from that of value neutrality found in conventional science). As such, both \"sides\" learnt and developed in the course of the project.Far from academic expertise \"colonizing\" experiential expertise, we argue that this experiment demonstrates that well-supported coproduction has the potential to bring together expertise by experience with conventional academic and clinical expertise. Through repeated similar exercises capacity would build up that can be used for larger scale research projects. The practical application for health services management is a coproduced knowledge base that can be called on, at a local level, for service planning that responds to the priorities and concerns of a range of stakeholders. For example, the study reported here demonstrated how the input of experts by experience into the research process was productive of findings that identified stakeholder experiences and expectations, rather than planning systems, as the primary sticking point in the service planning process. Such an approach would support the implementation of the New Horizons agenda for mental health, calling for service user involvement in delivering both quality and cost improvement (Department of Health, 2009). The implications for NHS research and development more widely, including for the commissioning of research, are that improvements in healthcare organisation and delivery can be usefully informed by a more participatory form of research, as well as by conventional biomedical and HSR.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to describe a recent experiment in research coproduction in an evaluation of service planning at a London Mental Health NHS Trust. The paper aims to consider whether members of the research team who have themselves been users of mental health services are able to contribute to the research process as \"experts by experience\", or if their experiential knowledge is \"colonized\" within the academic research team.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A qualitative, comparative case study approach was adopted, using structured observations and semi-structured interviews. Researchers' reflective accounts and a reflective focus group were employed to explore the process of coproduction.\nFindings: - The paper concludes that, far from \"colonising\" expertise by experience, the experiment builds local capacity in research coproduction and usefully informs a service planning process that reflects the priorities and concerns of a range of stakeholders.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The paper describes a small, local experiment in research coproduction and so findings are limited in their scope. However, the study demonstrates an effective methodological approach to evaluating, empirically, the impact of coproduction on the health services research (HSR) process.\nPractical implications: - The paper demonstrates the potential for repeated exercises in coproduction to build capacity in collaborative approaches to both HSR and service planning.\nOriginality/value: - The involvement of experts by experience is increasingly a policy requirement in the domains of both health service planning and HSR in the UK. There are very few empirical studies that evaluate the impact of that coproduction.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Verifying the moderating role of satisfaction on service quality and students' accomplishment in ODL perspective
|
[
"Satisfaction",
"Service quality",
"SEM",
"IPA-CSI"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Student satisfaction, as the origin of service quality, in association with persistence, academic performance, retention and career advancement were formerly reviewed. It was understood that to a certain extent responsiveness, assurance, tangibles, reliability and empathy were interrelated to student satisfaction. Moreover, career advancement, retention, academic performance, and persistence were influenced by satisfaction. These upshots were observed by students of Universitas Terbuka Indonesia domiciled overseas within an open distance learning, or ODL, perspectives (Sembiring, 2015). In this inquiry, the respondents were graduates and the dependent variables were students' performance, future career and loyalty.\n2. Related studies and the frameworks: Parasuraman et al. (1988) essentially confirmed five main key elements of service quality, consisted of tangible, empathy, assurance, responsiveness and reliability. Additionally, the referral element was included as another origin of service quality adjacent to those first five elements described (Sembiring, 2017, 2018b). Service quality also leads to satisfaction. Service quality in this context, behold by and from graduates' standpoints, was viewed from academic, operational, and managerial service outlooks. Moreover, graduates' satisfaction has a positive and direct effect on students' performance, loyalty, and future career.\n3. Research design and the hypotheses: The launching of the operational framework is consolidated by reflecting the grand design (Figure 1). Besides, it is the manifestation of variables and dimensions involved (Table 1). This operational framework is then utilized as a basis to determine the research design and approach of resulting in the analysis. This is done prior to statistically deducing conclusions as an integral part of the quantitative procedure. It will technically be executed with the help of structural-equation modeling (SEM) as well as importance-performance analysis (IPA) and customer-satisfaction index (CSI) as previously adopted by Sembiring (2018a, b).\n4. Results and discussions: Prior to inferring the result, it is useful to notice the features of the respondents. This will give us a basis to clearly interpret the outcomes afterward. The results of the analyses will be described in more detail after following the following respondents' characteristics (Table 2).\n5. Conclusions: This study has encountered a slight difference between what was obtained under qualitative as compared to quantitative results. Two of the nine hypotheses scrutinized were not statistically validated by the analysis. This implied that the established qualitative framework is imperfectly approved by the quantitative procedure; it is clear that we need further research for this diverse outcome.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Service quality and satisfaction in the ODL setting related to students' accomplishments (performance, loyalty and career) were reconsidered. It was aimed at exposing the moderating role of satisfaction on service quality and accomplishment. It was also of interest to scrutinize how, in what routines determinants engaged interdepended. The paper aims to discuss these issues.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study utilized an exploratory design. It was qualitatively identified first that service quality included tangible, empathy, assurance, reliability, responsiveness and referral factors. It preceded to satisfaction (perceived from academic, operational and managerial attitudes). Satisfaction led to accomplishment. Quantitatively, service quality, satisfaction and accomplishment were identified as independent, moderating, and dependent variables, respectively. Respondents, 500 Universitas Terbuka graduates, were randomly pursued to accumulate data by a survey. Methodically, importance-performance analysis (IPA) and customer-satisfaction index (CSI) were used to figure out satisfaction and their importance degree. Nine hypotheses were developed and examined using structural-equation modeling to visualize the loading factors.\nFindings: Replies from 163 respondents were completed. Seven of nine hypotheses were validated. It was distinguished that reliability influencing satisfaction, they were empathy, assurance and responsiveness; excluding tangible and referral. Satisfaction influenced performance, career, and loyalty. IPA-CSI analysis recognized 15 (of 21) attributes as the pillars of service quality.\nOriginality/value: Despite the qualitative framework was improperly approved by quantitative procedure, they were methodically reliable. It was supported by the fact that nine cut-off values of goodness-of-fit requirements harmonized. Additional inquiry is therefore required to tail off variances by integrating a more appropriate approach, amplifying theoretical coverage, and/or extending population/sample size.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The integration of activation policy at sub-national level: A case study of the City Strategy initiative in an English sub-region
|
[
"Labour market",
"Government policy",
"United Kingdom",
"Unemployment",
"Development agencies"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The UK claims to be a \"world leader in activation\" (Lindsay et al., 2007), and the development of active labour market policies has also led to organisational innovation. The focus of this article is on one specific initiative, \"City Strategy\", which aims to encourage different institutions to work together to develop solutions to issues of worklessness. In particular, the article presents findings from a case study of a City Strategy Pathfinder in one English sub-region: Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country.The article is organised in four parts. First there is a discussion of the capability approach, which highlights the idea of situated public action, the importance of local actors, and key concepts of empowerment and voice. Second, the UK policy context is examined, including the intensification of activation policy, and notions of partnership working and inter-agency cooperation. Third, the article turns to the case study, examining the City Strategy and its introduction in the Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country sub-region. Consideration is given to the aims and public action being undertaken under the auspices of City Strategy, but with a key theme being the extent of development and limits that are reached. Fourth, the article discusses findings from the case study within the framework of the capability approach, and concludes by examining whether a capability approach offers a potentially helpful way forward. To be clear, the issues raised in the case study could be examined from a number of different theoretical perspectives but it is the capability approach that provides the conceptual underpinning of this article.An important point to make from the outset is that the study presented in this article has taken place against the backdrop of a rapidly changing economic context. After a decade of benign economic conditions, 2008-2009 has seen rapid economic decline in the UK (and beyond), including sharply rising unemployment. It may be rather too early to see changes in policy development, but certainly there is limited evidence of employment policy as yet being revised in the light of economic downturn (see Convery, 2009). Nevertheless, there are some new measures such as the Future Jobs Fund focusing on young people who have been out of work for 12 months, announced in the 2009 Budget (for a discussion of the case for targeting see Shaheen, 2009). With regard to the case study of the City Strategy presented here, the main focus is on the long-term workless i.e. people who were out of work before the onset of recession. Indeed, policy makers now talk in terms of \"flow\" and \"stock\" in relation to workless people. The \"flow\" are the newly unemployed who it is hoped can be helped quickly to return to work, whereas the \"stock\" are the long-term unemployed, and more particularly the economically inactive, who often face multiple barriers to employment and require much greater support, as well as being disproportionately concentrated in areas of relatively low labour demand. While the economic downturn certainly affects the unemployment \"flow\", it seems that the stock of long-term worklessness may be treated in effect as a separate issue.\nThe capability approach: situated public action, empowerment and voice: For the purposes of this article, the relevance of the capability approach is in relation to the notion of \"situated public action\", the importance of local actors and key concepts of empowerment and voice. Situated public action is defined by Salais and Villeneuve (2004, p. 8) in the following terms: \"common goods are achievable only by internal guidance through situated public action. By \"situated\" we mean a public action located within established negotiation and decision-making of local actors, in territories, trades, networks or firms ... this action does not comply with the model of hierarchical State authority\". Developing this point, Bonvin and Farvaque (2006, p. 135) argue that \"The concept of 'situatedness' is part and parcel of the capability approach, which cannot accommodate with a top down or 'command and control' mode of governance\". As Sen (1999) repeatedly emphasises, in all normative and rule-setting processes (at all levels, be it political decision-making, collective bargaining or any other contractual rule-setting process) those concerned must be able to participate effectively. Thus, the role and empowerment of local actors is critical.Linked to empowerment is the concept of voice. The capability approach does not mean that any one individual's claims will shape the end result of policy debate but all must be listened to, and must be able to voice their concerns effectively. Thus, the capability approach does not call for the disappearance of all forms of central intervention, but it does require that it should be framed in such a way as to allow local actors to have capability for voice, that is, that local actors are able to have their say at all stages of the policy process (Bonvin and Farvaque, 2006). A model of public action based on centrally determined policies which do not let local actors design their own public action, and simply require field actors to adapt themselves, is one in which voice has no place. With these points in mind, the next section of this article turns to the UK policy context.\nThe UK policy context: Activation\nThe City Strategy initiative: The emphasis on greater freedom for manoeuvre at the local level was evident from the commencement of the City Strategy initiative. The initiative was developed by DWP. It was first outlined in a Government welfare reform Green Paper (Department for Work and Pensions, 2006) with the key aim being \"to tackle worklessness in our most disadvantaged communities across the UK - many of which are in major cities and other urban areas ... The strategy is based on the idea that local partners can deliver more if they combine and align their efforts behind shared priorities, and are given more freedom to try out new ideas and to tailor services in response to local need\" (source: DWP website - www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/cities_strategy.asp - website visited 4 March 2009 - emphasis added). The City Strategy initiative recognises that tackling localised concentrations of worklessness requires action that is appropriate to the needs of each local area and the individuals within them; tailoring support to meet local needs is therefore unlikely to be compatible with a bureaucratic, top-down model of intervention (Hasluck et al., 2007).The City Strategy is operating in 15 City Strategy Pathfinder areas, and to explore the initiative in more detail the focus in this article is on a case study of a specific Pathfinder: Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country. The case study is intended to highlight key points regarding activity at local level, rather than provide an exhaustive assessment (for further details see Hasluck et al., 2009; Warwick Institute for Employment Research, 2009). The empirical investigation is based on analysis of documentary evidence including strategy papers and \"grey literature\" such as minutes of meetings and internal briefings. In addition, the case study draws on in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with 18 local actors involved in the City Strategy. Local actors included some very senior figures and they were given assurance that they would be anonymised. Citing their organisation could make them identifiable to other members of the City Strategy consortium, therefore, interviewees are identified solely by a number.\nThe Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country City Strategy pathfinder: The Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country Pathfinder, which is in the West Midlands region, is one of the largest of the 15 City Strategy Pathfinders operating across Great Britain, and involves multiple agencies working together. The West Midlands is itself an interesting setting. In the 1960s, based on its manufacturing strength, particularly the motor industry, the West Midlands was second in prosperity in England only to London and the South East (for further discussion of the West Midlands economy see Green and Berkeley (2006) and Smith and Collinge (2000)). But the decline of manufacturing in the 1970s and 1980s led to unemployment regularly above 10 per cent and the West Midlands became one of the poorer regions in England. Since the late 1980s there has been a regional recovery, and the West Midlands now occupies a middle-ranking position amongst the English regions, based particularly on growth in retailing, distribution, hotels and catering, and business services. The economic downturn of 2008-2009 is affecting the West Midlands, as it is other regions, but precisely how this will develop remains to be seen.The Birmingham, Coventry and Black Country City Strategy Pathfinder is based around the urban, industrial core of the West Midlands region with a total population of 2.75 million people. The title of the Pathfinder refers to the cities of Birmingham (the second largest city in England) and Coventry, and the Black Country sub-region (which is a former industrial area and now the most deprived part of the West Midlands region). The Pathfinder area has a particularly high proportion of people with no qualifications, 30.7 per cent compared with 22.8 per cent nationally (Birmingham, Coventry and Black Country City Region, 2007), and there are pockets of long-term unemployment where over 20 per cent of people are workless. Based on the nationally measured Index of Multiple Deprivation, the Pathfinder contains several areas within the 10 per cent most deprived areas in England (Birmingham, Coventry and Black Country City Region, 2007).The Pathfinder consortium consists of Jobcentre Plus, the eight local authorities in the area, and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) which is the agency responsible for planning and funding education and training in England, other than universities, and in 2006-2007 had a budget of over 10 billion euro. The consortium set a number of objectives, with the overarching aim encompassing worklessness and inter-agency cooperation being \"to assist the economically inactive into work by strengthening partnership working and taking a joint approach\" (Birmingham, Coventry and Black Country City Region, 2007, p. 2). There are detailed targets for reducing the number of workless people claiming active and inactive benefits, as well as for increasing employment rates (see Birmingham, Coventry and Black Country City Region, 2007).The model of provision for workless people\nDiscussion: the City Strategy, voice and empowerment: As discussed above, the capability approach emphasises the importance of situated public action, and key concepts of empowerment and voice. Therefore, in using a capabilities framework, the question that arises in relation to the limits of partnership working that have been identified is what is the reality of empowerment and voice within the City Strategy?To be clear, the City Strategy does provide some freedom from central government control for local actors within the Pathfinder. The Pathfinder is not simply implementing a programme devised by central government. However, the City Strategy initiative as a whole remains centrally controlled. Pathfinders must submit quarterly reports to DWP (although this serves mainly a monitoring role and there is no evidence of this in itself being seen as limiting ability to act) and DWP is funding a national evaluation of the initiative. More substantively, local actors remain dependent on central government for funding, and the analysis of worklessness and required activation very much remains driven by central government. The strategy adopted in Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country, for example as in the delivery model discussed above, does not divert markedly from the centrally determined analysis.Another way the relationship between central government and local actors can be examined is through requests made by Pathfinders for freedom and flexibility from DWP national requirements, through what are known as \"enabling measures\". Requests from Pathfinders for such enabling measures range from data sharing to changes to benefit regulations. However, there has been no substantial progress on any of these requests (Crighton et al., 2008; Green et al., 2009). The lack of enabling measures cannot be overemphasised, demonstrating the limits of local freedom and that local actors continue to operate in a framework very much determined by central government. This again points to institutional barriers to partnership working.One interviewee summarised well the tension between freedom at the local level and central control. He explained the situation in the following terms: \"I think we've got the freedom to develop an idea e.g. a response to a problem and can come up with pretty much anything, but it still has to fit within existing [national] rules and regulations that constrain you. Some rules and regs [regulations] you feel should be fundamentally changed. Some rules are a pain but you can work within them; and some are a pain and really hamper things... there are problems with data sharing and inflexibility with benefits, for example Housing Benefit. Whatever the partnership does has to fit with these rules. So the freedom to dream up an idea is devolved, but it has to fit within the existing rules (Local Actor 7 - emphasis added). Thus, empowerment and voice for local actors is severely constrained.The relationship between the Pathfinder and workless individuals\nConclusion: This article has engaged with issues around activation and organisational innovation through a case study of the UK City Strategy initiative. The case study is interesting in showing how activation policy has been successful in drilling down to a micro-level, and incorporating a wide range of local actors. The way this has been achieved is through partnership working and inter-agency cooperation. The empirical investigation provides examples of the benefits of such inter-agency cooperation, but also raises questions as to the limits that are reached.The analysis of the City Strategy could engage with a number of debates around models of partnership working, marketisation and so on, but in locating the study within the framework of the capability approach, it is the critical importance of local actors and key concepts of empowerment and voice that are central. The City Strategy can be seen as evidence of (some) recognition of the failure of a hierarchical model of state authority and the need for situated public action. But what has been seen is that the City Strategy still operates within a framework very much determined by central government. In seeking ways forward, therefore, the City Strategy represents an interesting example of situated public action to tackle worklessness, but a capability approach leads to the positing of a fundamental point: the need for empowerment and voice for local actors.Opens in a new window.Table I\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to engage with the theme of activation policies and organisational innovation in the capability perspective, from the viewpoint of active labour market policies in the UK.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The focus of the article is the City Strategy initiative in Great Britain, which encourages institutions to work together to develop solutions to concentrations of worklessness. The article presents findings from a case study of the introduction of the City Strategy in one English sub-region: Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country. The empirical investigation is based on analysis of documentary evidence including strategy papers and \"grey literature\" such as minutes of meetings and internal briefings. In addition, the case study draws on in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with 18 local actors involved in the City Strategy.\nFindings: - The empirical investigation provides selected evidence of successful public action undertaken through the City Strategy. It discusses issues concerning the benefits of partnership working and inter-agency cooperation, but also limits that are reached.\nOriginality/value: - The paper identifies elements of the capabilities approach - the idea of situated public action, the importance of local actors, and key concepts of empowerment and voice - as providing a helpful framework for analysis. While the City Strategy represents an interesting example of situated public action to tackle worklessness, it can be argued that what is missing in this instance is what the capabilities approach identifies as key elements of empowerment and voice for local actors.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Transactional sex among female university students in Ghana: Implications for HIV education
|
[
"Relationships",
"Africa",
"Ghana",
"Sex",
"HIV",
"Safer sex",
"AIDS"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Current patterns of, and discourses around, HIV/AIDS suggest that older males mixing with younger females in sexual relationships comes with an increased risk of infection, due to unsafe sex practices and serial and concurrent sexual networking (Luke, 2005). This is often exacerbated by power imbalances between partners which largely result from socioeconomic differences between the male and female partners (Longfield, 2004). Drawing on qualitative evidence from \"privileged\" female Ghanaian youths, this study examines how transactional sexual relationships evolve, are maintained and dissolved/terminated. Our choice of university students is born out of an assumption that higher education provides greater access to health information, as well as a greater socioeconomic incentive for making safer and healthier sexual choices. Given their \"privileged\" position as university students, it is expected that they would be more likely to engage in sexual practices that are safer and healthier. If this is found not to be the case, it highlights the problem around gender and economic imbalances and their repercussions even more clearly.\nMethods: Although the literature on transactional sex provides a mix of evidence on how females engaged in the practice manage these relationships, most studies seem to conclude that there is some amount of secrecy that surrounds transactional sexual relationships. Given that this study was targeted at a population whose identities and size were unknown, we relied on snowballing (i.e. chain sampling which uses existing study subjects to recruit future subjects from among their acquaintances).\nResults and discussion: The mean age of respondents was 22 years and 43 years for the partners, an average age difference of 21 years. The relationships had existed for between three months to two years at the time of interviews. One of the respondents had quit her relationship with an older partner.\nConclusions: Our aim was to explore some issues surrounding transactional sex among a relatively privileged population of female students in a Ghanaian university.\nLimitations of the study: The study has some limitations in terms of generalizability. The sample selection process, snowballing, means that the findings may only apply to respondents in this small study. Our findings may also be limited to the University of Cape Coast alone. A larger and comparative study involving different institutions of higher learning may help shed further light on the clearly complex situation regarding transactional sex in the universities.\nImplications for HIV education: Since the advent of the epidemic, HIV/AIDS has been labelled as a disease of the poor and the uneducated, and assumptions made that people who are educated will take personal protective measures against HIV infection. However, the findings from this study suggest that these views may be erroneous, with undesirable consequences on HIV preventive efforts. Despite the fairly privileged position of these respondents, sexual risk taking still clearly exists. Even among those who did practice safer sex, the motive was not for protection against STIs, which means that whenever they felt secure against pregnancy, the chances of condom use will be extremely minimal.\nFinal conclusion: The results presented here show that multiplicities of considerations inform initiation, maintenance and quitting of transactional relationship among unmarried female university students. The findings show that transactional sex in this setting has an intersection among survival and consumption and materialism, stigmatisation, inabilities and abilities to negotiate for safe sex, as well as reciprocity and non-reciprocity of emotional commitment to male partners. The convolutions of students' lives and settings have to be appreciated in designing intervention programmes.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Older males having sex with younger females is known to increase unsafe sex practices, exacerbated by power and economic imbalances between partners. The purpose of this paper is to examine transactional sexual relationships (i.e. long-term relationships constructed as \"girlfriends not 'prostitutes'\" based on the exchange of gifts and other obligations) among female students of University of Cape Coast, Ghana. It particularly explores the implications for HIV education in institutions of higher learning. HIV/AIDS has been labelled as a disease of the poor and the uneducated, and it might be expected university students would engage in safer sexual practices: if they do not it highlights the problem around gender and economic imbalances and their repercussions even more clearly.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Using snowballing, 40 university-educated female students engaged in transactional sex were interviewed using unstructured interview. The data were analysed thematically.\nFindings: These young women were not simple victims, these relationships were the result of complex and conscious choices. They did not want to marry their partners and were clear that these were short-term relationships primarily for material gain, which they nevertheless kept secret from family and most friends for fear of stigma, particularly in blighting their future marriage prospects. They protected themselves from emotional involvement, although they often saw their partners as loving, taking the provision of gifts as a sign of affection and sometimes a replacement for parental love. Their motivation was primarily economic, to fulfil \"wants\" not survival \"needs\" - the relationships enabled them to purchase the trappings of affluent society such as clothes, hairstyles, fast food and gadgets. They were also motivated by the enhanced experiences these relationships allowed, such as feeling protected, respected, \"high class\", part of a daring elite of women and being able to travel and continue their education. The unequal nature of the relationships (often described as \"father-daughter\") in a society in which parents, older people and men are given unquestioning respect, reduced their abilities to negotiate safe sex practices. In so far as they practiced safer sex it was to avoid pregnancy rather than disease, believing they would be able to tell from physical signs if their partner was infected.\nPractical implications: This study shows that the \"privileged\" status' that higher education offers is no match for the socioeconomic and cultural factors which make female youths, whatever their educational background, compromise on safer sexual practices, rendering them vulnerable to STIs and particularly, HIV infection. It is also clear that students in higher education are nevertheless ignorant about the risk and invisible nature of sexually transmitted disease. Institutions of higher education need to do more to provide robust sex and relationship educational interventions for their students and faculty about HIV/AIDS, which take into account the complex and socially situated decisions that surround sexual relationships.\nOriginality/value: Most of the work on transactional sexual relationships has come from South Africa - this is the first study in a Ghanaian context and of educated young women.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Teachers' views on implementing intercultural education in Greece: the case of 13 primary schools
|
[
"Primary education",
"Teaching methods",
"Intercultural education"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Greece, like many other countries in Europe, has experienced a significant influx of immigrants and repatriates especially since the 1980s (Markou, 1997). According to recent data for the school year 2014-2015 there were 74,834 foreign pupils, 3,180 repatriate pupils and 15,911 Roma pupils enroled in primary and secondary education (Palaiologou and Evaggelou, 2015). The gathering of so many people with different cultures raises questions regarding their participation in Greek society. A major part of this participation constitutes the involvement of pupils from diverse cultures in the Greek educational system. The implementation of monocultural education in a multicultural society would be anachronistic.\nMain objectives: The main aim of this paper is to present the results of the second part of the main aim of the study referring to the implementation of intercultural education within the IPSs. More specifically, teachers' and head teachers' views on the approaches and the teaching methods adopted in the classroom and the school to promote intercultural education as well as their implications for practice and policy are investigated and discussed. The principle amount of the data presented derives from the interviews. Nevertheless, references to questionnaire data will be made wherever appropriate.\nMethodology: The research strategy employed is a survey conducted over a period of two school years in the 13 IPSs in Greece, where native, foreign and repatriate pupils participate. The study investigates the issue of intercultural education and the extent of its implementation within the IPSs. Since it sought to explore the field of intercultural education, which is multi-faceted, a variety of sources and research instruments were combined in order to reveal the different aspects of intercultural education.\nThe use of various teaching methods and approaches in the implementation of intercultural education: General principles\nConclusions: Implications for practice\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore teachers' and head teachers' perceptions of the implementation of intercultural education within the 13 intercultural primary schools (IPSs) in Greece.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The research methodology adopted is a mixed-method approach. It has been employed to add breadth and depth to the analysis and to achieve a better understanding of the issue examined. The research methods used include questionnaires administered and interviews conducted with teachers and head teachers.\nFindings: The results indicate that great importance is attributed to the use of cooperative learning, group work and the interdisciplinary approach to implementing intercultural education. The findings provide suggestions for the creation of a school environment in which the intercultural dimension will be promoted, so as to meet the educational needs of native, foreign and, repatriate pupils attending both intercultural and mainstream primary schools.\nResearch limitations/implications: The research study focusses on primary education. Nonetheless, some of the findings may be applicable to secondary education.\nOriginality/value: The contribution of this study to the topic examined is significant since this is a country-scale research conducted among the 13 IPSs - and there has been no previous research conducted in all 13 IPSs in Greece - and different pupil populations. Therefore, teachers' views and practices allow international readership to be informed of the Greek intercultural context as well as to reflect a variety of teaching approaches and methods that can be well adopted by intercultural practitioners and which in turn can contribute to the improvement of the entire spectrum of pedagogy and pursue further research.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
An empirical evaluation of key factors contributing to internet abuse in the workplace
|
[
"Personality",
"Internet",
"Addiction",
"Control",
"Surveillance"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The use of internet technology has become a common practice in the workplace. To stay competitive, companies leverage the ease, availability and accessibility of internet technology to support and enhance the internal and external communications among employees. Internet-enabled communication media, such as e-mail, instant messaging and IP phones, are enabling companies to conduct business anytime from anywhere. Virtual teams are a natural product of the ubiquity of internet technology to smooth the communication process of dispersed teams.However, implicit in the use of internet technology to improve work-related productivity in the workplace is a concern for the abuse of internet technology for non-work-related activities. A Center for Internet Addiction Report shows that about 5 to 10 percent of adults are having internet addiction problems (Trask, 2006). A study on the internet abuse in the workplace reveals that employees are more likely to visit shopping web sites, followed by entertainment, financial and adult web sites (Surfcontrol, 2000). A little control of internet abuse activities can entail an unproductive and uncompetitive organization (e.g. the number of work hours wasted, inefficient use of network resources, or productivity loss). These activities can further victimize an organization with overpaid wages, legal liabilities, lawsuits (Stewart, 2000), loss of goodwill, or unintentional release of confidential information (Phillips, 1999).Today's major management challenge with internet abuse in the workplace is to reduce the occurrences of internet abuse by taking necessary precautions. Prior research in the field of internet abuse is primarily incident reports or case discussion. These studies are lack of theoretical backgrounds and rigors of research methodology. In order to resolve these issues, this study integrates theories applicable to understanding key factors contributing to the misuse of internet technologies in the workplace for non-work-related activities. Five antecedents of internet abuse are identified: internet addiction, personality, uses and gratification, internet use policy and the perceptions of electronic monitoring systems. An effective solution to combat these identified factors conducive to the widespread internet abuse activities are proposed as the findings of this study.\nTheory development and hypotheses: Internet abuse in the workplace is to conduct non-work-related activities or public communications online on company time (Young, 1996). Internet abuse in the workplace is also the misuse of organizational information technology to achieve personal gains, instead of organizational goals. Guthrie and Gray (1996) christen the misalignment between the use of organizational information technology and organizational goals as \"junk computing.\" The deviant use of internet technology in the workplace can pose various risks to a corporation. The wrongdoers may be distracted from tasks on hand and engaged into unproductive or unethical activities. Unproductive activities range from online shopping, news, music, chatting, games, to cybersex. Too many unproductive activities in the workplace can lead to productivity loss, slowed network speed and liability risks (Lichtash, 2004). Unethical internet abuse can sometimes grow to become e-crimes, including intellectual property theft, distributing offensive materials, and online piracy of copyright materials. The e-crime can seriously tarnish the goodwill of a corporation. The impacts of internet abuse can be devastating. For instance, about 25 employees of the Automobile Club of South California delayed their response to the request of roadside assistance because they were engaged in the posting of sexual harassing messages at the blog web site myspace.com in the workplace (Ashmore and Herman, 2006).Although many companies have corporate policies to deter the internet abuse, many users are addicted to internet activities and have little control of not using internet activities in the workplace. Internet abuse behaviors in the workplace are the natural extension of internet addiction behaviors (Stanton, 2002). A user who is accustomed to use online chatting services at home will instantly respond to any request of online chatters even in the workplace. Other usage behaviors may include reading internet news, booking travel packages, buying movie tickets, etc. This study adopts a multidimensional approach to examine key factors contributing to the relationship between internet addiction and internet abuse from the individual perspective.\nInternet addiction: Internet is a widely adopted medium to meet the social needs of new generations. Online users seek gratification via online activities and gradually lose impulse and control. The conscious or unconscious control of the desire or impulse to use the internet, such as online chat rooms, shopping, gambling, online auctioning and online dating, is difficult for some people. As a result, a long time of intensive exposure to the medium can induce anxiety, intolerance, insomnia, depression, conflict and other disordered behaviors (Griffiths, 1998). The youth is particularly susceptible to the adverse effect of pathological addictions, including gambling and internet addiction. A study shows that the number of college students who are addicted to gambling is four to eight times higher than the number of adults (Lesieur et al., 1991). College students who are exposed to the internet longer than their peers clearly show lower reading skills, and higher temptation to plagiarize and social isolation (Trask, 2006). Many researchers labeled the inordinate use of internet as the internet addiction disorder (IAD) (Goldberg, 1996; Greenfield, 1999; Young, 1998a, b).Internet addiction resembles to the addiction to drug and alcohol because both of them are destructive to the normal life of an individual (Kershaw, 2005). Excessive use of internet or internet addiction disorder can lead to pathological and psychological symptoms, which cause the physical illness and isolation from the society (Brenner, 1997). Internet addicts usually have troubles socializing in the school or workplace when they are not with the computer. Some addictives even display physical illnesses, including carpal tunnel syndrome, migraine headaches, irregularities of life patterns (e.g. insomnia or skipping meals), and back aches. The American Psychiatric Association prescribes seven criteria to diagnose and determine if an individual becomes an internet addictive (Ferris, 2006). The individual needs to show the persistent presence of at least three out of seven criteria over a 12 month period in order to be qualified as an internet addictive. These seven criteria are:1. tolerance;2. two or more withdrawal symptoms after reduction of internet use;3. use of the internet to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms;4. longer and more frequent use of the internet than the average;5. excessive use of internet activities;6. trade the use of internet for physical social activities; and7. trade the use of internet for relationship.All these behavioral and impulse-control symptoms have the \"compulsiveness\" feature in common. This feature has resulted in the emergence of cybersexual addiction, cyberrelationship addiction, net compulsion, information overload and computer addiction problems (Soule et al., 2003).With the ubiquitous connectivity of the internet and the fast adoption of the internet as the major medium for communication by the younger generation, the importance of internet addiction cannot be underestimated. Many socio-technical factors can contribute to the internet addiction behaviors. Among those factors, the uses and gratification, the locus of control and self esteem are most pertinent to the effects of internet addiction behaviors at an individual basis.This study integrates the locus of control theory, control theory, containment theory, and uses and gratification theory. Seven constructs are incorporated in the proposed theoretical framework (Figure 1). Six hypotheses are used to validate the relationship among these seven constructs. The external locus of control, low self-esteem (LSE), and gratifications of internet use are three predictors for internet addiction. A high degree of internet addiction may lead to internet abuse behaviors, which can be predicted with two perceptional antecedents: perceptions of the existence of internet use policy and of electronic monitoring systems.Locus of control and internet addiction\nResearch methodology: Data collection\nAnalysis results: Measurement models and validation\nDiscussions and conclusion: Internet addiction can lead to internet abuse, which not only can devastate an individual's life but also destroy an organization's goodwill. An increasingly number of reports is released to aware the management of the negative effects of internet addiction and internet abuse on the normal operation of an organization. Some organizations are even proactively formulating internet use policy and adopting electronic monitoring systems to dissuade and prevent the occurrences of internet abuse from happening. Many studies have supported this argument that artifacts, such as internet use policy and electronic monitoring systems, can effectively mitigate, prevent or deter internet addiction problems (Straub et al., 1993; Greenfield and Davis, 2002; Fitzpatrick and Burke, 2003). However, the widely adopted practice does not guarantee the effectiveness of these artifacts. Lichtash (2004) examines an array of arbitration and court decisions and discovers most disordered behaviors of using the e-mail in the workplace are the result of unclear internet use policy or lack of communication about the existence of electronic monitoring systems. Humans are the weakest link in the control of internet use. Employees with a higher degree of awareness of the existence of internet use policy are least likely to have internet abuse problems (Foltz et al., 2005). On effective preventive measure is to create a security-aware culture by educating staff about risks and symptoms of internet abuse and their responsibilities. An effective training program to improve the awareness of internet use in the workplace can pre-instill employees with adequate knowledge to evaluate adverse consequences of internet abuse problems. The management can take appropriate actions to correct errors, should internet misuse problems surface. The management needs to understand that these artifacts cannot become effective tools unless they are adequately managed and translated into the improvement of awareness or perception of their values.The internet is becoming an important source for online users to seek process, content or social gratifications. Process and content gratifications are not strong predictors for internet addiction and abuse of online users based on the findings of this study. Although not used as an independent variable, social gratifications could be a better indicator for the tendency of addicting and abusing the internet. Social gratifications differ from the other two kinds of gratifications in their \"interactivity\" with other parties on the internet. The interactivity is about the degree to which online users depend on each other or can exchange roles in the communication process (Williams et al., 1988). The communication media with a high degree of interactivity is more likely to satisfy and retain users (Rayburn et al., 1996). Therefore, it is reasonable to presume that social gratification is a more pertinent element than process and content gratifications to get an online users addicted. The future study may want to explore the relationship between social gratification and internet addiction.External locus of control and self-esteem are two personality traits that are strong predictors for the internet addiction tendency of an employee in the workplace. Employees who have a high-external locus of control are most likely to be influenced by the external environment, such as the internet environment. As a result, employees are more likely to get addicted to the internet in the workplace (Chak and Leung, 2004). Employees with LSE often resort to the internet for their psychological and pathological needs. As a result, these employees are more likely to spend more money, or more time on the internet than those employees with HSE. This finding is consistent with other studies (Young, 1998a, b; Young and Rogers, 1998; Armstrong et al., 2000). Companies aiming to lower internet addiction behavior should not only address policies and technical aspects of the work environment, but also should see if it is possible to hire employees with the personality traits of internal locus control and HSE. These preventive measures are often more effective than reactive measures after internet addiction behaviors are spotted in the workplace.Without proper control, employees with internet addiction problems can display disturbed patterns of internet use. Employees with serious internet abuse problems can show many disorders, including depression, sexual disorders, or loneliness. These problems can carry over to the workplace and result in a lowered productivity of employees in the workplace. In the worse case scenarios, some internet abuse problems, including pornography, gambling, online auctions, chat rooms and blogging, can create corporate liability with illegal activities and potential lawsuits. For example, a Delta Airline flight attendant posed her own sexual pictures in company uniform in a blogging site (Ashmore and Herman, 2006). Officers in the Camden County distributed sexually explicit e-mails during work time and received an allegation (Colimore, 2006). Our findings corroborate with Stanton's (2002) study that employees who have trouble with internet addiction are more likely to become the victims of internet abuse problems. Internet addiction and abuse problems can cost tangible (e.g. lowered bandwidth, unproductive hours) and intangible loss (e.g. lost productivity, virus and specyware infection, and poor service quality) to a company. It is imperative to prevent employees with internet addiction problems from becoming the ones with internet abuse problems.\nLimitations and future research: There are several limitations to be acknowledged. First of all, this is a cross section survey study which is hard to know how much the real effects are reflected to employees' perspective answers. It would be interesting to find employees' reactions through some filed experiment method. Secondly, this study does not take the differences of industries into account. It uses the subjects from a science park where hi-tech industry is the only dominant force. Different industries may have different characteristics which result in different internet usage time among employees. Thirdly, this research does not consider the impacts from different roles that employees play. It is possible that employees' perceptions of internet abuse may be different because of their jobs or titles. For example, employees with higher titles may look at this issue more from managerial considerations which could be opposite to those of the operational employees. Fourth, this study discusses the perceived electronic monitoring facility not privacy concerns. It is, however, privacy concerns that grab attentions from industry and academia. Lastly, because of the controversial issue of this research, respondents were reluctant to participate in this study which might have impacted to the representative ness of collected data.Future research may be conducted to further extend this study through improving the above limitations. Following studies using field experiment may well-provide solutions to the first three limitations given that employee/employer's concerns can be addressed. The second limitation mentioned above can be improved by taking small and medium enterprises (SME) into account. It is particularly important to those countries that are known for their SME industry. A future study base on this validated model may provide another insight to employers of SME caring about IT implementation in their work environment (Wong and Lu, 1995; Subrahmanya, 2005; Wickramansinghe and Sharma, 2005).As the fourth limitation stated it is privacy concerns not perceived electronic monitoring that people care, another research line is the exploration of privacy concerns in electronic monitoring workplace together with the consideration of internet abuse and addiction. Researchers have studied the privacy issues (Choi et al., 2005) or related issue - trust (Ross et al., 2007), but not much in the realistic mixture of the internet abuse and addiction issues together with privacy concerns of nowadays panoptic work environment.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This study seeks to synthesize theories from communication, psychology and criminology to examine the factors that influence the two most popular topics in industry - internet abuse and addiction at the workplace.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The survey results of 351 responses were analyzed to test the proposed hypotheses and research model using structural equation modeling. Data were collected in Southern Science Park in Taiwan.\nFindings: - It was found that personality factors such as locus of control and self-esteem significantly influence employees' internet addictions; and internet addiction significantly impacts employees' internet abuse at the workplace.\nPractical implications: - Employers should pay special attention to employees' personalities because they play important roles in internet addiction and internet abuse. Also a good internet policy will be useful especially to a panoptic working environment, which is becoming popular.\nOriginality/value: - This study provides a comprehensive theoretical foundation to better understand the two controversial issues in industry. The empirical study validates the important theories of locus of control, self-esteem, use and gratification, control, and containment in workplace surveillance and deviant behavior research.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The effects of respect and rapport on relationship quality perception of customers of small healthcare firms
|
[
"Dental system",
"Malaysia",
"Customer relations"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: As competition in service industries increases, a new age of service commoditization is being reflected. Managers are looking for new ways to differentiate their services from competitors. Besides looking for new ways, they are also looking for cost-effective customer-retention strategies. One of the most effective ways is through building quality relationship with customers (Ndubisi, 2007). Thus, it has become a very important issue to manage, develop and evaluate the relationship between a retailer and customers (Berry, 1995; Clark et al., 1995; Sheth and Parvatiyar, 1995). Firms are recognizing the value of establishing close relationships with their customers as means of retaining existing customers.In the current business environment, relationship marketing has become an important aspect of doing business. This is especially true for a service business where high amount of customer-employee relationship can influence the consumption of services offered. Keeping a good relationship with customers is crucial for the success of the business because it has the potential to increase customer retention rates. Customer retention has many benefits, for example:[...] it can be ten times more expensive to win a customer than to retain a customer - and the cost of bringing new customer to the level of profitability as the lost one is up to 16 times more (Lindgreen et al., 2000).Consequently, the relationship paradigm should grow towards emphasizing on how business should enhance the quality of relationships with customers in order to gain mutual benefits of involved parties (Ndubisi, 2007).As mentioned by Ndubisi (2003), the only real sustainable business growth strategy is through mutual symbiotic relationship with customers. In any situation involving people, one aspect that needs to be given proper attention is interpersonal relationship. Based on the inseparability characteristic of service, naturally service itself may have significant impact on people (Carmeli et al., 2009). The inseparability characteristic of service reflects the production and consumption of the service which often takes place simultaneously (Edgett and Parkinson, 1993; Sierra and McQuitty, 2005), suggesting an interdependence role between service providers and customers (Solomon et al., 1985). In fact, there have been frequent discussions in the marketing literature suggesting that personal relationships can influence the influence of goods and services (Beatty et al., 1996; Bitner et al., 1990; Jain et al., 1987).Customers need to feel being valued and connected in ways that allows them to overcome the uncertainty involved in the interactions with the organization. When a service is difficult to evaluate, consumers often look to other cues, such as aspects of interaction or interpersonal method in assessing service quality (Parasuraman et al., 1985). The idea is that, by providing a personal relationship may give service customer a reason to return and retaining customers is beneficial to the organisation. Reicheld (1996) claimed that small improvements in customer retention can as much double company profits. This is because it costs less to serve long-term customers and furthermore, loyal customers will pay a price premium (Reicheld, 1996). This paper is proposing two interpersonal mechanisms, namely respect and rapport as antecedents to customer perceived overall relationship quality.Interestingly, the word respect and rapport are not new to us. The words are used very extensively in our everyday lives. In fact, when the word \"respect\" and rapport are mentioned, the terms are used colloquially, as if everyone understands. In fact, not many researches have been conducted in these two areas, especially in the business field. The dimensions and consequences of respect and rapport remain unclear. The aim of this paper is to investigate the extent to which respect and rapport affect relationship quality in the context of dental care services in Malaysia.\nRelated literature: The concept of relationship quality arises from theory and research in the field of relationship marketing (Crosby et al., 1990; Dwyer et al., 1987) in which the ultimate goal is to strengthen the already strong relationships and to convert indifferent customers into loyal ones (Berry and Parasuraman, 1991). Ndubisi (2007) observes that one of the goals of relationship marketing is to improve relationship quality for mutual benefits of involved parties. From the perspective of customers, relationship quality is achieved through the ability of the service provider to reduce customer' perceived risks. In-fact, high-relationship quality is sign that customers can rely on the integrity of the sellers (Kim and Cha, 2002). They will also have increased confidence of service provider future performance due to satisfactory past performance. The satisfaction emerges from customers' perception and evaluations of individual employees' communication and behaviour, such as respect, courtesy, warmth, empathy and helpfulness (Kim and Cha, 2002; Jarvelin and Lehtinen, 1996).Relationship quality\nMethodology: The population of this study is customers of dental clinics in Kuala Terengganu (east coast of Malaysia) and Kuala Lumpur (central and capital city of Malaysia). Altogether, 16 dental clinics were approached to participate in the survey. Out of 16, ten clinics (five in Kuala Terengganu and another five in Kuala Lumpur) accepted the invitation and participated in the study. Participation by the customers of these clinics was purely voluntary.Structured questionnaire was used as a mean for data collection. Therefore, the need for data collector was obvious. University students were recruited and trained to serve as data collectors. They were chosen on the basis of some background experience in research and data collection. This technique has proven to be successfully used in a variety of service marketing researches (Bitner et al., 1990; Gwinner et al., 1998).Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with questions in prearranged order. The questionnaire items were adapted from different sources to suit the study. Items for respect and rapport building were adapted from Dillon (1992), Dickert and Kass (2009), Gremler and Gwinner (2008). Modelling rapport together with respect gives a holistic picture than studying the two constructs separately. In this sense, the study adds value to the present knowledge in the area. Items for relationship quality were adapted from Hennig-Thurau (2000) and Ndubisi (2007). All items were measured on a seven-point Likert scale ranging from 1 \"strongly disagree\" to 7 \"strongly agree\".The exercise was conducted over a period of three weeks, five-days-a-week between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m., and continued from 8.00 to 10.00 p.m. The time was designed to suit the time the clinics open and close to customers. A total of 1,200 questionnaires were distributed and 583 (49 per cent) were returned. However, 20 were voided because of incomplete data, resulting in 563 usable responses.Factor analysis was performed on all questionnaire items to establish their suitability for performing the subsequent multivariate analysis. The results presented are based on parsimonious sets of variables, guided by conceptual and practical considerations with loadings of 0.50 and above (Hair et al., 1998), and cross-loadings below 0.20. The varimax factor rotation was employed for the analysis. High communality values were recorded for all the variables, indicating that the total amount of variance an original variable shares with all other variables included in the analysis is high. Overall, the results show that the construct measures are valid. The summarised results of factor analysis are shown in Table II.\nResults: The summary of the demographic compositions of the respondents is as shown in Table I. The participants in this study were predominantly females (57.5 per cent), majority (68.7 per cent) of the respondents were Malay. Ages of between 18 and 28 years old (49.9 per cent) were in majority. Most possessed a bachelor degree (37.5 per cent) and work in the private sector (30.4 per cent). Full details are shown in Table I.Factor and reliability analysis\nImplications and conclusions: It is true after all that as competition in service industries increases, reflecting a new age of service commoditization (Pine and Gilmore, 1998), managers are looking for new ways to differentiate their service products. Among such ways are perhaps respect and rapport building rapport with customers. The study proved that rapport and respect are indeed two examples of cost-effective relationship quality building strategies that can be used to enhance customer retention. The idea is that a personal relationship whether in the form of friendship or simple camaraderie creates in service customers a perception of high overall relationship quality with service providers.From the results, it is clear that respect and rapport building explain a significant amount of variance in relationship quality in the Malaysian healthcare service sector. Therefore, respecting customers and build rapport do matter in the relationship between service provider and customers.The most influential dimension of respect is responsibility. The finding supports the notion by Gallagher (2007) which takes respect as a relationship between subject and object. Service providers need not only recognize but also should be responsive to the customers (Gallagher, 2007). Understanding is another important driver of respect in building quality relationship with customers. Evidence from the customer-service provider relationship (from dental clinics) in two different locations in Malaysia - cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur and traditional Islamic Terengganu supports the notion of respect as an important driver of relationship quality. This means that irrespective of the nature of service and the level of development of the society, respect serves as an important factor in improving perceived relationship quality.Comparing between the two dimensions, rapport shows a stronger impact on relationship quality. Thus, establishing rapport between dentists, nurses and customers is critical in creating quality relationship, which ultimately results to repeat patronage. The finding supports the similar notion by Yu (2009) who mentioned that establishing rapport is the very first step in the development of an effective nurse-patient relationship; it occurs at the first point of contact with patients (Yu, 2009).The results of the test for direct and moderation effect of context are interesting. First, the direct effect shows that perceived relationship quality is contextual. For traditional society like Terengganu, perceived relationship quality is higher than the cosmopolitan society in Kuala Lumpur. Therefore, Kuala Lumpur dental care service providers should work on improving the quality of their relationship with customers. Also practitioners in Terengganu should continue to maintain high level of relationship quality in order to continue to be relevant. The relationship between respect and relationship quality is not significantly moderated by context (location). However, the results for rapport show otherwise. The impact of rapport on relationship quality is significantly moderated by context. Specifically, the impact of rapport on relationship quality is greater in cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur than it is in traditional Terengganu. Thus, one unit improvement in rapport will have a greater impact on relationship quality perception in Kuala Lumpur than in Terengganu. This is understandable given that life in Kuala Lumpur, just like many cosmopolitan cities, lacks and craves for strong relationship between business associates as compared to small traditional collectivistic societies which are often characterised by strong social and business ties. This is also a reason why (in line with the law of diminishing marginal utility) a unit increase in rapport would create a lesser effect on relationship quality perception in traditional Terengganu society, where rapport building is more common.It is germane at this point to mention some of the future research directions that would add value to existing knowledge in the area. Some are based on some of the limitations of the current study which should be overcome in future studies. This research is limited to the dental customers in Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Perhaps, in the future similar studies should compare several service businesses and adopt a multiple country perspective in order to enhance the generalizability of the findings. Future research may also consider a longitudinal study instead of the cross-sectional research adopted in this work, to see how relationship quality perceptions may change over time as respect and rapport change.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Consequent upon the intense competitive nature of today's business environment, service businesses are seeking for the most creative but effective means of attracting and retaining customers. One of the ways is to build quality relationship via interpersonal relationship with customers. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate two ways of building interpersonal relationship with customers - respect and rapport, and their impact on overall customer perceived relationship quality, as well as the role of context/environment.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This preliminary study reports on empirical results from a survey of customers of dental clinics in Malaysia. Data from a questionnaire survey of 563 respondents were analysed using factor analysis, Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The authors estimated the direct effect of respect and rapport on relationship quality as well as the moderating effect of context (cosmopolitan vs traditional milieu).\nFindings: - The results show that both rapport and respect are important in building quality relationship with customers. Environment/context has a direct effect on relationship quality. Context moderates the relationship between rapport and relationship quality but does not moderate the relationship between respect and relationship quality.\nPractical implications: - This research is of practical use to service companies (especially healthcare service providers) interested in developing effective strategies for building quality relationship with customers. Building good rapport and respecting customers are useful relational strategies to pursue.\nOriginality/value: - The effect of rapport and respect on relationship quality in the Asian context has not been studied before. The paper sheds light on the overlooked dimensions of respect and service sector (small healthcare businesses) and also highlights the contextual implications of the findings.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
How does business-IT strategic alignment dimension impact on organizational performance measures: Conjecture and empirical analysis
|
[
"Organizational performance",
"Strategic alignment",
"Dimensions"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: In today's hypercompetitive business environment, aligning IT strategy with business strategy has become a crucial problem and remains a top concern for business and IT executives (Luftman et al., 2015; Wu et al., 2015; Yayla and Hu, 2012). Though alignment has been studied broadly, scholars have used multiple conceptualizations and definitions for alignment (Gerow et al., 2016). However, no agreed-on definition or model has emerged (Preston and Karahanna, 2009, p. 161). For example, some indicate \"alignment\" as the link between IT and business strategies (Chen, 2010; Sabherwal and Chan, 2001), whereas others define it as the extent to which IS planning supports with business planning (Ezingeard et al., 2007; Johnson and Lederer, 2010). The extant research conveniently limits alignment into a single strategy or single segment (Sabherwal and Chan, 2001; Tallon, 2011). However, researchers point out that alignment is a multidimensional construct and firms have traditionally experienced complexity in achieving it (Johnson and Lederer, 2010; Tallon, 2011). Furthermore, there is a foremost importance of business-IT alignment on different dimensions or clustering into dimensions such as alignment of strategy (Chan et al., 1997; Henderson and Venkatraman, 1993; Sabherwal and Chan, 2001; Tallon et al., 2000). Prior studies suggest that if the dimensional view of alignment is taken, a better understanding of the alignment might be achieved with other construct, e.g. agility (Liang et al., 2017).\n2. Theoretical background and hypothesis development: 2.1 Strategic alignment dimensions\n3. Research methodology and data analysis: 3.1 Construct development\n4. Results and findings: 4.1 Measurement model validation\n5. Discussion and implications: The main objective of this study is to examine how the various strategic alignment dimensions influence on organizational performance measures. The impact of IT-business alignment has been widely discussed in the literature, but almost always in the dimension of Henderson and Venkatraman (1993) and Reich and Benbasat (1996). This study focused on categorizing the alignment of business strategy and IT strategy into three alignment dimensions and then investigated its relation to firm performance measures. This study is one of the few to provide evidence that dissimilar alignment dimensions could be important in understanding the varying effect of each dimension on firm performance measures. Furthermore, this study provides evidence that some set of business and IT strategies (e.g. dimensions) are more essential than others.\n6. Contributions: 6.1 Theoretical contribution\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Despite the conceptual, empirical and theoretical advances in alignment-performance relationship, there is a limited research on the alignment dimensions and organizational performance measures. Though strategic alignment is believed to improve organizational performance, the purpose of this paper is to develop conjectures for understanding how different alignment dimensions influence organizational performance measures.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The data were acquired from 161 senior IT and business managers paired responses in China and were analyzed by using a structural equation modeling technique.\nFindings: The hypothesized relationships are largely supported. Thus, quality-oriented strategic alignment dimension has a significant relationship with all performance measures. Contrary to expectations, both product and marketing-oriented strategic alignment dimensions do not show a significant impact on financial return. The marketing-oriented strategic alignment dimension also has an insignificant relationship with operational excellence.\nPractical implications: This study suggests that the business-IT alignment can be dimensioned to better combine business strategy and IT strategy. Hence, managers can focus specific alignment dimension instead of entire strategies of a firm for a better decision making.\nOriginality/value: Findings suggest guidance for formulating combined business and IT strategic alignment into dimensions and proposing insightful and practical implications.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The main topics of research on disclosures of intangible assets: a critical review
|
[
"Intangible assets",
"Voluntary disclosures",
"State of the art",
"Intellectual capital",
"Disclosure decision"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The barrier of tangible investments has long been penetrated, and it is now necessary to look for new intangible assets that differentiate companies. For some time, researchers have argued over the contribution of intangible assets to the creation of sustainable competitive advantages (Itami, 1987; Teece, 2000; Augier and Teece, 2005; Cohen, 2005; Li et al., 2010; Lin and Huang, 2011; Roulstone, 2011). These studies suggest that intangible assets are vital for any organization. Intangibles include all resources that, although lacking physical substance, contribute future benefits to the organization to which they belong. These include know-how, quality management, innovation, consumer trust, and reputation, among other assets. This definition is congruent with those of Lev (2003) and Li et al. (2010).\n2. Research on the disclosure of intangibles: The volume of literature analyzing the voluntary disclosure of intangibles has grown exponentially in the past few years, and this has permitted us to distinguish the following categories. First, there are studies focussing on the explanatory factors behind the disclosure of intangibles, which analyze the predisposition to disclose information from a theoretical standpoint, considering a number of variables and objectives. Second, there are studies of the implementation of decisions to disclose, in the sense of how such decisions have been managed by companies. We therefore take an explanatory approach to address a comprehensive collection of studies on the disclosure of intangibles, organized according to the reasons, and motivation for such disclosure.\n3. Principal advances: Following the above review of the state of research on the disclosure of intangibles, we consider it opportune to describe the principal advances. The aim is to give the reader a clear understanding of what is disclosed, and why, when, and where the disclosures are published. All these questions are summarized in Figure 2.\n4. Gaps and future lines of research: Given that the principal limitations in the field of the disclosure of intangibles have now been discussed, we conclude by indicating the principal directions for future research.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: We must acknowledge the importance of intangibles in today's economies and the controversy over the accounting and reporting of these assets. For this reason, the purpose of this paper is to synthesize the lessons learned from research to date and identify gaps in that research that would be useful to academics and practitioners.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The literature review was conducted after an analysis of the most important academic databases in the period of 1990-2013: ABI Inform Complete, CSIS, EconLit, ISOC, Journal Citation Reports, Scopus, Emerald, Springer, and Google Scholar.\nFindings: The authors offer a summary of the main gaps in the literature on intellectual capital disclosures, among which the authors perceive a need for increased qualitative or explanatory research, which would allow further analysis of such decisions.\nResearch limitations/implications: Specifically, the main problem encountered in the research on voluntary disclosure of intangibles appears to relate to the type of methodology used, which is usually quantitative or descriptive.\nPractical implications: Given that the principal limitations in the field of the disclosure of intangibles have been discussed, the authors conclude by indicating the principal directions for future research.\nSocial implications: Qualitative analysis is absent in the literature the authors reviewed, and considered it fundamental to understanding this type of disclosure. In fact, the development of future lines of research could provide better-quality intangible asset reporting.\nOriginality/value: Although there are previous studies on this topic, the authors believe that the main contribution of this study is to offer an integrated framework of existing findings concerning decisions by companies to disclose information on intangibles, a topic on which previous literature is sparse.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
State dependence of labour force participation of married Australian women: Is there heterogeneity?
