Constraint-based conversion of fiction text to a time-based graphical representation

This paper presents a method for converting unrestricted fiction text into a time-based graphical form. Key concepts extracted from the text are used to formulate constraints describing the interaction of entities in a scene. The solution of these constraints over their respective time intervals provides the trajectories for these entities in a graphical representation.

Three types of entity are extracted from fiction books to describe the scene, namely Avatars, Areas and Objects. We present a novel method for modeling the temporal aspect of a fiction story using multiple time-line representations after which the information extracted regarding entities and time-lines is used to formulate constraints. A constraint solving technique based on interval arithmetic is used to ensure that the behaviour of the entities satisfies the constraints over multiple universally quantified time intervals. This approach is demonstrated by finding solutions to multiple time-based constraints, and represents a new contribution to the field of Text-to-Scene conversion. An example of the automatically produced graphical output is provided in support of our constraint-based conversion scheme.

The interactional effects of the internal and external university environment, and the influence of personal values, on satisfaction among international postgraduate students

The article investigates the interactional effects of internal and external university learning environments, and the influence of personal values, in the satisfaction formation process of international postgraduate students from Asia. Past research on student satisfaction has been narrowly focused on certain aspects of the university internal environment such as teaching, learning and support services. While acknowledging the impact of the internal learning environment on student satisfaction, the article argues that the external community environment, where students spend most of their academic life, has a much stronger influence on their satisfaction. It is also argued that students’ personal values have a mediating influence on the impact on student satisfaction of the internal and external learning environments. A sample of 411 international postgraduate business students from five Australian universities is used in the study. Structural equation modelling is used to analyse the data. Practical implications for universities are provided.

Social intelligence and top management team: an exploratory study of external knowledge acquisition for strategic change in global IT service providers in India

This paper focuses on the processes by which firms, particularly knowledge intensive firms, can augment their overall knowledge stock by tapping into external sources of knowledge. It is argued that Top Management Teams' (TMTs') social intelligence is a critical learning capability in acquiring external knowledge that leads to strategic change. Social intelligence involves social awareness, social understanding and social skills. The study draws from the experience of 11 of the largest Information Technology Service Providers (ITSPs) in India and based on in-depth interviews. The findings show that TMTs' learning capability in the context of social intelligence to interact with external stakeholders is important to ITSPs in facilitating external knowledge acquisition and allowing new knowledge emerge within and across networks. The findings provide significant insights into ITSPs emerging in other developing countries such as in China. Research limitation and future research direction are also provided.

Clegg hammer measures and human external landing forces : is there a relationship?

Ground hardness is deemed an important consideration for player safety for sports played on natural turf surfaces. Currently, a ground hardness measure is being determined using a Clegg hammer, with the suitability for play dependent on an acceptable reading. This study aimed to examine whether a relationship between Clegg hammer readings and ground reaction forces (GRF’s) generated by a human during a drop landing exist. Fifteen male community level Australian football players were recruited for the study. Participants performed a single leg drop landing on the right leg from a 45cm box onto the force plate to record GRF’s. Ten trials were conducted for three conditions: no shock pad, thin shock pad (15mm) and thick shock pad (50mm) under a synthetic turf sample. Four consecutive Clegg hammer readings were recorded following each set of ten trials. Variables of interest were maximum vertical GRF (Max vGRF), maximum rate of loading (Max RoL) and Clegg hammer (CH) readings. Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient was conducted to examine the relationship between variables and conditions. Slight to fair relationships were found between the Max vGRF and any of the four CH drops (0.181 ≤r≥ 0.189; p ≤ 0.01). This finding was similar to the relationship with Max RoL (0.209 ≤r≥ 0.217; p ≤ 0.01). When analysed for the specific shock pad condition, the relationships remained poor (r <0.1; p ≥ 0.29), with the exception of the Max RoL and the CH readings on the thick shock pad (0.1 ≤r≥ 0.2; p ≥ 0.03). The results of this study show that the ground reaction forces experienced by a human on different levels of surface hardness are significantly different to the forces on impact of the Clegg hammer. Consequently, the Clegg hammer may not be the most appropriate device for relating surface hardness to player safety, thus it is possible that the Clegg hammer alone is insufficient in globally determining ground safety.

Arts management/marketing journal citation analysis : assessing external impact

Purpose – This paper aims to present a quantitative analysis of arts management/marketing articles in leading general management/marketing journals, including an examination of the extent to which those top tier journal articles on arts/culture-related topics cite authors of leading arts management journal articles.

Design/methodology/approach – Using bibliometric techniques, this study examines the content of 20 top tier management and marketing journals over 22 years to identify articles published on arts management/marketing, which authors were cited, and from which arts management/marketing journals.

