bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bayesian indexing: the next craze in search algorithms?
Authors: Seadle Michael
Published: April 2007

Bayes’ theorem is about updating assumptions. It provides a mathematical basis for a heuristic search algorithm. A system using such an algorithm could make a kind of “best guess” about what the query is likely to mean. Some disadvantages include the need for more individualized information, a possible tendency to focus on a limited set of works, and the potential for encouraging slopping searching. The literature on heuristic systems is already substantial, and is relevant to all of us in the library and information field.
Analyzing the competitive advantages of Saudi Arabia with Porter’s model
Authors: Jasimuddin Sajjad M.
Published: April 2007

Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s wealthiest nations per capita and, through possession of a large share of the world’s oil resources, an economic power. However, oil continues to dominate exports, but industrialization efforts of the 1980s have led to a considerable diversification, with a range of manufactured goods being produced. The economic success of Saudi Arabia is built in part on its comparative advantages and on overcoming its disadvantages. Although the government strongly supports the free market economy based on competition, Saudi Arabia is yet to succeed in global competition, but the relative decline in its competitiveness demands a reexamination of its national competitive advantages. The paper analyzes the competitive advantages of Saudi Arabia with Porter’s model. Porter’s model generates various alternatives for a nation to gain a competitive advantage. However, these alternatives are not prescriptive. The four factors of Porter’s model are the basis for analyzing Saudi Arabian competitive advantage.
Marketing strategies of Australian electricity distributors in an opening market
Authors: Stanton P.J. , Cummings S. , Molesworth J. , Sewell T.
Published: April 2007

Examines the development of marketing strategies in the Australian electricity distribution market which has recently opened to competition. Marketing managers of businesses licensed to compete in this market were surveyed to assess the importance they attached to particular marketing variables and marketing strategies and whether they were developing a strategic focus. The market currently open consists of medium and large commercial and industrial electricity users. The competitive methods used in this industry were classified according to their consistency with the generic strategic approaches either of being low‐cost, differentiated or focussed. Nine respondents are following a low‐cost strategy, three a differentiation strategy and one, a focus strategy. One can be labelled as “stuck in the middle”. There are more similarities than differences between respondents. The findings point to a lack of clear strategic direction and difficulties in competitors developing strategies consistent with their capabilities.
Advertising agency activities used to attract new clients in Australia
Authors: Waller David S. , Cusick Damien J. , Matheson Hamish D. , Miller Matthew K.
Published: April 2007

Advertising agencies, as communication professionals, should use “best practice” activities for promoting themselves to attract new clients. Presents the results of a survey of executives from the top advertising agencies in Australia to determine the activities the agencies use to promote themselves. Overall, it was indicated that “personal contact” and “positive recommendations of satisfied clients” were perceived to be the most effective for winning new clients. Other activities perceived to be effective were: responding to requests for new business presentations, publicity on recent successful campaigns and winning industry awards.
Increasing the persuasiveness of a service guarantee: the role of service process evidence
Authors: Marmorstein Howard , Sarel Dan , Lassar Walfried M.
Published: April 2007

After investing in service quality improvement programs, firms may realize that they still face a daunting challenge: How should they persuade consumers that service has actually improved? One way of attempting to persuade consumers is to offer a service guarantee. But are guarantees credible? Are they really effective? Can they overcome consumers’ prior negative experience? Surprisingly, the topic has received very little attention. This paper provides a conceptual and an empirical examination of the persuasive power of service guarantees. Specifically, the effects of service process evidence, compensation and prior beliefs about the service provider, are examined. The experimental data indicate that the inclusion of service process evidence significantly increases consumers’ willingness to try the provider. The findings also suggest that compensation is more persuasive when service process evidence is specified in the guarantee. The synergy of presenting service process evidence and high compensation, is able to overcome consumers’ prior (negative) exposure. Overall, the study supports the conclusion that consumers are primarily interested in service reliability and only secondarily in compensation for service failures. Managerial implications of the findings are discussed.
Exploring the market potential and bundling of business association services
Authors: Bennett Robert J. , Robson Paul J.A.
Published: April 2007

This paper is aimed at association managers and market advisors. It explores how associations balance their provision of different services, the potential for associations to provide new services, and the relevance of service “bundling”. A new survey of small firm use of associations in Britain shows that there are few differences between businesses by sector in their use of association services, but membership does significantly increase with firm size, and there is a pattern of “joiners” who belong to many associations, and “non‐joiners”. There is considerable evidence of the benefits of bundling a range of low‐cost, low‐intensity services. But actual use levels of services are low. Even joiners of many associations seem to use association membership chiefly as an insurance principle: to gain ready access to a range of services “just in case”. Analysis of the potential for new services suggests a few potential new specific niches that are related chiefly to strengthening existing service bundles emphasising the insurance principle.
Can ERIC survive a laissez‐faire fiscal policy?
Authors: Rudner Lawrence M.
Published: April 2007

