bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disempowerment through disconnection
Authors: Scharffscher Kristin S.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the relationship between local women's relief initiatives and international relief workers in Batticaloa, eastern Sri Lanka, during the post‐tsunami emergency.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews with representatives from women's organizations in the tsunami‐affected town of Batticaloa, local and national nongovernment organizations (NGOs) based in Batticaloa, as well as international aid agencies are discussed in relation to theories on resilience, vulnerability, gender and humanitarianism.

Findings

Observing that women in a disaster‐affected area often represent important knowledge and resources, this paper documents how international relief workers failed to connect and cooperate with local women's organizations in post‐tsunami Batticaloa. It suggests that the reasons behind the disconnection can be linked to “us and them” undercurrents of international relief work – the lingering remnants of a colonial heritage. The disconnection may have led to a disempowerment of local capacities, flaws in the international relief activities, and reduced resilience among Batticaloan women in relation to the Sri Lankan civil war.

Research limitations/implications

Despite a growing volume of policies and guidelines on the importance of involving local capacities, there are inadequacies in the way international relief agencies operatevis‐à‐visdisaster‐affected communities, including women's established relief networks.

Practical implications

The paper points at some reasons why international relief organizations struggle to engage local women's resources in their emergency operations. It suggests that cultural, social, and linguistic barriers are among those that need to be addressed if relief workers are to provide effective and sustainable assistance to crisis‐affected communities.

Originality/value

Coupling theories of resilience, vulnerability, gender, and humanitarianism, this paper argues that women in disaster‐affected areas must be involved in international relief operations in a way that reflects their actual knowledge and resources. Presenting original interview material and documents collected during the first six months of the post‐tsunami operation, as well as through a follow‐up study in 2008, the paper points at international aid agencies' apparent inability to acknowledge local women's resilience and take their capacities into account. It also points at some of the ways in which this compromised the effectiveness and sustainability of international relief work in post‐tsunami Batticaloa.
Predictable patterns in ETFs' return and tracking error
Authors: Rompotis Gerasimos G.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess whether exchange‐traded funds (ETFs) can beat the market, as it is expressed by the Standard and Poor (S&P) 500 Index, examine the outperformance persistence, calculate tracking error, assess the tracking error persistence, investigate the factors that induce tracking error and assess whether there are predictable patterns in ETFs' performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses a sample of 50 iShares during the period 2002‐2007 and calculates the simple raw return, the Sharpe ratio and the Sortino ratio, regresses the performance differences between ETFs and market index, calculates tracking error as the standard deviation in return differences between ETFs and benchmarks, assesses tracking error's persistence in the same fashion used to assess the ETFs' outperformance persistence, examines the impact of expenses, risk and age on tracking error and applies dummy regression analysis to study whether the performance of ETFs is predictable.

Findings

The results reveal that the majority of the selected iShares beat the S&P 500 Index, both at the annual and the aggregate levels while the return superiority of ETFs strongly persists at the short‐term level. The tracking error of ETFs also persists at the short‐term level. The regression analysis on tracking error reveals that the expenses charged by ETFs along with the age and risk of ETFs are some of the factors that can explain the persistence in tracking error. Finally, the dummy regression analysis indicates that the performance of ETFs can be somehow predictable.

Originality/value

The findings of this paper may be of help to investors seeking investment choices that will help them to gain above market returns. In addition, tracking error‐concerned investors will be helped by the findings of the paper. Finally, the findings on return predictability can also be helpful to investors.
Financial development, international migrant remittances and endogenous growth in Ghana
Authors: Adenutsi Deodat E.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide further insights into understanding the finance‐growth nexus by verifying the hypothesis that financial development promotes economic growth through its capacity to attract increased international migrant remittances to Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

A dynamic equilibrium‐correction mechanism model for the period 1987(3)‐2007(4) was estimated following the Johansen cointegration procedure. This approach produced maximum likelihood estimators of the unconstrained cointegrating vector, and suggested the number of cointegrating vectors without relying on an arbitrary normalization.

Findings

The findings reveal two stylized facts with reference to Ghana. First, although financial development Granger‐causes international migrant remittance inflows, it is in itself directly detrimental to endogenous growth. Second, international migrant remittance inflows are statistically significant in explaining variations in endogenous growth in the short run as well as in the long run.

Practical implications

Since directly, financial development hampers endogenous growth, but Granger‐causes increased inflows of migrant remittances, and these remittances impact positively but marginally on endogenous growth, it follows that the sequencing of implementing Ghana's financial reform programmes should be re‐examined, whilst an enabling environment is created to induce Ghanaians living abroad to remit home through official channels.

