B. Shackel, D.J. Pullinger, T.I. Maud and W.P. Dodd
This paper describes the progress after 2 years of a 3½ year experimental programme organised jointly by two Universities as the Birmingham and Loughborough Electronic Network…
Abstract
This paper describes the progress after 2 years of a 3½ year experimental programme organised jointly by two Universities as the Birmingham and Loughborough Electronic Network Development (BLEND). The aims of the programme are to explore and evaluate alternative forms of user communication through an ‘electronic journal’ and information network, and to assess the cost, efficiency and subjective impact of such a system. After summarising the background leading to this research, the project is described which involves the development of various types of ‘electronic journal’ with a community of initially about 50 scientists (the Loughborough Information Network Community—LINC). In this project, the journal procedures involving authors, editors and referees are being studied, up to the point at which editors accept pages for publication. The scientific subject area of this experimental programme is ‘Computer Human Factors’. Each member is expected to contribute at least one research article and one shorter note in each year of the project, and may also use other forms of communication such as messages, newsletters, annotated abstracts, workshop conferences, co‐operative authorship, etc. Considerable problems have been experienced with the hardware available to LINC members, with communications equipment, with modifying and developing software to obtain an acceptable operating system, and with various unexpected bureaucratic and organisational difficulties. These problems and the results to date will be reviewed. Nevertheless, more than 20 papers are in the system and the first number of the ‘Computer Human Factors’ experimental electronic journal was open to LINC members on 1st October 1982.
Many people have suggested that the electronic journal would solve several of the problems experienced with paper journals. However, although technology has developed apace, the…
Abstract
Many people have suggested that the electronic journal would solve several of the problems experienced with paper journals. However, although technology has developed apace, the commercial electronic journal seems to be slow to develop. It is now over ten years since the first electronic journal experiments began, so perhaps it is time to take stock of what we have learned so far. The present paper will therefore begin by looking at some of the projects which have finished, mention some current projects and then point to some remaining problems and issues which must be addressed if the electronic journal is ever to become a regular feature in the scholarly communication process.
This study aims to propose that, in business-to-business (B2B) industries, number of strategic alliances firms established before a “black swan” event enhances their chances to…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to propose that, in business-to-business (B2B) industries, number of strategic alliances firms established before a “black swan” event enhances their chances to survive the black swan, and the enhancements take place through moderation effects. Changes in firms’ core structures – their stated goals, authority structure, core technologies and marketing strategies – to adapt to business jolts have adverse effects on firm performance. Firms’ existing B2B strategic alliances moderate the effects negatively by outsourcing different goals, authority structures, core technologies and marketing strategies to partners who fit the changed environment.
Design/methodology/approach
This study collected quantitative data and analyzed the data with the regression method.
Findings
Using data from Chinese firms in five technology industries during the 2007–2009 economic crisis, this study finds that firms’ internal adaptation is negatively correlated with their performance during economic crises, and B2B strategic alliances negatively moderate this relationship.
Research limitations/implications
First, this study focuses on B2B strategic alliances, and it is not clear whether the findings apply to B2C industries, where strategic alliances may not be common. Perhaps firms can use other means of survival in addition to strategic alliances in B2C industries. Second, this study does not differentiate between fast-moving and slow-moving industries, and it is not clear whether strategic alliances play the same role in both industries. Third, this study does not differentiate firm ages and sizes. It remains unclear how large, established and small, young firms differ when facing crises. Finally, this study is based on the Chinese setting, and it is not clear whether the findings apply to other markets as well. These issues should be explored in future studies.
Practical implications
Changing firms’ core structures harms their performance during black swan crises because such crises are unpredictable, and planned changes may not adapt firms to crises. Managers should not attempt to change their core structures during crises. B2B strategic alliances provide an effective means for firms to survive crises.
Originality/value
This paper makes two contributions to the existing literature: First, this paper demonstrates that changes of one of the four core structures of a firm to cope with black swan events have negative impacts on firm performance. Second, this paper identifies the importance of holding a variety of strategic alliances previously to the black swan events to reduce the negative impacts of changing core structures.
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Keywords
Patricia M. Baird and Beatrice Borer
The proliferation of networks is a significant factor in the development and growth of computer conferencing. The authors examine this form of communication and the behavioural…
Abstract
The proliferation of networks is a significant factor in the development and growth of computer conferencing. The authors examine this form of communication and the behavioural and psychological factors which determine its success or otherwise as an effective means of information transfer. In particular, an examination of a computer conferencing experiment using a local area network in the Department of Information Science. University of Strathclyde demonstrated that, despite problems—ergonomic and technical—computer conferencing and electronic journal production have considerable potential and appeal.
