bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low-coverage sequencing: Implications for design of complex trait association studies
Authors: Li Yun , Sidore Carlo , Kang Hyun Min , Boehnke Michael , Abecasis Gonçalo R.
Published: April 2011

New sequencing technologies allow genomic variation to be surveyed in much greater detail than previously possible. While detailed analysis of a single individual typically requires deep sequencing, when many individuals are sequenced it is possible to combine shallow sequence data across individuals to generate accurate calls in shared stretches of chromosome. Here, we show that, as progressively larger numbers of individuals are sequenced, increasingly accurate genotype calls can be generated for a given sequence depth. We evaluate the implications of low-coverage sequencing for complex trait association studies. We systematically compare study designs based on genotyping of tagSNPs, sequencing of many individuals at depths ranging between 2× and 30×, and imputation of variants discovered by sequencing a subset of individuals into the remainder of the sample. We show that sequencing many individuals at low depth is an attractive strategy for studies of complex trait genetics. For example, for disease-associated variants with frequency >0.2%, sequencing 3000 individuals at 4× depth provides similar power to deep sequencing of >2000 individuals at 30× depth but requires only ∼20% of the sequencing effort. We also show low-coverage sequencing can be used to build a reference panel that can drive imputation into additional samples to increase power further. We provide guidance for investigators wishing to combine results from sequenced, genotyped, and imputed samples.
Dynamic Alternations in Cellular and Molecular Components during Blossom-End Rot Development in Tomatoes Expressing sCAX1, a Constitutively Active Ca2+/H+ Antiporter from Arabidopsis
Authors: Tonetto de Freitas Sergio , Padda Malkeet , Wu Qingyu , Park Sunghun , Mitcham Elizabeth J.
Published: April 2011

Although calcium (Ca) concentration in cellular compartments has been suggested to be tightly regulated, Ca deficiency disorders such as blossom-end rot (BER) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit may be induced by abnormal regulation of Ca partitioning and distribution in the cell. The objectives of this work were to analyze the effects of high expression of the constitutively functional Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) Ca2+/H+ exchanger (sCAX1) tonoplast protein in tomato fruit on cellular Ca partitioning and distribution, membrane integrity, and the transcriptional profile of genes potentially involved in BER development. Wild-type and sCAX1-expressing tomato plants were grown in a greenhouse. Wild-type plants did not develop BER, whereas sCAX1-expressing plants reached 100% BER incidence at 15 d after pollination. The sCAX1-expressing fruit pericarp had higher total tissue and water-soluble Ca concentrations, lower apoplastic and cytosolic Ca concentrations, higher membrane leakage, and Ca accumulation in the vacuole of sCAX1-expressing cells. Microarray analysis of healthy sCAX1-expressing fruit tissue indicated down-regulation of genes potentially involved in BER development, such as genes involved in membrane structure and repair and cytoskeleton metabolism, as well as up-regulation of genes that may have limited BER damage expansion, such as genes coding for heat shock proteins, glutathione S-transferases, and peroxidases. The results indicate that the high expression of the sCAX1 gene reduces cytosolic and apoplastic Ca concentrations, affecting plasma membrane structure and leading to BER symptom development in the fruit tissue.
Nanocomposites: a review of technology and applications
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the technology and applications of nanocomposite materials.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses products, applications and technological developments in polymer, ceramic and metal nanocomposites. It concludes with a brief consideration of electronic component applications.

Findings

It is shown that polymer nanocomposites and the materials used in their production are commercially available and finding applications in several industries, including automotive, military, food, electronics and leisure, due to their enhanced mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. Ceramic and metallic nanocomposites are at an earlier stage of development and a critical issue to resolve is optimising the dispersion of nanomaterials in the matrices. Passive electronic components based on nanocomposite materials are under development.

Originality/value

The paper provides a review of the rapidly developing field of nanocomposite technology.
Metal cutting machines continue to re‐invent themselves as manufacturing systems at latest IMTS show
Authors: Bloss Richard
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago with emphasis on innovations in applying automation to manufacturing and assembly.

Design/methodology/approach

In‐depth interviews with exhibitors of automated assembly and manufacturing technology.

Findings

Building of production machinery continues to move toward offering automated assembly or production cells and away from building single purpose metal cutting machinery. Robots are married to machine tools for much more than just tending.