This paper contends that US federal policy with regard to the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) must change and that ERIC will need massive restructuring in order to continue to meet the information needs of the education community. Four arguments are presented: ERIC is the most widely known and used educational resource of the US Department of Education; senior OERI and Department of Education officials have consistently undervalued, neglected, and underfunded the project; ERIC’s success is due largely to information analysis and dissemination activities beyond ERIC’s contracted scope; information needs have changed dramatically in the past few years and ERIC cannot keep up with the demands, given its current resources.
The building blocks of the building project: a case study of the Kalamazoo (MI) Public Library
Authors: Amdursky Saul J. , Godrey Lisa A.
Published: April 2007

Provides the sequential history of Kalamazoo Public Library’s $18,700,000 building project. How the library strengthened its relationship with its community through the building project is the most important message. Information about the project’s inception, how decisions were made, and the tax levy are included. The establishment of a building committee and the nuances involved with fund development for art are addressed.
Easy as ABC? Activity‐based costing in Oxford University Library Services
Authors: Heaney Michael
Published: April 2007

Oxford University Library Services (OULS) currently consists of over 30 federated libraries and services at Oxford University. Owing to the size of OULS, and the reality of future libraries joining the organisation, the administration chose to develop an activity‐based costing model. This ongoing study initially sought to identify work efficiencies and actual costs of materials and services. By doing so, OULS hopes to increase the efficiency of its operations and develop best practices for its entire organisation. While the initial study focused on determining immediate costs, subsequent analyses will focus on the actual activities – mapping particular staff to activities performed.
Organizational change, leadership and learning: culture as cognitive process
Authors: Lakomski Gabriele
Published: April 2007

Examines the claim that we need to change the organization’s culture if we want to bring about organizational change. Concerns itself with the mainstream conception of (organizational) culture, especially in relation to what is called “the paradox of culture”, its twin tendencies towards stability and variability. In the process, the role of the leader and organizational learning are reassessed in their purported causal interrelation. Develops the notion of culture as cognitive process based on recent research in both cultural anthropology and the new cognitive science.
Shared decision making and core school values: a case study of organizational learning
Authors: Stevenson Robert B.
Published: April 2007

This case study suggests that second‐order changes in structures and relationships do not necessarily result in second‐order changes in teaching and learning. Processes and norms that serve to govern discourse and behavior in relation to other kinds of school issues cannot be assumed to come into play when complex issues concerning curriculum and teaching are encountered. The potential of organizational learning for contributing to the improvement of teaching and learning in schools remains promising but elusive. The groundbreaking work of Argyris needs to be extended through concerted research in school settings.
Effective organisation and management of public sector volunteer workers
Authors: Gaston Kevin , Alexander Jackie A.
Published: April 2007

Increasing numbers of people internationally are volunteering their time and expertise to a wide range of public sector and not‐for‐profit organisations. This resource needs to be organised and managed effectively to realise the potential benefits. Surveys 1,226 male and female volunteer Special Constables and regular officers from five UK police forces. Reports their motivations, experiences, preferences, deployment, training, relationships with full‐time officers, reasons for leaving and factors influencing the decision to rejoin. Identifies demographic factors associated with length of service. Managerial and organisational implications are discussed, particularly the need for detailed, up to date information on the volunteers and their experiences and aspirations to aid recruitment, retention and effective deployment.
The meaning of “strategy” for area regeneration: a review
Authors: Hutchinson Jo
Published: April 2007

Explores whether effective area regeneration requires a more strategic approach because of the greater dispersal of roles and the need to take operations into the next planning period. Using three dimensional perspectives to see strategy as the summation of process, content and context, the paper presents implications of calls for more strategy. Discusses the meaning of strategy and problems with relating it to area regeneration practice. The main conclusions are: any evaluation of strategy must go beyond the use of a single strategy document; key factors in the organisational context must be addressed; calls for strategy need to be specific and clarity in expression is essential.
Management in government: the future
Authors: Butler Robin
Published: April 2007

