bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overcoming multicultural clashes in global joint ventures
Authors: Elashmawi Farid
Published: July 2002

This article presents examples of culture clashes in global joint ventures and shows how to overcome them. As organizations expand their business globally, they are faced with cultural differences in individual, organizational, and national cultures. Typical daily clashes are highlighted among American, Japanese, Asian, and European managers during routine business activities such as business meetings, presentations, and technology transfers. The uniqueness of each culture is compared and contrasted during such processes. The author also presents the Multicultural Management (MCM) Process, which has been developed and presented to over 1,000 managers worldwide as an effective method in enhancing their culture competency when dealing with international management issues.
“To Be or Not to Be?”: Making a Professional Career Choice
Authors: Preston Arthur P. , Biddle Gary
Published: July 2002

Proposes that there are fundamental differences between the roles of
professionals and managers which affect career choices in complex
organizations. Career choice difficulties are compounded by the reality
that only a very small percentage of individuals actually consciously
plan their careers, the remainder often expecting organizations to
manage their careers for them. Contends that most career programmes use
only static processes and diagnostics, rather than a more dynamic action
learning process. Reports the successful use of an action learning
career programme with professionals. Contends that the power of the
programme derived from the synergistic combination of traditional
diagnostic approaches with an action learning phase, with the
traditional inputs providing information which was synthesized and made
relevant to career direction during the action learning phase.
The Managerial Plateau: What Helps in Developing Careers?
Authors: Karen Zaremba Denise
Published: July 2002

Plateauing is generally assumed to be problematic for organizations,
with plateaued managers less satisfied with their careers than
non‐plateaued managers. Reports on the findings of a survey conducted to
find out whether there were any significant differences in levels of
career satisfaction between plateaued and non‐plateaued managers. The
sample was 248 managers from the UK Postal Delivery Organization –
Royal Mail. Further analysis was undertaken comparing managers at
different grades and between the sexes, and at differences in levels of
satisfaction in the groups in their ability to manage their own career.
Issues in recruitment strategies: an economic perspective
Authors: Russo Giovanni , Rietveld Piet , Nijkamp Peter , Gorter Cees
Published: July 2002

In the last two decades the economic literature has devoted significant attention to the mechanisms behind firms′ recruitment strategies as a possible way of reducing (un)employment problems. At the workfloor many efforts have also been made by firms to develop strategies that both alleviate conflicts with employees and at the same time lead to acceptable levels of productivity. This effort has resulted in the broad acceptance of the personnel management function in the firm. Examines how successful this approach has been by focusing on the gap between practice and theory in recruitment, by investigating the extent to which and the way in which experiences and findings from actual recruitment (personnel management) have been incorporated in economic theory. Gives an overview of findings on recruitment and selection strategies of firms, with a particular emphasis on economic motives.
Quality and Intellectual Services
Authors: Mayère Anne
Published: July 2002

The question of quality is also becoming increasingly important in
intellectual services provided for companies. However, because these
services present certain of the main characteristics of services in an
accentuated form, it is necessary to reconsider the pre‐existing
analytical frameworks regarding the question of quality. This article
isolates two approaches to quality which enable a clearer view of some
of the stakes at play in the changes in which the notion of quality is
involved.
Priorities in Services Marketing
Authors: Easingwood Christopher J. , Arnott David C.
Published: July 2002

An attempt is made to identify those areas of marketing activity in
the services sector that deserve to be given priority attention. A
number of marketing areas are identified and assessed on their scope for
improvement, the ease with which they can be changed and also on the
sensitivity of the performance of the organisation to an improvement in
the area. The perspective is that of senior marketing managers in the
services sector. The managers picked out “pricing policy” as
one factor deserving to be given the highest priority. Improvements here
are possible and, in addition, will show up in better company
performance. Three other factors were also thought to deserve priority
attention: customer interface, marketing department influence and new
product development strategy. The marketing managers considered that
these too would produce better company performance if improved, although
somewhat more difficult to change. Overall the managers indicated the
importance they attach to those of their activities that affect the
quality of the customers′ interaction with the company and its
employees.
Estimating Zones of Tolerance in Perceived Service Quality and Perceived Service Value
Authors: Liljander Veronica , Strandvik Tore
Published: July 2002

Focuses on proposing a new method for capturing the customer′s zone
of tolerance for service quality. Interprets the zone of tolerance as a
kind of inertia regarding behavioural responses to disconfirmation of
expectations. Gives a predicted example in which adequate and desired
expectations are operationalized by conjoint analysis. Explores the
relationship between expectations, service quality, and service value.
Gives examples of the kinds of result which one can obtain using the
proposed method.
Development of a Multiple‐item Scale for Measuring Hospital Service Quality
Authors: Vandamme R. , Leunis J.
Published: July 2002

