bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
E‐cash issues: electronic cash is not just about technology
Authors: Birch David
Published: July 2002

Discusses the limitations of cash as a means of exchange and looks to the digital networks of the future to exploit the new technologies of e‐cash. Highlights the convenience and increasingly widespread use of digital money in business‐to‐consumer and business‐to‐business transactions. The emzergence of common standards and pilot projects on a variety of Internet‐based payment mechanisms by companies such as IBM, Digital, Barclays and Unisource is considered. Looks at the social issues surrounding digital money and the impact of lowering the entry costs in the money business. Options for domain regulation of fiat and private currencies are discussed, concluding that the central issue rests on whether government or the market controls the issuing of e‐cash.
Foreign manufacturing firms in the UK: effects on employment, output and supplier linkages
Authors: Williams David
Published: July 2002

Reports on an empirical study which was undertaken to investigate the regional economic impact of the subsidiaries of foreign‐owned firms in the UK. The direct effects upon company employment and sales turnover are analysed as well as the indirect effects which are manifested through the supply chain. A statistical analysis highlights key relationships and the article illustrates that entry mode, and multinational enterprise (MNE) ownership are influential variables in the process of regional economic development. The relationship between these variables is complex, but it does account for significant differences in the impact which the subsidiaries of MNEs make upon the local economy.
Productivity and Production in the Apparel Industry
Authors: Lin Shu‐Hwa , Kincade Doris H. , Warfield Carol
Published: July 2002

The apparel industry must produce many different types of products in small quantities in shorter lead times. Trade journals and researchers have emphasized the importance of the right sewing system for achievement of high productivity rates. However, the findings of this research suggest that the actual technology of a sewing system is only one factor in achieving higher productivity. Product type was also highly correlated with high level of productivity. Considering the preliminary findings from this study, a manager should evaluate carefully the plant and the product before selecting a sewing system. Without more detailed analysis, managers should not change sewing systems just to get a new sewing system. The findings of this study suggest the need for more exploration of sewing systems including the impact on productivity.
A new approach to fabric assessment
Authors: Amirbayat J. , Alagha M.J.
Published: July 2002

Presents a novel method of measuring nine fabric properties considered to be important in tailorability and garment performance. Presents results of tests performed on a limited number of fabrics.
An approach to the theoretical mechanics of static drape
Authors: Lloyd David W. , Mete F. , Hussain K.
Published: July 2002

Outlines an approach to the problem of simulating the drape of fabrics. The approach is based on representing fabrics as two‐dimensional continua and using the differential geometry of surfaces to describe the shape of the draped fabric and to deduce deformation measures. The approach follows the philosophical approach previously used to establish computational models of elastica theory. Summarizes the mathematical model using a compact notation, with more detail being given in the context of a particular example. Uses a simple numerical solution procedure for the example, but this has limitations that indicate that more sophisticated techniques are needed. Points out possible difficulties with the graphical representation of drape, based on the experience of the simple example.
The application of fabric objective measurement in shirt manufacture
Authors: Stephen Cheng Kwok‐Po , How Yan‐Lai , Yick Kit‐Lun
Published: July 2002

Evaluates the mechanical properties of 60 different shirting materials: fabric extensibility, formability, shear rigidity, bending rigidity, relaxation shrinkage, and hygral expansion by the adoption of the fabric assurance by simple testing (FAST) system. Investigates manufacturing processes comprising spreading, cutting, sewing, handling, pressing and packaging and correlates the measured properties of the shirting fabric with their actual performance during making up. Claims this overall evaluation of respective fabric performance enables manufacturers to identify the range of mechanical properties ideal for high‐quality shirt production. Adds that specific manufacturing instructions can be prepared, based on the results of fabric property evaluation, for fabrics which tend to present difficulties in production. Points out that these can considerably expedite the manufacture of garments, avoiding the alternative – expensive “trial and error” – solution to problems.
The effect of selected mechanical properties acquired by the KES‐F instruments on the level of puckering of cotton fabrics after washing
Authors: Hes Lubos , Pinheiro Fatima M. , Goncalves Miranda M.C. , Cavaco‐Paulo Arthur
Published: July 2002

Describes a research project in which a cotton twill fabric was subjected to various finishing treatments. Then the level of puckering of finished fabrics before and after washing was evaluated subjectively. Simultaneously, by means of the KES‐F instruments, all the mechanical properties of these samples were determined, and the results were used to calculate their formability and sewability. All the results were then analysed by means of the multivariate method. Concludes that a higher level of sewability generally offers samples without puckering as well as higher values of 2HB, 2HG and 2HG5, and to some extent higher levels of B and G also.
Engineering of clothing systems for improved thermophysiological comfort
Authors: Ruckman J.E. , Murray R. , Choi H.S.
Published: July 2002