|
[
"Data analysis",
"Labour",
"Women workers",
"Modelling"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: This study examines labour force participation of married Australian women with a focus on how past labour force participation affects future participation. Labour force participation of women is an important policy issue in Australia because, like many other developed countries, Australia is facing an aging population and needs to develop policy to boost labour force participation of the groups who are underrepresented in the labour market. Women, along with people on welfare and the mature aged, are identified by the Council of Australian Governments (2006) to have the greatest potential to achieve higher participation. The Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD, 2010) also notes that the labour force participation rate of Australian women lags behind the OECD best performers such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden.\n2. Literature review: Despite that there is a large literature on women's labour supply, only a few studies have examined inter-temporal labour force participation behaviour of women; and this remains a less understood area of labour supply research (Hyslop, 1999)[1].\n3. Econometric model and estimation strategy: 3.1 The model\n4. Data source, model specification and descriptive statistics: 4.1 The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey\n5. Model estimation results: The Probit model is formulated based on latent labour supply. For interpreting estimation results, it is often more intuitive to look at the impact of an explanatory variable on the probability of labour force participation than the impact on the latent dependent variable. Therefore, the paper reports both the coefficient estimates and the estimates of marginal effects on the probability of labour force participation. Instead of calculating the marginal effects at the mean of the observed variables, we calculate the marginal effects for each observation in the sample and then take the mean over the sample. The resulting marginal effects are often called mean marginal effects (MME)[8]. Table III presents the estimation results.\n6. Conclusion: Using the first 13 waves of the HILDA Survey, this study examined labour force participation of married Australian women, with a focus on whether and to what extent state dependence of labour force participation presents.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to enhance the understanding of labour force participation behaviour of married Australian women, with a focus on identifying the sources of observed inter-temporal labour force participation persistence.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A dynamic Probit model is applied to the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, a national representative panel survey of Australian households. The model used accounts for observed and unobserved individual heterogeneity and serially correlated transitory shocks to labour supply.\nFindings: The results show that both observed and unobserved individual heterogeneity contributes to observed inter-temporal persistence of labour force participation of married Australian women, but the persistence remains even after controlling for these factors. It is also found that failing to control for serially correlated unobserved transitory shocks would lead to underestimation of genuine state dependence of labour force participation; and that state dependence of labour force participation varies with age, education, health, immigration status and the number of children under the school age.\nOriginality/value: This study adds to the international literature on labour force dynamics of women by providing Australian empirical evidence and through a flexible modelling framework. The result that there exists genuine positive state dependence in married Australian women's labour force participation suggests that policy intervention that increases married women's labour supply would have a long-lasting effect.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
UK leisure centres under best value: a strategic analysis
|
[
"Strategic choices",
"Leisure facilities",
"Local authorities",
"United Kingdom"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Ron turned to Harry with a doom-laden expression. \"Have you ever heard of a plan where so many things could go wrong?\" (Rowling, 1999).\nIntroduction: There are a large numbers of studies on the social benefits of strong leisure provision and the role of the public sector in providing it (Ravenscroft, 1993; Carter et al., 1996; Torkildsen, 1999; Coakley, 2001; Ruskin and Lammer, 2001). The successes and failures of public regimes in providing leisure and meeting social policy objectives have been well explored in the literature (McIntosh and Charlton, 1985; Audit Commission, 1986, 1989, 2002; Henry, 1993; Henry and Bramham, 1993; Nichols, 1996; Ravenscroft, 1997; Robinson and Taylor, 2003; Taylor and Godfrey, 2003). These studies reach different conclusions concerning the state of leisure provision, but there is agreement that two factors undermine the development of services. First, leisure policy rarely has any major political priority in its own right as it is not likely to be influential in determining the outcome of elections and is rarely championed by powerful pressure and interest groups. Thus leisure policy is frequently derived from higher profile issues, such as health, crime and housing. Second, legislative changes have led to the local authorities withdrawing from direct management of leisure centres and facilities, in favour of Trusts that operate as quasi-private sector firms. The leisure industry has thus fragmented into those controlled directly by Local Government - hereafter called local authority operators (LAOs) - Trusts and private businesses. These frequently offer similar services (Joldersma and Winter, 2002) but only LAOs are directed and constrained by public management initiatives. Although these political and organisational issues have been well studied, the implications of policy and politics for the management of service providers at the micro level have not been as well developed (Beaman, 2001).Studies of leisure management at this micro level have frequently focused on the general application of singular management techniques and philosophies to the sector and its customers. The importance of marketing is seen as axiomatic either in its private sector form, or appropriately modified (Doherty et al., 1993, 1998; Guest and Taylor, 1999; Torkildsen, 1999; Novatorov and Crompton, 2001), while the benefits of quality awards and Investors in People remain problematic.These studies have not connected with the range of strategic choices open to mangers of an individual leisure centre, nor have the focused on the financial and environmental constraints that they may face. Consequently, it is neither possible to model the effects of public sector policy on leisure centres, nor can researchers and administrators gauge the capability of leisure centres to implement the requisite changes even if the policy is embraced willingly at that level.This study contributes to the literature by introducing strategic choice issues to the management of public sector leisure provision in several ways. First, the paper adapts a respected strategic management technique to audit the diversity of public and quasi public sector leisure providers in terms of their ability to make strategic choices. Second, the audit is used to identify environmental and managerial factors that seem to discriminate between stronger and weaker service providers. Third, the results of this audit are used to make predictions about the effect that policy - in this case best value - will have across the range of local authority service providers (Chisholm, 2000; Beaman, 2001).The paper begins by outlining the origins of the strategic position action evaluation (SPACE) framework that will be used for the analysis, and showing how it was adapted for the present study before presenting the results that will be drawn on later in the discussion.Strategic review and SPACE analysis\nMethodology: The original SPACE framework includes a large number of elements and a means of weighting the importance of each. Incorporating all these elements and weights would have made the questionnaire long and complex, reducing the likelihood of a leisure centre manager completing and returning it. Rather, an extensive consultation exercise with leisure centre managers and professional bodies was undertaken to identify the key factors that influence thinking and management decision making at this level, thereby focusing the research onto the most salient issues as described below.Service strengths\nData collection: These questions were produced as a questionnaire, and distributed to professionals in the UK leisure industry through two mailings to the non-student mailing list of the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management (ISRM). Contemporary articles in their professional journal, Recreation explained the background to the study. ISRM's mailing list of 3,500 includes very many whom are not managers of leisure centres, and many managers who work at the same leisure centre, making it impossible to calculate response rates meaningfully. There were 61 usable replies, mostly from the LAOs. To build a greater number of Trusts in the sample, the questionnaire was sent directly to Trust managers through Sports and Recreational Trusts Association (SPORTA) resulting in 26 further responses. A few private companies also returned the questionnaire, and their results are recorded here for completeness although they are not germane to the present discussion. The constitution of the sample is shown in Table II. The responses were used to calculate SPACE co-ordinates for each leisure centre, as shown in the following diagrams.\nLeisure centres and SPACE postures: There are clearly major differences between the distribution of local authority and Trust providers between postures. A total of 74 per cent of LAOs, but less than 1 per cent of Trusts, are classified as dual constrained or financially constrained. A total of 21 per cent of LAOs are unconstrained, compared to 57 per cent of Trusts. The inference is that a Trust in our sample is most likely to be unconstrained, or constrained by weak services, but less likely to be constrained by finance alone. A LAO from the sample is likely to have financial constraints, or financial and service constraints, but unlikely to be constrained by poor services alone.The aggregation of leisure centres shown in Table III gives a broad outline of the distinctions between each posture. For example, row two shows that dual constrained postures suffer poor positioning not only because of competitive weakness (ranked third of the four postures, scoring weaker than the mean score) but also because of unattractive local environment (ranked fourth). Similarly their weak responsiveness is caused both by weak finances (ranked fourth) and high local instability (ranked most unstable) On the other hand, the most favourable posture, unconstrained in row five, have the most favourable environments (ranked first in stability and attractiveness), but do not have the greatest service strengths (ranked second to financially constrained leisure centres) or the strongest finances (ranked second to service constrained firms). That is to say, that both unconstrained and dual constrained postures are determined, in large part, by their local environment. This point is pursued further in later sections. Here we examine commonalities within each posture in greater detail (see Figures 2-4).Dual constrained postures\nIdentifying critical factors: SPACE analysis has been used to identify the strategic postures of individual leisure centres. By examining the pattern of the leisure centres on the plot, we can discern some of the more general problems facing the service.The Y-axis of the SPACE plot measures responsiveness through financial and environmental stability factors. Leisure centres with an overall positive score (above the X-axis) are deemed to have sufficient financial strengths to respond to the environmental instability that is faced. By treating leisure centres above the X-axis as a different sample to those below, it is possible to make comparisons between those who have sufficient financial strengths and those that do not.The comparison is made by taking the mean of scores for each variable taken from the questionnaire results. For example, the leisure centres above the X-axis have a mean of 4.3 for the variable \"Ease of obtaining finance\", while those below score 1.8, creating a mean difference of 2.5. The mean differences for all variables contributing to financial strengths and environmental stability are shown in Table IV.A similar procedure is followed for positioning through analysis of the service constraints and environmental attractiveness variables, which determine the position of a leisure centre on the X-axis. The groups of leisure centres plotted to the left of the origin, the Y-axis, are contrasted with those to the left, generating the differences shown in Table V. In both cases, leisure centres located within 0.5 of the relevant axis were discarded.Both axes are made up from nine items. If all were equally important in creating mean differences, they would all show a percentage difference of 11.1 per cent in column 4. In Table IV, the first three items score above this threshold, and are deemed of great importance in determining posture, and collectively account for some 47 per cent of the mean differences. The first three items in Table V score above the 11 per cent threshold, and collectively account for some 50 per cent of the difference.Thus the key drivers of the SPACE position can be identified, as shown in Figure 5. Naturally, each leisure centre faces a singular range of constraints with a distinctive array of resources and skills, but sector or service level considerations must take account of these industry wide drivers. In terms of positioning, we see the importance of environmental factors, particularly the competitive forces, in shaping favorable positioning. That is to say, that a benign environment may be a greater influence on the performance of a leisure centre than management performance. It is interesting to note that inability to respond to opportunities (a responsiveness factor) is also seen as a debilitating factor here. Responsiveness is dominated by restrictions on raising and using funds; clearly a Trust has an advantage over a LAO here.The ordering of the variables in Table IV is such that reduced financial constraints are seen to exert more upward pressure than the stability variables. Using a t test, this difference between the two types of variables is significant at the 5 per cent level. No such significance was detected on the X- axis positioning variables in Table V. It is discouraging to see that so many of these variables are beyond the direct influence of managers at leisure centre level. This conclusion is of prime importance when considering the scope for improving leisure centres and achieving best value in the sections below.\nBest value and SPACE postures: In 1997 the newly elected Labour government set out to reform the previous Conservative governments policies of compulsory competitive tendering (CCT) and replaced it with a new process - best value (BV). BV was the key theme in Labour's agenda for \"modernising\" local government. In June 1997 the initial details 12 Principles of Best Value was published this was followed by green and white papers in 1998 (DETR, 1998a, b, c, d, 1999).The term \"best value\" refers to the duty to secure continuous improvement in the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the local authorities exercise their function (DETR, 1998c). This is further clarified by the Audit Commission who state:... to emphasise that the ultimate responsibility of local authorities is to the local people who pay for and use the services and facilities that they provide (Audit Commission, 2001, p. 5).In order to achieve BV each local authority will need to examine its performance for sport and leisure provision in terms of the \"four Cs\" - challenge, compare, consult, and compete:1. challenge why and how a service is being provided;2. compare performance with the achievements of other organisations, across a range of relevant indicators;3. consult with local taxpayers, service users, partners and the wider business community in the setting of new performance indicators;4. use fair competition as a means of enhancing performance, by securing efficient and effective services.Although this formulation of best value has been described as novel (Audit Commission, 2001), many writers have observed close similarities between it and older, private sector fads and fashions (Martin, 1999, 2002; Keenan, 2000; Boyne et al., 2002).In this section we examine the relationship between the four Cs of best value and the four postures identified in a SPACE analysis.Dual constrained posture\nConcluding thoughts: In this closing section we review our work and make some judgements concerning strategic choices, ownership and efficiency of leisure centres under best value.The evidence presented here suggests that the targets of BV do not directly address the strategic choice issues actually faced by leisure centre level managers. Strategic choice is most curtailed by financial constraints, which reduce responsiveness, but best value mechanisms operate through positioning factors; customers, markets and operations. Similar, the evidence relating to critical factors in Figure 5 shows that environmental factors, such as local aggression and substitutes, play a great role in determining positioning and responsiveness. Again, BV does not accommodate such local variation - undermining the value of what might be learned from benchmarking.Ownership is of great significance. The LAOs in our sample are more likely to be financially constrained than Trusts. This is due, in part, to the variety of sources open to Trusts, such as private investment, that LAOs are prevented from accessing. Trust status may appear unrealistically attractive for this very reason, since ability to raise finance is not itself directly related to the attractiveness of the opportunities available in the local environment. Trusts may make strategic choices that create pressure to achieve substantial surpluses to cover debt repayment as gearing, currently very low, inevitably rises. Local authorities will have great difficult in showing best value is achieved by the Trust route if these businesses fail, or if financial survival requires development of prosperous market segments rather than objectives required for alleviating social exclusion.BV contains an imperative efficiency requirement in the compare and challenge elements (Boyne et al., 2001) and an explicit requirement to reduce costs by some two per cent each year. If this efficiency target is met, the benefit is passed to the local authority rather than the individual leisure centre, or leisure service generally. It is unpleasant to speculate that these funds could legitimately be used to subsidise an impecunious Trust rather than improving the responsiveness and positioning of the LAOs that generated them.LAOs have to carry the dual handicap of financial constraints imposed by the local authorities, and the costly implementation of the BV programme (Stewart, 2002). However worthy best value's objectives, they will reposition LAOs on our SPACE map downwards and to the left as the leisure centres find their strategic choices constrained by poorer responsiveness and positioning. We would conclude that it many cases it is these constraints, rather than any supposed inadequacy of managerial acumen and gusto that an effective leisure management policy should be aiming to improve\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - To understand the effects of the best value regime on the public provision of recreation at the level of the leisure centre.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A strategic auditing device is applied to 87 leisure centres to investigate the strategic variables of environmental stability and attractiveness, service strengths and financial resources. The analysis produces a typology of leisure centres, and evaluates the prospects of each type under best value.\nFindings: - The findings suggest that a large number of leisure centres managed by local authorities will make limited headway in implementing best value. What is more, many face problems that will be exacerbated, rather than eased, by current policy. Leisure centres managed by Trusts generally face more benign local environments, which appear to offer greater prospects, but it is clear that Trust status itself offers few advantages outside a greater range of financial sources.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The research focuses on strategic choices as they face leisure centre managers. It does not directly explore the strategic and policy decisions made at other levels.\nPractical implications: - The paper argues for subtler recreation policy (and by implication, the provision of public sector services generally) that pays due regard to the local conditions of service providers. Policy that focuses only on general prescription of managerial (and often rhetorical) practices will frequently lead strategies towards satisficing performance indicators that may be arbitrary, rather than focusing on problems and issues as they face professional leisure managers.\nOriginality/value: - The use of a formal strategy tool as the level of a service provider is novel, and augments work on hybrid firms facing strategic choices based not only on political factors but also private sector market-oriented competitors. Further, useful comparisons are made between leisure centres managed by Trusts and those still controlled by a Local Authority. The data provided will also help to inform practical and academic debates concerning the application of quality standards and management practices in the leisure sector.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The global economic system: asymmetries and inconsistencies
|
[
"International economics",
"International finance",
"International Monetary Fund",
"Countries"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: The prevailing international economic order, largely an ad-hoc arrangement, is a system of facts, rules and modalities created one at a time rather than as a result of a cohesive and holistic design. Its monetary part is a transformation of the old Bretton Woods system, which came into limbo in July 1971, but was rescued by successive fixes from 1972 onwards. It remains based on the US dollar, and centered around the IMF whose mission and philosophy have evolved at a politically controlled pace. The trade part, issued essentially from the GATT, was redesigned in its scope and its law, but not in its orientation and decision making. It remains essentially based on liberal trade access, on non-discrimination in treatment and on exchange of concessions among and between members through sovereign state action with equal treatment regardless of trading capacity. Obviously, members have different powers of retaliation and different worth of concessions. A cardinal change to the GATT system is the equal treatment of all members under the same rules irrespective of their degree of development once they join, allowance being made for various periods of transition. There is only little room in this system for considering the development of trading capacities, and none for considering the development process as a deliberate goal of the international trading system. In this system, the technology part is essentially missing, and the environmental, health and labor standards are left to a case-by-case ad hoc treatment, with private participants out of the remit of the rules.\nPart I - the problematique of the globalization of the economic system: Globalization is manifest in four interrelated developments:1. the increase in the international exchange of goods, services, and despite all restrictions therein, the movement of human resources;2. the internationalization of production and real investment;3. the relatively high degree of policy convergence among countries; and4. the high, even though imperfect, integration of the financial markets and, to a lesser degree, other markets.The statistical indicators of these manifestations are revealed in more than doubling the ratio of international trade to the GDP of practically all countries over the last two decades, the more or less sustained growth of international trade above that of the GDP's by more than two percentage points on the average (IMF, 2003) and the increased trade in services as well as the galloping pace of financial services. For example, the USA, a large and relatively closed economy, has seen its trade go from a mere 9 percent of its GDP in 1970 to more than 23 percent in 2003. In the small European countries and most of the small developing countries, trade has gone up from levels in the range of 50 to 60 percent of GDP in 1970 to levels in the range of 80 to 90 percent of GDP in 2003. The increased importance of trade in GDP is particularly striking in developing countries. The 20 countries classified as the most dynamic among them have seen their share in total world exports increase from 9.5 percent in 1980 to 24.3 percent in 1998 (Akyuz, 2003). In the exchange of human resources, the movement of labor across international borders, legally or illegally, together with the growth of immigration from poor to rich countries have assumed a political moment in all the European countries. Even in the USA, a traditional country of immigration, the volume of economic immigration is beginning to raise numerous debates and is exploited by politicians in quest of electoral gains.In investments and production, the internationalization of production is now manifest in the phenomenal increase of foreign direct investment into the USA, Europe, and some 20 or so developing countries, led by China. For example, China, whose GDP has been growing at an average of 8 to 9 percent over the past 20 years, has experienced investment inflows reaching 7.9 percent of its GDP in 1993 and 8.1 in 2003. In some smaller economies, like Malaysia, these inflows have reached 14.6 percent of GDP in 1993 (Woodward, 1996, table 3.1). After dipping in 1997 and 1998, net inflows resumed their pace of growth in 2002. The aggregate net flows have increased from less than $10 billion in 1970 to $243.1 billion in 1996 and an estimated $147.5 billion in 2003 (IMF, 2003). There is also a growing subcontracting of production and a spreading of production facilities by transnational firms. In the finance arena, businesses have increased their recourse to international sources as testified by the increased volume of foreign bond floatations, the increased issuance of international bonds in the Euro markets, the increased international lending, direct and indirect, and the more and more frequent international listing of transnational companies' stocks on the various public exchanges[1]. The financial institutions, led by banks, have become truly international not only in doing international financing like their predecessors in the nineteenth century, but also by locating in various countries through outright establishment or acquisition of local banks. On both the assets and liabilities sides, banking is now international, its loans and borrowings denominated in various currencies, its scope and reach covering the whole globe.Perhaps just as telling, but more atypical, is the increased convergence of economic policies of governments. This is the combined result of the narrowing scope of national control over economic agents; that is, the diminished sphere of exclusive national control, the triumph of the liberal order in policy making and the increased strictures of liberal openness on official entities. The poor results of the interventionist model, already clear in the 1980s, and the collapse of the socialist economies in 1989 have brought about almost a universal acceptance of liberal and open market organization and a semi-consensus on economic policies. Notwithstanding the recent challenge to this consensus, there is a wide convergence of views today on what are bad policies and a spectrum of accord on what are good ones.The challenges and problems of globalization\nPart II - the international monetary and financial systems: The international monetary and financial systems are perhaps the most important driving force for globalization. That is not merely in terms of manifestation, but in the extent to which the global economy affects different countries unevenly and distributes the burden of adjustment unequally. It is evident that the free movement of financial flows, in and out, unsettles the exchange rates especially in the smaller economies and that the variation of macroeconomic policies in the major economies affect strongly the economic conditions in the small ones in the new global setting.The current international monetary and financial arrangements are pragmatic evolutions of the old Bretton Woods system. The New Hampshire meeting, via its three committees, sought to establish three bodies, respectively responsible for the international monetary issues, the financial issues and the trade issues. In the event, the reports of only the first and second committees were approved, and the result was to establish only the IMF and the IBRD. The complexity of the topics thrashed out in the third committee made it advisable to refer the trade matters to a subsequent conference to be held in a year's time in Havana, Cuba. The Havana meeting did indeed take place in 1947, but the US Congress objected to the provisions of its proposed agreement, and consequently, the proposed International Trade Organization did not come into being. In its place, a provisional trade organization, called the GATT, was established in 1949 on the basis of chapter four of the Conference report. The GATT was meant to be temporary until an agreement was reached on the prospective ITO. However, it proved difficult to reach an accord during more than 15 years of intermittent discussions, and thus, developing countries pushed in 1964 for the creation of a development-trade organization to complement the GATT, as a conference of the UN General Assembly, which came to be known as UNCTAD. This two-legged trade arrangement lasted until the coming into effect of the WTO.The outstanding features of the two related organizations of Bretton Woods, the IMF and the IBRD, and their underlying systems can be succinctly described. The International Monetary System (IMS) was to have no resources of its own, as Keynes had proposed. It was to be based on quotas which constituted the key to its resources, its decision making and access to its financial facilities. The IMF was to be concerned with the area of current account adjustment and current account flows, though article IV of the Articles of Agreement provided that one of its main purposes was to establish a framework for capital exchange among members. The exchange rate system was to be primarily fixed, but eventually adjustable. The US dollar was at the center of the international reserve system, to be later on assisted by other key currencies.The IBRD evolved from a post-war reconstruction agency for Europe to a development funding institution concerned with developing countries without much authority in the governance of the financial system. Once again, the quota system was enshrined at the center of its operations and governance.This patched-up system has survived to the present day with pragmatic touches here and there but without a fundamental change in its character. There has been many facilities added and subtracted, the resource pool has increased 12-fold, membership almost tripled, conditionality evolved, but no radical change was effected. In 1972-1974, a window of opportunity opened to revamp the system in order to bring it up-to-date with the evolution of capital markets, the exchange rate experience, the development issues and the evolution of international trade. This failed again to secure common agreement. The reform issue was subsequently put on the back burner to flutter about now and then, but without being systematically taken up again. The system has had two amendments to the Articles of Agreement:1. to create the Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) as the system currency and unit of account; and2. to legalize ex post facto floating.In the wake of the Latin American crisis and the Asian crisis of 1997, many authorities, and even some states, called for the reform of the system. Many worthwhile ideas have been put forward since 1972, and particularly after 1997. Much has been said about the inadequacy of the old system under the new global conditions. However, there has been no official agreement on substantial reforms.The outstanding issues in this area can be listed under the following headings:* The governance and regulation of capital and monetary flows.* The management of financial crises and the function of the bank of last resort.* The foreign exchange system.* The reform of the IMF.It would be quite impossible to cover in depth all these issues in the limited space of this paper. Nevertheless, an attempt will be made to highlight the important aspects of each of them.The governance and regulation of financial flows\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - To provide a systematic analysis of the contrasts, imbalances and suggestions for corrective action in the present globalized economic system and monetary and financial order in the framework of a conference organized by Webster University, Geneva (Switzerland) dealing with the outlook for international order.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper is divided into two parts. The first provides an overview of the general characteristics of the globalized economy, of the interdependence of national and international orders and policy making and the issue of investments, technology transfer and global business. The second part contains a more detailed analysis of the international monetary and financial order, including the evolving role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). While the paper provides a rigorous analysis of the institutional and policy issues, the analysis and the conclusions are accessible also to the non-specialized reader.\nFindings: - The paper focuses on the inconsistencies and asymmetries in the working of the international economic and monetary order and of the policies of the principal international organizations with respect to different groups of countries, and in particular the advanced, developed countries, on the one hand, and the developing countries, on the other hand. The corrective measures suggested by the author are in the interests of both groups of countries and thus of the system as a whole.\nOriginality/value: - The paper provides suggestions for improvements in the economic and monetary order of a globalised world on the basis of systematic policy analysis, anchored in economic theory, rather than political rhetoric.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Measuring reference price perceptions for new product categories: which measure is best?