Many hospitals apply modern marketing ideas to serve customer
markets in a more efficient and effective way. An important strategic
variable in this respect is service quality. Gives a theoretical
conceptualization of the service‐quality construct and discusses its
major underlying assumptions and concepts. Also describes some specific
characteristics of the quality construct in the health‐care sector.
Explores the dimensionality of the service‐quality construct using the
SERVQUAL instrument. Also describes the Access concept, which is widely
used in the health‐care literature. On the basis of these theoretical
considerations, reports an empirical study in a Belgian hospital to
develop an appropriate multiple‐item scale to measure hospital service
quality. Discusses discrepancies between SERVQUAL and the dimensions
obtained from this study in some detail along with the reliability and
validity properties of our scale and makes some critical comments on the
SERVQUAL approach with recommendations for future research.
Professional Service Firms and Total Quality Management:A Good Fit?
Authors: Haywood‐Farmer John , Nollet Jean
Published: July 2002

A recent managerial trend is the move towards total quality management
(TQM) in all economic sectors: manufacturing, service, public and now
the professional services. Successful implementation of TQM requires
that staff in adopting organizations change how they work and, in
particular, how they relate to customers and co‐workers. However,
professionals have several characteristics that make them difficult to
manage. Examines some potential difficulties in the TQM approach as it
applies to professional service firms, describes some successes and
discusses some implementation issues.
Analysis, planning, improvisation and control in the development of
new services
Authors: Edvardsson Bo , Haglund Lars , Mattsson Jan
Published: July 2002

Given the increasing importance of the service sector in western
economies, not enough research has been carried out in the field of new
service development. Reports studies which explore the process of
developing new services. Nine different new services launched in the
Swedish market were studied in detail. Based on these studies, draws
conclusions on the process.
Mass customization: conceptual underpinnings, opportunities and
limits
Authors: Hart Christopher W.L.
Published: July 2002

Traditionally, executives have assumed that trade‐offs – high
quality or low cost, efficiency or customization – are inevitable.
In defining their businesses, the choice has always been seen in terms
of mass production of inexpensive, commodity‐like products or services
(the assembly line) on the one hand, and on the other hand,
premium‐priced, individually‐tailored, highly differentiated offerings
(the “job shop”). But the notion that such trade‐offs and
choices are permanent, inevitable business realities is fading as a new
management paradigm – mass customization – emerges. Mass
customization consists of cutting‐edge management methods and tools that
give companies the ability to produce customized, affordable,
high‐quality goods and services, but with the shorter cycle times and
lower costs historically associated with mass production and
standardization. Proposes that much of the power of mass customization,
like total quality management before it, lies in its visionary and
strategic implications. Also delineates an exploratory diagnostic
framework to help companies assess the potential for mass customization
as an explicit strategy in their industries. The key dimensions of this
framework are customer sensitivity, process amenability, competitive
environment, and organizational readiness.
The zone of tolerance
Authors: Johnston Robert
Published: July 2002

Briefly reviews some of the literature on service quality and in particular the zone of tolerance – the zone of acceptable or expected outcomes in a service experience. Uses the zone of tolerance to explore the relationships between customers′ satisfaction with individual transactions, or service encounters, and their satisfaction with the overall service. Provides nine propositions which identify how customers′ perceptions of the quality of a service can be influenced and how the thresholds of the zone of tolerance can be adjusted during the process of service delivery. Also considers some of the design implications of the propositions.
Internal services: classification and quality management
Authors: Stauss Bernd
Published: July 2002

The ultimate goal of total quality programmes is customer satisfaction. In order to reach that goal, TQM applies the customer orientation maxim internally, assuming that it can be applied without problems to internal services, too. Analyses the justification for this assumption. Argues that the concept of internal customer orientation only makes sense for workflow and audit/advice services, while evaluation/audit relationships do not comprise any kind of customer‐supplier relationship. It is shown that internal customer orientation does not arise automatically but results from management decisions which bring about an appropriate setting. Deals with the characteristics of workflow and non‐standardized support/ advice services and the consequences of these for the employment of customer‐oriented quality instruments. Points out that the strict realization of internal customer orientation can cause problems which prevent organizations from improving the quality of their products and services which are marketed externally.
Financial service industry mismanagement
Authors: Vit Gregory B.
Published: July 2002

