Lindsay A. Lechner and Timothy C. Ovaert
The last few years in the financial markets have shown great instability and high volatility. In order to capture the amount of risk a financial firm takes on in a single trading…
Abstract
Purpose
The last few years in the financial markets have shown great instability and high volatility. In order to capture the amount of risk a financial firm takes on in a single trading day, risk managers use a technology known as value‐at‐risk (VaR). There are many methodologies available to calculate VaR, and each has its limitations. Many past methods have included a normality assumption, which can often produce misleading figures as most financial returns are characterized by skewness (asymmetry) and leptokurtosis (fat‐tails). The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of VaR and describe some of the most recent computational approaches.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper compares the Student‐t, autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (ARCH) family of models, and extreme value theory (EVT) as a means of capturing the fat‐tailed nature of a returns distribution.
Findings
Recent research has utilized the third and fourth moments to estimate the shape index parameter of the tail. Other approaches, such as extreme value theory, focus on the extreme values to calculate the tail ends of a distribution. By highlighting benefits and limitations of the Student‐t, autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (ARCH) family of models, and the extreme value theory, one can see that there is no one particular model that is best for computing VaR (although all of the models have proven to capture the fat‐tailed nature better than a normal distribution).
Originality/value
This paper details the basic advantages, disadvantages, and mathematics of current parametric methodologies used to assess value‐at‐risk (VaR), since accurate VaR measures reduce a firm's capital requirement and reassure creditors and investors of the firm's risk level.
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The purpose of this paper is to ask how the academic library may better position itself to assist with the demonstrated need for improved research ability in doctoral students…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to ask how the academic library may better position itself to assist with the demonstrated need for improved research ability in doctoral students. The paper examines the literature on doctoral student retention, which demonstrates problems with research self‐efficacy in students, and connects this issue to the library literature demonstrating the impact of library instruction.
Design/methodology/approach
The main approach is the review of the literatures in library science on the impact of instruction, and in the wider education literature on student retention and doctoral student attrition.
Findings
It was found that library instruction does demonstrably improve student research skills, and that doctoral students are generally underprepared to conduct dissertation level research. There is a case for partnering doctoral students with academic librarians to improve dissertation completion rates and lower attrition due to lack of research skill.
Practical implications
The paper demonstrates an obvious need for focus of library instruction on graduate students, and doctoral students in particular. The paper poses a number of research agendas that can be taken up by practitioners in the field, including various models for implementing instruction for doctoral students.
Social implications
Attrition from doctoral programs has a burdensome impact on academic institutions, and has been demonstrated to have adverse social, psychological and financial impacts on the doctoral students themselves. The ability of library intervention to alleviate the problem has wide‐ranging implications.
Originality/value
The paper brings a wider literature base to bear on the practice of library instruction, and raises important questions relevant to librarians and graduate faculty about the value of the library to more advanced research students and the current focus of most library instruction programs at the undergraduate levels.
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Katharina Fellnhofer, Kaisu Puumalainen and Helena Sjögrén
The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the different perceptions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of females compared to those of their male counterparts. EO and its…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the different perceptions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of females compared to those of their male counterparts. EO and its links to performance are examined at the level of both the individual and the firm.
Design/methodology/approach
Multiple linear regression analyses of a data set with 301 employees in different industries reveal significant differences between genders.
Findings
EO has a positive impact on performance at both individual and firm levels of analysis. Females tend to perceive their individual EO as lower than males, but their self-evaluated work performance is higher than that of males. The firm’s EO is also perceived differently by men and by women, but the perceptions of firm’s performance are similar.
Research limitations/implications
The results draw attention to the differences between individuals when they evaluate firm-level constructs like EO. While the sample is based on a small number of firms, the findings suggest that EO is neither pervasive throughout the firm nor gender-neutral.
Practical implications
The different gender-related perceptions should be kept in mind when promoting entrepreneurially oriented behaviour within organizations. A strong focus on EO in entrepreneurship policy or education may discourage women.
Originality/value
So far, multi-level organizational interrelationships have been substantially neglected with respect to the gender dimension.
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The purpose of this paper is to identify the minimum conditions for the formation of an ecosystem that favours the emergence of spin-offs whose parent company is a family business.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the minimum conditions for the formation of an ecosystem that favours the emergence of spin-offs whose parent company is a family business.