To evaluate the effectiveness of ventilation systems in outdoor jackets, two jackets were purchased and modified, one made of PTFE laminated fabric and the other made of polyurethane coated fabric. Six male subjects undertook exercise routines simulating fell walking while wearing these jackets. The skin temperature at four different locations and the amount of perspiration generated during exercise were recorded for analysis. The experimental results were analysed using two‐ way analysis of variance. From the analysis it was found that during the exercise the design of the pit zip openings, especially with pit zip openings at both sleeve and side seams, in a jacket has an effect on thermal regulation, limiting the rate of temperature increase; however, during rest it is the fabric that plays the more important role. The results for the period of exercise suggest that the provision of ventilation at appropriate positions in the jacket could contribute considerably to heat loss irrespective of the use of breathable fabrics.
Using service quality data for competitive marketing decisions
Authors: Rust Roland T. , Danaher Peter J. , Varki Sajeev
Published: July 2002

Although there have been many research articles about how to measure service quality, how service quality perceptions are formed, what effect service quality has on behavior, and service quality’s financial impact, there has been little discussion to date of the potential impact of service quality on competitive marketing decisions. This paper considers directly the issue of how an analysis of the impact of comparative service quality can inform tactical marketing decisions in a competitive marketplace. We propose and empirically demonstrate a simple theoretical framework of how market share changes result from changes in service quality, by the focal firm and/or by a competitor. In addition we show how price changes trade‐off against changes in service quality, and how comparative customer value is affected by changes in service quality and/or price. Our framework enables us to evaluate the projected market share shifts produced by proactive changes in service quality and/or price, and also enables us to evaluate the projected effectiveness of reactions to competitors’ changes in service quality and price. For example, our framework suggests that a quickly‐implemented increase in service quality (rather than a matching price cut) may sometimes be an effective tactical response to a competitor’s price cut. We illustrate the implementation of our framework on actual longitudinal industry data. We show how the market share impact of changes in service quality and/or price can be projected, and how this information can be used to drive competitive marketing decisions.
Skills and knowledge of senior Taiwanese manufacturing managers
Authors: Woodcock David , Chen C.Y.
Published: July 2002

This paper examines how the career development and education of senior manufacturing managers in six electrical/electronics firms equipped them to support the priorities of the Taiwanese national strategy. It reviews the operations management literature, which is subsequently used to evaluate the work experiences and attendance at educational and/or training programmes of the senior managers responsible for manufacturing in the six plants. It shows that these senior managers had limited formal education in manufacturing topics, which was partly compensated for by a number of post‐experience programmes. It also shows that these managers had little prior exposure to manufacturing. This was true in terms of working at more junior levels or in working in related functions such as product development before these senior management appointments. It argues for a cadre of highly skilled manufacturing managers capable of sustaining the ideas built into the national strategy.
Non‐linear innovation across the Internet
Authors: Hardaker Glenn , Ahmed Pervaiz K. , Graham Gary
Published: July 2002

As the information superhighway reaches unprecedented levels of growth and acceptance in the commercial business sector, the key challenge for many firms is to become an architect in the new revolution of electronic commerce. The Internet increases the richness of communications through greater interactivity between the firm and the customer. This article is about new competitive challenges being realised through non‐linear forms of innovation emerging on the Internet and building a commercial capability to meet the challenge.
School attendance problems: using the TQM tools to identify root causes
Authors: Weller L. David
Published: July 2002

Deming’s quality managment principles (TQM) are widely used as a school restructuring vehicle and produce increases in student achievement and self‐esteem and increased teacher morale and self‐confidence. Application of Deming’s principles and the TQM problem‐solving tools and techniques can be used to solve noninstructional problems of schooling. These areas, which create unnecessary costs to the school and community, include vandalism, school dropouts and student absenteeism. This case study presents a model for principals to apply to provide quality outcomes, at reduced cost, in noninstructional areas. Using teachers, parents, community members, and applying the problem‐solving tools and techniques of TQM to identify root problem causes, principals can identify realistic solutions which yield positive results and reduce costs in academic and nonacademic areas.
Public administration mentorship: conceptual and pragmatic considerations
Authors: Samier Eugenie
Published: July 2002

This paper explores the value of informal and formal mentoring for the preparation of senior administrative ranks in the public sector. Through the construction of a conceptual framework identifying essential features of mentoring roles, qualifying characteristics, relationships, and stages, and a consideration of the organizational conditions under which it is more likely to succeed, planned mentoring programs and their administrative implications are evaluated.
On being wounded: implications for school leaders
Authors: Maslin‐Ostrowski Patricia , Ackerman Richard H.
Published: July 2002