Originality/value

The paper shows that users in almost any manufacturing realm will find that automated manufacturing technologies are now addressing all types of production requirements. No longer it is necessary to think that only million off part runs can be produced in an automated manner. Machine tool builders are including testing, finishing, marking, assembly and other secondary operations within the basic machining unit for a wide range of production volumes. Automation can even be applied to “made to order” type production.
Entry‐level RP machines: how well can they cope with geometric complexity?
Authors: Pei Eujin , Ian Campbell R. , de Beer Deon
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the limitations of entry‐level rapid prototyping (ELRP) machines when fabricating objects with high complexity.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature review provides an overview of RP technologies, followed by a discussion on the different levels of complexity in objects. The paper continues with a discussion on the definition of ELRP, followed by a number of experiments to explore the limitations of an ELRP system when fabricating complex models, and to compare the results obtained with those from a professional RP machine using standardised build parameters and the same acrylonitrile butadiene styrene material.

Findings

Of the five complex models that were produced from the Rapman machine, four of them were affected by warping; also, support structures were difficult to remove due to the interwoven build pattern. The study also found that the Rapman parts were coarsely built as opposed to the Dimension parts that were less coarse. The Rapman parts were also much lighter due to the hollow internal structure, as compared to the dimension parts that were virtually solid. From a quantitative viewpoint, parts produced from the Rapman machine showed significantly greater average errors in both absolute and percentage terms.

Practical implications

Users should bear in mind the restrictions of ELRP machines when fabricating complex shapes. The models may be prone to warping and the support structures could be difficult to remove.

Originality/value

This paper allows developers to understand the restrictions when fabricating complex models on an ELRP machine. The findings will also enable manufacturers to develop better entry‐level systems.
Auto‐ID based weedicide manufacturing process
Authors: Won Han Hyo , Seok Chang Yoon , Ryul Choi Myung
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new way of manufacturing process in the plant of the leading weedicide manufacturing company in Korea, Dongbu.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explains a design of Auto‐ID based weedicide manufacturing process, introduces new mechanism for assembly machine and presents simulation approach to understand potential benefit.

Findings

In Dongbu, there was no information matching among bottle, box and pallet levels. Another issue was error propagation. Because, the allowance range for weight difference is different depending on the level of unit, the small weight difference (i.e. deviation) within allowance range in bottle level can create errors when accumulated for boxing. The proposed method improved performance measures such as cycle time and cost of raw materials by introducing Auto‐ID technology. As in the simulation results, it is considered that adoption of radio frequency identification together with this automatic module will improve manufacturing performance drastically.

Originality/value

The research was based on the real world implementation of Auto‐ID based manufacturing in weedicide manufacturing company and discussed a new approach which addresses the current issues of industry.
Mentoring and job satisfaction in Malaysian SMEs
Authors: Lo May‐Chiun , Ramayah T.
Published: April 2011

Purpose

Building on social exchange theory, this paper aims to hypothesize the direct impact of mentoring on employees' job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey method was used to gather the information that was required in this study to examine the relationship between mentoring and employees' job satisfaction among employees from small and medium enterprises in Malaysia. A total of 200 questionnaires were sent out to executives of the middle and lower management level from the 21 selected small and medium enterprises. A total of 156 Malaysian executives participated.

Findings

The results show that there was a positive relationship between career mentoring and all dimensions in job satisfaction such as co‐workers, job itself, promotion and supervisors. On the other hand, no significant relationship was found between psychosocial mentoring and three aspects of employees' job satisfaction, namely co‐workers, job itself, and promotion.

Practical implications

This study has helped to establish a foundation for the study of job satisfaction and mentoring. The foundation established has generated more knowledge and arguments on mentoring in the workplace to enhance performance. This paper contributes to the literature on the relationship between mentoring and employees' job satisfaction.

Originality/value

Considering the potential cascading effect that a good relationship can have on subordinates' job satisfaction, the paper shows that previous researches may have underestimated the impact of mentoring on job satisfaction.
The value of historical nostalgia for marketing management
Authors: Marchegiani Christopher , Phau Ian
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effect of three levels of historical nostalgia on respondents' cognitions, attitude towards the advert, attitude toward the brand, and purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 292 respondents exposed to broadcast‐style advertising containing nostalgic cues completed a measure of historical nostalgia, a thought‐collection exercise, and measures of attitudes and intention. Hypotheses are tested using ANOVA and other relevant analyses.

