bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changing curriculum policy into practice: the case of physical education in Hong Kong
Authors: Johns David P.
Published: January 2003

This article examines the differences between the formally stated aims of education and the implementation of the school curriculum in order to show the divergence between what is initiated and what emerges as school practice. This implementation problem is examined from the policy‐makers' and teachers' perspectives, with specific reference to physical education as a school subject in Hong Kong. First, it examines the existence and intention of educational policy towards curriculum as established by policy‐makers. Second, the implementation process is evaluated from the teachers' perspective by employing a framework adopted by Cuban (1998) that utilized effectiveness, popularity, fidelity, adaptability and longevity. The data are derived from a case‐study of a physical education programme that included document analysis, and interviews with teachers, parents and students. The case‐study provided a subjective perspective of teachers and their work, while the framework assisted in demonstrating the absence of cohesion between the various government agencies. The resulting fragmentation of ideas leading to confusion and frustration for teachers also indicates that longevity and adaptability are likely to be the most constructive criteria for the assessment of curriculum change.
Cellular and cytokine immunoregulation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma
Authors: Stankiewicz Wanda , Dabrowski Marek P. , Chcialowski Andrzej , Plusa Tadeusz
Published: January 2003

Background: Different forms of chronic airway inflammation may involve diverse pathogenic elements. In general, deficient defence response is a feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas distorted immunoregulatory mechanisms lead to development of asthmatic symptoms. In addition to diverse effector mechanisms, the cellular and humoral elements participating in the development of immune response may appear to be different in COPD and bronchial asthma (BA) patients.

Aims: To evaluate the immunoregulatory properties of T cells and monocytes in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and to determine the chosen cytokine profiles in COPD and BA patients.

Methods: The microcultures of PBMC from COPD and BA patients were assessed for the T‐cell response to mitogens, saturation of interleukin (IL)‐2 receptors, T‐cell suppressive activity and monokine influence on lymphocyte proliferation. Concomitantly, the cytokine (IL‐1β, interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist, tumour necrosis factor‐α, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8) concentrations were determined in the serum, the broncho‐alveolar lavage fluid and in the culture supernatants.

Results: The T‐lymphocyte reactions (response to phytohaemagglutinin, IL‐2 receptor saturation, suppressive activity) were lower in BA pateints than in COPD patients. Reversely, the immunogenic activity of monocytes (IL‐1β versus IL‐1ra production) was higher in BA patients than in COPD patients. The highest values of cytokine concentrations were found in the culture supernatants. The concentrations of tumour necrosis factor‐α , IL‐4, IL‐6 and IL‐8 were significantly higher and the concentration of IL‐1ra was lower in BA patients than in COPD
patients.

Conclusion: The assessments of cellular immunoregulatory properties and cytokine profiles in the cultures of blood mononuclear cells may prove helpful for diagnostic and therapeutic discrimination between BA and COPD patients.
N‐Acetylcysteine enhances the action of anti‐inflammatory drugs as suppressors of prostaglandin production in monocytes
Authors: Hoffer Erica , Baum Yelena , Nahir A. Menahem
Published: January 2003

The anti‐inflammatory effect of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), the rate‐limiting enzyme responsible for the synthesis of prostaglandins. Since oxygen free radicals can act as second cellular messengers, especially to modulate the metabolism of arachidonic acid and the prostaglandin tract, it seems plausible that antioxidants might affect the production of prostaglandin by activated cells. This research is focused on the effect of the antioxidant N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) on the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 formation in activated monocytes by specific and non‐specific COX inhibitors. We found that lipopolysaccharide‐induced prostaglandin E2 formation was significantly reduced by rofecoxib and by diclofenac, two NSAIDs. Addition of NAC to each of these drugs enhanced the effect of the NSAIDs. These results suggest that one might expect either a potentiation of the anti‐inflammatory effect of COX inhibitors by their simultaneous administration with NAC, or obtaining the same anti‐inflammatory at lower drug levels.
Cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibitors: promise or peril?
Authors: Mengle-Gaw Laurel J. , Schwartz Benjamin D.
Published: January 2003