Examines stories of school leaders who experienced a serious conflict, dilemma or critical event in their leadership practice that in some way profoundly affected or “wounded” them, a situation akin to an illness that reflects some of the same characteristics: loss of control, predictability and functioning, disassociation, fear, anger. Focusses on the meaning of being wounded and implications for school leaders. Concentrates on not only the content of stories told by so‐called “wounded leaders,” that is actions, events and responses, but primarily on the kinds of stories that they tell themselves and how these stories address their own “woundedness” and help them, in a sense, to heal. Based on extensive in‐depth interviews, we explored three assumptions. First, woundedness is likely an inevitable and necessary part of leadership. Second, for most school leaders, the wound takes different forms and can be a double edged sword. Finally, story can be used by leaders to make sense of their crises of practice and aid their healing and growth.
Kindergarten principals in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheuk Wai H. , Wong Kwok S. , Rosen Sidney
Published: July 2002

Aims primarily to examine how stressful kindergarten principals as leaders and managers of their schools found their work to be, and if such job stress was related to negative emotions and job satisfaction. The secondary aim was to explore if social support from a close friend could reduce and buffer job stress. Seventy‐seven kindergarten principals in Hong Kong responded to a questionnaire containing the variables of interest. The results showed that the principals found their work to be moderately stressful. However, emotional and informational support from a close friend had beneficial impacts on stress.
Three Dogmas: A Rejoinder
Authors: Evers Colin W. , Lakomski Gabriele
Published: July 2002

Offers a reply to Trevor Maddock′s philosophical critique of the
authors′ work. Contains a brief summary of the authors′ research
programme, located within a perspective on philosophy of educational
administration, a series of short responses to some minor criticisms and
a number of more extended replies to major criticisms. Defends the
authors′ view that a science is quite broad because the adjudication of
competing scientific theories is conducted according to coherentist
criteria. Also defends a naturalistic view of ethics, thus locating
moral judgement on the same explanatory agenda as other judgements an
administrator might make about decisions and choices concerning
organizational life.
Management Strategy, the CEO′s Cognitive Style and Organizational
Growth/Decline
Authors: Neumann Yoram , Finaly‐Neumann Edith
Published: July 2002

Develops a model which links organizational growth and decline to
competitive strategy, the strategy‐making process and the personal
characteristics of the chief executive officer. The model was
empirically tested for private liberal art colleges where the size of
the student enrolment is a dominant factor for the vitality of the
institution. The major findings of the study are: enrolment growth is
associated with focused strategy, the CEO innovative style,
differentiation and assertive strategy‐making process; and the major
discriminating factors between institutions experiencing enrolment
growth and institutions experiencing enrolment decline are focused
strategy and the CEO innovator cognitive style. Discusses and examines
the policy implications of the study.
The cognitive preferences of school principals
Authors: Inbar Dan E.
Published: July 2002

Explores the nature of the cognitive preferences of school
administrators, thus opening up a new line of enquiry which may provide
a base for future studies on administrative behaviour. The study offers
an insight into the school administrators′ mode of information
perception according to four basic modes: relating and recalling
information without considering its implications; relating to
information according to its practical applications; posing critical
questions about the information′s validity; and relating to information
according to the fundamental principles. School administrators were
found to be different in their cognitive preferences as a function of
individual differences, and different roles of school administration.
Coping with restructuring
Authors: Bergin Mel , Solman Robert
Published: July 2002

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of
purposeful attempts to cope with stress by senior educational
administrators in an Australian state education department of over 2,000
schools and employing teaching and administrative staff in excess of
60,000. At the time of the study this department was undergoing the
initial stages of large‐scale restructuring, moving from a centralized
system of management to a school‐centred, decentralized structure. This
provided a unique opportunity to examine the ways in which senior
executives respond in a time of discontinuous change. Presents general
findings of a self‐report coping strategies questionnaire and reveals
some significant relationships between general wellbeing, personality
type and coping strategies.
The administration of compulsory education in China
Authors: Choi Yeung Yun , Bannister Barry J.
Published: July 2002

Identifies some of the problems occurring in the Guangzhou
compulsory education programme and suggests suitable solutions. Reports
on a situation analysis to determine how the education system works in
practice. Describes policies, personnel and other resources contributing
to the system, including contingencies related to the Chinese context.
Suggests that evaluation concepts and practices can make a positive
contribution to the Guangzhou compulsory education programme.
The involuntary push
Authors: Martin Christopher D.
Published: July 2002

