Search results

Hybrid libraries provide multiple ways to access information in various formats, normally within a common information framework. The eLib project MALIBU (MAnaging the Hybrid LIbrary for the Benefit of Users) focuses on the development of models, both prototypic and theoretic, for management and organisation of the hybrid library. This article describes the agent technology used for the MALIBU prototype search engine that allows for the search and retrieval of information from disparate resources.

This article examines the potential relevance of corporate identity and corporate communication to the merger and acquisition process. Recent studies indicate that around 50 per cent of all mergers failed to produce the synergistic benefits that were expected of them. The authors argue that this failure rate may be attributable to the neglect of corporate identity and corporate communication issues and have identified nine reasons why mergers fail, chief among which are: the undue attention that is given to short‐term financial and legal issues to the detriment of long‐term identity and communication issues; inadequate recognition of the impact of leadership issues on identity and communication; and failure to secure the goodwill of a wide range of stakeholder groups common to both companies. The authors offer a template pertaining to corporate identity and corporate communication issues in the merger and acquisition process which they call the merger mix.

This paper examines the general value to users of a range of electronic journal functions and their usefulness in the specific context of the SuperJournal Project. For the evaluation of each of the functions three types of data were analysed in relation to each other and in light of other contextual data: logged data of usage, survey data on user satisfaction, and survey data on the perceived importance of the function. The analysis shows that basic browsing, printing and search make up the core functions of electronic journals; other functions, such as saving of bibliographic data, alerting, customising, links with external resources and communication, serve as peripheral functions. The usefulness of both the core functions and the peripheral functions in a specific service is influenced by various implementation factors. However, it is the realised usefulness of the core functions which determines the use of a service.

This paper is concerned with methodology in cross‐cultural studies of management. It raises issues about sampling, and then moves on to deal with two problems that threaten to undermine the value of cross‐cultural research. One is the popularity of models which reduce culture to a handful of dimensions, and the other is the persistent use of single methods, rather than multi‐method approaches. These two points are illustrated with recent findings on power distance and time management. The research on power distance shows how a decomposition of the measure provides a more informative picture of power relations than the simple index, while the research on time management shows that different measures of time often tell quite different stories. The paper concludes by suggesting that what is needed in international research is not a simple picture of culture, but one that does justice to the inherent complexity of culture.