bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using data mining to improve traffic safety programs
Authors: Solomon Scott , Nguyen Hang , Liebowitz Jay , Agresti William
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the use of data mining (DM) analysis can be used to evaluate how well cameras that monitor red‐light‐signal controlled intersections improve traffic safety by reducing fatalities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper demonstrates several different data modeling techniques – decision trees, neural networks, market‐basket analysis and K‐means models. Decision trees build rule sets that can abet future decision making. Neural networks try to predict future outcomes by looking at the effects of historical inputs. Market‐basket analysis shows the strength of the relationships between variables. K‐means models weigh the impact of homogenous clusters on target variables. All of these models are demonstrated using real data gathered by the Department of Transportation from fatal accidents at red‐light‐signal controlled intersections in Maryland and Washington, DC from the year 2000 through 2003.

Findings

The results of the DM analysis will show predictable relationships between the demographic data of drivers and fatal accidents; the type of collision and fatal accidents and between the time of day and fatal accidents.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of missing or incomplete data sets are addressed in this paper.

Practical implications

This paper can act as a guide to follow for red light camera program managers or local municipalities to conduct their own analysis.

Originality/value

This paper builds upon prior research in DM and also extends the body of research that examines the effectiveness of red camera programs as they mature.
Development of a survey instrument to examine consumer adoption of broadband
Authors: Dwivedi Yogesh Kumar , Choudrie Jyoti , Brinkman Willem‐Paul
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To describe the development of a survey instrument designed to measure consumer perceptions of the broadband adoption within the UK households.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey research approach was employed to achieve overall aim and following three objectives of this research: to identify initial items that may help to explain the broadband adoption behaviour and determine them employing an exploratory survey approach; to confirm the representativeness of items to a particular construct domain employing content validity approach; and finally, to test the instrument in order to confirm the reliability of items and construct validity.

Findings

The final outcome of the instrument development process that culminated from the confirmatory study was a parsimonious, 39‐item instrument, consisting of ten scales, all with acceptable levels of content validity, reliability and construct validity.

Practical implications

The developed instrument is relevant to both academic and practitioner communities who hold a particular interest in the study and management of broadband adoption from the household consumer perspective.

Originality/value

The most conspicuous contribution of the paper is to provide a reliable instrument that is fundamental to measure the household consumer's perceptions of adopting broadband internet.
Proposed verification method for the content suitability of the customer satisfaction survey
Authors: Takala Josu , Bhufhai Amnat , Phusavat Kongkiti
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To address multiple problems facing a company's top management with respect to the customer satisfaction survey. Is the customer satisfaction survey still suitable after many years of use? What method should be applied to help ensure better utilization of information from the customer satisfaction survey? Should the three aspects (i.e. quality, delivery, and responsiveness) representing the customer satisfaction continue to be used as part of the survey's main contents. As an ISO 9001: 2000 certified company, the customer satisfaction survey is required.

Design/methodology/approach

A method was proposed to help integrate the survey results with other key performance indicators (or ratios). This integration represented the verification effort on the suitability of the customer satisfaction survey. The examinations into the interrelationships between these three aspects the company's performance indicators included three perspectives. They were: no time‐factor consideration; one‐period time‐lag factor; and two‐period time‐lag factor. The set of key performance indicators was selected jointly with the company's top management.

Findings

The findings indicated that the quality and responsiveness aspects were still suitable. This was because these results were closely related to the production volumes, number of customer complaints, number of customers, and, etc. Therefore, the revision of the customer satisfaction survey needed to focus on adding other aspects such as flexibility and courtesy while doing away with the delivery aspect.

Practical implications

The proposed method, and its findings and recommendations received positive responses from the company's top management. This method utilized and related existing performance information in an integrated manner.

Originality/value

This study generated a potential approach to understand and to help interpret the customer satisfaction survey's results, to boost the utilization of relevant performance information, and likely to assist in a target‐setting process during a planning session.
Assessment of sustainable development and knowledge of environmental management
Authors: Shih Kuang‐Hsun , Chen Hsueh‐Ju , Chen Jason C.H.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To examine whether there are differences with respect to internal auditors' attitude toward environmental protection, cognizance of environmental auditing and environmental knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey based research method is used and a Mann‐Whitney U‐test as well as a T‐test is applied on this data.

