bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Critical theory and the hegemony of corporate culture
Authors: Ogbor John O.
Published: January 2003

Based on critical theory and dialectical thought, discusses and outlines a framework for understanding corporate culture as corporate hegemony. First, offers the relevance of critical theory to the study of corporate culture as a managerial praxis and organizational discourse. Second, examines three aspects of the dialectics of corporate culture: the dialectical tensions between corporate and individual identity; the conflicting pressure for uniformity and diversity; and the dialectics of empowerment and disempowerment. Third, discusses the mechanisms for the hegemonic perpetuation of corporate culture by researchers and practitioners and for resisting a critical stance in the discourse of corporate culture. Fourth, and finally, the article examines possible ways for overcoming the problem of cultural hegemony in organization theory and praxis.
Containing the nuclear past
Authors: Taylor Bryan C. , Freer Brian
Published: January 2003

This paper examines the production of a particular nuclear‐organizational history to illuminate the rhetorical and political practices by which stakeholders engage that history as an opportunity to perform preferred ideological narratives. Analysis utilizes data collected from the authors’ reflective participation in this process, and focuses on the tension between nuclear‐historical and ‐heritage discourses. We use the lens of critical public nuclear history studies to show how nuclear‐organizational history contributes to broader controversy over the commemoration of nuclear weapons production in post‐Cold War US culture.
Persuasive histories
Authors: Ooi Can‐Seng
Published: January 2003

This predominantly theoretical paper concentrates on the strategic presentation of history. The dynamics of re‐presenting the past is framed as the simultaneous processes of decentering and recentering. It shows that a postmodern epistemology is relevant in understanding the strategic use of history but a postmodern approach concentrates only on the production of historical accounts. The negotiated reception of history has to be considered too. The discussions draw inspirations from organizational studies, heritage studies and Meštrovic’s post‐emotionalism. This article argues that the simultaneous crafting of audiences’ thoughts, experiences and emotions is central in the effective communication of history. This paper also points out the consequences of its arguments for organizational research and theories.
Optimal combinations of face and fusible interlining fabrics
Authors: Lai Sang‐Song
Published: January 2003

Garments are now becoming high class and automated. Using key face fabrics and interlining structure properties to predict the quality grade of fused composites has become an important subject in the pursuit of quick reaction of fabrics. The establishment of the ideal composite parameters for interlining and face fabrics allows us to know the ideal interlining for face fabrics sooner. Hence, this paper, through discriminate analysis and the scatter plot, successfully found the ideal composite condition range for interlining and face fabrics. Artificial neural network training was used for the structural prediction of a fused composites quality model. Model tests showed the presence of good prediction ability.
An integrated approach to managing electronic records
Authors: Benfell Peter
Published: January 2003

This paper presents an approach to managing electronic records by integrating the development and implementation of a corporate records management programme based on ISO 15489, the International Standard in Records Management, with the implementation of an electronic records management (ERM) software package. The approach involves developing file plans based on functional analyses and establishing electronic folder structures on existing network drives which mirror this enabling “e‐tidying” – the process of sorting and evaluating existing electronic information. It also proposes establishing ERM before electronic document management (EDM) based on the need to remove split and/or personal repositories of electronic holdings to improve access and management before evaluating the need for version control, amendment tracking etc. provided by EDM systems.
Managing e‐mail and e‐commerce records
Authors: Shipman Alan
Published: January 2003

Meeting the challenge of electronic working is not just about giving your staff e‐mail capability, or the setting up of Web‐based e‐commerce systems. All these systems create electronic documents, some of which need to be classified as records, and also managed to the same (or better?) standards as paper records. Organisations that do not recognise this position, or who only give a fleeting recognition to the need for good working practices in this area, will not achieve full business benefit from their electronic systems. This paper discusses some of the guidance available from the UK’s British Standards Institution on this topic.
“Back to the future”: electronic records management in the twenty‐first century
Authors: Sinclair Niall
Published: January 2003

Canada has tasked itself with delivering e‐government to its citizens by the year 2005 and the Canadian Government has recognized that improving the management of its information holdings is critical to successfully meeting the challenge. As Canadians become accustomed to online services from the private sector, they expect client‐centric and customized service from government and for government to use business processes that make sense when used in an electronic service delivery environment. Technology’s ability to disseminate information quickly and in large volumes, bring an increased need for transparency to e‐government. E‐government increases the need for visible accountability. This in turn, increases the need for accountability for information produced and used by government. It pushes information management from an invisible back office activity into the front lines of service delivery. This article looks at the evolving accountability for managing information within the public service, and some of the approaches the Canadian Government is taking to help address those accountabilities.
An intelligent materials routing system on complex construction sites
Authors: Mahdjoubi L. , Yang J.L.
Published: January 2003

