Can hard-to-solve one-off homicides be distinguished from serial homicides? Differences in offence behaviours and victim characteristics

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Pakkanen ◽  
Angelo Zappalà ◽  
Dario Bosco ◽  
Andrea Berti ◽  
Pekka Santtila
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Crime Scene ◽  
Serial Killers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Good Ability ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The One ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences (if any) between serial and hard-to-solve one-off homicides, and to determine if it is possible to distinguish the two types of homicides based on offence behaviours and victim characteristics. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 116 Italian serial homicides was compared to 45 hard-to-solve one-off homicides. Hard-to-solve one-off homicides were defined as having at least 72 hours pass between when the offence came to the knowledge of the police and when the offender was caught. Logistic regression was used to predict whether a killing was part of a series or a one-off offence. Findings – The serial killers targeted more strangers and prostitutes, displayed a higher level of forensic awareness both before and after the killing, and had more often an apparent sexual element in their offence. Conversely, the one-off homicides were found to include more traits indicative of impulsive and expressive behaviour. The model demonstrated a good ability (AUC=0.88) to predict whether a homicide belonged to the serial or one-off category. Research limitations/implications – The findings should be replicated using local homicide data to maximise the validity of the model in countries outside of Italy. Practical implications – Being able to distinguish between serial and one-off homicides based on information available at a new crime scene could be practically useful for homicide investigators managing finite resources. Originality/value – Studies comparing serial homicides to one-off homicides are scarce, and there are no studies explicitly trying to predict whether a homicide is an isolated case or part of a series.

How Phillips saw the light

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 29-31
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Business World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Freak Show ◽  
The World ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
The One ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings The problem with developing a reputation of being something of an oracle in the business world is that all of a sudden, everyone expects you to pull off the trick of interpreting the future on a daily basis. Like a freak show circus act or one-hit wonder pop singer, people expect you to perform when they see you, and they expect you to perform the thing that made you famous, even if it is the one thing in the world you don’t want to do. And when you fail to deliver on these heightened expectations, you are dismissed as a one trick pony, however good that trick is in the first place. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Reuse, recycle … reduce: a greener library with print management

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 408-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan E. Dempsey ◽  
Alex Palilonis
Keyword(s):  
Management System ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation of a print management system to control costs and reduce waste associated with printing practices.Design/methodology/approachA paper collection study found that 8 percent of pages printed in the library were never claimed. A print management system was implemented requiring print jobs to be manually released by users. Statistics on toner lifespan and number of pages printed before and after the system was implemented were compared.FindingsThe print management system reduced the total number of pages printed in a semester by 32 percent from Fall 2009 to Fall 2011 and increased the lifespan of toner cartridges so they would perform more efficiently.Practical implicationsImplementing a print management system without charging students a printing fee reduces the amount of wasted paper and the costs associated with purchasing paper and toner for printing services.Originality/valueThe paper describes the implementation of a print management system in a library that has substantially reduced the number of pages printed from library computers and the amount of toner used. The authors believe they have made a significant impact on reducing a primary area of waste.

Copa America: a resource-based theory of football talent

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 176-191
Author(s):  
Peter Omondi-Ochieng
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Football Team ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Resource Based Theory

Purpose Guided by the resource-based theory, the purpose of this study was to predict the role of football talent in the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) rankings of the men’s national football teams in the Copa America zone. Design/methodology/approach The study used archival data of Copa American national football teams. The dependent variable was FIFA rankings, and the independent variables were football talent (measured by the stocks of amateur footballers, professional footballers and football officials). Statistical analysis was performed using Kendall tau statistic and binary logistic regression. Findings The binary logistic regression results indicated that FIFA rankings were statistically and significantly associated with the stock of football officials and professional footballers – but not amateur footballers. The predictive model explained 80 per cent of the variance. Research limitations/implications The study focused exclusively on the stock of football talent in each nation, and not alternative determinants of national football team competitiveness as economic power and quality of professional football leagues, among others. Practical implications The stocks of professional footballers and football officials are valuable sources of competitive advantage (CA) in national football team rankings. Originality/value The study highlighted the uniqueness and distinctiveness of a nation possessing large stocks of professional footballers which can boost the CA and rankings of Copa American national football teams.