Findings

There is no difference between internal auditors in the manufacturing industry and those in the service industry with respect to environmental awareness and cognizance of environmental auditing. Yet there is a significant difference with respect to knowledge of environmental protection.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to that of internal auditors' perspectives.

Practical implications

Internal auditors are the “watch dogs” for firms to implement environmental management so that strengthening their environmental knowledge is required.

Originality/value

This study reveals internal auditors' perception toward environmental management in both high‐ and low‐pollution industries that go beyond green auditing issues.
The social discount rate on climate change
Authors: Yu Marco K.W.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact of social discount rates on the economic significance of CO2 mitigation in the benefit‐cost analysis of recent amendments of Building Regulations Part L.

Design/methodology/approach

The benefit of mitigating CO2 emission by raising the standard of building in amended building regulations is estimated by an integrated‐assessment economic model called DICE at different social discount rates proposed by economists and government.

Findings

The benefit of CO2 mitigation is highly sensitive to the choice of social discount rate that the value of social discount rate is a crucial factor to decide the economic viability of recent and future amendments of Building Regulations Part L. The more positive the social discount rate used in the benefit‐cost analysis, the less sustainability appears to be because higher discount rate tips the balance in favour of current benefits against future costs.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focuses on the impact of social discount rates on the shadow price of CO2 emission. Further researches are needed to estimate the private benefits and costs to construct and operate buildings complying with amended Building Regulations Part L so as to produce a solid benefit‐cost analysis on the amendment of the building regulations.

Practical implications

If sustainable development, similar to other traditional investment, is subject to feasibility judgement in a common metric, more attentions are needed to be given by sustainability literature on the issue of discounting.

Originality/value

This paper for the first time evaluates the environmental benefits of amending the Building Regulations and the sensitivity of the benefits to the choice of social discount rates.
A “Hong Kong” model of sustainable development
Authors: Wai Chung Lai Lawrence , Wing Chau Kwong , Chi Wing Ho Daniel , Lorne Frank T.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a Coasian interpretation of a model of sustainable development for Hong Kong that incorporates three segments, namely economy, society, and environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is analytical, using concepts of property rights informed by Coasian neo‐institutional economics and Yu's ideas on the Schumpeterian process in innovation.

Findings

First, the sustainable development criteria must be non‐dictatorial, decentralized, and compatible with market economics. The emphasis is contractarian rather than legislative or administrative. Second, the essence of segment cooperation is to create a win‐win situation rather than an “integrated” rent seeking game, which will likely result in more values being created. Third, the requirement that it be progressive over time implies that programs and policies that are duplicative need to be avoided, and innovations are to be encouraged. Fourth, the requirement of satisfying only two aspects of the three segments of cooperation implies a less stringent standard of making stepwise improvements, and thus makes entrepreneurial efforts more likely. Last, the three segments of cooperation, if practiced simultaneously and improved over time, can achieve most, if not all, the principles in the Rio Declaration without aiming at a specific principle in the Declaration.

Research limitations/implications

This paper should focus on a “win‐win” rather than a mutually exploitative approach to public participation in sustainable development promotion.

Practical implications

This paper should assist policymakers and politicians in understanding how sustainable development may be conceptually modelled.

Originality/value

The paper is the first paper that defines for Hong Kong a model of sustainable development on the basis of Coasian economics, and contrasts it with other proposed models.
Impact of urbanization on building energy consumption and the role of BEE design codes in China
Authors: Li Baizhan , Liu Meng , McKinnell K.G.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to trace the connection between China's growth and urbanization processes and the amount of building space that is being constructed.

Design/methodology/approach

Buildings consume energy and are not always built with subsequent efficient use of energy in mind. China's building industry is estimated to account for over a quarter of the total energy consumed in China.

Findings

Such a massive use of the energy resource has prompted China's authorities to consider policies that will promote greater building energy efficiency.

Originality/value

The paper provides an important update as to how China is addressing energy efficiency in one of its key industrial sectors.
Electronic library glossaries: jargonbusting essentials or wasted resource?
Authors: Ayre Catherine , Smith Inese A. , Cleeve Marigold
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To analyse and investigate the use of online glossaries of library terminology.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of glossaries; questionnaire survey.