Originality/value

International migrant remittances were found to be statistically significant in promoting endogenous growth, albeit marginally. Financial development does not directly engender growth, unless it succeeds in attracting non‐debt foreign capital in the form of remittances through the formal sector. Financial development causes migrant remittance inflows which impact positively on growth.
Term suggestion with similarity measure based on semantic analysis techniques in query logs
Authors: Chen Lin‐Chih
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Term suggestion is a very useful information retrieval technique that tries to suggest relevant terms for users' queries, to help advertisers find more appropriate terms relevant to their target market. This paper aims to focus on the problem of using several semantic analysis methods to implement a term suggestion system.

Design/methodology/approach

Three semantic analysis techniques are adopted – latent semantic indexing (LSI), probabilistic latent semantic indexing (PLSI), and a keyword relationship graph (KRG) – to implement a term suggestion system.

Findings

This paper shows that using multiple semantic analysis techniques can give significant performance improvements.

Research limitations/implications

The suggested terms returned from the system may be out of date, since the system uses a batch processing mode to update the training parameter.

Originality/value

The paper shows that the benefit of the techniques is to overcome the problems of synonymy and polysemy over the information retrieval field, by using a vector space model. Moreover, an intelligent stopping strategy is proposed to save the required number of iterations for probabilistic latent semantic indexing.
The unpromising quality and evolution of Spanish public hospital web sites
Authors: García‐Lacalle Javier , Pina Vicente , Royo Sonia
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The objective of this paper is twofold: first to determine to what extent Spanish public hospitals are using their web sites to provide useful information to users and to improve hospital‐patient relationships, and second to determine which factors have an influence on web site adoption and level of development over time.

Design/methodology/approach

The web sites of public hospitals were searched for and analysed in 2005 and 2008. Their contents and features were scored using an 86‐item checklist. Several hypotheses were proposed regarding the influence of internal and external factors on web site adoption and level of development. Logit and linear regressions were conducted to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Half of the Spanish public hospitals do not have a web site. The hospital web sites were acceptable in the information dimension but should improve their interactive features, as well as their navigation and usability. No significant improvements were observed during the period analysed. The size of the hospitals was a determining factor for web site adoption and level of development in both years. However, from 2005 to 2008, external factors – in particular internet penetration – became a significant factor to explain the adoption and level of development of web sites.

Practical implications

Citizens are increasingly relying on the internet to search for health‐related information. Hospital managers should exploit the advantages of implementing and properly developing a web site in order to improve the patient‐care provider relationships and offer citizens reliable information about healthcare.

Originality/value

To date, no empirical study has analysed the factors that influence the implementation of hospital web sites or the evolution of their contents and quality over time.
Age, gender and income: do they really moderate online shopping behaviour?
Authors: Hernández Blanca , Jiménez Julio , José Martín M.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to analyse whether individuals' socioeconomic characteristics – age, gender and income – influence their online shopping behaviour. The individuals analysed are experienced e‐shoppers i.e. individuals who often make purchases on the internet.

Design/methodology/approach

The technology acceptance model was broadened to include previous use of the internet and perceived self‐efficacy. The perceptions and behaviour of e‐shoppers are based on their own experiences. The information obtained has been tested using causal and multi‐sample analyses.

Findings

The results show that socioeconomic variables moderate neither the influence of previous use of the internet nor the perceptions of e‐commerce; in short, they do not condition the behaviour of the experienced e‐shopper.

Practical implications

The results obtained help to determine that once individuals attain the status of experienced e‐shoppers their behaviour is similar, independently of their socioeconomic characteristics. The internet has become a marketplace suitable for all ages and incomes and both genders, and thus the prejudices linked to the advisability of selling certain products should be revised.

Originality/value

Previous research related to the socioeconomic variables affecting e‐commerce has been aimed at forecasting who is likely to make an initial online purchase. In contrast to the majority of existing studies, it is considered that the current development of the online environment should lead to analysis of a new kind of e‐shopper (experienced purchaser), whose behaviour differs from that studied at the outset of this research field. The experience acquired with online shopping nullifies the importance of socioeconomic characteristics.
Understanding knowledge sharing in virtual communities
Authors: Chiu Chao‐Min , Wang Eric T.G. , Shih Fu‐Jong , Fan Yi‐Wen
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the motivations behind people's intentions to continue knowledge sharing (continuance intention) in open professional virtual communities.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected from 270 members of a professional virtual community provides partial support for the proposed model. LISREL 8.5 was used to analyse the measurement and structural models.