|
[
"Prices",
"Perception",
"New products"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Behavioral pricing has attracted increased attention in the marketing literature recently (e.g., Estelami and Maxwell, 2003). One aspect of behavioral pricing with a long tradition in marketing is the study of reference price perceptions (Monroe, 1973; Winer, 1986), which has made important contributions to our understanding of consumer behavior (Biswas et al., 1993; Kalyanaram and Winer, 1995; Mazumdar et al., 2005).However, a number of methodological challenges remain. For example, as the research stream reaches maturity, a plethora of studies have examined and called for greater integration of different measures of reference price, noting that the research area is highly context specific (Bearden et al., 1992; Briesch et al., 1997; Chandrashekaran and Jagpal, 1995; Lowengart, 2002; Rajendran and Tellis, 1994) and that several operationalizations of the concept exist (Lowe and Alpert, 2002; Lowengart, 2002). Thus, there is a need for consensus and theory about which reference price measures to use under different circumstances. Yet, still this important measurement issue remains unresolved. For instance, in a recent review, Mazumdar et al. (2005 p. 99) state:The existence of multiple conceptualizations of reference price raises the question whether there are certain conditions under which one type of reference price is more likely to be evoked than others.In particular, no research has examined reference price research in new product categories, despite obvious differences between new product and existing product contexts, and despite calls in the literature to do so (for instance, see Biswas and Sherrell, 1993 p. 44). This study makes a contribution to the literature by testing different operationalizations of reference price, and other constructs, including reference price confidence, in new and existing product categories. In particular, this research reports on two measurement issues associated with reference prices and new product categories:1. Which measures of reference price are evoked for innovative new product categories as opposed to existing product categories?2. Are there other constructs such as reference price confidence that moderate reference price effects in new product categories?Research in pricing has illustrated the value of understanding price setting processes for new products (Bergstein and Estelami, 2002), but has yet to examine closely and empirically the micro issues of pricing relating to these research questions.\nReference price research for new products: Reference prices for new products\nMethod and instrument development: The experimental method in reference price research\nAnalysis: Reliability and validity\nDiscussion and implications: Measures of reference price for new product categories\nLimitations and future research: The experimental method offers a number of advantages over research methods used in prior research, particularly in the new product context. However, due to the experimental nature of this study, it is limited by external generalizability from artificial simulation of an emerging market. Likewise, the student sample used, whilst likely to be homogenous, is not necessarily generalizable beyond this sample. As with other studies of this type these limitations mean a trade off between internal and external validity. Nonetheless, this artificial environment is useful for eliminating confounds during initial studies.Future research could start by examining these effects in different contexts and with different samples. For instance, testing the effect of confidence on a broader sample and a broader range of products could be fruitful. Furthermore, a key element of this research establishes that the fairness construct is crucial in the underlying decision making process for new products. Recent research in marketing has begun to examine this construct in more depth (Bolton et al., 2003, Campbell, 1999a, b; Xia et al., 2004). However, still little is understood about the underlying elements of fairness. Future research might examine ways in which marketers can communicate fairness to consumers.\nConclusion: In conclusion, this study provided the first empirical test of different reference price measures for different contexts. The study found that fair price, as opposed to expected price was most likely to be evoked for new product categories and expected price, as opposed to fair price was most likely to be evoked for existing product categories. Clearly, choosing the incorrect measure of reference price obscures or weakens the reference price effect, thus studies in particular contexts should begin by first testing competing measures. This study also provides further evidence on the phenomenon of overconfidence in the consumer behavior literature.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance within the reference price literature by investigating which is the best measure of reference price for the, as yet, unstudied context of new product categories. The paper also intends to examine another reference price issue for the new product category context: whether greater price uncertainty in this context makes it worthwhile to measure consumer confidence in reference price perceptions.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This research uses the experimental method to determine which measures of reference price are best suited to the new product context, by removing all other confounding influences.\nFindings: - The findings confirm that consumers tend to evoke the fair price concept for new product categories and the expected price concept for existing categories. The paper also finds that confidence in reference price measures, while theoretically useful, does not add to the understanding of reference price effects in new product categories, probably because respondents tended to be overly confident in their perceptions, despite lacking in more objective measures of product category knowledge.\nOriginality/value: - Several studies in the literature have commented on the issue of fragmented measurement in the reference price domain. Some studies have offered theoretical guidance on measures to use. This is the first study to provide empirically tested theory on which measures to use and is the first study to examine reference price effects in new product categories including testing the usefulness of the confidence measure.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Optimization algorithms for construction site layout planning: a systematic literature review
|
[
"Construction site layout planning",
"Optimization algorithms",
"Systematic literature review"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Traditional construction management involves the manual solution of various decision-making problems and necessitates a paradigm shift to a smart approach (Niu et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2020). Smart techniques can provide accurate and reliable information for making informed decisions in construction management, especially for on-site management (Kim et al., 2013; Rohani, 2018). Construction site layout planning (CSLP) is a vital decision-making process for on-site construction management because deficiencies in human decisions can result in cost overruns, safety problems and delays (Liao et al., 2011; Vilventhan, 2016).The CSLP is usually conducted as an optimization problem to determine the optimal layout of temporary facilities (e.g. residential areas, site offices, material storage and processing areas) (Easa and Hossain, 2008), appropriate space allocations for construction equipment (Hammad et al., 2014) and efficient plans for on-site paths (Sadeghpour and Andayesh, 2015), considering site constraints. The space for construction sites is increasingly restricted by rapid urbanization (Kumar and Cheng, 2015). Moreover, in large-scale projects, a well-planned site layout significantly impacts the construction productivity. On-site conflicts usually occur because of the increasing interaction complexity among different activities (Song et al., 2016). These constraints also magnify the complexity of the CSLP optimization (Cheng and Chang, 2019). Although site managers can make decisions on the CSLP according to their prior experience, the increase in layout facilities and the demanding construction environment will lead to inaccurate plans and, even, errors. Therefore, appropriate and efficient planning methods are necessary to solve these problems.The representation of practical CSLP problems as mathematical models can contribute to the achievement of reliable solutions. For example, if the CSLP problem is defined as a quadratic assignment problem, then it should be solved by allocating temporary facilities to fixed locations with a minimized transportation cost. With linear constraints, these problems can be formulated as distinct mathematical models, such as integer programming models, linear programming models and mixed-integer linear programming models (Al Hawarneh et al., 2019; Hammad et al., 2016b; Huang et al., 2011). The complexity of mathematical models increases when the optimization objectives and constraints are changed. To solve a multi-objective problem while minimizing on-site transportation costs and noise pollution, a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is utilized (Hammad et al., 2016a). Moreover, an approximate dynamic programming model is utilized considering site space reuse, facility relocation and project duration (El-Rayes and Said, 2009). To solve different mathematical models and find optimal solutions, various optimization algorithms are required.Optimization algorithms can be regarded as search techniques for finding optimal or satisfactory solutions to optimization problems with various constraints. Deterministic algorithms (such as branch-and-bound algorithm (BBA), simplex algorithm (SA1) and cutting plane algorithm (CPA1)) and stochastic algorithms (such as genetic algorithm (GA), ant colony optimization (ACO) and particle swarm optimization (PSO)) are exploited in existing studies (Liao et al., 2011; Briskorn and Dienstknecht, 2018). Owing to the rapid development of computer techniques, optimization algorithms are widely utilized in solving CSLP problems; some research reviews have also been conducted. With regard to a site layout with and without a predetermined location and floor layout planning, Liao et al. (2011) have reviewed the use of metaheuristic algorithms for project management with limitations and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of these algorithms. From an application-oriented perspective, Sadeghpour and Andayesh (2015) have classified the optimization approaches into construction, improvement and concurrent techniques. Only the optimization principles for these methods have been discussed, and the details of specific optimization algorithms have not been introduced. By contrast, Briskorn and Dienstknecht (2018) have reviewed various optimization algorithms classified according to the mathematical problems, such as static discrete problems, dynamic discrete problems and static continuous problems. The abovementioned optimization algorithms and their differences have not been categorized or presented. However, it is difficult and confusing to select the appropriate algorithms to solve CSLP problems because of their pros and cons and various solution requirements. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis and understanding of various optimization algorithms for the CLSP are important and necessary.The use of optimization algorithms facilitates the solution of CSLP problems and provides acceptable smart solutions. It is necessary to understand the status of optimization algorithms for the CLSP to answer the following questions.What is the overview of publications on the optimization algorithms for the CLSP?What are the common optimization algorithms for the CSLP, and how are they categorized?What are the pros and cons of these optimization algorithms, and how is the tradeoff between the global search capability and convergence speed satisfied to improve the quality of solutions?What are the research gaps and future directions regarding the use of optimization algorithms for the CSLP?This study answers the foregoing research questions through a systematic review of the optimization algorithms for the CSLP, including the analysis of the publishing framework, the consideration of pros and cons presented in existing papers and the proposals for future directions. Overall, 75 studies from 29 related journals published in English over the past decade were identified and reviewed. The remainder of this paper is organized as follows: Section 2 explains the research approach of the systematic review, Section 3 discusses the results, Section 4 presents the future research directions and Section 5 summarizes the conclusions.\n2. Research approach: To acquire up-to-date and high-quality articles related to the optimization algorithms for the CSLP, a systematic review was conducted. Systematic reviews are an appropriate methodological approach to explore existing studies, identify gaps in knowledge and recommend future research directions (Muller et al., 2019; Martinez-Aires et al., 2018). With a structured, transparent and reproducible protocol, a systematic review can organize, synthesize and evaluate existing studies to provide evidence for further research (Badi and Murtagh, 2019; Abid et al., 2018). Inspired by Booth et al. (2016), this study utilizes a framework of the systematic review protocol (Figure 1) consisting of identification, screening, eligibility and review to conduct a comprehensive review of the optimization algorithms for the CSLP.As shown in Figure 1, the records were identified from three databases: Web of Science (WOS), ScienceDirect and Scopus. These were published from January 2009 to June 2019, and the field \"Title, abstract, keywords\" in databases was used. A detailed search was conducted using the field \"Title, abstract, keywords - layout planning, algorithm, construction\". Consequently, 200 records were initially identified: 89 from WOS, 32 from ScienceDirect and 79 from Scopus. Furthermore, 42 additional records were identified under the search criteria \"Title, abstract, keywords-site layout, algorithm, construction\".After removing duplicates, the total number of records was reduced to 151, i.e. 30 conference papers and 121 journal articles; the conference papers were subsequently excluded because of their low quality. The full-text articles were assessed for eligibility; 40 were excluded because they were irrelevant and pertained to topics on the manufacturing sector (nine), scheduling (eight), modular manufacturing sector (four), on-site operations (four), cutting layouts of materials (two), urban layout (two), airport layout (two) and others (nine). In addition, three review articles with unavailable texts (two) and published in other languages (one) were also excluded because of the pre-defined research aim. Finally, 75 studies were selected for the detailed analysis, as shown in Figure 1.To achieve the research aim, a coding structure is employed. The themes of the selected studies are listed in Table 1. To clearly understand the publishing framework of selected papers on the optimization algorithms for the CSLP, the article title, publication year, journal and country and region are utilized. Furthermore, other themes referring to the major types and distinguishing features of optimization algorithms are employed for a comparative analysis of the review topic.\n3. Results and discussions: Based on the themes of the coding structure, the analysis results are divided into two groups. The results pertaining to the publishing framework of the selected studies in Themes (1)-(4) are presented in Section 3.1. In Section 3.2, the implementation of the comprehensive analysis of optimization algorithms for the CSLP using Themes (5)-(13) is discussed. The overview and related pros and cons of the optimization methods for solving the CSLP and other techniques for improving the quality of solutions are presented in this section. 3.1 Publishing framework analysis\n4. Future research directions: Based on the preceding analysis of selected articles, the following future research directions and potential improvements on optimization algorithms in the CSLP are proposed. 4.1 Enrichment of optimization objectives\n5. Conclusions: This study presents a systematic literature review to illustrate the status of research on the use of optimization algorithms to solve CSLP problems. It is based on a database search for existing publications in English from January 2009 to June 2019 related to construction, layout planning, site layout and optimization algorithms. The search was limited to three major databases: WOS, ScienceDirect and Scopus. Overall, 75 articles were selected and analyzed following a systematic review protocol where the duplicates were removed, and the eligibility was assessed. The selected articles have been described according to their publishing framework (Section 3.1) and based on a comparative analysis (Section 3.2). This review has a significant value because it improves the selection and application of optimization algorithms for solving CSLP problems.In reviewing the publishing framework, it can be noted that the problem on the utilization of optimization algorithms in the CSLP has increased in the past decade. Moreover, in the past three years, the developing countries and regions have focused on the CSLP topic more than their developed counterparts. The journals with higher impact factors are more appreciated for publishing related research works. In the comparative analysis, six aspects of the analyzed results are presented: (1) metaheuristic algorithms, which account for 65.3% of the selected articles, are mostly utilized for the CSLP; (2) the search capability and optimality of optimization algorithms correspond to their search paths; (3) the complexity of optimization objectives and the representation of solutions have a major influence on the selection of optimization algorithms; (4) to improve the utilization of optimization algorithms, four other types of algorithms are utilized, including travel distance calculation, search capability improvement, on-site real-time data processing and layout conflict detection; (5) the developed applications mainly aim to provide input data for the optimization methods, implement the optimization methods and present computing outputs; and (6) eight types of commercial software with different optimization algorithms have been applied; among these, MATLAB is the most popular. This review also opens interesting opportunities for future research directions and potential improvements in the optimization algorithms for the CSLP. The former includes enriching the optimization objectives under more realistic conditions by incorporating the advantages of exact algorithms into hybrid algorithms and integrating emerging technologies, such as the BIM, CV and IoT, into optimization algorithms. Simply put, the shift to smart approaches has exhibited a significant trend in the construction industry.In this review, certain limitations are observed. First, the reports on the applications of commercial software for solving the CSLP are limited to research articles instead of presenting the industrial perspective; this is beyond the scope of this study. Second, the pros and cons on the use of optimization algorithms mainly focus on algorithm types (i.e. metaheuristic, heuristic and exact). Accordingly, the major algorithms (e.g. GA, BBA and ADPA) presented in this study require further comparative analyses.Construction sites have become increasingly complex and congested, and the demand for smart construction continues to increase; hence, the use of appropriate and efficient optimization algorithms for solving the CSLP may afford considerable advantages to construction management. It is anticipated that this review can provide useful insights to scholars and practitioners.\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to analyze and provide insight on the algorithms for the optimization of construction site layout planning (CSLP). It resolves problems, such as the selection of suitable algorithms, considering the optimality, optimization objectives and representation of layout solutions. The approaches for the better utilization of optimization algorithms are also presented.\nDesign/methodology/approach: To achieve the above, existing records (results = 200) were selected from three databases: Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Scopus. By implementing a systematic protocol, the articles related to the optimization algorithms for the CLSP (results = 75) were identified. Moreover, various related themes were collated and analyzed according to a coding structure.\nFindings: The results indicate the consistent and increasing interest on the optimization algorithms for the CLSP, revealing that the trend in shifting to smart approaches in the construction industry is significant. Moreover, the interest in metaheuristic algorithms is dominant because 65.3% of the selected articles focus on these algorithms. The optimality, optimization objectives and solution representations are also important in algorithm selection. With the employment of other algorithms, self-developed applications and commercial software, optimization algorithms can be better utilized for solving CSLP problems. The findings also identify the gaps and directions for future research.\nResearch limitations/implications: The selection of articles in this review does not consider the industrial perspective and practical applications of commercial software. Further comparative analyses of major algorithms are necessary because this review only focuses on algorithm types.\nOriginality/value: This paper presents a comprehensive systematic review of articles published in the recent decade. It significantly contributes to the demonstration of the status and selection of CLSP algorithms and the benefit of using these algorithms. It also identifies the research gaps in knowledge and reveals potential improvements for future research.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The applicability of Grant's framework in the dynamic digital age: A review and agenda for future research
|
[
"Competitive advantage",
"RBV",
"Dynamic capabilities",
"Resource-based view",
"Strategy formulation",
"Competitive strategy",
"Strategic resources",
"Grant’s framework"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In the current dynamic digital age, the use of the Internet and electronic technologies for selling products and delivering services is deemed essential to achieve operational efficiency and yield competitive advantage (Jantarajaturapath and Ussahawanitchkit, 2009; Bharadwaj et al., 2013). Advanced information technologies have changed the way that products, services and information are bought and sold. In fact, they have transformed the mechanisms through which firms communicate with their customers, partners, competitors and stakeholders (Ramanathan et al., 2012). There is, therefore, a growing consensus on the critical role of the Internet and its various applications in every aspect of our lives, from the way we live and communicate to the manner in which new business models and architectures are evolved (Chong et al., 2013). As a result, e-business has gained the attention of both scholars and practitioners (Wiengarten et al., 2013).\nGrant's framework: a review: Grant (1991) proposes his framework on competitive strategy formulation based on the notion of \"resources and capabilities as a source of direction and the foundation for strategy\". In the extant literature on strategic management, this has been termed \"resource-based view\" of the firm. Grant posits a five-step framework, starting with evaluating the firm's resources and capabilities, which is followed by assessing the ability of resources and capabilities to provide competitive advantage. The fourth step is called strategy selection, which deals with exploiting internal resources and capabilities and external opportunities in the optimum way. In light of the ever-changing business external environment, Grant perceives a firm's resources and capabilities as the most reliable and enduring bases for developing competitive strategies. The final step of the framework is the need to extend and upgrade the firm's resources. He reckons that not only resources and capabilities need to be considered to develop strategies but also they are to be renewed and maintained by strategies.\nGrant's framework in the e-business environment: Despite the significance of Grant's framework in the traditional business context (Amit and Schoemaker, 1993; Fahy and Smithee, 1999; Priem and Butler, 2001), we do not have sufficient knowledge of its applicability to the emerging Internet-based e-business market. To further explore this question, we first provide a review of the extant literature to elucidate the characteristics of e-business and the ways it is different from the traditional business models (Ashurst et al., 2011; Soto-Acosta et al., 2011; Grant et al., 2014). The outcome of the review will then provide us a platform to better assess the appropriateness of Grant's framework to the present Internet-based e-business environment.\nExtending and modifying grant's framework: Dynamic capabilities in the process of strategy development\nA modified version of Grant's framework: As previous sections serve to emphasise, a modified version of Grant's framework is demonstrated in Figure 1.\nConclusions: The central theme of this paper was a critical review of Grant's (1991) framework of strategy formulation and competitive advantage. Such a review is a response to the emerging and inherent characteristics of the current e-business marketplace. The two main critiques of Grant's framework were related to:\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the applicability of Grant's framework in the current changing and dynamic environment.\nDesign/methodology/approach: In this paper, a critical review of Grant's paper was conducted to identify the limitations and weaknesses of the framework, which prevent its effective application in the current digital age.\nFindings: As a result, this paper presented a modified framework and four propositions to consider dynamic capabilities in the new turbulent environment and extend the relationships between a firm's resources, capabilities, dynamic capabilities, competitive advantage and competitive strategy. Findings tied to this initiative will provide important contributions to research.\nOriginality/value: Rooted in resource-based view (RBV), the proposed framework puts forward a valid theoretical foundation on how to create a competitive advantage from a firm's internal factors, including strategic resources, capabilities and dynamic capabilities. Furthermore, it contributes to RBV literature by considering dynamic capabilities, as the firms' most crucial factors in the current dynamic digital market.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
A Queensland research support network in emergency healthcare: Collaborating to build the research capacity of more clinicians in more locations
|
[
"Primary care",
"Emergency services",
"Knowledge sharing",
"Networks",
"Community relations"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nBackground: Research in emergency care is challenging: the acuity of potential participants, the paucity of \"research culture,\" the frequent inability to obtain patient consent in a traditional manner and the exhaustive nature of delivering emergency care combine to make clinical-based research difficult (Wright et al., 2005). Providing effective expertise to support a quality research activity in this environment is essential for building a research capacity as well as generating quality research outcomes, which can be translated swiftly into a clinical practice.\nEvaluation of the RSN: methods: Design\nResults: EMF metrics on grant activity\nDiscussion: In its third year of operation, EMF's RSN is demonstrating promising results in the four objectives established prior to its launch: increasing EM research activity, developing EM research capacity, growing collaborations and increasing awareness of EM research. The most important gains achieved from this RSN are the expansion of research activity into rural and remote Queensland and the increase in collaborations.\nConclusions: RSNs aim to improve the research capacity and capability of front-line clinicians and engage with the community, government, industry and academia to increase research activity and connectivity. EMF's RSN is a strategic initiative of a funding body, utilising a hub-and-spoke model. We feel this model's most important contributions have been towards increasing collaborations and expanding research activity to rural and remote areas. Future measures to evaluate RSN effectiveness should include cost effectiveness and community impacts.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the structure and impact of a Queensland Research Support Network (RSN) in emergency medicine (EM).\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper presents a descriptive summary of EM networks, network evaluations and the structure and development of the Emergency Medicine Foundation's (EMF) RSN in Queensland, including an observational pre- and post-study of research metrics.\nFindings: In two years, the RSN supported 33 Queensland emergency departments (EDs), of which 14 developed research strategies. There was an increase in research active clinicians, from 23 in 2015 to 181 in 2017. Collaborator engagement increased from 9 in 2015 to 276 in 2017 as did the number of research presentations, from 6 in 2015 to 61 in 2017. EMF experienced a growth in new researchers, with new investigators submitting approximately 60 per cent of grant applications in 2016 and 2017. EMF also received new applications from a further three HHS (taking EMF-funded research activity from 8 to 11 HHS).\nResearch limitations/implications: This paper describes changes in KPIs and research metrics, which the authors attribute to the establishment of the RSN. However, it is possible that attribution bias plays a role in the KPI improvements.\nSocial implications: This network has actively boosted and expanded EM research capacity and capability in Queensland. It provides services, in the form of on-the-ground managers, to develop novice clinician-researchers, new projects and engage entire EDs. This model may be replicated nationwide but requires funding commitment.\nOriginality/value: The RSN improves front-line clinician research capacity and capability and increases research activity and collaborations with clear community outcomes. Collaborations were extended to community, primary health networks, non-government organisations, national and international researchers and academic institutions. Evaluating and measuring a network's benefits are difficult, but it is likely that evaluations will help networks obtain funding.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Dynamic capabilities vs. innovation capability: are they related?
|
[
"Dynamic capability",
"Innovation capability",
"Dynamic capabilities perspective (DCV)",
"Strategic management theory"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: It is generally agreed that the central focus and challenge in the field of business economics is how to attain and sustain competitiveness. Current research indicates that the average period which firms are able to sustain a competitive advantage has decreased over time (Wiggins and Ruefli, 2005). One of the areas of business economics that has helped firms operate successfully in today's dynamic environment is strategic management. Strategic management research has successfully adopted and integrated some of the ideas of economic logic into its field. One example of this application is Porter's (1985) Five Force framework. However, this concept focusing primarily on the external environment (with market structure as exogenous), largely ignores many aspects of the competitive and dynamic environment (Teece et al., 1997; Teece, 2007), and disregards the role of the internal environment. The relatively static nature of the approach has raised questions that led to the development of new theories and views, such as the resource-based view (RBV) and the dynamic capabilities view (DCV). The paper provides insights into the relationship between dynamic and innovation capabilities. First, we present a brief overview of the major research findings contributing to the theory of strategic management. Second, we review some of the topics covered in the dynamic capabilities literature. Then, we present the major fundamentals of innovation and innovation capabilities, and link these to dynamic capabilities. The paper concludes with an appeal for further research in this area.\nSelected perspectives in strategic management: The foundations of recent management perspectives are mainly based on the views of Schumpeter (1934), Penrose (1959), Rubin (1973), Nelson and Winter (1982). Building on Chamberlin (1933) and Robinson (1933), Penrose (1959) was one of the first to recognise the value of a firm's resources. She provided insights into a firm as a collection of productive resources and asserted that a firm is much more than just an administrative unit. Rubin (1973) further developed Penrose's ideas, and recognised that resources by themselves are not enough. A firm uses resources in its activities and hence an activity consists of a combination of resources (Rubin, 1973, p. 939). An activity becomes an inspiration for expanding the firm's mosaic and further development.\nDCV: The publication of Teece et al's. (1997) paper on dynamic capabilities triggered a growing body of articles, more than 1,534 from 1997 to 2007 (Barreto, 2010), and over 1,900 citations by December 2009 (Di Stefano et al., 2010). This paper is recognised as the first seminal paper on the notion of dynamic capabilities, although we can find earlier statements in the working papers of Teece and Pisano (1994), and Teece et al. (1997). The conceptual foundations of the DCV are much older, going back to the work of Schumpeter (1934) and Penrose (1959). The extensive literature review of Barreto (2010, p. 257) concluded that there was still some confusion that hinders effective progress in the field. The DCV, like other approaches such as the RBV, has also been criticised for being fuzzy and tautological, with little empirical support (Ambrosini et al., 2009; Newbert, 2007). In sum, according to Teece (2007, p. 1347) the dynamic capabilities approach goes beyond traditional approaches in that it strives to explain the new strategic considerations needed to ensure that opportunities, once sensed, can be seized and how the business can be reconfigured.\nInnovation and innovation capability: After the above brief presentation of the DCV, it is now time to turn to the field of innovation. Let us begin by considering the question of what exactly is innovation capability? Our explanation starts with an introduction to an innovation whose importance was first recognised by Schumpeter in the 1930s. Managing innovation is becoming one of the major focuses of scholars and practitioners (Tidd and Bessant, 2009; Drucker, 2002). The dynamic environment and competitive strengths in the industry (Porter, 1985), and outside (Goffin and Mitchell, 2010), are forcing firms to primarily focus on innovation activities. Consequently, the need is revolutionary rather than evolutionary (Assink, 2006, p. 216). Almost 20 years ago, Stalk et al. (1992, p. 62) stated that competition is becoming less like a game of chess and more like an interactive video game. An innovation can be a new or improved idea, method or approach, it can be a recombination of old ideas, anything that is perceived as new or improved (Van de Ven, 1986, p. 591). The literature offers numerous perspectives in a variety of ways. King (2000, p. 304) stated that innovation means different things to different people. Definitions have been extended from being highly specific to very broad generalisations. Kimberly (1981) pointed out that if an innovation is not perceived as useful then it is not an innovation, it is simply a mistake. On the contrary, Danneels (2008, p. 542) sees a mistake as an opportunity to learn, which is line with Williams (1998, p. 72) who argued that smart mistakes help firms learn and build new capabilities. Damanpour (1991, p. 556) believes an innovation means changing a firm, whether as a response to changes in its internal or external environment, or even as pre-emptive activities taken to influence the environment. Innovation is a key driver, a main source of competitiveness and competitive advantage, which is well documented in the literature (e.g. Shoham and Fiegenbaum, 2002) with a positive impact on firm performance (e.g. Roberts, 1999), and firm survival (Banbury and Mitchell, 1995). Indeed, the value of innovation lies in its contribution to economic value (Goswami and Mathew, 2005, p. 372). However, Williams (1992, p. 92) point out that an innovation can give a company a competitive advantage, but nothing lasts forever. The notion that a competitive advantage can be achieved by exploiting the firm's capabilities is not new but, as Birchall and Tovstiga (2005, p. 38) state, management did not recognise the importance of the renewal and regeneration of capabilities in response to a dynamic environment until the last decade. Innovation is a process that allows adapting and capability-building, and has to be sustainable (Johansson, 2004, p. 273). Drucker (1997) maintains that a firm needs the application of knowledge to knowledge itself if wants to sustain an innovation. Innovation is not a change, but innovation creates, Drucker (1985, p. 31) states. However, despite the general agreement about the relevance of innovation, the literature reveals a lack of meaningful measurement along with statistical and conceptual problems.\nLinking dynamic capabilities and innovation capabilities: Let us begin by asking where is the link between dynamic capability and innovation capability? Teece et al. (1997, p. 519) clearly stated that their approach is in line with the Schumpeterian world of innovation-based competition. Evidently, the dynamic capabilities approach has been built on Schumpeter's ideas, so accordingly some parallels can be drawn. A review of the literature indicates that some notions can be found in both areas. Innovation capability is a result of learning processes continuously developed over time. Indeed, learning and transforming knowledge and ideas into new or improved products, processes and systems for the benefit of the firm is the main goal related to innovation capabilities (Birchall and Tovstiga, 2005; Lawson and Samson, 2001). Conversely, learning processes are a dominant source of dynamic capabilities (Zollo and Winter, 2002), firms do need to deploy the fourth category of capabilities as learning-to-learn capabilities (Collis, 1994) and learning mechanisms shape the creation and development of dynamic capabilities (Eisenhardt and Martin, 2000; Zahra et al., 2006). Relying on those statements, we can imply that the first common characteristic is \"learning\".\nSummary and conclusion: In this paper, we have provided a systematic and critical review and comparison of dynamic capabilities (a relatively new approach in the field of strategic management) with innovation capabilities (a widely recognised domain for sustained competitiveness). We first focused on dynamic capabilities as new sources of competitive advantage. Many perspectives have been offered to address problems in developing a sustained competitive advantage. Since many of them have weaknesses in today's dynamic environment, new perspectives have emerged. The latest approach extending these previous views is the DCV which has as its main premise the capacity to renew resources and capabilities to achieve congruence with a changing business environment. To better understand the embedded nature of dynamic capabilities, the foundations of the selected perspectives of DCV were presented along with some of the main ideas and typologies of dynamic capabilities. Our review highlights the fact that DCV has received significant attention in recent years but there is still much to be done and clarified in terms of both its theoretical and empirical aspects.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the relationship between dynamic capabilities and innovation capabilities. It links dynamic capability with innovation capability and indicates the ways they can be related.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The relationships between dynamic and innovation capability were investigated through a systematic literature review.\nFindings: The review indicates that common characteristics exist between of the both fields, which demonstrate six relationships. Additionally, findings show some inconsistencies and even contradictions.\nOriginality/value: In this paper, the authors have compared dynamic capabilities, a relatively new approach in the field of strategic management, with innovation capabilities, a widely recognised crucial domain for sustained competitiveness. Since both areas address issues that are essential to today's environment, future research should seek to clarify both concepts, by undertaking some new research and developing comprehensive and unambiguous framework.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Emotional branding on fashion brand websites: harnessing the Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance (P-A-D) model
|
[
"Emotional branding online",
"Website attributes",
"P-A-D model"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Emotional branding can encourage consumers to stay loyal by appealing to their emotions, which results in robust attachment and solid consumer-brand relationships (Rossiter and Bellman, 2012; Travis, 2000). In the era of digital retailing, emotional branding on brand websites is of value because a brand's website is not merely a point of purchase but also an evocative touchpoint connecting consumers with the brand and further developing consumer resonances (Huang et al., 2015). Recently, H & M has produced an example of a real-world emotional branding model in its brand \"Nyden.\" Its savvy influencers are co-creating insights and preferences in the production of a design by sharing their experiences and ideas with others on the brand website (Kim and Sullivan, 2019; Neerman, 2017).A key aspect of emotional branding on websites is the way the inimitable brand experience as a whole is coordinated. By manipulating all of their branding signals (Kendall, 2009) which provide visible cues (i.e. Website attributes) to consumers' identities, lifestyles, and interests, emotional branding on brand websites can reinforce symbolic and social values, thus generating emotional attitude and behavioral responses towards those brands (Hamedie, 2011). For instance, those websites often deliver pleasurable experiences through interactive and communicative functions (e.g. \"fashion blogs\" and \"featured outfits of the day created by consumers\") (Brakus et al., 2009) to build relationships between a brand and its consumers, which appeals to a consumer's goals, wants, needs, desires, ego, or emotions (Kim and Sullivan, 2019). As brand websites are main sources (Ertell, 2010), the quality of communication and depth of shopping information provided on brand websites can develop consumer confidence, familiarity and satisfaction with a brand (Park and Stoel, 2005).Consumer interaction with a brand website often creates emotional ties based on the functional and aesthetic features of the website. The functional (e.g. interactive e-service, personalization) and aesthetic (e.g. product presentation, interface design) attributes of the brand website can induce diverse emotional attitudes toward the brand, resulting in repeated interaction with the brand., further increasing intention to revisit the brand website. As the frequency and duration of the interaction increases, the relationships between brand and consumer become stronger and more sustainable (O'Laughlin et al., 2004), which in turn leads to an efficient emotional branding (Travis, 2000).While much research regarding shopping experiences in fashion brand websites has been carried out (e.g. Lee et al., 2010; Molinillo et al., 2017; Kawaf and Tagg, 2017), there are few studies regarding how a fashion brand website harnesses an affective state that leads to consumer patronage directly and indirectly through emotional dynamics (Brakus et al., 2009; Kim, 2012). We view consumers' brand experiences on the website as the emotional branding derived from consumer's affective attachment. Drawing from the psychological logic of \"affect\" rather than simplifying a unidimensional (varying from positive to negative) construct, we refer to the P-A-D dimensions (i.e. pleasure, arousal, and dominance) (Mano, 1997; Petty et al., 1993). Thus, the emotional brand model on websites aims to examine how and why affect influences behavioral intention toward the brand. Specifically, the purposes of this study are (1) to investigate the impacts of website attributes on the arousal and dominance experience, and (2) to examine the mediating effects of three affective dimensions (i.e. pleasure, arousal, and dominance) on behavioral response towards the brand website by positing arousal and dominance as predictors of the degree of pleasure. Given the academic and practical significance of emotional branding on websites, the findings of this study may provide a fuller understanding of the emotional branding approach and address the growing trend of developing an emotional branding strategy by means of brand websites.\nTheoretical background: Emotional branding on fashion brand websites\nMethodology: Data collection\nResults: Sample profile\nDiscussion and implications: Emotional branding has been a practical approach to developing brand loyalty, which is conceptualized as an affect-laden process devised to characterize consumer-brand bonds. Focusing on the affective dimensions of Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance, this study examined the emotional branding process in fashion brand websites grounded in the Stimulus (S) - Organism (O)-Response (R) framework (Mehrabian and Russell, 1974). Website attributes were found to influence consumer affective experiential states and behavioral responses toward the brand. In addition, this study contributes to identifying the mediating role of the affective dimensions of the dominance and arousal experiential states and their effects on the pleasure state in forming online brand experiences and leading to a positive response towards the brand.Website attributes forming emotional branding\nLimitations: Due to its use of convenience sampling and having a majority of female respondents in the sample, this study may not be generalized to a consumer group comprised of males and individuals over the age of 35. While the brand selection was limited to the mono type of fashion brands, future study might be expanded to multi-brands having diverse consumer demographics. Additionally, though the five apparel stores participants in the study were asked to choose from were identified as nationally recognized brands, a natural bias still remains. Furthermore, overall shopping and brand experience is limited to a behavioral intention state. Conducting a study that follows up with consumers after an initial interaction with a retailer may give practitioners a better understanding of the entire online shopping experience.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Drawn from the P-A-D approach, the purposes of this study are (1) to investigate the impacts of website attributes on emotional branding process, and (2) to examine the mediating effects of three affective dimensions of pleasure, arousal and dominance on behavioral response towards the fashion brand website.\nDesign/methodology/approach: By employing the quantitative approach of survey method, data were collected in the US and a sample of 220 participants was used for the analysis. Structural equation modeling analysis was conducted to identify hypothesized relationships in the research model.\nFindings: Fashion brand website attributes were found to influence consumer affective experiential states and behavioral responses on emotional branding. Specifically, the mediating effects of the dominance and arousal dimensions were of interest to predict the pleasure dimension, leading to a positive response towards the brand. Positing arousal and dominance as predictors of the degree of pleasure on brand website were accentuated in emotional branding.\nOriginality/value: This study signifies the role of affect in the emotional branding on websites. Given the academic and practical significance of emotional branding on websites, the findings of the current study provide insights into fashion brands through making possible a fuller understanding of the underlying process of building emotional branding and of how to embed it into consumers' minds when they experience the fashion brand website.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The deputy principal instructional leadership role and professional learning: Perceptions of secondary principals, deputies and teachers
|
[
"Australia",
"New South Wales",
"Development",
"Instructional leadership",
"Professional learning"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The deputy principals' (DPs) role in school effectiveness and improvement is now critical as schools face an era of greater accountability (Heck and Hallinger, 2010). Australian schools' participation in international and national testing regimes, has increased the pressure on schools to improve student performance data (Klenowski, 2011). A powerful way to effect school improvement is through instructional leadership (IL), defined by Hattie (2012) as teachers who work as learning leaders, whose key focus is on improving pedagogy for students and teachers.\nAims and nature of this study: Our research was an exploratory, prospective, cross-sectional, multiple case study. Yin (2003) suggested that case studies are the best research strategy to explore a social phenomenon, facilitating deeper understanding of complex processes in a social context and develop the best theory (Neuman, 2014). Consequently, an interpretivist approach through qualitative methodology was selected, as the best way to learn (Warren and Karner, 2010) about the DP IL construct, its relationship with concepts such as DP PL, school improvement and distributed leadership.\nDPs as instructional leaders: IL has risen as a powerful leadership model which fosters school improvement (Hallinger, 2003). It focusses on vision setting and pedagogy to improve student achievement and directly targets teacher PL linked to school vision, as well as tracking and evaluation of student achievement (Hallinger et al., 2010). However, there is a paucity of research on the deputy's leading role in improving school performance and addressing educational reforms (Arar, 2014). As Harvey (1994, p. 17) suggested, \"Deputy principals have not been given responsibility for the curriculum and for leadership in the teaching and learning process [...] little autonomy in the responsibilities they perform and have not been the initiators of school level change\".\nResearch context and method: In our study, two participating schools were from the independent sector and two from the NSW Department of Education (DoE). Four very diverse, but successful schools provided an opportunity to learn about the depth and breadth of deputy leadership in four contextually different, but yet high performing secondary schools. All four case study schools, (Table I) were purposively selected, to learn in depth about how leadership processes in effective schools may work and address the research questions.\nFindings and discussion: This study did not aim at objective, statistically generalisable facts about DPs' roles, but an in-depth narrative about teacher perceptions and behaviours. It suggests possible, \"analytical generalisations\" (Curtis et al., 2000, p. 1002) about the IL construct and deputy PL, from the identified themes across case studies.\nConclusions: The issues presented in this paper provide a glimpse of the complex and yet important IL role of DPs, as well as the deputies' PL needs. Across the schools, most deputies, most principals and many teachers saw their deputies as being leaders of learning, but with a range of management and administrative responsibilities. The results of the study show the importance of the collegial relationship and open communication practiced through distributed leadership; the complexity of the DP's role on the one hand, and on the other, the PL, perceived to be most appropriate for dealing with this complexity and the pressures school leaders experience in monitoring, evaluating and developing teaching practice.\n",
"role": "user"
},
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"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report on a study examining the perceptions of secondary principals, deputies and teachers, of deputy principal (DP) instructional leadership (IL), as well as deputies' professional learning (PL) needs. Framed within an interpretivist approach, the specific objectives of this study were: to explore the extent to which DPs are perceived as leaders of learning, to examine the actual responsibilities of these DPs and to explore the PL that support DP roles.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The researchers used multiple perspective case studies which included semi-structured interviews and key school document analysis. A thematic content analysis facilitated qualitative descriptions and insights from the perspectives of the principals, DPs and teachers of four high-performing secondary schools in Sydney, Australia.\nFindings: The data revealed that deputies performed a huge range of tasks; all the principals were distributing leadership to their deputies to build leadership capacity and supported their PL in a variety of ways. Across three of the case study schools, most deputies were frequently performing as instructional leaders, improving their school's performance through distributing leadership, team building and goal setting. Deputy PL was largely dependent on principal mentoring and self-initiated but was often ad hoc. Findings add more validity to the importance of principals building the educational leadership of their deputies.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study relied upon responses from four case study schools. Further insight into the key issues discussed may require a longitudinal data that describe perceptions from a substantial number of schools in Australia over time. However, studying only four schools allowed for an in-depth investigation.\nPractical implications: The findings from this study have practical implications for system leaders with responsibilities of framing the deputies' role as emergent educational leaders rather than as administrators and the need for coherent, integrated, consequential and systematic approaches to DP professional development. Further research is required on the effect of deputy IL on school performance.\nOriginality/value: There is a dearth of research-based evidence exploring the range of responsibilities of deputies and perceptions of staff about deputies' IL role and their PL needs. This is the first published New South Wales, Australian DP study and adds to the growing evidence around perceptions of DPs as instructional leaders by providing an Australian perspective on the phenomenon. The paper raises important concerns about the complexity of the DP's role on the one hand, and on the other hand, the PL that is perceived to be most appropriate for dealing with this complexity.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Enhancing engineers' public speaking efficacy using appreciative inquiry
|
[
"Change",
"Public speaking",
"Appreciative inquiry",
"Self-determination theory",
"Engineers",
"Strength-based pedagogy"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Public speaking is defined as a communication to a larger group of audience for a definite objective of influencing, persuading, apprising, stimulating or amusing them (Flair, 2017). It is one of the important means of business communication, however, often remains poorly designed (Baird, 1981). Poorly designed messages not only brings disappointment (Boyd, 1995) but also adversely affect the way it could have convinced, valued, motivated or enthralled audience (Baird, 1981). On comparing public speaking abilities among several professionals, Jansen (1998) found that engineers were placed lowest. Although engineers believe that they are not required to speak splendidly at the workplace (Stettner, 1989), Wismer (1989) highlighted certain damaging perceptions on how engineers find it tough to communicate on public speaking forums. As a result of such subjugations at the podium, poor delivery of the message may impact several impending organizational processes where engineers are vitally required to speak publically.\nWhat is appreciative inquiry and how it can be used in the context of public speaking?: Appreciative inquiry is a novel and radically affirmative approach to facilitate change (Reed, 2007; Cooperrider and Srivastava, 1987) that can be explored to engage and inspire diverse stakeholders enabling them to discover not only their strength within but also enable them in determining strengths in endeavors they do and look at the strengths of others involved in those endeavors (Cooperrider and Whitney, 2005). Appreciative inquiry enjoys its status quo in various spaces of self-development, organizational development and as research methodology (Reed, 2007). In its various avatar, appreciative inquiry works on the following principles as presented in Table II.\nResearch methodology: Engineers pursuing post graduate programs at the premier institute were invited to be part of the study. In total, 15 engineers (12 men and 3 women, average age 24 years with average work experience of 1.5 years) accepted the invitation and became part of the study. These engineers reported difficulty in public speaking sometimes prior to making an appreciative inquiry during the routine class sessions. For learners to own responsibility to learn, psychological contracting was done with these engineers. The psychological contract had following elements:\nResult and discussion: Discovery phase\nConclusion: Application of appreciative inquiry seems to have provided meanings to engineers that encouraged them to be committed in the process of improving their public speaking, which is one of the important elements of communication skills. As public speaking is associated with anxiety and fear of negative evaluation, it tantamount to social phobia. The antagonistic effects of appreciative inquiry appeared to have empowered participants in alleviating stage fear and anxieties. With appreciative inquiry, their commitment was enhanced, and they also reported better performance. Participation and commitment of engineers enhanced in several ways as they remained to be the part of public speaking endeavor post-closing of the semester. Their attendance in Toastmaster session was more than before, and they are now more committed to the completion of their competent communicator certification. The relative permanent change in the way engineers delivered their speeches was real as these changes were the product of their enhanced abilities to experiment with self, openness to feedback (both constructive and positive) and ability to reflection on feedback. Engineers appeared to have satisfied their three basic psychological needs of competence, autonomy and relatedness. The satisfaction was evident from their responses, body language and feedback.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Existing methods of enhancing-based public speaking efficacy are based on the deficit-based model. On the other hand, public speaking is an ability that has a potential to produce anxiety, fear of negative evaluation. The purpose of this paper was to explore the use of strength-based learning pedagogy, i.e. appreciative inquiry to work upon enhancing public speaking skills of engineers.\nDesign/methodology/approach: An appreciative inquiry was conducted on 15 engineers using 4D model. The data were gathered using narrative analysis and grounded theory.\nFindings: Participants shared their stories of past, present and future to derive meaningful insights that have potential to bring development.\nResearch limitations/implications: The study has an underpinning in Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory. As practitioners of self-determination theory open the positive space for individuals to learn, appreciative inquiry aids in opening such positive space so that learners can experiment openly without any fear of negative evaluation. It prepares them by enhancing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.\nPractical implications: The study motivated engineers to focus on effortless delivery of their speeches and eliminate other associated fear. The study can be used as a classroom pedagogy.\nSocial implications: As public speaking is associated with fear of negative evaluation and anxiety, it has a potential to affect self-confidence and self-image adversely. As appreciative inquiry fosters one's confidence positively through constructionism, the appreciative inquiry can be a choice of pedagogy and has positive implications for learners at the social level.\nOriginality/value: The study presents a fairly novel approach as it focuses on encouraging engineers to improve their presentation skills and to focus on what they do well (rather than what their weaknesses are) so they can build their confidence.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Creative industries: a case study of Isfahan, Iran
|
[
"Creative economy",
"Isfahan",
"Creative industry",
"Creative city"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Cities in various parts of the world started diligently investing in cultural facilities and supporting young talent with a belief that this must be the right way to make their cities more competitive (Musterd and Gritsai, 2012). It may be defined as a policy that aims to generate new growth through economic operations that promote creativity, knowledge concurrence, and advanced scientific technology based on creating a new market and new jobs (Peck, 2012). Economy concept has been derived from the innovation concept, combined with creativity from creative industries (Moore, 2014). In order to make the potential of innovation thrive, however, social, cultural as well as institutional innovations are necessary (Puchta et al., 2010). The cross-cutting nature of the creative economy means that policy development for the creative and knowledge-intensive industries must be formulated on a coordinated multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary basis (Musterd and Kovacs, 2013).\n2. Creative industries: The term \"creative industries\" first originated in the mid-to-late1990s and was originally used to define all industries based on creativity that generate intellectual property; the definition of creative industries has been generally widened to include any industries with particular artistic and cultural elements since 2002 (Henry and de Bruin, 2011). Policy makers and practitioners often consider sectors such as advertising, architecture, art and antiques, computer games, crafts, design, designer fashion, film and video, music, performing arts, publishing, software, TV and radio as identified creative industries (Lange et al., 2008). Increased involvement of the creative industry and urban innovation go hand-in-hand: innovative urban areas attract creative people, and creative industries help spur on new urban innovations (Tahtinen et al., 2016; Boix et al., 2014).\n3. Methodology: The first step in developing a framework is to identify which factors influence the successful establishment of creative industries. The creative industries have a significant potential for wider-scale development, since they produce tangible goods or intangible services capable of generating revenues through trade and intellectual property rights. The sector encompasses the cycles of creation, production and distribution, of goods and services that have creative content, cultural and economic value and market objectives. In this regard, the creative industries have been classified by UNCTAD (2013) as including creative goods and services related to cultural heritage, to the arts, to the media and to functional creations, with subsectors identified in each of these categories, as shown in Figure 1.\n4. Isfahan: Isfahan is located about 340 km south of Tehran (Figure 2), equidistant from the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea. It sits on both the east-west and north-south trade routes which traverse the country. It has an estimated population of 2m habitants. It has twice been the capital city of Persia, during the Parthian Empire and again in the sixteenth century Safavid dynasty (Babaie, 2008). It has been designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site (Vadiati and Kashkooli, 2011).\n5. Presentation of creative industries: The research analyses industries, workers, and sales in the creative sector in 2016 by using the SCI database. This study classifies creative industries based on previous research (UNCTAD, 2013) as the following: art, design, film and video, architecture and cultural heritage, software and games, advertising, publishing and R&D.\n6. SWOT analysis: The SWOT analysis is an evaluation of various aspects which are relevant for the development of cultural and creative industries. These aspects are classified into four evaluation categories for the purposes of the SWOT analysis: strength, weakness, opportunity and threat. The categories \"strength\" and \"weakness\" address internal factors of an object under review, while \"opportunity\" and \"threat\" relate to external factors. The defined subject to be analyzed in our study is the sectors of creative industries in Isfahan. The findings of this evaluation step are directly integrated into the summarizing SWOT analysis in Table II.\n7. Creative industries development strategies: A creative industries strategy is best executed by a combination of public and private partners working together, because each partner brings qualities that the others lack. The results of the analysis show that further efforts should be put in the promotion of the term creative industries and its content, promotion of the importance and its benefits.\n8. Conclusion: According to results, insufficient development of the tourism industry, combined with the neglecting the importance of design and performing art in the reinforcement of creative industries sectors, are the main obstacles for developing the creative industries in this city. While Isfahan is rich in cultural diversity and creative talent, it has not benefited equally from the dynamism of the creative services, yet. According to the great potential of Isfahan both in the field of tourism and the art of handicrafts, the need of branding for handicrafts is felt (Sepahvand et al., 2016).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to contribute critically to understanding the structure of creative industries in Isfahan.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The authors first gather needed information about the case study and then analyze the data according to three measures of gross value added, employment and the dynamics of business for each sector of creative industries.\nFindings: Results indicate that creative industries are medium-sized domestic enterprises which are comparatively weak in productivity in some sectors.\nOriginality/value: This paper illustrates the model of creative industries assessment for Isfahan city and, finally, provides a good understanding of the concept of the creative industries as a key element of the creative city.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Principals with and without performance measures means no change?
