bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Goldratt's thinking process applied to the problems associated with trained employee retention in a highly competitive labor market
Authors: Taylor Lloyd J. , Poyner Ilene
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the problem of trained employee retention in a highly competitive labor market for a manufacturing facility in the oilfields of West Texas.

Design/methodology/approach

This article examines how one manufacturing facility should be able to retain their trained employees by using the logic of Eliyahu M. Goldratt's thinking process.

Findings

The thinking process underscores the importance of a systematic process of problem‐solving by pinpointing the problem, determining a workable solution, and implementing the solution. By using this process, an organization would begin by looking for the underlying cause of the problem which produces undesirable effects (UDE) and develop a current reality tree highlighting these UDEs. Then the organization would develop a future reality tree which produces the desired effects.

Research limitations/implications

The list of publications was not exhaustive and were all US publications, which might have limited its usefulness outside the USA.

Practical implications

This paper is a useful source of ideas for training and retention of employees in a competitive labor market.
Preparation and characterisation of poly(p‐phenylene vinylene)/semiconductor nanofibres
Authors: Sun Z.Y. , Xie G. , Bai X.D. , Chen Y.J.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the preparation and characterisation of poly(p‐phenylene vinylene), PPV/TiO2 photoluminescent (PL) nanofibres, and the causes of the blue‐shift in PL spectrum of the as‐prepared composite nanofibres.

Design/methodology/approach

A simple method coupling sol‐gel method and electrospinning technology was used to prepare PPV/TiO2 nanofibres from precursory PPV solution.

Findings

Small‐angle X‐ray diffractometer showed that the nano‐TiO2 was mainly amorphous in composite nanofibres. The PL spectrum of the composite nanofibres confirmed the conclusion that there was a slight blue‐shift in the PL spectrum owing to the existence of TiO2 nanoparticles.

Research limitations/implications

The nanofibres collected aligned in random orientation, if parallel nanofibres were obtained. Practical applications will be effected.

Practical implications

The electrospinning method provides an effective strategy for preparing polymer composite nanomaterials.

Originality/value

Composite nanofibres will have potential applications for green optical/electric devices such as LEDs, sensors, transducers and flat panel displays.
Effect of modified galactomannan on acrylic film properties
Authors: Shenoy M.A. , D'Melo D.J.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of acrylated guar gum (GG) compared with GG in acrylic emulsions with reference to its viscosity, film properties such as mechanical strength, weathering properties and clarity.

Design/methodology/approach

The acrylate derivatives were synthesised and characterised and then incorporated in acrylic emulsions and their rheology studied. Films were analysed for their clarity and mechanical properties. The films were then subjected to UV radiation and the influence of these additives on the weathering properties was studied.

Findings

The viscosity of acrylated GGs in emulsions was lower than that of GG in emulsion because of the increased hydrophobic nature and hence reduced water‐binding capacity. The mechanical properties of acrylated GGs were superior compared with GG due to increased compatibility of the additive with the polymer binder. This was further confirmed with increased clarity of the films. Acrylated GG was found to act as a protective additive with reference to UV degradation of the coatings.

Research limitations/implications

The performance of these additives was analysed on un‐pigmented coating formulations, which may not conform with pigmented coatings.

Practical implications

These biodegradable additives synthesised from renewable resources could be used to increase the mechanical strength as UV stabilisers and in some cases also as rheology modifiers.

Originality/value

The use of acrylated polysaccharides to increase mechanical and weathering properties allows the use of biodegradable, renewable resources as opposed to petroleum‐based compounds.
Synergistic effect of methyl red dye and potassium iodide on inhibition of corrosion of carbon steel in 0.5 M H2SO4
Authors: Merah Salah , Larabi Lahcene , Benali Omar , Harek Yahia
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to show the effectiveness of methyl red (MR) alone and in combination with KI as corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in 0.5 M H2SO4.

Design/methodology/approach

Corrosion rates charge transfer resistance values were determined using gravimetric and electrochemical techniques. The efficiency of inhibition was calculated by comparing corrosion rates and charge transfer resistance values in absence and presence of the inhibitor, while the mechanism of inhibition was proposed by considering temperature influence on corrosion and inhibition processes.

