Realising the strategic value of RFID in academic libraries: A case study of the University of Technology Sydney

© 2015 Australian Library & Information Association. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is being increasingly implemented in academic libraries due to a promise of increased collections management efficiency. This paper reports on the recent implementation of RFID technology in the library at the University of Technology Sydney, providing insights into the change management process of RFID implementation. The paper focuses on the implications of the implementation and indigenisation of RFID technology for three specific and symbiotic areas of the library: people, processes and technology. Data from interviews with eight participants involved at various levels of the academic library were collected. This paper develops a best practice model through the insights gained by the people involved in the RFID implementation. The case study posits the dynamic relationships between people, processes and technology as greatly impacted by the implementation process, and analyses the divergence between projected and actual outcomes in the implementation process

Messing with corporate heads? psychological contracts and leadership integrity

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to present a model of leadership fulfiling the need of our times: The leadership psychological contract (LPC). In the current socio-economic environment of uncertainty and unprecedented change, both business environments and the community at large are marked by leadership crises. This instability makes an understanding of the relational aspects impacting the relationship between leaders and their constituencies both important and urgent. Now, more than ever before, extraordinary leadership is required. The psychological contract (PC) is recognised as one of the most emergent areas in organisational research. Its contribution to the leadership domain, however, is as yet undiscovered. Design/methodology/approach – This paper addresses this deficiency by integrating contemporary leadership and PC literature. This paper also addresses criticisms raised in the leadership literature in the past 25 years relating to the scarce leadership research conducted at the unit/team level, despite the rhetoric that the main aim of leadership is in the collaborative domain, as well as the impact of leaders on emotional constructs and motivational or ‘extra-role’ behaviours. Findings – The LPC is a predictive model that comprises three dependent variables (fulfillment of expectations, trust and fairness) – which constitute the health of the contract or the leader’s integrity/credibility, and four dependent variables (affective commitment, satisfaction, discretionary effort and innovation), which constitute the ‘consequences of the contract’ or the leader’s impact. The LPC model complements previous models of transformational leadership and leader–member exchange theory and addresses various criticisms and recommendations made in literature. Originality/value – Frameworks such as authentic leadership, ethical leadership, moral leadership, spirituality and leadership each emphasise positive leader – follower relations. Taking into account the LPC and incorporating it into theory and practice should allow researchers to predict leadership effectiveness more completely and effectually than existing positive leadership approaches. The LPC model aims to enhance and refresh the value of effective and ethical leadership approaches that are emerging in response to the current socioeconomic landscape and leadership crises. </jats:sec

HP Australia: Strategies in response to global sustainability

This paper analyses the strategic response by HP Australia to these global challenges for business and for wider society

New Product Development Processes in The Australian FMCG Industry.

This paper presents a study of new product development (NPD) processes in two large Australian organisations (National Foods and Lion Nathan) involved in the production of fast moving consumer goods. The research utilises the Australian Business Excellence Framework as a research lens for exploring NPD processes with a focus on the role of sales and operations management. A case study approach used data collected from employees in the two organisations who were involved the NPD process. The results showed a number of significant differences between the two organisations in the conduct and the effectiveness of their NPD processes. Although both organisations employed a formal Stage-Gate process, Lion Nathan did this more successfully than National Foods, perhaps because of Lion Nathan’s greater experience with using stage-gate methodology. This study highlights the importance of the role of sales and operation planning, especially in relation to collaborative demand forecasting. The importance of the leadership role was also evident particularly in relation to ensuring measurement, review, and improvement of NPD processes

Role of Travel Motivations, Perceived Risks and Travel Constraints on Destination Image and Visit Intention in Medical Tourism

Travel motivations, perceived risks and travel constraints, along with the attributes and characteristics of medical tourism destinations, are important issues in medical tourism. Although the importance of these factors is already known, a comprehensive theoretical model of the decision-making process of medical tourists has yet to be established, analysing the intricate relationships between the different variables involved. This article examines a large body of literature on both medical and conventional tourism in order to propose a comprehensive theoretical framework of medical tourism decision-making. Many facets of this complex phenomenon require further empirical investigation

Minimizing makespan in flowshops with pallet requirements: computational complexity

Studies the minimization in flowshops with pallet requirements. Importance of pallets in automated or flexible manufacturing environments; Mounting and dismounting of work pieces; Planning problems involved

MRI spectrum of cerebral palsy in correlation with clinical profile

OBJECTIVES: To describe MRI brain spectrum in a group of Cerebral Palsy children and correlate with perinatal history, clinical subgroups. To correlate callosal thinning with topographies and periventricular leukomalacia grades. METHODS: IRB approved observational study (cross sectional study) on CP children in between the period March 2012-October 2013 in Christian Medical College, Vellore. The important MRI features described are periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), deep gray nuclei involvement, cystic encephalomalacia, arterial territory infarcts, corpus callosal thinning, perirolandic cortical gliosis and malformations. These were correlated with the relevant perinatal history and clinical subgroups by cross tabulation and Chi square tests. RESULTS: A set of specific MRI features can be seen in different clinical pictures and a particular clinical picture can have varied MRI findings. Higher grades of PVL are associated with higher degree of neurological deficit and higher grades of thinning of corpus callosum. Deep gray nucleus signal abnormalities are seen significantly with combination of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and birth asphyxia. Dystonic cerebral palsy is strongly associated with the deep gray nuclei involvement. Callosal thinning may be an isolated finding in CP; hence an important pick up

THEME OF 'ALIENATION' AS PROJECTED THROUGH THE CHARACTER – PORTRAYAL OF JIMMY PORTER IN JOHN OSBORNE'S LOOK BACK IN ANGER: AN APPRAISAL

This article, at the outset, lays focus on the theme of alienation, internal conflict and hostility experienced by Jimmy Porter in John Osborne’s play Look Back in Anger by examining how the character, Jimmy is furious with life, friends and his wife, alienating himself from the society, religion and women. It concludes, by stating that of all the modern dramatists, John Osborne has been gifted with the credit of dramatizing the insecurity and alienation felt by the younger generation by effectively picturing the loneliness of the central character Jimmy Porter in Look Back in Anger