Describes the design and implementation of a software system, called Virtual Construction Material Router (VCMR). The software provides a decision‐support system for materials movement in complex construction sites. It consists of integrated software systems, composed of computer‐aided design, geographical information systems and fuzzy logic. Makes transparent the interrelationship between these applications to the user. This application enables site managers and planners to make strategic decisions about the movement of materials within a site. It allows the rehearsal, through simulation, of possible scenarios in order to select the best available route. Suggests that this tool will allow scenario planning in order to enable faster and more informed responses to unforeseen circumstances on site. Describes the computational architectures and conceptual basis of the major components in VCMR.
A prototype tool for information security awareness and training
Authors: Furnell S.M. , Gennatou M. , Dowland P.S.
Published: January 2003

Information systems security is a critical issue for all organisations with a significant dependence upon information technology. However, it is a requirement that is often difficult to address, particularly within small organisations, as a result of a lack of resources and expertise. This paper identifies the need for security awareness and describes the prototype implementation of a software tool that enables individuals to pursue self‐paced security training. The tool provides an environment that permits the user to simulate the introduction of security into a number of pre‐defined case study scenarios. This enables staff to become familiar with the types of countermeasures available, the situations in which they are appropriate and any constraints that they may impose. This would be particularly valuable in small organisations where specialist knowledge is often scarce and issues need to be addressed by existing staff.
Perceived information security, financial liability and consumer trust in electronic commerce transactions
Authors: Chellappa Ramnath K. , Pavlou Paul A.
Published: January 2003

Electronic commerce (EC) transactions are subject to multiple information security threats. Proposes that consumer trust in EC transactions is influenced by perceived information security and distinguishes it from the objective assessment of security threats. Proposes mechanisms of encryption, protection, authentication, and verification as antecedents of perceived information security. These mechanisms are derived from technological solutions to security threats that are visible to consumers and hence contribute to actual consumer perceptions. Tests propositions in a study of 179 consumers and shows a significant relationship between consumers’ perceived information security and trust in EC transactions. Explores the role of limited financial liability as a surrogate for perceived security. However, the findings show that there is a minimal effect of financial liability on consumers’ trust in EC. Engenders several new insights regarding the role of perceived security in EC transactions.
Information security for agent‐based WWW medical information retrieval
Authors: Walczak Steven
Published: January 2003

Electronic information retrieval is becoming a necessity for most businesses, including medical practice. Agent technology promises to provide a facile means for intelligently searching the Internet. However, any agent or other electronic information placed onto the Internet poses a security risk. Encryption and firewalls are traditional methods for increasing Internet information security, but are these techniques sufficient to protect adequately electronic information carried by Internet agents? Need to know and partial information strategies are discussed as methods for improving information security for Internet agents.
Computer viruses: a quantitative analysis
Authors: Coulthard A. , Vuori T.A.
Published: January 2003

This paper provides interesting insights for anti‐virus research, as it reflects a period of rapid uptake in the application of the Internet and the use of e‐mail for business purposes. The purpose of the research is to provide independent justification of the growing prevalence of computer virus incidents over the past five years, and identify patterns in the frequency and distribution of computer viruses. Specifically, the analysis focuses on examining the claims that computer viruses are increasing in prevalence, that computer viruses follow an evolutionary pattern and that seasonality exists in the distribution of computer viruses.
Concepts in information warfare
Authors: Hutchinson W.
Published: January 2003

This paper examines the fundamental concepts needed to understand the broad spectrum of activities encompassed by the information warfare phenomenon. It provides a theoretical background to these activities, and examines the social context in which these are most effective.
The strategic context of customer‐supplier partnerships: evidence from a global survey
Authors: Spina Gianluca , Zotteri Giulio
Published: January 2003