Findings

The results show that playfulness is critical for the community members' satisfaction and continuance intention. However, only positive self‐worth disconfirmation, distributive justice, and interactional justice can influence the satisfaction of the community members.

Research limitations/implications

The data were collected from a single open professional community; the generalisation of the model and findings to other virtual communities requires additional research. The findings imply that justice factors appear to be important in leading to higher satisfaction levels.

Practical implications

Developers of virtual communities should create a more enjoyable online environment and raise the core knowledge contributors' sense of self‐worth.

Originality/value

A theoretical model was constructed in which individual motivation factors, social network factors, and justice theory are integrated with expectancy disconfirmation theory to investigate the motivations behind people's continuance intention.
Google Scholar duped and deduped – the aura of “robometrics”
Authors: Jacsó Péter
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the problems that exist with Google Scholar, particularly regarding content spam and citation spam.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an analysis of how Google Scholar has been duped by real but manipulated documents and reference lists, as well as by fake documents and references. Details of research regarding the duping of Google Scholar is presented and a possible solution is offered.

Findings

Researchers showed how easy it was to dupe Google Scholar. In one case, the researchers added invisible words to the first page of one of their conference papers (using the well‐known white letter on white screen/paper technique), and modified the content and bibliography of some of their already published papers, then posted them on the web to see if Google Scholar would bite, i.e. would improve their rank position, and increase the number of citations that the targeted papers received, and the number of papers published by the authors. Google Scholar did bite. While the size of Google Scholar kept growing at an impressive rate, the intellectual growth of the Google Scholar software has been stunted.

Originality/value

The paper makes the point that the best move from Google Scholar would be to realise that the existing metadata created by competent human indexers, cataloguers, librarians and other information professionals for tens of millions of scholarly documents is far superior to the parser's results.
Social‐ecological indicators of resilience in agrarian and natural landscapes
Authors: van Oudenhoven Frederik J.W. , Mijatović Dunja , Eyzaguirre Pablo B.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an approach aimed at facilitating nature conservation that builds on the ecological and social synergies that exist in traditionally managed landscapes in and around protected areas and integrates conservation and social goals to achieve a reduction in the levels of marginalization of indigenous and local communities while preventing ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on literature research and insights from political and historical ecology and systems theory, a framework was developed to aid the understanding of human‐environment interactions taking place in traditionally managed ecosystems and landscapes and to monitor the role that these interactions play in the maintenance of such systems.

Findings

Virtually all ecosystems and landscapes must be seen as coupled social‐ecological systems whose ability to respond to stresses and change derives from ecological and social characteristics, as well as from the link between these natural and human components. A variety of mechanisms by which indigenous and rural communities help anchor biodiversity and contribute to social‐ecological resilience were identified.

Originality/value

This paper challenges the rationale behind exclusionary approaches to nature conservation. Indicators are developed to facilitate a shift towards the widespread adoption of “human‐centered” conservation practices, in which nature conservation benefits from the inclusion and empowerment of human communities instead of their exclusion and marginalization.
The community conserved landscape of the Borana Oromo, Ethiopia
Authors: Bassi Marco , Tache Boku
Published: February 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to describe an attempt to assess at the local level the progress that has been internationally achieved in recognition of community and indigenous rights, and of indigenous and community conserved areas. An action‐research exercise was implemented in Ethiopia with a mobile indigenous people of evaluating customary as well as government‐led governance of the environment, with the objective of strengthening the capacity of the Borana‐Oromo to conserve their landscape.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on collaborative research implemented by the authors in 2002 while SOS Sahel Ethiopia was introducing collaborative forest management, and on a 2007 action research project specifically designed to broaden the scope of the involvement of the customary leadership in sustainable landscape management.

Findings

The research demonstrates the high degree of articulation and efficacy of customary governance as opposed to the failure of State‐centric attempts to protect specific areas within the broader landscape. Customary institutions, however, are increasingly delegitimised and incapable of coping with new challenges such as massive immigration, political marginalisation and de facto land privatisation.

Research limitations/implications

The action‐research was insufficient to achieve the goal due to limitations in the national legislation, inefficiency by the government in implementing the existing policies, and the persisting practice of imposing development with insufficient prior consultation.

Practical implications

Based on an informed review of the international and national legislation and policies, the customary leaders of the Borana have released a public statement asking for support in addressing the gaps and problems they have identified, particularly achieving legal recognition of the customary institutions and customary laws in relation to biodiversity conservation. At national level it was recommended to organize a workshop on community conservation of biodiversity and community rights, with the objective of disseminating awareness about the latest instruments and Resolutions in the context of IUCN and the CBD.