Comprises a speech given by Sir Robin Butler, Secretary to the Cabinet and head of the Home Civil Service, at a conference held in London in November 1995 to celebrate the twenty‐fifth anniversary of the Civil Service College. Draws from the speaker’s own experiences of working in the Civil Service and details the changes leading to the opening of the college in 1970, which provides high quality training and consultancy in management and policy issues, and has gained international recognition. Considers the main themes of the reforms in the management of the Civil Service, not just in the UK, but also in the USA and New Zealand, and highlights the Civil Service’s emphasis on well‐trained, knowledgeable and professional staff.
The relation between decentralised structure, budgetary participation and organisational commitment
Authors: Subramaniam Nava , Mia Lokman
Published: April 2007

Reports the results of a study which investigated the moderating role of managers’ value orientation towards innovation (VOI) on the relationships between managers’ organisational commitment and two management control features – decentralised organisational structure and budgetary participation. Data for the study were collected from 116 managers in manufacturing firms. The results indicate that managers’ VOI has a significant moderating effect on the relationships between the two management control features and managers’ organisational commitment. The results reveal that the relationships are stronger for managers with high VOI than for managers with low VOI. These results have implications for enhancing managers’ organisational commitment through the design of management control systems appropriate for the extent of innovative work values promoted by organisations.
Re‐engineering pharmaceutical care: towards a patient‐focused care approach
Authors: Al‐Shaqha Waleed M.S. , Zairi Mohamed
Published: April 2007

As healthcare reform takes shape, many challenges face hospital pharmacists. An opportunity exists to combine the principles of patient‐focused care and pharmaceutical care to redesign the role of pharmacy. To achieve this objective, pharmacy departments should adopt business concepts such as process re‐engineering. Process re‐engineering is a change management tool which aims to produce dramatic improvement in performance measures by re‐designing the process. The goal of restructuring is to increase the amount of time pharmacists spend providing pharmaceutical care to patients. The pharmaceutical care concept is a method of delivering pharmaceutical care services that match individual patient needs with the services provided. This article describes many hospital pharmacy department transitions to a patient focused care environment by adopting the patient focused care concept and the process re‐engineering to improve the quality of patient care through systems improvement.
Speaking in Public – Part II
Authors: Freeburn Robert
Published: April 2007

Discusses vocal skills and how their use may enhance the image of the
speaker and add to the impact of a speech, talk or presentation.
Emphasizes the importance of changes in tone, spontaneity of
presentation and using the voice to reinforce the material.
The role of the reward system for a total quality management based strategy
Authors: Allen Richard S. , Kilmann Ralph H.
Published: April 2007

This study examines the impact of reward practices on the relationship between an organizational strategy based on the principles of total quality management (TQM) and perceptions of firm performance. Major findings include: higher levels of firm performance were significantly correlated with greater use of TQM practices, but not with greater use of quality rhetoric in either formal strategic documents or informal strategic discussions; the use of extrinsic reward practices – including profit sharing, gainsharing, employment security, and comp time – exhibited a significantly positive moderating effect on the relationship between TQM and perceived firm performance. Regarding implications for practitioners, it is insufficient to include quality rhetoric in the formal and informal strategy. As the anecdotal literature has often advocated, the current research provides empirical support that management must “walk the talk” with regard to TQM efforts. Further, in order to realize even higher levels of firm performance, an organization should utilize reward practices which specifically complement its TQM‐based strategy.
The solvent of choice
Authors: Lawrence Tim , Wilding Ian , Chowdhary Balvinder
Published: April 2007

This paper outlines the current position of water based no‐clean liquid fluxes for wave soldering. The primary differences between these and “traditional” alcohol based liquid fluxes are explored using wetting balance methods. Reduced wetting capability (of the flux onto the PCB) can be addressed by using various surfactant additives; improved solderability is due to enhanced acid activator dissociation resulting from increased solvent polarity. Regarding implementation in a production environment, there is only minor impact. A slightly increased preheat capability is required, and foam application demands tight control of the feed gas flow rate. More generally, in addition to the “headline” environmental benefit of reduced VOC emissions, water based liquid fluxes confer significant handling advantages, for example zero flammability and low odour/evaporation at room temperature. Against this background, it is suggested that water based liquid fluxes will become ever more popular.
The economic driver for the twenty‐first century: quality
Authors: DeFeo Joseph A. , Janssen Alexander
Published: April 2007