In Australia, the Dawkins green paper of 1987 supposedly set a clear framework for merging institutions in the new unified national system. However, neither the Commonwealth nor the various state governments took a strong leadership role in deciding which institutions should merge, leaving the actors to determine their own futures. In South Australia, three universities now exist, which was the least preferred option of the state’s educational planners. Two of those universities offer MBA programmes on contiguous campuses, a situation, supposedly, which would not be tolerated by the Dawkins guidelines. The third university, in a suburban location, also offers post‐graduate management education. In South Australia the Dawkins reforms of 1987 have had minimal impact on the delivery of post‐graduate management programmes, while a new university has emerged from the reform process.
Principalship mentoring in Singapore: who and what benefits?
Authors: Loy Zoe Boon Suan
Published: July 2002

Mentoring programmes for school administrators aim to facilitate learning by mentor‐protégé pairing. Selected vice‐principals are paired with experienced principals in protégé‐mentor pairs, for eight weeks of intensive mentoring in Singapore. Research suggests that mentoring programmes can be designed to benefit both mentors and protégés. Presents the results of a study on mentoring in Singapore. It highlights the benefits from mentoring and its correlates. Findings indicate that the behaviours and personal qualities of mentors and protégés could determine the benefits of mentoring.
Differentiating among role perceptions of echelons comprising a centralized national educational hierarchy
Authors: Nir Adam E.
Published: July 2002

Attempts to establish a distinction among echelons comprising a centralized national educational system by means of exploring their role perceptions of stress, tension, ambiguity risk and exposure to criticism. Statistical factors are computed and a discriminating procedure is executed based on the assumption that different hierarchical positions and work circumstances which exist in public centralized service‐oriented organizational hierarchies create unique influences on echelons’ role perceptions. Findings indicate that echelons are differentiated by their perceptions of risk and exposure to criticism, but not by their perceptions of role tension, stress and ambiguity. Findings indicate that the executing echelon in a centralized system perceives risk and exposure to public criticism to be greater in comparison with other echelons. Argues for back‐up mechanisms to be established in centralized organizational systems, so that the ability of the executing echelon’s members to respond and cope effectively with criticism and risk will be increased, and their perceived vulnerability will be reduced.
Teachers’ receptivity to a proposed system‐wide educational change
Authors: Collins Peter R. , Waugh Russell F.
Published: July 2002

This study investigates teacher receptivity to a proposal to relocate Year 7 primary classes to secondary schools in the Western Australia Catholic school system. The proposal has not yet either been formally promulgated to schools, parents and students or adopted by the Catholic Education Commission. A general model of teacher receptivity to a major planned change in a centralised education system, during the adoption stage, was used to guide the study. The dependent variable, receptivity, was measured in two aspects ‐ an evaluative attitude and behaviour intentions. Three independent variables, general beliefs about the secondary school and perceived readiness to leave primary school, perceived practicality of the change, and the perception that fears and concerns associated with the change will be alleviated, were measured. The environment in which teachers work was measured through the teacher (age, gender, experience, area of expertise and school size) and the school (primary or secondary, size and location), as situation variables, related to the independent variables. Receptivity was found to be strongly and positively related to the perceived practicality of the change and moderately, positively related to perceived readiness of Year 7 students for secondary school. The results are combined with other studies to provide advice to educational administrators about how to adopt and manage this proposed change.
Back to the future
Authors: Bell Les
Published: July 2002

This article argues that educational policy in England has passed through four main stages in the last three decades. The first three phases, Social democratic, Resource constrained and Market, all contain elements which now inform the Excellence phase which is being pursued by New Labour. This phase combines a determination to improve the quality of pupil learning with a much more interventionist set of strategies than has been witnessed in recent years. This set of policies has inherent weaknesses. Some of these are derived from the partial incorporation into current policy of the concept of the educational marketplace; others are associated with the concept based for New Labour educational policy, the school effectiveness movement; and yet others derive from an inadequate understanding of the nature of leadership and management in schools which leads to an over‐emphasis on the role of the school principal. The article concludes by suggesting alternative forms of leadership which might be more appropriate for schools in a rapidly changing society.
Active control of mixed convection in a rotating periodical two‐pass duct by using trailing‐wall transpiration
Authors: Jiang Hwang Jenn , Wang Wei‐Jyh
Published: July 2002

Deals with the flow reversal in a buoyancy‐opposed rotating duct that causes heat transfer deterioration. An active technique of trailing‐wall transpiration is adopted to check whether it can avoid the flow separation and subsequently improves the heat transfer deterioration. Finite‐difference method is employed to solve the three‐dimensional Navier‐Stokes equations and the energy equation. Periodic conditions are used between the entrance and exit of a typical two‐pass duct for the closure of the elliptic problem. The predicted results reveal that fluid withdrawal through the trailing wall can avoid the flow separation from the leading wall of the radial‐outward duct (ROD) and thus eliminate local hot spots. In addition, the trailing‐wall suction not only increases the peripherally averaged heat transfer but also reduces the friction loss in the ROD. In the radial‐inward duct (RID), both the peripherally averaged heat transfer and peripherally averaged friction factor are augmented by trailing‐wall injection and are degraded by the trailing‐wall suction.
Feasibility of the LES for engineering problems
Authors: Kobayashi Toshio , Taniguchi Nobuyuki , Togashi Shigenori
Published: July 2002

