bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging Logistics Strategies
Authors: La Londe Bernard J. , Masters James M.
Published: July 2002

Looks, in depth, at corporate logistics strategy, particularly with
regard to the USA. Discusses strategy referring to a general concept of
operations guiding all activities towards an ultimate goal – global
rather than local. Itemizes some major American firms and their
attitudes and considers their policies and results. Shows supply chain
management and cycle time compression to be complementing logistics
strategies for progressive US firms.
A microcomputer cashier scheduling system for supermarket stores
Authors: Melachrinoudis Emanuel , Olafsson Michael
Published: July 2002

Labour scheduling in supermarkets is a difficult task since most
employees work various shift lengths instead of standard eight‐hour
shifts. With front‐end cashiers, it is even more difficult, since the
number of needed cashiers is based on customer volume, which is
constantly fluctuating. To create an accurate schedule, a supermarket
manager must spend a good deal of time trying to match cashier shifts to
customer demand. Presents a shift selection integer linear programming
model which has been implemented in stores of a supermarket chain in
north‐east USA. The model runs on a personal computer within an
electronic spreadsheet environment, making it user‐friendly for
managers. The POS data, routinely collected by registers and scanners
are used for forecasting cashiers′ demand. The goal in this scheduling
system is to maintain an acceptable customer service at the checkout for
customer satisfaction and retention.
Total cost of ownership
Authors: Ellram Lisa M.
Published: July 2002

Total cost of ownership is a methodology and philosophy which looks beyond the price of a purchase to include many other purchaserelated costs. This approach has become increasingly important as organizations look for ways to better understand and manage their costs. Examines case studies of 11 firms which use total cost of ownership concepts in purchasing. Based on the case study data and the literature, barriers and benefits associated with the total cost of ownership approach are discussed. The total cost of ownership models used by the case study firms are classified by type as dollar‐based or value‐based, and an example of each is shown. The total cost of ownership models are then further classified by their primary usage: supplier selection or supplier evaluation. This cross classification reveals a strong relationship between model type and model usage. Concludes with a comparison of the models, recommendations for practitioners and a discussion of future research directions.
Transportation in China in the 1990s
Authors: Speece Mark W. , Kawahara Yukiko
Published: July 2002

Aims to provide an outline of current transportation conditions to
prepare companies considering entry to the Chinese market for the
realities they will inevitably confront there. The transportation sector
has not kept up with China′s rapid economic growth. Transportation has
become a major bottleneck to further development of foreign business
operations in China. As reforms have freed the economy, more goods are
being shipped for longer distances. Railways, highways and shipping are
now swamped beyond their capacity. In addition to inadequate
infrastructure, transport companies, mostly state owned, operate
inefficiently under near monopolistic conditions. Bureaucratic
inefficiency and corruption make the movement of products even more
difficult. Within the last year, Beijing has finally begun to take
problems in the transport sector seriously, but it will likely be
decades before transport operations in China run smoothly.
Buyer observations of the US third‐party logistics market
Authors: Sink Harry L. , Langley C. John , Gibson Brian J.
Published: July 2002

Outsourcing of logistics has become a key element of corporate strategy in a growing number of firms. For a variety of reasons, the market for these services is expanding rapidly. Represents the first phase of a triangulated research design formulated to investigate empirically the buying and selling of third‐party logistics services in the USA. A focus group, composed of senior managers personally involved in the evaluation and/or purchase of third‐party logistics services, was convened to explore buyer attitudes and generate concepts related to the contract logistics market. The study investigated the definition of third‐party logistics from the buyer’s perspective, the pros and cons of contract logistics, the necessary attributes of services and suppliers, the impetus for logistics outsourcing and the methods employed to select suppliers. Findings from the research are presented as five propositions.
Pitfalls in logistics partnerships
Authors: Ackerman Kenneth B.
Published: July 2002

Gives reasons why a logistics partnership may be doomed to fail and by so doing, shows ways in which to prevent the failure. Maintains there will always be a place for the smaller, third‐party logistics company and that third‐party logistics will continue to play a growing role in world commerce.
Carrier involvement in buyer‐supplier strategic partnerships
Authors: Gentry Julie J.
Published: July 2002