Predicts a major role for quality in the business world of the twenty‐first century. Considers a broad range of developments such as the possible advances in online business, increased coverage of quality issues in higher education, and developments in tools aimed at facilitating the establishment of quality programs. Predicts that quality will impact more and more on all aspects of business – having sprung largely from the manufacturing environment it will spread to all types of organization and to all facets of business. Concludes that while the twentieth century could be seen as the century of productivity, the twenty‐first century will be seen as the century of quality.
The garbage can life cycle model of quality management
Authors: Larsen Bøje
Published: April 2007

The rapid fashion swings in popular management theory puzzle and alarm many observers and users of management theory. New concepts arrive, experience a sudden popularity, then flatten out and are soon forgotten or appear old‐fashioned. This article presents a model of such short time management theory fashion swings: The garbage can life cycle model. The model is based on James March’s garbage can model of decision making combined with a life cycle model. The model describes how actors, problems and methods typically are different at four stages in the life cycle of a concept. The model is illustrated with data from quality management. The model does not pass judgement on the inherent qualities of quality management or the need for quality in the economy but seeks to explain what typically happens over time. The article concludes with a short discussion from the perspective of the model of the strategies that the quality movement may use at the present stage: A, retracting into full specialization; B, widening and attaching new fashionable themes to quality management; and C, focusing on its competitive advantages. Strategy C is recommended.
Integrating OHS, EMS and QM with constructability principles when construction planning – a design and construct project case study
Authors: Shen Y.J. , Walker D.H.T.
Published: April 2007

Discusses the issue of developing a project design that adequately addresses the practicality of delivering integrated construction knowledge and experience in planning, engineering, procurement and field operations. There are few practical examples in the literature that explain how non‐traditional construction project procurement approaches can be utilised to organise an integrated project management system incorporating occupational health and safety (OHS), environmental management (EM) and quality management (QM) systems. Reports on a case study that helps fill that gap. Shows how the adoption of a design and construct procurement approach, together with appropriate management techniques, on a successful major freeway project in Melbourne, Australia, was driven by a sound construction planning process, and integrated the construction planning system with OHS, EM and QM systems.
Errors – their origin and avoidance to increase system
reliability
Authors: McLachlan V.N.
Published: April 2007

Presents recent examples from diverse sets of circumstances with
identification of the particular origin that caused the events to occur.
Suggests the solution to error avoidance lies in asking the question,
“What is the worst that can happen?” If it can happen, it
will, and effective action in planning its avoidance must be taken.
Company benchmarking as a tool to aid competitiveness
Authors: Pilcher Terry
Published: April 2007

European competitiveness on world markets is being eroded. The Council of Ministers invited the European Commission to present proposals on developing the use of benchmarking as a means of improving the competitiveness of European industry. Three levels of benchmarking were considered (a) framework conditions (b) sector benchmarking and (c) company benchmarking. The European Company Benchmarking Forum was formed in February 1997 and presented a framework to a workshop of key players in Dublin in June 1997. It has now instigated an Internet site containing a database of key players and has developed a plan which is aimed at increasing the awareness and usage of benchmarking within companies, particularly SMEs.
Experiences in initiating Baldrige‐based quality in a NIST technical division
Authors: Swyt Dennis A.
Published: April 2007

Within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which administers the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA), a NIST technical division has initiated a Baldrige‐based effort to increase the effectiveness of its research and services. The Precision Engineering Division is responsible for providing US industry with practical access to the international and national standards of length and for conducting a diverse program of R&D and services in measurements and standards. These measurements and standards relate to industrial control of dimensional tolerances on features of manufactured goods. The start‐up of this Baldrige‐based effort reported factors such as has involved: introductory training of all staff on the basic concepts of the MBNQA and team processes; training on leading and facilitating teams and site visits to other agencies and industry organizations carrying out TQM‐type programs. This paper reports on employee‐identified successes and failures, managerial lessons learned, and some potential next steps in the start‐up effort’s further development.
Managing nurse absence
Authors: Buchan James , Seccombe Ian
Published: April 2007

Examines in detail the issue of absence among nurses in the
National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. Three main objectives are to:
investigate levels and reasons for absence among nurses; assess the
abilities of NHS management to monitor and control nurse absence
effectively; and examine the impact of nurse absence on organizational
costs and care delivery. Draws on data generated from four linked
studies: a survey of back‐injured nurses, conducted in 1992; a survey of
4,000 qualified nurse members of the Royal College of Nursing, conducted
in March/April 1993; a postal survey of 119 NHS employing units,
conducted in May/June 1993; and detailed case studies, conducted with
management in ten NHS hospital sites in May/June 1993.
New developments in a consolidating health care industry
Authors: Taylor Dave , Kleiner Brian H.
Published: April 2007