Originality/value

The customary governance of the Borana is based on the gadaa generation class system, highly articulated in terms of norms and procedures. The territory is vast and it includes government‐protected areas due to the importance of the biodiversity. The case contributes to raising awareness about the relevance of legislation and enhancement of rights at national level.
Traditional Māori horticultural and ethnopedological praxis in the New Zealand landscape
Authors: Roskruge Nick
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the application of traditional Māori horticultural and ethnopedological practices in New Zealand whereby an inclusive “whole of landscape” approach known as “ki uta ki tai” – literally from “the source to the oceans” – is applied in a contemporary landscape.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the traditional knowledge and practices around Māori horticulture and pedology was undertaken through interviews within Māori communities, including practitioners of this knowledge, and a literature review.

Findings

Traditional Māori practices contribute to a cultural management tool known as kaitiakitanga – literally the act of stewardship – which requires practitioners to contribute to the “landscape management” continuum based on a holistic approach reflecting the traditional and contemporary management needs. Examples of cultural praxis applied under these systems include the local knowledge aligned to soil origin, type and manageable characteristics and crop management praxis such as site selection, crop variety selection and rotation, or land and soil amendments.

Research limitations/implications

Traditional Māori knowledge is primarily transmitted orally and retained within the community itself. Through colonisation this knowledge has been marginalised and is now retained by only a few experts across tribal regions. There is considerably more knowledge still held within communities, especially relative to the practical application of kaitiakitanga in the modern world.

Practical implications

Through political processes of the previous 170 years in New Zealand, Māori horticulturists are now restricted to pockets of lands in a discontinuous landscape over which they have a limited involvement. Urbanisation of the Māori community and ongoing marginalisation of traditional knowledge have further exasperated customary land and resource management approaches. Recent legislation includes reference to some traditional practices; however, there is limited statutory obligation on resource managers to practically apply them.

Originality/value

The specialist traditional knowledge aligned to horticulture and pedology has been relegated to only a few practitioners. None‐the‐less Māori continue to manage their crops with a wider, localised understanding of the landscape and of how decisions are likely to impinge on other sites within their traditional boundaries, drawn from the traditional knowledge of their forebears.
Indigenous and community conserved areas in Oaxaca, Mexico
Authors: Martin Gary J. , Camacho Benavides Claudia I. , Del Campo García Carlos A. , Anta Fonseca Salvador , Chapela Mendoza Francisco , González Ortíz Marco Antonio
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the community conservation movement in Oaxaca, a bioculturally diverse state in southern Mexico, with a particular focus on indigenous and community conserved areas (ICCAs) as an emergent designation over the last decade.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of indigenous and mestizo community conserved areas in Oaxaca was conducted in 2009 as part of a broader inventory of the ICCAs of Belize, Guatemala and Mexico.

Findings

The survey revealed 126 sites of community conservation in Oaxaca covering 375,457 ha, 14.5 percent more than the 327,977 ha included in nationally decreed Protected Natural Areas in the state. A total of 43 sites are certified community reserves comprising 103,102 ha, or 68.7 percent of the 150,053 ha included in the 137 certified sites recognized nationally. The diversity of Oaxaca's ICCAs, which have emerged creatively in variable cultural, ecological and historical contexts throughout the state, provide an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of community conservation efforts.

Originality/value

Mexico is one of the few countries that have an extensive inventory of ICCAs that could be incorporated into an international registry being formulated by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
New System for Environmental Management Evaluation
Authors: Kametani Tsuyoshi
Published: February 2011

In Japan, where ISO14001 certifications have passed the 10,000 mark, the need for environmental management has taken firm root among companies. However, in the small‐ and medium‐enterprise sector, and among tiny businesses, there are firms not obtaining ISO certification due to their concern about human resources and increased work load. On the other hand, among businesses that have already succeeded in gaining ISO certification, one does not sense any growth with regard to the continual improvement. Voices from certain quarters indicate there is a lack of incentive to keep on improving. With this background, we herewith present a new system to evaluate the level of environmental management in a company by means of a 5‐step system.
Service Quality Design through a Smark Use of Conjoint Analysis
Authors: Barone Stefano , Lombardo Alberto
Published: February 2011