Presents four examples which were researched in a large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulence for engineering applications. Explains that, in the former two cases, developments of the advanced LES are indicated in a Smagorinsky model and in the treatments of the wall and the external boundary, and, in the later cases, the LES on the boundary fitted grids are applied using the finite different method (FDM) and the finite element method (FEM), where new numerical treatments, a composite grid technique and a modified scheme, are adopted for efficient calculations. Evaluates the results, and discusses the possible application of the LES for engineering problems.
Steady and unsteady computation of a two‐dimensional upwash jet
Authors: Ho Cho Seong , Park Seung O.
Published: July 2002

Computational procedures and results of an upwash jet arising from two opposing plane wall jets based on the Reynolds averaged Navier‐Stokes equations are discussed. For the calculation of the flow, a steady and an unsteady numerical approach were taken. For the steady computation, we adopted various eddy viscosity models(the standard k‐ε model, the RNG k‐ε model and the Bardina’s model) and the Reynolds stress transport model with various diffusion term closures. Results of the steady computation indicated that the jet half‐width was very much underpredicted, and hence the velocity profiles of the upwash jet were in very poor agreement with the experimental data. We found, however, that the velocity profiles nondimensionalized by the jet half width and the maximum velocity appeared to be in good agreement with the experimental data, which could be misleading. When an unsteady approach with an unsteady version of the standard k‐ε eddy viscosity model was taken, a periodic oscillation of the jet was observed. The jet half‐width distribution obtained by taking the time average of the periodic velocity profiles was found to be in much better agreement with the experimental data.
Numerical simulation of viscous free surface flow
Authors: Navti S.E. , Lewis R.W. , Taylor C.
Published: July 2002

Methods used to track the free surface in numerical flow simulations, typically during the casting of metals into moulds are examined in this paper. The algorithm employed makes use of a mixed interpolation formulation to approximate the discretised governing equations for elimination on a Langrangian type moving mesh. Significant savings in CPU time are realised by virtue of the the air domain not being considered in the finite element analysis. The advantages and drawbacks of commonly used methods are discussed, and a method proposed for the numerical simulation of flow where the free surface boundary conditions are important. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in solving typical industrial flow problems is demonstrated using numerical examples. The results obtained are compared with analytical and numerical data with a view to validating the algorithm.
Thermoconvective flow in a saturated, isotropic, homogeneous porous medium using Brinkman’s model: numerical study
Authors: Bèg Ò. À. , Takhar H.S. , Soundalgekar V.M.
Published: July 2002

Numerical results generated by a highly efficient finite‐difference method (originated by Keller for aerodynamical flows at the California Institute of Technology in 1970), and a robust double shooting Runge‐Kutta‐Merson scheme are presented for the boundary layer equations representing the convection flow of a viscous incompressible fluid past a hot vertical flat plate embedded in a non‐Darcy porous medium. Viscous dissipation due to mechanical work is included in the temperature field equation. The computations for both solution techniques are compared at the leading edge (ξ = 0.0) and found to be in excellent agreement. The effects of the viscous heating parameter (Ec), thermal conductivity ratio (λ) and a Darcy porous parameter (Re/GrDa) on the fluid velocities, temperatures, local shear stress and wall heat transfer rate are discussed with applications to geothermal and industrial flows.
Finite element analysis of radial cooled rotating electrical machines
Authors: Rajagopal M.S. , Seetharamu K.N. , Aswatha Narayana P.A.
Published: July 2002

Accurate prediction of temperature distribution in an electrical machine at the design stage is becoming increasingly important. It is essential to know the locations and magnitudes of hot spot temperatures for optimum design of electrical machines. A methodology based on axi‐symmetric finite element formulation has been developed to solve the conduction‐convection problem in radial cooled machines using a new eight noded solid‐fluid coupled element. The axi‐symmetric model adopted is formulated purely from dimensional data, property data and published convective correlations. Steady state temperatures have been determined for 102 kW radial cooled motor at 100 percent and 75 percent loads and are validated with experimental results obtained from heat run tests. Parametric studies have been carried out to study the effect of critical parameters on temperature distribution and for optimising the design.
Preconditioning by approximations of the discrete Laplacian for 2‐D non‐linear free convection elliptic equations
Authors: Juncu Gh.
Published: July 2002