‘WORK STUDY specialists of Europe—from both the Six and the Seven— are getting together in London this year regardless of what happens to other meetings,’ said Mr. R. M. Currie, C…
Abstract
‘WORK STUDY specialists of Europe—from both the Six and the Seven— are getting together in London this year regardless of what happens to other meetings,’ said Mr. R. M. Currie, C.B.E., President of the European Work Study Federation, in a statement on the forthcoming Congress of the Federation which is to take place at Church House, Westminster, from May 20 to 23.
Elisabeth Davenport, Colleen Gorman, Jeff Hauke and Marina Will
In June/July 1995, a graduate seminar group in the School of Library and Information Science in Indiana University completed a case study of six faculty members and their…
Abstract
In June/July 1995, a graduate seminar group in the School of Library and Information Science in Indiana University completed a case study of six faculty members and their perceptions of the role of technology in their work as academic authors. The study is one of series undertaken in a New Technology and Publishing seminar which has been run over a three year period: the underlying approach is a stakeholder analysis of the impact of technology in the academic publishing sector. Previous seminar groups have reported on document supply in 1993 and on the role of technology in six Mid‐West publishing operations in 1994. The study reported here explores the perspective of authors, and may be of interest to those concerned with the delivery of material to working academics (librarians, learned societies, document delivery services) as it reveals details of working habits that have not been explored extensively in the disciplinary sector of Information Science.
Antonio Davila, Mahendra Gupta and Richard J. Palmer
Internal control mechanisms are fundamental to organizational governance; particularly, to the agency relationship associated with decentralization of decision rights. Management…
Abstract
Internal control mechanisms are fundamental to organizational governance; particularly, to the agency relationship associated with decentralization of decision rights. Management accounting and organizational literatures provide conflicting predictions on the association between decentralization and internal controls, with some research arguing that internal controls be tightened to mitigate the risks associated with greater decentralization of decision rights while other work avers that tighter internal controls defeat the purposes of decentralization. In this chapter, we argue that managers choose these two organizational design variables jointly. Capitalizing on a unique database of control practices in the purchasing and payment process within the procurement function, this chapter examines the relationship between control tightness – a critical characteristic of internal controls – and decentralization. Using a simultaneous equation model, the study finds that decentralization and internal control design are endogenously determined. Tight control is negatively associated with the level of decentralization, while decentralization has a positive effect on the tightness of control. These results reconcile the apparently contradictory results relating these two variables. The chapter also finds that decentralization and tight control mechanisms operate both independently and synergistically to improve performance.
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Any system of making scientific and technical articles available must meet a reasonable number of the requirements of the main players in the system: authors, publishers…
Abstract
Any system of making scientific and technical articles available must meet a reasonable number of the requirements of the main players in the system: authors, publishers, libraries and consumers. Among the requirements are high visibility (authors), profit (publishers) and affordable costs (libraries). Consumers need inter alia exposure, ready access and ease and flexibility of use. They have most requirements but least power. Needs differ for current and older journals. Of the various single modes of publication none performs very well for all parties. Combinations of modes are more effective but payment has to be made twice. Much depends on authors' willingness to accept less visible forms of publication, but the ultimate deciding factor is publishers' assessment of the economics.
Yong Zhao, Punyashloke Mishra, Valerie L. Worthington and Richard E. Ferdig
This paper describes the design and implementation of Tiger, a web based manuscript management and publishing system. The system was designed to facilitate the fundamental process…
Abstract
This paper describes the design and implementation of Tiger, a web based manuscript management and publishing system. The system was designed to facilitate the fundamental process of selecting and publishing scholarly work: submission, reviewing, editing, and publishing of manuscripts. It can be used to manage electronic and paper journals as well as professional conferences, where peer reviewing is necessary. Tiger has been successfully used for the last two years for the processing of conference proposals for the annual meetings of the American Educational Research Association. We offer an overview of the system as well as an analysis of the usage of the system. We report our observations of this process, focusing on the interactions between the different stake‐holders: authors, reviewers, editors, developers. These different stake‐holders have different problems and see the success of Tiger in different terms. We believe such “thick descriptions” of the contingent and socially constructed nature of technological innovations are essential for our getting a better understanding the design and implementation process.