Explores strategic and structural contingencies surrounding customer‐supplier partnerships, in a global sample of 218 firms from the engineering sector. Collaborative practice is analysed along two dimensions, namely operations integration and co‐design. The former concerns the management of logistics (physical and information flows), and the latter refers to suppliers’ involvement in the customers’ product development process. In particular, it was found that the degree of vertical integration, the level of innovation effort and the kind of improvement priorities clearly influence the adoption of partnerships, more than other classical contingencies relating to country, industries and firms’ size. Also, it was apparent that such strategic factors affect operations integration and co‐design practice differently.
An approach to scalability and line balancing for reconfigurable manufacturing systems
Authors: Son Sung‐Yong , Lennon Olsen Tava , Yip‐Hoi Derek
Published: January 2003

Line balancing has been an important technique for manufacturing system design, because a completely balanced system can provide maximum resource utilization at the designed capacity. However, even if a system is completely balanced, it still has capacity waste when the entire product life cycle is considered, because real production is often significantly less than capacity. Avoiding this mismatch requires scalable systems such as reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMSs) to meet changing product demand. Stage paralleling is suggested as an approach to scalability for RMSs. By comparing the economic feasibility of such manufacturing systems with completely balanced transfer line systems with respect to station cost, it is shown that line balancing is not necessarily desirable with this approach. The effect of station cost differences for unbalanced systems is also considered.
Enterprise integration: creating competitive capabilities
Authors: Braganza Ashley
Published: January 2003

For manufacturing firms, the concept of integration is hardly novel. The Total Quality, JIT, and supply chain management movements required improved internal and external coordination. While these movements centred on the manufacturing function, research suggests that integration of several functions at different organisational levels achieve above average financial and performance results. However, studies show enterprise integration is associated with many problems; at the root of these is a fundamental assumption: that all enterprise integration initiatives are equally important. Challenges this assumption. Argues that enterprise initiatives differ by their purpose; and proposes a framework for typifying enterprise integration initiatives that is based on the capabilities developed for the organisation. Four types of enterprise initiatives are identified. Illustrates each type with organisational examples. Discusses the managerial implications.
Food retail buying processes – a study of the UK, Italy and Sweden
Authors: Johansson Ulf
Published: January 2003

Investigates the issue of retail buying by focusing on the process rather than on any specific point in time. Considers the use of information and information technology (IT) during the buying process, building on case studies from three European countries. Analyses how buying processes in food retailing are structured in different buying contexts; what information is utilised in the process; and how IT is utilised throughout the buying process. Reveals that in all the case studies the activities of the retail buying process were quite similar. It was mainly the same sequence of activities that was performed (even though there were some differences related to what parts of the process the retailers emphasised). Concludes that it was not possible to detect any real process innovation but rather everybody follows basically the same routine processes.
Charity retail: past, present and future
Authors: Parsons Elizabeth
Published: January 2003

Explores the development of the charity retailing sector in the past decade. Examines the role of charity shops in their local communities. Provides some suggestions as to the likely future of the sector.
Calling up culture: Information spaces and information flows as the virtual dynamics of inclusion and exclusion
Authors: Little Stephen , Holmes Len , Grieco Margaret
Published: January 2003

Both critics and proponents of globalisation tend to assume that it is a uniform process leading to a flattening of the cultural terrain. In contrast, this paper, using examples from Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and Canada, demonstrates a more complex interaction between traditional cultural practices and modern communication forms. The new information technologies enable universal access to authentic local voice. Archiving social and cultural practices has historically been the business of museums, universities, and indeed oral traditions of song and poetry. New information technologies provide for cultural continuities and reflexivities: they enable the routine archiving of social and cultural practice at a minimal cost through hypertext, Web pages and universal access. The “globalisation of culture”, so often discussed, needs to be reframed with reference to this highly overlooked indigenous capability to archive own culture. This paper attempts to provide such a reframing.
Collaborative practice research
Authors: Mathiassen Lars
Published: January 2003

Reports from a systems development research tradition in which emphasis is put on relating research activities to practice and on establishing fruitful collaboration between groups of researchers and practitioners. Describes and evaluates a specific research project in which a large group of researchers and practitioners worked together to understand, support, and improve systems development practices in four organisations over a period of three years. Uses the case to reflect on the research goals, approaches, and results involved in this tradition for researching systems development practice. Proposes collaborative practice research as a way to organise and conduct research into systems development practice based on close collaboration between researchers and practitioners. Exemplifies the use of pluralist research methodology by combining action research with experiments and conventional practice studies. Argues that collaborative practice research offers one practical way to strike a useful balance between relevance and rigour. Concludes with a discussion of the implications for the relation between research and practice within the systems development discipline and with lessons on how to design research efforts as collaborations between researchers and practitioners.
Activities related to purchasing and supply management involvement in supplier alliances
Authors: Zsidisin George A. , Ellram Lisa M.
Published: January 2003