The discovery of two isoforms of the cyclooxygenase enzyme, COX‐1 and COX‐2, and the development of COX‐2‐specific inhibitors as anti‐inflammatories and analgesics have offered great promise that the therapeutic benefits of NSAIDs could be optimized through inhibition of COX‐2, while minimizing their adverse side effect profile associated with inhibition of COX‐1. While COX‐2 specific inhibitors have proven to be efficacious in a variety of inflammatory conditions, exposure of large numbers of patients to these drugs in postmarketing studies have uncovered potential safety concerns that raise questions about the benefit/risk ratio of COX‐2‐specific NSAIDs compared to conventional NSAIDs. This article reviews the efficacy and safety profiles of COX‐2‐specific inhibitors, comparing them with conventional NSDAIDs.
The Relation Between Histological, Tumor‐Biological and ClinicalParameters in Deep and Superficial Leiomyosarcoma and Leiomyoma
Authors: Pijpe Justin , Broers Gerben H. Torn , Plaat Boudewijn E.Ch. , Hundeiker M. , Otto F. , Mastik Mirjam F. , Hoekstra Harald J. , van der Graaf Winette T. A. , Berg Eva van Den , Molenaar Willemina M.
Published: January 2003

Purpose: Leiomyosarcomas (LMS) of deep and superficial tissues were examined to identify prognostic markers explaining
their different biological behaviour and to define differences between cutaneous and subcutaneous LMS. LMS and leiomyomas
(LM) of the skin were compared to and consistent differences that could aid in the (sometimes difficult) diagnosis.

Patients: Material was obtained from 27 patients with a deep LMS, 14 with a superficial LMS, and 21 with a LM.

Methods: Proliferation markers (mitotic and Ki‐67 indices), DNA ploidy, size, grade, and the amount of apoptosis were
studied. Statistical analysis was performed and survival curves were constructed by the Kaplan‐Meier method and compared
by the log‐rank test.

Results: Superficial LMS were smaller than deep LMS (p < 0.05), and the overall survival of patients with a superficial LMS
was better than with a deep LMS (p < 0.05).Within the group of superficial LMS only entirely subcutaneous, and not cutaneous
tumors metastasized.No differences were found in the other examined parameters. Proliferation and apoptotic indices
were significantly higher in superficial LMS compared to superficial LM.

Discussion: The difference in clinical outcome between patients with a superficial and deep LMS, seems to be related to site
and size.The metastatic potential of subcutaneous LMS, however, seems to be related to location alone and not to size.The
amount of apoptosis and proliferation can be used as additional criteria in the differentiation between superficial LMS and
LM.
Periosteal Osteosarcoma: A Review of 17 Cases with Mean Follow‐upof 52 Months
Authors: Revell Matthew P. , Deshmukh Neeta , Grimer Robert J. , Carter Simon R. , Tillman Roger M.
Published: January 2003

Purpose: Periosteal osteosarcomas are rare cartilage‐rich bone tumours characterized by a juxtacortical eccentric position
and are normally regarded oncologically as of intermediate to high grade.Their low incidence is mirrored by a small number
of reported cases in the world literature. While there is general agreement that wide surgical excision is required, there is a
paucity of evidence regarding adjuvant therapy. Previous reports have not indicated any consistent approach to this to allow
appraisal.

Patients and methods: We report 17 cases treated at our centre over 16 years. Our policy was to use chemotherapy when the
tumour showed any features of high grade.

Results: To date, no deaths have resulted from recurrence or metastasis of the tumour although there have been two deaths
from other causes.

Discussion: Comparison of survival with existing studies is made to draw conclusions regarding future treatment of this condition
in terms of surgical and adjuvant approaches.
Successful Resection of a Re‐Occurred Pulmonary Myosarcoma in aPatient with Turner Syndrome Mosaic
Authors: Brauer Volker F. H. , Reichenberger Frank , Müller Anke , Steinert Matthias , Froster Ursula G. , Wirtz Hubert R. W. , Schauer Joachim
Published: January 2003

We describe a patient who underwent thoracic radiation therapy for biopsy‐proven pulmonary spindle cell sarcoma in the
left lower lobe, 15 months after birth. At the age of 37 she developed shoulder pain, fatigue, and progressive exertion dyspnoea.
Chest X‐ray revealed a pulmonary mass in the left lower lobe due to a cytology‐proven malignant tumour.The patient
underwent left pneumonectomy. Histology revealed a myosarcoma of the lung, similar to the previous sarcoma.
Furthermore, the patient was diagnosed to have Turner syndrome mosaic and chromosomal analysis revealed a translocation
t(1;13) in 3/50 metaphases. However a germline mutation of the p53 tumour suppressor gene was excluded. After 2
years of follow‐up the patient is stable and there are no signs of recurrence of the tumour.We conclude a re‐occurrence of
this very rare malignant disorder of the lung after a 36‐year interval in a patient with Turner syndrome mosaic. Following
initial curative radiation therapy, with a remission over 36 years, lung resection was now successfully performed.
Relationship between links to journal Web sites and impact factors
Authors: Vaughan Liwen , Hysen Kathy
Published: January 2003