Hopes and fears

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 27-29
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Operating Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
The One ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – To say it is tough for business organizations today would be a massive understatement. Thanks largely to globalization and technological developments, the operating environment has arguably become more competitive than ever before. Firms thus need to constantly evolve in order to meet the array of new challenges which regularly face them. For those unable to adapt, survival and prosperity may ultimately be elusive. Change has invariably proved to be something of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it can signal opportunity and prompt excitement and anticipation. But many others see change in terms of threat. Practical implications – The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

scholarly journals How to increase engagement on social media using the honeycomb model

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-167
Author(s):  
Susana Costa Silva ◽  
Wilian Feitosa ◽  
Paulo Duarte ◽  
Marta Vasconcelos
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Before And After ◽  
A Company ◽  
New Procedures ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand how a company could improve public engagement on social media (SM) analysing the case of Alento, which is a human resources and consulting company located in Portugal. The company’s presence on Facebook was analysed by using the honeycomb model for SM functionality, by Kietzmann et al. (2011), as a theoretical framework. Design/methodology/approach The authors implemented some actions to change procedures on SM management. Monitoring five months of data, the authors could compare the SM engagement before and after changes on SM management. Then, a convenience sample of 205 useable questionnaires was collected. The population of the study comprised Portuguese Facebook users who liked the Alento Facebook Fan Page. An analysis of honeycomb dimensions was performed. Findings The engagement level on Alento’s SM was increased by changing procedures identified on survey. In five months, Alento’s number of followers was increased by just 4.5 per cent, interactions were increased by 35 per cent, views were more than twice (+122 per cent) and fans who clicked on Alento’s Facebook page’s links were increased by 146 per cent. Research limitations/implications There were also some limitations related to the sample, since the authors only obtained 205 responses. Therefore, the second suggestion for future investigations would be to conduct the survey on a larger number of people. This study just considers five months after changing procedures. A longer range of time could produce different results. Practical implications The most relevant contribution of the current study is the offer of some insights into the use of a simple tool such as the honeycomb model of Kietzmann et al. (2011) for the analysis of the social engagement from a firm’s perspective, regardless of their nature. Social implications The importance of SM to spread good content and to reduce media costs is reinforced in this study. Originality/value This study is innovative, as it identifies a need of change on SM management, proposes and implements new procedures, checking its results. SM marketing is a new wagon of study, and the problem of how to increase engagement on professional SM is on top priorities of the field.

scholarly journals Guarantees used in refundable financing of innovation in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Cunha Schmidt ◽  
Micheline Gaia Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Innovation Ecosystem ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Regional Bank ◽  
Knowledge Intensive ◽  
The One ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Despite the increasing availability of financing programs for innovation, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) often find it difficult to access credit for their projects. Among the reasons, the lack of the types of guarantees required by financial institutions stands out. Focused on this problem, in 2013, the Regional Bank for the Development of the Extreme South (BRDE) created a policy to stimulate innovation, making the required guarantees for financing operations of innovative companies more flexible: the BRDE Inova Program. This paper aims to analyze the guarantees used in the bank operations since the beginning of the program. Design/methodology/approach In the first stage of the research, the authors identified the guarantees used in each of the signed contracts, through a documentary survey. Next, semi-structured interviews showed the perceptions of the players involved in the innovation ecosystem of the state of Santa Catarina, regarding aspects related to the guarantees. Specifically, the authors investigated the following elements: strengths and limitations of the programs regarding access to credit for innovation; adequacy of existing guarantee mechanisms. To strengthen the conclusions, they used triangulated data collection in different stages. Findings The results showed that, on the one hand, the initiative helped BRDE to consolidate itself as the main financing agent of innovation in MSMEs; on the other hand, the need for traditional guarantees still plays a significant role for innovative MSMEs to access credit. Originality/value In addition to practical implications for the bank and other financing agents’ policies, this paper contributes to fill a gap in the literature on guarantee systems applied to the specificities of knowledge-intensive MSMEs.

scholarly journals Social media as a means to access millennial wine consumers

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosana Fuentes Fernández ◽  
Frank Vriesekoop ◽  
Beatriz Urbano
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dichotomous Outcome ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to gain insights of the use of social media (SM) in the wine industry. The theoretical viewpoint is to analyse wineries’ SM segmentation, targeting and positioning (STP) to help the wine industry to improve the effectiveness of SM communication. Design/methodology/approach An observational study of Spanish wineries’ SM presence and traffic was carried out during a three-month period in 2013 and repeated in 2016. During this period, a questionnaire was distributed to 196 wineries. Logistic regression was used to model the dichotomous outcome variable of whether a winery “does” or “does not” utilise SM. Additionally, leader wineries were interviewed in April/May 2016 about SM STP. Findings The results show that most wineries are starting in SM without a well-defined strategy. The presence of a webpage is significantly related to the use of SM. SM wineries do not segment and can take advantage of digital targeting strategies. Practical implications Segmentation and targeting SM can improve the effectiveness of the winery SM activities as well as the winery competitiveness in the wine industry. Originality/value This paper is a first step in understanding the value of segmentation SM to reach millennial consumers and the importance of targeting to improve the effectiveness of winery on SM.