Findings

Library glossaries broadly serve the same purpose, but there is considerable variation in their length, design, currency, and the terms they contain. Library users generally have little input into what glossaries contain and many librarians are uncertain as to whether glossaries are used or useful.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is necessary to establish whether the effort involved in creating such glossaries is worthwhile.

Practical implications

Better strategies for helping library users to understand library jargon are needed.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the increasing number of university libraries with online glossaries.
How researchers are using the OPAC of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research Library Network
Authors: Ortiz‐Repiso Virginia , Bazán Virginia , Ponsati Agnès , Cottereau Mario
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The importance of online public access catalogues (OPACs) has changed in recent years, mainly due to the large number of electronic resources now available. The aim of this study is to learn about and evaluate the use made by researchers of the OPAC of the library network of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research, the largest research institution in Spain.

Design/methodology/approach

To this end a questionnaire was drafted with questions pertaining both to the system and to the users themselves. The information gathered was supplemented by data obtained from the transaction logs.

Findings

The results have revealed the use made of the OPAC and the characteristics of the searches performed. Users are still confronted by classic problems of information seeking: information overload, errors in subject searching, and the predominant use of the system's simpler options. The results show that the OPAC is broadly used by end‐users not only for obtaining printed material, but also for connecting to the electronic resources subscribed to by the library.

Originality/value

The OPAC should continue to occupy an important position in the library's overall information environment, interacting with other information systems.
Distance education and the role of IT in India
Authors: Subba Rao Siriginidi
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To highlight India's efforts in raising literacy levels through distance education (DE) by utilizing various technological choices, including information technology (IT), available in the country.

Design/methodology/approach

This article discusses the education scenario, emergence of correspondence courses/open universities, government initiatives for IT enablement of education and DE, participating institutions and technology choices available in India. It examines the preparedness of participating institutions, status of networks facilitating virtual classrooms, technological solutions, educational channels, etc., for the spreading of DE in India.

Findings

The paper strongly suggests the need for digital libraries (DLs) and their integration, and the initiation of INTEND‐OPENET as an exclusive network for DE.

Practical implications

The needed policy guidelines to use IT for education are now in place in India. The backbone for developing DLs already exists. Declining prices of PCs and networking devices makes it economically feasible to use IT to deliver quality education to previously unreachable populations and to enhance the quality of education.

Originality/value

This paper offers practical solutions for the spread of DE for policy makers and implementers, participating institutions and distance learners.
Information needs and use in the construction materials sector in Kuwait
Authors: Anwar Mumtaz A. , Tuqan Arwa
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study was designed to investigate the information needs and use of the private construction materials sector in Kuwait.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured instrument, expert‐reviewed and pilot‐tested, was used for data collection. A total of 20 companies were surveyed by interviewing a senior official identified by each firm.

Findings

These firms mostly used financial, marketing, legal, forecasting, and managerial information. Personnel and statistical information was the least used. The most important sources of information included government agencies, the internet, the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), and financial service agencies in addition to several informal sources. Information use activity was found to be at a low level.

Research limitations/implications

Since the study was limited to private companies that dealt with construction materials, its findings should be used for this sector only.

Practical implications

The KCCI, following one of its official roles of supplying information to the business community, needs to upgrade its resources and services and conduct vigorous marketing of its services. Similarly, Kuwait University has a stake in conducting research and educating business leaders in improving their in‐house information services and making optimal use of KCCI services.

Originality/value

This is the first study of its type in the Arabian Gulf region. Hopefully, government agencies, the KCCI and the business community will use its findings to improve the current business information infrastructure, which is less than satisfactory.
E‐readiness of SMEs in the ICT sector in Botswana with respect to information access
Authors: Mutula Stephen M. , van Brakel Pieter
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The paper aims to present the e‐readiness status of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector in Botswana and make comparisons with global trends.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a doctoral project that was carried out at the University of Johannesburg from 2002 to 2005. A qualitative approach was employed using both focus group discussions and in‐depth interviews to collect data.

Findings

The findings revealed that SMEs in Botswana, like their counterparts in most developing countries, had not achieved a reasonable measure of e‐readiness status compared to the developed world.

Research limitations/implications

There is paucity of research on the e‐readiness of SMEs in developing countries, especially with respect to information access. Furthermore e‐readiness, being a new phenomenon, does not yet have an established theoretical basis and a universally acknowledged definition.