Findings

The inhibition efficiency of MR increased with concentration and synergistically increased in the presence of the KI. Polarisation curves reveal that MR is a mixed type inhibitor. Changes in impedance parameters were indicative of adsorption of MR on the metal surface. The trend of inhibition efficiency with temperature suggests that inhibitor molecules are physically adsorbed on the corroding metal surface in the absence of KI and chemically adsorbed in its presence. MR was found to obey Langmuir adsorption isotherm both with and without KI.

Originality/value

Electrochemical techniques have been used for the first time to study synergistic effect of MR dye and potassium iodide on inhibition of corrosion of carbon steel in H2SO4.The results suggest that the mixture (MR + KI) could find practical application in corrosion control in aqueous acidic environment.
Sonicator dyeing of cotton with the leaves extract Acer pectinatum Wallich
Authors: Vankar P.S. , Shanker R. , Dixit S. , Mahanta D. , Tiwari S.C.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of ultrasonication on new natural dye obtained from leaves extract of Acer pectinatum Wallich using metal mordant for good cotton dyeing prospects.

Design/methodology/approach

For effective natural dyeing with leaves extract of Acer pectinatum Wallich, both conventional and sonication methods of dyeing were carried out using metal mordants. The purpose of using sonication was for improvement of dye uptake, improved dye adherence and good wash and light fastnesses. Results show marked improvement by the chosen dyeing method.

Findings

The superiority of sonicator dyeing over conventional dyeing in terms of enhanced resource productivity and, as a result, reduced wastes establishes it as the best available technique in the natural dyeing industry. Use of sonicator shows marked enhancement for cotton dyed fabric. Typical bath liquor to fabric ratio for conventional dyeing varies from 20:1 to 15:1 and for sonicator dyeing from only 12:1 to 10:1, thereby reducing specific water and energy consumption by, respectively, 30 and 50 per cent. The cycle time for dyeing was also reduced by 50 per cent and this would make possible more tonnage of fabric per unit time and lower waste generation for the dyeing process. This would also result in improved capacity utilisation leading to enhanced productivity levels in the dyehouses.

Research limitations/implications

Although metal mordanting with copper sulphate and potassium dichromate is not ecofriendly, yet only 2 per cent of these metal salts have been used to prepare different shades with leaves extract of Acer pectinatum Wallich.

Practical implications

The method developed for natural dyeing of cotton fabric using sonication in conjunction with metal mordanting has shown marked improvement.

Originality/value

The method developed for natural dyeing of cotton fabric using sonication in conjunction with metal mordanting has shown marked improvement in terms of dye adherence and fastness properties and can thus be recommended for industrial application.
Technology around the world: eight countries, shared problems
Authors: Seadle Michael , Greifeneder Elke
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This editorial aims to discuss how technology has transformed the cultural map for libraries so that experiences in Taiwan, Iran, India, Greece, or New Zealand are relevant anywhere in the developed world.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology draws heavily on cultural anthropology in looking at the cultural context and its changes over time.

Findings

Four sets of shared problems emerge in these articles: technology applications to solve specific library problems, user studies, cataloging issues, and electronic publishing. These are topics that librarians discuss around the world.

Originality/value

It is a commonplace today that technology has tended to equalize widely separated parts of the world. This is obviously true in terms of consumer goods, but appears to be less well accepted in terms of scholarly endeavor. The international and intellectual breadth of this issue can be seen as something to celebrate.
Modeling the digital content landscape in universities
Authors: Conway Paul
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Digital content is a common denominator that underlies all discussions on scholarly communication, digital preservation, and asset management. This past decade has seen a distinctive evolution in thinking among stakeholders on how to assemble, care for, deliver, and ultimately preserve digital resources in a college and university environment. At first, institutional repositories promised both a technical infrastructure and a policy framework for the active management of scholarly publications. Now other approaches that take a broader view of digital content hold sway, the result being confusion rather than clarity about where digital content originates, who the stakeholders are, and how to establish and adjust asset management priorities. This article seeks to present a model for plotting the range of digital content that might be amenable to management as digital assets in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The article reviews differing perspectives on digital content, outlines a generalized model, and suggests how the model could be used for examining the distribution of campus digital assets and fostering dialog on management priorities across stakeholder communities.

Findings

A multivariate model of digital content provides a rich framework for analyzing asset management priorities in a university setting. The model should be applied and tested in a variety of university settings.

Practical implications

The model is a tool for establishing asset management priorities across campus units that produce digital content.