Design/methodology/approach
Three family companies that have experienced processes supporting the creation of new companies led by family members were used for this exploration.
Findings
The findings show that it is possible to form an ecosystem with five basic components from which other factors of a different kind are derived, and that would favour the minimum conditions for new companies to emerge from the family business.
Originality/value
Spin-off companies have received valuable recognition in recent years. The vast majority of research on spin-offs considers those arising under the protection of a private innovation centre, a corporation, or university. This research gives more breadth to this coverage, by studying the emergence of spin-offs that rely on the family business as the parent company.
Objetivo
Esta investigación tiene el objetivo de identificar las condiciones mínimas para la conformación de un ecosistema que favorezca el surgimiento de empresas Spin-Off a partir de la empresa familiar como empresa madre.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Para esta exploración se tomaron tres empresas familiares que han experimentado procesos de apoyo a la creación de nuevas empresas lideradas por los miembros de la familia.
Hallazgos
Los hallazgos muestran que es posible conformar un ecosistema con cinco componentes fundamentales a partir de los cuales se desprenden otros factores de diferente índole que propiciarían las condiciones mínimas para que emerjan nuevas empresas a partir de la empresa familiar.
Originalidad/valor
Las empresas Spin-Off han tomado un valioso reconocimiento en los últimos años. La gran mayoría de investigaciones sobre empresas spin-off se ocupan de aquellas que surgen bajo el amparo de un centro de innovación privado, una corporación o una universidad. Esta investigación da más amplitud a esta cobertura, al estudiar el surgimiento de spin-off que se apoyan en la empresa familiar como empresa madre.
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Patrick J. Murphy, Zhaohui Wu, Harold Welsch, Daniel R. Heiser, Scott T. Young and Bin Jiang
Pursuing objectives despite limited internal resources and leveraging external resources despite non‐ownership are familiar hallmarks of entrepreneurial firms. Although…
Abstract
Purpose
Pursuing objectives despite limited internal resources and leveraging external resources despite non‐ownership are familiar hallmarks of entrepreneurial firms. Although outsourcing is the standard way for businesses to surmount these barriers, entrepreneurial firms often lack the resources to purchase outsourcing arrangements. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on how entrepreneurial firms can better procure and benefit from outsourcing arrangements.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper examines six entrepreneurial firms in a Shanghai business incubator as they undertook a variety of outsourcing arrangements. It utilizes an integrative framework based on transaction cost theory, resource dependency theory, and the resource‐based view. It then cross‐hatches those three theory bases with four outsourcing modes (full, partial, spinout, inter‐outsourcing) and case study methodology.
Findings
The paper's findings yield three novel propositions for strategic and ex ante entrepreneurial firm outsourcing activities. The propositions pertain to the exchange of non‐traditional resources, vendor‐buyer power differentials, and linkages between internal operations and external resources.
Originality/value
Entrepreneurial firms stand to benefit in particularly vital ways from outsourcing arrangements. Yet, they are often severely constrained with respect to resources. Such strong need combined with limited means is a peculiarly valuable setting but only a paucity of research exists. The original study targets this important setting.
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David Lindsay, Daryl Brennan, Daniel Lindsay, Colin Holmes and Wendy Smyth
The purpose of this paper is to describe the patterns of self-disclosure of long-term conditions at work by health professionals in a large regional health service. Recent…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the patterns of self-disclosure of long-term conditions at work by health professionals in a large regional health service. Recent research by the authors has reported on the self-reported long-term conditions of nursing, medical and allied health staff within a large regional hospital and health service in North Queensland, Australia. Data regarding self-disclosure of health information were gathered during those two previous studies, but has yet to be reported. This current study thus offers the opportunity to explore and describe patterns of self-disclosure by a multi-disciplinary cohort of health professionals within that regional health service.
Design/methodology/approach
This current study was a component of two larger studies, reported elsewhere, which explored long-term conditions among health professional staff at a large regional health service in North Queensland, Australia. A cross-sectional survey design was used.