Practical implications

This study presents a framework that has the potential to assist governments, especially in the developing world, to make informed ICT investment decisions that will enable SMEs to penetrate the international electronic business environment. Moreover, the findings provide a lens through which SMEs, especially in developing world, would benchmark their e‐readiness status against the best in the world and effectively undertake corrective measures.

Originality/value

The existing e‐readiness measurement tools are largely quantitative and only address the qualitative dimension of the phenomenon in a limited way. In addition, the tools focus more on ICT, business, policy and legislative framework and underplay the information access factor. Furthermore, whereas e‐readiness research is increasingly populating development, IT and business literature, little is happening within the information science discipline. Finally, most e‐readiness studies have confined to macro (national) assessments and ignored sectoral‐level environments.
Electronic journals: are they really used?
Authors: Nicholas David , Huntington Paul
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To quantify the usage of electronic journals as an aid to making judgements on the use of document supply.

Design/methodology/approach

A detailed analysis was made of the use of OHIOLink as well as the Blackwell Synergy, ScienceDirect, emeraldinsight, and OUP databases by CIBER at University College London.

Findings

Many more people are accessing electronic journals than was previously the case in a print environment. Users are searching more widely as linking becomes easier and abstracts are becoming increasingly popular.

Research limitations/implications

More research could be done on the use of abstracts together with further evaluation of usage at article level by title.

Practical implications

Massive usage of the databases analysed is significantly affecting the use of information by researchers.

Originality/value

This article presents an example of “deep log” analysis that sheds valuable light on the actual as distinct from perceived use of electronic full text databases
The Norwegian ”Bibliotek” database in a Nordic ILDS perspective
Authors: Gauslå Arne
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To describe the development and versatility of “Bibliotek”, the Norwegian database for national ILDS management.

Design/methodology/approach

Historical narrative.

Findings

There has been a poor response by the 1,300 libraries that use the system to enter their ILDS policies on the web site.

Practical implications

Highlights some of the difficulties in building an effective infrastructure for resource sharing both nationally and internationally.

Originality/value

Lessons to be learnt from one country's attempt to develop an effective infrastructure for ILDS.
User‐initiated resource sharing in Hong Kong universities: planning to reality with HKALL
Authors: Sidorko Peter , Wong Ruth , Tai Alice , Wong Eva
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To describe the introduction of a collaborative, user‐initiated, unmediated, interlibrary loan service for returnables between initially three and then all eight universities in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

Historical narrative combined with user and staff evaluation.

Findings

The introduction of the service has been a great success.

Originality/value

This article describes in detail the introduction of a service that will be of interest and relevance to many other libraries facing declining budgets and the need to share resources in an efficient and effective way.
Grey literature at The British Library: revealing a hidden resource
Authors: Tillett Samantha , Newbold Elizabeth
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To explore the changing nature of grey literature, the British Library collections of grey literature and the future challenges of collecting and supplying this type of material.

Design/methodology/approach

This article provides an informal description of the British Library grey literature collection and views on challenges in acquiring and supplying grey literature.

Findings

The nature of grey literature is changing in an increasingly electronic environment. In this new environment of electronic access there is still a need and demand for organisations to collect, preserve and make this material accessible.

Originality/value

Provides an insight in to the British Library treatment of grey literature.
Informing interlibrary networking and document supply in the English National Health Service: a comparison of models from five countries and a Caribbean network
Authors: White Pam , Twomey Cheryl
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To identify the issues associated with the introduction of desk top document supply to workers in the UK National Health Service (NHS).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper assesses network models from five countries: Australia, the USA, Italy, Iceland, and Canada, and BIREME, a Latin American and Caribbean network. Factors considered will include library types involved, organizational structure of library systems, length of system implementation, formats of documents involved, and efficiency of the system. Funding and pricing structures, where information is available, are described.

Findings

Complementary collections are necessary for the widest, most cost‐effective access to information. Access to electronic resources does not alleviate the need for remote document supply. Automation of library systems should improve the user experience, but does not necessarily replace the need for the involvement of library services and staff. Using software that conforms to the ISO ILL protocol and other industry standards such as Z39.50 allows for coordination of and improved efficiency of remote document supply (RDS) processes. Centralization of RDS does not guarantee an efficient service for users.