Many firms have experienced significant benefits from engaging in supplier alliances. However, alliance relationships do not evolve in isolation. Support factors for supplier alliances include purchasing’s accountability for their actions, the use of information technology, the perceived importance of the purchasing and supply management (PSM) function, and the degree of participation in strategic purchasing activities. In addition, PSM engages in cost and price‐related activities associated with supplier alliances, including total cost of ownership, understanding specific supplier costs, target costing, and market monitoring. Empirical results from a survey indicate that significant relationships exist between support factors, cost and price activities, and supplier alliance involvement by the PSM function. The exploratory findings suggest that support factors must be in place and continually improved to facilitate purchasing’s involvement in alliances. PSM involvement in cost and price activities is also strongly related to supplier alliance participation. For purchasing firms to obtain long‐term benefits from alliances with suppliers, purchasing professionals must continually provide valuable input into these relationships through their corporate influence, use of information technology, and participation in various proactive purchasing activities.
Purchasing practices in Saudi Arabia – an exploratory analysis
Authors: Giunipero Larry , Flint Daniel J.
Published: January 2003

Purchasing practices of 11 Saudi Arabian corporations were analyzed and compared to a similar study of US‐based purchasing managers. Major findings revealed that training is not highly formalized, provided mainly by outside experts and relies on US‐based professional associations such as NAPM and APICS. In terms of coursework, respondents were most likely to take courses in the Basics of Purchasing and Negotiations. Additionally, professional certification through attaining "Certified Purchasing Manager" status was viewed as very desirable. Currently the majority of these purchasing managers were technically educated but expected that a business degree would become more important in the future. Knowledge about quality practices and price/cost issues were more important than electronic commerce. As a group the top trends they forecasted for their profession were comparable to those forecasted by US‐based purchasing managers.
The impact of e‐commerce on supply chain relationships
Authors: Golicic Susan L. , Davis Donna F. , McCarthy Teresa M. , Mentzer John T.
Published: January 2003

E‐commerce is such a new phenomenon that little research has addressed the effects it has on relationships in supply chains. A qualitative study was conducted with eight e‐commerce companies in order to construct theoretical relationships with which to develop a grounded theory of the impact of e‐commerce on managing supply chain relationships. The e‐commerce environment was perceived as highly uncertain, stemming from increased information visibility and dynamic market structures. A stronger emphasis on relationship management as part of business strategy enables managers to manage uncertainty better. Interestingly, increased information does not decrease the perception of uncertainty, but creates more uncertainty. As logistics is the function often involved with both information and relationship management within the supply chain, it may prove to be invaluable in helping firms succeed in this dynamic environment. Our research also found support for the application of transaction cost analysis and the resource dependence theory in explaining interorganizational relationship formation in e‐commerce.
I don’t know much about art but I know what I like
Authors: Donaldson‐Briggs Amanda , Peters John , Whitfield Richard
Published: January 2003

This is a case study discussion drawn from scholarly publishers Emerald, formerly MCB University Press. It discusses the unusual “supply circle” phenomenon in scholarly publishing, where authors (suppliers) are often the same people as readers (customers). It addresses this from the standpoint of trying to measure and manage performance in an area where measures are highly subjective – where, like art, performance is typically judged on “I know what I like”. The paper suggests areas for further research, and points to some steps taken by the firm to make the intangible more tangible.
Relationship between measures of service quality and satisfaction of spectators in professional sports
Authors: Theodorakis Nicholas , Kambitsis Chris , Laios Athanasios
Published: January 2003

This paper attempts to examine the relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction in spectator sports. The relationship between these two constructs is examined, first, by a review of the literature to date and, second, by the results of almost 200 questionnaires completed by spectators at two professional basketball games in Athens, Greece. The results of the questionnaire study are examined and, in conclusion, the implications and limitations of the study are discussed. Areas for further research are also suggested.
Beyond customer loyalty
Authors: Heskett James L.
Published: January 2003

Research suggests that while customer satisfaction and loyalty provide a foundation for high levels of customer lifetime value, they support a range of customer behaviors with widely varying values, characterized by mere loyalty (repeat purchase), commitment (willingness to refer others to a product or service), apostle‐like behavior (willingness to convince others to use a product or service), and ownership (willingness to recommend product or service improvements). As a result of these findings, it is of increasing importance that the small number of apostles and owners in a customer portfolio that can drive all of the profits should be identified and cultivated.
Exploring the development of quality in higher education
Authors: Avdjieva Maria , Wilson Marie
Published: January 2003