Originality/value

The paper offers an original model for evaluating the asset values of digital content produced or acquired in a university context.
Use of UGC‐Infonet e‐journals by research scholars and students of the University of Delhi, Delhi
Authors: Madhusudhan Margam
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This paper focuses on the use of UGC‐Infonet e‐journals by research scholars and students. The main aim is to identify the needs and requirements of users in general and to know the use of UGC‐Infonet Library and Information Science e‐journals in the University of Delhi by research scholars and students of DLIS in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted through a questionnaire circulated among 40 research scholars (PhD and MPhil) and 28 students (MLISc) studying in the DLIS, University of Delhi, Delhi, for the academic year 2006‐07. The response rate was 94 per cent.

Findings

The study shows that e‐journals perform an increasingly important role in research at DLIS. Not only current e‐journals are required, but research scholars and students need to be provided the use of significant electronic back runs as well. There is an ever increasing demand for subscriptions of more e‐journal titles in LIS. There appears to be some need for academics to be provided with training in using e‐journals. The area where the greatest need for training is around managing references.

Research limitations/implications

The study geographical area was restricted to research scholars and students of the DLIS, University of Delhi, Delhi.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the importance of e‐journals in research at DLIS, University of Delhi.
Assistive technologies in Greek libraries
Authors: Koulikourdi Anna
Published: September 2008

Purpose

To investigate the current use of assistive technologies (AT) in Greek libraries, unveil the relationship between AT suppliers and library authorities and achieve a better understanding of companies' and libraries' perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey methodology has been used as the basic research tool by sending mailed questionnaires to AT enterprises and libraries.

Findings

Overall, the study stresses the lack of AT in Greek libraries. It depicts that the current legal and regulatory framework as regards AT is insufficient and concludes that libraries are not interested in such products and services.

Research limitations/implications

Several libraries chose not to participate in this research probably because they were totally unaware and unfamiliar with disability and AT issues and consequently, they did not have anything to state.

Originality/value

This paper is useful for information professionals who seek a greater understanding of the extent to which AT products are used in library authorities of Greece, since there is almost no literature and research relevant to this topic.
Building participative library services: the impact of social software use in public libraries
Authors: Rutherford Louise L.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the adoption of social software in public libraries and to explore its impact.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a qualitative methodology and took the form of open‐ended interview questions using an e‐mail format. The research uses Rogers' diffusion of innovations theory as a framework.

Findings

This research found that participants consistently described social software as a means to deliver a library service that truly reflected their users' wants and needs. Participants indicated that social software would help achieve this goal in two ways. Firstly, participants felt that social software enabled users to interact with the library in the ways they wanted to. Secondly, the participative elements of social software made it easier for users to provide feedback on all aspects of the library service. The study also revealed that while social software is not currently being used to its fullest extent in public libraries, public librarians are exploring the meaning and potential of this new technology.

Originality/value

This paper advances the discussion on social software by providing concrete examples of its impact in practice. It is a resource for public librarians considering the potential impact of implementing social software in their own library which will allow them to learn from the experiences of others.
Analyzing the results of automatic new topic identification
Authors: Ozmutlu Seda , Cosar Gencer C.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Identification of topic changes within a user search session is a key issue in content analysis of search engine user queries. Recently, various studies have focused on new topic identification/session identification of search engine transaction logs, and several problems regarding the estimation of topic shifts and continuations were observed in these studies. This study aims to analyze the reasons for the problems that were encountered as a result of applying automatic new topic identification.

Design/methodology/approach

Measures, such as cleaning the data of common words and analyzing the errors of automatic new topic identification, are applied to eliminate the problems in estimating topic shifts and continuations.

Findings

The findings show that the resulting errors of automatic new topic identification have a pattern, and further research is required to improve the performance of automatic new topic identification.

Originality/value

Improving the performance of automatic new topic identification would be valuable to search engine designers, so that they can develop new clustering and query recommendation algorithms, as well as custom‐tailored graphical user interfaces for search engine users.
Copyright in the networked world: the technology of enforcement
Authors: Seadle Michael
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This column aims to examine the influence of technology on copyright infringement and looks at the contemporary technology race between tools for rights enforcement and tools for copying and sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

The method is fundamentally anthropological with strong consideration given to reports contemporary behaviors in law cases and news reports.

Findings

The findings suggest that rights‐holder organizations like the Recording Industry Association of America are learning how to apply technology more effectively to their policing efforts. This could significantly alter the risk of infringement.