The paper analyses the preconditioning of non‐linear nonsymmetric equations with approximations of the discrete Laplace operator. The test problems are non‐linear 2‐D elliptic equations that describe natural convection, Darcy flow, in a porous medium. The standard second order accurate finite difference scheme is used to discretize the models’ equations. The discrete approximations are solved with a double iterative process using the Newton method as outer iteration and the preconditioned generalised conjugate gradient (PGCG) methods as inner iteration. Three PGCG algorithms, CGN, CGS and GMRES, are tested. The preconditioning with discrete Laplace operator approximations consists of replacing the solving of the equation with the preconditioner by a few iterations of an appropriate iterative scheme. Two iterative algorithms are tested: incomplete Cholesky (IC) and multigrid (MG). The numerical results show that MG preconditioning leads to mesh independence. CGS is the most robust algorithm but its efficiency is lower than that of GMRES.
Predictions of swirling flow in sudden‐expansion dump combustor with flameholder side‐inlet using two‐step combustion model
Authors: Chuang Shu‐Hao , Yang Chih‐Sheng , Wu Nein‐Jou
Published: July 2002

The swirling flow of sudden‐expansion dump combustor with central V‐gutter flameholder and six side‐inlets is studied by employing the SIMPLE‐C algorithm and Jones‐Launder k‐ε two‐equation turbulent model. Both combustion models of one‐step with infinite chemical reaction rate and two‐step with finite chemical reaction rate of eddy‐breakup (EBU) model are used to solve the present problem. The results agreed well with available prediction data in terms of axial‐velocity and total pressure coefficient along combustor centerline. The flowfield structure of combustor considered is strongly affected by swirling, flameholder and side‐inlet flow. For the fixed strength of swirling, the length of central recirculation zone is decreased when the angle of V‐gutter is increased. The outlet velocity of combustor in reacting flow is higher than that in cold flow because the released heat of combustion causes the decrease of density throughout the combustor flowfield. The distribution of mass fraction of various species in reacting process depends on the mixing effect, chemical kinetic and the geometric configuration of combustor.
The multimedia librarian in the twenty‐first century
Authors: Baker David
Published: July 2002

Academic libraries are at a crossroads. Whether deciding on the pros and cons of converged services or juggling with slashed budgets in a frantic attempt to provide increasing numbers of services to more users. New technology, despite offering wonderful opportunities, changes quicker than the seasons and frequently fails to perform as well as its hype. The author suggests that we should regard this situation as an exciting challenge, rather than a threat. Integrated solutions are discussed and suggestions made as to how best we can balance the old with the new and a question is posed as to whether we can ever overcome the infrastructural problems posed by the Web.
Quality assurance of computer‐assisted assessment: practical and strategic issues
Authors: McKenna Colleen , Bull Joanna
Published: July 2002

This paper takes as its starting point observations and concerns of quality assurance staff in UK HEIs about the use of computer‐assisted assessment (CAA) collected in the 1999 National Survey into CAA. The issues raised are grouped into three categories: pedagogical; operational; and institutional; and the quality assurance issues for each area are addressed. Emphasis is placed on the institutional management of CAA, the development of quality assurance regulations and protocols and the evaluation of CAA systems. The paper makes suggestions about the co‐ordination of CAA within an institution and speculates on the future developments in computerised assessments and the increased importance of ensuring quality.
TQM and the transformation from an élite to a mass system of
higher education in the UK
Authors: Eriksen Scott D.
Published: July 2002

Higher education in the UK has been subject to extensive changes.
Government policy has stressed the need for an increase in student
numbers. Discusses the changes needed in degree course management to
create a system which is sufficiently flexible and efficient to cope
with more students without loss of quality. Applies the theory of total
quality management to higher education, indicating the need to treat
degree courses as continuous production systems, rather than batch runs
with standardized components and early detection of faults (unlearned
work) to reduce quality costs (student failures and exam resits).
Proposes that the US higher education system should be used as a model
for the UK.
The Distance Education and Training Council: at the cutting edge
Authors: Lambert Michael P.
Published: July 2002

Argues that there is no place for parochialism in distance learning institutions and that their survival in the face of fierce competition will depend on their ability to understand and manage change, make bold and intelligent choices regarding the best strategy to follow to become learning organizations and master the ever‐changing technological revolution in order to serve fully the needs of customers in an expanding marketplace. Lists the desired characteristics of an effective distance‐learning organization, provides a current profile of Distance Education and Training Council member institutions and offers practical suggestions for distance learning programme design.
Assuring quality in Access Courses ‐ the authorized version
Authors: Wilkinson David
Published: July 2002

Outlines the development of Access Courses and explains the national quality assurance framework developed to co‐ordinate standards within such provision. Generalizes the quality assurance processes of authorized validating agencies (AVAs), in order to facilitate a future exploration of some typical costs and benefits and the appreciation of the problematic nature of such an exercise.
Access to higher education
Authors: Hill Yvonne , MacGregor Janet , Dewar Kate
Published: July 2002