Refers to the recent trend to utilize strategic alliances and partnerships for securing both goods and services. Additionally, the supply chain management concept is gaining more acceptance as a method of sustaining a competitive advantage in global markets. Although the literature explores strategic partnerships within both the buyer and supplier context and the shipper and logistics context, there has been little attempt to link these relationships in order to explore multi‐firm interactions. Examines existing buyer‐supplier strategic partnerships and the role of carriers used to transport the particular items sourced within these partnerships through an in‐depth case study methodology of firms engaged in identifiable three‐party relationships. There are two primary objectives of this research: to assess the carriers’ perceived importance and degree of participation within the buyer‐supplier partnerships; and to explore further the relationship between strategic partnerships and supply chain management by presenting more detailed information from firms involved in three‐way relationships. Of interest to carriers, manufacturers, purchasers and academics.
Comparative views of logistics and marketing practitioners regarding interfunctional co‐ordination
Authors: Murphy Paul R. , Poist Richard F.
Published: July 2002

Focuses on the logistics‐marketing interface and possible mechanisms for enhancing co‐ordination between the two functions. A comparison of both logistics and marketing practitioners reveals that there were minimal differences in the usage of 14 co‐ordination‐enhancing techniques. The results also suggest that improvements in the relationship between marketing and logistics can be made relatively quickly and at a relatively low cost. Concludes with a discussion of managerial implications.
Applying theories from other disciplines to logistics
Authors: Stock James R.
Published: July 2002

Proposes that the discipline of logistics can benefit from borrowing theories from other areas of study. Presents examples of theories from other disciplines that have already been applied to logistics issues. Offers potential applications from a variety of non‐logistics disciplines, including accounting, anthropology and sociology, computing, economics, marketing, philosophy, political science, and psychology. Discusses examples from various disciplines in some detail and identifies some possible applications of the theory. Concludes with a discussion of the benefits of “borrowing” non‐logistics theories to logistics research, practice and theory development.
Genetic algorithms in the design of complex distribution networks
Authors: Berry L.M. , Murtagh B.A. , McMahon G.B. , Sugden S.J. , Welling L.D.
Published: July 2002

Reviews the value of network concepts as a means of portraying complex logistics and distribution systems. Reports on research which focuses on the broader issues of model formulation and solution techniques rather than specific applications. Addresses the issues of designing networks with a tree structure, and also more general ones in which loops are allowed and redundancy enforced. The decision variables involved are related to whether or not a link should exist between two specific pairs of nodes, and then what should be the level of traffic flow on that particular link. Describes the design problem in detail and possible models that could be used to represent it. Follows with a description of genetic algorithms to solve the synthesis problem of deciding the node‐link topology, and the use of linear and non‐linear programming to solve the problem of assigning traffic flow to a network with a given typology in a least‐cost manner. Concludes with a description of computational experience with solving such problems.
Logistics management and costs of biomass fuel supply
Authors: Allen J. , Browne M. , Hunter A. , Boyd J. , Palmer H.
Published: July 2002

Discusses part of a project conducted by the authors into the logistics planning and management and costs of supplying biomass fuels to biomass‐fired power stations in the UK. Defines biomass fuels and the reasons for the growth in interest in their use for electricity generation. The activities and parties involved in the biomass fuel supply chain are discussed together with the management of the chain in order to achieve smooth and consistent flow of biomass fuel to power stations. Explains the approach used to modelling the delivered costs of biomass fuels for four types of biomass fuel included in the project: forest fuel, short rotation coppice, straw and miscanthus. Comments are given on the environmental impacts of the fuel supply chains. The results indicate that straw supply systems are capable of producing the lowest delivered costs of the four fuels studied. Short rotation coppice and miscanthus, two new energy crops, are likely to have the highest delivered costs at present. This is due to the cost of growing these fuels and the financial incentives required by farmers to persuade them to grow these crops. Logistics costs (i.e. transport, storage and handling) are shown to represent a significant proportion of total delivered cost in biomass supply. Careful supply chain planning and logistics management will be of central importance to the success of the biomass industry.
The supply chain complexity triangle: Uncertainty generation in the supply chain
Authors: Wilding Richard
Published: July 2002

Since the late 1950s it has been recognised that the systems used internally within supply chains can lead to oscillations in demand and inventory as orders pass through the system. The uncertainty generated by these oscillations can result in late deliveries, order cancellations and an increased reliance on inventory to buffer these effects. Despite the best efforts of organisations to stabilise the dynamics generated, industry still experiences a high degree of uncertainty from this source. The “supply chain complexity triangle” describes the interaction of deterministic chaos, parallel interactions and demand amplification. It provides a framework for understanding the generation of uncertainty within supply chains. The implications for supply chain strategy and manufacturing logistics are discussed.
A heuristic treatment of tardiness and net present value criteria in resource constrained project scheduling
Authors: Özdamar Linet , Ulusoy Gündüz , Bayyigit Mete
Published: July 2002