The study found a significant correlation between the number of external links and the journal impact factor for LIS journals. Journals with higher journal impact factor scores tend to attract more links to their Web sites. The study also investigated issues pertaining to data collection methods for webometrics research. It showed that the choice of search engine for data collection could affect the conclusion of a study. Data collected at different time periods were found to be fairly stable. The use of multiple rounds of data collection was shown to be beneficial, especially when the result from a single round of data is borderline significant or inconclusive.
Metadata‐based access to multimedia architectural and historical archive collections: a review
Authors: Bekaert Jeroen , Van De Ville Dimitri , Rogge Boris , Strauven Iwan , De Kooning Emiel , Van de Walle Rik
Published: January 2003

This review is a summary of the state‐of‐the‐art for those who have not been intimately dealing with the evolution of digital archives. At the same time this survey will be a useful resource and starting point for archivists, librarians and technicians, who are becoming involved in institutional digitization projects. It presents a brief overview of what is meant by a digital library and a digital archive, and how archival collections can be described. It expresses briefly the different approaches to collections and their descriptions and suggests that a consistent approach to descriptions at collection and item level is an important factor in initiatives which seek to provide integrated access to distributed resources, whether those resources are traditional or digital.
An evaluation of the use of NHS touch‐screen health kiosks: a national study
Authors: Nicholas David , Huntington Paul , Williams Peter
Published: January 2003

Provides the first exploratory analysis of the use of NHS touch‐screen information kiosks located throughout the UK. It examines, through a one month snapshot of the transactional logs of the kiosks, their use and makes comparisons between the types of organisation in which the kiosks are housed. Details of over 120 kiosks and nearly 47,000 user sessions and 310,000 page views were used for the comparison. The kiosks are proving popular, although some use appears to be of a cursory and seemingly unproductive kind. Surprisingly significant differences between kiosk locations were found. This early research reported here is part of an ongoing study of how users obtain health information by interacting with different digital platforms: kiosks, the Internet, and digital television. Comparisons are made between the results of this study and a similar study conducted by the authors on commercial health kiosks, those of InTouch With Health.
The impedance method of monitoring the degradation of rubber linings in applications where progressive deterioration is the predominant failure mechanism
Authors: Krakowiak Stefan , Darowicki Kazimierz , Bordzilowski Jacek
Published: January 2003

A method has been proposed for testing rubber linings in industrial conditions based on a proposed model of coating penetration. The depth of penetration of rubber lining by water has been determined on the basis of investigation results by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Verification of the proposed procedure has been performed by comparing the obtained results of electrochemical investigations with determination of the water content in rubber by the gravimetric method. It has been confirmed that the values calculated in accordance with the penetration model correlate with the water content in rubber. Investigation results confirm views on the corrosion aggressiveness of media in different zones of a scrubber working as part of the flue gas desulphurisation installation.
Synergistic inhibition of carbon steel corrosion by sodium tungstate and sodium silicate in neutral aqueous media
Authors: Saji V.S. , Shibli S.M.A.
Published: January 2003

Tungstate inhibitors are seldom used alone in open recirculating cooling water systems due to their low oxidising ability and high cost. The objective of the present work was to develop efficient synergistic inhibitor combinations comprising sodium silicate and very low concentration of sodium tungstate, keeping in view of their application in industrial cooling water system. It was demonstrated in the present study that all the combinations of the inhibitors exhibited synergistic benefit and higher inhibition efficiencies than did either of the individual inhibitors. It was also established that a 4:1 ratio of sodium silicate to sodium tungstate (total 1,000 ppm) was the best overall combination. The FTIR spectra also suggest that tungstate and silicate ions were incorporated in the passivating metal oxide layer formed on the surface of carbon steel in the inhibitor solutions. The effects of excess and depleted concentrations of the individual inhibitor components on overall inhibition behaviour are also discussed.
Welsh enterprise in the eighteenth century
Authors: Matthews Mark D.
Published: January 2003

Examines aspects of local enterprise in Wales during the Industrial Revolution and seeks to place the historical experience of such within the wider debates surrounding the relationship between enterprise and economic development. Study of this period has traditionally focused attention on the discontinuity precipitated by the impact of industrialism and particularly on the development of large‐scale factory production. Within Welsh history this focus has largely obscured an examination of local developments to the process of economic development, with the result that there has been no possibility for discussion of, or participation in, gradualist accounts of such development. This study seeks to demonstrate that part of the economic development experienced during the period was generated as a result of indigenous enterprise, and therefore raises the possibility of continuity within certain areas of Welsh economic development ‐‐ prior to the influx of English enterprise and capital at the end of the eighteenth century.
Added value, enterprise value and competitive advantage
Authors: Walters David , Halliday Michael , Glaser Stan
Published: January 2003