In the traditional use of conjoint analysis, in order to evaluate the relative importance of several elements composing a service, interviewed customers are asked to express their judgement about different scenarios (specific combinations of elements). In order to reduce the number of possible scenarios, design of experiments methodology is usually exploited. Previous experiences show that, even a limited number of proposed scenarios cause difficulty in answering for the interviewed customer if the scenarios differ for elements of very low interest to him/her. Consequently, a high rate of abandon of the interview has been observed. In this study it is assumed that a service can be decomposed in several improvable elements and/or enriched with new “optionals”. In both cases, what under study is assumed to be a set of dichotomous attributes. For each of these attributes, its marginal contribution to customer satisfaction has to be modelled and estimated. To obtain the required information, an opportune questionnaire is proposed to a sample of interviewed customers. An interviewing procedure consisting in a customer driven design of scenarios is followed, starting from the full‐optional scenario and eliminating one by one the less satisfying elements. for each interviewed customer, a ranking of attributes is so obtained. Then, by asking the interviewed customer to evaluate on a metric scale the scenarios he previously selected, a rating of attributes can also be obtained. A case study conducted in collaboration with a public transportation company is presented. Contrarily to previous experiences, the abandon rate proved extremely reduced.
Critical Success Factors of Supplier Quality Management
Authors: Yeung I‐Ki , Chin Kwai‐Sang
Published: February 2011

Supplier quality management (SQM) is considered as a proactive approach in the buyers’ perspective to seek for continuous supply quality improvement and collaborative ongoing alliance between buyers and suppliers. Therefore, it is important for the buyers to understand their circumstances for managing their suppliers, and thereby to search for an improved way to rectify managerial deficiencies, if any. This paper aims to identify the critical factors of SQM, and then propose a hierarchical framework which can facilitate the assessment of their SQM performance in the buyers’ perspective and also serve as a working tool for managing supply quality performance.
Modelling the Failure Rate Function in Coverage and Software Reliability Growth
Authors: Park Yoong‐Yang , Soon Kim Young , Heung Park Jae
Published: February 2011

There is a new trend of incorporating software coverage metrics into software reliability modelling. This paper proposes a coverage‐based software reliability growth model. Firstly, the failure rate function in coverage is analytically derived. Then it is shown that the number of detected faults follows a Nonhomogeneous Poisson distribution of which intensity function is the failure rate function in coverage. Practical applicability of the proposed models is examined by illustrative numerical examples.
Robust Design of Credit Scoring System by the Mahalanobis‐Taguchi System
Authors: su Chao‐Ton , Wang Huei‐Chun
Published: February 2011

Credit scoring is widely used to make credit decisions, to reduce the cost of credit analysis and enable faster decisions. However, traditional credit scoring models do not account for the influence of noises. This study proposes a robust credit scoring system based on Mahalanobis‐Taguchi System (MTS). The MTS, primary proposed by Taguchi, is a diagnostic and forecasting method using multivariate data. The proposed approach’s effectiveness is demonstrated by using real case data from a large Taiwanese bank. The results reveal that the robust credit scoring system can be successfully implemented using MTS technique.
Six Sigma in Non‐Manufacturing Environment
Authors: Akpolat Hasan
Published: February 2011

Despite the fact that much has been published about Six Sigma in the business and academic press and on the Internet in recent years, there is still confusion among many people, particularly those who work in the transactional and service environments, about the nature of Six Sigma. It is true that Six Sigma like other process improvement programs before was first applied to manufacturing processes; however, many corporations including General Electric and sony have successfully applied Six Sigma to their transactional and service processes as well. Six Sigma is used by many companies not only to improve the quality of their products and services but also to achieve quantifiable financial results, improve management style and communication, and achieve customer and employee satisfaction. Whether in manufacturing on non‐manufacturing environments, the application of Six Sigma differs from organisation to organisation. Although there are many common elements between these applications, however, special care must be taken when customizing Six Sigma to suite the organisation’s needs. In this paper, the author provides some practical and useful guidelines for Six Sigma deployment. This paper is not about the use of numerous statistical tools and techniques that can be found in a typical Six Sigma toolbox. The main emphasis has been placed both on the concept and the implementation of Six Sigma, particularly within the non‐manufacturing areas of business.
Design and Implementation of Computer‐Based Training: A Quality Assurance Approach
Authors: Ellis Ruel L.A. , Persad Prakash
Published: February 2011