Considers the resource‐constrained project scheduling problem where cash inflows and outflows are tied to the occurrence of events. The objective is the maximization of the project net present value (NPV) as well as the minimization of project tardiness in the presence of a project due date. Develops hybrid scheduling rules with both NPV and tardiness considerations to enhance both objectives. Experiments extensively with a set of benchmark problems originally designed for the objective of minimizing the project duration. Demonstrates that thje hybrid rules developed here are superior in performance with respect to both objectives when compared with well known rules which are developed for the two objective of minimizing the project duration. Demonstrates that the hybrid rules developed here are superior in performance with respect to both objectives when compared with well‐known rules which are developed for the two objectives taken individually. Furthermore, the iterative algorithm improves the performance of all tested rules significantly.
Current perspectives in logistics: Turkey as a case study
Authors: Ülengin Füsun , Uray Nimet
Published: July 2002

The primary objective of this paper is to explore how the companies in Turkey plan, manage, carry out and improve their logistics processes and, thus, provide a preliminary analysis to explore the current status of logistics in Turkey. For this purpose, a structured‐disguised survey was conducted with the top 250 firms of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. The aims were: to specify the organizational, financial and managerial significance of logistics activities; to articulate the sourcing/ purchasing feature, customer service and order processing, to understand the changes in the number of suppliers and customers and to identify the features of activities and tools aimed to improve the quality/productivity in these systems; and to investigate the impact of the general characteristics on the first and second subcriteria for each firm.
Changes to road transport in Poland during a period of economic transition
Authors: Waters C.D.J.
Published: July 2002

Countries in eastern Europe are going through a period of economic transition as they move from centrally planned to free market economies. But they can only achieve continuing economic growth if they have appropriate infrastructures – and in many countries the existing infrastructure is struggling to meet new demands. In Poland, the government introduced in series of reforms to promote rapid economic development, but the resulting increase in trade put pressure on a transport system that had been largely ignored for 40 years. Road transport was privatised and deregulated, but there are still problems with the inadequate road network. Describes some of the changes that have occurred in road transport during Poland’s economic transition.
Service quality at banks and credit unions: what do their customers say?
Authors: Allred Anthony T. , Lon Addams H.
Published: July 2002

Bank and credit union customers were surveyed to determine bank and credit union service quality performance. The results of our study indicate that credit unions rate significantly higher than banks on 11 of the 14 service quality questions: access; courtesy; communication; credibility; security; empathy; tangibles; basic service; fairness; fixing mistakes; and guarantees. The findings also indicate that neither banks nor credit unions do a good job of surveying customer needs or retaining customers. Other results indicate that 50 percent of total respondents surveyed reported that they had stopped using a financial service provider because of poor service performance. The vast majority of that group reported that their decision was made because a bank failed to provide adequate service.
Quality deployment for the management of customer calls
Authors: Yun Chang Zeph , Hui Huang Loi
Published: July 2002

Customer calls confer accessibility for promoting sales opportunities. It is the key element of a company’s customer service system. Presents a methodology for quality management of customer communication through telephone, e‐mail and Web support for both internal and external customers. The concept of a customer call centre is introduced and quality dimensions of customer call services are established with call status coded and problem severity issues being addressed.
The development of a model for total quality healthcare
Authors: Cheng Lim Puay , Tang Nelson K.H.
Published: July 2002

The rapid changes in the environment have exerted significant pressures on healthcare providers to reassess their strategies. Furthermore, it is a paradox that the best clinicians are, themselves, not the best managers in running the healthcare services. Hence, a management model is set up using quality function deployment (QFD) where strategies are developed through a partnership between managers and clinicians for the provision of total quality healthcare in the light of dramatic changes in the health‐care environment. The QFD‐led model consists of seven parts, which includes service planning, operational planning and new concepts deployment. The power of the QFD‐led model comes from the detailed discussions with customers about their expectations, comparisons with competitors and considerations of how the healthcare provider can meet the customers’ expectations most effectively. The application of QFD in a restructured regional acute‐care hospital is discussed.
Framework for evaluating performance and quality improvement in hospitals
Authors: Chow‐Chua Clare , Goh Mark
Published: July 2002

Based on the research so far on quality improvement and performance measurement on hospitals and the health‐care sector, there appears to be a need to combine the various models or approaches to performance and quality improvement. This paper presents a knowledge‐based framework for evaluating the performance of a hospital using a model based on the Singapore Quality Award (SQA) criteria and the balanced scorecard (BSC) approach. A specific case study of a public sector hospital in Singapore is provided to illustrate how the SQA and the BSC can be integrated to help a public sector hospital implement and manage performance‐based programs. Overall, while limitations and implementation challenges exist, the preliminary results suggest that hospitals can also use this approach to their advantage, yielding sustainable improvement in patient satisfaction and better inter‐departmental communication. Through this framework, hospitals can make better quality decisions based on structured measurement and knowledge.
Human and social implications of excellence models: are they really accepted by the business community?
Authors: Conti Tito
Published: July 2002