This paper uses a developmental perspective to characterise quality initiatives in the higher education systems of four countries: Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and North America. Each country demonstrates variety in its practices, as well as consistent patterns of environment, policy and institutional response. Survey data support a continuum of quality evolution from a low quality, low organisational learning environment toward organisational learning capabilities. The three stages of learning proposed by both Senge and McKay and Kember are also reflected in the study’s findings. Drawing on these findings, implications for managers are outlined focusing on areas of key organisational transformation such as leadership, culture and infrastructure.
E‐government: a new route to public sector quality
Authors: Teicher Julian , Hughes Owen , Dow Nina
Published: January 2003

In the past government organisations have paid little attention to service quality or responsiveness to clients. This changed with the movement termed “new public management”, which occurred in most developed nations around 1990. This paper briefly examines the concept of quality and its application to the public sector and discusses e‐government, the latest manifestation of attempts to improve quality in government. The paper also reports on a survey of senior personnel across the three levels of government in Australia. The results of the survey and other published research materials suggest, that the impact of e‐government on service delivery is modest and not well distributed. While there has been widespread adoption of e‐government measures, these have generally been lacking in sophistication and have been disproportionately beneficial to city dwellers without addressing problems of equity and access.
Attitudes of middle managers to quality‐based organisational change
Authors: Davis Douglas , Fisher Thomas
Published: January 2003

The paper explores some factors that may lead to middle managers in organisations holding differing views on their quality programs. In particular, it considers the possibility that differing views are related to job role. The data are from research into the beliefs and attitudes of middle managers towards quality programs in 21 Australian organisations. Findings suggest that quality specialists have more positive views of their companies’ quality programs than other job groups. There was no evidence to suggest that those in operations‐type roles have more positive views about their quality programs than those in non‐operational roles, even though the history of quality development suggests otherwise.
Service quality in call centres: implications for customer loyalty
Authors: Dean Alison M.
Published: January 2003

Studies on call centres suggest that there is a focus on efficiency at the expense of effectiveness, where effectiveness is indicated by characteristics such as customer orientation, service priorities and quality. It therefore appears that customers will expect and experience low levels of service quality from call centres, with possible implications for their loyalty to the providing organisation. These issues are the focus of this study. A mail survey was conducted of recent clients of two call centres in Australia. The respondents were individual consumers in an insurance company (n = 284, 14 per cent) or business customers of a bank (n = 325, 16 per cent). Key findings are similar for the two samples. Both perceptions of quality and customer orientation of the call centre were related to loyalty to the providing organisation, and perceptions of quality partially mediated the customer orientation to loyalty relationship. The discussion includes managerial implications and potential future research.
Customers’ perspectives on service quality and relationship quality in retail encounters
Authors: Wong Amy , Sohal Amrik
Published: January 2003

This paper examines the relationship between service quality and overall relationship quality on two levels of retail relationships (employee and company level). Responses were received from 1,261 shoppers in a retail chain departmental store setting in Victoria, Australia. Findings indicate that there is a positive and direct relationship between service quality and relationship quality. The results show that empathy is the most significant contributor to relationship quality at both the employee and company levels. Implications for the management of customer relationships are discussed, while limitations and future research directions are proposed.
Developing women in a digital world
Authors: Liu Jonathan , Wilson Doirean
Published: January 2003

Discusses the findings of a recent study into the development of women managers, in the field of information technology (IT). Addresses the key question as to why few women are entering IT. Provides an insight into the perception of women working in IT, and their role in this “fast‐growing” technological area. Identifies four obstacles – gender stereotypes and attitudes, family responsibility, working time constraints, and lack of confidence – that have had a restrictive impact on the careers of female managers employed in this field. Albeit each of these obstacles has an overlap of common characteristics, it was decided that it would be better to explore each in individual context for the purpose of clarity. Also evaluates evidence taken from “personal interviews” carried out with 46 female delegates enrolled on a specialised IT training course, and 17 female managers from various companies. Uses structured questionnaire to elicit and record this data.
Beyond culture‐centric and gendered models of management: perspectives on Filipina business leadership
Authors: Roffey Bet
Published: January 2003