Originality/value

Technology has long been recognized as a key factor in enabling copyright infringement. Some new technologies attempt to restrict copying (e.g. Digital Rights Management software). Now internet software is being used systematically for discovery and policing.
Innovation in the structuring of Islamic sukuk securities
Authors: Wilson Rodney
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of different sukuk structures from a financial perspective. This examination includes murabahah and ijara‐based sukuk, the former offering a fixed return, and the latter, the most popular form of sukuk, a variable return. The potential for other more novel sukuk structures based on musharakah partnership contracts is also examined, and sukuk pricing issues are explored using alternative benchmarks to London Inter‐bank Offer Rate.

Design/methodology/approach

Flow charts are used to illustrate the financial transfers and the rights and obligations of sukuk investors as well as the beneficiaries of the funding. Historical data have used to assess whether the payments flows are more stable in the case of sovereign sukuk where the returns are based on gross domestic product (GDP) growth rather than interest.

Findings

The paper finds that special purpose vehicles are a prerequisite for the successful issuance and management of sukuk. The use of GDP‐based pricing benchmarks would have resulted in greater payments stability for sovereign debt in Saudi Arabia, but not for Malaysia.

Research limitations/implications

The data analysis was restricted to two countries, but this could be extended. Alternative pricing benchmarks were suggested for sovereign sukuk but not for corporate sukuk.

Practical implications

Ministries of Finance and Central Banks of Muslim countries should review their debt financing policies and explore the potential of sovereign sukuk.

Originality/value

Little has been written previously on the use of musharakah partnership contracts for sukuk, and pricing issues have not hitherto been systematically investigated.
The implication of using profit and loss sharing modes of finance in the banking system, with a particular reference to equity participation (partnership) method in Sudan
Authors: Abdalla Ahmed Gaffar
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the performance of musharakah (equity participation) in terms of profitability and risk; to investigate musharakah management to recognise the obstacles and factors influencing decision‐making and to investigate the implications of using musharakah mode of finance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from Sudan, which fully adhere to interest‐free principles of finance, will be used. Part of the data source is the Sudanese banks’ balance sheets and annual reports, which provide bank level data for all Sudanese banks for the period 1990‐2004. Initially, some descriptive analysis is provided. The concentration of musharakah in the Sudanese Islamic banks each year is provided so as to give an indication of the influence of musharakah. The second part of the data is survey data collected from nine banks. The survey has been distributed and collected from staff members of investment departments at the Sudanese banks.

Findings

The results show the high preference of musharakah among banks’ staff compared with other modes of finance. The results indicate that the lack of knowledgeable bankers in selecting, evaluating and managing profitable projects is a significant cause for the lack of profit and loss (PLS) projects. The results show the high profitability and risk performance. The paper has exposed the key issues involved in bad debt and general risk degree for musharakah.

Originality/value

The advantages and disadvantages of using musharakah have been discussed, obstacles for the scheme have identified, and the performance of musharakah has been evaluated. The paper should contribute to a better understanding of the implications of using PLS modes of finance, particularly musharakah.
Corporate governance and the global performance of Islamic banks
Authors: Ghayad Racha
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the operation of Islamic banks and the elements which determine their performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to ensure the respect of Shari’a, religious committee of monitoring exists within the Islamic bank to take care of the conformity of the activities and banking products with the Shari’a. This paper supposes that corporate governance of Islamic banks imposes an important constraint on Islamic banks operations. Furthermore, the directors of the Islamic banks are subjected to the governorship exerted by the board of directors and the Shari’a board.

Findings

The findings of this paper are that the performance of an Islamic bank – as a company based on principles of Islam – is affected not only by the internal variables of quantitative nature (for example financial ratios) but also by the internal qualitative variables like the managerial variables. Moreover, the performance of an Islamic bank and a conventional bank should not be measured in the same way because of their divergence on the level of the objectives. The Shari’a member must have a qualification in finance and commerce to ensure better quality of supervision and consultation.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this paper are based on case studies from one country only (Bahrain).

Practical implications

This paper implies that in practice, members of Shari’a Board must have stature to give the bank credibility vis‐à‐vis the stakeholders and the depositors.