Total quality management (TQM) models claim to set the criteria for organisational excellence. In fact, some of them have been plainly named “excellence models”. However, while some of those criteria are ethically neutral, others have big ethical and social implications that deeply affect the nature of enterprises. This paper aims to discuss the human and social implications of TQM/excellence models and the impact that ethically‐relevant criteria have had – or not had – in more than ten years of use. The application of excellence model concepts to social and political organisations is also considered, and the case for the European quality vision is mentioned. The conclusive question is “Are excellence models changing corporate culture and executive behaviours, or are deeply rooted corporate cultures and executive behaviours going to change the models in the long run?”
Service excellence from the employees’ point of view: the role of first line supervisors
Authors: Den Hartog Deanne N. , Verburg Robert M.
Published: July 2002

What role can service employees’ direct supervisors play in stimulating service excellence? The aim of the current study was to provide more insight into the relationship between perceived leader behaviour and employees’ willingness to provide excellent service as well as their perceptions of service quality. In a survey study involving more than 3,500 service employees, the impact of the behaviours of first‐line supervisors on service related outcomes was studied. Supervisors’ supportive behaviours, providing useful information, giving feedback, fair evaluations of performance and their direct stimulation of service related behaviours were all found to be positively related to service outcomes. The results as well as the practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Quality and the financial service sector
Authors: Macdonald John
Published: July 2002

Analyses the changes which have taken place in the financial
services industry in recent years. Shows how customer expectations have
changed and how customer power has increased with competition. Suggests
that most of the industry at present fails to meet the new challenges,
but identifies some notable exceptions.
Management by objectives – a lesson in commitment and
co‐operation
Authors: Ingham Terry
Published: July 2002

States that the problem of management by objectives (MBO) is
implementing objectives on the shopfloor or in the office. Describes the
Swedish form of MBO, Resultkontrakting (literally, contracting
for results), and lists the key steps of this process. Provides details
of introducing Resultkontraktinginto an organization and
provides four case studies to show how it works. Concludes by listing
the benefits of this process.
The quality gurus – their approaches described and considered
Authors: Bendell Tony , Penson Roger , Carr Samantha
Published: July 2002

Discusses the major contributions of various quality gurus.
Highlights the main messages and how principles which originally focused
on the product can now be applied to services. Draws attention to the
competitive importance of quality and concludes that business survival
depends on quality.
An evaluation of quality in financial services: problems and prospects
Authors: Knights David , McCabe Darren
Published: July 2002

Analyses the growing wave of quality initiatives which have emerged within financial services since the mid 1980s, as revealed by a recent postal questionnaire survey. Identifies that while quality initiatives are extremely costly, they generate benefits such as increased staff awareness. Focuses on the recent trend within financial services towards business process re‐engineering (BPR) and argues that what BPR will mean in practice is far from clear in view of the divergent perceptions among practitioners as to what it is.
How to measure customer service effectively
Authors: Baggs Scott C. , Kleiner Brian H.
Published: July 2002

While accurate measurement of customer service is important, of even greater importance is making the measurement effectively so that results can be used to improve business operations. Discusses a number of measurement methods and describes the market share method, which was developed to incorporate the important factors of these methods while linking it with company profits through market share.
Ethics ‐ marketing ploy, or just the best business proposition?
Authors: Davis Richard
Published: July 2002

Discusses whether there is any business sense in organizations acting ethically, i.e. whether it is profitable. Examines various ethical companies and their behaviour. Debates whether or not it pays organizations to sell ethical products and treat both customers and employees ethically.
The theory of constraints in services: part 2 ‐ examples from health care
Authors: Motwani Jaideep , Klein Donald , Horowitz Raanan
Published: July 2002

Several authors have investigated and proposed implementations for the theory of constraints (TOC) philosophy in manufacturing organizations. However, no study has addressed the application of TOC in service organizations. The second of two articles, illustrates how TOC can be applied to service and not‐for‐profit organizations. The first part explained the basic principles of TOC: in this issue those principles are applied in a health‐care environment.
Baldrige winners learn that quality really does pay
Authors: Taylor Chris
Published: July 2002