Findings

The findings show that historical nostalgic thoughts and the valence of cognitive reactions significantly improve when respondents experience a moderate or high level of historical nostalgia compared with a low level. However, no significant benefit is evident when moving from a moderate to a high level. Brand and message‐related thoughts did not significantly change. Attitude towards the brand is significantly improved only if respondents reach a high level of historical reaction. Attitudes towards the advert and purchase intentions however continue to significantly improve at each increasing level of historical nostalgia.

Practical implications

Increased predictive capabilities of managers utilising historical nostalgia in the marketplace are achieved, specifically relating to consumers experiencing varying levels of historical nostalgia and the expected cognitive, attitudinal and purchase intent reactions. The study provides relevant implications for advertisers and creative directors to ensure the appropriate intensity of historical nostalgia is elicited.

Originality/value

No prior empirical studies on the effect of varying levels of historical nostalgia on consumer responses have been conducted. This is the first paper to close this gap.
Industrial sales lead conversion modeling
Authors: Monat Jamie P.
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to develop a theory and a practical qualitative modeling tool that accurately predicts the probability that an industrial sales lead will convert to a booking based on observable lead characteristics and one that can be used by a typical sales manager.

Design/methodology/approach

Past lead characterization models were reviewed and gaps and weaknesses examined. A qualitative model of lead characterization and qualification was then developed based upon the determinants of customer purchase decisions.

Findings

In total, 16 commonly available lead characteristics that represent proxies for the eight determinants of industrial customer purchase decisions were identified. These were adapted to a scoring model that enables sales and marketing personnel to assess the probability that a lead will convert to a booking.

Research limitations/implications

Different companies use different criteria and different weighting factors for making purchase decisions; therefore, no single quantitative lead characterization model will be accurate for all companies. The proposed model has not yet been formally field validated, but that is planned for future work.

Practical implications

The qualitative model proposed herein is more comprehensive than previous models and should thus prove more accurate. This should prove useful to sales and marketing managers, who need to forecast bookings and sales, optimally allocate resources, and structure marketing and promotion efforts for maximum return.

Originality/value

Several lead characterization models have been proposed in the past, but none are based upon sound theory and none have been field validated. Use of this work should significantly increase selling effectiveness as well as the accuracy of sales projections.
Electricity use trends in New Zealand office buildings, 1990‐2008
Authors: McDonagh John
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to determine trends in office building electricity use in New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach

The research examined Property Council of New Zealand annual operating expense survey data for the period 1990‐2008 and identified trends in both electricity expense and consumption per square metre.

Findings

Electricity consumption was surprisingly stable over the study period and electricity expenditure per square metre decreased in real terms until very recently. There were some significant differences in the level of consumption between different quality buildings and different locations but the trends were the same.

Research limitations/implications

The findings revealed major problems in the accuracy and extent of electricity use data collected.

Social implications

Globally the built environment has been assessed as accounting for 40 per cent of energy consumption. While New Zealand generates most of its electricity from sustainable hydroelectric sources, there are limited opportunities to expand such generation. As a result, the NZ government has been promoting energy efficiency as a means to reduce growth in electricity demand. Efficiency policies relating to office buildings have recently been proposed, but few benchmark figures are available on which to base such policies.

Originality/value

Little research of this nature has occurred in New Zealand previously and it is necessary to establish benchmarks against which improvements in the sustainability of buildings can be measured. It is also important to identify problems in data collection so that benchmarks are robust.
Asset management of social landlords based on value creation at neighbourhood level
Authors: van Overmeeren Arne , Gruis Vincent
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to explore an approach in which asset management strategies of housing associations are largely determined at neighbourhood level and in which the development of the market value is one of the key criteria.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the characteristics of the existing asset management models and their drawbacks. It describes area‐based policies, and it argues how the neighbourhood level can be incorporated in asset management and why this also helps to solve some of the drawbacks of the portfolio‐based models derived from strategic business planning. This approach is illustrated with the practice of housing association Stadgenoot.

Findings

It is argued that asset management based on value creation at neighbourhood level has significant advantages above the “traditional” business planning approach and suggests some further directions for elaboration of this approach.

Practical implications

This approach enables housing associations to improve their asset management strategies.