Originality/value

The original contribution of this paper is that it shows that the members of Shari’a board were a serious handicap for the directors of the Islamic banks. Directors and members of Shari’a board did not speak the same language. The members of the Shari’a board were not very specialized in the fields other than Shari’a and contrary the directors in Shari’a.
The single‐row machine layout problem in apparel manufacturing by hierarchical order‐based genetic algorithm
Authors: Lin Miao‐Tzu
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Change of machine layout is often required for small quantity and diversified orders in the apparel manufacturing industry. The purpose of this paper is to use a hierarchical order‐based genetic algorithm to quickly identify an optimal layout that effectively shortens the distance among cutting pieces, thereby reducing production costs.

Design/methodology/approach

The chromosomes of the hierarchical order‐based genetic algorithm consist of the control genes and the modular genes to acquire the parametric genes, a precedence matrix and a from‐to matrix to calculate the distance among cutting pieces.

Findings

The paper used a men's shirt manufacturing as an example for testing the results of a U‐shaped single‐row machine layout to quickly determine an optimal layout and improve effectiveness by approximately 21.4 percent.

Research limitations/implications

The manufacturing order is known. The machine layout is in a linear single‐row flow path. The machine layout of the sewing department is independently planned.

Originality/value

The advantage of the hierarchical order‐based genetic algorithm proposed is that it is able to make random and global searches to determine the optimal solution for multiple sites simultaneously and also to increase algorithm efficiency and shorten the distance among cutting pieces effectively according to manufacturing order and limited conditions.
Initial validation of point cloud data from a 3D body scanner
Authors: Lerch Terry , Anthony Sean , Domina Tanya
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to validate the accuracy of point cloud data generated from a 3D body scanner.

Design/methodology/approach

A female dress form was scanned with an X‐ray computed tomography (CT) system and a 3D body scanning system. The point cloud data from four axial slices of the body scan (BS) data were compared with the corresponding axial slices from the CT data. Length and cross‐sectional area measurements of each slice were computed for each scanning technique.

Findings

The point cloud data from the body scanner were accurate to at least 2.0 percent when compared with the CT data. In many cases, the length and area measurements from the two types of scans varied by less than 1.0 percent.

Research limitations/implications

Only two length measurements and a cross‐sectional area measurement were compared for each axial slice, resulting in a good first attempt of validation of the BS data. Additional methods of comparison should be employed for complete validation of the data. The dress form was scanned only once with each scanning device, so little can be said about the repeatability of the results.

Practical implications

Accuracy of the point cloud data from the 3D body scanner indicates that the main issues for the use of body scanners as anthropometric measurement tools are those of standardization, feature locations, and positioning of the subject.

Originality/value

Comparisons of point cloud data from a 3D body scanner with CT data had not previously been performed, and these results indicate that the point cloud data are accurate to at least 2.0 percent.
The effect of weave type on dimensional stability of woven fabrics
Authors: Topalbekiroğlu Mehmet , Kübra Kaynak Hatice
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Testing the effect of machine washing and drying on dimensional stability produces information about the fabric types that satisfy consumers during end use. At present, it is a known fact that the weave patterns affect the dimensional stability property of woven fabrics. But the essential requirement is to determine the magnitude of this effect for weave types and establish the proper weave types for end use in definite tolerances. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the dimensional stability properties of 100 percent cotton woven fabrics as a function of weave type.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 12 woven fabrics with different weave derivatives are woven with 100 percent cotton and Ne 30/1 combed ring spun yarn for this investigation. These samples are then washed and dried according to domestic washing and drying standard test procedures. The shrinkage values are measured and then expressed as a percentage of the initial dimensions.

Findings

It was observed that weave pattern has a significant effect on the dimensional behavior of woven fabrics. Weave patterns with a high number of interlacings have lower shrinkage values. At the same time, lower yarn crimp values restricted the fabric shrinkage and resulted in better dimensional stability. According to one way ANOVA results, the effect of weave type on dimensional stability is found to be significant (p<0.01). In addition to these, Pearson correlation analysis showed that there is an important, positive and fair relationship between the number of washing cycles and total shrinkage.

Research limitations/implications

The study covers 100 percent cotton woven fabrics with one type of warp and weft sett. The only finishing treatment applied to the sample fabrics was desizing. No dyeing was carried out.

Originality/value

Understanding the magnitude of the effect of weave type on dimensional stability of cotton woven fabrics produces more knowledge about products which satisfy the customers with respect to dimensional stability during usage.
Study on heat transfer of liquid cooling garment based on a novel thermal manikin
Authors: Yang Kai , Jiao Ming‐Li , Chen Yi‐Song , Li Jun , Zhang Wei‐Yuan
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the heat transfer and establish a heat transfer model of an extravehicular liquid cooling garment based on a thermal manikin covered with soft simulated skin.