Distance education is a non‐traditional mode of training and can take many forms, one of which is the use of Computer Based Training (CBT). This paper reviews various quality assurance models for designing the delivery of programmes at the universities and other training institutions. It presents the findings of a CBT research that is currently being carried out at the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of the West Indies, Trinidad. The significance of the research is discussed with particular emphasis on the influence of curricula sequencing on knowledge acquisition in learners of varying cognitive styles. The paper concludes that adherence to quality assurance principles could result in the enhanced performance of users of the CBT.
Research on the Structure and Application of Fuzzy Environmental Impact Assessment Model
Authors: Tien Shiaw‐Wen , Hsieh Chia‐Hsiang , Chung Yi‐Chan , Tsai Chih‐Hung , Yu Yih‐Huei
Published: February 2011

Any business activities may have impact on environmental to a certain extent. Enterprises must find appropriate approaches to measure the impact on these environmental aspects, which can be used as the basis to direct enterprises’ efforts to improve the environmental impact. The method used to evaluate significant factors in life cycle assessment standards is the one most commonly used by enterprises in general to measure environmental impact. By this method, the decisive factors of each environmental aspect are given scores according to the preset scoring standard of the organizaion. The scores are added up for each aspect and ranked to assess major environmental apsects. The drawback of this assessment method, that is, it ignores the degree to which each of these factors affects the environment, results in poor credibility. Therefore, this study attempts to solve some qualitative problems by applying to fuzzy theory, in particular, by identifying appropriate fuzzy numbers through fuzzy sets and membership function. Moreover, the study seeks to obtain a crisp value in the process of defuzzifization in order to make up for the shortfall of the original method in dealing with relative weight of decisive factors and thus increase its applicability and credibility. The department of light production of an electronics company is used as an example in this study to measure environmental aspects by employing both the traditional significant factor method and the fuzzy environmental impact assessment model proposed in this study. Based on verification and comparison of results, the model proposed in this study is more feasible as it reduces partiality in decision‐making by taking the relative weights of decisive factors into consideration.
A Case Study of Six Sigma R&D Improvement Projects: Design Optimization of Inner Shield Omega CPT
Authors: Park Sung H. , Park Young H.
Published: February 2011

This is an R&D project on design optimization of the inner shield of the Omega colour picture tube at Samsung SDI in Korea. This was an R&D project which basically used the IDOV (Identify, Design, Optimize, Validate) process for Six Sigma implementation. Most Six Sigma projects use the process of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control). However, this project introduces a new cycle, RDIDOV (Recognize, Define, and IDOV∥. Here CPT means Colour Picture Tube. Samsung SDI is one of the two companies which began Six Sigma in Korea. This case study shows a good exmaple how an R&D Six Sigma project can be usefully employed in manufacturing companies using a new process cycle.
Improving Product Quality through Conflict Management: A Study of Hong Kong ODM Suppliers
Authors: Lam Ping‐Kit , Chin Kwai‐Sang
Published: February 2011

Client‐supplier collaboration in new product development (NPD) has been a strategy in response to fierce global competition. Traditionally, Hong Kong suppliers collaborate with worldwide clients through original equipment manufacturing (OEM) arrangement in which suppliers manufacture products according to clients’ design. In recent years, a growing number of Hong Kong suppliers have transformed to original design manufacturing (ODM) in which they are assigned a design responsibility other than manufacturing products. The ODM arrangement necessitates a close interaction between clients and supplier, which brings about intense conflict. Conflict has been recognized as an important factor affecting NPD performance including product quality. This paper studies the conflict handling practices of Hong Kong ODM suppliers based on 87 survey data. The results show tha tthe suppliers frequently adopt effective conflict handling practices by which they can develop products of good quality through better design decisions. The results also suggest that the use of ineffective conflict handling behaviors, particularly avoiding, should be reduced for better product quality.
A Generative Research Methodology for Implementing TQM in Small and Medium‐sized Manufacturing Enterprises
Authors: Lewis W.G. , Pun K.F. , Lalla T.R.M.
Published: February 2011

Many researchers and practitioners have acknowledged the need to investigate the relationships amongst various criteria of implementing total quality management (TQM) in small and medium‐sized manufacturing enterprises (SMMEs). There is a need to have practical research methodologies that take cognisance of the peculiarities of SMMEs and impact on their quality management practices in developing countries. This paper presents the theoretical foundation of a proposed Generative Research Methodology and configures the specification of a TQM implementation framework in SMMEs. The methodology combines rigorous research approaches, builds theory based on the dynamics of the environment and the firms’ characteristics and incorporates various TQM criteria into the design of the framework. It synchronises inductive and deductive research methods in three phases and uses various means to acquire empirical evidence and examine the dependent and independent variables of TQM implementation. It is anticipated that the methodology could help SMMEs to develop, analyse and evaluate the framework for attaining quality performance goals.
An AHP Based Study on Critical Success Factors for the Supply Chain Management in Hong Kong Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Leung Jendy P.F. , Chin K.S.
Published: February 2011