This paper argues a case for the integration of grounded theory and indigenous research principles in international management research. Through presenting results of a study of women managers in the Philippines, the paper shows ways in which culture‐bound or ethnocentric management theory and practice can be enriched by analysing culture and gender dimensions of dominant discourses around women in management.
Statistical and conceptual problems in the study of disasters
Authors: Quarantelli E.L.
Published: January 2003

The area of disaster studies is plagued by dubious statistical data and widespread conceptual disagreements. This is the major focus of discussion in the paper. We detail the limitations in much of the numerical data that are both specifically and generally used in discussions of disasters. Factors that are responsible for this, including inadequate conceptualizations about disasters are discussed. We also show that there is not much consensus by researchers and others about many of the most central concepts used such as “disaster”, “hazards,” “risk,” etc. In our call for more reliable statistics and more relevant concepts, we provide examples and suggestions of how this could be done.
Technological man‐made disaster precondition phase model for major accidents
Authors: Shaluf Ibrahim M. , Ahmadun Fakharul‐razi , Mat Said Aini , Mustapha Sa’ari , Sharif Rashid
Published: January 2003

Major hazard organizations are dealing with hazardous material exceeding the threshold quantity. Major hazard organizations are relatively secure areas and cannot fail from single error. However, failure of an organization to control hazardous material usually results in a technological man‐made disaster. The conditions preceding the onset of technological man‐made disaster are collectively called the technological man‐made disaster precondition phase “incubation period”. A model has been developed representing the technological man‐made disaster pre‐condition phase where it focuses on the origin of the technological man‐made disaster. The model was based on detailed analysis of four technological man‐made disasters at major hazard installations in Malaysia.
W(h)ither the MRes?
Authors: Howard Green D. , Shaw Malcolm , Hammill Faye
Published: January 2003

Reviews the origins of the MRes – the research masters programme developed in the mid‐1990s as a result of pressure to provide research students with a broader based training in research before embarking on a PhD or industrial research career. Notes the variation in the implementation of the MRes across a range of science‐based programmes observing the diversity, innovation and approach to skills training. The implications of recent and current national developments promoted by the Government, the QAA and the research councils are considered briefly. Finally the paper reflects on the role that the MRes might play in the further development of research training in doctoral programmes in the UK.
Benchmarking in UK HE: an overview
Authors: Jackson Norman
Published: January 2003

Provides an introduction to benchmarking in UK higher education. The introduction of subject benchmarking by the Quality Assurance Agency means that most academics are now aware of the term but they associate it with the process of regulating academic standards through a process of referencing to a subject benchmark statement (regulatory benchmarking). But there are other meanings and applications of benchmarking which focus on the process as an aid to collaborative learning and self‐improvement (collaborative benchmarking). Provides an overview of the concept and methodology and provides examples of the ways in which benchmarking is being used in the UK.
Domain names management: a strategy for electronic commerce security
Authors: Clark Mary A. , Chou David C. , Yen David C.
Published: January 2003

A good Internet domain names management allows electronic commerce participants to enjoy a convenient domain name registration process. Domain name owners will gain a high security protection and also live in a dispute‐free environment. This article provides strategic and managerial perspectives on domain name‐based electronic commerce security.
An analysis of brand manager capability in assessing the legality of selected actions
Authors: Peterson Robin T.
Published: January 2003

Presents the outcome of a study into the extent to which a sample of brand managers were cognizant of the legality of a set of activities. In a mail survey, sample members were asked to record their belief in the legality of various business practices. An assessment of the results suggests that the brand managers are able to identify the legal status of many activities, but lack knowledge on the legality of various important practices, especially those relating to pricing. Generally, managers employed by small firms were less informed than those employed by larger enterprises.
Brand orientation in the Top 500 fundraising charities in the UK
Authors: Hankinson Philippa
Published: January 2003

Examines the concept of brand orientation in the charity sector against a background of mounting criticism that charities are under‐using their brands and not managing them properly. From the academic literature and a series of depth interviews, four key components of brand orientation were identified which were operationalised into a series of item statements and tested on charity managers in the Top 500 UK charities. From an exploratory factor analysis of the data, it seems that brand orientation may comprise one “general factor” of brand orientation incorporating “brand understanding”, “brand communication” and more substantially, “the strategic use of brands” and six further factors, three of which comprise different managerial responsibilities. All but one of these factors correlated satisfactorily with secondary indicators of brand orientation. The paper discusses the results and examines the implications for charities.
Packaging communication: attentional effects of product imagery
Authors: Underwood Robert L. , Klein Noreen M. , Burke Raymond R.
Published: January 2003