|
[
"Change",
"Performance measures",
"Principal",
"Goal-setting theory",
"Long-term school development"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The demands put on school systems and individual schools have increased due to a growing emphasis on different output measurements. In most countries, the growing importance of universal achievement measurements has meant that school boards, principals and teachers have come under increasing pressure. The call for successful schools comes from parents, politicians and policymakers. Influenced by tools like management by objectives (MBO), which was imported from the private sector, and school-based management (SBM), they demand improvements. Moreover, school success is not just measured and compared on a national basis. Students' educational results are also compared to the achievements of students in other countries, and the data are carefully evaluated with the goal of increasing performance. Pupils will become college students and then employees in global companies that must be internationally competitive. To be successful firms need highly educated and skilled workforces. Many countries, including Sweden, have created their wealth with companies that have succeeded in an international environment. Porter (1990) argues that small countries like Sweden have had a competitive advantage due to the fact that their educational systems have supplied industry with highly educated and skilled workers. However, student outcomes in Sweden started to fall in the late 1990s. This is alarming from both an educational and country perspective.\nTheoretical background: Goal-setting theory has its roots in McClelland's (1953) research about the \"need for achievement.\" The theory is built on the fact that goals affect performance and that there are several mechanisms involved in the process. Goals direct attention and function as an energizing force, but the relationship between goals and performance is dependent on commitment (Seijts and Latham, 2000). Having said this, however, it is necessary to recall that the implementation of MBO in schools stresses the importance of setting goals and creating commitment to them as the starting point for the management of a successful organization. According to Locke and Latham (2002), goals do not exist without commitment. If goals are ambitious then they influence performance, because efforts to achieve them increase (Bandura and Cervone, 1983). In addition, when participants feel they have control over their situations their goal achievement increases (LaPorte and Nath, 1976).\nSBM and effects: During the late 1980s the call for more value for tax money in the public sector boomed (Hood, 1991), and one response was greater decentralization and the implementation of MBO. An organization was supposed to identify explicit goals, prioritize among them, evaluate goal fulfillment and create a basis for further development of the organization (Hood, 1995). In the same vein, the role of the principal was redesigned a few years later, a move referred to as part of SBM, in an effort to make it more suitable to the new demands on school leaders in a decentralized organization.\nMethodology: Activities aimed at long-term school development are covered in the term \"institutional services.\" The importance of this in Sweden originates from the 1994 decision to implement MBO, because the contract that covers teachers was renegotiated at the same time. Under the new agreement, teachers' working hours were regulated such that the amount of time they were required to work on school premises rather than at home increased. One of the intentions behind the change was that the principal would be able to devote the increased time on school property to matters of school development (Swedish Kommunforbundet 1995, working hours, pp. 6-7; OLA 2000, pp. 31-33). It meant that the principal could use the time to pursue development in a cooperative fashion, initiating school-wide activities in matters over which teachers had previously been free to decide by themselves. The new contract is not crystal clear, but it gives the principal opportunities to set goals, evaluate and reflect about how to best develop their local school. Examples of activities aimed at school development include curricula development; skills development; meetings and cooperation on matters regarding school development between/among teaching teams, school leaders and external organizations, and the establishment of teams focussed on increasing knowledge in core subjects. Other activities that can promote school development are adopting methods and procedures for evaluation, documentation, administration and staff cooperation. In order to evaluate the degree to which particular activities are influenced by goal-setting theory, a four-step implementation process recommended by the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket) is used. The steps are formulating goals, carrying out activities/functions, evaluating/following up and changing goals or activities/functions if satisfactory results are not achieved.\nResults: Lindberg (1998) conducted an initial study in which a questionnaire was sent to all principals in Swedish upper secondary schools to see how far they had come with the implementation of MBO in their schools since the Swedish government decided to introduce it 1994. The Table I shows how goals impact on the whole process of teaching. It also clarifies the influence of long-term school development, which is part of institutional service. The study was repeated in 2008, using the same population and method. Even though some of the principals were not the same individuals, they were in charge of their schools and ultimately responsible for them. This makes it possible to evaluate the degree to which goal-setting theory has been implemented.\nDiscussion and conclusion: The pressure on principals has increased due to a rising emphasis on school output measures. Principals are ultimately responsible for student performance, which is compared to students' results both nationally and internationally. Upper secondary school is the last step in a nearly ten-year-long educational process, and it has two main tasks. On one hand it is expected to prepare students directly for working life and for their first jobs. On the other hand, it determines eligibility to programs of study at universities and colleges because upper secondary school grades are used as a selection tool. Either way, in the not-too-distant future, students in upper secondary school will be employees, and as such will help the country operate in a globally competitive environment. To do so, they must be skilled and well educated. This means that there are many stakeholders who benefit from well-developed schools that provide good education and produce students with advanced learning achievements who are well suited to the actual demands of the external environment.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper seeks to explore how principals use their time when the requirement exceeds the activities are desirable. In the scholarly debate it has been pointed out the heads think that too much time is devoted for the financial and administrative issues, or to solve acute problems. This means that there is not enough time to work with educational issues. The purpose of this paper is to clarify how principals use the time they have devoted for the educational area and what activities they prioritize. It will also increase the knowledge of reasons behind their prioritizing and reflect on some of the consequences. Results relate to the question if introduction of performance measures has increased a short-term perspective on student performance or if it works as a suitable tool for the principals to achieve the schools goals and to create more effective schools in the long run. The question if stakeholders can get required insight by the performance measures as they are designed today and if the principals got the right incentives is raised.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A quantitative approach is used and a mail questionnaire was distributed to the principals in all upper secondary schools in Sweden and a comparative cross-sectional study was conducted.\nFindings: Principals' perceptions suggest that, their prioritization when working with educational issues is influenced by a more short-term perspective and that they prioritize teaching, which have a much faster impact on student outcome, over long-term school development which facilitate the conditions for the former. These findings increase the insight into the need, for as well stakeholders as principals, to develop performance measures to stimulate change when needed.\nPractical implications: These findings have implications on the direction of the development of performance measures. The result points out the lack of transparence for stakeholders and uncovers the need to know when change and long-term development is ongoing or not. The study show how principals need incentives for prioritizing these activities and that this can be done by the stakeholder by designing required measurements for as well teaching as long-term school development when change is needed or to maintain a successful process.\nOriginality/value: This paper fulfills an identified need to study how the performance measures of today can be complemented with measures for stakeholders for increased insight in ongoing activities with development and required change for long-term school success.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Behavioural criteria of perceived mentoring effectiveness: An empirical study of effective and ineffective mentor and mentee behaviour within formal mentoring relationships
|
[
"Formal mentoring effectiveness",
"Mentoring relationships",
"Mentor/mentee behaviour",
"Positive/negative mentoring",
"Critical Incident Technique",
"Mentors"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Most organizationally based mentoring programmes have been initiated to enhance the career development and performance of management-level employees (Douglas and McCauley, 1999). Although numerous journal articles offer guidelines and suggestions for developing formal mentoring programmes (see Coley, 1996; Phillips-Jones, 1983) these are often based on one or a few organizations, and generally are not empirical (Hegstad and Wentling, 2004). Furthermore, most studies investigate the antecedents, outcomes, and benefits of programmes with little attention given to identifying and illustrating what is required to ensure the quality of the mentoring process and the effectiveness of the mentoring relationship (Fagenon-Eland et al., 1997; Young and Perrewe, 2000). Yet in organizations that introduce formal mentoring schemes it is important to identify what differentiates \"more effective\" from \"less effective\" mentoring relationships (Ragins et al., 2000, Wanberg et al., 2007). However, Hezlett and Gibson (2005), drawing on Allen et al. (2004) and Wanberg et al. (2003), claim that although recent reviews of research have indicated there has been some maturing of the mentoring knowledge-base, there are many questions that remain poorly answered or as yet have to be thoroughly investigated. Relatively few studies have been directed specifically toward understanding formal mentoring relationships, and little systematic attention has been paid to the specific mentor-mentee factors affecting the quality of the mentoring provided (Fagenon-Eland et al. (1997). Allen and Poteet (1999) suggest the effectiveness of any formal mentoring scheme may hinge on the characteristics of the individual mentors who participate in the programme, and also on whether mentors and their mentees know how best to take advantage or make the most of the opportunities that the mentoring relationship can afford. Few researchers have explored the dynamics of mentoring or the nature of the interpersonal processes involved within the dyadic relationship (Wanberg et al., 2003). Yet, as various other writers suggest, the quality of the mentor-mentee relationship is a key factor to successful mentoring (Gray and Smith, 2000; Liang et al., 2002; Parnell, 1998; Scandura, 1998). Thus, as Hezlett and Gibson (2005) argue, more research is required to gain a better understanding of the specific mentor and mentee behaviours that create the conditions under which mentoring relationships are maximally supporting, satisfying, and optimally effective for both parties.\nReview of the literature: This section provides an overview of what is known from research and practice about positive and negative mentoring within formal mentoring relationships. In conducting our literature review we interrogated academic journals and books concerned with human resource development (HRD) and coaching, as well as literature concerned specifically with mentoring; and for three reasons. First, mentoring as with coaching has been for many years a core role of HRD professionals (see Davis et al., 2004; Hezlett and Gibson, 2005, McLagan, 1989, Plunkett and Egan, 2004). And indeed, as Hegstad and Wentling (2005) claim drawing on the writings of Cummings and Worley (1997) and Kram and Hall (1989), mentoring has been recognized increasingly as a powerful HRD intervention that assists employees in career advancement, serves as a form of on-the-job training, and helps create learning organizations. Second, although various writers claim mentoring is different from coaching (Cranwell-Ward et al. 2004; Grant, 2001), the terms \"mentoring\" and \"coaching\" are often used interchangeably in organizations (Parsloe and Wray, 2000). Many people do not distinguish between the relationships and processes of mentoring and other forms of one-to-one developmental learning-such as coaching (Klasen and Clutterbuck, 2002); and questions remain as to the distinction (D'Abate et al., 2003). As Passmore (2007, p, 10) claims, in practice \"the boundary between the two (coaching and mentoring) is more blurred than is sometimes suggested\". Furthermore, in terms of their respective fundamental intended purposes and stated processes, there appear to be few substantive differences between the many conceptualizations and definitions of \"mentoring\", \"coaching\" and \"HRD\" (Beattie et al., 2009; Hamlin et al., 2008). The third and most telling reason is because numerous articles relating specially to formal mentoring have been reported in the \"coaching and mentoring\" and \"HRD\" literatures, as well as in the \"mentoring\" literature.Positive mentoring\nTheoretical context: Mentoring theories\nResearch design and methodology: Philosophical perspective\nResults: In addressing the two research questions a total of 173 critical incidents (CIs) were obtained from the 20 participants, but six had to be discarded for reasons such as ambiguity, insufficient detail and unclear meaning. Of the remaining 167 CIs, 68 were examples of positive (effective) and 22 of negative (least effective/ineffective) mentor behaviour from the mentees' perspective. The other 77 CIs were comprised of 61 examples of positive (effective) and 16 of negative (least effective/ineffective) mentee behaviour from the mentors' perspective. The open coding of the 167 CIs resulted in a total of 187 \"disentangled\" coded CIs. Of these critical incidents 81 and 22 related respectively to effective and least effective/ineffective mentor behaviour, and 68 and 16 to effective and least effective/ineffective mentee behaviour respectively. However, on further scrutiny of the CIT data it became apparent that six of the 22 mentor least effective/ineffective behaviours offered by some of the mentees had in fact been observed during the \"end\" phase of the lifecycle of their respective mentoring relationships. Consequently, these were removed from the coded CI data set because the focus of our study was on the \"beginning\" and \"middle\" phases only. The subsequent axial coding and content analysis of the remaining 161 coded CIs resulted in the development of lay models of \"positive\" and \"negative\" formal mentoring respectively.A lay model of positive formal mentoring effectiveness\nDiscussion: This study has demonstrated empirically the types and categories of mentor and mentee behaviour that critically contribute to positive and negative mentoring experiences (proximal outcomes) for the respective participants within dyadic mentoring relationships. It also provides \"new\" insights into the behavioural determinants of \"positive mentoring\" and \"negative mentoring\", and these findings lend support to much \"theoretical\" and \"best practice\" literature on formal mentoring. In summary, for mentors to be perceived effective by their mentees, they need to be especially good at:* setting up, organizing and managing the mentoring meetings;* sharing their knowledge and expertise; and* challenging the mentee's self-perceptions and heightening his/her self-awareness and self-esteem.This means it is important for mentors to establish and maintain \"appropriate and timely contact\" with mentees; to give \"sufficient time, priority, focus, structure and purpose\" to the mentoring relationship, which needs nurturing as opposed to being neglected. Furthermore, mentors should not allow their own \"values and perceptions\" to take precedence in mentoring sessions, thereby inhibiting genuine engagement within the relationship. Conversely, for managers who are being mentored to be considered by their mentors to be good (effective) mentees, they need:* to be open, friendly and receptive;* to take responsibility for their own learning and for the success of the mentoring relationship;* to reveal to mentors and provide feedback on the impact the mentoring is having; and* to help their mentors to understand quickly both the individual and organizational contextual factors that impact positively or negatively on the mentoring situation.This means they need also to avoid exhibiting behaviour that indicates a \"lack of commitment\" throughout the mentoring journey, a lack of \"forethought and preparation\" for meetings, or a \"negative mind-set\". Having been derived from concrete examples (critical incidents) of observed effective and ineffective mentor and mentee behaviour, the behavioural criteria constituting the two deduced lay models of positive and negative formal mentoring effectiveness, as summarized previously, would clearly be suitable for use as \"effectiveness measures\" of mentor and mentee \"performance\" within dyadic mentoring relationships, at least within those developed during the PSO 2006 ILD formal mentoring scheme.Comparison with existing theoretical and \"best-practice\" models/taxonomies\nConclusion and implications for practice and research: The results of this study offer \"new\" insights into and understanding of the specific types of behaviour that mentors and mentees within dyadic formal mentoring relationships need to exhibit or avoid exhibiting, if both are to enjoy a positive mentoring experience as opposed to suffer a negative mentoring experience. Thus, the results provide an empirical foundation on which to build, and to better ascertain mentor and mentee behaviours that lead either to effective or ineffective mentoring. As such they add a valuable contribution to a small but insufficient knowledge base underpinning the increasingly important mentoring component of modern day management/leadership development (MLD) programmes. There are significant implications for MLD and HRD practitioners arising from the study. For example, managers who act as the external or internal mentors of mentees benefiting from an organization's MLD programme, need to be aware of the behavioural factors that determine the effectiveness of the mentoring relationship and lead to positive mentoring/learning experiences for their mentees. But, as previously discussed, a successful mentoring relationship can depend as much on the behaviour of the respective mentee as they do on the behavioural competence of the mentor. Consequently, mentees need to be aware of what they must do behaviourally if they and their respective organizations are to derive optimum beneficial outcomes from the mentoring scheme. However, creating such awareness can be problematic in the absence of appropriate HRD initiatives to support mentoring, including:* orientation sessions to help mentors and mentees understand expectations, goals and roles; and* training and development interventions to ensure they are both behaviourally competent to forge a successful, satisfying and productive mentoring relationship (see Hezlett and Gibson, 2005; Murrey, 2001).Although research in the education sector suggests attendance at four-day orientation/training workshops focusing on how to mentor can lead to better mentoring experiences (Evertson and Smithey, 2000), other research in the market research industry suggests lengthy workshops are not always welcomed, and that half-day sessions for mentors, and one or two hour sessions for mentees are enough (Bard and Moore, 2000). Whether attending a long or short orientation/training event, we suggest from a pragmatic perspective that the \"lay models of positive and negative mentoring effectiveness\" emergent from our research may provide mentors and mentees with additional diagnostic tools to examine their prospective effective and ineffective behaviours within their existing or pending dyadic mentoring relationships. Perhaps MLD and HRD practitioners may find these two \"lay models\" useful for checking whether or not the mentors and mentees participating in the formal mentoring schemes of MLD programmes, for which they are responsible, are indeed aware of, and skilled in, and motivated to exhibit the range of effective behaviours that lead to positive mentoring experiences and outcomes. And furthermore, they are also alerted to those ineffective mentor and mentee behaviours that should be avoided. An additional implication arising from the high degree of overlap between our findings and models of \"best practice\" mentoring, as illustrated in Table VIII with respect to \"good mentee behaviours\", is that HRD practitioners can use with more confidence some of the mentoring prescriptions reported in the practitioner literature-because of the empirical support provided by our study. In this regard, we draw attention to the three additional \"effective (good) mentee behaviours\" that have surfaced in our research but do not appear in the models offered by Klasen and Clutterbuck (2002) and Cranwell-Ward et al. (2004) respectively.From a research perspective, our findings provide considerable empirical support for Kram's (1985) two-function model of positive mentoring and the more recent taxonomies of negative mentoring offered by Eby et al. (2000) and Eby and McManus (2004). Additionally, we suggest our emergent \"lay model of positive mentoring effectiveness\" and \"lay model of negative mentoring effectiveness\" advances understanding of the specific behavioural factors that lead to satisfaction for both mentors and mentees in dyadic formal mentoring relationships. However, we recommend similar studies are carried out in a wide and diverse range of organizational settings, in order to test the translatability and transferability of our deduced behavioural criteria of perceived mentoring effectiveness across organizations, organizational sectors and nations. Additionally, more empirical research of this kind is required to demonstrate further:* the relevance and validity of Kram's (1985) \"two-function\" model of positive mentoring and Eby et al.'s (2000) and Eby and McManus' (2004) taxonomies of negative mentoring to non-US societal cultures; and* the efficacy of current \"best practice\" guidelines and recommendations on the development of successful mentoring relationships and effective formal mentoring.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Most past research on formal mentoring has investigated its antecedents, outcomes and benefits with little attention given to what goes on inside the dyadic relationship. The purpose of this paper is to explore the types of mentor and mentee behaviours that are perceived as critical factors contributing to either a positive or negative mentoring experience for the mentee and the mentor.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Concrete examples of \"effective\" and \"ineffective\" mentor and mentee behaviour were collected from the research participants using Flanagan's Critical Incident Technique (CIT). The obtained CIT data were analyzed using forms of open and axial coding. Variants of content analysis were then used for conducting a series of subsequent comparative analyses.\nFindings: - From a total of 187 coded critical incidents the study identified 11 positive and four negative behavioural criteria of mentoring effectiveness as perceived from the mentee perspective, and nine positive and three negative behavioural criteria of mentoring effectiveness as perceived from the mentor perspective. Comparisons against \"theoretical\" and \"best practice\" models and taxonomies of positive and negative mentoring reveal varying degrees of overlap and commonality.\nResearch limitations/implications: - There are two main limitations. First, the number of research participants was at the bottom end of the typical sample range for qualitative research, which means the collection of critical incidents did not reach the point of data saturation. Second, the study explored the \"start-up\" and \"ongoing\" phases of the mentoring lifecycle but not the \"end\" phase.\nOriginality/value: - The findings provide new insights into mentor and mentee behavioural effectiveness within formal mentoring relationships, and thereby add to a sparse empirical knowledge base in this substantially neglected area of mentoring research. Also, they provide a foundation against which to compare and contrast future empirical research that may be conducted on perceived effective and ineffective mentor and mentee behaviours within formal mentoring relationships.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The mediating effect of organizational climate on the relationship between HRM practices and HR outcomes in the Libyan public sector
|
[
"Business",
"Business development",
"Management development"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Research studies have documented that human capital is one of the most valuable assets an organization can possess (Pfeffer, 1998; Wimbush, 2005). This is true to a larger extent, as whatever an employee brings to the organization is deemed to be unique and personal to him or her (Subramaniam et al., 2011). It is obvious that HR factors, such as organizational planning, staffing, training and development, performance appraisal and compensation and reward are very vital and crucial to an organization's success or failure (Subramaniam et al., 2011). Thus, the critical contribution of HRM, such as the HR outcomes to organizational performance, has been recognized to the extent that it has become one of the key research areas in the field of HRM (Becker and Gerhart, 1996; Guest, 1997). A study by Subramaniam et al. (2011) on HRM practices and organizational performance has revealed that HRM practices have the ability to improve organizational performance as well as HR outcomes. However, most of these studies have produced various positive and negative findings which have made researchers in the HRM domain to suggest that more future empirical investigations need to be carried out to ascertain and validate these findings (Brewster, 2004; Cardon and Stevens, 2004; Givord and Mauri, 2004; Zhu, 2004). It has also been revealed that HRM practices vary according to countries (Subramaniam et al., 2011), with these variations being associated to both size of the organizations (Heneman et al., 2000) and the environmental differences in terms of cultural values. A recent study by Rhee et al. (2014) is another wake-up call that studies on HRM practices-HR outcomes should be conducted based on various cultural contexts. This is true for Libya with its unique cultural values, coupled with a conflicting organizational climate or environment that could hinder an effective HR outcome.\n2. Literature review: 2.1 HRM practices and HR outcomes\n3. Methodology: 3.1 Research design\n4. Analysis results: 4.1 Descriptive result\n5. Discussion and conclusion: The main purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effect of organizational climate on the influence of specific dimensions of HRM practices on the HR outcomes of organizations operating in Libya. First, the study finds overall support for the influence of HRM practices, namely, performance appraisal, compensation and rewards and HRP, but not the influence of training and development and recruitment and selection on HR outcomes. Generally speaking, the findings of the study concur with previous studies (Rhee et al., 2014; Subramaniam et al., 2011) that found significant influence of specific HRM practices on the financial performance of organizations in China and Malaysia, respectively. They affirm the HRM practices of performance and compensation and reward as predictors of organizational performance. This finding indicates that the roles of performance appraisal, compensation and rewards and HRP in predicting employees' HR outcome are empirically acknowledged. For the organization, performance appraisal, compensation and rewards and HRP play vital roles in maintaining their employment and enhancing work commitment (Chew and Chan, 2008) to the organization, regardless of the size of the organization. The findings further imply that the current HRM practices, namely, performance appraisal, compensation and rewards and HRP, have key impact on the HR outcomes of organizations that operate in Libya. It obviously shows that performance appraisal, compensation and rewards and HRP not only play integral role in boosting organizational performance among the small industries but also among the large organizations, particularly in Libya.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Despite the fact that previous studies have identified a possible mediator (organizational climate) in the HRM practices-HR outcomes link, the role of organizational climate as a mediator has, however, not been accorded the respect it deserves in the HRM practices-HR outcomes relationship. Moreover, studies on organizational climate are still scarce and have often focused on western organizations. The purpose of this paper, among others, is to examine the direct effect of HRM practices on the HR outcomes within the context of Libyan organizations. It further investigates whether organizational climate mediates the influence of HRM practices on the HR outcomes within the context of Libyan organizations.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper uses multiple regression analysis on a sample of Libyan organizations.\nFindings: Regarding the findings, first, the paper finds that organizations that adopt HRM practices, such as performance appraisal, compensation and rewards and HR planning achieve significant HR outcomes. The finding also indicates that recruitment and selection and training and development are not good predictors of HR outcomes in the organization. Finally, the study reveals that the influence of HRM practice dimensions such as performance appraisal, compensation and reward and HRP on organizational performance is mediated by the presence of organizational climate; on the other hand, organizational climate fails to mediate the influence of both recruitment and selection and training and development on the HR outcomes. This study suggests that not all HRM practices are influenced by organizational climate of the organizations in Libya, and this may be due to the present environmental situation in Libya.\nOriginality/value: The study is deemed as an initial attempt to investigate the mediating effect of organizational climate on the relationship between HRM practices and HR outcomes in the Libyan public organizations. This finding acts as a springboard for further research and a wake-up call to the organizations in Libya to evaluate the importance of organizational climate in achieving HR outcomes in a volatile environment.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
An integral GSCM index for assessment of environmental performance in manufacturing companies
|
[
"Performance measurement",
"Environmental management",
"Green supply chain management",
"Green operations"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Supply chain management (SCM) encompasses the planning, coordination and control of a complex network of activities, information, society and companies, primarily focused on the movement of a product or service to an end user (Hervani et al., 2005; Sen et al., 2018). However, SCM has traditionally been focused on cost reduction and an increase in customer service levels, regardless of the environmental impact generated by its operations (solid waste generation, gas emissions, natural resources consumption, etc.) (Govindan et al., 2015; Nie, 2016).\n2. Literature review: According to Srivastava (2007, p. 55), the GSCM approach may be defined as, \"integrating environmental thinking into supply chain management, including product design, material sourcing and selection, manufacturing processes, delivery of the final product to the consumers as well as end-of-life management of the product after its useful life.\" Ferreira et al. (2016) state that, in order to carry out an adequate SCM, performance assessment is mandatory for the establishment of a baseline from which to deploy continuous improvement plans. Dubey et al. (2015, p. 125) define environmental performance as \"the relationship between the organization and the environment. It includes the environmental effects of resources consumed, the environmental impacts of the organizational process, the environmental implications of its products and services, the recovery and processing of products and meeting legal environmental requirements.\"\n3. Methodology for GSCM index design: The methodology used to design the GSCM index consists of four stages. In Stage 1, a survey, to be applied to a group of experts, was designed. In Stage 2, the group of experts was selected. In Stage 3, the DEMATEL method was applied, in order to identify the causal relationships between environmental practices and environmental subpractices. Likewise, the relative importance (weighting) of each practice and subpractice was established. Finally, in Stage 4, the GSCM indicator was applied in a set of industrial companies. A detailed explanation of these stages is provided below.\n4. Application of the GSCM index: The GSCM index was applied in ten Colombian manufacturing companies of different sizes and subsectors, located in several regions of the country. Research on measurement and mitigation of environmental impacts is of great importance for developing countries like Colombia. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Colombia is a leading country in the implementation of the sustainable development agenda, as 17 of its sustainable development goals were included in the National Development Plan (2014-2018) to maintain this policy as part of the current government's international agreements (OECD and ECLAC, 2017). However, the country faces environmental challenges, since its biodiversity and ecosystems are under great pressure, due to industrial operations, mining, cattle farming, transportation and urban growth, among others (OECD and ECLAC, 2014).\n5. Managerial implications: The findings indicate that EC, ED, IEM, RL, GHR and green information systems and technologies are the green practices on which managers must focus their environmental efforts, as they belong to the cause group. This outcome provides valuable information for decision makers to conduct continuous improvement process in environmental matters. On the other hand, the proposed GSCM index is a valuable tool for the support of managerial processes in at least three aspects: first, performance measurement of the ten green practices permits the company to identify its strengths and weaknesses (baseline), in order to assertively deploy strategic and tactical environmental plans. Moreover, given that green practices are made up of 46 subpractices (performance dimensions), it is possible to establish, in detail, those processes and operations in company's supply chain which are lagging furthest behind, and for which company must increase its efforts.\n6. Conclusions: The literature review reveals that GSCM is a topic of great interest among researchers. Regarding environmental performance measurement indicators, although there are a significant number of contributions which use particular green practices in the GSCM approach, two main gaps were identified: first, the 10 green practices and their 46 performance dimensions identified in the literature have not been all examined. For instance, some emerging practices, such as IEM, GITS and GHR have not been considered in the existing contributions. Second, despite several authors have highlighted the need to identify the causal relationships between green management practices, this topic has not been addressed in the identified indicators.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: From the green supply chain management (GSCM) approach, the purpose of this paper is to propose a green index as a benchmarking tool to assess environmental performance in manufacturing companies. The index involves 10 green practices and 46 performance dimensions, which were identified by way of an exhaustive literature review.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The GSCM index was designed as follows: survey design; experts group selection; relationship identification and green practice weighting (DEMATEL method); and GSCM index construction. The proposed GSCM index was validated at a set of ten Colombian manufacturing companies, which belong to different industrial subsectors.\nFindings: The structural relationships between both green practices and performance dimensions (cause group vs effect group) were determined. Consequently, a set of green practices and performance dimensions on which managers must focus their environmental efforts (cause group), in order to positively affect the system as a whole, was identified. The environmental performance of a set of manufacturing companies was established.\nPractical implications: As a decision support tool, the GSCM index provides a baseline for the deployment of environmental improvement plans. It also permits the comparison of environmental performance between companies from different industrial sectors. Further, it can be used to monitor internal operations and collaboration programs in each echelon of the supply chain.\nOriginality/value: This publication contributes to the field of environmental performance measurement by introducing a new index, from the GSCM perspective. In contrast with the existing green indicators, the proposed index is the first to consider causal relationships between green practices and between their performance dimensions.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Spin switches strategy of Swisslog sales force: Hospital logistics experts develop consultative skills
|
[
"Sales force",
"Selling",
"Logistics",
"Hospitals",
"Health care",
"Training"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: A Swiss company providing automated logistics solutions for hospitals and other health-care organizations has taught its sales force to talk about the operational benefits of its systems to individual hospitals or pharmacies rather than simply the technical features of a particular product.\nSelling a complete solution and services: \"It wasn't enough to leave our sales teams to their own devices to pick up the right methods and techniques to go from selling products to selling a complete solution and services,\" explained Massimo Zagnoni, Swisslog export-sales and marketing director. \"With several offices and a capillary sales network in Europe, we needed a consistent approach across the region and a training expert that specialized in teaching the skills needed for such major, long-term solution-selling.\"After considering a range of training providers, Swisslog chose Huthwaite International to deliver the required courses. A few decades ago, Huthwaite developed what is now known as Spin Selling Skills. The technique, constantly being updated, is a widely-validated model of effective sales behavior.\nFocusing potential customers on existing problems: \"At the time, we wanted to raise the game of our sales teams by developing their ability to focus potential customers on existing problems and the benefits they might achieve implementing the Swisslog solutions,\" Massimo Zagnoni continued. \"Leveraging problems and benefits was key to moving customers toward the decision to change. The sales team was looking forward to developing further the ability clearly to identify our customers' needs. In order to do this we had to be able to ask the right searching questions. This is an effective way to gather the relevant information and ensure that our solutions precisely address the customers' pain points. This questioning approach lies at the heart of Spin selling.\"There were also more practical elements to the decision. Huthwaite could provide consistent solutions in different locations, while incorporating the local knowledge required. As a behavior-based skill model, Spin could be tailored to fit the individual aspects of Swisslog's systems and services in the environment of hospitals and health-care organizations.The project had the support of the Swisslog Healthcare Solutions Europe senior-management team from the start. Huthwaite ensured that team members were truly involved by consulting them to help to create the customized training materials. This included the development of role-play scenarios that mirrored typical sales situations in a business environment.Alan Le Roy, Huthwaite's account manager for the project, explained: \"This initial planning and consultation was critical to its success. Working closely with Swisslog Healthcare Solutions Europe's HR business partner, Anna Carin Wardh, we consulted the key players on the challenges faced by the sales teams. This was the basis to determine how the training had to be tailored to achieve the best solution. It was also important in terms of getting buy-in and active support for the training.\"\"Our sales cycle can be long and complex; up to two to three years, for example. This is ideal for the Spin approach,\" said Massimo Zagnoni. \"We liked the focus on building relationships, communicating the benefits of change and ensuring that customers understood the long-term value to their organization. The Spin approach was ideal to further develop our ability to identify and create value by working with the customer to reach the tailored solution.\"Swisslog took the Spin Selling Skills blended-learning approach, which ensured maximum skill transfer and minimum time off the job. This consisted of a mixture of face-to-face learning and e-learning. This training is currently being complemented by coaching from managers and a series of webinars as part of a reinforcement program.\"The blended nature of the training program has been important,\" Massimo Zagnoni continued. \"The online learning covered the theory effectively, providing time for role-playing and interactive work during the face-to-face sessions. This was vital for gaining practical knowledge; for example, how to behave in meetings with a potential client using the Spin technique and approach.\"Although the full results of Swisslog's investment in training will be seen in the long-term, according to the management team the Spin approach has motivated the sales teams in many ways, helping them better to identify customer needs and highlight the benefits Swisslog solutions can provide, to be more results-driven and to think more strategically in their approach.\nLearning embedded through coaching, webinars and other activities: In turn, Alan Le Roy believes that Massimo Zagnoni's enthusiasm played its own role: \"His drive to embed the learning through coaching, webinars and other activities has added to the momentum in changing behavior,\" he said.Feedback from the sales people has been positive. Typical comments include:I now know how important it is to investigate the implied needs more and to look for explicit customer statements.I now recognize the need to ask questions more and not to offer solutions too early.I am changing my frame of mind and becoming more focused on identifying solution benefits than describing products.Massimo Zagnoni concluded: \"There has been a major shift from thinking mainly about the features of a solution to thinking about the benefits to the customer. Personally, I have taken a number of sales and marketing courses during my career, but never Spin Selling Skills. Its emphasis on asking questions and ensuring clarity is ideal for our business. I believe we will be reaping the rewards for years to come.\"\nNote: David Pollitt, Human Resource Management International Digest editor, wrote this article.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to describe how Swisslog Healthcare Solutions, which provides automated logistics solutions for hospitals and other health-care organizations, has taught its sales force to talk about the operational benefits of its systems to individual hospitals or pharmacies rather than simply the technical features of a particular product.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper explains the reasons for the training, the form it took and the results it has achieved.\nFindings: - The paper highlights the focus on building relationships, communicating the benefits of change and ensuring that customers understood the long-term value to their organization, developing their ability to focus potential customers on existing problems and the benefits they might achieve by implementing the Swisslog solutions.\nPractical implications: - The paper explains that online learning covered the theory effectively, providing time for role-playing and interactive work during the face-to-face sessions, which was vital for gaining practical knowledge in, for example, how to behave in meetings with a potential client using the Spin technique and approach.\nSocial implications: - The paper highlights how the development of information technology is significantly affecting the way companies select their training partners - and the kinds of training they expect.\nOriginality/value: - The paper reveals that training-company Huthwaite ensured that team members were truly involved by consulting them to help to create the customized training materials.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Establishing the DEA energy management system for individual departments within universities
|
[
"Energy management effectiveness",
"Existing environment factors",
"Internal benchmark",
"Mixed-use buildings",
"Occupant factors",
"Space type"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: 1.1 Background\n2. Literature review: energy-efficiency assessment methods: Various building environment assessment schemes, building energy certifications, whole building benchmarking tools and hierarchical assessment and diagnosis tools have been developed in numerous countries and regions to assess the energy performance and improve the energy efficiency of both the new buildings and existing buildings (Wang, et al., 2012; Haapio and Viitaniemi, 2008; Poel et al., 2007; Forsberg and von Malmborg, 2004). This study reviewed the existing literature that focused on the energy management aspects of \"existing buildings\" to realize current research trends. The studies reviewed can be categorized into two groups based on their research objectives. The first group of studies involved diagnosing the energy efficiency of a \"building or system\", proposing improvement measures (such as installing external shading devices, enhancing the insulation of external walls, and replacing HVAC systems), and employing energy simulation software to assess the magnitude of energy savings achieved by various measures (Zhu, 2006; Hatamipour et al., 2007; Sun and Lee, 2006). The approaches taken often involve in-depth investigation and larger scale of building refurbishment and incur higher costs. They are not as useful for departments in universities, who simply need a tool to perform preliminary evaluation on the energy performance of their facilities and to identify problem areas in the first place.\n3. DEMS: theoretical framework: 3.1 Data envelopment analysis\n4. Implementation of the DEMS: This study uses the Department of Architecture (DA) of a national university (NTUST) in Taiwan as a case to demonstrate how the DEMS can assist individual departments within universities in assessing the energy management effectiveness of their spaces.\n5. Conclusion: This research explores the \"space type\" and \"internal benchmark\" research concepts, and the \"data envelopment analysis\" method to establish the \"DEA Energy Management System (DEMS)\" to assist individual departments within universities in assessing the energy efficiencies of their facilities from the \"management\" perspective. The DEMS is further implemented in the Department of Architecture of NTUST in Taiwan to show its analytical procedures and results and to discuss its potential and limitations from the energy management perspective.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to present the theoretical framework of the \"data envelopment analysis (DEA) Energy Management System (DEMS)\" proposed to assist individual departments occupying the same buildings on university campus in assessing the energy efficiencies of their facilities, as well as to demonstrate the implementation results of the DEMS applied in the case of the Department of Architecture of NTUST in Taiwan.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The proposed DEMS considers each \"space\" within a department in a given \"time\" (such as a month) as a decision-making unit (DMU). Then, regression analysis is performed on data of \"existing environment\", \"occupancy\" factors and \"actual energy consumption EUI (energy usage intensity)\" related variables. The regression equation derived is then used to calculate the \"predicted EUI\" for all DMUs. The \"actual EUI\" is further considered as the input data and the \"predicted EUI\" as the output data of the DEMS, on which data envelopment analysis is conducted to produce three types of energy-efficiency scores (overall efficiency, scale efficiency, pure technical efficiency) to indicate the energy efficiencies of all DMUs.\nFindings: The DEMS was developed and further implemented in the Department of Architecture of NTUST in Taiwan to illustrate how it can be used to assist individual departments within universities in assessing the energy management effectiveness of their spaces.\nResearch limitations/implications: The accuracy of the energy-efficiency scores depends greatly on the accuracy of the predicted EUIs of spaces, and, therefore, it is critical to identify a better regression model with higher predictability (R2). The relatively low actual EUIs of certain student spaces during winter and summer breaks may greatly affect the resulting energy-efficiency scores.\nPractical implications: The DEMS allows facility managers to assess and compare the energy-efficiency scores \"among different spaces\", to further review the energy efficiency of a space \"over time\" and to recognize the benchmark cases and pursue actions for energy improvement.\nOriginality/value: This study explores the research concepts of \"space type\" and \"internal benchmark\" with an analytical method \"data envelopment analysis\" to assess the energy efficiency of an individual department which may only occupy certain floors of a building.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Discussing municipal performance alternatives: Public perceptions of municipal services delivery in Lithuania
|
[
"Quality of life",
"Citizen satisfaction",
"Municipal services provision"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Numerous studies in public management and public administration demonstrate that the perception of public services delivery is mostly based on implications of different managerial practices and deconstruction of governance arrangements (Walsh, 1995; Christensen and Laegreid, 2002). The notion of \"citizen as a customer\" became central to the idea of new public management. The idea that managerial and administrative practices significantly influence both the effective provision and customers' satisfaction encouraged the theoretical discussion on how to measure the different phases of public services process (Barzelay and Armajani, 1992). The main theoretical debates include what measurement tools should be applied assessing the satisfaction level with public services, how to define the quality of services, which indicators best reflect the expectations and needs of citizens, how to evaluate the specificity of localities. However, the research focused mainly on the deconstruction of services delivery performance rather than evaluating citizen expectations and perceptions of what residents need and how they understand the objectives of self-government (Osborne and Gaebler, 1992; Pollitt, 1993). One of the options was to integrate the citizen satisfaction level using the factor of subjective quality of life (e.g. Van Ryzin, 2004, 2008 ; Sirgy et al., 2000; Sirgy and Cornwell, 2001; Sirgy et al., 2008). The other option included the use of multiple relationships between services performance measures on different phases, including planning, implementation and assessment and citizen subjective perceptions (see, e.g. Kelly and Swindell, 2002a, b; James, 2009).\n2. Contextual factors: the population changes and differentiation of municipal tasks: In the paper, we concentrate on the influence of few external factors that challenge the provision of public services on the municipal level. Relatively significant changes in population size, the impact of low fiscal autonomy of municipalities and attitudes of citizens are analyzed as a specific configuration of social, economic and institutional aspects important in this paper. First of all, among the other Eastern and Central European countries, Lithuania experiences the dramatic changes in population decline on the municipal level, including the critical migration rates and relatively low fertility rates (OECD, 2016). Due to economic reasons, the average emigration rate increased from 7 percent of the population to 12 percent in 1990-2000 and remains one of the highest rates among the other EU countries (Statistics Lithuania, 2015). The population situation on the regional level is also affected significantly by the urbanization processes which lead to the increasing rural-urban migration. Lithuanian municipalities are considered as one of the largest municipal structures in the Europe considering the territory size and total population number. In 2015, the average municipality had approximately 41,682 thousand inhabitants varying from the smallest municipal unit with 3,020 inhabitants to the largest urban municipality within 543,493 thousand residents (Statistics Lithuania, 2016). Among 60 municipalities, mostly rural areas detached geographically from the major cities experience both economic and population decline. During the period 2015-2016, the population rate dropped from 0.45 to 3.14 percent in the most of the municipalities, excluding urbanized or resort territories of Palanga city, Vilnius city, Kaunas district, Klaipeda district and Neringa municipalities (Statistics Lithuania, 2016). According to national census data from the period 1996-2015, the decline of population in all municipalities is even more intense with the average drop of 21.1 percent. For example, the population rate in Akmene district municipality decreased 34.5 percent in total; Ignalina district municipality lost 34.1 percent of its population, and the Birzai district municipality - 32.6 percent (Statistics Lithuania, 2016) (Table I). The significant transformations in population rates are mostly associated with negative consequences on a municipal level, including the decreasing employment rate in labor market, social and educational problems. It also questions the scope and outreach of municipal services.\n3. Theoretical discussion: The contextual factors demonstrate that the recent institutional changes that decreased the municipal capacities for higher quality public services provision have an unexpected effect on local inhabitants' expectations to sustain the sufficient level of quality of life in localities. In the paper, we are relying on the theoretical model as an analytical tool to explain the relationship between personal references and institutional settings on the municipal level is built on few notions. The model includes the main constructs which enable our empirical research (Figure 1). We hypothesized that important objectives of a municipality are related to the satisfaction of citizens with services (A) which in turn is related to the quality of life (B). Besides, the socio-demographic factors influence the main constructs of the model, specifically, the importance of objectives of a municipality (C), satisfaction with services of a municipality (D) and quality of life (E). These variables were drawn from the previous extensive research on municipal services delivery practices, ensuring a quality of municipal services and perceptions of citizens to modify services to their needs (Kelly and Swindell, 2002a, b).\n4. Methodology: 4.1 Research approach\n5. Empirical findings and results: We performed structural equations modeling which statistically summarized the existing relationships between the individual determinants and institutionally defined variables (satisfaction with services and infrastructure, assessment of municipal objectives). The model included eight exogenous variables and ten endogenous variables. Table IV contains all unstandardized parameter estimates and covariation relationships among the variables of the model. The structural model shown in the path diagram presented in Figure 2 omits some relations for the analytical clarity purposes. The relationships indicated with standardized parameter estimates, and correlation relationships are provided in the path diagram.\n6. Discussion and conclusions: We must conclude that there is no way to evaluate the relative importance of the external factors so as to explain an aggregation of individual preferences logically without making some simplifying assumptions. First, we analyzed the effects of municipal performance mechanisms by assuming that it will positively affect both citizen satisfaction with services and a broader understanding of municipal agenda in Lithuania. In this study, we found that a set of social-demographic variables define the different individual profiles toward the definition of municipal services satisfaction and the importance of municipal agenda. Second, the last factor of quality of life is also important considering the overall evaluation of municipal performance and the role of self-government institutions in a country. Relatively low political participation, decreasing regional demographic situation, low autonomy level of municipalities and inconsistent local governance reforms initiatives can partly explain the citizens' expectations on municipal performance, including also the satisfaction with services. In Lithuania, the gap between a broad range of municipal functions and the degree of central state regulation over local finance creates the tensions between high expectations of local inhabitants and their satisfaction level. The nominal autonomy over local expenditures cannot adjust to the actual needs of different inhabitants groups, including the growing number of pensioners and socially excluded persons. Finally, the quality of life in local settings is affected not only by municipal budget uncertainties which modify services provision but also by a political empowerment and representation.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to focus on the determinants of satisfaction with municipal services by local inhabitants in Lithuania. Specifically, the paper seeks to disclose the relations between the importance that citizens attribute to the objectives of a municipality, satisfaction with services, the perception of quality of life and socio-demographic characteristics of local inhabitants.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The theoretical assumptions were tested using the quantitative data of public opinion survey in Lithuania conducted in 2016. The representative sample (n=1,006) consisting respondents over the age of 18 years old was collected using the personal interview method in households from different municipalities. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was employed to specify the constructs of the model. The structural equation modeling allowed revealing the relations between the importance of municipal objectives, satisfaction with services and infrastructure, the perception of quality of life and socio-demographic characteristics of citizens.\nFindings: The findings indicate that there is a weak positive relation among the importance of municipal objectives and satisfaction with municipal services and infrastructure in case of Lithuania. There is a medium positive relation between satisfaction with services and infrastructure and perception of quality of life. The authors find that citizens living in cities attribute higher importance to the objectives of a municipality. The expectations increase within the age. The authors also find that residents living in cities are less satisfied (comparing to citizens living in towns and rural areas) with municipal services. The results indicate that citizens working in the private sector are less satisfied (comparing to unemployed citizens) with municipal services. The authors also find that such variables as education, age and income has a positive influence on the perception of quality of life.\nResearch limitations/implications: Further research may specify the connection between the importance of municipal objectives, satisfaction with services, quality of life and socio-demographic characteristics more precisely. Specifically, the construct of the importance of municipal objectives was explained best as one factor due to the selection of objectives constituting the construct in the questionnaire. More precise measurement of the construct may reveal the agenda pursued by citizens and its relation to the socio-demographic factors.\nPractical implications: The research reveals that satisfaction with municipal services and infrastructure is an important predictor of perceived quality of life for Lithuanians citizens on the local level. It sends an important signal to policymakers indicating that citizens that are living in cities, working in private sector feel less satisfied compared to other groups of inhabitants in rural areas. It also provides evidence that different profiles of socio-demographic characteristics should also be considered more carefully while designing responsive service provision systems in municipalities.\nOriginality/value: The paper provides a theoretical and methodological perspective that relates importance of municipal objectives, satisfaction with municipal services, infrastructure and perceived quality of life of local inhabitants. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of socio-demographic characteristics of for municipal agenda and design of provision of public services.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A meta-analysis of transformational leadership in hospitality research