Design/methodology/approach

The thermal manikin applied in this study was a copper manikin, typical of which was its soft simulated skin – a newly thermoplastic elastomer material. Based on this novel thermal manikin, the heat transfer analysis of an extravehicular liquid cooling garment was performed. To satisfy the practical engineering application and simplify analysis, the hypotheses were proposed, and then the heat transfer model was established by heat transfer theory, in which the heat exchange equation of the liquid cooling garment with the thermal manikin and with the air layer, and the garment's total heat dissipating capacity were derived.

Findings

The verification experiments performed in a climatic chamber by a thermal manikin wearing a liquid cooling garment at different surface temperatures of the thermal manikin show that the modeling value fits well with the experimental value, and the heat transfer model of the liquid cooling garment has a high accuracy. Meanwhile, the relationship between the heat‐dissipating capacity of the liquid cooling garment and its design parameters – inlet temperature and liquid velocity – is suggested as being based on the heat transfer model.

Originality/value

The paper shows that it is an effective method to control the heat‐dissipating capacity of a liquid cooling garment by changing the inlet temperature to some degree, but not by changing the liquid velocity.
The preliminary studies of influence of garments on human beings' corona discharge
Authors: Ciesielska Izabela L. , Masajtis Jozef
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the corona discharge films (CDFs) taken from the fingertips of human subjects who had contact for a long period of time with two sets of clothes, in order to establish in what way a long period of contact with textiles influences life's parameters: the heart beat (HB), the blood pressure (BP), and the volunteers' level of comfort.

Design/methodology/approach

Three volunteers took part in the experiments. They were placing a fingertip in the area of a strong electrical field of high voltage (10 kV) and high frequency (1,024 Hz) to register a CDF. A digital camera placed within the area of corona discharges records this phenomenon.

Findings

The paper finds that there is no statistical difference between the parameters of a CDF taken from the fingertips of volunteers after 5 h of wearing two sets of clothes. There is a connection between the level of comfort of the volunteers and their CDF.

Originality/value

The CDF shows the consequence of the different factors, impact on human subjects. The authors are moderate in their opinion about the influence of extreme textiles‐related feelings.
Rx for smart hospital purchasing decisions
Authors: Kumar Sameer , DeGroot Rebecca A. , Choe Daewon
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of packaging design on purchasing decisions in hospitals and to identify inefficiencies in the US hospital supply chain. Recognition of inefficiencies helped to directly relate to the effects on critical factors of operation such as environment, traceability, and logistical ease which significantly add to the cost of health care.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey instrument was designed to be completed by purchasing agents in US hospitals and clinics. Statistical analysis was then applied to the survey data to draw inferences. In addition, existing studies of best practices of supply chain and packaging design were considered to determine what may be applied to the US hospital supply chains.

Findings

Analysis showed very little correlation between packaging requirements and hospital supply chain design. The data from the survey also supports the supply chain literature that the healthcare industry in the USA has been slow to adopt inventory efficient systems like just in time and lean development, including product tracking through bar coding and radio frequency identification devices; though most US hospitals have the capability to migrate to such a supply chain system.

Research limitations/implications

A small number of respondents were involved in the survey. Such efforts were limited by the availability of participants which were primarily supply chain procurement staff in various large community hospitals in major metropolitan areas across the USA.

Practical implications

There is a substantial opportunity for management of hospitals to educate their purchasing agents on the benefits of collaborating with their suppliers in order to take their relationships to the next level to lower costs of the US hospital supply chain. This has been shown by the responses in support of critical factors of the supply chain. Case studies have shown some hospitals are leading the way towards efficient use of their supply chain strategies.

Originality/value

Analysis of survey data revealed that packaging and environmental friendly suppliers/medical products do not currently play a role in hospital purchasing decisions. Nearly, all of the community hospitals in the USA that participated in the survey do not value packaging as providing a means to a more efficient inventory management program.
Using super‐efficiency analysis for ranking suppliers in the presence of volume discount offers
Authors: Farzipoor Saen Reza
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an innovative algorithm for ranking suppliers in the presence of volume discount offers, with regard to various criteria, based on super‐efficiency analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper introduces an innovative approach, which is based on super‐efficiency analysis (one of the data envelopment analysis models).

Findings

To rank the suppliers in the conditions that they offer volume discounts, an algorithm was introduced.