The current health care industry has recently seen a great deal of consolidation in the form of mergers and acquisitions. These mergers and acquisitions invariably result in a loss of jobs. This paper focuses on two strategies that health care companies use to reduce workforce under these circumstances. Specifically, the paper will focus on the mergers between SmithKline Beckman and Beecham plc in the late 1980s, FHP Health Care and TakeCare Health Plans, and PacifiCare’s recent acquisition of FHP Healthcare. It will compare and contrast theory, strategy and practices of these six companies as they endeavoured to merge or acquire each other.
Can the World Trade Organization become a democratic institution?
Authors: MacPherson Roderick
Published: April 2007

Riots, and the political reactions that followed, in the European Union and in the USA, will likely serve to turn the World Trade Organization (WTO) away from its purely material bent and into an institution that engages the social, cultural and environmental concerns of the world community. It may well wind up being modeled after the EU. At future meetings, members of the WTO will undoubtedly be pressured into dealing with many of the issues aired in the streets of Europe and the USA. Creating a more democratic WTO should appease many of the disparate constituencies that openly voiced their reservations about the WTO’s narrow commercial focus and also permit the world’s poorest nations to finally begin to benefit economically from the globalization movement.
Legal perspectives on digital money in Europe
Authors: Lockett Nick
Published: April 2007

Highlights the key features and differences between cash and electronic money and the benefits the former cannot deliver. However, consumer confidence is seen as the vital factor in acceptance of the latter. Summarises the four main areas identified by the European Commission in 1997 where public bodies can boost confidence. Ensuring stability and soundness of issuers of electronic money by defining an appropriate supervisory framework is seen as vital, as is the provision of guidance for issuers and users on liability and redress procedures. Clarification of EC competition rules is necessary to achieve an appropriate balance between interoperability and competition in these markets. Security also needs to be improved to tackle the risks of fraud, counterfeit, tax avoidance and money laundering. Reviews EU recommendations designed to cope with future development of card payment systems.
The future of digital money
Authors: Jones Tim
Published: April 2007

Speculates on the product of “digital money” from the perspectives of consumers, merchants and banks in ten years time. Predicts that convenience of access for consumers to electronic cash will mean that interactive television, PCs in the office and two‐slot mobile phones will all have become personal mobile cash dispensers for e‐cash. Argues that stakeholder analysis bears out the fact that digital money does have a future and sees a healthy competitive market of e‐cash contenders developing. Considers the opportunities and challenges presented by technology from a banker’s perspective and based on NatWest’s early experiences suggests that Mondex, with its global multi‐currency infrastructure, its transferable nature and support of banks in 60 countries is likely to become the market leader.
A hybrid flowshop scheduling model for apparel manufacture
Authors: Wong W.K. , Chan C.K. , Ip W.H.
Published: April 2007

A hybrid flowshop (HFS) problem on the pre‐sewing o
perations and a master production scheduling (MPS) problem of apparel manufacture are solved by a proposed two‐tier scheduling model. The first objective of this paper is to plan a MPS for the factory so that the costs are minimized when the production orders are completed before and after the delivery dates required by the customers. The second objective is to minimize the completion time of the pre‐sewing operations in the cutting department while the production quantities required by the sewing department at several predetermined times can be fulfilled by the cutting department. Experimentation is conducted and the results show the excellent performance of the proposed scheduling model for the apparel industry.
The Bending Properties of Multi‐ply Worsted Yarns
Authors: Tao Xiaoming
Published: April 2007

Presents a mathematical treatment of the large‐scale bending behaviour of multi‐ply yarn. Based on the assumptions that: each individual fibre in the yarn has the form of a doubly‐wound helix; each fibre is an inextensible slender rod; and interaction between fibres is ignored. The yarn‐bending rigidity is calculated as an average rigidity of an assembly of coaxial helices. There is good agreement between the predicted and measured values of yarn bending rigidity for a wool worsted knitting yarn. Also predicts the position, curvature and twist components as well as the strain energy of the deformed fibre.
Some Difficult Issues in Recent Apparel Manufacturing and a Counter‐measure for the Future
Authors: Ito K. , Nitta M.
Published: April 2007

Reports on difficult issues regarding recent trends in men’s suiting. Lighter weights cause many technical problems in apparel manufacture.
Linking complaint management to profit
Authors: Johnston Robert
Published: April 2007