This paper attempts to answer the questions raised in a previous paper by the authors (“Creating value in the ‘new economy”’, Management Decision, Vol. 40 No. 8) which dealt with how business has had to reevaluate the importance of its assets in the “new economy”. The present paper now addresses the questions of how these changes affect traditional marketing delivery structures and mechanisms and, more importantly, how these changes affect the cost of marketing and the estimation of value that marketing delivers. The disciplines of marketing are such that a major role can be played in exploring the likely scenarios that will optimise competitive advantage.
Strategic planning in SMEs – some empirical findings
Authors: Stonehouse George , Pemberton Jonathan
Published: January 2003

Strategic frameworks and tools of analysis have been the subject of much academic debate over the last 20 years. This paper reviews the main approaches to strategic management and, by presenting the results of a survey of 159 small and medium sized enterprises selected from both the service and manufacturing sectors, demonstrates a divide between the theoretical concepts and the practical realities of strategic planning. While there are strong indications of business planning among the organisations surveyed, there is less evidence of strategic thinking except among larger businesses. Even in this latter group there are only a few instances where the recognised tools of strategic management appear to play a role in planning, the exception being internal financial analysis, which is widely undertaken.
Analyzing the historical development of the environmental uncertainty construct
Authors: Kreiser Patrick , Marino Louis
Published: January 2003

The concept of environmental uncertainty is recognized as a fundamental element of the strategic management and organizational theory literature. Unfortunately, the development of inconsistent conceptualizations and operationalizations of uncertainty have muddled the true meanings of the construct. In an effort to reverse this disturbing trend, this paper systematically analyzes the historical development of the uncertainty construct. Seminal management literature is used to trace the construct’s evolution over the last 60 years and to speak to the original meanings of its key elements. The rise of the information uncertainty and resource dependence schools is explored, as is the evolution of the construct’s operationalization from simple to complex measures. Insights provided by this analysis form the basis of a categorization scheme for conceptualizations and operationalizations of uncertainty. This categorization and the discussion that accompanies it are intended to provide future researchers with greater precision and consistency in the use of the environmental uncertainty construct.
The limits of globalization – legal and political issues in e‐commerce
Authors: Frynas Jedrzej George
Published: January 2003

This article analyses some of the most important political and legal challenges faced by internationally operating Internet firms today. In addition to dealing with an important, albeit rarely discussed, issue, the present article attempts to provide a fresh perspective on this topic by utilizing the concept of political risk. Using evidence from exemplary court cases on topics such as consumption tax and intellectual property rights, the discussion demonstrates that Internet firms face serious political and legal uncertainties, which differ considerably between different markets. The article reveals that, in the age of globalization, national boundaries still matter a great deal. In terms of methodology, the article portrays how legal materials can be used to understand the impact of legal and political processes on international firms. Indeed, it suggests that future business research could make greater use of factual evidence from litigation as an alternative methodology in the study of the business environment.
Improving employer‐employee relationships: a biblical and Talmudic perspective on human resource management
Authors: Cohn Gordon , Friedman Hershey H.
Published: January 2003

The authors demonstrate that the Bible and Talmud provide many insights as to how employers ought to manage human resources. Issues discussed include employee theft, motivation (providing an honest day’s work and providing employees with meaningful and dignified work), compensation (paying wages on time), providing benefits for employees, and ethics in negotiations.
“Playing by ear” . . . “in an incessant din of reasons”: Chester Barnard and the history of intuition in management thought
Authors: Novicevic Milorad M. , Hench Thomas J. , Wren Daniel A.
Published: January 2003

In the closing decades of the twentieth, and at the start of the twenty‐first, centuries, attention has again turned to the critical role of intuition in effective managerial decision making. This paper examines the history of intuition in management thought by tracing its origins to Chester I. Barnard. This paper reveals not only the intellectual roots linking Barnard’s conceptualization of intuition in management thought to, among others, the influential works of the economist and sociologist, Vilfredo Pareto; Lawrence Henderson’s influence on Barnard through Henderson’s leadership and direction of the Harvard Pareto Circle; the works of the early pragmatist John Dewey; Humphrey’s The Nature of Learning; and Koffka’s Principles of Gestalt Psychology. Further, Barnard’s conceptualization of intuition foreshadowed by nearly two decades nearly all of Polanyi’s thinking and elaboration of tacit knowledge. This paper also examines Barnard’s and Simon’s differing views on intuition and provides a brief overview of contemporary research on intuition in managerial decision making.
Juxtaposition of Chester I. Barnard and Frederick W. Taylor: forerunners of management
Authors: Parayitam Satyanarayana , White Margaret A. , Hough Jill R.
Published: January 2003