Practical implications

The results of this paper can be applied from both a buyer's and supplier's perspective. The buyer can use it as a tool in ranking the suppliers. The supplier can use these results from a marketing perspective. A specific supplier who achieves a high mean score, when compared to the other suppliers, can use these results for promoting its product. On the other hand, if a particular supplier is poorly performing, then the supplier can use the analysis for benchmarking purposes. This result may mean that the supplier must provide better performance levels at the same input.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no comprehensive and feasible model that deals with supplier ranking by super‐efficiency analysis in the presence of volume discount offers.
Multi‐perspective strategic goal setting, performance reporting and organisational performance
Authors: Iselin Errol R. , Mia Lokman , Sands John
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This paper's aim is to study multi‐perspective strategic goal setting and performance reporting systems and investigate: if the strength of the alignment of the goals and performance measures is associated with organisational performance and if performance reporting emphasis (PRE) is associated with performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Structured interviews with CEOs of 50 Australian companies with sales greater than $100 million per annum were conducted.

Findings

The research identified 11 dimensions of PRE and 13 dimensions of organisational performance. The strength of the alignment of the strategic goals and the performance reporting measures was positively associated with organisational performance. PRE was positively associated with organisational performance. The alignment finding was the stronger of the two.

Originality/value

The research identified several dimensions of performance reporting that organisations might consider using in their performance reporting systems. The findings suggest organisations should closely align their strategic goals with their performance reporting measures. Further, if an organisation wishes to achieve high performance on a particular dimension, it should be given some emphasis in their performance reporting system.
Exploring the myth of customer relationship management
Authors: Smith Malcolm , Lakhani Sangeeta
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to explore the relationship between customer satisfaction and branch profitability within the UK retail‐banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey is conducted within one UK bank, providing access to national customer survey data, and access to branch managers and branch performance data.

Findings

The findings provide further evidence to debunk the myth perpetuated in the literature of the 1990s, that customer satisfaction has a positive impact on corporate profitability. The findings, though remarkably consistent, are based on a relatively small sample of bank branches over a relatively narrow time frame, and consequently may not necessarily be applicable to other banking groups, or other countries.

Practical implications

The findings have important practical implications for bank expenditures on customer satisfaction and loyalty programmes, since they suggest that current levels of investment may not be justified by the benefits accruing.

Originality/value

The paper provides further evidence of the absence of an important supposed relationship, in an area of the literature subject to contentious and conflicting research findings.
Developments in the public‐private partnership funding of Scottish schools
Authors: Hannah Gwen
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the development of the public finance initiative (PFI) in a £2 billion investment to build new schools in Scotland in order to understand how the PFI negotiation process is evolving as the public and private sectors' experiences of PFI grows.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with officials from three different Scottish councils. Further insight was gained from attendance at a Scottish conference where presentations were made on the PFI process in building schools.

Findings

Council officials' handling of PFI processes has improved over time with more assistance being available to aid project organisers. However, the process continues to be very lengthy with significant sums being spent on professional advice. The balance sheet treatment of PFI transactions remains a crucial consideration.

Originality/value

This paper assesses recent developments in PFI schools' building projects in Scotland and provides some insight into areas where previously reported difficulties have been resolved and where problems continue to exist.
The diffusion of technological and management accounting innovation: Malaysian evidence
Authors: Smith Malcolm , Abdullah Zaharah , Abdul Razak Rafizan
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The study aims to examine the scope and extent of technological and management accounting innovation in Malaysia by identifying the stage of development of practice in industrial companies. Further, it seeks to investigate the factors determining their adoption of technological and management accounting innovations.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire‐based study is conducted within a tightly defined industrial area in the Klang Valley, so permitting personal follow‐up of individual companies.

Findings

The study confirms the dominance of financial accounting for the purposes of management control, with minimal adoption of innovative management accounting tools, even for large companies.

Originality/value

The Akira model for management accounting development is applied in recognition that it will fit developing South East Asian countries better than western equivalents, because of relatively low levels of automation.
Internal audit outsourcing practice and rationales: SME evidence from New Zealand
Authors: Van Peursem Karen , Jiang Lehan
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This study seeks to examine practices in, and rationales for, internal audit outsourcing in New Zealand (NZ) companies. The purpose is to assess whether practice and preference conform to expectations where small‐to‐medium businesses dominate.