Supply Chain Management (SCM) has drawn high attention and been discussed and under investigation for over two decades. However, how Hong Kong manufacturing firms carry out SCM is still unclear. In order to open the myth on what essentials are critical for SCM implementation, a large‐scale questionnaire survey was conducted together with Expert Interviews in 2003. A SCM framework was then developed in which all the critical factors were summarized, categorized and prioritized to come up with a foundation for a self‐assessment system for improving SCM performance.
Capability in Competing for a National Quality Award among Small and Medium‐sized Companies in Taiwan
Authors: Li Shao‐Chang , Hsu Ru‐Chin
Published: February 2011

The Taiwan National Quality Award (TNQA) has been conducted for 14 years. However, small and medium‐sized companies (SMSCs) rarely win the TNQA. This study undertakes a capability analysis to explore how SMSCs do win the TNQA. A survey instrument involving 149 questions extracted from “the 2001 Handbook of Standard Criteria for Evaluation of TNQA” is used to measure the capability of SMSCs in competing for the TNQA. The paper concludes with a summary of the essential qualities required by an SMSC if it is to compete successfully for the TNQA.
Research on the Operational Performance of ISO 14000‐Certified Taiwan’s Manufacturers
Authors: Chung Yi‐Chan , Tsai Chih‐Hung , Hsu Yau‐Wen
Published: February 2011

This research topic evaluates the effectiveness and importance of environmental protection in the 21st century in light of the increasing demand on the earth’s natural resources and the pressures on economic and industrial development to provide dynamic power. As the world and our fellow citizens become more conscious of environmental protection, companies are under greater pressure whilst pursuing economic growth. Therefore, domestic manufacturers have been devoting efforts to promote environmental management. This research conducts survey using questionnaires on the operational performance of the manufacturers who have ISO 14000 series accreditation and certification. The survey considers five dimensions/functions within a manufacturer, financial management, human resource management, production management, and marketing management. A total of 35 indices are used for analysis of the effects that the location, history, industry, number of employees, amount of capital, and revenue may have on the performance. This research targets the manufacturers approved of ISO 14000 series certification by Environment Adminstration Association. The statistical methods deployed are descriptive statistics, T‐test, and single factor analysis of variance used for analysis. The conclusions reval that a certain level of performance has been achieved in every dimension. After T‐test, all the indices have reached a significant level. The indications are that ISO 14001 benefits all manufacturers the level of benefits however varies from company to company.
Analyses on the Pricing Factors from a Case Study of Light Trucks
Authors: Ling Feng , Ojima Yoshikazu , Suzuki Tomomichi
Published: February 2011

The purpose of this paper is to clarify analytically the relation between the characteristics and the pricing of the products of individual manufacturers, so we can offer beneficial information for designing and developing products. Light trucs of 1 ton to 4 ton have been taken up as examples. We carried out analyses based on the information on the evaluation of the functional characteristics by surveying the specifications obtained from light truck catalogues.
Comparison of Relative Risk before and after SEMI S2‐93A Implementation: Using a Semiconductor Plant in a Taiwan’s Science Park as an Example
Authors: Tien Shiaw‐Wen , Chung Yi‐Chan , Tsai Chih‐Hung , Hwang Guo‐Ji
Published: February 2011

The objective of this study is to evaluate the equipment risk before and after SEMI S2‐93A implementation, thus providing a guideline for safety improvement. Semiconductor Plant A located in Taiwan’s Hsinchu Science Based Industrial Park with 147 manufacturing machines was used for risk assessment. The study was carried out in three steps. First, a preliminary hazard analysis was conducted. A detailed process safety evaluation was conducted (Hazard and Operability Study, HAZOP); and finally, the equipment risk comparison before and after Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturing Instruction (SEMI S2‐93A) implementation. The preliminary hazard analysis results showed high risk in 21.77 per cent of the manufacturing machines under risk assessment at Plant A. The largest percentage existed in the Diffusion Department. The machine types specified by the hazardous work site review and inspection according to Article 26 of Labor Inspection Regulation (the machines that use such chemicals as, SiHi, HF, HCL, etc. and that are determined to be highly hazardous through preliminary hazard analysis) were added to the detailed process analysis and evaluation. In the third part of this evaluation, the machines at Plant A used for detailed process safety assessment were divided into two groups based on the manufacturing data before and after 1993. The severity, possibility, and actual accident analysis before and after SEMI S2‐93A implementation were compared. The semiconductor Equipment Manufacturing Instruction (SEMI S2‐93A) implementation can reduce the severity and possibility of hazard occurrence.
Expanding the Concept of Quality Management to Global Supply Chains
Authors: Neergaard Peter , Rahbek Pedersen Esben
Published: February 2011