Originality/value

Provides insights into current thinking in the NHS for delivering material electronically directly to end users.
Crack propagation modelled by T‐elements
Authors: Sanecki Henryk , Piotr Zieliński Andrzej
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide more convenient tools for the investigation of real objects with different forms and positions of cracks, which requires fracture analysis of engineering structures.

Design/methodology/approach

A method which uses the Trefftz‐type finite elements (T‐elements) was applied as an efficient tool to deal with various problems of fracture mechanics.

Findings

Numerical examples compare the results of the T‐element procedures with the commercial systems ALGOR® and ANSYS®, showing the advantages of using the former codes. Their effectiveness is especially visible in the solution of a crack propagation problem.

Research limitations/implications

Limitation to linear fracture mechanics.

Practical implications

A proposal of effective codes for engineering analysis of structures with cracks.

Originality/value

This paper presents the feasibility of the application of the T‐element method to a wider field of fracture analysis – crack propagation in engineering structures.
A performance study of normalized explicit finite element approximate inverse preconditioning on uniprocessor and multicomputer systems
Authors: Giannoutakis Konstantinos M. , Gravvanis George A.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To propose novel parallel/distributed normalized explicit finite element (FE) approximate inverse preconditioning for solving sparse FE linear systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of suitable methods was the main objective for which several families of the normalized approximate inverse, based on sparse normalized approximate factorization, are produced. The main motive for the derivation of the new normalized approximate inverse FE matrix algorithmic techniques is that they can be efficiently used in conjunction with normalized explicit preconditioned conjugate gradient (NEPCG) – type schemes on parallel and distributed systems. Theoretical estimates on the rate of convergence and computational complexity of the NEPCG method are also derived.

Findings

Application of the proposed method on a three‐dimensional boundary value problem is discussed and numerical results for uniprocessor systems along with speed‐ups and efficiency for multicomputer systems are given. These results tend to become optimum, which are in qualitative agreement with the theoretical results presented for uniprocessor and distributed memory systems, using message passing interface (MPI) communication library.

Research limitations/implications

Further parallel algorithmic techniques will be investigated in order to improve the speed‐ups and the computational complexity of the parallel normalized explicit approximate inverse preconditioning.

Originality/value

The proposed parallel/distributed normalized explicit approximate inverse preconditioning, using approximate factorization and approximate inverse algorithms, is an efficient computational method that is valuable for computer scientists and for scientists and engineers in engineering computations.
Finite element modelling and simulation of bulk material forming
Authors: Mackerle Jaroslav
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide a selective bibliography for researchers working with bulk material forming (specifically the forging, rolling, extrusion and drawing processes) with sources which can help them to be up‐to‐date.

Design/methodology/approach

A range of published (1996‐2005) works, which aims to provide theoretical as well as practical information on the material processing namely bulk material forming. Bulk deformation processes used in practice change the shape of the workpiece by plastic deformations under forces applied by tools and dies.

Findings

Provides information about each source, indicating what can be found there. Listed references contain journal papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations on the subject.

Research limitations/implications

It is an exhaustive list of papers (1,693 references are listed) but some papers may be omitted. The emphasis is to present papers written in English language. Sheet material forming processes are not included.

Practical implications

A very useful source of information for theoretical and practical researchers in computational material forming as well as in academia or for those who have recently obtained a position in this field.

Originality/value

There are not many bibliographies published in this field of engineering. This paper offers help to experts and individuals interested in computational analyses and simulations of material forming processes.
Order adaptive integration rule with equivalently weighted internal nodes
Authors: Ragulskis Minvydas , Ragulskis Liutauras
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To develop order adaptive integration rule without limitation requiring that the number of equally spaced nodes must be a divisible numeral. Such integration technique could be of great practical value for different engineering applications where partition adaptability is impossible and use of standard high order integration techniques is unfeasible due to the fact that a significant number of nodes at the end of the sampling sequence must be deleted until the needed divisibility of the number of nodes is achieved.

Design/methodology/approach

Finite element approximation is used for the subdivision of the domain of integration and the development of order adaptive integration rule.