This paper contends that complaint management should result in customer satisfaction but more importantly it should lead to operational improvement and improved financial performance. It is argued that many organisations ignore the operational value of complaints and as a result many complaint processes seem geared to trying to mollify customers rather than ensuring that problems do not reoccur. Using data from an empirical benchmarking study, based on a detailed questionnaire completed by customer service managers in 40 UK organisations, the relationships between seven key variables, complaint processes, satisfaction, retention, process improvement, employee attitude and retention, and financial performance are calculated and a relationship model developed. The results expose significant correlations between all variables in the model, as a result four acid tests of complaint management are proposed. It is suggested that financial improvements may be better leveraged by bringing about organisational improvements and by ensuring complaint processes are “staff‐friendly”, rather than simply trying to satisfy customers.
The globalization of law firms: managerial issues
Authors: Segal‐Horn Susan , Dean Alison
Published: April 2007

Purpose

To identify and discuss the changes arising within very large law firms from the pressure to provide global services and the issues for firms in implementing cross‐border integration.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is qualitative, case‐based and exploratory, using a piloted topic guide. The study is of very large UK “City” law firms (i.e. those operating in over 20 countries) using in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with: managing partners, senior partners, partners and associates at “City” law firms, clients, US lawyers in London and non‐legal professionals. Data are triangulated with information from trade press, trade associations and firm reports.

Findings

Identification of managerial issues of global integration common to law firms interviewed. These include: a shift to a “managed” firm and decline in professional autonomy; post‐acquisition integration and merger process issues; operationalization of global practices (such as common technology platforms, common systems practices, common human resources management practices and cross‐border intra‐firm working relationships) to achieve consistency throughout the integrated firm.

Research limitations/implications

Data set is derived from UK firms only and dependent on respondent views. Findings indicate that law firms have become less distinctive and more like other service businesses.

Practical implications

The paper identifies the processes by which consistent cross‐border service to the client may be achieved within globally integrated firms.

Originality/value

Law is an under‐researched industry. This research adds to knowledge of the legal services industry; explores globalization in a professional service firm context; extends the global strategy literature into the services domain. This is also one of the few papers on law firms based on primary data.
Case study on agricultural ecosystem rehabilitation of coal mine area in East China
Authors: Zhengfu Bian
Published: April 2007

Many old coal‐mining corporations in East China were previously flatlands and farmlands in a dominant position. After mining, the agricultural ecosystem deteriorated severely, and problems such as farmlands subsiding, bridges and culverts breaking, farmhouses damaged by crevices and so on, can be observed everywhere. Agricultural ecosystem rehabilitation (AER) becomes an important issue for sustainable development in this area because land subsidence impacts on agricultural production, and farmers who lose prime lands become an unstable factor with regard to social stability. In this paper the Xuzhou coal mine area is analyzed as an example. This paper poses the engineering reclamation measures and reclaimed land use forms. Non‐filling methods, supplemented with filling methods, are main engineering measures for AER. Reclaimed land use types include planting vegetable, wheat, rice, cotton, soybean, and treating the foundations used for new village sites. This paper introduces the experimental effect of drainage, construction methods and planting in the Tongshan reclaimed area.
Integrate the environmental dimension – visions for transport
Authors: Westermark Lars
Published: April 2007

Policies to combat climate change in the transport sector have been identified by European governments, and in the transport council strategy for integrating environmental considerations into transport policy. An analysis shows the following areas have been recognised as a role for the European union: harmonise taxes and charges, promote liberation of railways, emission regulations and develop environmentally enhanced vehicle concept, apply policy instruments on aviation and exchange of experiences and best practice. Integration of environmental considerations into the transport policies is the main strategic tool to achieve overall objectives.
Food and the environment
Authors: Bender A.E. , Bender D.A.
Published: April 2007

In less developed countries there are chronic food shortages and
scarcity of arable land and water, coupled with increasing population.
Widespread irrigation permits more intensive agriculture, but fertility
is decreased and outbreaks of fluorosis and arsenic poisoning have
occurred. Use of modern fertilizers causes soil mineral deficiency,
including that of zinc. Iodine deficiency has caused outbreaks of
goitre. Increased fertilizer use leads to an unacceptably high
concentration of nutrients and potential toxins in rivers and lakes.
Industrial effluent also poses a serious problem.
The British Nutrition Foundation’s role in nutrition education
Authors: Fine Gill
Published: April 2007

In 1988 a curriculum audit by the British Nutrition Foundation
(BNF) identified which subjects included food and nutrition in their
syllabus. A framework for teaching food and nutrition within the
national curriculum was devised by the BNF. The BNF and Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) launched the “Food –
a fact of life” programme in 1989 and since then have developed
resources for key stages 1 to 4. Discusses the place for food and
nutrition teaching in the curriculum revised for England and Wales.
Nutrition in the curriculum for health‐care professionals
Authors: Bender David A.
Published: April 2007