Findings
Decision-making associated with self-disclosure of long-term conditions by health professional staff in the workplace is multifactorial, and affected by considerations of age, gender, workplace circumstances and nature of the health condition. It also differs according to professional grouping. The medical profession were less likely than nurses and allied health workers to disclose to their work colleagues. Respondents with a mental health condition were more cautious and selective in their disclosures, and alone in being more likely to disclose to their supervisor than to colleagues; they were also most likely to value the sympathy and understanding of their colleagues and managers.
Research limitations/implications
This study was conducted across only one large regional health service; a fuller picture of patterns of self-disclosure of long-term conditions by health professional staff would be gained by expanding the number of sites to include metropolitan hospitals, smaller rural or remote health services and non-hospital settings.
Practical implications
Healthcare organizations need to develop support strategies and communication processes so that staff with one or more long-term condition, particularly those that have associated stigma, are empowered to disclose information to line managers and colleagues without fear of discrimination, ostracism, incivility or bullying.
Originality/value
There is a paucity of evidence about self-disclosure of long-term conditions by health professionals and this study therefore makes an important contribution to the extant literature. The findings raise important questions about the culture and dynamics of health care organizations in respect to the patterns of self-disclosure of health professional staff.
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Bryan Tronstad, Lori Phillips, Jenny Garcia and Mary Ann Harlow
The purpose of this paper is to report on the results of a study that assessed whether students learned information literacy concepts after taking the interactive online Tutorial…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report on the results of a study that assessed whether students learned information literacy concepts after taking the interactive online Tutorial for Information Power (TIP).
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology and design involved a pre‐ and post‐test assessment of students who completed an online tutorial.
Findings
Students who spent more time working through the tutorial had a statistically significant increase from their post‐test to their pre‐test scores.
Research limitations/implications
Statistically significant results reported from this study are of interest to the educational community involved with the teaching and assessment of information literacy.
Practical implications
This study offers a successful model for evaluating student learning from an online tutorial.
Originality/value
This study is one of the few in the literature addressing the assessment of information literacy and online tutorials.
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This article aims to report on a usability study to assess whether students performed better after working through a screencast library tutorial or a web‐based tutorial with…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to report on a usability study to assess whether students performed better after working through a screencast library tutorial or a web‐based tutorial with screenshots.
Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative study asked 21 students from diverse backgrounds and learning styles to take two learning style inventories prior to a usability study. The students then went through two short tutorials (a static web page tutorial with screenshots and a Camtasia screencast (video) tutorial, as well as a pre‐ and post‐test and debriefing for each. The “think aloud” protocol was used as their movements and voices were recorded using the Camtasia software.
Findings
The results of this study indicate that across all learning preferences students performed much better in recreating tasks when they used a static web page with screen shots than they did after viewing a screencasting tutorial.
Practical implications
Suggestions are offered for ways to create tutorials that are effective for multiple learning styles that will fit into a student's workflow.
Originality/value
Results of this study may help inform other librarians in ways to effectively design tutorials and learning objects to meet student needs.
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Anna Marie Johnson, Sarah Jent and Latisha Reynolds
The purpose of this paper is to provide a selected bibliography of recent resources on library instruction and information literacy.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a selected bibliography of recent resources on library instruction and information literacy.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper introduces and annotates periodical articles, monographs, and exhibition catalogues examining library instruction and information literacy.
Findings
The paper provides information about each source, discusses the characteristics of current scholarship, and describes sources that contain unique scholarly contributions and quality reproductions.
Originality/value
The information may be used by librarians and interested parties as a quick reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy.
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Hualiang Ren, Qinglei Zhang and Ying Zheng
The purpose of this paper is to find the influence of employees’ work values on their creative performance and test the role of knowledge sharing among them.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to find the influence of employees’ work values on their creative performance and test the role of knowledge sharing among them.
Design/methodology/approach
This work surveyed 387 employees in six companies across three cities to test the research hypothesis model.
Findings
The findings reveal that comfort and security (comfort) work values have a significant negative impact on the creative performance, whereas competence and growth (competence) work values and status and independence (status) work values have a significant positive impact on creative performance. Knowledge sharing plays a mediating role between work values and creative performance.
Originality/value
This study reveals the influence mechanism of work values on creative performance from a new perspective and confirms the differing effects of different types of work values on creative performance.