Findings

New integration rule is developed. It has a number of interesting features. Weights of the internal nodes are equivalent and equal to one. That makes the computational implementation of the integration rule very easy. Weights not equal to one are located only at the beginning and at the end of the sequence and are symmetric. For an m‐th order rule the number of weights not equal to one is 2m if m is odd.

Originality/value

For different engineering applications where the integration order can be controlled without changing the number of nodes, especially for real time applications where the number of discrete samples is unknown before the experiment.
Masonry compression: a numerical investigation at the meso‐level
Authors: Pina‐Henriques J. , Lourenço Paulo B.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To contribute for a reliable estimation of the compressive strength of unreinforced masonry from the properties of the constituents (units and mortar).

Design/methodology/approach

Sophisticated non‐linear continuum models, based on damage, plasticity, cracking or other formulation, are today standard in several finite element programs. The adequacy of such models to provide reliable estimates of masonry compressive strength, from the properties of the constituents, remains unresolved. The authors have shown recently that continuum models might significantly overestimate the prediction of the compressive strength. Hence, an alternative phenomenological approach developed in a discrete framework is proposed, based on attributing to masonry components a fictitious micro‐structure composed of linear elastic particles separated by non‐linear interface elements. The model is discussed in detail and a comparison with experimental results and numerical results using a standard continuum model is provided.

Findings

Clear advantages in terms of compressive strength and peak strain prediction were found using the particle model when compared with standard continuum models. Moreover, compressive and tensile strength values provided by the model were found to be particle size‐ and particle distortion‐independent for practical purposes. It is also noted that size‐dependent responses were obtained and that shear parameters rather than tensile parameters were found to play a major role at the meso‐level of the phenomenological model.

Originality/value

This paper provides further insight into the compressive behaviour of quasi‐brittle materials, with an emphasis on the strength prediction of masonry composites. Reliable prediction of masonry strength is of great use in the civil engineering field, allowing one to reduce experimental testing in expensive wallets and to avoid the usage of conservative empirical formulae.
Finite element solution of transient heat conduction using iterative solvers
Authors: Vujičić Mile R.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide an analysis of transient heat conduction, which is solved using different iterative solvers for graduate and postgraduate students (researchers) which can help them develop their own research.

Design/methodology/approach

Three‐dimensional transient heat conduction in homogeneous materials using different time‐stepping methods such as finite difference (Θ explicit, implicit and Crank‐Nicolson) and finite element (weighted residual and least squared) methods. Iterative solvers used in the paper are conjugate gradient (CG), preconditioned gradient, least square CG, conjugate gradient squared (CGS), preconditioned CGS, bi‐conjugate gradient (BCG), preconditioned BCG, bi‐conjugate gradient stabilized (BCGSTAB), reconditioned BCGSTAB and Gaussian elimination with incomplete Cholesky factorization.

Findings

Provides information on which time‐stepping method is the most accurate, which solver is the fastest to solve a symmetric and positive system of linear matrix equations of all those considered.

Practical implications

Fortran 90 code given as an abstract can be very useful for graduate and postgraduate students to develop their own code.

Originality/value

This paper offers practical help to an individual starting his/her research in the finite element technique and numerical methods.
Consumer ethnocentrism: an integrative review of its antecedents and consequences
Authors: Shankarmahesh Mahesh N.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide an integrative review of the antecedents and consequences of consumer ethnocentrism (CET).

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive review of works on CET to date is put forward. An integrative framework and a detailed summary table are provided.

Findings

Four categories of antecedents, namely, socio‐psychological, political, economic and demographic are gathered from the literature. Direct consequences and indirect consequences through relevant mediators and moderators are identified. Future research directions are offered.

Practical implications

The compendium of antecedents and consequences of CET can be used by international marketing managers for their segmentation and target marketing strategies.

Originality/value

As new vistas emerge for furthering international trade in goods and services, this paper provides a timely review and an integrative framework of existing research on CET, its antecedents and consequences. This paper contributes to the marketing discipline both by integrating a wide body of research on an important international marketing topic and by offering broad avenues for further research.
Customer perceptions of service dimensions: cross‐cultural analysis and perspective
Authors: Cunningham Lawrence F. , Young Clifford E. , Lee Moonkyu , Ulaga Wolfgang
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study that examined how customers in the USA, France, and Korea perceived and classified a set of 13 services based on multidimensional scaling (MDS).