Originality/value

The paper presents a new view on asset management in response to traditional, top‐down, rational planning models.
Cooperation for competitiveness of emerging countries: learning from a case of nanotechnology
Authors: Momaya K.
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore a cooperation‐driven stage in the traditional framework of country competitiveness development and also suggest an approach to address pragmatic issues related to cooperation in the context, particularly, competitiveness evaluation and choice of partner country.

Design/methodology/approach

The objectives of the research were achieved by a research design that leveraged quantitative tools with strength of case study research. Quantitative data for benchmarking were obtained from a carefully selected Country Competitiveness Report. For identifying criteria of competitiveness for success of a country (aka critical success factors CSF), content analysis of strategic reports from competitive countries was employed.

Findings

Cooperative strategies and flagship firms emerged to be CSFs that can drive investment needed for innovation and technology development, the later stages in country competitiveness development framework. Evaluation of competitiveness can be quite difficult and resource‐intensive process, but can be improved with innovative mix of different approaches and tools. With quite consistent and effective results in one more international context and a new industry, the assets‐processes‐performance (APP) framework of competitiveness can provide a simple, yet valuable approach with flexibility to adapt across levels and contexts, a vital need.

Practical implications

Competitiveness leaders should review cooperation processes and performance. They should evolve strategies to leverage cooperation on relevant dimensions.

Originality/value

A key contribution of this paper is proposing a vital cooperation‐driven stage for country competitiveness and operationlizing it using three major frameworks of competitiveness in a practical and useful context of nanotechnology, when many countries are evolving their strategies for such industries. An approach is tested to simplify evaluation of competitiveness in a difficult context of emerging industries. It can help leadership take more informed critical decisions about competitiveness and assess their impact for enhancing desired impacts of the decisions. For the purpose, comparing three alternatives, the author extends the APP framework with strategy concept of CSF to enhance its flexibility, thus contributing to needs of effectiveness and simplicity of emerging country context.
The early and rapid internationalization of Asian emerging MNEs
Authors: Chang Juichuan
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrated framework that conceptualizes multifaceted antecedents pertaining to international expansion of Asian emerging multinational enterprise (MNEs) in relation to firm performance. The author argues that the accelerated process of Asian emerging MNEs internationalization appears to be a historically significant change in the way business is conducted.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper tests how internationalization expansion path, geographic scope, industry and firm characteristics affect Asian emerging MNEs performance in a sample of 115 Asian MNEs over the period 2003‐2006.

Findings

The results indicate that an emerging MNE's institutional heritage and its own internationalization strategy are likely to create specific preference for operating in differing geographic regions. On the other hand, the results also indicate that domestic growth rate, global market growth rate and R&D investment influence the degree of internationalization of Asian emerging MNEs.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies may apply time series data and require additional empirical research using samples from other emerging markets such as Eastern European, Russia and South America. Addressing industry‐specific effects, and/or examine the influence of company characteristics would clearly add to this study.

Originality/value

Asian merging MNEs have certain advantages over large developed country's MNEs, including greater flexibility, efficiency, quality and advantage‐seeking behavior, which allow an emerging multinational enterprise MNE to develop capabilities to succeed in the international markets.
Towards a methodological approach: theorising scenario thinking as a social practice
Authors: Sarpong David
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to draw on the social theory of practice to show scenario thinking as an everyday practice and how the practice could be theorised at the meso‐level.

Design/methodology/approach

Counterfactual analysis, scenario analysis and peripheral vision are presented as the constituting methodological triad through which scenario thinking comes into representation.

Findings

Scenario thinking is a temporally emerging everyday organizational practice. By placing emphasis on the mundane and taken for granted activities that come together to form the nexus of the practice, often deep underlying structures of organizational behaviour contributing to scenario thinking can be theorised.

Research limitations/implications

The practice conceptualisation of scenario thinking inverts and challenges existing management and practitioners' conventional understanding of the practice as an episodic phenomenon in waiting to be facilitated by an expert with specific end points and conformity.

Practical implications

Foresight practitioners and researchers can use this as an analytical starting point for the study and theorising of scenario thinking in self organized groups.

Originality/value

The paper provides a new angle of vision to extend understanding of the development and theorising of scenario thinking in autonomous working groups.
Evaluating corporate governance and identifying its formulating factors: the case of Greece
Authors: Lazarides Themistokles , Drimpetas Evaggelos
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to establish a benchmark for the evaluation of the quality of corporate governance (CG) and to detect the factors that affect it in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

An index of corporate governance quality is constructed using binary variables. Data from annual reports are used to identify the mechanisms and practices of corporate governance. An ordinal probit model is used to identify the drivers of corporate governance.