Much has been written about the works of Chester I. Barnard and Frederick W. Taylor but little attempt has been made by scholars to compare Barnard and Taylor. Barnard is a successor of Taylor and this may be one of the reasons why there has been a reluctance to place them side‐by‐side. The purpose of this paper is to capture the similarities and differences that existed in the thinking of these two individuals who greatly influenced management thinking during the twentieth century.
Chester Barnard: member of the “élite”?
Authors: Dunphy Steven M. , Hoopes James
Published: January 2003

This paper asks whether or not Chester Barnard was a member of an intellectual or managerial “élite”. While it is clear that Barnard provides great insight regarding leadership and social responsibility, it is also apparent that his views regarding, for example, race relations were, at least by our contemporary standards, unenlightened and may have conformed more with the “élite” of that time. With the stronger democratic sensibilities of our time, represented by affirmative action, etc., Barnard has to be read historically and understood in the light of his own time in order to get out of him what is still useful today. The paper does not propose to resolve the issue of whether or not he was an e´litist. The conclusion is reached, however, that the continuation of the debate regarding Barnard’s membership of an intellectual or managerial e´lite may have implications for the ongoing reading of Barnard’s work by the management students of today.
Consumer perception of food risk in chicken meat
Authors: Yeung Ruth M.W. , Morris Joe
Published: January 2003

Growing concerns about risks to public health have heightened consumer awareness of safety in food consumption. Understanding consumer perception of risk and impact on purchase behaviour is a key issue for the mutual benefit of both consumers and food industry. An exploratory study in the form of personal interviews was carried out to investigate the perceived main food risks in chicken meat product, together with the components of perceived loss and risk reducing strategies. The results suggested the importance of lifestyle loss as a separate factor along with health, financial, time, and product performance loss. Risk reducing strategies adopted by consumers were matched with the marketing strategies used by the food industry, such as product quality assurance, product information and pricing. Consumers felt able to reduce exposure to food safety risk by personal control in the post‐purchase handling and preparation of chicken meat.
Training entrepreneurs and small business enterprises in South Africa: a situational analysis
Authors: Nieman Gideon
Published: January 2003

Gives an overview of the contents of entrepreneurship and small enterprise training in general as well as the specific objectives of these interventions in the South African situation. Briefly covers the problems found and highlighted by researchers in the 1990s and assesses whether the problems or deficiencies of the past are being addressed. Concludes that the training emphasis of small, medium and micro‐enterprise service providers in South Africa still seem to be more on conventional training than entrepreneurial training. Also concludes that entrepreneurship and business training are confused as being similar. It is recommended that training interventions should be monitored to determine those that are the most successful and appropriate for the South African situation.
Strategic HRM for SMEs: implications for firms and policy
Authors: Brand Maryse J. , Bax Erik H.
Published: January 2003

This paper is on the growing importance of strategic human resource management (SHRM) for small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Many small firms encounter serious human resource problems, while at the same time these human resources play a vital role in developing and sustaining their competitive advantages. In (S)HRM literature specific issues concerning small firms are rarely addressed. This paper explores this issue further. We conclude that the available knowledge on HRM in small firms is highly descriptive and fragmented. We propose the application of the strategic labour allocation process – model (SLAP) as a tool to analyse HR problems in SMEs. This model focuses on the balance between the supply of and the demand for labour on a firm level. The application of the SLAP model produces two strategic scenarios for Dutch SMEs presently confronted with a tight labour market.
Developing managerial skills in Palestine
Authors: Al‐Madhoun Mohammed , Analoui Farhad
Published: January 2003

This paper assesses the contribution of management training and development programmes (MTPs) to the development of managerial skills in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Different sets of variables were used to explore the managers’ skills development by dividing the managerial skills into three main categories: self, people, and task‐related skills. After the peace agreement, many training programmes were established in the Palestinian Territories in order to solve managerial weakness, and these almost always use off‐the‐job training. A combination of survey questionnaire and interviews were used to collect the primary data (field study). The target respondents for this first time study were the managers of SMEs who participated in the MT courses. The results of the study highlighted the presence of clusters of managerial skills for SME managers and supported the evidence in the literature suggesting that managerial skills should be analysed as a system of interrelated skills.
The added value of office accommodation to organisational performance
Authors: Jan van Ree Hermen
Published: January 2003

