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Article
Publication date: 6 June 2016

Neville Douglas Buch and Beryl Roberts

The purpose of this paper is to find an answer the question of whether an educational institution of a fair socio-economic mix of pupils, and an institution favoured with powerful…

141

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find an answer the question of whether an educational institution of a fair socio-economic mix of pupils, and an institution favoured with powerful political connections, made any difference to access, equity, and exclusivity in relation to the transition into secondary education. It undertakes this purpose as a historical investigation of Junction Park State School in the early twentieth century combined with statistical analysis of family backgrounds of scholarship holders and their cohorts from 1915 to 1932.

Design/methodology/approach

The socio-economic study uses a published list of scholarship holders from Junction Park State School for the years 1924-1932. The study compares the scholarship groupings with their different school cohorts for the same years using the data on parental occupations, extracted from the Junction Park State School Admission Records 1915-1931. After refinement the study examines a cohort data set of 4,531 pupils which includes 287 scholarship holders. Parental occupations are categorised into socio-economic groupings with high and low occupational ends. There were 237 parental occupations described among the cohort, 1915-1931, from the admission records.

Findings

The statistical chance of obtaining scholarship is increased for a pupil from “commercial low” and “industrial low” background when the school starts with a cohort that has a large representation from such backgrounds. Pupils who were at the lower end of the socio-economic scale at Junction Park State School did much better in scholarship outcomes than for the state. However, pupils whose family background was at the high end of the professions did marginally better than the state result. For the school between 1915 and 1932, in most socio-economic groupings, the boys outperform the girls in the like-to-like comparisons.

Research limitations/implications

The numeric value is excessively low for the primary producers (high) category and numbers in cohort groupings vary. This study deliberately applied like-to-like comparisons: the number of scholarship holders compared to their own gender for the same socio-economic cohort. Percentile in relation to the study’s total was not used due to numeric variations between cohort sizes. The study is a historical investigation of a formative period before Junction Park State School developed its reputation as a scholarship school in the 1940s, and historical factors relating to the post-Second World War era would have different results for a similar statistical analysis.

Practical implications

The paper presents a case study of particular historical significance; however, a generic principle that institutional status can change access and equity opportunities can be tested within the historical setting. The paper claims that historical investigation provides the groundwork to establish the distinctive actuality. Historical investigation picks up on unusual patterns over time, not necessarily to disprove the sociological model, but more to test the model against actual events.

Social implications

The Queensland social history is connected to the study’s statistical analysis. The data are considered from a perspective that, first, Junction Park had a diverse population of pupils from different socio-economic backgrounds. Second, the school had a solid reputation as a leading school, partly from the political standing of the school leadership, and partly from the strength of its scholarship teachers. Together these factors suggest that pupils at Junction Park State School from the socio-economic backgrounds less inclined to foster educational values were given greater support to achieve better scholarship outcomes.

Originality/value

Statistical analysis is rarely brought to academic history work. There are greater risks in misinterpreting the data. There is also a difficult enterprise of extracting the required information. Nevertheless, the reward from this paper is an insightful view of a large and an innovating Queensland primary school, picking up the details in the life experience of pupils. In that historical process there is a greater degree of accuracy and better interpretive value which can be applied to the sociological model.

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Article
Publication date: 9 October 2019

Chunjia Han, Stephen Thomas, Mu Yang and Yongmei Cui

Open innovation (OI) has become increasingly popular as an enterprise strategy in both industry and academia, and has been adopted, at least in part, by many companies. Despite…

2094

Abstract

Purpose

Open innovation (OI) has become increasingly popular as an enterprise strategy in both industry and academia, and has been adopted, at least in part, by many companies. Despite this popularity, there is a dearth of evaluation of OI efficiency and a lack of suitable quantitative indices. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors used both data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Malmquist techniques to compare the pre- and post-transition levels of performance achievement of Procter & Gamble (P&G), a widely recognised and public early adopter of OI, with a group of its main competitors.

Findings

Most detailed analysis of the time-course revealed that the innovation efficiency of P&G improved rapidly and substantially after its embracing of OI, an effect we term the “open rise”. However, there is also a transient decline in R&D efficiency at the beginning of OI adoption (“open dip”) and an unexpected and marked decline (“open drop”) after the peak positive effect.

Originality/value

The quantitative methods appear to meet the needs identified in the preceding literature for more quantitative approaches to the measurement of OI.