|
[
"Cultural differences",
"Meta-analysis",
"Follower outcomes",
"Transformational leadership in hospitality"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: A growing number of theoretical and empirical studies have recently emerged concerning transformational leadership (TFL) (Banks et al., 2016; Ng, 2017), which is defined as a \"style of leadership that transforms followers to rise above their self-interest by altering their morale, ideals, interests, and values, and motivating them to perform better than initially expected\" (Pieterse et al., 2010). TFL has been paid much more attention than other leadership theories and in various research fields (Antonakis et al., 2014) because of its significant influence on innovative behavior, organizational development, employees' performance, service innovation and extra-role activities in hospitality (Gu et al., 2017; Luo et al., 2016; Ng, 2017; Patiar and Wang, 2016; Tracey and Hinkin, 1996).\nTheoretical background and hypotheses: Transformational leadership\nMethodology: Study collection\nResults: Analysis of the main effects\nDiscussion: This meta-analysis provides a quantitative review of the relationship between TFL and follower outcomes in the hospitality context. TFL is positively associated with all follower outcomes. Specifically, TFL has the strongest impact on followers' relational perceptions, followed by their attitudes and behaviors.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Though the effect of transformational leadership (TFL) on followers has been largely examined in hospitality, the findings are rather inconsistent. This paper aims to provide a quantitative review for the relationship between TFL and follower outcomes in hospitality and a detailed analysis of the moderating variables (cultural differences, measurement instrument, rating sources and time lag).\nDesign/methodology/approach: To explore the effect sizes of TFL on followers, this study conducted a quantitative meta-analysis based on 62 primary studies, including 66 independent samples (N = 23,037). The outcomes of TFL were categorized into subordinates' attitudinal outcomes, relational perceptions and behavioral outcomes.\nFindings: The results indicate that TFL has the strongest impact on relational perceptions, followed by subordinates' attitudinal and behavioral outcomes. The results also show that cultural differences, rating sources and time lag partially moderate the relationships between TFL and follower outcomes.\nResearch limitations/implications: TFL generally has a high level of validity for explaining attitudinal, behavioral and relational perception outcomes of followers in the field of hospitality. Given that, there have been a large number of studies investigating TFL with follower attitudinal and behavioral outcomes, it might not be necessary to continue applying identical frameworks to investigate the effect of TFL. Instead, future research on TFL is expected to explore the relationship between TFL and followers' relational perceptions and consider cultural and methodological factors.\nOriginality/value: To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis to clear theoretical links between TFL and its outcomes in the hospitality context. This study further investigates several moderators that can influence the effects of TFL and helps better understand the influence of TFL in the area of hospitality. The study also provides future research directions for leadership research in the hospitality context.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Filling the black box of implementation for health-promoting schools
|
[
"Health promotion",
"Health",
"Schools",
"Implementation",
"Theory",
"Practice",
"Learning organizations"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Theoretically and empirically based components of a \"science of delivery\" (Catford, 2009) for implementation of health-promoting schools have been articulated in a complementary article (\"Theoretical base for implementation components of health-promoting schools\" this edition). Whilst past reports (Viig and Wold, 2005; Weiner et al., 2008; Tjomsland et al., 2009), have listed some guidelines for action, there has been a lack of in-depth and comprehensive elucidation. Previous listings have also lacked an empirical and theoretical base and have not provided enough detail for schools to effectively operationalise the components. Much of the previous work has been reported from a health-based perspective, ignoring the conceptualisation of health-promoting schools from an educational research and practice orientation (Rowling and Jeffreys, 2006; Mohammadi et al., 2010; Deschesnes et al., 2010).Building on the narrative synthesis in the complementary paper (\"Theoretical base for implementation components of health-promoting schools\", this edition), greater specificity about the actual implementation of the components, grounded in empirical research to guide action, is delineated here. Eight implementation components have been delineated in the complementary paper. These are: preparing and planning for school development, policy and institutional anchoring, professional development and learning, leadership and management practices, relational and organisational context, student participation, partnerships and networking, and sustainability. However, these mechanisms need translation into theoretically and empirically based guidance to ensure the quality functioning of the mechanisms. The greater specificity of the proposed components of implementation with concrete/hands on evidence based actions is intended to help ensure implementation with fidelity and thereby achieve the goals of health-promoting schools. The identification of an evidence base for an implementation system for health-promoting schools signifies that it is not just the existence of the components to which attention needs to paid, but also their functioning as a key outcome to be achieved. Recording the functioning of the implementation components, often labelled process evaluation, as a means to achieve desired outcomes is intended to provide a new focus for strengthening the science base for health-promoting schools, as has been repeatedly called for over the last decade (Lister-Sharpe et al., 1999; Deschesnes et al., 2003; Stewart-Brown, 2006).Examples are drawn from whole school focused empirical research and evaluation reports from the field of health-promoting schools. These examples are used to operationalise the function of the implementation components.Theoretical and empirical base for health-promoting schools implementation\nImplications: A danger inherent in separating out the components of implementation is that the big picture of implementation, especially integrated implementation and its context, is lost. A holistic approach needs to be reflected in implementation and its evaluation. That is, that action occurring in the implementation involves an integrated set of components (Deschesnes et al., 2003). The interaction of capacity building components such as organisational change, resources, leadership, professional development and partnerships in a particular context, is an essential quality of health promotion practice and its evaluation (Hawe et al., 2000). However, epistemological positions of evaluators/researchers may prevent them viewing the elements of building capacity, as a focus for measurement. If it is not a focus it restricts the legitimacy of integrated action in implementation of interventions. Yet knowledge of such action is crucial at this stage of development of the field of health-promoting schools (Rowling and Mason, 2005; Heward et al., 2007).Another confounding factor related to epistemological position on implementation, emerged from the evaluation of different perceptions of health-promoting schools in Australia and implementation of healthy schools in Canada. In Australia, diversity of educational perspectives on the meaning of health-promoting schools was identified, suggesting that even within a sector, diversity exists (Mohammadi et al., 2010). In Canada, stakeholders at different levels perceived implementation in diverse ways. For provincial health authorities, it was prescriptive and normative, whereas for provincial educational authorities, a focus was on flexibility and adaptation of healthy schools (Deschesnes et al., 2010).Barry et al.(2005) identified the facilitating and inhibiting factors of the context - readiness, mobilisation of support, ecological fit and cultural sensitivity as all being crucial conditions. The importance of implementation context has also been highlighted by Ringeisen et al.(2003), who argue that the field of mental health prevention science has a solid mental health foundation, but lacks contextual understanding. Also in the implementation of health-promoting schools, ignoring the culture and context fails to acknowledge how schools as organizations operate, improve and change, and how teachers judge and change their practice. Globally, culture and context may vary the focus for implementation. For example in The Netherlands, the context for school health promotion resulted in an implementation focus that involved developing a co-ordinated needs based model, Schoolbeat, to draw together diverse groups from education, welfare, health and youth (Leurs et al., 2005). Teachers in this country do not learn about health teaching in their training (Leurs et al., 2005), whereas in other countries it is a key curricula component (Rowling, 1996). Consequently in The Netherlands, there is a heavy reliance on external groups, whereas a country with few external support groups might focus on building the capacity of existing school staff.There may be a complex interaction and interdependency between components that also may vary between schools. This highlights the need for non-linearity in thinking in implementation. The importance of this was highlighted in the evaluation of the six step Schoolbeat program in The Netherlands (Boot et al., 2010). It was found that the linear model did not fit the implementation and evaluation action of schools. In practice, schools implemented elements that fitted their opportunities. The researchers recommended implementation that adopted a cyclical, iterative process building on the individual school's organisational capacity at time of initiating the implementation process.The lack of recognition of the dynamic nature of schools results in inappropriately conceived implementation which fails to acknowledge the constraints imposed by internal structures of schools. Many of the factors are whole school practice and policy factors, whose particular combination and quality create a school culture particular and sometimes unique to a school. These culture and context issues create distinct school effects. Local factors, such as staff mobility and student mobility, which are beyond the control of central policy makers, impact on local school culture. Schools also vary in their ability to engage in innovation (Fullan and Steigelbauer, 1991). School culture differences as well as social and political factors, influence what might be chosen as starting points or \"key\" priorities. For example the need for professional learning might be key for one school, but student participation a priority for another.\nConclusion: In identifying and operationalising components for implementation for health-promoting schools attention needs to be paid to the existing research on the barriers and hindrances to implementation (Deschesnes et al., 2003; Barry et al., 2005).The level of specificity provided in this article should enhance staff professional learning as it fulfils one of the characteristics for successful school based change, namely practical, detailed implementation and enough flexibility to allowing shaping to suit to specific contexts (Cole, 2008). In the past the \"how\" to implement whole school change, was left to the variable knowledge and skills of practitioners involved in health-promoting schools, resulting in disparity in amount and type of implementation, thereby contributing to differing outcomes. The absence of specific guidelines for implementation has hampered the development of rigor in the implementation and evaluation of health-promoting schools. This paper has detailed a range of issues that need to be attended to when implementing the components. These include the implementation context, the conceptualisation of health-promoting schools and its implementation, the epistemological position of implementers and evaluators, the need for non-linear implementation thinking and a cyclical iterative implementation process.The articulation of evidence-based components for implementation detailed in this paper is a significant step forward for health-promoting schools. The specificity provided here holds promise to enhance the science base and quality of implementation. The implementation components detailed here now need to be tested by schools and researchers for fit with content and contexts. Global testing of the components will expand knowledge on the social and geopolitical factors that impact on implementation.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Achieving organisational learning and greater specificity for implementation action for health-promoting schools requires detailed understanding of the necessary components. They include: preparing and planning for school development, policy and institutional anchoring, professional development and learning, leadership and management practices, relational and organisational context, student participation, partnerships and networking, and sustainability. This paper seeks to elaborate a theoretically based rationale for how these eight components of implementation that needs to be put into action.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Building on the narrative synthesis in the complementary paper (\"Theoretical base for implementation components of health-promoting schools\", this issue), examples drawn from empirical research and evaluation reports in the field of health-promoting schools are used to operationalise the function of the components.\nFindings: - This elaboration anchors specific implementation actions within their own theoretical and empirical base, a significant advance on previous guidelines. The eight components have been articulated separately. However, in practice they operate interdependently. Context and culture issues also need to be accommodated.\nPractical implications: - The level of specificity provided in this paper has the potential to enhance school staff professional learning, as it fulfils one of the characteristics for successful school-based education, namely practical, detailed implementation and enough flexibility, allowing shaping to suit specific contexts.\nOriginality/value: - The identification of this knowledge base should enable practitioners to develop an in-depth understanding of the operational functioning of existing guidelines, thereby enhancing their practice. The specificity provided holds promise to enhance the science base and quality of implementation.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Ownership relevance in aspect-oriented business process models
|
[
"Process design",
"Business process management",
"Process modelling",
"Process owner",
"Aspect owner",
"Business process models",
"Crosscutting concerns",
"Strategic actor"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Business process modeling (BPM) is a key activity for a modern organization, which may choose from several business process modeling languages (BPMLs) available. Most of these BPM languages provide a way to represent the role or organizational unit responsible for executing process' tasks. However, the languages for Business Process Management neglect the importance of representing process ownership.\n2. The quest for process ownership: The process owner is an important component of any business process management initiative, mainly those ones related to very well-structured processes aimed at monitoring performance. Hammer and Stanton (1999) states that the most visible difference between a process enterprise and a traditional organization is the existence of process owners. He argues that process ownership has to be a permanent role, for two reasons. First, process designs need to evolve as business conditions change, and process owners need to drive that evolution. Second, in the absence of strong process owners, the former organizational structures will soon reassert themselves. The advent of process owners is a dramatic change for most organizations, because it separates control over work from management of the people who perform the work. Hammer (2007) has also identified two groups of characteristics that indicate how well business processes are able to perform and sustain the performance. One group applies to individual processes and the other to the whole enterprise.\n3. A notation (language) to represent process ownership: Our literature review confirms the results of List and Korherr (2006) that no approach was found to represent business process ownership, as well as provide hints of the benefit to be able to represent process ownership.\n4. Case study: A case study (Yin, 2009) was conducted to evaluate our proposal. This case study considered the context of previously modeled processes performed in a university library.\n5. Related work: List and Korherr (2006) present a framework for evaluating BPMLs. These languages, they argue, represent some aspects of processes and some areas of application, but no comprehensive evaluation of BPMLs is available. To address this issue they propose a meta-model with a wide range of process concepts, which makes it possible to ascertain the core concepts of BPMLs and to evaluate BPML. The languages evaluated were UML 2 Activity Diagram (AD), Business Process Definition Metamodel, Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN), EPC, IDEF3, Petri Net, and Role Activity Diagram (RAD)[1].\n6. Conclusion: In this paper we argue the importance of clearly established process ownership, both of the core process and the aspectual process.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose a representation scheme based on the i* strategic actor model to represent the process owner information and show how to incorporate this approach into the event driven process chain and Business Process Modeling Notation-BPMN meta-models and also into the aspect-oriented business process modeling (BPM) context.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The authors use a case study in a real setting to evaluate the proposal and a controlled experiment to get more evidence about its relevance.\nFindings: The authors presented evidence both from a case study in a real-world library showing the importance of representing - previously unavailable - process owner information, and from an experiment which involved participants analyzing the same models of the case study, confirming the preliminary evidences. It is important to stress the recognition that the proposed representation provided more transparency, in terms of ownership, than the usual BPM models. These benefits are due to the combination of the aspect-oriented approach and the strategic actor model, providing ownership information in a more transparent way.\nOriginality/value: The authors not only argue the importance of clearly established process ownership, both of the core process and the aspectual process, but also the authors presented an approach to represent the actor involved in process and aspect ownership as an instantiation of the i* strategic actor. Using this approach, the process owner can be defined in terms of actors instead of the activities performed. It is also possible to define the aspect owner and to include the aspectual process concept in the business process model.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Comparing online and in-store shopping behavior towards luxury goods
|
[
"Internet retailing",
"Luxury consumption",
"Online luxury shopping",
"Shopping motives"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The internet has profoundly transformed the industry practices of modern retailing and distribution management (Doherty and Ellis-Chadwick, 2006; Pentina et al., 2011). The luxury sector, however, has been slow in embracing the digital revolution because of its concern for losing the aura of exclusivity (Okonkwo, 2007). The situation started to change during the past five years. As more and more consumers have accepted internet purchasing, luxury vendors have quickened their adoption of the internet and begun to use sophisticated information technologies to improve their online presence and promote brand awareness (Okonkwo, 2009). Both marketing scholars and retail executives are particularly interested in better understanding the unique challenges and opportunities that have been brought to the luxury industry by the internet.\nConceptual background: This paper uses motivation theory as the theoretical foundation to study why consumers purchase luxury products online. Motivation theory posits that human beings are motived to pursue individual gratification and satisfaction (McGuire, 1974). Previous researchers have examined how shopping motivations affect consumers\nStudy one: In the first study, we conducted a qualitative survey to examine luxury consumers\nOnline shopping behavior of luxury consumers: Convenience\nIn-store shopping behavior of luxury consumers: Aesthetic appeal\nHypotheses development: It is important to empirically verify that the qualitative research themes exist. Consequently, we utilized a pluralistic research design. The hypotheses were generated from the themes observed in study one. It is important that these exploratory hypotheses be corroborated by a cross sectional survey (Deshpande, 1983). According to the results from study one, online luxury shoppers highly value convenience and product availability. They are more price-conscious than in-store buyers. Online browsing and information search provide the luxury buyers with opportunities to compare the prices and explore alternative choices. Product availability is attractive to those consumers who like to make comparisons before they choose the best suitable style. Thus, we present the following hypotheses:\nStudy two: In the second study, we used quantitative data to examine the results from study one and test the hypotheses. Compared to qualitative data, quantitative data is more objective, reliable and generalizable.\nDiscussion: Our research is the first exploratory study to compare online and in-store shopping motivation towards luxury goods. The results of our two studies make the following contributions. First, online and in-store luxury consumers are influenced by different motivational factors. The major themes of online luxury buying are convenience, price, product availability, online shopping attitude, and online trust. For the in-store luxury buyers, the crucial factors are aesthetic appeal, store trust, shopping experience, customer service, and sense of power. Study two tested the hypotheses with independent two-sample t-tests. Support was found for all of the hypotheses except H3b (in-store trust).\nManagerial implications: Although online technologies and the social media have developed quickly, research on Internet luxury consumption lags behind and remains largely unexplored. This research contributes to the luxury goods purchasing literature by investigating why luxury consumers shop online. Our paper also sheds new light on the understanding of shopping motivations for luxury goods in an online context. Previous studies focused on consumers\nFuture research and limitations: Researchers should continue to explore online luxury consumer behaviors since research in this area is still at a rudimentary stage. Although this paper has found some differences between online luxury and non-luxury shoppers, the authors advocate studies to compare the differences among online luxury consumers, online regular consumers, in-store luxury consumers and in-store regular consumers. Future research can develop effective strategies targeting different types of consumers to help retailers reach and keep their customers. It is important for retailers to learn how to enhance online shopping environment to attract more online luxury buyers. Future researchers may also investigate the effectiveness of online word of mouth and the social media on luxury consumers\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the online and in-store shopping behavior towards luxury goods.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Two studies are presented. Study one is qualitative in nature. It uses a mixed method approach and explores why luxury consumers decide to purchase luxury products online or in-store. The second study is a quantitative one. It tests the hypotheses drawn from the first study and validates the qualitative results.\nFindings: Online and in-store luxury shoppers are influenced by different motivational factors. Online luxury shoppers are price-conscious, prefer the online product availability and have a higher level of trust towards online customer reviews. In-store shoppers who are more averse to online risks find it very important to see the product personally before the purchase and value shopping experience and interactions. In addition, differences exist between the online shopping behaviors of regular and luxury shoppers.\nResearch limitations/implications: It contributes to luxury consumption research and expands shopping motivation literature by investigating luxury buyer behavior in the online context.\nPractical implications: Luxury retailers should pay attention to the newly emerging segment of online luxury consumers. Lack of trust prevents more luxury consumers from shopping on the internet and the trustworthiness of the sellers can help attract potential shoppers. Luxury retailers can cater to the needs of different types of luxury buyers.\nOriginality/value: This paper is the first exploratory, comparative study on luxury consumption in the online and physical store environments. It investigates the motivational factors that drive the shopping behavior of internet and in-store luxury shoppers.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The joint effects of lead time, information sharing, and the accounts receivable period on reverse factoring
|
[
"Reverse factoring",
"Information sharing",
"Lead time",
"Accounts receivable period",
"Supply chain financing"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Suppliers who have limited financial assets and are beholden to lengthy payment terms increasingly make use of various supply chain financing tools to mitigate the financial burden, optimize financial flows and uncap profit growth potential. Reverse factoring (RF) is a widely acknowledged supply chain financing solution for improving working capital management (Zhang et al., 2019). RF offers suppliers access to short-term credit at a low cost through the selling of the suppliers' accounts receivable to financial institutions at a reasonable discount in exchange for cash (Liebl et al., 2016; Caniato et al., 2019). By improving their working capital management through accounts receivable reduction, many suppliers can improve their profitability (Pezza, 2011; Liebl et al., 2016). This unique financial tool is likely to be increasingly considered by suppliers who either face financial pressure or require a faster cash conversion cycle (Liebl et al., 2016).\nLiterature review: RF is the widely acknowledged practice of supply chain finance in which suppliers can sufficiently sell or pledge their accounts receivable at a low interest cost with the collaborative support of their buying clients (Gruter and Wuttke, 2017; Zhang et al., 2019). To systematically research the factors impacting this supply chain financing practice, we conduct a review of extant literature and identify the feasible dimensions and impact factors of supply chain financing adoption. As our literature review indicates the lack of research systematically examining impact factors specifically for RF adoption, we further fine-tune the above pertinent impact factors according to the unique characteristics of RF.\nResearch hypotheses: The effect of the accounts receivable period on reverse factoring\nResearch methods: Data collection\nDiscussions and managerial implications: This paper provides solid insights and advice from which both suppliers (i.e. RF clients) and financial institutions can learn how to identify the key characteristics of desirable RF clients. As such, suppliers can better position themselves and make the best use of internal and external resources when dealing with RF applications. Meanwhile, financial institutions can identify critical credit analytical variables that are vital to their success in screening desirable clients and developing competitive RF services. To further fine-tune our findings and corroborate them, we conducted ad hoc case discussions with two senior managers of two scalable banks. They possessed 14 years and 13 years of banking industry experience. Specifically, Bank A is an innovative, aggressive bank in China that focuses on big data development in its supply chain financing business. Bank B is a big traditional Chinese bank with the ambition to expand the supply chain financing market. In the following, we will discuss the findings of our data analysis and ad hoc interviews.\nConclusions: In this study, the relationships among lead time, information sharing, the accounts receivable period and RF adoption are verified from the perspective of suppliers. The results reveal that lead time positively affects RF adoption both directly and indirectly through the accounts receivable period. Information sharing can have both a positive, direct effect and a negative, indirect effect on RF adoption through the accounts receivable period.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the joint effects of lead time, information sharing and the accounts receivable period on reverse factoring (RF) adoption from the suppliers' perspective.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Supported by one of the largest commercial banks in China, survey data are collected from 424 Chinese manufacturing firms and analyzed using regression methods.\nFindings: The results suggest that lead time positively affects suppliers' RF adoption directly and indirectly through the accounts receivable period. Meanwhile, information sharing has a positive, direct and a negative, indirect influence on suppliers' RF adoption.\nOriginality/value: The findings give suppliers and financial institutions a better understanding of how to leverage the benefits of RF.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A comprehensive rubric for instructional design in e-learning
|
[
"E-learning instructional design",
"E-learning peer review",
"E-learning quality standards",
"E-learning self-review"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nLiterature review: slightly different paths for e-learning: By the year 2002, the fusion between in-class instruction and online instruction was already being recognised as a major new trend; old practices were being transferred online, and different institutions had rather different understandings of the concept of e-learning (Frydenberg, 2002; Graham et al., 2013; Young, 2002). As late as 2011, Guri-Rosenblit and Gros (2011) concluded there were \"noticeable gaps\" in e-learning research and definition of terminology. One of the reasons for this lack of coherence is:The technological environment within which modern education operates is becoming increasingly complex, offering new possibilities but also giving rise to challenges. We have seen a continual evolution of technologies and how they are used since the introduction of the Internet(Conole and Alevizou, 2010, p. 9).\nAn overview of four different rubrics: Measurement through rubrics\nA synthesis of the rubrics to formulate the new comprehensive rubric: Synthesising a comprehensive rubric\nThe comprehensive rubric: The synthesis of the four rubrics just referenced has produced the following comprehensive rubric that covers all the aspects mentioned by the four institutions. This comprehensive rubric is not a collation of the four rubrics but a synthesis of the separate approaches that - in the author's view - reflects the context of e-learning as explained at the beginning of this paper. This rubric has not been tested in lab setting or a real-life scenario.\nRecommended actions in support of instructional design for e-learning in higher education: The following recommendations are compiled from the literature review and the development of the comprehensive rubric:\nDiscussion: The analysis of the rubrics has confirmed the myriad of possibilities provided by technology when applied to teaching and learning. Indeed, the resulting comprehensive rubric is rather long, and its components may indeed contribute to the welcome conclusion of the long-standing debate on whether e-learning is as rigorous and effective as traditional face-to-face environments (Casey, 2008; Jung and Latchem, 2012). Such a rubric will surely support faculty in the ever-increasing implementation of e-learning (Gaebel, 2015).\nLimits of scope: It is not within the scope of this paper to review quality assurance processes and administrative components, but to propose a rubric for course design and self-review of faculty and HE institutions for a better alignment with what is regarded as current standard best practice.\nSuggestions for further research: The proposed comprehensive rubric does not provide a scale for assigning points when applied, thus giving a weighting to the elements of the rubric perceived as more important than others. There are other rubrics on e-learning by reputable HE institutions that could be included in the analysis. The litmus test for the rubric is its application in real-life situations. This is an excellent opportunity for follow-up research analysing the outcomes of its application.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The recognition of practice in online instruction is still subject to interpretation and different approaches as a result of the rapid changes in technology and its effect on society. The purpose of this paper is to address these differences through a synthesis that can be easily accessed and consulted by educators in the field of e-learning.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper reviews different examples of rubrics and instruments in higher education to propose a more comprehensive rubric that constitutes a synthesis of how some institutions in HE approach best practice in this field.\nFindings: The proposed comprehensive rubric emanating from the synthesis of different approaches supports the development, remixing, sharing and integration of online modules and courses by providing a single reference point with as wide a range as possible of potential pedagogical tools, facilities and approaches to e-learning.\nResearch limitations/implications: It is not within the scope of this paper to review quality assurance processes and administrative components, but to propose a rubric for course design and self-review of faculty and higher education institutions for a better alignment with what is regarded as current standard best practice.\nPractical implications: Instructional designers in e-learning have a new comprehensive rubric that can consult at design stage.\nOriginality/value: Different approaches towards what is called \"good practice\" are brought together and analysed to provide a synthesis and a single source that can be consulted by practitioners in the field of e-learning.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Basis risk and hedging efficiency of weather derivatives
|
[
"Derivative markets",
"Hedging",
"Risk analysis",
"Energy industry",
"United States of America"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Weather derivatives emerged following the deregulation of American energy and power industries, and represent today's fastest growing derivative market. The most common weather derivatives are based on temperature changes. The underlying indexes are typically heating degree days (HDDs), cooling degree days (CDDs), and cumulative average temperature (CAT). Exchange-based weather transactions have grown substantially since their introduction in 1999 (weather products at www.cme.com). In hedging using standardized weather derivatives, hedgers must bear basis risk and the risk due to a weather contract being written in a different location than the area the hedger wishes to cover. While the over the counter (OTC) weather market includes most US cities, the exchange-based market includes only 18 US cities. This means that participants wishing to manage their weather exposures in cities not listed by exchanges face basis risk (Considine, 2000).Basis risk is an important concern in hedging using standardized contracts. Ederington (1979) shows that the degree of basis risk a firm faces in using a hedging instrument can have a substantial effect on the usefulness of the instrument in reducing risk. Haushalter (2000) finds that the likelihood of hedging by the oil and gas producers is related to the basis risk associated with hedging instruments. Other studies on the basis risk and hedging efficiency of traditional derivatives include Hill and Schneeweis (1982), Figlewski (1984), Chang and Shanker (1986), Castelino (1992), Garcia and Sanders (1996), Mahul (2002), and Miffre (2004). The basis risk of some derivatives with exotic underlyings, such as insurance derivatives, has also been analyzed in the literature (see, for example, Harrington and Niehaus, 1999; Major, 1999; and Cummins et al., 2000) and Yang et al. (2008) investigate catastrophe effects on Japanese stock markets and catastrophe risk securitization. In addition, Sharma and Vashishtha (2007) examine the state of risk management in agriculture and power sector of India and evaluate the effectiveness of weather derivatives as alternative risk management tools and basic framework required to implement them; and Seth et al. (2009) assess weather-risk hedging by farmers, focusing on the willingness to pay in Rajasthan, India.This research analyzes empirically the basis risk and hedging efficiency of HDD/CDD-indexed standardized weather derivatives in hedging the weather risk in the US energy market[1]. Specifically, an analysis of weather hedging efficiency is conducted for 12 proxies of power producers in four US regions: Texas, California, New York, and Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland[2]. The two most popular types of standardized weather indexes - 18 US city indexes listed at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), and 10 US regional indexes proposed by Risk Management Solutions, Inc. (RMS)[3] - are compared. This research provides important implications about the survivability and superiority of current and proposed standardized weather contracts and the design of effective standardized weather derivatives for the extant and potential weather markets.\nData and research design: In this research, power producers with quantity risks are assumed to use weather derivatives to maximize/minimize an objective function of their terminal wealth in a one period context. A power producer's quantity risk can be decomposed into two portions: one portion is attributed to weather-related variables while the other portion is attributed to other variables. This relationship can be written as q=a+qw+qe, where q is the power producer's power demand, a is a constant, qw is the portion of the power demand attributed to weather-related variables, and qe is the portion attributed to other variables. Weather derivatives are designed to hedge weather risks. To analyze the basis risk of weather derivatives, this research only considers their efficiency in hedging qw, the portion of the power demand attributed to weather. This research assumes that the quantity risk from the other portion of the power demand and the power producer's price risk have been totally hedged by other instruments such as price derivatives and insurance contracts. Therefore, the power producer's wealth hedging problem in this research is to hedge its weather risk only.The most common contract terms in the weather derivative market are seasonal, monthly, and weekly. Since weekly weather contracts are not listed at CME, this research only considers seasonal and monthly contracts[4]. The underlying weather indexes considered are HDD and CDD. The formula to compute a weather index t is t=[?]i=1nHDDi or t=[?]i=1nCDDi, where HDDi and CDDi are HDD and CDD of day i and n is the number of days in the contract period.This research has four major phases: to select a sample of power producers with available historical daily power load data (q), to estimate the historical power load attributed to temperature variables (qw) for each power producer in the sample, to select the standardized weather indexes and obtain their historical degree days data (t), and to measure the basis risk and hedging efficiency of standardized weather derivatives.The sample of power producers\nEmpirical results: For each of the four ISOs and the eight sub-regions, there are 18 measurements of hedging efficiency using the contracts written on the 18 CME city indexes, and ten measurements using the contracts written on the ten RMS regional indexes. The hedging efficiency (HE) for each of the ISOs and the sub-regions is defined as the maximum of these 28 measurements. And the maximum of the 18 measurements using the contracts written on the CME indexes is defined as the hedging efficiency of the CME indexes (HECME), while the maximum of the ten measurements using the contracts written on the RMS indexes is defined as the hedging efficiency of the RMS indexes (HERMS).The linear hedging results (see Appendix 1) are consistent with the nonlinear hedging results (see Appendix 2) and only the results of nonlinear hedging are presented in this research. Generally, the results suggest that the most effective weather contract for a power producer is either the contract based on the RMS index of the region covering the power producer's serving area or the contract based on the CME index whose measure station is located in the power producer's serving area. Specifically, for NYISO, the most effective weather contract is based on the RMS Northeast regional index or the CME New York city index; for PJMISO the RMS Mid-Atlantic regional index, or the CME Philadelphia city index (the CME Baltimore city index is a close second); for CAISO the RMS Southwest regional index, or the CME Sacramento city index; while for ERCOT and its sub-regions the RMS South Central regional index or one of the two CME city indexes (Houston and Dallas).CME indexes vs RMS indexes\nConclusions: Weather derivatives represent today's fastest growing derivative market. Trading of standardized weather contracts have grown substantially since their introduction. In hedging using standardized weather derivatives, hedgers must bear basis risk and the risk due to a weather contract being written in a different location than the area the hedger wishes to cover. Basis risk is an important concern in hedging with standardized contracts. This research analyzes the basis risk and hedging efficiency of HDD/CDD-indexed standardized weather derivatives in the US energy industry. Specifically, an analysis of hedging efficiency is conducted for 12 proxies of power producers. The two most popular types of standardized weather indexes - 18 CME city indexes and ten RMS regional indexes - are compared.The empirical results show that the RMS regional and CME city weather indexes are not consistently superior to each other and the RMS regional indexes should be a good complement to the current exchange-listed CME weather indexes. The results also document that the standardized weather derivatives written on the RMS or CME indexes provide a very effective hedge and the basis risk is sufficiently low for the diversified power producers that serve the US Northeast or Mid-Atlantic regions in both the summer and winter months/seasons and California in the summer months/season. More discrepancies are observed in the hedging efficiency among different months/seasons for the power producers serving the Texas region. The basis risk is very high for all the power producers that serve Texas in hedging their weather risks in February, for the diversified power producers that serve Texas or California in hedging their weather risks in the winter season. This research provides important implications about the survivability of current and proposed standardized weather contracts and the design of effective standardized weather derivatives for the extant and potential weather markets.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the basis risk and hedging efficiency of temperature-indexed standardized weather derivatives in hedging weather risks in the US energy industry.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Within the risk minimization framework, using power load and temperature data, this research analyzes both linear and nonlinear hedging strategies using the two most popular types of standardized indexes - city indexes and regional indexes.\nFindings: - The results indicate that the city indexes and regional indexes are not consistently superior to each other and the regional indexes should be a good complement to the current exchange-listed indexes. The results also document that the basis risk is sufficiently low for the diversified power producers serving the US Northeast or Mid-Atlantic regions in both the summer and winter seasons and California in the summer season. However, the basis risk is very high for the diversified power producers serving California in hedging the weather risk in the winter season. More discrepancies are observed in the hedging efficiency among the power producers serving the Texas region.\nOriginality/value: - This research provides important implications about the survivability and superiority of current and proposed standardized weather contracts and the design of effective standardized weather derivatives for the extant and potential weather markets.\n",
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] |
The death rates of smokers and their external effects
|
[
"Tobacco",
"Cigarettes",
"Public health",
"Personal health"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: It is often assumed that tobacco consumption is a relatively standard consumption externality, as it adversely affects non-smokers comfort1. It consequently follows, in the absence of well-defined property rights, that Pigouvian taxes can be used to reduce any accruing welfare loss. Yet, the case in point is different, and although Pigouvian taxation may be correct in principle, caution is needed to ensure that its implementation does not fail to take into account the specifics of the smoking externality.Particular to the environmental tobacco smoke externality is that it not only affects non-smokers adversely but also the life expectancy of smokers themselves. As the fatality rate of smokers is inextricable linked to their own habits, it follows that an increase in smoking leading to a higher death rate of smokers will result in fewer smokers in society. For hedonistic non-smokers, therefore, both negative and positive effects follow an increase in individual tobacco usage: they suffer, on one hand, adversely from the higher exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the presence of smokers, but are, on the other hand, not affected as often since they meet fewer smokers. Under such a setting a question arises: At what level should the Pigouvian tax be set, if at all?The level of cigarette taxation is already subject to a fierce empirical debate. (Hay, 1991) argues that taxes are far too low, since studies have ignored the problems associated with low birth rates induced by smoking, such as the adverse consequences on future physical and intellectual health and aptitude. Conversely, (Manning et al., 1989) and (Viscusi, 1995) argue that the failure to take into account health service savings of premature deaths of smokers will tend to overestimate the socially optimal level of tax. This resembles the argument in this paper as partially offsetting savings can be made by smokers dying young. However, whereas the aforementioned papers rely on potential health care savings, this paper examines the impact higher death rates have on prevalence rates.We will in addition to the above also investigate the neglected impact the provision of life prolonging health interventions. Although smokers undoubtedly welcome health interventions, non-smokers may view themselves less fortunate if they end up facing a greater exposure to environmental tobacco smoke as a result of the increase in the survival rate of smokers. It is, for this reason, we argue the benefits of providing life-prolonging treatments tend to be overestimated.Perhaps, it is the oversight that smoking is somewhat different to other externalities, which explains the lack of any explicit theoretical study. This paper seeks to rectify this omission. It develops a model where smoking results in both self-harm and harm to others, enabling us to demonstrate that there is more to the theoretical study of this externality than is currently acknowledged in the literature.\n2. Smokers, non-smokers and prevalence: Assume society consists of two groups; first identical smokers, who each consume an equal amount, n, of tobacco, and second identical non-smokers, who are affected in equal measures by environmental tobacco smoke through passive smoking2. The parameters ph and 1-ph represent the proportions of individuals in society who are smokers and non-smokers respectively. Smokers die at a rate da, depending positively on their individual tobacco consumption n. This rate is greater than the death rate, dp, of non-smokers. Environmental smoke, which adversely affects the death rate of non-smokers, depends on n and also on the prevalence rate, r, of smokers in society. Both the smokers' and non-smokers' death rate may in addition be affected by a series of common parameters denoted by a vector x, of which they may have little control. Smokers can however purchase medical advances and health provisions that prolong the life expectancy of smokers alone, denoted by composite parameter psa. Similar advances and provisions prolonging the life expectancy of non-smokers, is denoted by the composite parameter psp. Thus we write: Equation 1 Equation 2 where: Equation 3 Since 1/da and 1/dp represents the life expectancy of smokers and non-smokers respectively, the prevalence of smokers can be expressed by: Equation 4 Some simple comparative statics using expression (3) (see Appendix 1 for derivations), suggest: Equation 5 Equation 6 It is natural to assume that the elasticity of death rates with respect to the smoking level, n, is larger for smokers than non-smokers, [?]da/[?]n n/da>[?]dp/[?]n n/dp, implying the numerator of (4b) is negative. Since expressions (4a) and (4b) share the same denominator and the numerator of (4a) is positive, we have: sign([?]r/[?]psa)[?] sign([?]r/[?]n). It is hardly plausible for the denominator, which cannot unambiguously be signed, to be a negative, as this would simultaneously suggest that an increase in smoking leads to an increase in the prevalence rate and that an improvement in treating smokers leads to a reduction of the prevalence rate of smokers. Thus, we henceforth assume the denominator is positive, implying that we take [?]r/[?]psa>0 and [?]r/[?]n<0 as given; an attractive intuitive feature since it implies the prevalence rate is lower when smokers die young, which occurs either through poor medical provision or high levels of smoking.The objective function of any individual i is given by: Equation 7 Individuals get instantaneous utility ui(c) from the consumption, c, of non-tobacco related products. They also derive utility ui(n) from tobacco consumption, assumed strictly positive for smokers and equal to zero for non-smokers3. Note, when the death rate is constant across time, that the value to the individual is also constant across time, Vti=Vt+1i, facilitating the solution of the steady state value, Vi: Equation 8\n3. The optimal level of health interventions: This section compares and contrasts the privately and socially optimal level of health interventions, where health interventions may include the purchase of health treatments, medical equipment as well as investment in research and development. We take it as given that an increase in all these activities reduce the death rate of smokers, assuming for simplicity and at the same time that the behaviour of smokers is not otherwise affected4. We first note that smokers welcome medical interventions, as they result in a higher value to the smoker: Equation 9 The surplus of an active tobacco-smoking individual is given by: Equation 10 where pn, pc and pps are the prices per \"unit\" of:1. tobacco consumption;2. consumption of other goods than tobacco; and3. medical interventions respectively5.If all health interventions are privately provided then the choice of health improvement provision is determined by the first order condition [?]Sa/[?]psa=[?]Va/[?]psa-pps=0, which can be re-expressed as: Equation 11 The private optimal choice of health intervention denoted ps^a, resulting from expression (9) above, can now be compared to the social optimal level of health intervention, denoted psa*. In order to do so we first define the social surplus or welfare function, W6: Equation 12 The effect of an increase in health interventions, psa, to smokers alone on social surplus is expressed as: Equation 13 We can now write the following:P1. The privately optimal level of health improving measures will always exceed the socially efficient level: ps^a>psa*Proof of proposition\n4. Smoking and taxation: Assuming an internal solution, the privately optimal choice, nL of cigarette consumption for a smoker is given by the first order condition [?]Sa/[?]n=[?]Va/[?]n-pn=0, which can be rewritten as: Equation 15 It is again evident that the private optimum, n^ may not coincide with the social optimum, n*. We, therefore, evaluate the effect on social surplus of an increase in cigarette consumption: Equation 16 By utilising the privately optimal condition for tobacco usage [?]Sa/[?]n=[?]Va/[?]n-pn=0 and expression (13), the effect of an increase in consumption evaluated at the privately optimal level is given by: Equation 17 Although expression (14) indicates that it is possible for the socially optimal level to be lower than the privately optimal level, a novel and converse possibility arises: the social level of smoking is under some circumstances higher than the privately chosen level, reflecting two opposing forces discussed in detail below. The following proposition demonstrates the ambiguity:P2. (1) [?]W/[?]n|<0 when [?]S/[?]n(Sa-Sp)+(1-r)[?]Sp/[?]dp [?]dp/[?]n [?]r/[?]n<-(1-r)[?]Sp/[?]dp [?]dp/[?]n(2) [?]W/[?]n|>0 when [?]r/[?]n(Sa-Sp)+(1-r)[?]Sp/[?]dp [?]dp/[?]r [?]r/[?]n>-(1-r)[?]Sp/[?]dp [?]dp/[?]nProof of P2\n5. The interaction between health provision, smoking and taxation: We have previously investigated separately the implementation of medical health improving interventions, the smoking decision by smokers and the optimal taxation regime. Our investigations conclude with the interaction between all these elements. We will in this process draw inferences of how these matters evolve over time. The analysis is not done in a strict and formal manner, but focuses instead on the role the price of the health interventions plays. That is, since it is reasonable to assume that process innovation reduces the cost of health interventions over time, we take it as given that the effect of a price reduction in the health intervention on health service provision, smoking patterns and taxation effectively mirrors evolution over time. First we study how the socially optimal level of medical provision to smokers and the socially optimal level of tobacco consumption should evolve over time. Second, we investigate both the interaction and evolution over time of the privately optimal choices of cigarette consumption and medical provision purchases.5.1 The social optimal levels\n6. Concluding comments: Ethical concerns of policies that result in higher deaths of smokers are beyond the realms of this paper and left to others better equipped to investigate the moral dimensions of a tax implementation. It has instead been the purpose of this paper to investigate the smoking externality purely from an economic perspective. We offer, therefore, no apologies for some of its more unusual results, like for instance the possibility that it may be socially optimal to subsidise tobacco consumption. Rather, since smokers always prefer lower taxes, we argue it is only reasonable to recommend a tax reduction (or even a tax subsidy) in the cases where non-smokers can be made better off as well. Indeed this remains unproblematic, in the economic sense, since it yields a pure Pareto improvement. And though we do not suggest that subsidisation is desirable universally, the reasoning behind this possibility is very much indicative of the spirit which underlies the investigations in the paper.The paper strongly argues that the provision of life prolonging medical intervention is over-supplied and partially calls into question the wisdom of government policies that subsidise and promote this type of provision, or encourage medical research and development in the area. It offers no universal tax policy recommendation but highlights instead the general tax ambiguity this non-standard type of externality generates. Whilst it is recognised that this ambiguity is somewhat inconvenient making the task of designing policy more difficult, it cannot be ignored. We argue it is of critical importance to determine whether or not increased smoking causes the externality to deteriorate or improve, and thus whether taxation or instead subsidisation of smoking tobacco is optimal. Here the paper offers some practical conditions, which may be used in order to make a more accurate taxation/subsidisation recommendation possible. The optimal tax schedule time path is likewise governed by two opposing forces, which renders the sign of this path ambiguous. As time passes it is reasonable to assume that the provision of health services improves. This may on the one hand be beneficial to non-smokers too should they be affected by a smoking related disease. This tends to reduce taxation or increase the subsidy. On the other hand, smokers not only live longer leading to a higher prevalence rate of smokers, but also smoke more. This tends to make the externality worse and the taxation should increase or subsidy fall as a consequence.This paper has sought to contribute to the tax debate, where the peculiarities of smoking are such that any policy advisor may easily make inappropriate recommendations if not fully informed. It highlights these difficulties and seeks to gain a better understanding of the underlying processes that drive the smoking externality.\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the externality that arises from environmental tobacco smoke damage is no ordinary externality. Apart from acting to the detriment of passive smokers, tobacco smoking also affects the survival probabilities of smokers. Incorporating this into its analysis, this paper evaluates the damage caused by smoking, the appropriate design of public health policies and tax policies targeted at reducing tobacco-related externalities.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - By mathematically characterising how smoking impacts smokers and non-smokers differently, the paper determines smokers' and non-smokers' lifetime utility, enabling one to evaluate the impact of both health interventions and tax policies.\nFindings: - The paper shows that treatment as well as research and development leading to life-prolonging health outcomes for smokers are generally oversupplied. The tax recommendations, however, are far from straightforward. Indeed, although not universally the case, it may be optimal to subsidise tobacco usage. The paper also discusses the separating conditions necessary for cigarette taxation to fall or rise with time.\nResearch limitations/implications: - It follows from the paper that ignoring the effect that smoking has on smokers' own life expectancy may lead to erroneous theoretical results and misguided policy recommendations.\nOriginality/value: - The paper seeks to rectify the omission that smoking is somewhat different from other externalities. It develops a model where smoking results in both self-harm and harm to others, enabling one to demonstrate that there is more to the theoretical study of this externality than is currently acknowledged in the literature.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Investigating the emotional appeal of fake news using artificial intelligence and human contributions