Stiffening competition, caused by an increasingly turbulent contextual and transactional environment, forces many organisations to re‐examine every way in which they can improve their performance. As a substantial part of the resources used during the transformation from input to output within office‐based organisations, office accommodation can have a significant impact on organisational performance. This paper gives an overview of the performance criteria organisations should meet, and discusses the added value of office accommodation to organisational performance.
Developing causal relationships for a TQM index for the Indian automobile sector
Authors: Khanna V.K. , Vrat Prem , Shankar Ravi , Sahay B.S.
Published: January 2003

Though there has been steady growth in the automobile sector in India, India is still a player of little consequence in global auto production. Despite total quality management (TQM) playing an increasingly important role in the survival and growth of companies in the automobile sector, the dynamic interactions among its subsystems have not received due attention in the literature. Based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award model, this paper develops causal relationships among the different variables that represent “enablers” and “results” – operating within 44 identified feedback loops. Of these loops, 33 are positive and 11 are negative. The resulting causal loop diagram provides an insight into understanding the dynamic interactions among TQM subsystems which helps identify proactive action in implementing the TQM philosophy.
Employee relations public policy developments, 1997‐2001
Authors: Gennard John
Published: January 2003

Outlines the new individual and collective rights established for all employees by the first Blair Labour Government. It then discusses the rationale for these developments, namely competitive advantage on the basis of labour market flexibility combined with minimum labour standards and security of employment for employees, the promotion of a partnership, as opposed to adversial, relationship between employers and employees at the workplace and the need to build a political consensus for a legal framework surrounding the UK employee relations system. The article concludes by assessing whether these developments represent a break and/or continuation relative to other twentieth century UK governments.
Effects of concepts of career plateaus on performance, work satisfaction and commitment
Authors: Nachbagauer Andreas G.M. , Riedl Gabriela
Published: January 2003

The discussion on career plateaus is marked by a diversity of operationalizations. This paper focuses on the independence of three dimensions of career plateaus and the impact they have on outcome measures in three areas: performance, work satisfaction and commitment. Data from 165 university staff and 77 school teachers confirmed the independence of the concepts of career plateaus. Contrary to the general assumption that an extended period working at the same position has detrimental effects, outcome variables were not connected to position immobility. Results for most of the outcome measures showed the work‐content dimension to account for significantly more variance than the subjective structural dimension. Advances in work content can even moderate negative effects emanating from low expectations of hierarchical promotion. Specifically, the negative effects were most pronounced where the two subjective dimensions of career plateau coincided. These have implications for individual and organizational career management processes.
The relationship of various leadership styles to knowledge management
Authors: Politis John D.
Published: January 2003

Behavioural and interpersonal skills most often cited as essential for successful knowledge management (acquisition). Unfortunately, little is known about the roles played by leadership in the process of knowledge acquisition. A survey of 227 persons who are, or have been engaged in knowledge acquisition activities was undertaken to investigate the relationship between different leadership style dimensions and a number of knowledge acquisition attributes. Results indicate that the leadership styles that involve human interaction and encourage participative decision‐making processes are positively related to the skills and traits that are essential for knowledge management.
TQM: the role of leadership and culture
Authors: Buch Kim , Rivers Drew
Published: January 2003

Examines the effects of a total quality management initiative on a department in a mid‐sized utility company in the USA. A longitudinal design was used to examine the effects of total quality management on performance measures and employee satisfaction over time, and a cross‐sectional survey was used to measure the perceived effects of leadership and culture on these outcomes. Results suggested that a culture change characterized by empowerment, employee development, and teamwork occurred immediately after the intervention, and was sustained over the next two years. However, a shift back to the pre‐intervention culture was evidenced by the end of the study, a shift accompanied by a significant decline in employee job satisfaction. Possible explanations for the organization’s failure to sustain the culture change are discussed, including the role of leadership, external threats and the threat‐rigidity hypothesis, and changes in the intervention itself.
Leading communities: capabilities and cultures
Authors: Hartley Jean
Published: January 2003

The concept of community leadership is examined, using a model with four arenas of leadership. Little attention has been paid to the capabilities which managers (as well as councillors and staff) need to perform effectively in this new leadership role. The paper is based on a case study of a highly innovative council. The paper examines three issues: the capabilities required for community leadership in terms of working with communities, in terms of working in partnerships, and the management development programme to support cultural change. The research shows that service delivery in the context of community leadership is increasingly complex, varied and outwardly focused. New skills include responding as well as directing, using lateral as well as vertical skills, having an impact on other organizations, not just one’s own. These have major implications for hierarchical organizations and professionally‐driven services. The development of a community leadership focus also contains tensions for the management of performance and motivation.
Leadership and innovation in the public sector
Authors: Borins Sandford
Published: January 2003