Details

European Journal of Innovation Management, vol. 22 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1460-1060

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Article
Publication date: 6 November 2017

Alex Moss, Andrew Clare, Stephen Thomas and James Seaton

The authors in this paper aim to investigate the performance of different portfolios of REITs which specialise by property type compared to the performance of a diversified…

388

Abstract

Purpose

The authors in this paper aim to investigate the performance of different portfolios of REITs which specialise by property type compared to the performance of a diversified free-float market capitalisation-weighted benchmark index to determine whether superior risk-adjusted returns can be achieved.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the authors examine the performance of portfolios constructed using the criteria of equal weight, minimum variance, maximum Sharpe and risk parity rather than free-float market capitalisation. Second, the authors apply an automated trading strategy of trend following to see if this filter will improve risk-adjusted returns.

Findings

The two-step process of forming combinations of REIT sectors with the subsequent addition of a trend following overlay can offer clear benefits relative to a passive benchmark investment.

Research limitations/implications

Although three of the four strategies were shown to outperform the benchmark index on a risk-adjusted basis, one issue was that the efficient portfolios tended to have large weightings to relatively few sectors. The authors also found that maximum drawdowns (losses) of the strategies tended to be rather high, as was the benchmark.

Practical implications

The methods outlined in this paper can be applied to construct superior risk-adjusted REIT portfolios globally.

Originality/value

Although studies have been undertaken separately on REIT specialisation and trend following in equity and commodity markets, this paper is the first to combine the two topics, and therefore has particular value for real estate fund managers globally.

Details

Journal of European Real Estate Research, vol. 10 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-9269

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Article
Publication date: 27 June 2019

Anran Chen, Steven Haberman and Stephen Thomas

Although it has been proved theoretically that annuities can provide optimal consumption during one’s retirement period, retirees’ reluctance to purchase annuities is a…

268

Abstract

Purpose

Although it has been proved theoretically that annuities can provide optimal consumption during one’s retirement period, retirees’ reluctance to purchase annuities is a long-standing puzzle. The purpose of this paper is to use behavioral model to analyze the low demand for immediate annuities.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ cumulative prospect theory (CPT), which contains both loss aversion and probability transformations, to analyze the annuity puzzle.

Findings

The authors show that CPT can explain the unattractiveness of immediate annuities. It also shows that retirees would be willing to buy a long-term deferred annuity at retirement. By considering each component from CPT in turn, the loss aversion is found to be the major reason that stops people from buying an annuity while the survival rate transformation is an important factor affecting the decision of when to receive annuity incomes.

Originality/value

This paper identifies CPT as one of the reasons for the low demand of immediate annuities. It further suggests that long-term deferred annuities could overcome behavioral obstacles and become popular among retirees.

Details

Review of Behavioral Finance, vol. 11 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1940-5979

Keywords

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Case study
Publication date: 17 October 2012

Chunjia Han and Stephen Rhys Thomas

Mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy.

Abstract

Subject area

Mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy.

Study level/applicability

This case could be applied in several courses: a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) course, to introduce the various motives for firms doing M&A, a strategy course exploring a company's strategy exploration and decision processes, or in a marketing course as an example about emerging and global market interaction. The target audience is primarily final year or Masters' and MBA students. It would also be useful for executive education seminars.

Case overview

The Case provides learning opportunities about how companies encounter threats due to changing market or fiscal conditions, find ways to address their individual challenges yet achieve mutual benefit, by taking advantage of market-induced opportunities for strategic change, which have been triggered by a combination of situational factors.

Expected learning outcomes

The case can be used to illustrate and discuss several important aspects of the growth of companies in emerging markets, including: motives for making M&As; strategic options and selection in the emerging industry; and how regional firms can respond to globalization.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Details

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, vol. 2 no. 8
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 2045-0621

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Article
Publication date: 1 January 1994

Joy Thomas and Stephen P. Sottong

Many libraries, public, academic, or special, no matter how technologically advanced, maintain a finger‐marked, dog‐eared file at the reference desk. This file, usually on…

50

Abstract

Many libraries, public, academic, or special, no matter how technologically advanced, maintain a finger‐marked, dog‐eared file at the reference desk. This file, usually on 3x5‐inch cards, contains answers to questions that have proved difficult. Such a file is necessary in any library that has ever had, or ever expects to have, any turnover in reference personnel. Even good, seasoned librarians may not have perfect recall for the minutia of a vexing question answered months or years ago, perhaps by someone else. Determining the number of access points in a manual reference aids file is a dilemma. One could make a cross‐reference for every way any person could possibly seek the information or one could write a single card and trust collective memory to remember how it was filed. Multiple cards increase the possibility of finding the information, but clog the file. The single card approach, as has been observed, “provided only one point of access, which frequently could not be identified in a stress situation.” Also, newer librarians, weaned on computers and impatient with manual files, tend to avoid the card file, which they view as an unworkable relic. The manual reference aids file at the California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) Library contained about 800 tidbits of elusive information such as subject headings used for archaeological site reports, a list of the Supreme Court cases kept in the reserve book room, facts of local history, a reminder of which issue of Fortune lists the annual Fortune 500, where to find Nielsen ratings, and more.