Design/methodology/approach

A MDS framework was used to map service classifications and actual services in the USA, Korea and France. Results from each country were then compared to the other two countries to determine similarities and differences.

Findings

Results from this research suggest that there are two underlying dimensions that explain approximately 80 percent of the total variance in service perceptions and classifications. Underlying dimensions of the classifications across the three cultures were virtually identical. Differences among the countries were based on relative positioning of classifications and/or services on the underlying dimensions.

Research limitations/implications

Evidence from diverse cultures implies that consumers perceive services in a somewhat simplistic, two‐dimensional fashion rather than the complex set of classifications proposed by researchers. Although the complex classifications may be of use to service providers in organizing the delivery of services, the presentation and positioning of those services is along a much simpler framework in the minds of customers.

Originality/value

This is the first time consumer‐based perceptions of services have been examined systematically across cultures using a MDS approach.
Choice of foreign market entry mode in service firms
Authors: Blomstermo Anders , Deo Sharma D. , Sallis James
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between foreign market entry modes and hard‐ and soft‐service firms. The paper investigated which foreign market entry modes service firms opt for, and if this is influenced by systematic differences between types of service industries. A secondary purpose is to test the generalizability of the research findings from manufacturing sector to service sector firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Our sample consisted of 140 Swedish service firms. These firms were investigated using a mailed questionnaire survey, and logistic regression analysis was used for testing the hypotheses.

Findings

The statistical analysis shows that, in general, soft‐service firms are much more likely than hard service firms to choose a high control entry mode over a low control entry mode. Furthermore, as cultural distance increases, the likelihood of this choice increases even more.

Research limitations/implications

The implications are that while hard service suppliers can learn from the experience of manufacturing firms going abroad, soft services are unique. Given the importance for soft‐service suppliers to interact with their foreign customers, they should opt for a high degree of control over their foreign market entry mode. In future research on foreign market entry mode selection in service firms more attention should be given to social processes that exercise control.

Originality/value

The findings enhance knowledge on foreign market entry by service firms.
Extending the construct of consumer ethnocentrism: when foreign products are preferred
Authors: Gabrielle Klein Jill , Ettenson Richard , Krishnan Balaji C.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This research has the purpose of exploring whether the construct of consumer ethnocentrism extends to contexts in which foreign products are preferred to domestic products.

Design/methodology/approach

The study evaluates the psychometric properties of the consumer ethnocentrism scale (CETSCALE) in the transition economies of China and Russia using both student and non‐student samples. A valid and reliable six‐item version of the CETSCALE is developed based on these samples. The refined six‐item scale is then validated through a re‐analysis of Netemeyeret al.'s data collected in four developed countries.

Findings

Findings show that the scale can be used effectively in these transitional economies. A consistent pattern of support is found for the six‐item CETSCALE across eight samples from six countries.

Originality/value

The research provides practicing marketers as well as international researchers with a parsimonious six‐item CETSCALE that can be used in both developed and transition economies.
Interpersonal liking in lender‐customer relationships in the Australian banking sector
Authors: Hawke Amy , Heffernan Troy
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the critical, yet under‐researched dimension of relationship development, being interpersonal liking. Liking has been found to positively influence relationship success. However, these issues have not been extensively explored in the banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study methodology was adopted for this research. The unit of analysis used was the relationship dyad that exists between a business lender at a major international bank and their customer. Ten case studies were conducted with a range of techniques in an attempt to increase the reliability and validity of the findings.

Findings

Findings suggest that the interplay between similarities, communication, professionalism, trust and personality are the driving forces leading to interpersonal liking in business lender‐customer relationships. Further, the outcomes of interpersonal liking emerged as increased commitment and cooperation in the relationship and a growth in business referrals for the bank lender. These findings contribute to the limited theory on interpersonal liking.

Research limitations/implications

Several limitations emerged due to the nature of the research undertaken. These include the examination of relationships in only one major bank in Australia and the research undertaken uses cross‐sectional not longitudinal data.

Practical implications

These findings have implications for human resource management policies when recruiting personnel in relationship development rolls in the banking sector. Further, training programs aimed at developing interpersonal liking skills could be fashioned. Finally, dissemination of these findings in the banking sector would allow the important concept of interpersonal liking to gain more academic and practical attention.

