Search results

The purpose of this paper is to describe and understand the effects of the accreditation process on organizational control and quality management practices in two Quebec primary‐care health organizations.

A multiple‐case longitudinal study was conducted taking a mixed qualitative/quantitative approach. An analytical model was developed of the effects of the accreditation process on the type of organizational control exercised and the quality management practices implemented. The data were collected through group interviews, semi‐directed interviews of key informers, non‐participant observations, a review of the literature, and structured questionnaires distributed to all the employees working in both institutions.

The accreditation process has fostered the implementation of consultation mechanisms in self‐assessment teams. Improving assessments of client satisfaction was identified as a prime objective but, in terms of the values promoted in organizations, accreditation has little effect on the perceptions of employees not directly involved in the process. As long as not all staff members have integrated the basis for accreditation and its outcomes, the accreditation process appears to remain an external, bureaucratic control instrument.

This study provides a theoretical model for understanding organizational changes brought about by accreditation of primary services. Through self‐assessment of professional values and standards, accreditation may foster better quality management practices.

The performance construct may be one of the most elusive in organization theory. Health care organizations are particularly complex owing to their dual lines of accountability, i.e. professional and administrative. This article examines the factors affecting performance indicator development and use at the technical/managerial and institutional levels, including the accreditation process and the relationship between levels. Using institutional and rational/goal theory, the motivations behind performance measurement behavior at different organizational levels was explored. Results show that the institutional level is motivated by legitimacy while the technical/managerial level is motivated by rationality. Tensions exist between the two levels and between indicator development and use.

Presents a number of papers from the Performance Measurement Association conference held in July 2002. Reveals that all the papers investigate developments in the field of performance measurement and management since the Kaplan and Norton Balanced Scorecard was first introduced.

We introduce the drift‐diffusion model with appropriate jump conditions at the junction of the MODFET transistor (AlGaAs/GaAs). We propose a quasi‐variational inequality (QVI) model for this device. We assume that the electron density is bounded and piecewise constant. These hypotheses imply that the Poisson’s equation becomes linear with respect to the electrostatic potential. The QVI model keeps a coupling with the continuity equation. Free boundaries arise in the medium AlGaAs near the Schottky‐gate contact and in the high mobility medium (GaAs) under the effect of the electron affinity discontinuity at the junction. Numerical results of the QVI model show their location versus the applied gate voltage V/up> and the molar fraction X of the Al_XGa_(1‐X)As medium. The inequality seems to be a reasonable simplification of the non‐linear Poisson’s equation.

Disconfirmation of expectations is the mismatch between the expected and blind evaluation of a product. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relation between expected and perceived value (quality), focusing on wines from the French regions with varying levels of notoriety and image content.

From the consumer's point of view, the hedonic evaluation of a product under full information (intrinsic and extrinsic) is considered as a measure of perceived quality. Generally, the perception of the quality of a product differs according to tasting conditions (blind, or full information). Based on previous literature on food marketing it is assumed that the change of preference between blind and full conditions reflects the influence of extrinsic information (here, the region of origin). Two types of results can be expected from disconfirmation: “assimilation” occurs when the final evaluation of the product changes in the direction of the expectation provided by the extrinsic cue, whereas “contrast” occurs when this change is contrary to the expectation. Five wines selected among regions with different reputation levels, and two groups of consumers, characterized by their level of expertise (trained/untrained students) are used in the experiment.

The experiments suggest that disconfirmation may be used to measure and interpret region of origin equity on a behavioural basis rather than just attitudinal.

Provides information resulting from research on disconfirmation of expectations.

The purpose of this paper is to trace the dispersed yet influential presence of the French in the Australian wine industry from the beginning of the industry until the present day. It looks at the physical presence of the French on Australian soil (e.g. winemakers, companies, vines) and the French cultural influence (e.g. publications, stereotypes, promotion). It aims to provide an historical context in which to place questions concerning contemporary Australian attitudes to French wine and to wine in general.

Historical review of French presence and influence on the Australian wine industry using historical and contemporary documents and records.

While the French presence in Australia has always been minimal, it exerts a powerful influence on the Australian wine industry. Throughout the history of the industry, French individuals and culture have maintained the image of “French expertise”, thus French wine is still the point of reference for the Australian wine industry and consumer. The high status enjoyed by French wine can be attributed in part to the historical influence of the French on Australian wine.

Further research into attitudes to French wine in Australia is needed to understand consumer preferences.

The paper represents one of the first attempts to investigate the presence and influence of French wines and winemaking in the Australian wine industry. It presents an historical account of the French in the Australian wine industry and the influence of French culture on Australian wine.

This paper aims to show that the implementation of carbon accounting systems is problematic because it contributes to the commodification of nature, leading individuals to “forget about nature.”

The authors use the concept of reification to explore the subjective dimension of the commodification process. They construct an analytical framework that helps to explain how and why nature may ultimately be “forgotten” by individuals during the commodification process. The example of France is used to illustrate this argument.

The paper presents and discusses three mechanisms (the objectivation of nature, economic reasoning and individuals’ environmental consciousness) that form the basis for the rationale and modus operandi of carbon accounting systems. By comparing these mechanisms with the concept of reification, it highlights three criticisms that could be put to advocates of these systems.

This analysis shows that discussions of carbon accounting systems should focus more on their philosophical principles rather than merely examining the technical problems posed by their implementation.

This research provides some answers to explain the inefficiency of policies implemented within the framework of global climate governance.

This study helps to put carbon accounting research into perspective. It goes further than existing work on the commodification of nature by describing the subjective dimension of individuals who are led to disconnect their arguments and practices from their primary and emotional relationship with nature.

The paper has two goals. The first is to develop a conceptual framework for analyzing the strategies of internationally mobile professionals in managing barriers to their career development. This framework is developed using Duberley et al.'s and Richardson's concept of “modes of engagement”. The second goal is to better understand the nature of the careers that ethnic minority migrants undertake.

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 43 skilled Lebanese migrants. Six additional interviews were conducted with key informants involved in the development and implementation of immigration policies in France. Furthermore, French and European immigration policymaking is analyzed.

In order to manage structural barriers to their career development, participants navigated within the organizational and national structures using four modes: maintenance, transformation, entrepreneurship, and opt out.

There was limited access to the developers of immigration policies. The paper focused on only one ethnic minority group.

The management of migrants in France needs to be more supportive of their efforts in using their capital.

The paper contributes to the literature on careers of internationally mobile professionals by offering an understanding of the experiences of an under‐researched group of participants, that is to say persons from an ethnic minority who relocated from Lebanon to live and work in France.

This experimental research seeks to offer a method for measuring the respective product and brand contributions to the global perceived quality dimension in the case of five brands of orange juices.

The disconfirmation of expectations approach method was used which employs the mismatch between expected and blind evaluation of a product. The assimilation effects (when the perceived quality of the product tends to be congruent with the expected quality attributed to the brand) and the contrast effects (when the perceived quality of the product is influenced negatively by the brand) were measured.

Results indicate an assimilation effect for the national brands, particularly strong with the most preferred brand, and a non‐significant brand effect for the retailer's brand, although both products were rated the same in the blind evaluation.

From a theoretical and methodological point of view, the research suggests that global measures of perceived quality may be more appropriate tools than analytical constructs from product attributes when evaluating brand equity.

A general experimental design of the disconfirmation of information is offered in order to evaluate the share of the product and the brand in the consumer assessment of the perceived quality of a brand. This design places the respondents in two successive cognitive processes when they evaluate the brand and the product, which explains the assimilations and/or contrast effects which have been observed.