This article provides a theoretical framework for understanding the communicative effects of product imagery on attention to the brand, specifically, the attentional effects of incorporating a picture or illustration of the product on the packaging of the product. Empirical results from a virtual reality simulation show that package pictures increase shoppers’ attention to the brand. However this effect is contingent, occurring only for low familiarity brands (private‐label brands) within product categories that offer a relatively high level of experiential benefits. These results suggest that package pictures may be especially useful for private label brands and/or lesser tier national brands whose strategic objectives are to improve consumers’ perceptions of the brand and enter the consideration set.
Strategies for eliminating a financial services product
Authors: Harness David R. , Marr Norman E.
Published: January 2003

As the UK’s retail financial services sector discovers the value of retaining customers it is also becoming aware that product elimination has the potential to damage existing purchasing relationships. Unlike physical goods, where elimination is often undertaken with scant regard for the customer, in financial services the customer is central to the elimination action. The nature of the product and the existence of operational constraints have created two levels of elimination. The first, partial elimination, removes the product from some but not all customers, and requires the organisation to provide on‐going support. Full elimination occurs only when all customers cease to own the product and production is terminated. These two levels of elimination are comprised of different processes that impact on customers in different ways. The way they impact will determine whether wider organisational objectives such as customer retention as an outcome of a product elimination action can be achieved.
Testing cross‐cultural invariance of the brand equity creation process
Authors: Yoo Boonghee , Donthu Naveen
Published: January 2003

The purpose of this study is to explore the cross‐cultural generalizability of Yoo et al.’s brand equity creation process model. A two‐step approach is introduced and used to test the factorial invariance of the model cross‐culturally. The results reveal which marketing efforts and brand equity dimensions have invariant effects on brand equity across the US and Korean samples. Specifically, brand loyalty and perceived product quality do not have an invariant effect on brand equity, while brand awareness/associations have an equivalent effect. Price and store image show an equivalent, positive effect on perceived quality; distribution intensity has an equivalent, positive effect on both perceived quality and brand loyalty; and price deals have an equivalent, negative effect on both perceived quality and brand awareness/associations. But advertising has a quite different effect on brand equity. The between‐group differences in the brand equity formation process are explained from a cultural perspective.
Managing consumers’ product evaluations through direct product experience
Authors: Mooy Sylvia C. , Robben Henry S.J.
Published: January 2003

Where traditional mass‐media advertising may perish in the enormous amount of communication messages, the product itself can act as a decisive communication tool and provide consumers with product‐related information in the buying decision situation. For example, the sound the product makes in use and the tactile sensation give an impression of the product’s quality. To complement the little research on the role that durable consumer products can play in marketing communications, we investigated the effects of direct product experience on information processing and product evaluation in a sample of 127 adult consumers. The results showed that direct experience enhanced consumers’ opportunity and ability to process product‐related information, but not their motivation to process the information. Subsequently, the induced levels of motivation, opportunity, and ability influenced both consumers’ attitude toward the product and their attitude confidence. One important implication for product development and marketing communications is that the communicative abilities of products can effectively be employed to enhance positively consumers’ evaluation of the product.
Go/no‐go criteria during grocery brand development
Authors: Stagg Chris , Saunders John , Wong Veronica
Published: January 2003

Past research into new product screening criteria have largely centered on industrial new products. This study investigates the criteria that managers use for screening and evaluating new grocery products or brands. Theory suggests that the branding, promotional, and trade needs of grocery brands mean that screening criteria for grocery product development will differ from those applied to industrial goods. Our methodology departs from earlier research in gathering information on the accept/reject criteria during new product development rather than examining the reasons for success and failure after launch. The results endorse many findings from the extant literature on new product development. However, we highlight a set of factors that new product managers regard as important to the go/no‐go decision in new grocery product or brand development that differs significantly from previous studies. From a research perspective, our study findings make an important contribution to the field by developing measurement scales for addressing NPD in the grocery sector.
The politics of community: challenges in digital education
Authors: Cockburn Tom , Treadwell Peter , Cockburn‐Wootten Cheryl
Published: January 2003