Aims to explore the various factors that influenced the outcomes of an orientation course for nurses and midwives entering higher education for the first time. Data were gathered by questionnaire and findings analysed to determine potential enabling and inhibiting factors affecting individual academic performance. Evidence suggests that there are a number of interrelating influences which affect success or failure and quality issues related to courses of this type must take a wider view than just the initial academic profile of the individual.
Looking towards the future: prospects and challenges arising from the Joint Planning Group’s proposals for new quality assurance arrangements
Authors: Newton Jethro
Published: July 2002

Reviews key elements of the Joint Planning Group’s proposals for new quality assurance arrangements. Identifies some challenges, prospects and opportunities for institutions arising in the context of the proposed arrangements. Notes the Joint Planning Group’s emphasis on partnership and argues that a focus on self‐regulation may provide the basis of a way forward for future development for the sector, the new quality agency and those who contract with it.
The role of discretion at examination boards for modular degree programmes
Authors: Hayden Gerry , Caine David
Published: July 2002

Examines the changing trends in higher education and the current movement in the UK towards a modular degree provision. Outlines how this move towards modularization often results in changes in the way undergraduate examination boards operate, universities often having to replace a series of small single degree examination boards by much larger committees operating under a two‐tiered system. Examines the changing requirements of the newer two‐tiered system with specific reference to where and how academic discretion can be applied. Concludes that discretion can rarely be supported on academic grounds within a modular degree system and that its previous use, in many cases, were symptomatic of some of the failures in the UK honours degree system.
Involving students in teaching and learning: a necessary evil?
Authors: McIlveen H. , Greenan K. , Humphreys P.
Published: July 2002

Quality has permeated higher education in various guises. Investigates the potential for improving quality in the consumer studies teaching process, through group work, presentation skills and peer/self assessment techniques, culminating in a final questionnaire and group discussion. Students accepted groupwork, while they were less enthusiastic about peer assessment. They consistently overrated and although appearing to recognize good and bad presentations, this was reflected more in their qualitative feedback, rather than in the final marks awarded, perhaps reinforcing the belief that what the technique lacks in terms of precision, it compensates for in learning quality. Final‐year students developed their discriminatory abilities but were sceptical of the benefits, while year‐two students, although willing, actually marked more generously. Ultimately, there is a need to continue to involve students and to see evaluation in a positive, developmental light, incorporating qualitative feedback to define and assess teaching quality more correctly.
Quality, standards, the consumer paradigm and developments in higher education
Authors: Doherty G.D.
Published: July 2002

Outlines the present state of play in the development of the new quality agency and considers some problems of attempting to define “quality” and “standards”. Considers these and methods of quality assurance in the context of consumerism. Compares present HEFCE methodology with a number of well‐known approaches to “quality” and “continuous improvement”. Discusses how the new agency might learn from these and embrace more robust methods post the year 2000.
Hand picked for quality ‐ a reflection on biz/ed
Authors: Sladen Catherine , Spence Mary
Published: July 2002

Subject gateways have been encouraged and financially supported by the Joint Information System Committee of the UK Higher Education and Research Funding Councils as a potential solution to the ever increasing cost of library provision and Internet based information resources. The gateway for Business Education, biz/ed, was developed using both existing procedures for quality assuring such resources, and new approaches. The four key elements ‐ DESIRE, ROADS, TIPs and the Focus Group ‐ are described and their effectiveness in achieving a quality output assessed. The overall conclusion is that there are still conceptual barriers to the use of gateways by academics, and that, while they may serve a useful purpose, the process of quality assurance and maintenance is continuous and resource intensive.
Applying quality management to courseware design and support
Authors: Walker A.J.
Published: July 2002

This article reviews an approach used to structure technical material into a large number of single theme topics, or modules. A course is a collection of modules. A key feature of a module is that it can be presented in 50 minutes, and is supported by a design specification, typeset notes, a series of slides for presentation using computer projection, a tutorial, assessment questions, and a Web page. Templates support the creation of the module specification, notes, presentation, tutorial and assessment material, Web support page, and the aggregation of module notes into a set of course notes. The modular structure relies entirely on an integrated application of software technology for word processing, typesetting and the creation of computer presentations, and generation and maintenance of Web pages to support a description of the modules and marketing of industry‐oriented courses within an ISO 9001 certified quality management system.
Issues in the illegal transference of US information technologies
Authors: Morris Daniel J. , Ettkin Lawrence P. , Helms Marilyn M.
Published: July 2002