Reviews the current state of the US‐based Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award scheme and poses the question: who wins as quality improves? Outlines a number of arguments for benefits to many stakeholders, and reviews figures from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (organizers of the awards) that demonstrate that quality has a financial pay‐off. This is done through a comparison of stock values of many winners over several years compared with industry performance norms, and suggests the evidence is clear: quality initiatives are an investment not an expense.
Quality and empowerment programs: dual paths to customer satisfaction?
Authors: Gary Moore L. , Hopkins Willie E. , Hopkins Shirley A.
Published: July 2002

Members of the Original Equipment Manufacturer Group (OMEG) at National Semiconductor Corporation (NSC) were used to help answer the question of whether empowerment programs, independent of quality improvement programs such as total quality management (TQM), create customer satisfaction. Results of a customer satisfaction survey, administered to a sample of NSC customers prior to implementing an empowerment program and then again one year into the program, provided affirmative support for our research question. Finally, a conceptual model suggesting a process by which empowerment programs create customer satisfaction is proposed to provide direction for future research.
Service quality improvement
Authors: Edvardsson Bo
Published: July 2002

The topic for this article is quality improvement in service operations. Quality improvement is used as a collective expression for quality assurance, quality management and quality control. Service operations refer to private as well as to public service operations and to services in manufacturing companies. Although services play a predominant role as regards GDP and employment in the OECD countries, we still know very little about quality management in service operations. Concepts and models in organization theories, marketing and other fields are, to a great extent, based on studies of and experience from manufacturing companies. Quality is no exception, even though it has received some attention during the past 15 years, especially from researchers in Scandinavia.
Factors affecting a senior management culture change for total quality metamorphosis
Authors: Angeli Ioannis , Jones Jeffrey , Sabir Bahir
Published: July 2002

A three‐year joint research study focuses on the in‐depth investigation of the quality parameters that are necessary to bring about change in senior management (SM) culture for improved leadership quality, as well as factors of “how” to succeed in its implementation. Analysis reveals overall agreement on the most important success factors, which are presented in this paper. This enables the development of an analytic model (one based on quantitative results and one based on qualitative results) for a CEO’s culture change implementation process, required to achieve total quality metamorphosis (TQm) and SM leadership
A case of no return(s)
Authors: Kirk James J. , Buckner Diana
Published: July 2002

Organizations need constructive interventions for resolving disputes in the workplace. Mediation is one possible intervention. This real‐life case study and an accompanying mediation exercise can help employees acquire and practice basic mediation skills. The exercise can also serve as a learning frame for generating discussions on current issues in any organization.
Empowerment ‐ the key to quality service
Authors: Tschohl John
Published: July 2002

Discusses employee empowerment techniques and illustrates with examples. Presents four myths of empowerment, five suggestions to achieve empowerment and nine tips on handling difficult customers.
The competition for quality in the audit society
Authors: Vinten Gerald
Published: July 2002

Total quality management is both an aspirational and an inspirational concept with elements of the philosophical, quasi religious and qualitative juxtaposed with the empirical and quantified. In the audit society there are many voices clamouring for recognition and acclaim. With the possibility that we are being over‐audited, and the ambiguity of evaluative reports on the various competing contenders, the time ahead will be both challenging and interesting.
The role of mystery shopping in the measurement of service performance
Authors: Wilson Alan M.
Published: July 2002

This paper reports on a programme of research in the UK aimed at examining the role of mystery shopping in the measurement and management of service quality. The research focused on the views of the senior managers responsible for commissioning mystery shopping research and the directors of market research agencies responsible for the provision of such research. The research findings identify the main uses of mystery shopping in the UK and the methods used to maximise the reliability of the technique. The study also discovers that organisations rarely integrate mystery shopping results with other measures of service delivery performance.
More effective leadership can bring higher service quality
Authors: Rausch Erwin
Published: July 2002

Leadership skills of managers in service organizations can contribute significantly to quality of service. Fortunately there is a fairly easy road to enhancing them. It is based on asking three key questions with great depth of meaning, with every decision. These questions remind of all the leadership considerations that should enter the decision, in addition to the functional ones. The questions are illustrated and analyzed with a relevant, realistic scenario.
Innovation in public service management
Authors: Curry Adrienne
Published: July 2002

