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Article
Publication date: 9 September 2014

Josep Maria Brunetti and Roberto García

The growing volumes of semantic data available in the web result in the need for handling the information overload phenomenon. The potential of this amount of data is enormous but…

Abstract

Purpose

The growing volumes of semantic data available in the web result in the need for handling the information overload phenomenon. The potential of this amount of data is enormous but in most cases it is very difficult for users to visualize, explore and use this data, especially for lay-users without experience with Semantic Web technologies. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The Visual Information-Seeking Mantra “Overview first, zoom and filter, then details-on-demand” proposed by Shneiderman describes how data should be presented in different stages to achieve an effective exploration. The overview is the first user task when dealing with a data set. The objective is that the user is capable of getting an idea about the overall structure of the data set. Different information architecture (IA) components supporting the overview tasks have been developed, so they are automatically generated from semantic data, and evaluated with end-users.

Findings

The chosen IA components are well known to web users, as they are present in most web pages: navigation bars, site maps and site indexes. The authors complement them with Treemaps, a visualization technique for displaying hierarchical data. These components have been developed following an iterative User-Centered Design methodology. Evaluations with end-users have shown that they get easily used to them despite the fact that they are generated automatically from structured data, without requiring knowledge about the underlying semantic technologies, and that the different overview components complement each other as they focus on different information search needs.

Originality/value

Obtaining semantic data sets overviews cannot be easily done with the current semantic web browsers. Overviews become difficult to achieve with large heterogeneous data sets, which is typical in the Semantic Web, because traditional IA techniques do not easily scale to large data sets. There is little or no support to obtain overview information quickly and easily at the beginning of the exploration of a new data set. This can be a serious limitation when exploring a data set for the first time, especially for lay-users. The proposal is to reuse and adapt existing IA components to provide this overview to users and show that they can be generated automatically from the thesaurus and ontologies that structure semantic data while providing a comparable user experience to traditional web sites.

Details

Aslib Journal of Information Management, vol. 66 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-3806

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 April 2015

Johannes Hinckeldeyn, Rob Dekkers and Jochen Kreutzfeldt

Maintaining and improving productivity of product design and engineering processes has been a paramount challenge for design-driven companies, which are characterised a high…

2289

Abstract

Purpose

Maintaining and improving productivity of product design and engineering processes has been a paramount challenge for design-driven companies, which are characterised a high degree of development of products and processes in order to meet particular customer requirements. Literature on this issue is fragmented and dispersed and a concise and systematic overview is lacking. Hence, it remains unclear, which methods are applicable for design-driven companies to improve the productivity of limitedly available engineering resources (a challenge companies and nations face currently). The purpose of this paper is to develop such a systematic overview.

Design/methodology/approach

An unusual approach was utilised by combining the outcomes from a systematic literature review and the results of a Delphi study. From both research approaches complementary and overlapping methods for improving the productivity of product design and engineering processes could be drawn.

Findings

The unique systematic overview presents 27 methods to increase the productivity, effectiveness and efficiency of product design and engineering processes of design-driven companies. Moreover, the study finds that methods for improving effectiveness are preferred over methods for improving efficiency and that limitations with regard to the availability of resources are often not considered.

Research limitations/implications

During the development of the systematic overview, a lack of empirical evidence to assess the actual impact of productivity improvement methods was discovered. This shortcoming demonstrates the need for more conceptual and empirical work in this domain. More studies are needed to test and confirm the usefulness of the proposed methods.

Practical implications

Nevertheless, design-driven companies, which struggle to increase the productivity of their product design and engineering processes, can systematically select improvement methods from the overview according to their impact on productivity, effectiveness and efficiency. However, companies should keep in mind, whether effectiveness of product design and engineering can really be increased without considering limitations in engineering resources.

Originality/value

Therefore, the systematic overview provides a valuable map of the unexplored territory of productivity improvement methods for product design and engineering for both practitioners and researchers. For the latter ones, it creates directions for empirical investigations in order to explore and to compare methods for the improvement of productivity of product design and engineering processes.

Details

International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 35 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 January 2021

Andreas Günter and Ernst Gopp

Productivity is a multidimensional and context-dependent concept. Therefore, many different definitions and consequently, many different approaches to productivity measurement…

Abstract

Purpose

Productivity is a multidimensional and context-dependent concept. Therefore, many different definitions and consequently, many different approaches to productivity measurement (PM) exist in the literature. As a result, the understanding of productivity and the appropriate use of PM approaches are at a low level. The literature provides some overviews, but these overviews consider only a few selected individual aspects. Therefore, the overviews do not allow a comprehensive comparison and evaluation of existing approaches. This paper aims to give an overview of existing approaches to PM and to classify them according to elaborated criteria based on the main characteristics of productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review for existing approaches to PM using the following keywords: productivity, PM, productivity measure, labour productivity and labor productivity.

Findings

A total of 38 approaches are identified and listed between 1955 and 2020. The main result is a systematic overview and classification of existing approaches to PM.

Research limitations/implications

Researchers can use the overview to determine the development over time, the current state of research in the field of PM and identify research gaps. The classification can also be used to classify new approaches.

Practical implications

Companies can use the classification as a guide to identifying appropriate approaches to measuring productivity in corporate practice.

Originality/value

This paper enables a comprehensive comparison and evaluation of existing approaches to PM. Also, the understanding of the multidimensional character of the productivity concept is enhanced.