Findings

CG quality in Greece is quite low, in terms of international best practices. The main drivers of CG quality are firm size, leadership or power concentration and board characteristics. Greek firms' CG quality depends mainly on the balance of power within the firm, rather than performance or market for corporate control.

Research limitations/implications

Data for the constructed index have been collected from the annual reports, and not from questionnaires.

Practical implications

The study provides evidence that there is a different set of factors that affect CG quality from those in Anglo‐Saxon countries. The paper addresses the issue of the relevance of proposed CG mechanisms to real CG problems. By identifying the factors that have an impact on CG quality, policy makers can focus on them to create a legal‐regulatory framework that can improve the level of CG.

Originality/value

The paper not only measures CG, but pinpoints its formulating factors as well. Furthermore, the need for new benchmarking tools to address the fundamental elements of the corporate environment (i.e. ownership concentration, the lack of a market for corporate control, etc.) in continental Europe is highlighted.
Advances in video networking: standards and applications
Authors: Grecos Christos , Wang Qi
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The interdisciplinary nature of video networking, coupled with various recent developments in standards, proposals and applications, poses great challenges to the research and industrial communities working in this area. The main purpose of this paper is to provide a tutorial and survey on recent advances in video networking from an integrated perspective of both video signal processing and networking.

Design/methodology/approach

Detailed technical descriptions and insightful analysis are presented for recent and emerging video coding standards, in particular the H.264 family. The applications of selected video coding standards in emerging wireless networks are then introduced with an emphasis on scalable video streaming in multihomed mobile networks. Both research challenges and potential solutions are discussed along the description, and numerical results through simulations or experiments are provided to reveal the performances of selected coding standards and networking algorithms.

Findings

The tutorial helps to clarify the similarities and differences among the considered standards and networking applications. A number of research trends and challenges are identified, and selected promising solutions are discussed. This practice would provoke further thoughts on the development of this area and open up more research and application opportunities.

Research limitations/implications

Not all the concerned video coding standards are complemented with thorough studies of networking application scenarios.

Practical implications

The discussed video coding standards are either playing or going to play indispensable roles in the video industry; the introduced networking scenarios bring together these standards and various emerging wireless networking paradigms towards innovative application scenarios.

Originality/value

The comprehensive overview and critiques on existing standards and application approaches offer a valuable reference for researchers and system developers in related research and industrial communities.
GeoPointer – approaching tangible augmentation of the real world
Authors: Beer Wolfgang
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present an architecture and prototypical implementation of a context‐sensitive software system which combines the tangible user interface approach with a mobile augmented reality (AR) application.

Design/methodology/approach

The work which is described within this paper is based on a creational approach, which means that a prototypical implementation is used to gather further research results. The prototypical approach allows performing ongoing tests concerning the accuracy and different context‐sensitive threshold functions.

Findings

Within this paper, the implementation and practical use of tangible user interfaces for outdoor selection of geographical objects is reported and discussed in detail.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is necessary within the area of context‐sensitive dynamically changing threshold functions, which would allow improving the accuracy of the selected tangible user interface approach.

Practical implications

The practical implication of using tangible user interfaces within outdoor applications should improve the usability of AR applications.

Originality/value

Despite the fact that there exist a multitude of research results within the area of gesture recognition and AR applications, this research work focuses on the pointing gesture to select outdoor geographical objects.
Applicability of the high‐performance organisation framework at an East African university
Authors: de Waal André , Chachage Bukaza
Published: April 2011

Purpose

In the past few decades, organizations all over the world have been searching for the elements that constitute continuous organizational success. Fuelled by bestsellers such as In Search of Excellence and Good to Great, managers have implemented many different improvement concepts, often with mixed results. The aim of this study is to identify whether the high‐performance organisation (HPO) framework could help an African university to become one of the first high‐performance educational organizations in Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of a meta analysis into high performance and a subsequent worldwide survey, 35 characteristics of a HPO were identified. The resulting HPO framework was applied at Iringa University College (IUCo) in 2007, to identify the HPO status of the university and to determine the required improvement actions. In 2009, the HPO framework was again applied at the university, to evaluate progress.