|
[
"Brand communication",
"Message framing",
"Machine learning",
"Emotional appeal",
"Natural language processing",
"Emotional branding",
"Communication model",
"Real news",
"Fake news",
"Artificial intelligence (AI)"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Fake news and brand communications: \"When a headline asks a question, the answer should be no\". Although this may read like a bizarre or even humorous statement, this adage even has a name: Betteridge's law (Betteridge, 2009). Formulated by the British journalist Ian Betteridge, it is based on the notion that journalists use this style of headline if \"they know the story is probably bullshit, and don't actually have the sources and facts to back it up, but still want to run it\" (Betteridge, 2009). This quote certainly rings true today. For example, a 2017 article from YourNewsWire claimed that according to an NPR study, more than 25 million Hillary Clinton votes were fraudulent, suggesting that Clinton had actually lost the popular vote by a huge margin. This claim was false and the study in question was never conducted by NPR; still, it was among the most viral stories shared on Facebook in 2017. Although not a new phenomenon, the generation and impact of fake news and alt-facts have reached new heights, driven mainly by the increasing digitization of information and the explosion of social media (Baccarella et al., 2018; Berthon and Pitt, 2018).\n2. Conceptualizing fake news: factuality and intent to deceive: Fake news has become a buzzword, especially in the aftermath of the 2016 US presidential election, so much so that the Collins Dictionary made it the \"word of the year\" in 2017 (Habgood-Coote, 2018). Early studies on the topic of fake news have defined the phrase in terms of particular types of media content, such as political satire, news parodies or news propaganda (Tandoc et al., 2018). Contemporary discourse defines fake news as viral posts, often on social media, based on fictitious accounts constructed to look like news reports. BuzzFeed's media editor Craig Silvermann is credited with helping to popularize the term in 2016, when he identified 140 Macedonian websites that fabricated stories to attract audience interest and profitable clicks. One key element of fake news, according to Silvermann's definition, is an underlying profit motive of its creators (Habgood-Coote, 2018). A second key motivation implied in many definitions of fake news is ideological: Fake news providers create fake stories to promote particular ideas or people that they favor, often by discrediting others (Allcott and Gentzkow, 2017). A similar ideological motif is emphasized by the Ethical Journalism Network (2017), which defines fake news as \"information that has been deliberately fabricated and disseminated with the intention to deceive and mislead others into believing falsehoods or doubting verifiable facts\" (Ethical Journalism Network, n.d.). These illustrations show that different people have a different understanding of what fake news means. However, for parsimony, it is important to clearly conceptualize fake news in this article. This is the purpose of the following section.\n3. Fake news identification: source, receiver and content: Fake news detection has been extensively examined in the field of communications and computer science. Working from the three key elements of (brand) communication mentioned earlier, i.e. the source, the receiver and the message (i.e. content), the fake news literature can be categorized into three different paradigms: source-based, context-based and content-based studies (Table II; Potthast et al., 2017).\n4. A study about the emotions in fake news and real news: The research conducted here was guided by the following research questions:\n5. Analyzing emotions and sentiment using AI: The unit of analysis in this study encompasses the written text in the body and titles of news articles in the data set described above. Following the suggestion by Horne and Adali (2017), the present study will analyze the text body and titles of real news and fake news separately. The first step in the data analysis included analyzing the data set using the AI application IBM Watson. AI systems, such as IBM Watson, use natural language understanding to assign meaning to text-written everyday human language and to detect language patterns, topicality, sentiment and other linguistic characteristics (Kietzmann et al., 2018; Rubin et al., 2016). In addition, machine learning algorithms enable an AI system to learn by itself, i.e., to improve its performance without the algorithm being changed by a trained coder. Among Watson's suite of applications is a \"Natural Language Understanding Service\", which uses linguistic analytics to \"analyze target phrases in context of the surrounding text for focused sentiment and emotion results\" (IBM, 2018).\n6. Discussion: If, as alluded to earlier, fake news is about stories with low degree of facticity and high intent to deceive for ideological or profitable motivations, then one would expect the content of fake and real news to substantially differ. Previous studies have confirmed that substantial differences exit and have suggested that the emotional appeal is one important feature by which to tell fake and real news apart (Bessi et al., 2015; Chen et al., 2015; Horne and Adali, 2017). However, what was lacking in the extant literature was an understanding of if and how specific emotions differ between fake and real news. This is the research objective of the present study. Specifically, this work was guided by the following research questions: How do overall sentiment valence and specific emotions displayed in titles differ with respect to real and fabricated news articles? And, how do the overall sentiment valence and specific emotions displayed in the article body differ with respect to real and fabricated news articles? The following section discusses the findings related to these research questions.\n7. Contributions to literature, managerial implications and future research: This study makes a number of contributions to academia and practice. First, it contributes to the body of knowledge on the distinguishing characteristics of fake versus real news content. Previous studies have suggested that fake news and real news are different with respect to linguistic style and particularly the emotional tone. The present study confirms previous findings that fake news are substantially more negative than real news. In addition, and this is a new contribution, the study in this article has demonstrated which specific emotions differ in fake versus real news narratives. Specifically, the study found that fake news is substantially higher in anger and disgust and lower in joy than real news articles. This opens up a number of avenues for future research (discussed in the section below) and contributes to our understanding of message framing as a key element of any communication process.\n8. Concluding remarks: The identification of fake news is a complex issue. The study presented here describes a method on how to tell fake news content apart from real news content. Specifically, it analyzes the differences in the emotional framing of the message content in fake and real news using a data set of 150 political news articles. Using an AI tool for analyzing these narratives, in addition to skilled human input, it finds that there is a significant difference between the overall emotional sentiment portrayed in the titles, and that fake news are substantially more negative with regard to the emotion dimensions disgust and anger than real news articles. In addition, fake news stories are markedly less \"joyful\" than real news narratives. This study adds to the literature on fake news, in addition to providing a number of implications for marketing communication professionals. In summary, it suggests that human approaches to fake news identification can be augmented by automated tools, like AI, and in turn, human intelligence can augment \"machine intelligence\". Armed with powerful tools, like AI, managers can be more effective and efficient at telling fake and real news apart.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The creation and dissemination of fake news can have severe consequences for a company's brand. Researchers, policymakers and practitioners are eagerly searching for solutions to get us out of the \"fake news crisis\". Here, one approach is to use automated tools, such as artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, to support managers in identifying fake news. The study in this paper demonstrates how AI with its ability to analyze vast amounts of unstructured data, can help us tell apart fake and real news content. Using an AI application, this study examines if and how the emotional appeal, i.e., sentiment valence and strength of specific emotions, in fake news content differs from that in real news content. This is important to understand, as messages with a strong emotional appeal can influence how content is consumed, processed and shared by consumers.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The study analyzes a data set of 150 real and fake news articles using an AI application, to test for differences in the emotional appeal in the titles and the text body between fake news and real news content.\nFindings: The results suggest that titles are a strong differentiator on emotions between fake and real news and that fake news titles are substantially more negative than real news titles. In addition, the results reveal that the text body of fake news is substantially higher in displaying specific negative emotions, such as disgust and anger, and lower in displaying positive emotions, such as joy.\nOriginality/value: This is the first empirical study that examines the emotional appeal of fake and real news content with respect to the prevalence and strength of specific emotion dimensions, thus adding to the literature on fake news identification and marketing communications. In addition, this paper provides marketing communications professionals with a practical approach to identify fake news using AI.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Reliability, availability and maintainability analysis of a cement plant: a case study
|
[
"Reliability",
"Availability",
"India",
"Cement plant",
"Maintainability"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Cement is an extremely important construction material. It is the key material to satisfy global housing and modern infrastructure needs, and plays an irreplaceable role in the process of human civilization (Schneider et al., 2011). India is the second largest producer as well as consumer in the world after China. She contributes about 8 percent of the total global production and consumption. The cement industry in India is one of the oldest sectors and plays a significant role in the economic development of the country. It contributes approximately 1.3 percent of gross domestic product and provides employment to more than a million people, directly or indirectly (Indian Mirror, 2017; Trading Economics, 2017).\n2. Literature review: Maintenance management aims to improve the overall equipment effectiveness and productivity of any system (Fraser et al., 2015; Jain et al., 2015; Zennaro et al., 2018). The performance of maintenance activities is evaluated through measuring reliability, maintainability and availability. Hussin et al. (2013) carried out maintainability analysis of an offshore gas compression train system, and Tsarouhas and Besseris (2017) analyzed maintainability of a shaving blade industry for enhancing availability. Carazas et al. (2011) did availability analysis of a heat recovery steam generator used in the thermal power plants. They used the failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) of each component. Their proposed method for reliability and availability analysis can be used for complex systems for performance evaluation. It allows not only the identification of critical components for maintenance planning, but also defines quantitatively the system's reliability and availability. Upadhya and Srinivasan (2012) used simulation for availability estimation of military systems. An analysis of reliability and availability of a plastic pipe manufacturing plant had been carried out by Gupta et al. (2007). Likewise, Distefano and Puliafito (2009) evaluated availability and reliability of dependent dynamic systems using dynamic reliability block diagrams (RBDs). Sharma et al. (2011) performed FMEA analysis to improve the reliability of a rotor support system of an aircraft engine. Reliability analysis of an automated yogurt production line was carried out by Tsarouhas and Arvanitoyannis (2014). Addabo et al. (2016) modeled the availability and reliability of multicore controlled UPS. While Patil et al. (2017) analyzed reliability of a CNC turning center, Navas et al. (2017) estimated reliability of railway repairable systems.\n3. Methodology adopted: The flowchart of the methodology used for carrying out the present study is shown in Figure 2.\n4. Case study: This case study deals with improving availability and capacity utilization of a cement plant. The problem was tackled using the RAM analysis methodology as described in Barabady and Kumar (2008). XYZ cement plant is one of the biggest cement manufactures in Northern India. It produced 17.5 MT cement against its installed capacity of 25.6 MT during FY2016. Thus, the capacity utilization of this cement company is about 68 percent, which is slightly below the national average. One of the reasons for low capacity utilization is improper maintenance of the plant. Most of the subsystems of the plant are repaired as and when they fail. As a result, the productivity of the plant is also low.\n5. Reliability-based preventive maintenance program estimation: To maintain the desired plant reliability level, it is necessary to follow preventive maintenance strategy for all the subsystems of a cement plant. In this strategy, periodic inspection and maintenance is carried out at pre-defined time or cycle intervals to reduce equipment failure.\n6. Simulation study to analyze the impact of preventive maintenance on a cement plant: In above section, we observed that frequent preventive maintenance leads to improvement in system reliability level; however, its impact on downtime and system availability is yet not clear. Over-maintenance may lead to a decrease in availability, particularly when it results into a greater increase in downtime as compared to uptime. Therefore, deciding optimal schedule for preventive maintenance is a multi-criteria decision making problem. The effectiveness of a preventive maintenance policy can be evaluated by using criteria such as reliability, mean availability, total downtime, operational availability, etc.\n7. Conclusion: The Indian cement industry has tremendous potential for growth as the demand for cement is likely to boost in coming years on the back of higher government spending on infrastructure, rapid growth in housing sector and rising per capita income. To fulfill this rising cement demand, first, the cement industries must improve the availability of their plants to utilize existing capacity fully. The higher availability of cement plants would bring costs of cement under control and improve profitability of the sector.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The demand of cement in India is expected to increase rapidly as the government has been giving immense boost to various housing facilities, infrastructure projects, road networks and railway corridors. One of the ways to meet this rise in the demand of cement is to increase the capacity utilization of the existing cement plants by improving their availability. The availability of a cement plant can be improved by avoiding failures and reducing maintenance time through reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) analysis of its subsystems. The paper aims to discuss this issue.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The data related to time between failure (TBF) and time to repair (TTR) of all the critical subsystems of a cement plant were collected over a period of two years for carrying out RAM analysis. Trend test and serial correlation test were performed on TBF and TTR data to verify whether these data are independent and identically distributed or not. Afterwards, the authors use EasyFit 5.6 professional software to find best-fit distribution of TBF and TTR data and their parameters. The effectiveness of a preventive maintenance policy was evaluated by simulating the real and proposed systems.\nFindings: The results of the analysis show that the raw mill and the coal mill are critical subsystems of a cement plant from a reliability point of view, whereas the kiln is a critical subsystem from an availability point of view. The analysis shows that the repair time of the cement mill should be reduced for improving the availability of the cement plant. The RAM analysis showed that the capacity of the case study company is 17 percent underutilized due to maintenance-related problems and 15 percent underutilized because of management-related problems.\nPractical implications: The study exhibits the usage of RAM analysis in deciding preventive maintenance programs of several cement plant subsystems. Thus, it would serve as a reference for reliability and maintenance managers in deciding maintenance strategies of cement plants as well as in improving their capacity utilization.\nOriginality/value: The study exhibits the usage of RAM analysis in deciding preventive maintenance programs of several cement plant subsystems. Even more, using a simulation study, the authors show that preventive maintenance of the cement plant beyond a certain level can be disadvantageous as it leads to an increase in downtime and decrease in availability.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
An integrative adoption model of video-based learning
|
[
"UTAUT",
"Technology acceptance",
"Adoption factors",
"Learners’ intentions",
"Video-based learning"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction and background: Video-based learning (VBL), through the rapid growth of the internet, has become an important part of education, in various contexts and environments. Extant studies in the area have identified the importance of VBL environments and the benefits of adopting VBL technologies (Giannakos, 2013). VBL is defined as the learning process of acquiring defined knowledge, competence, and skills with the systematic assistance of video resources (Giannakos et al., 2016). VBL tools, like advanced video repository systems and massive open online courses (MOOCs), have only recently received increased attention (e.g. Khan Academy, Coursera, edX, and Udacity), and have been used by individuals in different circumstances, such as undergraduate students, teachers, and professionals (Reynolds and Mason, 2002; Leijen et al., 2009). The added value of VBL tools has been attributed to their ability to act as a supplementary form of education that helps promote life-long learning and on-demand learning (Zhang et al., 2006). This trend toward VBL is partially in response to the demand of reduction in time-to-competency necessitated by knowledge-based economy and sparked by intensive competition. Companies need to deliver effective and time-efficient training to their employees, while in academia education must be accessible to remote students that have trouble gaining physical access.\n2. Theoretical background: The quest of understanding adoption enablers and inhibitors is an ongoing one at a general level for any type of new technological innovations, as well as specifically for novel e-learning tools and applications. Several alternative, and in some cases overlapping, theories and frameworks have been put forth to examine tendencies to adopt a specific technology. These range from examining individual behavioral intentions, up to isolating organizational factors that promote companies to adopt a specific technology (Venkatesh and Bala, 2008). The focus of this paper is on individuals' intentions to adopt VBL, emphasizing on the core cognitive aspects that shape learners' behavior. To address this research question, prior theoretical frameworks that focus on cognitive aspects related to information technology adoption are considered. More specifically, we build on the rationale developed in the UTAUT which has been employed in a number of diverse contexts, including learning technologies (Sumak et al., 2010). The findings of studies that examine associations posited in the UTAUT are largely consistent in the different technologies they examine, yet, there is limited empirical evidence to support these claims for VBL technologies. In addition, perceptions of being capable to manage VBL technologies and the ease at which tasks can be completed are relevant in relation to adoption attitudes. Hence, SCT and the TPB are incorporated in the research model.\n3. Conceptual model: The conceptual model employed in this study differentiates from past studies of adoption determinants of VBL by focussing on the cognitive factors that influence learners. The use of the abovementioned theories in the context of VBL have yet to be applied despite their relevance for such technologies due to their high level of interaction with users and their numerous affordances. Previous studies, in various contexts, build on UTAUT, SCT, and TPB to examine learners' adoption of technological e-learning innovations (Chau and Hu, 2001; Chang and Tung, 2008; Giannakos et al., 2015). Thus, the constructs used in these empirical studies have been proven to be valid by previous studies (Mikalef et al., 2016). In the vast majority of these studies, a user's behavioral intention (BI) is used as the dependent variable. The variables of EE, PE, SI, CSEF, and PBC are either used as direct antecedents of BI or employed to explain their interrelationships. This study, builds on previous literature, as overviewed in the previous section, and makes a number of hypotheses in order to explain users' behavioral intention in the area of VBL. Figure 1, presents the proposed research model.\n4. Methodology: The research methodology followed to examine the conceptual model was based on individual responses collected through the means of a survey. A questionnaire was built that consisted of two parts (Table AI). In the first part the respondents were asked about their demographic characteristics (e.g. gender, age). The second part included questions regarding personal beliefs and perceptions based on the constructs identified from the literature review. A seven-point Likert scale was used. The questionnaires were distributed on mailing lists of individuals with experience in VBL. Also, questionnaires were handed out in universities and public areas. The duration of the survey was two months. We aimed at a sample of approximately 1,500 individuals. Respondents are asked to answer based on their personal VBL experience. To establish common understanding of what VBL is, we first provided that VBL is the learning process of acquiring defined knowledge, competence, and skills with the systematic assistance of video resources; and then gave examples of how VBL can be put into practice as an autonomous or assistive learning medium. The respondents are also asked about their experience with VBL (how many times (approximately) have you used VBL concepts in the past six months?), thus those with no previous experience are excluded. The majority of the respondents had enough exposure to VBL (they have averagely use VBL concepts 30 times during the last six month). Eventually, 260 respondents had previous experience with VBL the past six months, thus comprising our final sample. Table II presents the detailed demographics of the final sample. Although the sample demonstrates an almost equal distribution of males/females, respondents were of the younger age-group, with few respondents being over 36 years old.\n5. Findings: Performing the abovementioned assessments, reliability as based on the Cronbach's a indicator, presents acceptable indices of internal consistency since all constructs exceed the cut-off threshold of 0.70. The AVE for all constructs ranges between 0.586 and 0.712, exceeding the threshold of 0.50. Also, correlations are lower than 0.80, and square root AVEs for all constructs are higher than their correlations. All findings along with descriptive statistics of the constructs are illustrated in Table III.\n6. Discussion and conclusions: The present study contributes to the existing literature in the area of e-learning adoption, by proposing and testing a research model for VBL acceptance. In detail, the research model examined in this paper accounts for 74 percent of the explained variance in learners' intention to adopt VBL, suggesting that the chosen factors are very good predictors of VBL adoption. This study differs from related studies (Zhang et al., 2006; Lee, 2008; Liu et al., 2010) as it collects and integrates key adoption variables in a unified model explaining VBL acceptance and focusses on the cognitive process of the learners when using VBL (Pardo et al., 2015). This study, in order to avoid disadvantages of previous models, proposes a new model that may be used as a conceptual framework by researchers in the area of VBL. Instructors and instructional designers that use videos in their learning process may improve their methodologies of designation based on new strategies before creating and offering learning videos in online systems.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Video-based learning (VBL) is gaining increased attention as an educational means in settings such as the flipped classroom and massive open online courses. The value of VBL has been recognized in a range of contexts due to the ability to extend opportunities for life-long education for all socio-economic levels, removing geographical boundaries while at the same time alleviating time constraints. Yet, despite the advantages featured by VBL and some promising early outcomes regarding its effectiveness, little is known about what influences individuals to adopt VBL systems and technologies. The paper aims to discuss this issue.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Building on behavioral and adoption-acceptance theories as well as on past empirical studies on e-learning, a conceptual model of VBL adoption is proposed. By analyzing survey data from 260 VBL learners, the conceptual model is put to test by means of structural equation modeling.\nFindings: Outcomes indicate that performance expectancy (PE) and computer self-efficacy (CSEF) have a positive direct effect on behavioral intention to adopt VBL. In addition, effort expectancy (EE) and social influence positively impact PE, while CSEF is found to enhance EE and perceived behavioral control.\nOriginality/value: This study integrates several theoretical perspectives that are applied to adoption of novel information technologies and in addition builds on findings of past empirical research on learning technologies. In effect, the conceptual model along with outcomes provide an integrative perspective of adoption determinants.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Citation personal display: A case study of personal websites by physicists in 11 well-known universities
|
[
"Evaluation",
"Informetrics",
"Webometrics",
"Citation counts",
"Citation personal display",
"Personal website"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Citation is a behavior in which one cites researchers' theories or research findings. To illuminate the citing behavior, two complete theories have been explored (Bornmann and Daniel, 2008): one is the normative theory (Merton, 1973/1942, 1988) and the other is the social constructivist view (Knorr-Cetina, 1981; Gilbert, 1977; Collins, 2004). The normative theory argues that scientists give recognition, reputation, or credit to authors whose works are cited, while the constructive approach states that scholars have complex citing motivations and try to persuade the readers to accept their findings because of the cited works. In practice, many scientists have studied citing behavior from different angles. Garfield (1962) listed possible citing motivations which were classified into fifteen types, such as paying homage to pioneers, giving credit for related work, and correcting one's own work (Garfield, 1962; Bornmann and Daniel, 2008). Vinkler (1987) gave an excellent summary of citing motivations, which were divided into two major groups: professional motivations (i.e. acknowledging or criticizing theoretical and practical content of the cited papers) and connectional citing behavior (i.e. establishing relations with scientific community). Vinkler also found that citations were mainly influenced by professional motivations and hence citations could be reliable for evaluative bibliometric analyses.\n2. Citation personal display: Here, the term \"citation personal display,\" coined by the authors, means researchers mentioning their citation counts or citation-based indices on their own personal websites. We believe that citation personal display embodies three aspects. First, it may represent a kind of recognition of index validity, that is to say researchers admit that citations can be a yardstick that can weigh their research achievements. Second, because the number of citations or the numerical value of citation-based indices has a magnitude, the scientists also believe that the magnitudes of the indices are useful indicators to distinguish levels of researchers' academic achievement. Thus, those who put citation data on their websites acknowledge the value of citation in highlighting their own achievements. Third, the scientists are providing data for quantitative assessment, knowing that citation or citation-based indices cause hiring decisions, funding evaluations, and promotions to be objective, and thereby researchers are implicitly approving of using citation data for these purposes.\n3. Research questions: We selected eleven well-known universities as the object of study and analyzed the extent of researcher citation personal display on the basis of researchers' personal websites. Based on the above settings, this paper primarily studies the following questions:\n4. Methods: 4.1 The constitution of personal website\n5. Results: 5.1 The extent of citation personal display\n6. Conclusions and discussion: The main goal of this study is to explore the extent of the researcher's citation personal display by looking at whether physicists provide citation-based information on their personal websites. The personal website, as an important platform for scientists, is a promising data source. Considering the significance of the personal website, this work included manual collection of content provided on physicists' personal websites, studying physicists working in 11 well-known universities distributed in Britain, the USA, and China. Through the contrast of different universities and countries, some findings are revealed in this paper.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which researchers display citation information and examine whether there are researcher differences in citation personal display at the level of university, country, and academic rank.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Physicists from 11 well-known universities in USA, Britain, and China were chosen as the subjects of the study. It was manually identified if physicists had mentioned citation counts, citation-based indices, or a link to Google Scholar Citations on the personal websites. A kh2 test is constructed to test researcher differences in citation personal display.\nFindings: Results showed that the overall proportion of citation personal display is not high (14.8 percent), with 129 of 870 physicists displaying citation. Moreover, physicists from different well-known universities indeed had a significant difference in citation personal display. Moreover, at the national level, it was noticed that physicists in well-known Chinese universities had the highest level of citation personal display, followed by Britain and the USA. Furthermore, this study also found that researchers who had the academic rank of professor had the highest citation personal display. In addition, the differences in h-index personal display by university, country, or academic rank were analyzed, and the results showed that they were not statistically significant.\nOriginality/value: This is the first study to investigate how widely researchers provide citation-based information on personal websites.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Intravenous fluid delivery time improvement: application of cross-docking system
|
[
"Health care",
"Optimization",
"Cross-docking",
"Drug waste",
"Lead time"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: A supply chain (SC) is a system of interconnected organizations that involves various processes and activities that create products and services leading to value, which are delivered to the final consumer through upstream and downstream flows (Ganeshan and Harrison, 1995). Supply chain management aims to produce improved customer service and economic value through the management of the flow of materials and information from suppliers to customers (La Londe, 1997). Recently, managing pharmaceutical supply chains (PSC) has been a topic of research interest focusing on a variety of issues (Shah, 2004). Indeed, the expansion of health care expenditure is a global issue. The USA spent $2.5 trillion in health care in 2009 (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). This huge number supports the importance of controlling the growth of health care costs. One factor contributing to health care cost is related to inventory management. Based on inventory management improvement, agile systems in which lead time can be shortened, result in overall cost reduction. Most inventory models consider lead time as a prescribed element, which is not controllable; however, Liao and Kao (1997) explained that in many practical cases, lead time can be controllable. They also stated that shorter lead time results in lower costs, higher patient quality service, and a decrease in safety stock cost as well as less drug waste. The enormous volumes of drug waste cause massive costs for hospitals (Nava-Ocampo et al., 2004). Therefore, any improvement in the pharmaceutical SC can lead to significant savings for hospitals (Khorasani et al., 2015). Lead time related to the pharmaceutical SC is the sum of completion times of processes in its different components. The medication ordering process can be divided into two major parts: hospital-wholesaler interaction and hospital internal process. Process time reduction in any of these stages can have a direct effect on the waste management of health care organizations.\nLiterature review: It is safe to assume that managing inventory and ordering systems in hospital pharmacies requires new techniques and models, which should let hospitals effectively manage their resources and eliminate waste (Khorasani et al., 2017). The importance of improving the flow of material and ordering systems in inpatient pharmacies receives more attention when the average operational budget of hospitals gets noticed. Bendavid and Boeck (2011) concluded that about 46 percent of hospital operational budgets are allocated to logistics activities, such as inventory management and medication orders. Furthermore, Chow et al. (1994) provided detailed data with regards to logistics costs; in percentage terms, 27 percent related to suppliers, 15 percent related to inventory staff and 4 percent related to wasted time associated with hospital nurses' activities at inventory level. Inventory tracking can be complex because of the fact that the time related to medical procedures is difficult to estimate. Two reasons for the sensitivity of this process are medication expiration and tracking problems (Lewis et al., 2010).\nMethodology: Problem description and mixed-integer programming formulation\nMedication room: The cross-docking implementation for lead time reduction in IV drug delivery\nResults and discussion: The pharmacy considered in this study uses two types of IV drugs with different expiration times. Once a drug is injected into an IV bag, its expiration time turns into either 24 h or 48 h on the basis of the type of IV drug. The staff registers IV medication once it is ready to be picked up. Then, the expiration time starts to take effect right after injection. Afterwards, another staff member picks it up for printing a tag. However, this activity is not always right after IV medication preparation, i.e. there is a gap between the time IV drug is ready to be picked up and the time the tag is printed. This gap varies between a few minutes and several hours. Thus, the expiration time in fact is less than 24 h or 48 h. Due to the short lifetime of IV medications, the majority of drug waste occurs at this stage. Therefore, optimizing delivery time results in waste reduction. The process of IV fluid preparation and administration to patients is more or less the same. Two drugs with a high waste percentage were selected to examine the proposed model. Moreover, there was no obsessive preoccupation with those two drugs. The process of IV medication delivery for these two drugs is not different than that of other types of drugs. In this study, the aforementioned cross-docking model was applied after preparing and tagging drugs to streamline the medication room activities so as to reduce lead time.\nConclusion and future research: A typical cross-docking system includes a single inbound/outbound dock and a temporary storage. The incoming and outgoing staff and the medication room of an IV handling system resemble those units of cross-docking systems, respectively. The MILP model proposed by Keshtzari et al. (2016) was applied to the IV medication handling system in the inpatient pharmacy. This model minimized total completion time by scheduling both incoming and outgoing staff in an optimal sequence. The optimization of the makespan leads to lead time reduction of the whole IV medication delivery system. The results obtained for a small-size problem achieved a 41 percent reduction in the total completion time of the medication room activities which leads to an increased shelf life. The finding of this study ensures that the application of the cross-docking system can efficiently reduce the completion time of IV drug handling process.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The cost of pharmaceutical supply chain due to drug waste is one of the current major issues in health care. Drug waste associated with intravenous (IV) fluid form of medication is one of the crucial issues for many pharmacies. The purpose of this paper is to apply a cross-docking model to minimize the IV delivery lead time to reduce drug waste by scheduling staff in a local hospital's inpatient pharmacy.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A mixed integer linear programming model is applied to the IV delivery system of a hospital. The parameters are selected based on the observations made in the inpatient pharmacy.\nFindings: The result implies that cross-docking approach can be effectively applied to IV delivery system. In fact, the cross-docking optimization model employed in this case study reduces the IV delivery completion time of the inpatient pharmacy by 41 percent.\nResearch limitations/implications: The scope of this research is limited to the activities performed after IV preparation.\nPractical implications: The application of cross-docking system in staff scheduling will be beneficial for health care organizations that aim to minimize medication waste.\nOriginality/value: The prime value of this study lies in the introduction of a cross-docking concept in an internal hospital ordering process. Cross-docking models are widely used in general supply chain systems; however, their application for specific activities inside hospitals is the novelty of this study, which can fill the research gap in terms of drug waste management within the inpatient pharmacy.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
ERP implementation in Omantel: a case study
|
[
"Manufacturing resource planning",
"Project management",
"Competitive advantage"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: There are a wide variety of tools and systems that have been developed to enable organisations to become more competitive, one of these tools is enterprise resource planning (ERP).ERP systems are all about ensuring that operational systems being used by an organisation are fully integrated. The purpose of using ERP is to improve and simplify the internal business processes, which typically requires re-engineering of current business processes (Huang et al., 2004). The idea is to combine various systems into a single database (Payne, 2000). This approach will enable the organisation to have a single view of its business by ensuring that systems that support different functionalities within the organisation are combined (Kumar and van Hillegersberg, 2000).There are quite a few advantages of adopting ERP as part of as an organisational strategy. For one, ERP systems support an organisation's desire for systems integration which means that organisations will not have to manage separate systems independently. In this case, the organisation optimises its processes which then improves the entire supply chain process, and integrates functionalities leading to increased transparency across the organisation. In most cases to continue to support this optimisation, the organisation also develops sets of expert common capabilities. The result is that the organisation is most likely to save on operational costs due to rationalisation and systems integration. It is expected that such savings on operational costs will be transferred to lower costs for the customer. At the same time, the integration of systems should lead to the provision of a more memorable experience for the customer as service provision becomes more seamless. ERP systems can also empower employees by providing them with real-time data (Davenport, 1998). It is also connected with greater job flexibility by providing a platform that enables the expansion of individual awareness, creativity, and innovation. Overall, existing statistics suggest that 63 per cent of large ERP customers are of the opinion that they do realise some major business benefits from their ERP implementations (Gould, 2004). ERP systems are however key strategic resources for the majority of organisations. Their importance is demonstrated by statistics which show that they usually comprise the largest segment of an organisation's applications budget (Aloini et al., 2007).\n2 ERP implementation: Although this is the case, it is imperative to highlight that many ERP implementations have been considered as significant failures (Markus et al., 2000). Examples include Avis Europe Ltd's abandonment of its ERP implementation project in 2004 (at a cost of $54.5 million) and Ford Motors' ERP purchasing system which was also abandoned in 2004, after the company had spent close to $200 million. Perhaps, the most famous case of ERP system implementation failure relates to the collapse of the US$5 billion (GBPPS2.5 billion) pharmaceutical giant FoxMeyer Drugs partially driven by a failed ERP implementation in 1995.Work examining ERP implementation in the Middle East is not particularly extensive, although some work has been conducted. For example, Kholeif et al. (2007) discussed ERP customisation failures in the Middle East. On the other hand, Aladwani (2001) examined user resistance to ERP implementation from a Kuwaiti perspective while Ziaee et al. (2006), studying ERP software selection, proposed a two-phase procedure of selecting ERP vendors in small manufacturing enterprises in Iran. A review of available research shows that there is a general lack of literature on ERP systems implementation in Oman.With developments which have led to the new ERP II, it is now possible for service providers and their customers to share information by integrating their systems into one single database (Moller, 2005), leading to more organisations recognisng the huge benefits from successful implementation of ERP systems. Starting in the late 1990s there has been growing use of ERPs in many of the larger businesses and organisations. The extensive use of ERP reflects the need of businesses and organisations to replace older software systems and achieve integration of different organisational functions and processes.\n3 Considerations: Information technology and information systems (IT/IS) serve as a major support platform for many organisations to build the competitive success of their enterprise. They serve numerous roles including being a key component of knowledge management and customer intelligence, as well as enablers and agents of business change and transformation making them a core aspect for the twenty-first century organisation.The provision of IT/IS in organisations is always demanding and the case of ERP implementation in The Oman Telecommunication Company (Omantel) is no different apart from specific characteristics such as the emphasis on active localisation and Arabisation of digital content (ESCWA, 2003). In addition, the company is one of the few telecommunications still operating in a monopoly market. Previous studies on implementation strategies adopted in ERP implementation specific to telecommunications have been conducted, for example, by Berchet and Habchi (2005).According to Beheshti (2006), the implementation stage is usually a very critical step during the introduction of ERP systems. As ERP implementation is usually complex (as in the case of most corporate level IT/IS projects), it is not uncommon that many organisations do allocate significant resources to this phase of the project. Unfortunately, current ERP implementation statistics do not look promising with an estimated 70 per cent of all ERP implementations likely to fail (Sivunen, 2005).Overall, it is important for organisations implementing ERP systems to recognise that the introduction of ERP will most likely result in key organisational changes which, if not managed carefully, can actually result in conflict within the organisation especially in relation to the question of how to integrate the ERP system, the legacy system, and the business processes of the organisation.\n4 The case study: The success or failure of a research exercise has been demonstrated to be directly related to the research methodology adopted (Easterby-Smith et al., 1993; Yin, 1989). This particular study focused on how an organisation behaved during a major exercise of systems interactions. For this reason, it became imperative that this study was conducted using a research approach that emphasised both subjective and contextual interpretation of events (van Strien, 1997). For this reason, we adopted a single case study approach as the primary mode of research. It is imperative to highlight that the use of single source-case studies is well represented in research (Eisenhardt, 1989). In this particular case, based on earlier work by Yin (1989), the use of Omantel as a single case study is valid as it can be argued that within the Omani context, due to the size of its operations, it is representative of the telecommunication industry. Our main reason for choosing this approach was because our investigation was primarily directed at studying current phenomena in a real world context (Yin, 1989). This approach has been used even though it is not generally popular in project management. In particular, we mention the work of Jaafari (2003), who suggests that creative-reflective models are most appropriate when studying complex projects. Of particular relevance is the fact that this approach is heavily reliant on the competencies of project management professionals.Omantel is the sole licensed operator in the Sultanate of Oman for fixed line telephony. The company presently operates as a monopoly in the Public Switched Telephone Network and Internet Service Provider markets. The company has a mobile subsidiary (Omanmobile) which offers mobile services and operates as a duopoly with Nawras which is owned by Qatar Telecommunication Company. The government of Oman is the major shareholder of the parent company Omantel. Omantel has been providing communication services for nearly four decades and currently, the number of people who are employed in Omantel and its subsidiary Oman Mobile is about 2,600. The group achieved a profit of 80 Omani Rial (PS108 million) by the end of 2006 (Omantel Financial Statements, 2006).\n5 Strategic drivers: Omantel commissioned the ERP project for two major reasons. In the first place, the company sought to ensure that it was strategically placed and ready for the anticipated liberalisation of the Omani telecommunications industry. To achieve this, it has sought to upgrade its capabilities in terms of network technologies that will support best practice controllable work flows (Al Wohaibi, 2006). The second driver was a need by the organisation to position itself to be able to meet national development requirements as identified by the United Nations (ESCWA, 2003).In February 2005, an agreement between Omantel and Oracle, one of the leading global ERP providers (Huang et al., 2004) with about 14.5 per cent of market share (Jakovljevic, 2001) was signed, with the project being initiated immediately. The project was planned to be completed in exactly 12 months after initiation. However, the implementation process overran by about six months, with completion of all ERP package transfers from the test environment completed in June 2006. The overrun was primarily driven by a limited number of IT/IS staff within Omantel possessing necessary Oracle integration expertise. This caused major communication problems between Omantel staff and the technical team from Oracle (for example in explaining systems architecture of existing legacy systems). There was also limited in-house expertise within Omantel on Oracle products. This meant that Oracle's initial contract to focus solely on implementation was soon expanded into a consultancy role.\n6 Findings from the case study: The findings obtained from the case study are discussed and analysed in this section, and combined into themes. These findings (not determined directly from this case study) are mapped against earlier discussed critical success factors that impact on ERP systems implementations (Finney and Corbett, 2007; Nah et al., 2003):* stakeholder consultation;* vendor selection;* project management;* stakeholder management and communication;* training;* risk management; and* system re-engineering and software customisation.6.1 Stakeholder consultation\n7 Discussions: The introduction of the new ERP system is the most significant change within Omantel since the drive to liberalise the Omani telecommunications industry commenced. These new systems have the potential to deliver significant benefits to the organisation. They are also expected to fundamentally transform the way Omantel delivers services to all of its customers. Ultimately, it is the first major step the organisation has taken in readiness for the full liberalisation of the telecommunications industry in Oman.Unlike the more chaotic strategic alignment approach adopted by NITEL (Ojiako and Maguire, 2006) which led to poor customer perception (Onwumechili and Okereke-Arungwa, 2003), the findings indicate that the impact of the ERP system on Omantel is considered in a more positive light. For example, a majority of the company's employees were of the opinion that the newly introduced systems had made a considerable difference to their jobs.It is however important to highlight that overall evaluation of the performance of the system still raises concern. We show that just over half of employees sampled felt that the new system was easy to use. This point reinforces the need to address employee training as a matter of urgency. At the same time, it reiterates that the effects of earlier failure of management to engage with employees during system design is still lingering.\n8 Conclusions: ERP is no longer a western European or North American issue. By its very nature its implementation is complex and far-reaching. There are plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong. Its multinational nature means that further research should be undertaken in a range of countries to identify the political, cultural, and behavioural repercussions of implementation. The scope and complexity of ERP means that any opportunity to gain insights from this system development process should be grasped with both hands. We do not have all the answers with regard to this process and so any way the process can be facilitated should be made available to a wider audience.This research has examined the key environmental factors that have impacted on the adoption of ERP by a large organisation in Oman. It highlighted the implementation of strategic systems that would transform the capabilities of the company at a time of major change within the sector. There has been a dearth of research with regard to ERP implementation with Oman. There has been some research in the Middle East in the area of ERP but the fact that an internal member of staff undertook the interviews meant that fur [...] study? Their insight into internal strategies and documentation was made available and this added to the richness of the research. This research has also shown how important it is to view ERP implementation as a strategic operation for the organisation at every stage. Adopting a stakeholder involvement philosophy at an early stage of development paid dividends for Omantel. This openness seems to have facilitated an effective system development process that, in turn, led to a successful implementation.This particular investigation has highlighted the benefits that can accrue from a commitment to full consultation and transparency throughout the various stages of ERP implementation. During any large system development there is a temptation for the various stakeholder groups to be secretive about the scope of the project and their roles within it. However, this can often have serious consequences in relation to areas such as system testing. This crucial area can only be wholly addressed if rigorous testing takes place - and this will only occur if there is a united effort to provide the requisite test data for the various processes and elements of the system.Many organisations underestimate the organisational impact of ERP implementations. Even the timing of the implementation can have adverse effects on various parts of the organisation or strategic partners, i.e. customers and clients.Viewing the consultation process as important also allowed Omantel to collect strategic intelligence that would help with the risk management that should always underpin any ERP implementation. The critical aspect of vendor selection was based on Oracle's commitment to make great efforts to understand Omantel's core business. However, probably more important in the longer term was Oracle's ability to demonstrate that it had the infrastructure, experience and reputation to align with Omantel's vision and business objectives.What Omantel has gone some way to achieving is to view an organisational ERP implementation as external and strategic rather than internal and operational. This very important distinction increased the chances of the ERP implementation being a success. This does not mean that there were no glitches in the overall process, i.e. some Omantel staff expressed concerns that Oracle's consultants were unwilling to share information and knowledge with them. This is of particular concern as knowledge transfer should be a key part of any ERP implementation, especially where it is normally taken as a given that the vendor's consultants will disappear soon after implementation.It would be especially constructive if the stakeholder management and communication approach could be tested in other countries and sectors, and with different sizes of organisations.Even though single case study research, especially if undertaken by internal managers, can provide researchers with a significant amount of rich data, it is often very difficult to determine firm conclusions. This is why further research in a number of varied settings and environments is needed to consolidate any of the conclusions revealed by this particular research.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems if successfully implemented bring about competitive advantages. On the other hand, project failure could, in an extreme case, cause an organisation to go out of business. Mapped against existing literature on ERP critical success factors, this paper examines environmental factors that impacted on the adoption of ERP by The Oman Telecommunication Company (Omantel).\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A case study methodology is used to study perceptions of the ERP system implementation project in Omantel.\nFindings: - This paper highlights the particular problems of large organisations that operate disparate legacy systems.\nResearch limitations/implications: - A single case study is conducted. This provides opportunities for further research in a number of varied settings.\nOriginality/value: - It is very important that experiences of ERP projects are shared across countries and sectors. This is because many ERP implementations are rolled out by multi-national corporations in several countries, often simultaneously. This is one of the few ERP studies that have been conducted by an internal member of staff. In these situations, it is not just a case of access, but that the respondents feel able to give practical answers.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Recommending valuable ideas in an open innovation community: A text mining approach to information overload problem