Details

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, vol. 71 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2007

Robert Mertens, Markus Ketterl and Oliver Vornberger

Lecture recordings can be a powerful addition to traditional lectures and they can even serve as a main content source in a number of didactic scenarios. If users can quickly…

Abstract

Lecture recordings can be a powerful addition to traditional lectures and they can even serve as a main content source in a number of didactic scenarios. If users can quickly locate relevant passages in a recording, the recording combines the ease of search that comes with electronic text based media with the authenticity and wealth of information that is delivered in a live lecture. Locating relevant passages in a time based media such as a recorded lecture is, however, not as easy as searching an electronic text document. This article presents the virtPresenter lecture recording system that tackles navigation in web lectures with a hypermedia navigation concept that is improved with interactive content overviews. Apart from navigation in web lectures the article also addresses didactic scenarios for web lectures and issues related to the workflow of recording lectures.

Details

Interactive Technology and Smart Education, vol. 4 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-5659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 August 2011

Rod Dacombe

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of recent local government reform for political leadership in local authorities. In particular, it investigates the role…

281

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of recent local government reform for political leadership in local authorities. In particular, it investigates the role played by local government officers in shaping and directing the work of politicians serving on overview and scrutiny committees.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on data from five case studies of local councils in England and Wales, the paper suggests that recent reform has done little to clarify decision making and leadership in local government.

Findings

The paper suggests that local councillors need to define their roles under the new system in order to reflect the changing requirements of their work.

Originality/value

The paper investigates the impact of the introduction of overview and scrutiny on the relations between councillors and local government officers. Research on leadership in local government is well established, but this literature needs updating in the light of recent reforms. The paper suggests a complex pattern of leadership in local democratic processes, and suggests that more work needs to be done to ensure that local councillors adapt to their new roles.

Details

International Journal of Leadership in Public Services, vol. 7 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9886

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2003

Rumintha Wichramasekera and Geoff Bamberry

Australian wineries have shown a dynamism lacking in some other regional industries by successfully tapping into international markets. This paper provides an overview of…

Abstract

Australian wineries have shown a dynamism lacking in some other regional industries by successfully tapping into international markets. This paper provides an overview of Australian wineries engaged in exporting in terms of their age. size, domestic market penetration, level of export planning, attitudes towards factors enhancing or inhibiting exporting and reasons for advancing through the various stages of exporting. The overview also outlines a range of characteristics of the managers of exporting wineries. Comparisons are made with wineries that decide not to export. The overview uses a four stage model of internationalisation to analyse data from a survey of 292 Australian wineries as well as a number of case studies.

Details

International Journal of Wine Marketing, vol. 15 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0954-7541

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 October 2020

Markus Blut

The use of meta-analysis in information systems (IS) research has increased. Because this research domain has matured and an increasing number of empirical studies have become…

Abstract

Purpose

The use of meta-analysis in information systems (IS) research has increased. Because this research domain has matured and an increasing number of empirical studies have become available, meta-analysis is now perceived as a useful approach to synthesize an increasing body of empirical research. The present paper gives an overview of meta-analytical techniques, the evolution of meta-analysis in IS, the focus of these studies and method choices made by authors.

Design/methodology/approach

This overview is based on 100 meta-analysis studies published in IS journals. These meta-analytical studies synthesize data from 6,262 empirical studies, and the meta-analyses were published between 1989 and 2020. The studies were coded with regard to 16 major method choices that IS researchers made when conducting meta-analyses.

Findings

This overview describes the key areas of meta-analysis (e.g. strategy and firm performance) and the journals that publish the meta-analysis. This overview also identifies method issues where meta-analyses have improved in recent years as well as issues that require some attention. Scholars receive guidance about good practices in terms of 16 major method choices related to (1) problem formulation, (2) literature search, (3) coding information, (4) analyzing and integrating effect sizes and (5) interpreting results and reporting findings.

Originality/value

Addressing the identified method issues helps authors of future meta-analyses to increase the transparency of reporting and the likelihood of getting published. The substantive findings of a meta-analysis also often depend on researchers' method choices. Similar overviews exist for other disciplines, such as marketing and management.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 121 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 1987

1.1 What Are Accounts For? Overview The purpose of accounts is to reveal performance in the conduct of a business or other activity concerned with use of economic resources (e.g…

Abstract

1.1 What Are Accounts For? Overview The purpose of accounts is to reveal performance in the conduct of a business or other activity concerned with use of economic resources (e.g. a club). It is thus a matter of stewardship. Although, like economics, it is necessary in accounting to use money as a measure of performance, it is concerned with the individual organisation rather than with economic phenomena as a whole.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 25 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Book part
Publication date: 28 February 2007

Anil Gupta and Ann Harding

Abstract

Details

Modelling Our Future: Population Ageing, Health and Aged Care
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-84950-808-7

Article
Publication date: 1 April 2024

Lorna Montgomery and Adi Cooper

Institutional abuse is a worldwide phenomenon with the UK also subject to several high-profile abuse scandals perpetuated on people with learning disabilities and/or mental health…

Abstract

Purpose

Institutional abuse is a worldwide phenomenon with the UK also subject to several high-profile abuse scandals perpetuated on people with learning disabilities and/or mental health conditions living within institutional settings. This study aims to provide a broad perspective of safeguarding practices within institutional care to inform practice and service development in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

A narrative overview was undertaken of a range of empirical evidence, discussion papers, enquiry reports, reports from regulatory bodies and professional guidance to explore safeguarding practices within institutional care for individuals with learning disabilities and/or mental health conditions.

Findings

A range of literature was identified that exposed and explored abuse in this context. Three key themes were identified: failings within institutional care; safeguarding issues and concerns; and good practice within institutional care. Whilst guidance is available, standards are explicit and protocols facilitate improvement potential in this area, a consistent message was that statutory recommendations for reform have not been effective.

Originality/value

This paper provides an important resource for practitioners and service providers involved in institutional care. An accessible overview of both the empirical evidence and grey literature on adult safeguarding within institutional settings is provided, along with a range of standards and resources that specify practice in these settings.

Details

The Journal of Adult Protection, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1466-8203

Keywords

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