Originality/value

This paper identifies what interpersonal liking is. Findings for three research questions are presented followed by an explanation of the methodology adopted.
Dimensions of price satisfaction: a study in the retail banking industry
Authors: Matzler Kurt , Würtele Andreas , Renzl Birgit
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the dimensionality of price satisfaction. It argues that price satisfaction is composed of several dimensions (price transparency, price‐quality ratio, relative price, price confidence, price reliability, and price fairness) and that companies should consider these dimensions when monitoring customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a theoretical discussion of the price dimensions, a questionnaire is developed that measures customer satisfaction with individual price dimensions. Using regression analysis the impact of price satisfaction dimensions on overall price satisfaction is measured, using a sample of 160 students.

Findings

The results show that price satisfaction can be conceptualized as a multidimensional construct and that five dimensions influence overall price satisfaction. The application of the questionnaire allows for measuring price satisfaction in firms.

Research limitations/implications

The paper introduces price satisfaction as a multidimensional construct and the study empirically supports the hypotheses. The student sample, however, restricts generalizability and more studies are needed to test the validity and reliability of the questionnaire.

Practical implications

Based on the measurement of price satisfaction, managers are able to identify the drivers of price satisfaction, their satisfaction and relative importance in different market segments and, consequently they are able to take the right measures to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Originality/value

So far price satisfaction has been treated as a one‐dimensional construct. This paper contains a theoretical argumentation for why price satisfaction should be treated as a multi‐dimensional construct consisting of several dimensions, i.e. price‐quality ratio, price fairness, price transparency, price reliability and relative price. These dimensions constitute the determinants of overall price satisfaction.
An empirical study of quality function deployment on company performance
Authors: Herrmann Andreas , Huber Frank , Algesheime René , Tomczak Torsten
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Quality function deployment (QFD) has had considerable success in terms of its implementation in companies. It has also been the subject of many studies in recent years. It seems, however, that there are some shortcomings in the research on this subject and in particular the lack of an adequate conceptual framework suitable for empirical research. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes and elaborates a model which examines QFD in relation to three dimensions of performance: improvement of product quality, reduction in costs for R&D, shorter R&D time. The model is empirically tested on data gathered on a stratified random sample of manufacturing plants through the application of valid and reliable measures. The model is tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results show three distinct paths of direct influence which lead, respectively, to superior economic performance. The empirical study has shown that the success of a QFD project is mainly influenced by motivated employees in the QFD project team. A comprehensive technical support for the QFD project is also a crucial key success factor. The strict organization of the QFD project is of minor, however still remarkable importance for the success.

Originality/value

This article specifically addresses the following four questions. What are the variables which affect QFD? What are the outcomes from using QFD? What relationships exist between QFD variables and outcomes? What guidelines may be offered for managers of QFD? By answering these questions the manager will get a clear understanding of the impact of QFD on corporate success.
Suppliers, do you know your customers?
Authors: Schofield R.A. , Breen Liz
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the customer's perception of service quality within the context of the pharmaceutical supply chain, and look specifically at the supplier/customer relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The research in question focuses on the trading relationship between a pharmaceutical wholesaler and its pharmacy customers. Existing literature shows that quality of the overall service is determined by the customer's perceptions of that service; therefore it is important that the supplier measures the customer's perception of service quality and understands what factors influence that perception and build this into their service delivery. The data were collected via a series of qualitative semi‐structured interviews with hospital and retail pharmacies located in the North West of England.

Findings

The findings show that pharmacy customers have a range of vitally important to less important criteria associated with good service quality and that pharmaceutical wholesalers as suppliers should aim to excel at the vital and important issues and meet those of lesser importance to satisfy customers expectations of service quality.

Research implications/limitations

This reinforces the importance of measuring customer expectations and incorporating outputs into service design to ensure a customer focus to the service provided. Further consideration should be given to adopting the SERVQUAL tool in conducting future research and analysis.

Practical implications

Suppliers should be aware that there are vital activities that customers expect to have performed/delivered and that they need to know what these are and excel at these, whilst managing less important criteria effectively.

Originality/value

This paper provides an insight into the customer‐supplier relationship within the pharmaceutical supply chain in the NHS, which will be of benefit to practitioners and academics in this field.