|
[
"Sentiment analysis",
"Text mining",
"Open innovation",
"Data mining",
"MyStarbucksIdea.com",
"Recommendation system"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Innovation is important for every organization to survive in today's increasingly complex and turbulent environment (Chesbrough, 2003; Friedman, 2011; Lee et al., 2012). The need for innovation has been a priority of CEOs (Andrew et al., 2010; Jaruzelski and Dehoff, 2010) and a popular issue for academic researchers (Hauser et al., 2006; Krishnan and Ulrich, 2001). Although there is no commonly accepted definition of innovation, it can be defined simply as the successful exploitation of new ideas to create new business values (Adams et al., 2006; Francis and Bessant, 2005; Gopalakrishnan and Damanpour, 1997). Thus, the generation of new ideas and knowledge that meet various customer requirements plays an important role in the innovation process (Gloet and Terziovski, 2004). In that sense, ideas are considered the seeds of innovation and critical determinant of success in managing innovation.\n2. Literature review: 2.1 Open innovation and information overload\n3. Proposed method: 3.1 Research context\n4. Experiments: 4.1 Feature selection\n5. Experimental results: This section explains the results of the experiment for classification and recommendation accuracies.\n6. Discussion and conclusion: 6.1 Summary and discussion\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Open innovation communities are a growing trend across diverse industries because they provide opportunities of collaborating with customers and exploiting their knowledge effectively. Although open innovation communities can be strategic assets that can help firms innovate, firms nonetheless face the challenge of information overload incurred due to the characteristic of the community. The purpose of this paper is to mitigate the problem of information overload in an open innovation environment.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study chose MyStarbucksIdea.com (MSI) as a target open innovation community in which customers share their ideas. The authors analyzed a large data set collected from MSI utilizing text mining techniques including TF-IDF and sentiment analysis, while considering both term and non-term features of the data set. Those features were used to develop classification models to calculate the adoption probability of each idea.\nFindings: The results showed that term and non-term features play important roles in predicting the adoptability of ideas and the best classification accuracy was achieved by the hybrid classification models. In most cases, the precisions of classification models decreased as the number of recommendations increased, while the models' recalls and F1s increased.\nOriginality/value: This research dealt with the problem of information overload in an open innovation context. A large amount of customer opinions from an innovation community were examined and a recommendation system to mitigate the problem was proposed. Using the proposed system, the firm can get recommendations for ideas that could be valuable for its business innovation in the idea generation phase, thereby resolving the information overload and enhancing the effectiveness of open innovation.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Tokenism or realism? Gender inclusion in corporate boards
|
[
"Social capital",
"Human capital",
"India",
"Corporate governance",
"Gender diversity"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Board of director's characteristics are of critical importance with respect to corporate governance right from their central role in establishing the business strategy, setting the policy objectives, while also being involved in planning and managing resources (Carter et al., 2010; Nekhili and Gatfaoui, 2013). There is nearly universal agreement in academic research, policy, and practice that two distinct types of board of director's characteristics, namely, the directors' status as independent (e.g. external, non-executive) and gender are of critical importance in the context of corporate governance (Terjesen et al., 2014). Further, ownership structure has been found to play a significant role in the decision to appoint women to boards and the importance attached to diversity varies across firms according to their ownership structure (Ben Amar et al., 2013; Nekhili and Gatfaoui, 2013). Despite significant interest from practitioners, policymakers, and academics, there is paltry research that explores board of directors' characteristics in a gender diversity framework. This gap in literature is all the more evident in studies from emerging economies where firms with concentrated shareholding form a significant part of the corporate sector. Our study thus aims to make contributions to the existing research by exploring the complex relationship between ownership structure and the determinants of board diversity with evidences from India.The growing importance of gender diversity and inclusion on corporate boards stems from mainly two types of concerns, namely, ethical and economic (Isidro and Sobral, 2014). Enhancing female representation in corporate boards is thus a critical issue for policymakers in light of its relation with corporate governance (Adams and Ferreira, 2009; Bilimoria and Piderit, 1994; Peterson and Philpot, 2007). Following suit of many other countries (Terjesen et al., 2014), India, incorporated a mandatory provision in the revised Companies Act, 2013 for appointing at least one-woman director on the boards of listed and certain other firms in a phased manner. The companies were required to comply with the law by 31st March, 2015. There was a rush for appointments in 2014-15 as a response to the mandate, with majority appointments in March 2015 alone. As of March 31, 2016, government data revealed that a large portion of companies have failed to comply with this rule - out of 5,451 companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE is one of India's leading exchange groups which is the first (established in 1875) and fastest stock exchange (speed of six microseconds) in the world), 1,375 companies have not complied (Ila Ananya, 2016). The reasons for this limited success in implementing the law are said to be fairly complex and deep rooted in the socio-economic fabric of the society (Sarkar and Selarka, 2015).Extant literature on board characteristics has relied on several theoretical frameworks at individual, board, and firm level of analysis (Terjesen et al., 2009). We have drawn upon resource dependency framework and argued that in today's increasingly complex and uncertain environment there is a need for leadership from individuals who can provide breadth of resources (Hillman et al., 2000). Such resources may include prestige, legitimacy and expert knowledge among many others that constitute the human and social capital of the individual board members (Brammer et al., 2007). Given the crucial role played by the board members in influencing decisions related to corporate governance of the firm, the role of ownership structure (Beasley, 1996) in representation of women on boards is an emerging field of inquiry (Saeed et al., 2017). Evidence suggest that shareholder concentration is negatively associated with gender and independence (Kang et al., 2007; Nekhili and Atafu, 2013; Smith and Parrott, 2018). Representation of women on boards has also been found to be closely related to family ownership (Campbell and Minguez-Vera, 2008; Ruigrok et al., 2007; Buse et al., 2014). In India a large number of publicly held corporations have concentrated ownership and control structures and the widely held firms with diffused ownership are more an exception rather than a rule (Sarkar and Selarka, 2015).Thus, in this study, we examine the factors affecting the representation of women on corporate boards (WOCBs) of directors by asking two main questions: Does human and social capital of the women directors of corporate boards play a role in their status on the board in terms of independence? Does firm ownership structure have an effect on the relationship between human and social capital of the female directors and their status on the board?As noted by Hillman et al. (2007), extant scholarly knowledge is mostly limited to studies, which consider female representation on boards of directors to be exogenous. Findings are likely to throw light upon the potential endogenous barriers to implementation of the legislation in its true spirit as well as on the extent of tokenism prevalent in India.\nTheoretical overview and hypotheses: India: an emerging context for D and I\nMethod: Data and sample selection\nResults: Sample profile\nDiscussion: Resource dependence theory leads us to expect that directors' appointments be based, in part, on the endogenous aspects like the human capital (knowledge, skills, experience) and the social capital (networks, social connections) they can provide to the firms. The question addressed in this study was that how does human capital and social capital of women impact their appointment as independent women directors on boards? And how does ownership structure play a role in such cases?Our findings contradict some of the myths about female directors not having sufficient education and experience. 46 percent had higher education and pursued doctoral degrees. 51 percent of the women directors attended elite schools. However, international education was privy to 36 percent of women directors. Women with diversified experience were in majority, 54 percent of women directors were directors in the related field of expertise. Also, 5 percent women had international experience during their professional journeys. Thus, the data falsifies the belief that there is a deficiency of \"right\" human capital among women candidates for being a director on the board (Singh et al., 2008). Possibly, net human capital across gender varies, however value is created through bringing diversity on corporate boards by appointing across gender.However, results suggest that human capital of women directors by itself does not have a significant effect on the odds of her being selected for an independent board position. While this suggests a glass ceiling effect in case of women being appointed to board positions, it is not surprising to get such a finding in a collectivist patriarchal society like India where individual achievements of women are not in congruence with their gender identity and hence may serve only as necessary but not sufficient criteria for selection.For the purpose of this study, social capital was operationalized as an aggregate of multiple directorships, national and international recognition, and social media presence. To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first time, social capital has been operationalized using an aggregate of proxies that include social media impact too for a study on board directors in India.Interestingly, the findings revealed that social capital of women directors has a significant but negative effect on appointment as independent directors. In other words, higher the social capital of a woman director, lesser would be her chances of being appointed as an independent director. This is indeed a curious finding that gives insights into the prevalent perceptions about social capital in context of gender identity in India. In a culture characterized by patriarchal ethos and power structures, social capital of women can be viewed in an unfavorable light and cast shadows on her character. It can thus adversely affect her credibility as a candidate for a serious responsibility like that of a corporate board directorship. It appears that having social networks in male bastions of corporate boards is detrimental for women in the conservative Indian society.However further results validate the positive and significant effects of human and social capital taken in conjunction, on the odds of being appointed as independent directors. The finding of the interaction effect of human and social capital on appointment as independent director on a corporate board reveals a double glass ceiling for women in India. She not only needs to have requisite education and experience; she needs to simultaneously develop social capital in order to stand a chance of being selected. It also possibly suggests that, standalone social capital of women directors undermines credibility of a female candidate unless she has the requisite education and experience to prove its legitimacy.The study has brought out the impact of promoter shareholding on the relationship between social capital of women and their appointment as independent directors to the extent that it changed the direction of the relationship. This would go on to suggest that except in specific cases, women directors are not hired in Indian boardrooms for their individual human or social capital, but their appointment is rather dependent on their social connections with the promoter stakeholder. In other words, social capital of women directors pays off when they are part of the social network of promoter driven firms and helps them to get appointed as independent directors on the boards of such firms.The model depicting the effect of firm ownership structure on characteristics of WOCBs is a novel contribution in the literature of corporate governance from a gender perspective. It delineates the complex interactions among individual characteristics of women directors and firm ownership structure and the effects thereof on the appointments of women directors to corporate boards.\nLimitations: We recognize the limitations of our study. Firstly, the data was collected from resources available only in the public domain hence there could be crucial information missing. We had to rely on biographies and other information sources about the directors that were available publicly although self-reports provided by them would have been far more illuminating. It was rather challenging to get self-reports from the entire set of 147 individuals constituting our dataset. Secondly, our data analysis might suffer from effects of over-sampling. This could be because some of the women directors have been appointed to multiple boards and we have used each firm's board as the base unit of analysis. Lastly, we acknowledge that our classification of the human and social capital proxies might have masked significant disparities in education, experience and recognition. Hence there is likely to be researcher-induced bias due to the coding structures and categorization decisions.\nImplications: The contributions of this study are manifold. First, it examines the appointment of independent women directors from the lens of human and social capital and their interaction. The findings provide empirical evidence that human capital by itself does not have a significant effect but does so only in conjunction with social capital. Second, it reveals the prevailing unfavorable perceptions about social capital of a woman and the costs she bears unless it rests on legitimacy of strong human capital. Third, it identifies that, ownership structure plays an important role in appointment of independent women director by interaction with their social capital. Finally, this paper provides a new perspective on the endogenous issues of independent women director appointments on corporate boards in India, by drawing out insights based on the \"patriarchal ethos\" still deeply entrenched in the upper echelons of business and society. This calls for a national debate on the missing spirit of gender egalitarianism, which constitutes the very foundation of corporate governance and as legally promulgated in the Companies Act 2013 which for the first time made it obligatory for certain class of firms to appoint at least one woman on its Board of Directors. This provision on appointing women director was legislated with the aim to advance diversity and inclusion on Indian boards.We suggest several possibilities for future research. Firstly, an examination of the legitimizing processes of access to boards could reveal what kind of human and social capital is likely to lead to appointment on corporate boards. A study on the actual practices adopted by firms for appointments to corporate boards will throw light on the ground level challenges that might be operating with respect to promoting gender diversity on boards. Further, obtaining inputs from board members about the presence and effects of gender diversity in human and social capital resources in the board will help to build insights about its impact. Future research might also consider a broader study examining differences in human and social capital profiles between male and female directors.As this study refers to the human and social capital of female director's cohort in 2018, it would be interesting to track some of the changes over a period of time with future cohorts of female appointees on corporate boards. In recent times, due to the pipeline problems affecting representation of women on boards, efforts are being taken by policy makers, business leaders and academics to train, coach and mentor women in senior positions to make them board-ready. The findings of this study can offer a broad roadmap for leadership development programs aimed at preparing women for corporate leadership roles. Finally, the findings of this paper imply effects of the larger cultural context on appointment of women on corporate boards. It would thus be cogent to test the model in other diverse cultural contexts in order to obtain deeper insights about how it plays out for women at leadership levels of business houses.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The paper investigates how the interplay of women-specific human and social capital factors with ownership structure impacts her chances to get director level appointment in the light of recent amendments to the Indian statute.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The strength of the study lies in fitting a logistic regression model to the unique hand collected data on women director characteristics from 100 large listed Indian firms.\nFindings: Counter intuitive findings reveal negative effects of social capital on appointment of independent women directors. This relationship gets reversed when social capital is moderated by ownership structure.\nSocial implications: Companies may be influenced to take into cognizance the underlying gender biases prevailing in the highest echelons of management and employ un-gendered fair selection practices for board level appointments in order to progress towards gender balanced corporate boards.\nOriginality/value: The paper is a first of its kind that combines aspects of human capital and ownership structure using Indian data. By developing several new proxy variables to enrich the construct of social capital it contributes to the corporate governance literature and lastly, through main and interaction effects, the paper offers a deeper understanding about the impact of endogenous factors of corporate boards on women's representation at leadership levels in India.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
IT investment management and information technology portfolio management (ITPM): Brazilian case studies
|
[
"Case studies",
"Brazilian companies",
"IT investment management",
"ITPM"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Information technology (IT) has become crucial for the support, sustainability and growth of businesses and vital for achieving competitive advantage (Weill and Broadbent, 1998; De Haes and Van Grembergen, 2009; Chang et al., 2011). Consequently, companies are motivated to invest more in technology - acquiring systems, installing databases, and using the internet and electronic commerce in their business operations. A key challenge for business executives is how to appropriately allocate scarce resources to those investments and to evaluate their appropriateness and value.\n2. IT investment management: With investments in IT growing continuously over the past four decades (Ko and Osei-Bryson, 2006) determining ways to better manage this technology is a major concern for managers and researchers. Given the vast investments being made it is necessary to improve our understanding of IT investment management processes enacted by companies, taking into account costs and benefits, both short term and long term (Gunasekaran et al., 2006). Also, the high level of uncertainty associated with IT use by companies confirms, by implication, the great importance of the IT investment management process (Irani and Love, 2002). Several studies were carried out as to the effect of IT investment in companies (Brynjolfsson and Hitt, 1998; Mahmood and Szewczak, 1998; Dimovski and Skerlavaj, 2003). Some authors believe that IT does not provide competitive advantage but simply prevents falling behind the competition, or being just another organizational cost (Carr, 2003; Tiernan and Peppard, 2004). However, other research point out that IT investment pays for itself and brings different benefits along with competitive advantage to companies (Melville et al., 2004; Chang et al., 2011). Consequently, it is necessary to analyze the management of these investments.\n3. ITPM: Jeffery and Leliveld (2004) define the ITPM technique in terms of managing IT as a portfolio of assets similar to a financial portfolio and striving to improve the performance of the portfolio by balancing risk and return. In addition, ITPM is related to the attainment of IT investment synergy, where this synergy affects IT portfolio return and risk (Tu and Shaw, 2011). According to Maizlish and Handler (2005) the eight general stages for IT portfolio building are:\n4. Research method: This research is qualitative and exploratory; it was carried out as a case study of five different companies. A qualitative approach is suitable for this research because it seeks to describe the complexity of a situation, understand dynamic processes and analyze variable interaction (Richardson et al., 1999), all of which pertain to ITPM use in the Brazilian organizations.\n5. ITPM cases: This section presents the analysis of four case studies carried out in this research. The goal here is to clarify how IT investments are managed and how the ITPM technique is used in this process. The analyzed companies are starting to use the technique or have already begun its implementation. Each case features a description of how (according to the respondents' answers) the ITPM technique is applied with regard to IT investment planning, control and evaluation. These cases are first analyzed separately and then presented as a joint analysis. A discussion about the cases is presented in the next section.\n6. Research synthesis: As our cases demonstrate, some companies are using ITPM differently in some situations and in similar ways in other situations. We found that the planning of IT investments is the process that the case study companies spend more time and resources to accomplish. In these companies different forms and approaches were used to plan these investments. The use of techniques such as ITPM can help companies to plan their investments as pointed out in the literature (Tan and Theodorou, 2009) and identified in this research. Using ITPM could generate preliminary IT portfolios to help achieve alignment with other areas, providing visibility of the IT investments and a more efficient communication among companies.\n7. Conclusions: The goal of this research, to analyze the use of ITPM as a help to the IT investment management of some Brazilian companies, was accomplished using case studies. This study helps to better comprehend the use of ITPM to better manage the IT investments of companies in terms of planning, control and the evaluation process. The ITPM technique has been identified as a new but little studied way to aid IT executives in better managing and justifying the investments in technology. Despite this, the technique has received little attention in IT research (Kumar et al., 2008) and ITPM research is still very limited in the information systems literature (Tu and Shaw, 2011). However, from a practice perspective ITPM is considered a useful and accessible tool which provides increased visibility and evaluation into IT spending. It is also an important means for improving communication, and for providing alignment between strategic plans and IT expenses. ITPM helps IT and business leaders to align their priorities. It is also important for providing increased transparency into IT decision making and allowing planners to schedule resources more efficiently (Datz, 2003; Symons et al., 2005; Cho and Shaw, 2009). ITPM was developed as one of the Brazilian InformationWeek Magazine's assessment categories for diagnosing the useful innovations in IT. This illustrates the importance of this technique and its utility in companies. Thus, this research can help companies to better manage their IT investments using ITPM.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze some Brazilian companies' use of the information technology portfolio management (ITPM) technique as an aid to their information technology (IT) investments management.\nDesign/methodology/approach: It was carried out in five case studies in different Brazilian companies from several economic sectors which were using ITPM or were in the initial implementation phase. Eight interviews were conducted. The persons interviewed were high-level executives working in the IT department in the studied companies.\nFindings: Different levels of ITPM use was found with respect to IT investment management (planning, control and evaluation). It was observed, in the analyzed cases, that ITPM is used most frequently in IT investment planning, which is the process most discussed and used in analyzed companies. The ITPM technique is used more frequently in Company 2 than in the other cases because the organization of the IT area in the company is structured according to ITPM dimensions.\nResearch limitations/implications: The ITPM technique has received little attention in IT research and research in this area identifying the use and applicability of ITPM in companies is still very limited in the information systems literature.\nOriginality/value: The paper presents IT investment management in different Brazilian companies and how ITPM was used to help companies in this process compose by planning, control and evaluation.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Risk behaviours and practices of food handlers in norovirus transmission
|
[
"Prevention",
"Food handler",
"Transmission",
"Barriers",
"Norovirus"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Noroviruses, a group of highly contagious single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the Caliciviridae family, are recognised as a common cause of acute viral gastroenteritis globally (Ahmed et al., 2014; da Silva Polo et al., 2016; Kreidieh et al., 2017; Mans et al., 2016; Nguyen et al., 2017). Symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, headaches and nausea, which encompass an incubation period between 10 and 50 h following exposure, can last between 12 and 48 h (Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) and Ad Hoc Group on Foodborne Viral Infections, 2015) and typically resolve exclusive of treatment. Dehydration is the main complication related to the norovirus infection, and can lead to hospitalisation, especially of vulnerable population groups such as very young children under the age of 5, the elderly and immunocompromised patients.\nMethod: A search of the literature was carried out using various databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct and Google Scholar. Keywords to identify relevant literature included: norovirus, gastroenteritis, transmission routes, outbreaks, food handlers/workers, hygiene, practices, barriers, prevention, epidemiology and qualitative methods.\nRisk behaviours and practices for norovirus transmission: The main risk behaviours and practices of food handlers in norovirus transmission are described below in detail and are summarised in Table I.\nRecommendations: Multiple environmental barriers such as limited access to cleaning products and facilities, workload and pay concerns, in conjunction with limited knowledge and inadequate training are likely the causes for food handlers' role in norovirus transmission. The following recommendations based on the information above, and current EU legislation for food handlers, have been proposed that can be used in teaching and in practice to help prevent the spread of norovirus (see Table I for summary).\nFuture research: While conducting this review, it was evident that there are a limited number of qualitative studies conducted, especially in the UK that have examined food handlers' attitudes and behaviours regarding norovirus transmission. To date, the majority of qualitative studies have been undertaken in the USA and have focussed on food safety practices in general rather than those specifically related to norovirus. More information on the barriers to and facilitators of hand washing compliance, the reporting of illness and working while ill UK food handlers are required. Gaining an insight into what food handlers feel and believe, as well as determining the reasons for their behaviour, would aid in the development of norovirus mitigation strategies in the catering environment that are not only effective in reducing cross-contamination and spread of the virus, but concurrently are acceptable by food-handling staff and are easy to implement. Mixed method research involving quantitative and qualitative data collection methods is warranted, especially in the UK to identify such strategies. Behavioural theories and models should also be used as a framework for understanding food handlers' practices.\nConclusion: Norovirus is an extremely contagious pathogen that consequently presents a huge economic burden for health and social care institutions, as well as food establishments. Food handlers play an important role in norovirus transmission owing to their risk behaviours and practices such as inadequate personal hygiene, working while ill and not adhering to cleaning and disinfecting protocols. Adequate and effective training alongside regularly monitoring by supervisors and managers, improved and accessible facilities and monetary incentives should be considered as effective norovirus mitigation strategies. A theory-based approach should also be used when developing training programmes to improve food handlers' behaviours. More social science research on the attitudes and behaviours of food handlers in the transmission and prevention of norovirus contamination is warranted to aid the development of effective and engaging norovirus reduction interventions.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Food handlers are often a major source of norovirus transmission in the UK. Considering key behaviours of food handlers that lead to norovirus transmission would help prevent the spread. The purpose of this paper is to examine the key risk behaviours of food handlers that lead to norovirus transmission, and to recognise important prevention strategies.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A narrative review of the literature summarising the main risk behaviours of food handlers that lead to norovirus transmission.\nFindings: Suboptimal personal hygiene such as poor hand washing compliance, working while ill or returning to work too early and not adhering to cleaning and disinfecting protocols were the main risk behaviours of food handlers identified. To prevent the transmission of norovirus within UK food establishments, environmental barriers such as limited access to cleaning products and facilities, workload and pay concerns should be resolved, and a theory-based approach should be used when developing training programmes to improve food handlers' knowledge and behaviour. Systematic monitoring adhered to ensure food safety protocols should be regularly carried out.\nResearch limitations/implications: A limited number of qualitative studies assessing food handlers' attitudes and beliefs concerning norovirus transmission are available. Gaining more detailed and in-depth information on what food handlers perceive are the main barriers when it comes to adhering to food safety guidelines, would aid in the development of effective norovirus mitigation strategies.\nOriginality/value: This review discusses the main risk behaviours of food handlers associated with norovirus transmission. It highlights the need for more qualitative research on exploring the attitudes and beliefs of food handlers with regard to norovirus transmission.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Markerstudy Group puts the fun into insurance: ... and earns 18th place in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list
|
[
"Awards",
"Insurance",
"Employees involvement",
"Employee training and development"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: A firm that aims to \"put the fun into insurance\" and all its activities as an employer has achieved eighteenth place in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list after applying for the first time.\nThe Best Companies criteria: Best Companies surveyed 557 Markerstudy Group staff from across the UK. Eight factors were measured, including leadership, managers and teams, the positive impact the group has on society, pay and benefits, personal growth and well-being.The company was placed thirteenth in the overall list for the well-being of employees and sixteenth for leadership, with 88 percent of people saying they have a lot of faith in the chief executive, a score bettered by only three other companies.Some 84 percent of employees said they find the group chief executive \"inspirational\" and 81 percent believe he runs the company on sound moral principles. Around 86 percent of employees feel they can make a valuable contribution to company success and the same percentage are excited about where the group is going.The company entered the Best Companies program because it wanted to find out whether employees like the way it operates and to gauge their satisfaction. To be positioned eighteenth is a monumental achievement for the firm - and rewards the effort it places on recognizing and developing its employees, who are the lifeblood of the organization.\nEnsuring equality in the workplace: Markerstudy Group handles recruitment through its own talent acquisition team. The in-house talent-development team manages training and development and the HR department looks after employee needs for all the companies.The group takes equality in the workplace seriously. It has developed an equality in the workplace policy. This is included in the Markerstudy Group employee handbook, sent to every new employee's home before they begin working for the group. It is also available as a downloadable PDF on the company intranet.The policy covers:* Diversity in the workplace. The group aims to ensure that no employee, job applicant, client or supplier suffers discrimination on the grounds of sex, gender, marriage and civil partnership, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, color, pregnancy or maternity, disability, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national religion.* Harassment. The group supports the rights of all employees to be treated with dignity and respect when representing the company. Every effort is made to provide a working environment free from harassment and intimidation and the group does not condone harassment of any kind.\nNurturing talent: The introduction of the in-house talent-development team was significant in helping the group get the best from its employees. It has developed more than 30 long and short-term courses to suit diverse roles within the group. They include:* inductions, which ensure that all new employees understand the company culture, the importance of the Data Protection Act and Financial Conduct Authority requirements and the Markerstudy treating customers fairly policy;* a course to help managers to develop skills that help them to run effective teams and ensure that all employees are treated fairly;* a six-month program, approved by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), aimed at developing future managers in the group; and* an ILM-approved course designed for those responsible for delivering training and development to other employees.\nFlexible working policy: Markerstudy Group's flexible working policy enables employees with children or those who care for a dependant to balance their work responsibilities with other commitments wherever possible. The group has examples of flexible working arrangements for those needing to spend time caring for their children. One employee's hours were shortened to allow him to take his youngster to football practice, while another works flexible hours to fit around child-care arrangements.\nRecognizing talent: More than 30 people have been recognized group-wide through the company-hero scheme. Employees are rewarded for a wide variety of reasons, including displaying dedication to a task, working overtime, providing exceptional customer service and, in one case, helping a colleague who became extremely unwell.Nominations are made for employees by their peers via the intranet, enabling staff to recognize achievement and hard work in others and showing that the group values what employees think.The talent-recognition program was implemented in response to employee feedback from one of the road-shows that the chief executive undertakes to each office every year. Line managers award employees for work that is above and beyond expectation. On a quarterly basis, senior managers award \"big wins\" to recognize exceptional performance.The aim of the company-hero and the talent-recognition programs is to motivate and inspire the whole workforce. To ensure that success is celebrated group-wide, all those rewarded are featured in the company internal magazine, Messenger.\nRemuneration: Senior employees are entitled to take part in a discretionary bonus scheme paying up to 10 percent of salary based on their contribution to the performance and development of the business during the calendar year. There is also an annual pay review that enables managers to use a cash pool to reward employees with pay increases commensurate with their contribution during the previous calendar year.\nFinancial benefits: In December 2010, 2011 and 2012 all employees were rewarded for their work with Marks & Spencer vouchers.The Markerstudy employee-benefit card offers special discounts on products and services offered by the group. Employees are also invited to join the group pension scheme, which contributes a maximum of 5 percent of their salary. Free health insurance is also provided. It includes a 50 percent discount on gym membership with Virgin Active Health Clubs and LA Fitness gyms.\nCorporate values - being different: The company accepts that financial services have a somewhat dull reputation, but believes that the way it conducts its business does not have to be. The group's mission statement is to \"put the fun into insurance\" and all its activities as an employer.Employees around UK and in Gibraltar came together for the first Markerstudy Day in November 2012 - now an annual fixture in the internal-events calendar - to raise money for charity and to celebrate being part of the group. Staff received decorations for their offices and bespoke sweet treats. Each employee was given jewelry, which was announced on the intranet throughout the day.Motiv8, the group's corporate social responsibility initiative, looks after the group's involvement in community events and supports charitable work by employees. Members of the voice group, a team of volunteers in offices around the country, manage local sports events or social trips.Later this year, the group will officially launch the Salomons estate, in Tunbridge Wells, as an internal resource for residential and short-term training courses, events and team-building activities.\nWhat employees think: Janet Avery, operations business analyst, commented: \"I think Markerstudy Group makes its employees feel really valued. This is not only because of the benefits that are offered as an employee - such as the private health-care and pension scheme - but also because of the extras like the advent calendar at Christmas, the Marks & Spencer vouchers, the talent recognition program and the fantastic in-house training that is available through the talent-development team.\"In addition, employees really feel valued when their chief executive takes the time to come to each location and talk to all the staff. I believe that this is quite unusual in most organizations.\"Amie Berman, customer-services supervisor, said: \"Since I started working at Markerstudy all I have done is develop further and further in my career. I started in administration and progressed into call handling and team leadership. Now I am a supervisor.\"I have not only been given the opportunity to go on training courses, but also had an excellent and supportive management structure around me, which will always offer help and advice when needed.\"\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This paper aims to describe how Markerstudy Group strives to offer the best possible working environment and opportunities for its employees.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - It details the practices and policies that helped the company to earn 18th place in the latest Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list. It includes the views of members of staff and directors.\nFindings: - The paper explains how employees are valued and recognized. It describes how the group nurtures talent, and rewards and motivates staff.\nPractical implications: - This paper outlines how individuals and teams benefit from the company's policies and practices and the group's mission \"to have fun\" in business.\nSocial implications: - It reveals that employees value the approach of the group chief executive and how they are looked after by the business.\nOriginality/value: - The paper provides the inside story of how a company became one of Britain's top 20 employers on its first attempt.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Linking protean career orientation to well-being: the role of psychological capital
|
[
"Well-being",
"Psychological capital",
"Knowledge workers",
"Protean career orientation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In this era of knowledge-driven economies, as the global economy becomes increasingly volatile, society is changing rapidly. As a Chinese folk adage says, \"I am puzzled just due to the world updating so frequently.\" These rapid changes in the world are not only embodied in clothing, food, shelter, and transportation but are also reflected in our work. The present study focused on the changes in employment relationships between employees and organizations. With fierce competition in the world market, enterprise reorganization is common, and downsizing has resulted in long-term employment contracts falling away (Feldman, 2000). Today's turbulent business environment has led to highly ambiguous and even contradictory career signals. Correspondingly, individuals, perhaps in self-defense, are becoming flexible in personal career development. It is known that to an employee entering a firm, the traditional psychological contract is usually based on some common or shared ideas, such as working hard, performing well, being loyal and committed, and thus gaining rewards and security. However, in the rapidly changing world economy, the traditional psychological contract is being replaced by a new psychological contract based on continuous learning and identity change. In short, traditional organizational careers and career orientation are dying, while emerging careers and career orientation, namely, protean careers and career orientation, are coming into life due to their dynamic, flexible, and boundaryless characteristics (Lips-Wiersma and Hall, 2007). In the twenty-first century, protean careers as an emerging career landscape have been an issue that organizations and individuals must face seriously; widespread uncertainty has forced workers to exert more control in their personal career management to adapt to the labor market (Direnzo and Greenhaus, 2011; Sverke et al., 2006).\nTheory frame and hypotheses: PCO and well-being\nMethod: Participants and procedure\nMeasures: PCO\nStatistical analysis: The present study used SPSS19.0 and AMOS 20.0 to deal with the data. The statistical methods mainly involved descriptive statistics, bootstrapping analyses, and structural equation modeling (SEM). It is of note that, to run SEM, a series of fit indices were adopted, including the kh2, the normed kh2/df, the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR), the adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI), the non-normed fit index (NNFI), and the comparative fit index (CFI).\nResults: Following the work of Allison (2003), we used the full information maximum likelihood to handle the missing data. Table I shows the means, standard deviations, and correlations for the study variables. As shown in the table, at both T1 and T2, PCO, PsyCap, and well-being are all positively correlated with each other. In addition, PCO, PsyCap, and well-being at T1 are all positively correlated with any variable of PCO, PsyCap, and well-being at T2.\nDiscussion: The present research aimed to explore an integrative model including three constructs: PCO, PsyCap, and well-being. Specifically, we attempted to determine the mediating role of PsyCap in the relationship between PCO and well-being among knowledge workers. The results of our cross-lagged study showed that employees' PCO positively predicts their PsyCap and well-being; meanwhile, PsyCap acts as a partial mediator in the relationship between PCO and well-being. On the whole, our findings contribute to the literature on vocational behavior and psychological health. These insights should considerably enrich future theoretical and empirical research on career development management.\nConclusion: Based on the JD-R model, the present study examined the relationship between PCO, PsyCap, and well-being among knowledge workers. The findings advance our understanding of PCO, notably, its positivity. In particular, based on the two-wave survey, we found that PCO positively predicted PsyCap among knowledge workers. Simultaneously, PCO positively predicted PsyCap positively contributed to knowledge workers' well-being. Further, knowledge workers' PsyCap partially mediated the relationship between their PCO and well-being. In sum, with a longitudinal design, addressing the research gap the present study extends the existing research on the relationship between PCO and psychological well-being, determining their temporal precedence. Furthermore, the present study sheds light on the mechanism of PCO on employees' well-being, revealing the mediating effect of PsyCap as an essential individual resource, adding to career management research. These findings not only contribute to the literature about PCO but also provide evidence for well-being related intervention from the perspective of PsyCap. According to these findings, to proactively cope with the turbulent business environment and increasing market uncertainty, knowledge workers can develop their personal career orientation to have more control over their personal career development and pursue their personally meaningful values and goals. Doing so makes them more likely to experience a sense of accomplishment and psychological well-being.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of protean career orientation (PCO) and psychological capital (PsyCap) on well-being among knowledge workers.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The author adopted a two-wave cross-lagged design. In total, 518 knowledge workers at three enterprises in China were sampled to complete the Direnzo et al.'s (2015) Protean Career Orientation Questionnaire, Luthans et al.'s (2007) Psychological Capacity Questionnaire, and Ryff and Keyes' (1995) Psychological Well-Being Scale. The main statistical methods involved descriptive statistics, structural equation modeling, and bootstrapping analysis.\nFindings: The findings of the study were as follows: PCO positively predicted PsyCap among knowledge workers; both PCO and PsyCap positively contributed to knowledge workers' well-being; and knowledge workers' PsyCap partially mediated the relationship between their PCO and well-being.\nOriginality/value: Rare empirical studies were conducted on the relationship between PCO and psychological well-being. The previous findings are inconsistent on whether PCO is an antecedent of PsyCap, or PsyCap is an antecedent of PCO. The author conducted a cross-lagged survey to examine the above relationships; to certain extent, the present study addresses the research gap and contributes to the burgeoning literature.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Analysis of barriers to sustainable tourism management in a protected area: A case from India
|
[
"National Chambal Sanctuary",
"Protected area",
"Sustainable tourism management",
"Interpretive structural modelling"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: In the present, the tourism sector is growing rapidly and becoming a significant support to the national and local economy in many places (Lansing and DeVries, 2007; Gu et al., 2013). In contrast, tourism also creates negative impacts in degrading ecological system and loss of cultural inheritance if it is not well planned and managed (Lansing and DeVries, 2007). Therefore, over the last few decades, the idea of sustainable tourism has been developed to reduce the negative impacts of tourism activities and to enhance positive impacts on the environment, society and culture. Sustainable tourism is all about saving the nature with tourism development, as well as related with long-term economic development and social equity (Swarbrooke, 1999). In order to protect environment and forests, different countries have decided to convert their rich biodiversity areas, ravine greenery, etc., into the protected areas (PAs). In India, such forests have been converted into PAs under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (Yadav and Sahu, 2015). The Chambal River, which is spread over three states of India, has been converted in the National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS) by forest departments of three states, respectively, i.e. Uttar Pradesh (UP) in 1979, followed by Madhya Pradesh (MP) in 1982 and Rajasthan in 1983. The Sanctuary is amongst the mainly significant and major habitats where numerous worldwide endangered flora and fauna still survive and be protected.\n2. Literature review: The literature review is divided into two sections as follows.\n3. Problem description: National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS), also known as the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife, Sanctuary is a PA in northern India. It is spread in and around the Chambal River, which flows in three states of India: Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (UP). The Sanctuary was established with the aim to protect wildlife and biodiversity of the pure water Chambal River. It covers almost 5,400 square kilometres over the three states, to shape the prominent tri-state PA of India. The Chambal River is one of the last remainder rivers in the more prominent Gangetic drainage basin to have held noteworthy preservation values (Hussain and Badola, 2001). The Sanctuary is also an important bird area IN122 (Zafar-ul-Islam and Rahmani, 2004). It is a home of a large number of migratory birds, gharials, crocodiles, and different species of turtles, dolphins, Indian skimmers, flora, fauna and various endangered species with rich biodiversity. There are numerous natural-sightseeing opportunities for the visitors in the Sanctuary area along with boating facilities.\n4. Methodology: In this paper, ISM developed by Warfield (1974) has been used as the research methodology for the concerned problem of STM. ISM is an interactive learning process; herewith, an arrangement of various related components of a given problem is organised into a systemic model (Jharkharia and Shankar, 2005). It makes possible for persons or groups to build up a diagram of the multifaceted interactions among the numerous issues concerned in a multifaceted situation (Ansari et al., 2013). In the ISM strategy, the choice of interrelationships among the issues depends on the group's perceptions; thus, it is having interpretive nature (Muduli et al., 2013). This method merges three modelling languages, i.e. words, digraphs and discrete mathematics, to put forward a methodology for organising multifaceted issues (Ansari et al., 2013). ISM is a demonstrating strategy in which the particular connections between the variables and the general structure of the framework are depicted in a digraph model (Faisal, 2010). Transitivity and reachability are two crucial ideas in ISM. Transitivity infers that if an issue \"k\" is connected with issue \"m\" and issue \"m\" is connected with another issue \"n\", then the issue \"k\" is necessarily connected to issue \"n\". Furthermore, reachability makes possible in creating the diverse levels in ISM (Barve and Muduli, 2013). ISM could be used as a group learning process and, in addition, also an individual learning process.\n5. Results and discussion: Sustainable tourism management is a useful approach to support the steady development of tourism and implementation of sustainability concept in the tourism sector with proper management. STM can be considered as a tourism industrial philosophy, which has evolved from the integration of environmental sustainability, social equity and economic viability with the protection of wildlife. Its purpose is to promote the social and economic benefit to society without hampering the local community culture and environmental quality. This trend has emerged after the 1970s with a discussion of sustainable development concept for economic development while saving the environment. But, the sustainability and its principles are yet to be accepted by many PAs, Sanctuaries and reservoirs. Therefore, this search is intended to explore and analyse different hindering factors, so-called barriers responsible for the lack of sustainability in tourism sector considering a case of one of the PAs in India, i.e. NCS. While understanding the different issues, the real problems in the implementation of STM can be solved and this study can show the pathway for STM implementation in the Sanctuary and other PAs.\n6. Conclusion: Sustainable tourism management (STM) is found as the best way to mitigate the negative effect of tourism on the environment while securing the benefits of tourism on local people and PAs management. The principles of STM would be useful for the development of a PAs, but its implementation is an extremely challenging task due to existing socio-economic and political circumstances in the developing countries (Tosun, 2001). The volatile nature of tourists and sensitive wildlife area makes the STM a critical aspect of sustainable development in terms of time. Despite the growing importance of STM in Indian scenario, the literature in this field is rare. Keeping these important aspects in mind, this study is based on the finding of relevant barriers responsible for STM implementation in NCS also known as the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, a 5,400 km2 tri-state PA in northern India. Through an intensive review of literature, expert consultation and questionnaire survey, 16 relevant barriers have been finalised to achieve the first objective of the study. i.e. identification of barriers pertaining to sustainable management of tourism in the Sanctuary.\n7. Limitations and scope of study: In the present study, 16 barriers to implementing STM in the Sanctuary have been identified for the structural modelling. There might be few more barriers attributed to the lack of STM in the Sanctuary, but the increased number of barriers to this problem leads to increasing the complexity of the clarification. The barriers, which are least affecting the STM, have not been considered in the development of ISM. The experts' suggestions have been required to select, and to examine the dependence and driving power of barriers of STM. Nonetheless, ISM provides an insight of the interrelationship between the barriers of STM, but the study undertaken is based on the personal opinion of experts and statistical validation of the selected barriers has not been done. Therefore, SEM could be used in the further study while considering statistical validation of this ISM model as a linear structural relationship. Finally, the current research will be very useful to solve the management issues and suggest policy implications for the STM system.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the barriers to sustainable tourism management (STM) implementation in a protected area (PA) of a developing country, India, by taking a case study of National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS).\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study develops a framework to analyse the interaction among a set of barriers of STM using the interpretive structural modelling approach.\nFindings: In this study, 16 relevant barriers responsible for the failure of STM in Indian scenario have been selected. The lack of coordination among various stakeholders and the lack of government incentives are found as the most significant barriers among the selected barriers of STM implementation in the sanctuary.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study provides most influencing barriers and how these barriers hinder the sustainability efforts in NCS. The study's main limitation is its generalisation. The problems in implementing sustainable practices may differ with the region.\nPractical implications: This study provides strong practical inferences to both practitioners as well as academicians. The practitioners are suggested to focus on identified barriers and formulating strategies to achieve sustainability in the tourism sector. Academicians may propose the solutions and necessary interventions for identified barriers.\nOriginality/value: Identification and presentation of barriers to STM implementation in the context of a PA are rare to find in literature.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Does perceived inclusion matter in the workplace?