Argues that a substantial amount of nutrition should be included in
the curriculum for all health‐care professionals, including nurses,
osteopaths, physiotherapists, podiatrists and retail pharmacists. The
Department of Health has set up a Nutrition Task Force, charged with
ensuring nutrition education of consumers, food manufacturers and
retailers, and also adequate nutrition training in the curriculum for
health professionals. The Task Force lists eight learning outcomes, and
18 subject areas that should be covered. Discusses who should teach
nutrition.
Value challenges in supply chain management
Authors: Poon W.K. , Lau K.H.
Published: April 2007

In response to on‐going global business pressure, the supply chain management of Motorola Semiconductors Hong Kong Limited has imposed a “value challenge” programme to bring in excellence from outside suppliers to increase a purchase’s contribution. Through the changes of supply chain management philosophy together with additional participation of suppliers, the original practice of trimming profit margins at the supplier side to increase the value of a purchase has now been replaced by the collaborative effect to add value in its downstream supply chain activities. Based on such a value improvement initiative, a three‐layer value challenge practice has been developed. Through the use of such a technique, the company has been able to attain over 20 per cent unit cost reduction per pin count. This is equivalent to a US$30 million saving in over two years.
Implementing virtual teamworking. Part 1: a literature review of best practice
Authors: Bal Jay , Teo P.K.
Published: April 2007

This paper is the first of a three part series in which the authors identify best practice for implementing virtual teamworking to aid concurrent engineering. Part 1 examines how five key texts on virtual teamworking contribute to an understanding of how to introduce virtual working to enable concurrent engineering. It develops a structure for comparing and contrasting the texts for this purpose. In Part 2, four general areas of concern are identified from these texts. The authors suggest five other issues, derived from other texts and practical experience important to concurrent engineering involving the supply chain. Part 3 then synthesizes the key elements of a methodology for introducing virtual teaming in a design and manufacture supply chain utilising concurrent engineering.
Assimilation of a strategic information system to gain competitiveness: a neutral format approach
Authors: Lau Henry C.W. , Pun K.F.
Published: April 2007

Strategic information systems contribute to enhance managerial understanding in terms of organisational development and business success. In particular, they assist in making timely business decisions and formulating feasible strategic plans. In practice, a strategic information system consists of several modules performing different functions such as strategic prerequisites, strategic directions and so forth. The integration of these modules to form a unified system is an essential task for achieving an efficient as well as effective strategic information system. In today’s business environment, where there are a great variety of standards in various computer systems that make the linking of modules to enable bi‐directional electronic data interchange difficult and costly. This paper attempts to introduce a model which embraces a neutral format approach to realise the efficient and reliable information flow among various modules of a strategic information system. Furthermore, the proposed guidelines for implementing such a system using the neutral format generalisation technique are also covered.
Critical constructs for analyzing e‐businesses: investment, user experience and revenue models
Authors: De Rahul , Mathew Biju , Abraham Dolphy M.
Published: April 2007

Examines issues related to the successes and failures of Internet businesses. Recent literature has stressed the value of microeconomic models of markets to analyze e‐business models and strategy. The concepts of transaction costs, switching costs, network externalities and product versioning are especially useful in understanding business strategy in the new information economy. These concepts are reviewed and analyzed. A deeper assessment of Internet‐based businesses, both successes and failures, reveals a number of other constructs that are relevant for analysis, viz. infrastructure investment models, user experience models and models of revenue generation. These constructs reveal the inherent complexity of the electronic medium for conducting business and point to the subtle issues that determine success or failure. Case studies and examples are used to illustrate the usefulness of these constructs.
Service‐controlled agile logistics
Authors: Damen J.T.W.
Published: April 2007

Current logistics systems are unable to react fast enough to rapidly changing environments, mainly because they are heavily focused on the goods handling processes. To compensate for this lack of flexibility, logistics services should be carried out by independently controlled logistics resources. But these resources together do have to guarantee the overall quality of services. Service‐controlled agile logistics solves the conflict that arises – independent resources working together – by strictly distinguishing between control and handling. It is based on control of logistics processes by the requested services themselves, which create their own “agents”, made responsible for realizing the service in the best possible way under changing circumstances. In order to examine the feasibility of this approach, a simulation program has been developed, and some preliminary results are presented.
Utilizing RISKOptimizer to manage quality performance
Authors: Nersesian Roy L. , Troutt Marvin D. , Weinroth G. Jay
Published: April 2007