Fun in the workplace and employee turnover: is less managed fun better?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Tews ◽  
Phillip M. Jolly ◽  
Kathryn Stafford
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Employee Turnover ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Direct Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Manager Support ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeDespite previous research indicating that fun in the workplace has favorable outcomes, the effect of fun on turnover has not been definitively determined. The present study analyzed the direct effects on turnover of three dimensions of fun: fun activities, coworker socializing and manager support for fun, and the moderating influence of managed fun (e.g. whether fun is perceived as contrived).Design/methodology/approachLogistic regression was used to analyze the fun in the workplace-turnover relationship with a sample of 491 hourly associates from 141 stores of a US national retailer. Data on the fun were obtained through surveys that were paired with turnover data collected six months afterward from corporate records.FindingsFun activities were only found to be associated with a lower turnover when employees perceived fun as less managed. When employees perceived fun as more managed, fun activities had no effect on turnover. Coworker socializing was associated with a lower turnover when fun was perceived as less managed and higher turnover when fun was perceived as more managed.Research limitations/implicationsAs the data were obtained from employees from one organization, further research would be valuable with additional samples to substantiate the generalizability of the results.Practical implicationsGiven the challenge of turnover and the increasing prevalence of efforts to promote fun in the workplace, organizations should allow fun activities to be less managed (and thus more organic) to help reduce turnover.Originality/valueWhile previous research has addressed managed/less managed fun in qualitative research, the present study represents the first investigation to examine this aspect of fun in the workplace from a quantitative perspective and to examine its relationship with employee turnover.

scholarly journals Accrual and real-based earnings management by UK acquirers

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 492-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talie Kassamany ◽  
Salma Ibrahim ◽  
Stuart Archbold
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Governance Code ◽  
Management Behaviour ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to investigate the occurrence of pre-merger earnings management for a sample of 197 stock- and cash-financed UK acquirers between 1990 and 2009. It also examines the earnings management behaviour around the change in the Corporate Governance Code in 2003 based on the Higgs recommendations. Design/methodology/approach Mean and median accrual- and real-based manipulation are examined in the period before the announcement of a merger and acquisition. These are compared across stock and cash acquirers as well as before and after the implementation of the Higgs recommendations. Logistic regressions are also run to examine accrual- and real-based manipulation across stock and cash acquirers after controlling for variables that may affect the acquisition type. Findings The study found some evidence of upward pre-merger accrual-based earnings management by stock-financed acquirers, which is in line with the findings of Botsari and Meeks (2008). Furthermore, no significant changes were found in the post-Higgs period, which indicates that the recommendations put forth by Higgs may not have been successful in mitigating earnings management. The evidence also shows that cash bidders engage in pre-merger real earnings manipulation through lower discretionary expenses, possibly to enhance cash availability for the bid. Practical implications The findings in this study confirm earnings management exists around mergers and acquisitions and provide some evidence that the recommendations set out in the Higgs Report do not appear to have mitigated earnings management activities. This is of interest to regulators as well as investors and academicians. Originality/value This provides the first analysis in the UK examining the use of real-based earnings management activities by UK acquirers. It also extends prior research around corporate governance changes that occurred in the UK.

Intergenerational equity and social discount rates: what have we learned over recent decades?

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 1539-1556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Roche
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Intergenerational Equity ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Knowledge ◽  
Government Decision ◽  
The One ◽  
Social Importance ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine what the significant contributions to the intergenerational equity and social discount rate (SDR) literature have been over recent decades and presents what policy progress has been made as a result. Design/methodology/approach The approach has been that of a literature survey. Findings The paper observes that only when academics agree, however, they can influence policy, as one major policy change for SDR demonstrates. Research limitations/implications Further research can analyse the application of SDRs in other jurisdictions. Practical implications A formal process of demonstrating academic consensus and its application to policy is recommended. Social implications SDRs are extremely important for government decision making. Spreading knowledge about how SDRs are created and used is therefore of great social importance. Originality/value This paper could usefully be read by government officials, as well as academics, worldwide. It is a contribution to knowledge not just in its subject matter but also in analysing the frontier between academic knowledge and progress on the one hand, and government decision making on the other.

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