Details

Reference Services Review, vol. 22 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0090-7324

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Article
Publication date: 7 July 2020

Debora Jeske and Thomas Stephen Calvard

Structural and technological changes are driving functional reorganization in many organizations. To date, there are very few articles that explicitly, consistently and…

1199

Abstract

Purpose

Structural and technological changes are driving functional reorganization in many organizations. To date, there are very few articles that explicitly, consistently and cumulatively focus on cross-functional integration. This paper aims to review and explore the literature that does directly address cross-functional integration.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a literature review within the general management domain for the time frame 2010 to 2020 and identified 71 relevant articles that provide an overview of current practices and trends.

Findings

This conceptual paper reviews this identified literature and outlines key trends, noteworthy articles and a summary of relevant theories, and provides an overview of outcomes linked to cross-functional integration in the literature. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations for practitioners and an outline of potential research areas for academic researchers, including a call for more theory integration, building and testing in the area of cross-functionality.

Originality/value

This paper is the first of its kind to attempt to summarize the literature on cross-functionality (published between 2010 and 2020), a currently very fragmented field of study spread out across different management disciplines.

Details

International Journal of Organizational Analysis, vol. 29 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1934-8835

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Article
Publication date: 1 March 1999

Stephen G. Thomas

Towards the end of 1993, the University of Adelaide Library began looking at the implementation of an electronic reserve system. At that time, a number of other libraries in…

699

Abstract

Towards the end of 1993, the University of Adelaide Library began looking at the implementation of an electronic reserve system. At that time, a number of other libraries in Australia and overseas were looking at similar projects. Our first useable electronic reserve system was built in early 1995, using scanned exam papers in TIFF format. Later we tried a different approach. We sought original machine‐readable copies of exam papers from the departments (i.e. in word‐processor formats), and converted them into PDF using Acrobat Pro. A further change in procedures has come about in 1998, due to improvements in Microsoft Office that allowed easy conversion of Word documents to HTML. Some lessons we learned were: a variety of methods are available for the creation of content; do not underestimate the level of effort required; and the need for commitment from all parties involved is of prime importance.

Details

Library Hi Tech, vol. 17 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0737-8831

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Article
Publication date: 1 January 2009

Loretta Newman‐Ford, Steve Lloyd and Stephen Thomas

The number of people engaging in higher education (HE) has increased considerably over the past decade. However, there is a need to achieve a balance between increasing access and…

915

Abstract

The number of people engaging in higher education (HE) has increased considerably over the past decade. However, there is a need to achieve a balance between increasing access and bearing down on rates of non‐completion. It has been argued that poor attainment and failure within the first year are significant contributors to the overall statistics for non‐progression and that, although research has concentrated on factors causative of student withdrawal, less attention has focused on students who fail academically. This study investigated the effects of a number of factors on the academic attainment of first‐year undergraduates within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Glamorgan. Results showed that gender and age had only minor impacts upon educational achievement, while place of residence, prior educational attainment and attendance emerged as significant predictors of attainment. Further analysis showed these three factors to be interrelated, with attendance correlating strongly with both entry points and place of residence. In turn, prior attainment was strongly linked to place of residence. Findings may be used to identify and proactively target students at risk of poor academic performance and dropout in order to improve rates of performance and progression.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. 1 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

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Article
Publication date: 1 March 1947

R.S. MORTIMER

It is now forty years since there appeared H. R. Plomer's first volume Dictionary of the booksellers and printers who were at work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1641 to

75

Abstract

It is now forty years since there appeared H. R. Plomer's first volume Dictionary of the booksellers and printers who were at work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1641 to 1667. This has been followed by additional Bibliographical Society publications covering similarly the years up to 1775. From the short sketches given in this series, indicating changes of imprint and type of work undertaken, scholars working with English books issued before the closing years of the eighteenth century have had great assistance in dating the undated and in determining the colour and calibre of any work before it is consulted.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 3 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

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