Recently the concept of best value has emerged and with it a number of priorities for public service managers. These include elements such as: a focus on the customer and citizen, sound strategic management and sound operational management. This paper focuses on a strategic approach to best value involving measurement of customer perceived service quality, operational planning using ranked priorities and a framework for continuous improvement. An illustrative case example of best practice demonstrates the use of three appropriate techniques, which are: Servqual to measure customer expectations and preceptions; Quality function deployment (QFD) to determine operational service delivery priorities; and the Business Excellence model for the corporate framework to ensure continuous improvement and monitoring. The case involves a pioneering local authority in the UK which is presently defining a template for best value implementation. This will help provide the way forward for other local authorities. It demonstrates the importance of senior management commitment to change and a determination to bring about improvement in management practice using relevant and valid academic techniques.
Cost containment and customer retention practices at the top 100 commercial banks, savings institutions and credit unions
Authors: Allred Anthony T. , Lon Addams H.
Published: July 2002

Chief executive officers (CEOs) at America’s top 100 commercial banks, savings institutions and credit unions were surveyed to determine the importance of cost containment and customer retention practices. The study explores differences that exist among the three types of financial institutions. The results of the survey indicate that commercial bank CEOs rate themselves higher than others in almost all areas of cost containment and customer service. Commercial bank and credit union CEOs gave highest priority to customer retention items. Principles for improving service quality and customer retention are discussed in detail.
Heat transfer study of high speed flow over a spiked blunt body
Authors: Mehta R.C.
Published: July 2002

Unsteady compressible, axisymmetric Navier‐Stokes equations are solved for a flow over a forward facing spike attached to a heat shield for a freestream Mach number range of 1.3‐4.5. A numerical simulation is carried out using a finite‐volume discretization technique in conjunction with a multistage Runge‐Kutta time‐stepping scheme. Comparisons have been made with experimental results such as surface oil flow visualisation, schlieren picture and surface pressure distribution. A good agreement is found between them. Computed results show that lengths of the separated region on the spike are influenced by freestream Mach number. The interaction between the shear layer on the spike and the conical‐reattachment shock wave causes the peak wall pressure and heat flux on the heat shield. The peak heat flux is shown to be a function of freestream Mach number and increases with increase in freestream Mach number.
Finite element solution of conjugate heat transfer problems with and without the use of gap elements
Authors: Song W. , Li B.Q.
Published: July 2002

This paper describes the finite element solution of conjugate heat transfer problems with and without the use of gap elements. Direct and iterative methods to incorporate gap elements into a general finite element program are presented, along with their advantages and disadvantages of the two gap element treatments in the framework of finite elements. The numerical performance of the iterative gap element treatment is discussed in detail in comparison with analytical solutions for both 2‐ and 3‐D gap conductance problems. Numerical tests show that the number of iterations depends on the non‐dimensional number Bi = hL/k, and it increases approximately linearly with Bi for Bi≥0.6. Here, for gap heat transfer problems, h is taken to be the inverse of the contact resistance. This conclusion holds true for both 2‐ and 3‐D problems, for both linear and quadratic elements and for both transient and steady state calculations. Further numerical results for conjugate heat transfer problems encountered in heat exchanger and micro chemical reactors are computed using the gap element approach, the direct numerical simulations and analytical solutions whenever solvable. The results reveal that for the standard heat exchanger designs, an accurate prediction of temperature distribution in the moving streams must take into consideration the radial temperature distribution and the accuracy of the calculations depends on the non‐dimensional number Bi = hR/2k. From gap element calculations, it is found that classical analytical solutions are valid for a heat transfer analysis of an exchanger system, only when Bi<0.1. This important point so far has been neglected in virtually all the textbooks on heat transfer and must be included to complete the heat transfer theory for heat exchanger designs. Results also suggest that for thermal fluids systems with chemical reactions such as micro fuel cells, the gap element approach yields accurate results only when the heat transfer coefficient that accounts for the chemical reactions is used. However, when these heat transfer coefficients are not available, direct numerical simulations should be used for an accurate prediction of the thermal performance of these systems.
Simulation of pressure‐ and tube‐tooling wire‐coating flows through distributed computation
Authors: Baloch A. , Matallah H. , Ngamaramvaranggul V. , Webster M.F.
Published: July 2002

This article focuses on the comparative study of annular wire‐coating flows with polymer melt materials. Different process designs are considered of pressure‐ and tube‐tooling, complementing earlier studies on individual designs. A novel mass‐balance free‐surface location technique is proposed. The polymeric materials are represented via shear‐thinning, differential viscoelastic constitutive models, taken of exponential Phan‐Thien/Tanner form. Simulations are conducted for these industrial problems through distributed parallel computation, using a semi‐implicit time‐stepping Taylor‐Galerkin/pressure‐correction algorithm. On typical field results and by comparing short‐against full‐die pressure‐tooling solutions, shear‐rates are observed to increase ten fold, while strain rates increase one hundred times. Tube‐tooling shear and extension‐rates are one quarter of those for pressure‐tooling. These findings across design options, have considerable bearing on the appropriateness of choice for the respective process involved. Parallel finite element results are generated on a homogeneous network of Intel‐chip workstations, running PVM (Parallel Vitual Machine) protocol over a Solaris operating system. Parallel timings yield practically ideal linear speed‐up over the set number of processors.
Selecting and developing talent: an alternetive approach
Authors: Lunn Terry
Published: July 2002