New software products are now available that offer solutions to operational problems that could not be handled by traditional linear programming. The problem of quality performance described could previously only have been handled by writing a special purpose simulation program. Now it can be solved in a spreadsheet environment using Evolver and RISKOptimizer software. Evolver can identify a global rather than a local optimal solution when non‐linear relationships are present. RISKOptimizer takes the process one step further. It combines @RISK simulation capablity with Evolver’s optimization algorithms to handle stochastic variables (uncertain demand and prices).
Analysis of consumer characteristics which influence the determinants of buying decisions by the logistic regression model
Authors: Nisel Rauf
Published: April 2007

The aim is to discover the significance of the motives that lead to differences in consumers’ decision making and also to identify the characteristics of consumers which influence the types of motive that enable them to buy. Results of the research show that “availability” and “quality” of the products are perceived by consumers as significant motives for their buying decisions in conjunction with buyer characteristics.
UK Logistics – Turning Japanese?
Authors: Pomlett Leigh
Published: April 2007

Examines Japanese kaizen thinking on continuous improvement techniques
in the manufacturing and logistics industry. Summarizes findings from a
study group visit to Japan. Highlights reasons why UK industry should
examine these techniques.
The new logistics management
Authors: Drew Stephen A.W. , Smith Peter A.C.
Published: April 2007

Major change efforts, such as business process redesign and
transformation of the supply chain, can usefully be linked to an
organizational learning approach. Radical change stands a far greater
chance of success if attention is first paid to overall organizational
readiness. Suggests a framework for first conducting a “change
audit” using a holistic and systemic view of the firm. Concepts of
the learning organization can then be applied to increase flexibility
and increase capacity to withstand and exploit unexpected and rapid
change. Makes recommendations for successfully combining a learning
approach to strategy with proactive and integrated logistics management.
Electronic data interchange (EDI) in port operations
Authors: Garstone Sue
Published: April 2007

State‐of‐the‐art communications are fast becoming a necessity in
today′s international freighting and transportation industries.
Sophisticated logistics chains, offering a fast and flexible response to
customer demands, require an accurate flow of information for tracking,
planning and control. From the outset, many sectors of the shipping and
containerization industries saw EDI as a natural technology for the
communication of much of this vital information. Describes how EDI is
used in port operations and the consequent improvement in scheduling and
reduction of paperwork.
An empirical investigation of the relationship between institutional ownership and information technology
Authors: Karake Zeinab A.
Published: April 2007

Investigates the relationship between the level of institutional ownership in a corporation and the magnitude of a company’s investment in information technology resources as measured by the relative information index (RITI) developed by the author in a previous paper. By studying 64 publicly held corporations in the USA, the statistical analysis revealed a strong relationship between the level of institutional ownership and the company’s RITI.
Environmental and social benchmarking for industrial processes in developing countries: a pilot project for the textile industry in India, Indonesia and Zimbabwe
Authors: Diebäcker Marc
Published: April 2007

Industry is increasingly being required to meet stringent social and environmental specifications in the international market. A number of industries in developing countries fear that unless they meet these requirements, they will lose their competitive edge in the international markets. The objective of this article is to present a newly developed methodology by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) which enables members of private industry in developing countries to assess their own performance in terms of environmental and social parameters, as well as to evaluate their performance against a set of global norms. This paper will present the said approach for assessing industrial processes through a case study from the textile industry, i.e. more specifically, woven fabric finishing (cotton), conducted by UNIDO in India, Indonesia and Zimbabwe. This article is based mainly on a report published by UNIDO in 1998.
An examination of quality performance at different levels in a connected supply chain: a preliminary case study
Authors: Mangiameli Paul , Roethlein Christopher J.
Published: April 2007

This paper is a preliminary case study that examines a connected supply chain. The chain studied consists of the North American Appliance Division of the Whirlpool Corporation, the Stanley Engineered Components (SEC) division of Stanley Works, Inc. and SEC’s suppliers. Specifically the paper examines the two related questions: first, are there differences in quality definitions between levels of a supply chain? Second, does the higher level entity in the supply chain understand the quality requirements imposed on their suppliers? Examined and written from the point of view of SEC (the middle of the chain), the paper concludes that the definitions and implementation of these definitions differ markedly at each level. Lack of understanding about the effects of quality requirements between levels also prevails. The case also examines why these results occurred.