US intellectual property (IP) is a key target of numerous other countries and individuals. Of specific interest to outsiders are technological resources. Illegally transferring information can range from the extreme of the often‐glamorized international espionage to the more traditional and common gathering of competitive intelligence (CI). This paper will review the key issues in the illegal transference of information technologies from the USA, will outline the role of other countries involved, and will discuss the impact on key, targeted industries. In particular the illegal attempts to procure key intellectual properties from technology firms will be discussed. In addition, the paper will distinguish between corporate intelligence, espionage, and economic espionage.
An exploratory inquiry into the perceived effectiveness of a global information system
Authors: Kim Bowon , Oh Heungshik
Published: July 2002

As globalization has driven and has also been driven by innovation in information technology (IT), an effective utilization of IT has become critical in improving global operations. In this paper, we report an exploratory inquiry into what factors influence the effectiveness of IT on coordinating international operations as perceived by managers at global firms. As an initial study, our research focuses on a specific set of variables which we propose are fundamental elements for determining the IT effectiveness in the global context, i.e. firm’s globalization level, IT application, and IT department dedication. We put forth two propositions: first, a global firm can enhance its IT effectiveness by advancing the IT application level; second, as its globalization level expands, the global firm must put in place a comparable amount of organizational support (measured by IT department dedication) for the global IT system if it wants to heighten IT performance by raising the IT application level. In order to verify the propositions, we collected survey data from 35 Korean firms, each of which operates on a global scale, doing operations in foreign countries through subsidiaries. Our analysis result led us to reach conclusions upholding the propositions.
Authentication: A Prominent Issue for Data Communications
Authors: Hains David
Published: July 2002

As data communication grows in importance, so the security aspects of
this area demand greater attention. Of all the security issues affecting
EDI, electronic authentication is a kingpin. Without the legal
safeguards of authentication, the promise of electronic trading cannot
be realized. Standardization and appropriate technology are the two
essentials for successful authentication. Describes some packaged
products which facilitate application of encryption‐based software and
hardware authenticity for EDI systems. The belief that the facilities of
X.400 will protect EDI are ill‐founded.
Software Intelligence introduces a new cross‐platform, dient/server
security solution
Authors: Irwin Elaine
Published: July 2002

Outlines plans and products of Software Intelligence′s new division
AXENT Technologies which will concentrate on information security
solutions for client/server computers.
What if you had a flood in your computer room
Authors: Fitzgerald Kevin J.
Published: July 2002

Deals with the dangers to computer systems from flooding and
water‐related hazards which so far appear to have been underestimated,
and offers preventive and remedial advice to companies which may find
themselves in such a position.
Data integrity and the Internet:
Authors: Mathieu Richard G. , Woodard Robert L.
Published: July 2002

The Internet is increasingly used by management professionals to
support information gathering and research activities. However, the
different sources of information on the Internet (i.e. electronic
journals, online databases, messages posted to groups of readers, and
E‐mail) must be carefully utilized by the prudent manager. In
particular, examines three issues surrounding the use and citation of
information received via the Internet. The first issue addresses
problems surrounding the accuracy and recency of information obtained on
the Internet. The second issue focuses on properly categorizing the type
of information received. The last issue examines how to reference
properly information obtained from the Internet that is used in academic
and industrial research. Concludes with a section on ethical issues
related to electronic media.
The interpersonal computer interregnum
Authors: May Thornton A.
Published: July 2002

Argues that the personal computer is dead as a workplace
phenomenon. Suggests that the financial pay‐off associated with using
personal computers to increase knowledge and worker productivity is no
longer viable; and that leading‐edge organizations are in transition
between the close of the PC era and the accession of the new age of
value‐on‐demand interpersonal computing. Highlights failings of the
personal computer paradigm including points such as: focus on the
individual and the desktop is misplaced; and the PC paradigm is flawed
because the world which spawned such thinking no longer exists.
Concludes by providing an action plan for conquering the interpersonal
computer interregnum.
Improving IT quality
Authors: Nolan Richard L.
Published: July 2002

While IT has been widely used to facilitate right‐sizing, the role
of IT in the quality movement has been proven but underutilized.
Companies focusing on quality to increase revenues have seen dramatic
results, improving products and services severalfold, with half the
number of employees. IT has helped those organizations design goods that
are easier to manufacture, improve new product cycle time through
cross‐functional integration of systems, and use electronic networks to
speed up communications internally and with suppliers and customers. Yet
most IT departments have been reactive rather than proactive, involved
only peripherally in their organization′s total quality programmes.
Quality improvement is vital to companies trying to thrive in an
increasingly competitive environment, and IT must be a partner in an
organization′s efforts to institutionalize quality. A business can begin
this effort with several basic steps. Briefly explaining the evolution
of the quality movement will help put those steps into context.