Findings – Analysis indicates that: relatively few citations in the top management/marketing journals reference arts management/marketing journals; assessment of interaction between the parent management/marketing disciplines and the arts management/marketing sub-discipline indicates that authors draw upon a large reserve of diverse literatures; and top journal arts-related management/marketing articles tend to utilize citations to journal articles grounded in the social sciences and aesthetics of management, with an increasing trend of citations to arts management/marketing journals.

Research limitations/implications – This study of the extent to which top journals have published arts/culture-related articles and the citation impact of arts management/marketing journals is the initial academic study on the topic and suggests opportunities for further research.

Practical implications – Analysis of arts management/marketing journal impact contributes to professionalization of the field and increased perceived value of those journals by industry practitioners.

Originality/value – This research is the first to examine the spectrum of arts management/marketing literature, including both top general management/marketing journals and sector-oriented arts management/marketing journals, establishing a body of knowledge for augmentation by future research over time.

External knowledge and performance of offshore IT service providers in India : the mediating role of talent management

The global shortage of IT professionals has been identified as one of the most serious threats against the continued growth of offshore IT service providers (OSPs). As a result, talent management has become a key competitive strategy for OSPs. However, how talent management contributes towards the performance of OSPs remains poorly understood in relation to its interaction with knowledge. To examine this issue, we draw on a sample of 68 OSPs in India to test the effects of talent management and external knowledge on performance. The results confirm that both external knowledge and talent management are positively related to firm performance and that the latter has strong mediating effects on the relationship between external knowledge and firm performance. The results suggest that OSPs should consider talent management as a mechanism through which knowledge resources can be exploited to enhance firm performance. The managerial implications and limitations of the findings are also discussed.

Understanding the role of social media monitoring in generating external intelligence

Social media data are becoming increasingly critical for businesses to capture, analyse, and utilise in a timely manner. However, the unstructured and distributed nature and volume of this information makes the task of extracting useful and practical information challenging. Given the dynamic evolution of social media and social media monitoring, our current understanding of how social media monitoring can help organisations to create business value is inadequate. As a result, there is a need to study how organisations can (a) extract and analyse social media data related to their business (Sensing), and (b) utilise external intelligence gained from social media monitoring for specific business initiatives (Seizing). This study uses a qualitative approach with a multiple embedded case study design to understand the phenomenon of social media monitoring and its outcome for organisations. Anticipated contributions are presented.

The direct costs of raising external equity capital for US REIT IPOs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the total direct costs of raising external equity capital for US real estate investment trust (REIT) initial public offerings (IPOs).

Design/methodology/approach – The study provides recent evidence on total direct costs for a comprehensive dataset of 125 US REIT IPOs from 1996 until June 2010. A multivariate OLS regression is performed to determine significant factors influencing the level of total direct costs and also underwriting fees and non-underwriting direct expenses.

Findings – The study finds economies of scale in total direct costs, underwriting fees and non-underwriting expenses. The equally (value) weighted average total direct costs are 8.33 percent (7.52 percent), consisting of 6.49 percent (6.30 percent) underwriting fees and 1.87 percent (1.22 percent) non-underwriting direct expenses. The study finds a declining trend of total direct costs for post 2000 IPOs which is attributed to the declining trend in both underwriting fees and non-underwriting direct expenses. Offer size is a critical determinant for both total direct costs and their individual components and inversely affects these costs. The total direct costs are found significantly higher for equity REITs than for mortgage REITs and are also significantly higher for offers listed in New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Underwriting fees appear to be negatively influenced by the offer price, the number of representative underwriters involved in the issue, industry return volatility and the number of potential specific risk factors but positively influenced by prior quarter industry dividend yield and ownership limit identified in the prospectus. After controlling for time trend, the paper finds REIT IPOs incur higher non-underwriting direct expenses in response to higher industry return volatility prior to the offer.

Originality/value – This paper adds to the international REIT IPO literature by exploring a number of new influencing factors behind total direct costs, underwriting fees and non-underwriting direct expenses. The study includes data during the recent GFC period.

Internal audit attributes and external audit's reliance on internal audit : implications for audit fees

This study aims to examine two aspects of internal audit quality, namely internal audit competency and internal audit contribution to financial statement audits. Consistent with the substitution view, this study predicts a negative relationship between the competency aspects of internal audit (the tenure of the existence of internal audit in the organization, internal audit staff expertise in IT and computer skills, training hours, internal audit staff professional certifications in accounting and auditing, and internal audit staff experience in auditing) and audit fees. Second, this study tests whether the contribution of internal auditors to financial statement audit reduces audit fees. The data analysis is based on a cross-sectional regression model with observations of 73 public-listed firms in Malaysia, which include publicly available data matched with survey responses from their internal and external auditors. The results of the study suggest that the competency of internal audit, namely the tenure of the existence of internal audit in the organization, training, internal audit staff prior experience in auditing and accounting, and certifications are associated with lower audit fees. Our findings for both aspects of internal audit quality (competency and internal audit contribution) lend support to the substitution view for explaining the links between internal audit quality and audit fees.