|
[
"Organizational behaviour",
"Social exchange theory",
"Organizational commitment",
"Multi-level analysis",
"Perceived inclusion",
"Role identity theory",
"Role-based performance"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Developed in education and social work research, the concept of perceived inclusion has received attention in management research in recent decades (Tang et al., 2015). Perceived inclusion refers to employees' perception that they are accepted and recognized in the workplace, and scholars believe that inclusion reflects employees' positive experience and psychological satisfaction in the organization (Mor Barak and Cherin, 1998). Research on ostracism also supports the notion that inclusion-related feelings are key to employees' psychological satisfaction and performance (Robinson et al., 2013). However, most extant literature on perceived inclusion has either discussed the benefit of inclusion with conceptual propositions or studied the relationship between inclusion and employee outcomes. Few empirical studies have revealed the mechanism of how perceived inclusion affects employees' work-related behaviors (Jansen et al., 2014; Mor Barak and Cherin, 1998; Oswick and Noon, 2014; Shore et al., 2011).\nTheory and hypotheses: Perceived inclusion\nMethods: Participants and procedure\nResults: Descriptive statistics, correlations, and scale reliabilities are presented in Table I. First, we conducted multi-level CFA, and the results showed that the seven-factor model fit the data well (kh2(857)=948.51, p<0.05, RMSEA=0.02, CFI=0.93, TLI=0.92, SRMRwithin=0.05, SRMRbetween=0.15). This baseline model was significantly better than the two-factor model, in which we combined perceived inclusion and organizational commitment into one factor and role-based performance into another factor (kh2(897)=1226.93, p<0.001, Dkh2 (40)=278.42, p<0.01, RMSEA=0.04, CFI=0.73, TLI=0.72, SRMRwithin=0.08, SRMRbetween=0.30) and the one-factor model (kh2(899)=1587.45, p<0.001, Dkh2 (42)=638.94, p<0.01, RMSEA=0.06, CFI=0.44, TLI=0.42, SRMRwithin=0.12, SRMRbetween=0.65). Overall, the discriminant validity of the constructs was confirmed.\nDiscussion: Drawing from social exchange and role identity theory, we provided a theoretical model of perceived inclusion, organizational commitment, and role-based performance. The results showed that perceived inclusion was positively associated with job role and innovator role performance via the mediation of organizational commitment. In addition, perceived inclusion was directly associated with team member role performance.\nConclusion: This study utilizes the social exchange perspective and role identity theory to discuss how perceived inclusion affects individual performance. By proposing and testing the model, the study contributes to the literature on inclusion, enriches role identity theory, and identifies the mechanism of perceived inclusion. As one of the earliest studies on the mechanism of perceived inclusion from the perspective of role identity theory, the study will inspire more research in future to advance the knowledge of perceived inclusion.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Perceived inclusion refers to employees' perception of their inclusion status in the workplace. This concept offers a new perspective to understand employees' experiences within today's complex working environment. However, research on how perceived inclusion influences employee behavior is lacking. The purpose of this paper is to explore the mechanism of perceived inclusion through the lens of the social exchange perspective and role identity theory.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Survey data were collected from 257 employees and 60 supervisors in a manufacturing company. Multi-level structural equation modeling and the Monte Carlo method were applied to test the mediation effect.\nFindings: The results indicated that employees' perceived inclusion was positively associated with job role and innovator role performance through the mediation of organizational commitment. Perceived inclusion was also directly associated with team role performance.\nOriginality/value: This is the first study to empirically examine perceived inclusion in the workplace from the social exchange and role identity perspective. It revealed that perceived inclusion fosters employees' commitment toward the organization, which in turn influences their work-role behaviors. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Challenges of translating qualitative management data
|
[
"Challenges",
"Translation",
"Cross-languages",
"Qualitative data"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Qualitative research is typically oriented toward understanding socially constructed reality (Alvesson and Deetz, 2000), as it focuses on how people make sense of their social worlds and how to explore attitudes, emotions, sensitive issues, opinions and conceptions by talking to people directly. To do so, it uses soft data in the form of impressions, words, sentences, photos and symbols to collect data about events, processes, programs, issues and activities as they happen within real-life contexts (Neuman, 2006). Therefore, an interpretivist approach allows the researcher to focus on interpreting the meaning of languages of participates' life stories. This is challenging because language is the core of most qualitative research, and it is particularly challenging when qualitative data are collected in one language and the process of research involves acts of translation between languages (Temple and Young, 2004). Translating from one language to another may have consequences because meaning in one language may be understood differently in another language. Bryman and Bell (2007) stated that translation might lead to distortions of meanings between words, as text is situated within historical, cultural, political and institutional contexts, and meaning is often lost because the nature of language is fluid, has multiple layers of meaning and is not simply a technical tool for establishing meaning (Derrida, 2001).\nLiterature review: Cross-cultural qualitative studies attempt to understand individuals' behaviors as they perceive their own worlds within their cultural contexts (Bashiruddin, 2013; Temple and Young, 2004). Currently, cross-cultural qualitative research is increasing among researchers from certain fields such as sociology, anthropology and health to address the challenge of language translations and its impact on study findings (Temple and Young, 2004; Xian, 2008). These studies reported several aspects, including linguistic differences (Bashiruddin, 2013; Lopez et al., 2008), interpretation and analysis of findings (Temple and Young, 2004), influences on the translated meaning by the translator (Larkin et al., 2007), issues of methodology and epistemology (Hennink, 2007), positionality (insider-outsider) during research (Baker, 2006; Temple and Young, 2004; Young and Ackerman, 2001) and approaches for translating for qualitative research (Esposito, 2001).\nMethodology: Objectives of the study\nFindings and discussion: Translating qualitative data from Arabic to English allowed me to engage thoroughly with the data and to understand how Saudi women managers perceive their work life experiences, which in turn produced meaningful qualitative data and an in-depth cross-cultural knowledge. However, the process of translating the qualitative data from Arabic to English was complex and problematic, as translating ideas expressed from the source language to the target language is a multilayered process rooted in the sociocultural language of a particular context (Temple and Young, 2004; Twinn, 1998), with the aim of the translation to provide an accurate equivalent meaning of source text, use the natural form of the target language and produce a meaningful text (Lopez et al., 2008). In my attempt as a researcher, translator and data interpreter to translate qualitative Arabic data into English, I identified three main challenges, namely: translating contextually, positionality and language difference.\nChallenges of translating qualitative data: Translating contextually\nConclusion: This article discussed the challenges of translating qualitative insider research in relation to gender and management issues. It showed that translating the Arabic narratives of women managers into English was a complex task, one that cannot be conducted by following a simple procedure of traditional translation and finding equivalent meaning of a source language to a target language. The difficulties of translating a text from the source to the target language arise from the fact that languages construct different ways of understanding the social world (Larkin et al., 2007). Translating is about ensuring that the cultural inscription of terms and certain themes are presented contextually and clearly, and providing an honest account that holds the interest of the target readers. This article showed that being an insider qualitative researcher is challenging, as it inevitability may influence the validity of the findings.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the challenges of translating qualitative data from Arabic to English within the field of gender and management studies.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper presents a real experience of translating qualitative data from Arabic to English within the management area in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from interviewing female managers working in the Saudi public sector.\nFindings: Translating qualitative data from Arabic to English is not a straightforward process. During the translation of this cross-cultural qualitative research, three challenges were faced: the embeddedness of the language meaning in the culture, positionality and its influence on data production and language differences. The study found that, in absence of a standard way for translating cross-linguistic qualitative research, a combination of methods is found to be useful to increase the validity and reliability of the study findings. Researchers who conduct qualitative insider research and who translate their own data are in a better position to do cross-language data analysis.\nOriginality/value: This paper contributes to the literature by showing that translating Arabic texts regarding gender, management and leadership is embedded within historical, cultural, political and institutional contexts, requiring a deep understanding of both language and culture to produce a depth of knowledge. Also, the novelty of this study is that it highlights the importance of being an insider qualitative researcher and translating the research data, as researcher offers significant opportunities for close attention to certain points in the text; and this could add value to the analysis as a way to establish validity of interpretations.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Who is more entrepreneurial? A comparative study of vocational and academic students
|
[
"Students",
"Vocation",
"Academic",
"Perceived self-efficacy",
"Subjective norms",
"Personality characteristics",
"Entrepreneurial intentions",
"Entrepreneurship"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Entrepreneurship has largely been characterized in relation with the identification and exploration of business opportunities (Shane and Venkataraman, 2000; Davidsson and Honig, 2003; Geldhof et al., 2014). The authors generally agree that entrepreneurship involves understanding the bases of opportunities, how the processes of discovery, evaluation and exploitation of opportunities take place and who does them (as against who do not). However, a critical area that is being researched for a sufficient length of time is on the antecedents of entrepreneurial behavior and whether such behaviors are a result of cognitions and/or emotions (Krueger, Reilly and Carsrud, 2000). Related research has looked at such factors as attitude toward entrepreneurship, self-efficacy or beliefs of the individual who wants to start up, cognitions toward enterprise creation, gender differences, cultural influences, situational aspects promoting entrepreneurship, locus of control and intention to start (Davidsson and Honig, 2003; Webb and Sheeran, 2006; Geldhof et al., 2014). Several studies have also looked at the context of students who aspire to pursue entrepreneurship, sometimes as an alternative career path to \"working for someone else\" (Peterman and Kennedy, 2003; Schlaegel and Koenig, 2014; Zollo et al., 2017). Krueger et al. (2000) further state that to understand the incidence of entrepreneurial behavior among current non-entrepreneurs (e.g. students), it is essential to assess the antecedents of such behavior, especially the intent to start-up, because the individual (mind) is central to entrepreneurship.\nLiterature review and hypotheses development: Research in entrepreneurship in the context of students' choice of a professional career or occupational goals has found that students' start-up intentions is significantly influenced by his/her attitude toward entrepreneurship that relies on factors internal (e.g. personal characteristics, risk-taking propensity and available or acquired skill sets) and external (e.g. a supportive entrepreneurial eco-system) to the formation of the intention (Kirkley, 2017; Zollo et al., 2017). Krueger et al. (2000) have said that the potentiality of being an entrepreneur can be gauged by a student's expression of interest in demonstrating pro-entrepreneurship behaviors in his/her institution. Such students who are willing to or are interested to consider entrepreneurship as an alternate career have been termed as potential entrepreneurs or nascent entrepreneurs, with such interests having its roots in their younger days (Peterman and Kennedy, 2003). In such studies, family background, especially prior business experiences within the family, has received attention from various scholars (Crant, 1996; Peterman and Kennedy, 2003), wherein it has been postulated that the value and extent of business influences affect the ward's intentions to exhibit entrepreneurial behavior (Shapero and Sokol, 1982).\nMethodology: The study was designed to compare the four entrepreneurial characteristics- PSE, SN, PC and EI of students studying in a vocational program and those studying in an academic program; that is, it was designed to test the predictions put forward in H1 to H4. The study also aimed to find if there are significant differences across the groups controlled for the family business background and gender of the students pursuing the respective programs.\nMeasures: Perceived self-efficacy\nAnalysis, results and discussions: This study was designed to test for the predictions of H1 to H4. The collected data was cleaned and tabulated systematically to include details of participants and outcome measures. We checked the collected data for normality and equality of variances. We found that data was normally distributed (p > 0. 05, Shapiro-Wilk test), and therefore parametric test (ANOVA, ANCOVA and Pearson's correlation) was used to analyze the data. A one-way independent ANOVA was used to analyze the four variables for both VC and AC, followed by an ANCOVA to check the impact of family business background and gender as control variables. A correlation test was performed to observe the relationships between variables and to see whether each variable was measuring what it was supposed to measure and to rule out contaminations because of certain items. All statistical analysis was computed with two-tailed hypothesis. The results of variables studied for the two groups are detailed hereunder (Tables II, III and IV).\nConclusion: PSE, SN, PC and entrepreneurial intentions have been linked with individuals aspiring to take up a career in entrepreneurship (Licht and Siegel; 2005, Engle et al., 2012). However, there is a dearth of literature that has studied an individual's choice of an academic course in an institute of repute, in terms of a vocation (s)he wants to pursue or a standard academic program that addresses the business scenario in general. This study has looked into an individual's choice of a particular program and its corresponding impact on the four variables in question, in a context and setting where starting up of new businesses has seen a steady rise. Although PSE, SN and entrepreneurial intentions have been studied as part of the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991), the current study brings in the construct of PC to gain more insights into the study.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Research in the context of an individual's choice of an entrepreneurial career has looked at effect of perceived self-efficacy (PSE), personality characteristics (PC) and subjective norms on entrepreneurial intentions (EIs). In contrast, the purpose of this paper is to compare these constructs across a vocational student (VC) group and an academic group (AC), in a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. It also includes PC of the individuals as a variable.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The analysis is based on a quantitative method followed by a qualitative approach to gain more insights in the study domain. It includes administration of a survey questionnaire and a round of unstructured interviews with select students.\nFindings: Theorizing that there would be significant differences in PSE, PC and EIs between the two groups, the study demonstrates that for all the three variables, individuals opting for a vocational course exhibit significant difference as compared to an academic group. The results are significant when controlled for family business background and gender.\nOriginality/value: This paper has contributed to the academic literature in the entrepreneurship domain by differentiating the choice of an academic course prior to taking up a career in entrepreneurship and how it impacts entrepreneurial orientations. These interrelationships can further be extended into the domain of social media and networks, to draw interesting insights pertaining to how students get influenced by the social media in their choice of entrepreneurial career.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Board characteristics and corporate value: evidence from Thailand
|
[
"Boards of directors",
"Organizational structures",
"Corporate governance",
"Thailand"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Corporate governance and conflict of interest between ownership and control has become a crucial topic of debate since the introduction of agency theory. Agency theory suggests that in modern corporations, the separation of ownership and management increases the power of managers. This provides the chance for the managers to pursue their own interests (Fama and Jensen, 1983a). Shleifer and Visny (1997, p. 737) suggest that \"corporate governance deals with the ways in which suppliers of finance to corporations assure themselves of getting a return on their investment. However, do the suppliers of finance get managers to return some of the profits to them?\" This issue is linked to corporate governance by suggesting that adequate control mechanisms need to be established to ensure that management teams act in the best interests of shareholders' benefits (Berle and Means, 1932). The roles of the board are to mitigate agency problems, act as advisors to the CEO and executive managers, and to be boundary spanners in expanding the company linkage with the external environment (Fama and Jensen, 1983a).In Thailand, corporate governance is a focus of public interest and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) have paid much attention to \"good\" corporate governance. The SET focuses on internal control in improving its corporate governance of Thai firms, especially on the structure of board of directors (Nikomborirak, 2001).This study focuses on the influence of independent directors on firm performance based on a sample of Thai non-financial listed companies of year 2004. It also illustrates the importance of inside directors, grey directors and board size on corporate performance. Furthermore, it shows the importance of a curvilinear relationship between board composition and corporate valuation. The main focus is to identify what characteristics of directors are significant determinants of corporate value.The results of this study extend the literature regarding the association between board structure and corporate value. The existing literature focuses mainly on corporations in developed countries (Yermack, 1996; Vafeas and Theodorou, 1998), and therefore the present study will provide a much needed international investigation. This study is expected to provide beneficial information to regulators and standard setters concerning improving the quality of governance systems in Thailand and other countries with similar country-specific structures. The results of this study will contribute towards the recovery of local and foreign investors' confidence in the Thai capital market.\nTheoretical background and development of hypotheses: Non-executive directors (independent and grey directors)\nData and models: Data\nResults: Table I presents descriptive statistics of the variables. The results show that the mean of Tobin's Q is 1.09 and the median is 0.92. The majority of directors (61 per cent) are non-executive directors; consisting of independent directors (32 per cent), grey directors (29 per cent). The minority of directors (39 per cent) are inside (or executive) directors. These numbers are opposite to those found by Vafeas and Theodorou (1998). They report that in their sample, 39 per cent of the directors are non-executive directors and 61 per cent are executive directors. For board size, the present study finds that on average there are 11.36 directors on the boards of Thai firms in 2004, which is similar to some previous studies3. In terms of board leadership, the results show that only 24 per cent of firms in the sample have no separation of roles and duties between the CEO and the chairman of the board.Focusing on committee structure and the proportion of independent directors in the committee, the statistic shows that all Thai firms have audit committees and 96 per cent of their directors are independent directors. One possible reason for this finding is that since 1999, the SET has required all Thai listed firms to set up an audit committee, which must be comprised at least three non-executive directors who are independent from executive directors and major shareholders (The Stock Exchange of Thailand, 1999). For the remuneration and nomination committee structure, the statistical results reveal that 31 per cent of firms in the sample have a remuneration committee and almost half of these committee members (42 per cent) are independent directors. This result also shows that 25 per cent of firms have nomination committees and 40 per cent of these committee members are independent directors. Moreover, Table I shows that the mean ROAt-1 is 6.8 per cent. The average age of firms in the sample is 12.5 years. The mean leverage is 28 per cent and the mean sales growth is 27.06 per cent. The mean firm size (as measured in millions of dollars) is $281.16.Table II reports the Pearson pairwise coefficients between explanatory variables, excluding industrial variables. The highest correlation (r = 0.822; p < 0.001) is between IN-COM and IR-COM. This correlation is very high because independent directors on nomination committees are also appointed as remuneration committees in most Thai firms. The correlation of GREY-DIR is negative and marginally significant to IND-DIR (r=-0.334; p=0.001). The result suggests that the high fraction of grey directors is associated to the low proportion of independent directors. The correlations of INS-DIR are negatively correlated to IND-DIR (r=-0.164; p > 0.001), and GREY-DIR (r=-0.726; p > 0.001). The results suggest that the higher the fraction of inside directors, the lower the fraction of independent and grey directors.It was found that board size is negatively related to independent directors (r=-0.490; p < 0.001) and positively correlated to GREY-DIR (r=0.319, p < 0.001). This suggests that firms with a larger board size tend to have more grey directors than independent directors as non-executive directors. Interestingly, the results show that DUALITY is positively related to GREY-DIR (r=0.258, p < 0.001) and B-SIZE (r=0.144, p=0.027), and negatively related to INS-DIR (r=-0.178, p > 0.001). This suggests that firms with a large board size tend to appoint the CEO as the chairman of the board. CEO duality appears to be connected to the appointment of fewer inside directors and more grey directors. This study also finds that LgAGE is positively related to B-SIZE (r=0.267; p < 0.001) and GREY-DIR (r=0.156, p=0.015) and negatively related to INS-DIR (r=-0.141, p=0.032). The results indicate that older firms tend to have a large board size, and the board is likely to have more grey directors and fewer inside directors. In addition, it was found that LgSGROWTH is positive and significant to B-SIZE (r=0.278; p <0.001), and this suggests that firms with a larger board size are likely to have high sales growth.The effect of board composition and Tobin's Q\nDiscussion and conclusion: In this study the impact of board compositions on firm value was examined. Most results in this study are similar to the evidence reported from different countries like the USA, Australia and Japan. It was found that having non-executive directors on board committees, including independent directors and grey directors, does not necessarily improve corporate value in the case of Thai firms. One of the possible reasons could be that non-executive directors, especially independent directors, are appointed to the board in order to comply with the requirement of the SET. This result is similar to those of Koontz (1967) and Vafeas and Theodorou (1998) who suggest that independent directors are unable to improve firm value due to inadequate knowledge about the company and limited time devoted in improving firm value. Regarding the influence of inside directors on firm performance, this study found that a larger proportion of inside directors on the board lead to greater firm value. The results suggest that inside directors can improve firm performance by providing valuable information to the CEO and other directors, obtained from their experience and knowledge and being involved with daily business of a firm (Fama and Jensen, 1983a). Most Thai firms are family businesses and most of inside directors are family members so they will do their best to maximise firm value. It was found in this study that board size has no significant relation to firm performance. It is suggested that board size is only the number of directors on the board, and this might not linked to the ability, knowledge and skills the directors have in performing their tasks to improve firm value. In addition, the advantage of having a large board might be outweighed by the costs of inefficient information transferring, or timely decision making (Goodstein et al., 1994).It was also revealed that CEO duality can be confirmed as a poor internal control since it was found that duality has a negative correlation to firm value. This is consistent with agency theory suggesting that duality reduces board monitoring effectiveness, leaving room for CEO entrenchment (Finkelstein and D'Aveni, 1994). There is no evidence that having a proportion of independent directors on the board increases firm value. This study found a curvilinear correlation between inside directors and Tobin's Q. The minimum Tobin's Q was found when the proportion of inside directors was 27.8 per cent of the board membership and beyond this point Tobin's Q improved.Overall, the results show that firm value is insensitive to a fraction of independent directors and grey directors on the board. Interestingly, this study finds that inside directors can perform an excellent management role in increasing firm value. Moreover, it is found that a larger board membership is less likely to improve firm performance. The linkage between a fraction of independent directors on the board committee and firm value is not established in this study. There is a negative relationship between CEO duality and firm value, which lends supports to the CEO and board chairman role separation hypothesis. This study finds a significant curvilinear correlation between inside directors and Tobin's Q. The result indicates that when the fraction of inside directors reaches 27.8 per cent of the board members, Tobin's Q drops to the minimum point. However, the non-linear relation is found to be insignificant for independent directors and grey directors.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This paper aims to examine the influence of corporate board structure on corporate value.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The data were collected on a sample of 245 Thai non-financial listed companies to examine the effect of board structure on firm performance.\nFindings: - The results show that neither independent directors nor grey directors are the significant determinants of improving firm value.\nResearch limitations/implications: - This research was confined to 245 Thai non-financial listed companies. It would be useful to replicate it using larger samples under different country settings.\nPractical implications: - The findings provide guidance to top managers in deciding the Board structure as corporate value is also grounded in corporate board structure.\nOriginality/value: - The paper provides far reaching implications for corporate managers about the relationship between Board characteristics and corporate value.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Brand-extension feedback effects: an Asian branding perspective
|
[
"Brand extensions",
"Consumer behaviour",
"Trust",
"Brand equity",
"Brand‐extension feedback",
"Parent brand trust",
"Change in brand‐equity",
"India"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction and background: Brand-equity is a strategic asset (Srivastava et al., 1998), a key benefit of which is the potential to leverage it across different markets; a strategy termed as a brand-extension strategy (Keller, 2003). For example, Hello Kitty Cafes and Yamaha Tennis Racquets represent extensions of well-established brands. By being associated with a strong parent brand, brand-extensions gain instant consumer recognition, providing marketing cost efficiencies (Keller, 2003). However, apart from benefiting from a parent brand's existing equity, brand-extensions can reciprocally impact its equity, a phenomenon termed as feedback effects (Ahluwalia and Gurhan-Canli, 2000). Feedback effects arise when consumers cognitively re-evaluate a parent brand (i.e. reciprocate) after encountering its brand-extension. Such consumer reciprocation behaviour implies that due care must be exercised while planning brand-extensions.The extant research on brand-extensions is divided into studying consumer evaluations of brand-extensions per se, as well as their feedback effects on a parent brand. The former body of literature is referred to as the brand-extension evaluation literature, and the later as the brand-extension feedback literature. The current study forms a part of the brand-extension feedback literature, and identifies key opportunities to extend it. The first opportunity identified is the potential to investigate a significantly newer antecedent of consumers' reciprocal parent brand evaluations. This research introduces parent brand trust as a newer antecedent of consumers' reciprocal parent brand evaluations. The literature reveals that brand trust favourably impacts consumer attitudes, purchase-intentions, consumer-brand relationships and brand-equity (Chaudhuri and Holbrook, 2001; Sirdeshmukh et al., 2002). Given consumers anthropomorphise brands and deal with them using inter-personal relational norms (Fournier, 1998), they also develop trust in brands akin to inter-personal relationships (Chaudhuri and Holbrook, 2001). Introduction of a brand-extension is typically perceived by consumers as a type of \"behaviour\" by a parent brand (Czellar, 2003), making trust a key ingredient of consumers' reciprocal parent brand evaluations. Although studies outline parent brand trust as a direct antecedent of brand-extension evaluations per se (Reast, 2005; Wu and Yen, 2007), its empirical investigation in the context of brand-extension feedback remains minimal. Only Milewicz and Herbig (1994) offer indirect conceptual support for the potential role of brand trust, whereby they argue that existing parent brand credibility (a correlate of trust) acts as a signal for consumers to evaluate brand-extensions, as well as to reassess parent brands (feedback effect) post brand-extension evaluations. However, explicit empirical investigations of brand trust in this context are still minimal. Therefore, the current study adds to the understanding of the role of parent brand trust in brand-extension feedback.The second opportunity to extend the literature is investigating brand-extension feedback effects in a different cultural context, specifically India. Majority of academic literature on brand-extension feedback emanates from researching Western consumers and brands (Martinez et al., 2008); the findings thus being more pertinent to the Western context. Emerging cross-cultural investigations have revealed that Asian and Western consumers differ in terms of their evaluations of brand-extensions (Monga and John, 2007) as well as, in terms of their reciprocal evaluations of a parent brand (Kim et al., 2007). India has globally acquired the status of a large-emerging-market, and this merits an investigation into its consumer behaviour towards Indian brands. The current study contributes to the literature by investigating how Indian consumers reciprocally evaluate Indian brands after encountering brand-extensions. Moreover, emergence of the Asian region as an economic powerhouse has stimulated interest into investigating behaviour of Asian consumers toward Asian brands; evident in the special issue on \"Branding in Asia\" in the Journal of Brand Management, 2008 (Vol. 15, No. 6). The current special issue by the Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics adds force to the importance of studying Asian consumer behaviour towards Asian brands.Asian studies on brand-extensions and feedback effects\n2 Conceptual framework: Cognitive processes of brand-extension evaluations are explained by categorisation theory (Bhat and Reddy, 2001). A parent brand and its products are mentally viewed by consumers as a category with associated attributes and attitudes (Bhat and Reddy, 2001). When a brand-extension is launched, consumers cognitively match it (assess fit) to the parent brand. Higher the degree of perceived fit between a parent and its extension, greater the transfer of consumers' existing parent brand attitude to the extension (Smith and Andrews, 1995), thus highlighting a direct positive impact of initial parent brand-equity and perceived fit on consumers' brand-extension evaluations (Bhat and Reddy, 2001).The associative-network memory theory helps understand brand-extension feedback effects (Keller, 2003). Consumers' mental representation of a parent brand is stored as nodes connected by links in memory (a schema). These links represent brand associations related to a parent brand (Keller, 2003). Launch of a brand-extension primes a memory node and a link back to the parent brand is created, leading to a cognitive feedback effect, whereby newly formed consumer beliefs transfer back (reciprocated) to a parent brand (Balachander and Ghose, 2003). If a brand-extension per se is evaluated favourably (poorly), consistent (conflicting) information is created that leads to strengthening (weakening) of a parent brand's image and equity (Chen and Liu, 2004). This mechanism has been corroborated in an outside-the-lab-setting where Erdem (1998) observed that consumers change their parent brand perceptions based on their experiences with brand-extensions.Based on these psychological mechanisms, the literature has outlined critical antecedents of consumers' reciprocal parent brand evaluations. A major antecedent is brand-extension evaluation, variously operationalised as consumer attitude towards a brand-extension (Martinez and de Chernatony, 2004), brand-extension quality (Volckner et al., 2008) and, consumer experience and trial of a brand-extension (Swaminathan et al., 2001). The literature reveals a direct positive impact of brand-extension evaluations on reciprocal parent brand evaluations.Initial parent brand evaluations have emerged as another important antecedent of reciprocal parent brand evaluations, operationalised as parent brand image (Salinas and Perez, 2009), parent brand quality (Martinez and de Chernatony, 2004) and initial brand-equity (Broniarczyk and Alba, 1994). This group of studies reveals a direct positive influence of consumers' initial parent brand evaluations on their evaluations of a parent brand post brand-extension introduction.The impact consumer perceived fit has also been investigated in the feedback literature. Initial studies indicated a direct influence of perceived fit (Bhat and Reddy, 2001). However, recent studies indicate a lack of a direct influence of perceived fit on reciprocal parent brand evaluations (Buil et al., 2009; Martinez et al., 2008; Salinas and Perez, 2009). Thus, given this lack of consensus, the current research does not conceptualise this relationship.Effect of perceived fit on brand-extension attitude\n3 Research design: Data collection procedure and sample\n4 Data analysis and results: Data were screened prior to analysis. Out of 327 collected records, 24 records had missing values that numbered more than 40 per cent of total questions. These 24 records were deleted (Raymond and Roberts, 1987). Further, 15 records were identified that demonstrated extreme responding and mid-point responding throughout most of the questionnaire. These records were suitably eliminated as they were a potential cause of extremity and mid-point response biases, respectively. Thus, 288 usable responses were obtained for subsequent analysis.Preliminary analyses\n5 Discussion: The current study adds to the developing body of Asian empirical literature on brand-extension feedback effects. A conceptual model of brand-extension feedback is developed from literature and tested on data collected from consumers in India. A hypothetical scenario of a major Indian brand Amul foraying into the restaurant sector was chosen this research based on marketplace evidence. The model fit the data well and five of the six hypotheses are supported.The results reveal that BEA has a strong impact (b-coefficient=0.23) on change in brand-equity. This finding is consistent with Western literature on feedback effects that outlines a positive effect of BEA on reciprocal parent brand evaluations (Martinez and de Chernatony, 2004). This strong impact makes theoretical sense as brand-extension feedback process originates only after a brand-extension is launched in the market and receives initial evaluation from consumers. These findings are also consistent with the Asian literature in general (Chen and Liu, 2004) and, the study from India specifically (Dwivedi et al., 2010).Parent brand trust is introduced in the current study as a direct antecedent of brand-extension feedback for the first time in the literature, both the Western and Asian literatures. The results reveal that parent brand trust has a strong impact on change in parent brand-equity (b-coefficient =0.30). The result implies that if a parent brand is perceived as reliable and as possessing integrity, it has a favourable impact on consumers' reciprocal parent brand evaluations. The result is pioneering for both Western and Asian literatures. However, within the Asian context, this finding seems rational. Asian cultures are relatively high context in orientation than their Western counterparts and thus, relational aspect of trust in an entity assumes a very important role in general and business transactions (Lohtia et al., 2009). The results imply that trust in a brand leads to strengthening of parent brand schema in consumer memory, thereby leading to a positive feedback effect. Generally, this finding complements Fournier' (1998) consumer-brand relationship theory, as well as Milewicz and Herbig (1994) argument for the role of parent brand credibility in feedback to a parent brand. Thus, this is a major contribution of the study.The hypothesized impact of initial brand-equity on change in brand-equity (H3) is found to be non-significant. Although, the feedback literature in the West has established this to be an important explanatory path, its non-significance in the Asian context may reveal interesting insights. One possible explanation for this non-significance could be attributed to the presence of a second parent-brand-related variable in the model, namely parent brand trust. Traditionally, the Western literature has modeled the impact only one parent-brand-related variable on final parent brand evaluations (Salinas and Perez, 2009; Martinez et al., 2008). So introduction of parent brand trust as a second parent-brand-related explanatory variable along with parent brand-equity, may have led to cannibalisation of a direct effect of initial brand-equity on change in brand-equity.The specific brand-extension scenario use in the research further highlights the role of brand trust. The Amul brand has traditionally been a strong product brand in India. It has gradually forayed into the services sector via chain of Amul Ice Cream Parlors. However, this extension is somewhat limited in the range of products and services it provides, given that it solely offers Amul's existing products. The hypothetical scenario of a full-service restaurant represents a big leap for Amul since restaurant services offer limited direct parent brand connections to consumers as compared to ice cream parlors. In such a scenario, relying solely on parent brand name to achieve a positive consumer response towards the restaurant brand-extension may not yield much benefits (Lei et al., 2004). Therefore, consumers' trust in a parent brand trust is likely to play a critical role in such contexts. This greater role of trust is indicated in the relative b-coefficients, whereby trust has a direct significant impact on consumers' revision of parent brand-equity, as compared to the impact of initial brand-equity that had no significant impact. Overall, the current study presents interesting insights into Asian brand-extension feedback effects.\n6 Managerial implications: The study reinforces the importance of building trust in brands specifically within the Asian context. The results suggest that parent brand trust should be developed so that a positive reciprocal impact on a parent brand can be achieved. If consumers do not trust a parent brand in its original category, they are even less likely to have faith in any derived brand-extension in a service-intensive industry. Brand managers need to conduct an objective audit of trust prior to designing and launching brand-extensions. Thus, it is strongly recommended that trust be built up in the parent brand prior to embarking on a brand-extension.The study reinforces the existing literature in guiding new brand-extension by highlighting the importance of designing strong and effective brand-extensions that will be favourably received by consumers generating positive attitudes to a brand-extension. The approach to designing strong brand-extensions should conform to the fundamental principles of good branding, paying attention to the brand vision, identity, values, personality and alignment of individual brand elements to the brand concept.Another major managerial implication is an opening up of the product categories suitable for brand-extension. In particular, Asian product-based parent brands should not feel constrained to planning service-based brand-extensions. Specifically, product-based parent brands can benefit from service-based brand-extensions, as exemplified by companies such as Amul.\n7 Limitations and future research: First, company-based antecedents, such as the impact of marketing-mix and branding strategies, have not been investigated in this research and may open up future research avenues. Second, as a \"first step\" in establishment of a valid brand-extension feedback model in Asian context, only direct effects of key antecedents are modeled in this study. A logical next step would be to examine moderating influences of consumer-behavioural and marketing related variables via conducting multi-group analyses. Third, it is vital to replicate the model in other Asian nations for achieving greater external validity within the region. Fourth and finally, given the strong impact of trust on change in brand-equity, it is also recommended that cross-cultural comparisons of the model of this research be undertaken across Asian countries and between Western and Asian nations so as to assess role and importance of parent brand trust in the feedback phase.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Most of the literature on feedback effects emanates from the West, and is thus relevant to Western brands. The purpose of this paper is to model the impact of brand-extensions on parent brand-equity within the Asian (specifically Indian) context. Additionally, parent brand trust is examined as a new antecedent of brand-extension feedback.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Scenario of an Indian product brand hypothetically entering the service sector is chosen as stimulus in the study. A cross-sectional survey of 327 Generation-Y respondents is conducted. Structural equation modeling is used for testing the conceptual model.\nFindings: - The model of brand-extension feedback fits the data adequately, and five of the six hypotheses are supported. Brand-extension attitude significantly impacts change in brand-equity, which is consistent with the extant Western literature. Parent brand trust has a strong impact on change in brand-equity of a parent brand.\nPractical implications: - The role and impact of parent brand trust is particularly important in the Asian context. Thus, prior to embarking on a brand-extension decision, an audit of parent brand trust is recommended. Further, this research opens up newer brand-extension possibilities for brand managers contemplating brand-extensions.\nOriginality/value: - This research is a first-of-its-kind from the Asian region (specifically, India) to measure brand-extension feedback effects on change in brand-equity of a parent brand. Parent brand trust is introduced as a new antecedent of brand-extension feedback.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Why goal setting can ruin your life
|
[
"Intuition",
"Higher mental processes",
"Individual behaviour",
"Individual psychology",
"Inner wisdom",
"Goals",
"Fulfilment",
"Less stress",
"Happier"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nOverview: We live in a world where acquisition and achievement have become all important. This has been supported by our innate desire to have more and be more in life.A whole movement which studied the psychology of success over the past 40 years has taught us that the only way to acquisition and achievement, in short to \"success,\" is to set clearly defined goals. Having set these goals, they are achieved by focusing unwaveringly on their achievement and taking action, often daily, to achieve those chosen outcomes.But the truth is - not only is the outcome not guaranteed, but the very process could be ruining our lives.There is no doubt that the human mind is hugely powerful and if you consistently focus your mind on a chosen result, there is a possibility that you will achieve a certain outcome. This may take some time, but with patience and a sense of determination, you might well get there. For a few, this approach has brought material success and financial gain, but for most it has led to disappointment, frustration and misery as intended goal after goal has not materialised.\nWhy goal setting can ruin your life: Goals are most often set in the hope that life will be better with the attainment of a certain goal. They are set in the hope that with this achievement or acquisition, there will be greater happiness and fulfilment.For many wanting to improve their lives, goal setting offers them a way of trying to make their lives more rewarding and under their control. Yet the realisation soon comes that even with their chosen acquisition or achievement, they are no happier or fulfilled. How many times have we got the bigger house, the better car, the partner, the marriage, the children and the better career situation, only to find that we are still no happier?From here the solution seems to be to set another goal, and a bigger goal at that, in the often desperate hope that this will bring the happiness we crave. In time, goal setting creates an almost never ending cycle of desire all in the search for a seemingly elusive thing.Another problem with using goals to try to make us feel better inside is that we often create for ourselves things that are not really right for us as an individual and that are not really in alignment with who we inherently are as a person.We think we want a bigger house yet when we get it and see the reality of maintaining this bigger house and garden, we might realise that it is not really quite us. It can actually become a burden on us rather than a pleasure, and impose some considerable strain on us on many levels.In addition to this, many people set goals that are a result of what they think they should want or should have. They set goals based on what their peers have or what their peers are doing, or based on what they are being \"encouraged\" to do by others. It takes quite a lot of singularity of mind not to get caught up in this subtle peer pressure or indeed the family pressure that says you should have a certain thing by a certain age or be a certain way.What often happens when we are intent on creating a specific outcome is we miss that very thing that really is for us to have, that really would make us happy. With the strength of our focus we fail to see the opportunity that is right in front of us because it is not what we have chosen to look for.The reticular activating system of our mind helps us to notice those things that lead us to our chosen focus and can actually prevent us from noticing other signs and coincidences along our way - signs that really are trying to help and guide us.So many people miss out on what is inherently for them by having this narrow focus that things should be a certain way. Furthermore, our logical, rational approach to our goals leaves no room for intuition, inspiration and creativity as we forge ahead on our \"chosen route.\" And this is the very crux of the problem, it is our chosen route, it is about what we want, and that is very often at odds with the chosen route that the Universe has mapped out for us.For many people goals are sought after with much pushing and striving. We have been taught that to achieve things we must \"take massive action\", \"make life happen\" and \"take the bull by the horns\" so we try to do this, often to no avail.This approach, based purely on what appears to be the logical steps to take to achieve something, can lead us to be very driven, very manipulative and often very unaware of the effect we are having on those around us. It often adds to our stress levels as we chase and push to achieve our outcomes, always thinking what else can we do to achieve this. The Protestant Work Ethic that taught us that we are here to \"live to work\" fuels our ardour as we push ever forwards in the hope of achievement.With this self focused approach, at no time do we stop for a moment and ask what are the consequences for our families, our marriage or relationships, our friendships and also the consequences for our health of all this pushing to \"make life happen?\"For many people that I have worked with as a coach, they have lost much that they hold dear as a result of this desire to be successful - as defined by their goal setting and the material world. They have lost marriages, relationships with their children and friendships all in the name of goal achievement and success.On reflection this endless goal setting has made them, they acknowledge, lose touch with what is really important in life. They have lost out on love, connection, intimacy, and a host of other values that come with good relationships. Many high achievers are coming to realise that these really are the things to value ... and sometimes when it is too late.However, the biggest problem with goal setting is what happens to the many people who, despite doing all the right things, do not achieve their goals. They do not get to where they want to be or have what they feel they deserve and want. The disappointment and disillusionment this causes is hugely detrimental. It leads us to be very self denigrating, self critical and self undermining.The self talk that we get into about the way we are and the way life is, can significantly lower our levels of self esteem and self worth. It makes us see ourselves and our life through a very negative lens that effectively states \"life is not fair.\" We see things working out for others and wonder what it is that they are doing that we are not doing.This endless comparison erodes our levels of self appreciation so that we often feel like a failure. And the difficulty is that from that place it really is hard to lift out of the depression and low feelings that invade us. Stress and depression are moving towards epidemic proportions these days and for many goal setting and the failure to achieve is at the root of this.\nCase studies: Case study 1 - Sarah Alexander - author of this article\nThe solution: As these case studies have shown there is a solution to the \"goal setting challenge\". There is an alternative approach to reaching your potential and achieving all that life has to offer you.*Listen to your inner wisdom. Within all of us is a sense of inner wisdom that can be used to guide us in every aspect of our life. It can guide us to achieve all that is for us to achieve; it can inspire us with new ideas and options that we had perhaps not considered and it can be used to guide us in the creation of our dreams. And by dreams I mean those ideas, and often random synchronicities, that come to us and inspire us to act on them. They are not goals that we set; they are ideas that well up from inside us, that just come to us and take hold of us. These dreams feel right, they energise us and they are totally in alignment with who we are.*Ask \"What is The Universe offering me?\" Most importantly of all, our inner wisdom can guide us in how to be happy because it has our fulfilment at its core. This innate wisdom really can see the bigger picture of our lives as well as our talents and skills and it gives us these gifts of creative insight at just the right time. And often all we have to do is ask \"What is the Universe offering me right now?\" \"What things are happening naturally and easily for me at this moment?\"*It may be that right now there is no action to take and if we can accept that everything is perfect for us, then we really are acting in alignment with Universal flow.*Let go of control. What gets in our way of following this natural course of events is our desire to control our lives and what happens within it. Rather than accepting what is, we try to fight against it and it is that very fight against life and our circumstances that can lead to much stress and negative thinking.*The Universe has an intelligence of its own, which for some is their innate Spiritual Intelligence, and if we can join that universal intelligence then life takes on a sense of ease. We can recognise that every situation is perfect for us, perfect for our growth and perfect for the plan as a whole.\nConclusion: My advice is to stop setting goals and stop striving to achieve those goals. Instead let your instincts guide you in the right direction. You will feel happier, less stressed, and certainly more fulfilled.\nAbout the author: Sarah Alexander is an expert in Spiritual Intelligence and has worked with hundreds of clients worldwide helping them tap into their intuition and use it make decisions in their lives - both personally and professionally. She also runs courses and workshops for coaches entitled \"Spiritual Intelligence in Coaching\" that train existing and potential coaches to work with clients using the principles of Spiritual Intelligence. She has used Spiritual Intelligence successfully to build her first business, which she sold in 2001 and then used it again to build her current business helping clients, including business executives, international sports competitors and entrepreneurs to bring them success. Her book Spiritual Intelligence in Business: the Eight Pillars of 21st Century Business Success is available from Amazon, all good book retailers and from Sarah's web site. For information on Sarah's coaching and workshops go to: www.sarah-alexander.co.uk Sarah Alexander can be contacted at: sarah@sarah-alexander.co.uk\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how setting goals and focusing on acquisition and achievement in life can lead to disappointment and misery, whereas focusing on the guidance of one's inner wisdom can lead to happiness and fulfilment.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The limitations and drawbacks of goal setting are outlined and case studies are provided to support this. Suggestions are provided for listening to one's intuition and allowing the Universe to direct one's life.\nFindings: - Both the author and a client are used as case studies that support the value of allowing intuition to be the guiding force in one's life. In both instances there is greater peace and satisfaction in life and the feeling that life is working out easily for both individuals.\nPractical implications: - This approach can be successfully used in any area of one's life and is valuable to people from all walks of life. However not everyone is willing to adopt this approach as it requires a willingness to let go of the desire to control one's life and in so doing, allow in what is really meant for us.\nSocial implications: - This training to date has been presented to open audiences, executives and entrepreneurs with good results. It is clear that these ideas could also be of value to those leading larger organisations and in other key roles of leadership.\nOriginality/value: - These techniques originate from the author's study of \"A Course in Miracles\". The author has adopted its teaching within her own work and this, she believes, to be original - although there are other coaches who may support such thinking with their clients. This thinking is of value to anyone who wishes to reduce anxiety and stress, feel more fulfilled in life and improve their relationships - both professional and personal.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Safeguard gaps and their managerial issues
|
[
"Data security",
"Business enterprise",
"Information exchange"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 The process analysis and the safeguard gaps: When information technology (IT) and information system (IS) are applied due to the operational, managerial, or strategic consideration, the business process of an organization will develop two kinds of information assets (IAs): physical IAs and their digital counterparts. Theoretically, and practically, the safeguard of individual (physical or digital) IA differs not only in accordance with its integrity, confidentiality, and availability, but also with the balance between convenience (efficiency and effectiveness of the business process) and security. Therefore, it is expected that there should be a safeguard gap between the physical IAs of a business process and their digital counterparts. However, the literature has been silent about issues on the safeguard gap and its managerial implication. Based on a case study focusing on analyzing the loan process of bank A, this study explores these two issues.Founded in 1915, bank A was the first in Taiwan to conduct online fund transactions. For the purpose of efficiency improvement, bank A wants to evaluate its enterprise loan business process which entails seven tasks:1. contact customer;2. verify the credit line of customer;3. determine loan size;4. sign contract;5. transfer fund;6. maintain loan account; and7. renew and reimburse.Bank A favors an evaluation methodology for overseeing the business process and for assessing which mechanism can be changed in order to reduce cost and enhance performance of the enterprise loan business process.Inevitably, such investigation must involve non-IT managers in the evaluation of the underlying information-processing infrastructure of the business process. To meet this end, the approach adopted for investigation must be understandable and easy for managers to use so that they can actively participate in the investigation process due to the simple and straightforward nature of the approach.To address to the challenge, the process-wide information organism (PWIO) approach is employed. The PWIO approach is proposed to depict and analyze practices (i.e. the practicing mechanism) of managing information flow underlying the strategic business process. The PWIO approach can pick out the non-value-adding practices as the basis for further enhancement of the target business process. Since, it does not involve the detailed implementation of IT/IS, the PWIO approach is simple and straightforward in nature and easy to use for non-IT managers.Within the process of addressing to the challenge faced by bank A, we find that there are gaps between the safeguard of physical IAs of a business process and their digital counterparts. Further, we find that there is a void in the literature regarding the assessing and managing the safeguard gaps.Peltier (2001) pinpoints that the greatest benefit of an information security investigation is to assess the prudence of processing the risk-reducing. Such investigation allows management to examine all currently identified concerns, prioritize the level of vulnerability, and then to decide an appropriate level of control on the risk. The goal of risk analysis is not to eliminate all risk. Rather, risk analysis is a tool for managers to reduce risk to an acceptable level. With rapid disappearance of opportunities for gaining strategic advantage from IT, many companies recognize the need in taking a hard look at how they invest in IT and manage their IS. It is especially so after Carr (2003) suggests three rules for IT managers to:1. spend less;2. follow, do not lead; and3. focus on vulnerabilities, not opportunities.However, the prevalent information security investigation methodology is either too wide or too narrow. That is, most information security research focuses on the overall enterprise or a specific IT/IS. For instance, the ISO/IEC 17799 (2000) provides guidance for the entire organization, from its security policy to the management; and the National Institute of Standard Technology (2007) provides an eight-step framework to ensure the effective management of risks. These guidelines are proposed from an organization-wise perspective. On the other hand, Gutierrez et al. (2005) propose a designing process for the web services-based security architecture; Abu-Musa (2006) studies the perceived security threats of computerized accounting information systems in the banking industry; and Smith (2007) proposes the solutions to protect wireless networks. Halliday et al. (1996) and Iversen et al. (2004) provide detailed analysis of risk management in software process improvement.This study proposes a user-friendly approach for investigating the gaps between the safeguard of physical IAs of a business process and their digital counterparts. The proposed approach is understandable and easy for non-IT managers to use so that their participation is painless and the practice is simple and straightforward. This study also provides (detective and preventive) managerial proposals for coping with the safeguard gap issue.The remainder of this paper is organized as follows: Section 2 presents the approach for investigating the safeguard gap between the physical and digital IAs derived from a business process. In Section 3, the proposed approach is illustrated by the application to the enterprise loan business process of bank A. Section 4 concludes the paper with discussions of managerial implication of such gap.\n2 Proposed approach for investigating the safeguard gap: Every enterprise has its own requirements and concerns for protecting its IAs for the assurance of integrity, confidentiality, and availability. To explore safeguard gaps of counterpart IAs of a business process, the investigation must involve non-IT managers in evaluating the underlying information-processing infrastructure of the business process. Hence, the adopted investigation approach must be explicable and easy for non-IT managers to use so that they can make contribution to the investigated process. We therefore expand the PWIO concept to develop an approach to investigate the safeguard gap between the physical and digital IAs derived from a business process.A business process can be viewed as a series of related business activities and the corresponding information flow is handled by practices of the following two kinds of information-processing infrastructures:1. contact points (CPs) to process information and carry out the corresponding business activity; and2. information channels (ICs) to facilitate information flow.A staff member, an ad hoc team, or an information system may act as the practice of a CP. There can be multiple practices of a CP. In order to process information and undertake business activities, the CP is facilitated with practices to:* receive requests and their relevant IAs through the (in-bound) ICs from the (client) CP;* execute requested business activity upon receipt of IAs;* release request and its relevant IAs through the (out-bound) IC to the (server) CP; and* feed corresponding IAs back to the (client) CP.On the other hand, various IAs pass forward and/or backward through practices of the associated ICs to send out business requests (or responses). A memo, a post mail, a phone call, a face-to-face meeting, a teleconference meeting, an intranet, an e-mail, a (beeper or wireless) message, or a web information system can act as the practice of an IC. There can be multiple practices of an IC.To assure process-wise information quality, threats, risk likelihoods, risk impacts, and security levels of practices of the IAs associated with CP/ICs must be identified and determined. Risk management also needs to take into account the balance between convenience (efficiency and effectiveness of the business process) and security.The safeguard of individual (physical or digital) IA varies not only in accordance with its integrity, confidentiality, and availability, but also with the balance between convenience (efficiency and effectiveness of the business process) and security. According to ISO/IEC 17799, there are five major security issues associated with IAs:1. business requirement for access control - for example, in the bank institute, simultaneous presence of two managers is required when enter into the treasury;2. user access management;3. secure areas: areas include where the physical IA is located and where the server storing the digital IA is located;4. housekeeping; and5. information classification.This study proposes the following three steps to assess the risk management of a business process:1. Developing the business process table - managers need to develop the corresponding business process table according to the business process under investigation. In the business process table, there are three columns: responsibility, function, and IA.2. Developing the associated risk management tables - managers need to fill in a risk management table corresponding to each function listed in the business process table. The risk management table should include not only practices of all associated CP/IC and involved IAs, but also their corresponding risks, security levels, and controls in place. There are six columns in the risk management table, which includes practices of CP/IC/IAs, risk, risk likelihood, risk impact, security level, and controls in place.3. Integrating risks and security controls associated with the physical and digital IAs reported in each risk management table into one table. By comparing the information associated with physical IAs and with corresponding digital IAs, the manager will be able to acknowledge the existence of safeguard gaps.\n3 A case study of the safeguard gap: We apply the approach proposed in Section 2 to the enterprise loan business process of bank A[1]. For the sake of succinctness, here we have merely shown Tables I and II, which are the (summarized) outcomes of step 3 of the proposed approach. Table I corresponds to physical IAs of the customer application profile; while Table II corresponds to their digital counterparts. In sum, we can depict the current operation management regarding physical IAs of the enterprise loan business process of bank A with Figure 1; while Figure 2 shows those of the digital counterparts. As shown in Figure 2, each digital counterparts of the customer application profile is keyed in by different people into a database of Notes Server, the security management of all digital IAs of the customer application profile is the same since they are stored in the same database system.Comparing these two tables, we can point out the existence of safeguard gaps. For instance, Table I states that the account officer (AO) keeps the (original) interview record and the application form at hand at the beginning with almost no safeguard arrangement; while Table II indicates that the digital interview record and application form are under a strong safeguard arrangement.\n4 Managerial implications: The existence of safeguard gaps releases a warning signal to executives and executives should consult his/her management team to deal with the identified safeguard gaps. Based upon a prudent assessment of its current risk management, managers will be able to offer corresponding managerial proposals in accordance with company's strategy, business process design, and security policy.There are two types of managerial proposals for coping with the safeguard gap issue: detective and preventive. The corresponding managerial proposal is detective, if it aims at ensuring early detection and interception of, and response to security breaches. For instance, a proposal of setting up a cross-audit function to discover the possible security breach is a detective measure in nature. Once the security breach is identified, managerial efforts usually follow up to restore a secure environment, investigate the source of the breaches, and correct the (less effective) risk management.The corresponding managerial proposal is preventive in nature, if it aims at alleviating the safeguard gaps. For instance, the managerial proposal that redesigns the operation management and the associated risk management to alleviate the safeguard gaps is a preventive measure. The existence of safeguard gap caused by a less effective operation management results in a non-fraud-free business process and a customer data risk. Such an operation management may involve an imbalance between security and convenience, non-value-adding activities, poor-arranged control points, or the mis-classification of IAs. These ineffective operation managements are intolerable and require managerial efforts to minimize potential losses should a security breach occur.Provided that the managers of bank A prefer the operation management associated with the physical IAs shown in Figure 1. Accordingly, an alternative operation management regarding the digital IAs is shown in Figure 3. In this case, the AO should key in the (original) interview record and the application form into his/her personal computer which has a lower degree of safeguard arrangement. After receiving a request from AO, the staff in charge of credit verification will collect the credit line and collateral information, and upload the corresponding credit report to the AO. The AO will then put the interview record, the application form, and the corresponding credit and collateral reports in the profile database with a strong back-up facility and safeguard arrangement. Managers in-charge will access the profile database to retrieve the relevant IAs and enter their evaluation. Thus, the digital IAs are stored in distinct information systems whose corresponding security management is similar to the physical IA counterparts shown in Figure 1.One should note that the existence of safeguard gap may lead to further discussion of corporate strategy, business process design, and security policy. For instance, the safeguard gap may result from a strategic application of innovative IT/IS which has yet to be designed with security in mind. As such, risk consideration is considered to be a minor issue and safeguard gap is tolerable. On the contrary, the risk management becomes more importance once the strategic initiative vanished. The management will focus on the associated vulnerabilities and not opportunities. That is to say, without a strategic consideration, the safeguard gaps resulting from a less effective risk management are considered intolerable.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Targeting the information security issue related to a bank loan process, this study aims to explore an approach that is user-friendly to non-information technology managers to be actively participative in the process of investigating the underlying information-processing infrastructure.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A case study approach is used to analyze the safeguard gaps between the physical information assets (IAs) of a business process and their digital counterparts.\nFindings: - This study shows the existence of safeguard gaps between the physical IAs of a business process and their digital counterparts, explores a way of investigating such gaps, and provides (detection- and prevention-oriented) managerial proposals to cope with the safeguard gap issue.\nOriginality/value: - The existence of safeguard gaps releases (warning) signal to executives and executives should consult managers on how to manage these safeguard gaps. There are two types of managerial proposals to cope with the safeguard gap issue. The detection-oriented proposals aim at ensuring early detection and interception of security breaches;, e.g. setting up a cross-audit function to discover the security breaches. The prevention-oriented proposals aim at alleviating the safeguard gaps;, e.g. re-designing the processes of operation management and the associated risk management.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Members' satisfaction and continuance intention: a socio-technical perspective
|
[
"Knowledge sharing",
"Satisfaction",
"Continuance intention",
"Academic virtual communities",
"Socio-technical perspective"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The rapid development of both the internet and Science 2.0 has greatly facilitated the popularity of academic virtual communities (AVCs), such as Academia.edu, ResearchGate, Mendely, ScienceNet.cn and emuch.net, etc. These AVCs give each member a profile and provide unprecedented opportunities to connect to each other without physical constraints (Thelwall and Kousha, 2014; Sun et al., 2014). As a kind of academic social platform, AVCs have millions of users and so it is possible that they are having an impact on patterns of informal scholarly communication, especially in terms of information seeking and knowledge sharing (Mangan, 2012). More and more scholars proactively take part in various AVCs that enable them to seek, collect, or even contribute expertise and knowledge to improve their capabilities, to disseminate their research interests, to absorb advanced insights, to create innovations and to resolve academic problems (Nistor et al., 2014; Lin et al., 2009; Chen, 2007).\n2. Theoretical background: 2.1. Knowledge sharing in AVCs\n3. Research model and hypotheses: We integrated social capital theory and TAM model to propose a socio-technical model, which is illustrated in Figure 1. We hypothesized that sociability (social capital) and usability (perceptions of usefulness and ease-of-use) would positively enhance members' satisfaction, which further influenced their continuance intention of sharing knowledge in AVCs.\n4. Methodology: 4.1. Instrument development\n5. Data analysis: Partial least squares (PLS) method does not require the same distributional assumptions of normality for data and can handle small- to medium-sized samples (Chin et al., 2003). Thus, PLS was chosen for the current study using the software application SmartPLS. It was used in a two-stage approach, measurement and structural model testing.\n6. Discussion and conclusion: 6.1. Key findings\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explain how sociability and usability enhanced members' satisfaction, and how such satisfaction in turn, influenced their continuance intention of knowledge sharing in academic virtual communities (AVCs).\nDesign/methodology/approach: Drawing on social capital theory and technology acceptance model, this study proposed a theoretical socio-technical model, and the partial least squares method is used to examine the proposed model, based on data collected from 431 subjects in a well-known academic community in China (i.e. ScienceNet).\nFindings: Both sociability and usability were important to improve members' satisfaction with knowledge sharing in AVCs. Specifically, social interaction ties, trust, reciprocity, shared vision, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness are antecedents of members' satisfaction, which in turn positively affects their continuance intention of knowledge sharing in AVCs.\nPractical implications: This study provided insights that can help AVCs' administrators develop effective strategies that could encourage continued knowledge sharing behavior through promoting members' satisfaction.\nOriginality/value: While the socio-technical framework has mainly been used to study initial adoption and participation of knowledge sharing. This study proposed a socio-technical model to move a step forward by explaining the exact roles of sociability and usability in terms of promoting members' satisfaction and identifying its critical effect on their continuance intention to share knowledge in AVCs, leading to a more comprehensive picture of members' satisfaction and continuance intention of knowledge sharing in AVCs.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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