To be competitive in the future, companies will need to achieve
three times the productivity with only one third of the number of
people. Organizations must appreciate the increases in profit and
productivity that can accrue from selecting and recruiting talented
performers. The system of structured interviews, which enables
interviewers to identify to what degree individual applicants possess
the required characteristics, is being increasingly used. This system
may considerably reduce staff turnover. Training should not be a
Pavlovian reflex to every problem the organization encounters; people
cannot be trained to be what they are not. Training refines and develops
talent; it does not create it.
A Seven Step Procedure for Design for Manufacture
Authors: Fabricius Finn
Published: July 2002

Design for Manufacture (DFM) is design procedure which aims at
assisting the developing of a new generation of industrial products, in
order to improve their manufacturability. DFM can lead to significant
gains in productivity (often several hundred per cent). Unlike
automation, DFM requires little or no extra investment compared with
traditional product development. DfM can be applied in both high‐volume
production and in small‐scale production. DFM addresses the product on
several levels, including: the corporate level, the family level, the
structural level and the component level. One of the main attributes of
DFM is to avoid the untimely focus on detailed design and increase the
attention on conceptual design of the product.
Corporate renewal through lean design
Authors: Jones Daniel T.
Published: July 2002

Chrysler and Renault have successfully implemented dedicated
multifunctional platform design teams, with impressive results. Ford and
Nissan found it difficult to do so with strong functional departments.
All activities that do not add value need to be eliminated and a new
form of leadership introduced, accompanied by new planning and costing
systems. Slimmed down functions have a new role and engineers need new
horizontal career paths, alternating between functions and teams.
Toyota′s recent progress warns of the need to cut costs dramatically
– led by design and engineering.
Gently shattering the glass ceiling: experiences of Indian women managers
Authors: Nath Deepika
Published: July 2002

The status of women in India has long been paradoxical. They have had access to professions such as medicine, teaching and politics and have the right to own property. Among some social classes, women are extremely powerful. Yet, there is a long history of women being oppressed by men – delegated to playing subordinate roles. India’s workforce is changing. Social values and mores, and the increased global focus on women’s issues have changed the woman’s role impacting the career progression of women. This paper examines the impact of social, organisational and personal biases on the progression of professional women in India. Women managers in India have been generally successful in rising to the executive suite in Indian organisations, despite a culture that might suggest otherwise. These women were successful because of the interplay of organisational and familial support, coupled with the individual drive for success each woman demonstrated.
Modernization requires transformational skills: the need for a gender‐balanced workforce
Authors: Maddock Su
Published: July 2002

Argues that public services modernization is dependent on a major shift of gender cultures in communities and in senior management and policy making. Highlights the need for transformational as opposed to transactional leadership, focusing on the critical roles of transforming managers and the gender cultures they work within. Concludes that gender balance is a euphemism for actually what is required, which is the transformation of both traditional male and female indentities.
Women’s management, perceived job responsibility, and job search intention
Authors: Valentine Sean , Godkin Lynn , Turner James H.
Published: July 2002

The impact of manager gender on subordinates’ perceived job responsibility and intention to look for work was explored using a national sample of 1,825 supervisors employed in a variety of industries. After accounting for several covariates, results indicated that supervisors who had a female manager perceived lower job responsibility than did those who had a male manager. Results also showed that supervisors who had a female manager had higher intentions to look for work than did those who had a male manager. The causes and managerial implications of these findings are explored.
Where to from Here? Women in Management
Authors: Still Leonie V.
Published: July 2002

There is growing evidence in Australia that cultural factors are the
final impediment to women′s progress into senior management. Examines
the “cultural dilemma” that women managers present from organizational,
managerial and personal perspectives. It is felt that women can assist
their situation by altering their mode of operation from a “victim”
mentality to one of a “power” mentality: by making up their minds whether
they want to “share” power or get the male managerial culture to
“yield” power; by making a concerted effort to close the nexus on the
economic front; by educating chief executive officers as to imperative
for cultural change; and by both using and supporting various government
agencies and Equal Employment Opportunity Officers.
Policies and Practices to Encourage Women Returners
Authors: Davey Caroline L. , Davidson Marilyn J.
Published: July 2002