This article considers the nature and role of leadership in three ideal types of public management innovation: politically‐led responses to crises, organizational turnarounds engineered by newly‐appointed agency heads, and bottom‐up innovations initiated by front‐line public servants and middle managers. Quantitative results from public sector innovation awards indicate that bottom‐up innovation occurs much more frequently than conventional wisdom would indicate. Effective political leadership in a crisis requires decision making that employs a wide search for information, broad consultation, and skeptical examination of a wide range of options. Successful leadership of a turnaround requires an agency head to regain political confidence, reach out to stakeholders and clients, and to convince dispirited staff that change is possible and that their efforts to do better will be supported. Political leaders and agency heads can create a supportive climate for bottom‐up innovation by consulting staff, instituting formal awards and informal recognition for innovators, promoting innovators, protecting innovators from control‐oriented central agencies, and publicly championing bottom‐up innovations that have proven successful and have popular appeal.
Lean indicators and manufacturing strategies
Authors: Martínez Sánchez Angel , Pérez Pérez Manuela
Published: January 2003

Develops and tests an integrated check‐list to assess manufacturing changes towards lean production. Using the results from a survey to manufacturing plants located in the Spanish region of Aragon, analyzes which lean production indicators are more used to assess the company’s improvements in their production systems, and the determinants on the use of these indicators.
The sustainability debate
Authors: Wilkinson Adrian , Hill Malcolm , Gollan Paul
Published: January 2003

This paper serves as an introduction to this special issue of the journal on the topic of sustainability. It commences with definitions of sustainability, followed by a description of the roles played by governments and corporations as developers of standards and legislation, and investors in products and processes, respectively. The paper then goes on to discuss the company capacities required to achieve sustainability, paying particular attention to operations management capabilities and the management of human resources. The discussion of these topics is related to the content of the other papers subsequently presented in this special issue, and the paper concludes with suggestions for further research.
Achieving sustainability through attention to human resource factors in environmental management
Authors: Daily Bonnie F. , Huang Su‐chun
Published: January 2003

Currently, many businesses are implementing a proactive, strategic tool known as an environmental management system (EMS) to gain a competitive advantage. Companies can no longer simply use compliance plans to deal with environmental concerns; consumer demands for greener products and services, and operational efficiencies require long term strategic and sustainable approaches for environmental management. An EMS includes documentation of: commitment and policy; planning; implementation; measurement and evaluation; and review and improvement. Establishment and maintenance of an EMS can be costly and time consuming, therefore implementation should be carefully structured to assure success. This paper identifies human resource (HR) factors such as top management support, environmental training, employee empowerment, teamwork, and rewards systems as key elements of the implementation process of an EMS. Furthermore, the interaction of these factors is examined in terms of the five categories of an EMS mentioned above. Finally, a conceptual model of the EMS‐HR factors is proposed to assist in proper facilitation of the environmental management program.
Environmental performance as an operations objective
Authors: de Burgos Jiménez Jerónimo , Céspedes Lorente José J.
Published: January 2003

The traditional approach of operations management has evaluated an organisation’s performance based on four main areas: cost, quality, time and service. However, the necessity to introduce environmental protection measures in firms so as to achieve sustainable development has forced a redefinition of the operations function. This paper reviews the literature on operations management and environmental issues, in order to determine the role of operations in sustainability. We justify the need to include environmental performance as a new dimension of operations performance. Finally, we analyse environmental performance as an operations objective and present certain aspects that should be taken into account when measuring it.
A framework of the factors affecting the evolution of performance measurement systems
Authors: Kennerley Mike , Neely Andy
Published: January 2003

The effectiveness of performance measurement is an issue of growing importance to industrialists and academics alike. Many organisations are investing considerable amounts of resource implementing measures that reflect all dimensions of their performance. Consideration is being given to what should be measured today, but little attention is being paid to the question of what should be measured tomorrow. Measurement systems should be dynamic. They have to be modified as circumstances change. Yet few organisations appear to have systematic processes in place for managing the evolution of their measurement systems and few researchers appear to have explored the question, what shapes the evolution of an organisation’s measurement system? The research reported in this paper seeks to address this gap in the literature by presenting data that describes the forces that shape the evolution of the measurement systems used by different organisations.
Modelling design development performance
Authors: O’Donnell F.J. , Duffy A.H.B.
Published: January 2003

Begins with a brief review of research in the area of performance, with particular emphasis on design and product development, highlighting the main weaknesses in work to date. Then presents a fundamental and generic model of performance, related to knowledge‐based activities in design, which describes performance in terms of its key elements, efficiency and effectiveness, and provides a basis for modelling performance across different process levels. Evolves this model further to describe performance measurement and management in design development. Concludes that it is not possible to distinguish the efficiency of the design activity from that of design management, and that, in addition, efficiency appears to be inherent to an activity, but is difficult to measure.
A comparison of practice‐performance models between small manufacturers and subcontractors
Authors: Cagliano Raffaella , Spina Gianluca
Published: January 2003

