This literature review aims to look at the unique role of community colleges as they address the information literacy needs of their students, who are by nature continuously in…
Abstract
Purpose
This literature review aims to look at the unique role of community colleges as they address the information literacy needs of their students, who are by nature continuously in transition to and from the institution.
Design/methodology/approach
Library science databases and online sources were reviewed for relevant information.
Findings
Community colleges are addressing the needs of their various student populations in a variety of ways.
Originality/value
The role of the community college library is underrepresented in the literature. This review provides more information about the unique role that community colleges fill in the higher education ecosystem.
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Christina Riehman-Murphy, Victoria Raish, Emily Mross, Andrea Pritt and Elizabeth Nelson
This paper aims to describe a case study of the open and affordable educational resources (OAER) initiatives led by Penn State University Libraries (UL) and implemented at its…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe a case study of the open and affordable educational resources (OAER) initiatives led by Penn State University Libraries (UL) and implemented at its many campuses which are designed to address the challenges students experience accessing and funding their course materials.
Design/methodology/approach
This case study will show how a broad administrative mandate for high-level OAER initiatives created the environment for Penn State (PSU) to evolve from individual pioneering units into coordinated university-wide initiatives. This shift, spearheaded by administration with strong UL involvement, allowed for customized and targeted initiatives at its many campuses. By using UL’s centralized, but geographically dispersed, structure, library faculty and staff have been supported in their efforts to expand OAER from the ground up to meet individual contexts and campus needs.
Findings
As a result of its many open and affordable initiatives, PSUL has been able to demonstrate both savings and increased access for students across PSU’s many campuses and World Campus. Broad administrative support has created an environment which enabled UL faculty and staff to lead various initiatives.
Originality/value
UL has long been a leader and partner in open and affordability initiatives at PSU because of its core mission of providing access. By sharing the processes and logistics of how a large research institution with many campuses of various sizes implemented a wide variety of library-driven open and affordability initiatives through a centralized but geographically dispersed structure, academic libraries will be able to replicate similar initiatives in their unique contexts.
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Andre Calitz, Samual Bosire and Margaret Cullen
This paper aims to show that business intelligence (BI) is a key component of a sustainability-reporting framework for higher education institutions (HEIs).
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to show that business intelligence (BI) is a key component of a sustainability-reporting framework for higher education institutions (HEIs).
Design/methodology/approach
Four questionnaires were administered to Registrars and managers at 21 South African HEIs and at selected international HEIs. The data analysis entailed both descriptive and inferential statistics.
Findings
The study confirmed that factors such as management buy-in, the availability of BI reports and the provision of reporting guidelines were positively related to effective strategic planning. The study shows that the use of BI by South African HEIs is still at a low maturity level.
Research limitations/implications
The case study used is the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The implications are relevant for all 26 HEIs in South Africa.
Practical implications
HEIs must invest in technological tools, including BI to provide information in understandable and usable formats for management and other relevant stakeholders.
Social implications
BI reporting can assist all stakeholders to obtain the relevant and required information relating to HEI operations and strategic management initiatives and activities.
Originality/value
The study concludes that HEIs ought to invest in BI technologies that can assist the sustainability reporting process to ensure stakeholder satisfaction and regulatory compliance.
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The moves to establish a Single European Market focus almostentirely on breaking down structural barriers to trade. Despite all thehype, many take solace that while cultural…
Abstract
The moves to establish a Single European Market focus almost entirely on breaking down structural barriers to trade. Despite all the hype, many take solace that while cultural differences remain strong there will never be a true Single Market. However, it is argued that Europeans (including the British) have more in common than is initially apparent and that the differences are diminishing. The marketer needs to be poised to take the challenge represented by this new society and to exploit the growth in trends such as networking, strategic opportunism and open citizenship.
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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the success of the 50 EURO STOXX companies as measured by the earnings before taxes (EBT) and the percentage…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the success of the 50 EURO STOXX companies as measured by the earnings before taxes (EBT) and the percentage of female members on their supervisory boards.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper relies on data extracted from the annual reports of the 50 EURO STOXX companies in 2015 and from financial websites.
Findings
The paper provides the existence of a weak correlation between companies’ performance as measured by EBT and the percentage of women on supervisory boards.