Findings

In two years, IUCo not only improved its HPO status but also its financial and non‐financial results. Therefore, the HPO framework can actively be used in Africa to improve the performance of African institutions.

Originality/value

The results of the study show that it is possible to identify factors that determine continuous organizational success in Africa, and that managers can be offered a framework that adds focus to improvement.
Consumers' perceptions of online ethics and its effects on satisfaction and loyalty
Authors: Limbu Yam B. , Wolf Marco , Lunsford Dale L.
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effects of consumers' perceptions concerning the ethics of online retailers on web site satisfaction and loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey instrument was administered to a sample of 220 students who were enrolled in various business undergraduate classes at a mid size university located in the southwestern USA. Participants completed a questionnaire based on their latest online purchase. The measurement model and structural relationships were estimated using AMOS 18.

Findings

Non‐deception, fulfillment, and security are significant predictors of web site satisfaction. Only privacy is related directly with loyalty. While direct effects of fulfillment and non‐deception on loyalty are not significant; satisfaction mediates these relationships. Results provide a strong support for the web site satisfaction‐loyalty relationship.

Practical implications

Internet retailers must address ethical issues surrounding their web sites by protecting financial and personal information, delivering accurate products, and avoiding deceptive practices.

Originality/value

The current research is one of few studies in online retailing that examines the relationship between perceived online ethics, satisfaction and loyalty. By offering evidence to prior conflicting results in the literature, a strong association between what consumers perceive as ethical online retailing, their satisfaction and loyalty to online retailers was confirmed.
VidaGás: delivering better health to Northern Mozambique with LPG
Authors: Sprague Courtenay , Woolman Stu
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to document the manner in which a pro‐poor company can deliver ongoing health benefits and improve environmental sustainability in a manner that addresses child and maternal mortality (in line with millennium development goals 4, 5 and 7).

Design/methodology/approach

Field research in Mozambique including 12 in‐depth interviews with key personnel from December 2006 to January 2007.

Findings

First, clear threats to the success of VidaGás' pro‐poor business model encompass insufficient liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply and storage facilities; poor industrial and commercial infrastructure in Northern Mozambique; inadequate training of retailers in LPG use; and inadequate consumer knowledge of the benefits of LPG. Second, key innovations employed by VidaGás to overcome these obstacles consist of the introduction of a novel cold chain to safeguard medicines; a complex supply chain to ensure timely delivery; and the exploitation of local knowledge and expertise to expand the uptake of LPG by Mozambicans.

Practical implications

The case study focuses on a business problem with significant development implications. The challenge is to ensure a reliable supply of LPG in Northern Mozambique. To meet this challenge, VidaGás must achieve its stated goal of becoming a revenue‐generating entity within three years. In order to create a viable market for LPG, VidaGás must not only increase the uptake of LPG by poor consumers, it must expand LPG market access to commercial consumers, while raising additional capital.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature on social entrepreneurship and demonstrates how to link for‐profit business imperatives with development goals.
Specialized banking services for small scale entrepreneurs: the case of Mibanco, Peru
Authors: Franco Concha Pedro P.
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe Mibanco's challenges in offering credit to individuals who have never had access to the formal banking system in Peru. The purpose of the case is to explain how Mibanco's innovative products and services have contributed to its success in enabling thousands of Peruvians to gain access to banking services. The paper also describes Mibanco's latest adaptations in response to growing competition to provide banking services to the lower income segments of the market.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study research methodology combines primary data from key informant interviews with Mibanco's CEO Rafael Llosa and other senior executives as well as academics and investment professionals familiar with Mibanco's operations. Secondary data were also collected from Mibanco's annual reports and other published sources.

Findings

The paper describes Mibanco's innovations in overcoming constraints in its operating environment. The case also documents the important role that Mibanco has played in transforming the Peruvian financial market through its pioneering development of financial products and services for the poor.

Originality/value

The paper describes Mibanco's role in influencing the Peruvian financial system as a whole and specifies the strategies that Mibanco's executive management has established to overcome the risks and challenges faced by the institution.
The significance of formal training in project‐based companies
Authors: Aramo‐Immonen Heli , Koskinen Kaj U. , Porkka Pasi L.
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of formal training in project‐based companies.

Design/methodology/approach

First the discussion deals with the concepts of learning, the learning environment, and the motivation to learn in a way in which special focus is on the project team members' motivation to learn. The hypothesis, “People working for project‐based companies are not interested in formal training” is tested by an empirical study, which was conducted on ten Finnish marine and offshore industry companies. Altogether, 54 project team members and project managers attended the multiple‐case study.