The adoption and effectiveness of advanced management practices by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is becoming an emerging issue since the literature has recognised that a pure entrepreneurial attitude is no longer enough for the competitive success of these firms. This paper explores this issue by comparing the practice‐performance links for two types of SMEs ‐‐ i.e. subcontractors and small manufacturers ‐‐ through the investigation of the management practices pertaining to the following three functional areas: general management, production management and product innovation management (only for manufacturers). Despite the fact that subcontracting is generally considered less appealing and profitable than manufacturing, empirical evidence shows that subcontractors are more effective in implementing advanced practices of production management whilst most small manufacturers ‐‐ although quite advanced in developing practices of general management ‐‐ experience difficulties in exploiting the potential of good product innovation practice.
The nature of buyer‐supplier relationships in co‐design activities
Authors: Zirpoli Francesco , Caputo Mauro
Published: January 2003

The nature of buyer‐supplier relationships has been closely linked to nation specific explanations and concern has been expressed in literature regarding the transferability of co‐design best practices to different firms and countries. On the other hand, many attempts to isolate best practices and to apply them on a global scale have been proposed in the literature. Contributes to the issue by analysing a controversial case study based on the Italian automotive industry. Results show that few aspects of the Japanese contextual features and American ones existed when the major Italian car maker decided to outsource component design and dramatically change its supply chain management approach. Moreover, despite the massive involvement of suppliers at a very early stage of the car maker new product development process, not all the best practices deemed to be necessary when implementing a co‐operative buyer‐supplier relationship have been applied. Argues that these results lead us to question the very nature of effective buyer‐supplier relationships as described by the dominant literature and suggests implications for practitioners and for future research.
Traditional export demand relation and parameter instability: An empirical investigation
Authors: Arize Augustine C.
Published: January 2003

Applies new tests for parameter instability in cointegrated models to evaluate the traditional export demand function. The determinants of exports considered are world real income, export price and competitors’ export price. The data for Singapore (a newly industrializing economy), from 1973‐1997, are used as a case study. Results suggest that Singapore does not satisfy the conditions of a small, price‐taking country in world trade. Irrespective of whether one normalizes export demand function by price or quantity, the state of external demand appears to be a key ingredient in Singapore’s export growth. This finding differs markedly from Riedel’s evidence. It is found that the estimation of Singapore’s export demand model requires the inclusion of some dummy variables in order to achieve not only cointegration but also long‐run parameter stability. However, once the structural breaks are accounted for, a stable relation is found, which resists a series of specification tests.
Visual weld inspection enters the new millennium
Authors: Noruk Jeffrey
Published: January 2003

New weld inspection methods superceding visual inspection are presented. Laser‐based sensor technology contained in a handheld scanner for pre‐ and post‐weld inspection enables measurement of joint preparations or finished welds and validation of their geometry against pre‐set limits, as well as the analysis of three‐dimensional images of weld beads. The range of laser‐based sensor equipment available extends to full robotic weld inspection systems, which are applied in arc and laser welding processes on production lines, such as in the automotive industry. The benefits of these systems include higher repeatability, a permanent record for generating trending information, and the production of data helpful in reducing welding consumables used, resulting in significant savings to manufacturers.
Low cost smart sensors using infrared detector arrays
Authors: Porter Stephen , Mansi Mike , Sumpter Neil , Galloway Lindsay
Published: January 2003

A low cost two dimensional pyroelectric array technology has been developed, together with advanced signal processing algorithms. This enables the availability of intelligent passive infrared detector systems for surveillance, counting, and related applications. The technology has also made possible for the first time a truly affordable low‐resolution thermal imager for condition monitoring, plant maintenance, and process control.
Biosensors for glycaemic control
Authors: Abel Peter U. , von Woedtke Thomas
Published: January 2003

To overcome the problem of metabolic crashes as hypoglycaemic as well as hyperglycaemic episodes in diabetic patients the continuous or at least very frequent checking of the circulating intracorporal glucose concentration is necessary. Biosensors measuring glucose in vivo are suitable for estimating the transient interstitial glucose concentration in human beings. Biologically and/or biochemically caused processes are responsible for limiting the functional stability of implanted sensors. It is now possible to advance beyond the current practice of hand making glucose sensors in the laboratory and produce these sensors as industrial products with reproducible characteristics. This gives us a real chance to avoid hypoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic metabolic attacks.