Research limitations/implications
This study has two main limitations: first, a single key performance indicator was used to measure firms’ success; and second, the study offers insights related only to the year 2015. The analysis could be extended over a larger time span while some other variables could be considered in a more holistic approach.
Practical implications
The paper raises awareness that there is much to be done with regard to the presence of women on boards, and readers, investors and business owners gain an insight on the business environment and women active on European corporate boards.
Originality/value
By concentrating on the companies of the EURO STOXX 50 Index, the study offers a good image of the European business environment.
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One of the major technological changes in food products over thelast decade has been the development of “lite” food anddrinks. These products have become regular items of purchase…
Abstract
One of the major technological changes in food products over the last decade has been the development of “lite” food and drinks. These products have become regular items of purchase and acceptance in UK diet. The principal areas of growth in the “lite” market have been in sugar‐free drinks and low fat foods. Whilst market growth has been stimulated by increased consumer awareness of diet and nutrition, consumers are being influenced by the image message associated with such products rather than a strict health message. Harmonisation of European food law after 1992, especially in respect of sweeteners, offers potential opportunities for further growth in “lite” markets. Fat replacers are likely to provide an area of future interest as long as concerns about the mass marketing of synthetic foods do not dampen the market.
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Refines and operationalizes the globalization of markets theory.Although cultural evolution tends to be homogenizing many of the world′stastes and wants, such trends are far from…
Abstract
Refines and operationalizes the globalization of markets theory. Although cultural evolution tends to be homogenizing many of the world′s tastes and wants, such trends are far from universal. Realizing that the globalization of markets theory, as it now stands, is over‐simplified, enhances this by embracing the theories of anthropologists, who emphasize the impact of technology upon cultural evolution and change.
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OF old the public library was wont to take its reputation from the character of the newsroom. That room, as everyone knows, attracts every element in the community and it may be…
Abstract
OF old the public library was wont to take its reputation from the character of the newsroom. That room, as everyone knows, attracts every element in the community and it may be it attracts especially the poorer elements;—even at times undesirable ones. These people in some towns, but perhaps not so often now‐a‐days, have been unwashen and often not very attractive in appearance. It was natural, things being as they are, that the room should give a certain tone to the institution, and indeed on occasion cause it to be avoided by those who thought themselves to be superior. The whole level of living has altered, and we think has been raised, since the War. There is poverty and depression in parts of the country, it is true; but there are relief measures now which did not exist before the War. Only those who remember the grinding poverty of the unemployed in the days, especially the winter days, before the War can realise what poverty really means at its worst. This democratic levelling up applies, of course, to the public library as much as to any institution. At present it may be said that the part of the library which is most apparent to the public and by which it is usually judged, is the lending or home‐reading department. It therefore needs no apology if from time to time we give special attention to this department. Even in the great cities, which have always concentrated their chief attention upon their reference library, to‐day there is an attempt to supply a lending library service of adequate character. We recall, for example, that the Leeds Public Library of old was first and foremost a reference library, with a lending library attached; to‐day the lending library is one of the busiest in the kingdom. A similar judgment can be passed upon Sheffield, where quite deliberately the city librarian would restrict the reference library to works that are of real reference character, and would develop more fully the lending library. In Manchester, too, the new “Reference Library”—properly the new Central Library—has a lending library which issues about 1,500 volumes daily. There must be all over the country many libraries issuing up to a thousand volumes each a day from their central lending departments. This being the case the department comes in for very careful scrutiny.
The environment is currently at or near the top of many agendas. Ithas certainly become integrated into the formulation of businessstrategy. If businesses do not wish to move…
Abstract
The environment is currently at or near the top of many agendas. It has certainly become integrated into the formulation of business strategy. If businesses do not wish to move towards being environmentally friendly of their own accord, there is now a plethora of legislation to act as a stimulus, and this forms the first section. Included here are voluntary schemes such as the European eco‐audit and eco‐labelling, as well as the stipulations of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, such as the requirements of the Litter Code. Problems relating to contamination and the Land Register, and to negotiating loans are also suggested. Considers the response of business, as in the so‐called Valdez Principles, and in codes such as those of environmental investors, and the Institute of Management, and the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment. A final section reviews the contribution that accountancy can make to the debate.