Findings

According to the results of the study, formal training is not seen as a necessity among the people working for project‐based companies. This seems to mean that nowadays formal training does not play a significant role in the development of project‐based companies. Further, the people do not necessarily have time to reflect because they are being bombarded by urgent problems and pressing deadlines. A lack of time and a feeling of heavy work load seem to be a normal practise.

Originality/value

Based upon the paper's findings, further research is suggested that would be focussed first on designing integrated learning environments in project‐based companies' processes, and/or second on the training methods utilized, interaction between trainers and project people, and relevancy and efficiency of formal training offered by training organizations to the project‐based companies.
Development of relationships and relationship competencies in complex projects
Authors: Live Vaagaasar Anne
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to increase our understanding of how stakeholder relationships develop and how projects can develop the knowledge, skills, and aptitudes required to handle a multitude of stakeholder relationships. The objective is to provide in‐depth descriptions of what makes up these relationship competencies.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal study was made of a complex technology project. The project was followed for a year and a half. The data material includes more than 20 in‐depth interviews with key actors of the project context and more than 300 hours of participant observations.

Findings

The results show that project competencies in stakeholder management are emergent phenomena which develop through trial and error, and how they, over time, appear as cultivated and fine‐tuned capabilities of communicating. This communication involves narrating, differentiated, yet carefully balanced stories. Little by little, the project's interaction patterns become fine‐tuned and sensitive, with regard to the content and framing, not the least of which is the timing of messages.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is suggested on the development and characteristics of relationship competencies in a project context. Especially, the extent it includes narration and also the characteristics of this narration; how and when is it used and what are the effects.

Practical implications

Project teams should be aware of how they can use stories strategically to deal with a multitude of stakeholder relationships.

Originality/value

Studies on project behavior have been called for. The orginality in this paper lies in the fine‐grained in‐depth descriptions of how a project actually copes with a multitude of stakeholders.
Post‐project changes: occurrence, causes, and countermeasures
Authors: Andersen Bjørn , Olsson Nils O.E. , Onsøyen Lars E. , Spjelkavik Ingrid
Published: April 2011

Purpose

This purpose of this paper is to investigate the volume and background of changes done shortly after project completion.

Design/methodology/approach

To ensure a consistent set of projects, selection criteria were related to project budget, time of completion, and executing institution. Data collection included an initial survey followed by interviews.

Findings

The study identified frequency and extent of changes/alterations within a certain period after project completion as well as the dominating causes for such changes.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on a limited number of projects and from three specific Norwegian agencies. Future research should include a larger sample, possibly also covering other sectors.

Practical implications

If acted upon, the suggestions for countermeasures can contribute to reducing or preventing post‐project changes. The findings indicate a need for new performance measures for projects, as the classical parameters provide motivation to project managers and their teams to focus on project cost and timely delivery, rather than the life‐cycle cost.

Social implications

In sectors experiencing a widespread occurrence of changes after project completion, this could mean that cost overruns or functionality beyond what was sanctioned by the financing bodies are “hidden” in this type of change work. If so, this prevents sponsors and society from seeing the real project cost, and is clearly a misuse of resources.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the limited literature focusing on changes after project completion. The paper includes material that may help project managers and project owners avoid post‐project changes and the costs and inconvenience associated with such changes.
Assuring the managerial capability of public organizations implementing projects
Authors: Fitsilis Panos , Kirytopoulos Konstantinos , Leopoulos Vrassidas
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the requirements for assuring the managerial capability of organisations implementing projects of public interest. It presents the case of Greece, and the family of newly developed set of standards concerning the managerial maturity of public organisations and the management of projects funded by European Union support frameworks.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the case study approach, the paper presents the current status in Greek public administration concerning project management. Further, it presents how the new set of standards improves public management and public organization maturity for managing projects.

Findings

The paper presents the problems faced and the drawbacks encountered from the management of large programmes and projects from public bodies in Greece. Further, it presents the structure of a system for assuring managerial capability (SAMC) in Project Management and how its application can improve management efficiency and effectiveness.