We compare and contrast two paradigms of the digitalisation of HE. One is the British Government‐sponsored University for Industry (Ufi) which is based on a distributed campus with multiple hubs connecting individual puchaser‐learners to HE providers. This is contrasted with a sociable paradigm, based at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC). The first is based on an isolating and less empowering conception, alienating the learning from the community. The second aims to socialise the learning in the community of practice. The UWIC GROWTH network project underpins a regenerative project for SMEs in South Wales. It is seeking to facilitate a self‐organising, stakeholder‐community of SMEs committed to economic regeneration and capital anchoring in the South Wales area and is funded by the EU. We also refer to the EU‐sponsored Intelligent Information Interfaces (I3) project to demonstrate an alternative, sociable use of ICT.
Structuring biographical data in EAD with the Nomen DTD
Authors: Calvo Antonio M.
Published: January 2003

Biographical data, including authorized name information, adds depth, richness and retrievability to bibliographic records and archival finding aids. The use of encoded archival description (EAD) has enabled the description of archival collections in fine detail. EAD allows for biographical information to be coded directly into finding aids in several ways. However the process is time consuming and may result in duplication of effort and inconsistency. This article presents the Nomen XML DTD for biographical data, and puts forth the idea that its use could simplify and enhance the encoding of biographical data in EAD. The Nomen DTD provides a record structure for encoding the authorized name, variant names and biographical details of a person or a group being associated with informational items as subjects or creators. The structure of the Nomen DTD is described in relation to the MARC21 name authority format followed by a discussion of how it may be used as a means to create an authority file for EAD biographical data encoding and linking.
Saving room for CUSTARD
Authors: Jimerson Randall C.
Published: January 2003

The Canadian‐US Task Force on Archival Description (CUSTARD) has undertaken the process of reconciling the two principal North American standards for archival description – the Canadian Rules for Archival Description (RAD) and the US’ Archives, Personal Papers, and Manuscripts (APPM) – with each other and with the broader international standard of ISAD(G) (General International Standard Archival Description). The anticipated final product of the CUSTARD project will be a new standard for rules governing description of archival holdings. The first tangible product is a “statement of principles” concerning archival description, which will guide the final development of descriptive rules. A complete draft of the CUSTARD rules should be available for review by June 2003, with publication expected in 2004. The new standard being developed will guide the future of archival description.
Knowledge for Web site development
Authors: Taylor Mark J. , England David , Gresty David
Published: January 2003

Web site development work is a growing aspect of the IT activities within many organisations. However, the skills and knowledge required by IT practitioners for successful Web site development are still largely uncertain. In this paper we examine the results of a research exercise involving case studies in 20 UK organisations aimed at investigating: the skills and knowledge that are required for Web site development work, how such skills and knowledge are used in actual practice, and the mechanisms by which such skills and knowledge can be acquired and improved.
Team performance management: enhancement through Japanese 5‐S principles
Authors: Sui‐PPheng Low , Danielle Khoo Sarah
Published: January 2003

Explains 5‐S, the acronym for five Japanese words: seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke which, when translated, mean organisation, neatness, cleanliness, standardisation and discipline respectively. They have been referred to as the five keys to a total quality environment. This article introduces the 5‐S principles and shows how they can be applied to enhance team performance by drawing management and staff to a common set of organisational objectives. Proposes the implementation of a formal 5‐S system in organisations to facilitate employee participation for the generation of ideas. This system helps an organisation to produce consistently good quality products and services.
Team competencies
Authors: Margerison Charles
Published: January 2003

Suggests there is misplaced overemphasis on individual competence levels and not enough attention paid to team competency. Feels that individual competencies need to be seen in the context of what a team requires to perform well. Presents nine major team competency factors and a resulting team model, from which a team can assess its objectives, priorities, time management allocations and performance assessment.
Factors affecting successful implementation of high performance teams
Authors: Castka P. , Bamber C.J. , Sharp J.M. , Belohoubek P.
Published: January 2003

Agrees that the evidence of a vast array of research concerning teamwork is conclusive: teams are capable of outstanding performance and are the primary unit of performance for increasing numbers of organisations. Nevertheless, high performance teams (HPTs) are a rarity. Presents the results of collaborative research aimed at determining the factors affecting successful implementation of HPTs. The factors have been derived from literature on teamwork, quality management, and a review of case study literature. This research has led to the development of a model for the successful implementation of HPTs, which has been tested through a case study organisation. Furthermore, the results were used to develop an implementation program aimed at rejuvenating team performance in UK small‐ to medium‐sized enterprises.