Design/methodology/approach

Senior financial managers of all 165 NZ Stock Exchange listed companies are surveyed. Questions are drawn from the strategic management and auditing literature. Relationships between size, international association and industry are tested or revealed from descriptive statistics and qualitative analyses. Comparisons to overseas studies, where possible, are drawn.

Findings

Of 63 usable responses (38.2 per cent response rate), a comparatively low 57 per cent carry out some form of internal audit and a further 27 per cent claim interest in doing so. International companies are more likely to engage in internal audit, and preliminary findings point to less interest within consumer and equity/trust industries. As to outsourcers, 65 per cent (11) only began doing so recently, Big4 accounting firms are a major source, access to quality is an important reason and most 82 per cent (14 of 17) are aware of independence issues. Conclusions analyse legislative incentive patterns found and suggest further research.

Originality/value

Recent scandals and legislation in the USA, UK and Australia highlight the importance of the internal audit function to industry. This study looks at practices in and rationales for internal audit outsourcing found within the NZ corporate sector.
A content and citation analysis of accounting education manuscripts published in the Asian Review of Accounting: 1992‐2007
Authors: Faux Jeffrey
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the accounting education manuscripts published in the Asian Review of Accounting from 1992 to 2007.

Design/methodology/approach

Content and citation analyse techniques have been used to examine authorship, affiliation, educational themes and citation arrangements of manuscripts.

Findings

Results indicate that whilst there is a predominance of authors and institutional affiliation to Australia, educational themes tend to focus on Asian issues.

Originality/value

The regional nature of the Asian Review of Accounting and the lack of a dedicated accounting education journal in the region over the period provides valuable insight into the publishing patterns in accounting education and the regional interests of academics.
Articles of faith and mystic matrices
Authors: Ardley Barry
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This purpose of this paper is to show that theories of marketing, as evident in a range of key textbooks, represent a set of reified articles of faith, which are unreflective of the reality of the practitioner's world.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on some interpretative research findings into the nature of marketing practice. A series of phenomenological interviews were carried out with senior marketing managers. Their views were compared with existing representations of marketing as it appears in a range of textbooks.

Findings

Marketing textbooks were found to be highly alike drawing as they do on an implicit systems based paradigm. The findings from the interviews show that marketing is a locally defined, highly contextualised activity that is dissimilar in many ways to the generalised prescriptions of mainstream textbooks.

Research limitations/implications

Scholarship in the form of textbooks should attempt to move away from the dictates of the dominant articles of faith as espoused by the established church of marketing. Differing interpretations of marketing should not be viewed as being heretical. They should be seen as being the result of diverse organisational contexts and outcomes which stem from the socially constructed nature of reality.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is to show that marketing in practice is not constituted by textbook theory, but by context and the individual perceptions of people as they carry out their actions and routines in organisations.
PVRS and advertising exposure: a video ethnographic study
Authors: Pearson Sarah , Barwise Patrick
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the use of the personal video recorder (PVR) in the home and the impact on TV advertising exposure.

Design/methodology/approach

A video ethnographic study of 22 participants in eight homes with PVRs.

Findings

Use of the PVR differed widely between and within homes but of the 22 individuals, 21 used the PVR – if at all, as a backup when there was nothing on that they wanted to watch live. Consequently, of 3,480 individual opportunities to see commercials during the study, Only 30 per cent were time‐shifted and 70 per cent viewed live. Even for the 30 per cent of commercials that were time‐shifted, there was variable but significant ad exposure. This paper suggests that in combination with other, complementary studies, the impact of PVRs on advertising exposure will be limited.

Research limitations/implications

Many respondents perceived themselves as using the PVR much more than they actually did and claimed to have zero exposure to commercials when they watched time‐shifted programmes. In line with previous research, this shows that claimed behaviour is not reliable and it is important to observe actual behaviour in the natural context in order to understand future use of technology. As with all qualitative research the main limitation of this study is the small sample size. In practice, however, the results were very consistent with comparable results from the two main quantitative sources BARB and the Sky + panel. What our methodology provides, which quantitative methods cannot, is breadth and richness of insight into actual consumer behaviour in a natural context. The two methods are consistent and complementary. Further research could be improved if it was longitudinal and focused on the motivations to use and value of use of PVR and other emerging technologies, e.g. video on demand, internet protocol television and mobile TV.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the necessity of observing actual behaviour in order to gain an accurate understanding of the impact of new technologies on behaviour.