Originality/value

The paper presents a newly developed SAMC in project management that can be applied to public bodies and organisations managing projects. This system has been adopted by Hellenic Organization for Standardization as the new standard ELOT‐1429:2008.
University‐industry collaboration in Japan by technology fields
Authors: Kondo Masayuki
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify how university‐industry (U‐I) collaboration differs by technology fields in Japan.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of the research resource allocation in the Japanese national universities in the Japanese national innovation system is followed by the analysis of U‐I collaboration by technology fields. The fields analyzed are life science, information and communication technology (ICT), environment science, nanotechnology and material science, which have been designated as strategically important fields by the Second Japanese Science and Technology Basic Plan. The analysis was conducted in a quantitative way using government data of R&D expenditure, researchers, patent application, joint research, contract research and university spin‐offs.

Findings

Some characteristics of U‐I collaboration have been quantitatively found by technology fields. Though the national universities occupy large R&D expenditure shares in life science and nanotechnology/material science in the Japanese national innovation system, their joint research and contract research are fairly active in environment science as well as in life science and in nanotechnology/material science. For university spin‐offs, the national universities are active in life science and ICT.

Originality/value

This paper quantitatively clarifies U‐I collaboration by technology fields showing relative importance of U‐I collaboration by technology fields. The results provide information input to policy makers when they formulate policies to promote U‐I collaboration by technology fields and to corporate managers when they make U‐I collaboration strategies by technology fields as a part of open innovation strategies.
Auto‐tuning PID controller design using a sliding‐mode approach for DC servomotors
Authors: Hsu Chun‐Fei , Chiu Chien‐Jung , Tsai Jang‐Zern
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The proportional‐integral‐derivative (PID) controller has been a practical application in industry due to its simple architecture, being easily designed and its parameter tuning without complicated computation. However, the traditional PID controller usually needs some manual retuning before being used for practical application in industry. The purpose of this paper is to propose an auto‐tuning PID controller (ATPIDC) which can automatically tune the controller parameters based on the gradient descent method and the Lyapunov stability theorem. Finally, a field‐programmable gate array (FPGA) chip is adopted to implement the proposed ATPIDC scheme for possible low‐cost and high‐performance industrial applications, and it is applied to a DC servomotor to show its effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

To ensure the stability of the intelligent control system, a compensator usually should be designed. The most frequently used compensator is designed as a sliding‐mode control, which results in substantial chattering in the control effort. To tackle this problem, the proposed ATPIDC system is composed of a PID controller and a fuzzy compensator. The PID controller can automatically tune the gain factors of the controller gains based on the gradient descent method, and the fuzzy compensator is utilized to eliminate approximation error based on the Lyapunov stability theorem. The proposed fuzzy compensator not only can remove the chattering phenomena of conventional sliding‐mode control completely, but also can guarantee the stability of the closed‐loop system.

Findings

The proposed ATPIDC system is applied to a DC servomotor on a FPGA chip. The hardware implementation of the ATPIDC scheme is developed in a real‐time mode. Using the FPGA to implement, the ATPIDC system can achieve the characteristics of small size, fast execution speed and less memory. A comparison among the fuzzy sliding‐mode control, adaptive robust PID control and the proposed ATPIDC is made. Experimental results verify a better position tracking response can be achieved by the proposed ATPIDC method after control parameters training.

Originality/value

The proposed ATPIDC approach is interesting for the design of an intelligent control scheme. An on‐line parameter training methodology, using the gradient descent method and the Lyapunov stability theorem, is proposed to increase the learning capability. The experimental results verify the system stabilization, favorable tracking performance and no chattering phenomena can be achieved by using the proposed ATPIDC system. Also, the proposed ATPIDC methodology can be easily extended to other motors.
The Everyday Lives of Children with Cancer in Argentina: Going beyond the Disease and Treatment
Authors: Vindrola‐Padros Cecilia
Published: April 2011

Most of the literature on paediatric oncology treatment has provided descriptions of children’s everyday lives that are circumscribed to periods of hospitalisation. In this paper, I argue that the political and economic context where children receive oncology treatment as well as the particular trajectories of their families influence their experiences. The narratives from children receiving treatment in three public hospitals in Buenos Aires, Argentina, were collected. Their stories indicate that issues such as the interruption of school, the separation of family members, the expenses incurred during treatment, and barriers to care influence the everyday lives of children and should be included in paediatric oncology research. © 2011 The Author(s). Children & Society © 2011 National Children’s Bureau and Blackwell Publishing Limited