In the light of globalisation and the international division of labour, the article will stress the importance of a new conception of quality management, focusing more on the social and environmental apsects of quality in global supply chains with a particular emphasis on suppliers’ perspectives. The increasing focus on corporate social responsibility, business ethics, corporate citizenship, sustainable development etc. indicates that managers have failed to see social and environmental aspects of the production as an integrated part of quality.
What do you Think Creativity is and Where can We Find it?
Authors: Baccarani Claudio
Published: February 2011

Creativity can be defined as an art, the art of finding new solutions to old and emerging problems. Creativity’s driving force may be a structured or a non structured process, though in either case intuition plays a major role. This particular art in this field is the product of employees’ thought processes. By its nature, thinking is a free process. In the world of business, creativity is best able to express itself where people do their work with pleasure. Everybody is capable of being creative but organisations can stem the tide of creativity by putting various obstacles in its path. Creative organisations are characterised by particular values, organisational forms and a conducive internal atmosphere.
The Optimal Parameter Design of CD‐R Substrate
Authors: Jhang Jhy‐Ping , Lin Shi‐Hao
Published: February 2011

In recent years, high‐speed recording CD‐R has already become the mainstream of CD‐R market. Therefore, to promote the efficiency of recording CD‐R is of significant importance. This study uses Taguchi’s parameter design to improve the yield rate for the process of CD‐R substrate. We have found 13 three‐level controllable factors from the fishbone diagram, repeted 10 times the experiment with the L27(313) orhogonal array, and measured seven quality characteristics. We employ four general methods to find the optimal parameter conditions individually. Then, we perform the confirmation experiement and compare the results. Finally, we obtain the optimal parameter conditions. According to the analysis of benefits, the optimal parameter conditions can reduce the quality loss of CD‐R substrte to about 21 per cent. In the future, the results can be extended to other research of DVD‐R substrate.
Testing a forecast model to predict movement of older Americans into retirement housing
Authors: Gibler Karen M. , Sherwood Clements J.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Expectations of an aging population increases the need for accurate models and reliable forecasts of housing demand in the later stages of life. This paper aims to examine whether the only published forecasting model predicts the actual movement of older Americans into retirement housing.

Design/methodology/approach

A logistic regression model is used to test which older movers chose retirement housing using data from the 2002 and 2004 Health and Retirement Survey.

Findings

Age is found to have a positive relationship with the choice to move into retirement housing, but the other socioeconomic variables are not significant and the model is not robust.

Research limitations/implications

More investigation is necessary to identify the variables that will provide a reliable estimate of those choosing retirement housing. Segmented by housing type may be necessary rather than estimating total retirement housing demand.

Originality/value

The paper tests whether a model previously used to forecast senior housing demand actually predicts housing choice. It demonstrates that additional research is needed to develop models that can more accurately estimate demand in this growing segment of the housing market in aging countries.
A long‐term analysis of housing affordability in Malta
Authors: Camilleri Denis
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The paper aims at analyzing trends and principal causes of developments in‐house prices in Malta over the past 26 years, with a specific focus on the issue of affordability. This focusing on the strong demand for home ownership and interest from foreign buyers, supply availability together with its relationship to the high vacancy rate existing. Also delved into include the distortions in the rental market, sustainable housing measures, housing densities and high‐rise developments. Finally, noted is the implication on the use of housing as an investment asset in relation to trading on Malta's Stock Exchange

Design/methodology/approach

A long‐term approach has been utilized to arrive at deductions. Comparisons undertaken taken mostly with small states.

Findings

The present global credit crunch can offer some relief with regard to housing affordability for first time Maltese home buyers. Updating of restricted home rentals can lead to an improved working for the Maltese property market, with some of the large proportion of vacant units being released onto the market.

Research limitations/implications

Based on data collected from National Statistics, together with data bases held in the practice of DHI Periti.

Practical implications

It derives projections for likely future developments in this context and in the light of this discusses some policy options.

Social implications

An improvement into the quality of life for Maltese households delved into, whilst providing measures for households not to fall below the poverty line also indicated.

Originality/value

Gives original views on projections for the housing affordability index, together with noting that a large vacant property market for the Mediterranean region possibly creates minimal damage to its proper functioning.