Presents research into the policies, practices and attitudes which would
encourage women to return to a company following maternity leave. As a
background to the study, which was conducted on behalf of one of the
UK′s largest engineering organizations and in association with the
management consultancy Interactive Skills Ltd, looks at how having
children affects women′s careers and the attitude of organizations
today. Concludes with a look at the importance of organizations,
mothers, partners and colleagues in helping women to lead full and
successful careers within a company.
Addressing Gender Issues in Management Education: An Australian
Initiative
Authors: Smith Catherine , Hutchinson Jacquie
Published: July 2002

In 1992 the Australian Federal Government established an Industry Task
Force on Leadership and Management Skills to make recommendations for
improving the skills of managers. The task force commissioned the
production of a core MBA curriculum unit on Effective Organizations:
Gender Issues in Management. Although gender stereotyping has not
traditionally been considered as a strategic business issue within MBA
programmes, this topic was considered a critical component of the
development of leadership and management skills, and a fundamental
element in the drive towards greater organizational effectiveness. In
developing the unit, the researchers identified both a reluctance and
lack of preparedness on the part of both academics and industry
management to deal with these issues. The resulting package therefore
recognizes the sensitivities associated with the subject, and the
difficulties of addressing gender issues in management. It also offers a
range of delivery options, and has potential for uptake in countries
other than Australia. Briefly describes the origins, focus and content
of the package produced for the task force in 1994, and discusses the
implications of the material for the career development of women
managers.
The “double‐glazed glass ceiling” in Australian
libraries
Authors: Simon Jane
Published: July 2002

Discusses the findings from a recent Australian study on the status
of women in libraries. Poses the question of whether a
“double‐glazed” ceiling exists for women in librarianship
despite their movement since the late 1980s into library management
positions and legislative initiatives. Utilizes both survey data and
information obtained from follow‐up interviews with female librarians.
Also questions the usefulness of the metaphor, the “glass
ceiling”, as an explanation for gender inequality.
Attitudes towards women in the Arabian Gulf region
Authors: Abdalla Ikhlas A.
Published: July 2002

Investigates the attitudes towards women held by 5,974 Kuwaiti and 7,382 Qatari professional men and women respectively, 53 men and 67 women Qatari college students, 26 Qatari college men student‐father pairs, and 36 Qatari women student‐mother pairs. Explains the predictive utility of sex, nationality, age, education, marital and parental status, and sex‐role self‐concepts (i.e. androgynous, masculine, feminine and undifferentiated self‐concepts) in attitudes towards women of the professional groups. The subjects completed the short version of the Attitude toward Women Scale (AWS), Bem’s Sex Role Inventory and a demographic questionnaire. Analysis indicated that the AWS scores of the various groups were very low, suggesting very traditional attitudes towards women in both Kuwait and Qatar. Compares the findings with those reported in Western and Asian cultures, and discusses the results and implications in the context of the Arabian Gulf environment.
Work‐family arrangements and gender inequality in Europe
Authors: den Dulk Laura , van Doorne‐Huiskes Anneke , Schippers Joop
Published: July 2002

Focuses on how government policy regarding work‐family arrangements affects the labour market position of women and men in the European Union. Discusses the statutory provisions of three different work‐family arrangements: leave arrangements, child care and part‐time work. Finds that the development of work‐family arrangements differs between member states, although these differences can be placed in a typology of welfare state regimes. To determine whether there is more equality between men and women in countries with a more extensive government policy, uses four indicators: the gender‐related development index of the Human Development Report, female labour participation, wage differences between men and women and segregation in the labour market. Suggests from a review of the indicators that there is a positive relation between the presence of statutory work‐family arrangements and gender equality in the labour market. Notes, however, that occupational segregation is less affected by work‐family arrangements. Concludes that a relation between the use of work‐family facilities and the persistence of segregation seems plausible. Argues that if work‐family arrangements are only available to women or if men do not use the existing facilities, inequality in the labour market will be maintained rather than reduced.
Black women managers and administrators: experiences and implications
Authors: Hite Linda M.
Published: July 2002

During the past two decades, an increasing amount of research has focused on career progress for women; however, gender has been the main focus of study, with the aspect of race rarely mentioned. In response, recent studies have begun to refute the implicit assumption that references to “women” in such research include all women, and that the experiences of all women are similar. This preliminary study focuses on the life and career experiences of a group of black women managers and administrators, exploring factors they identify as having impacted their career progress. Interviews and focus groups were used to gather data. Discusses ideas for additional research and implications for organizations interested in fostering a more supportive environment for women of colour.