States that the financial services industry application of mainstream strategy literature gives ample consideration to an organization’s task and technical environment. Points out, however, that this level of analysis does not deal explicitly with the larger “institutional” context, within which an organization is embedded. Using the Canadian banking industry as an exemplar of a highly institutionalized financial services industry, demonstrates the utility of institutional theory in understanding the origins, nature and dynamics of powerful institutional pressures of conformity. Calls this conformist strategy “mismanagement”.
The qualitative satisfaction model
Authors: Stauss Bernd , Neuhaus Patricia
Published: July 2002

Notes that the premiss of all efforts to achieve customer satisfaction is the basic assumption that customer satisfaction leads to customer loyalty. Although this thesis sounds reasonable, empirical studies indicate that satisfaction often is only a weak indicator of customer loyalty. This can partly be explained by shortcomings in satisfaction measurement. In applying unidimensional rating scales, it is assumed that customers who give the same satisfaction score also experience the same emotions, cognitions and intentions. This assumption is questionable, for satisfaction also has a qualitative dimension. Presents a qualitative satisfaction model, which results in five different qualitative satisfaction types with different patterns of emotions, cognitions and intentions. Results from an empirical study suggest that these satisfaction types imply different levels of the risk that even satisfied customers terminate a business relationship and switch to competitors.
How disconfirmation, perception and actual waiting times impact customer satisfaction
Authors: Davis Mark M. , Heineke Janelle
Published: July 2002

The experience of waiting for service is often the first direct interaction between customers and most service delivery processes. The literature on satisfaction with waiting has paralleled the literature on general service satisfaction, in which the relative importance of actual performance, perceived performance, and the disconfirmation between expected performance and perceived performance has been the subject of much debate. This paper presents an empirical study of satisfaction with waiting for service in a fast food environment. The study demonstrates that actual waiting time, perceived waiting time, and the disconfirmation between expected waiting time and perceived waiting time are all related to satisfaction with the waiting experience. It further demonstrates that the relative importance of each of these variables in predicting satisfaction depends on the differences in the needs of the customers. The implications for both theory and practice are significant: the importance of the perception of the experience increases as the importance of the satisfaction measure increases. More specifically, for customers who are concerned about time, the perception of the time spent waiting is a better predictor of satisfaction than the actual waiting time.
Customer responses to emotional labour in discrete and relational service exchange
Authors: Grayson Kent
Published: July 2002

As part of their jobs, many service employees are required to express certain emotions, such as positive affect toward service customers. Sometimes employees do not actually feel the emotions that they are expressing, resulting in what has been called “emotional labour.” Although a number of scholars have examined how service employees respond to requirements for emotional labour, few have studied how customers respond to employees who are enacting emotional labour ‐ or its opposite, emotional effortlessness. Building from the impression management framework, this paper develops an operationalization of emotional labour and presents hypotheses about consumer responses to emotional labour and emotional effortlessness. It also proposes an adaptation of previous marketing applications of the impression management framework. The hypotheses are then tested in two laboratory experiments. Results suggest that perceptions of emotional effortlessness can have a significant and positive impact on customer evaluations, but only in relational (as opposed to discrete) service situations.
Capital and other inputs in the production of services
Authors: Delaunay Jean‐Claude
Published: July 2002

Production of services requires the use of equipment and raw materials. It seems difficult, however, to study the connection between these devices and production of services. Service activities can be represented as a structure of relations. On which elements of the service structure and with what specific consequences does the capital core of service activities act? After having proceeded to a macroeconomic examination of this connection, the survey takes a microeconomic approach, applied to US legal business. The conclusion is that the dead ends observed in the macroeconomic studies of service productivity could be partially eliminated thanks to this kind of analysis.
The strategic role of unused service capacity
Authors: Ng Irene C.L. , Wirtz Jochen , Sheang Lee Khai
Published: July 2002

Services are by nature perishable. As such, managing a service firm’s capacity to match supply and demand has been touted as one of the key problems of services marketing and management practice. This paper advances an alternative perspective of unused service capacity. Based on a review of current literature and an exploratory study, this paper employs a theory‐in‐use methodology to map out a set of capacity strategy propositions. These propositions show a divergence between what literature suggests and what service firms actually practise with regard to reducing the occurrence of unused service capacity. The paper also demonstrates that capacity can be employed as a resource to achieve a series of strategic objectives that serve to improve the performance of the firm. Service firms should therefore approach capacity management not only from the standpoint of operations management, but also from that of marketing.
From green to brown: is brownfields use risk taking?
Authors: Charlier Roger H.
Published: July 2002

Brownfields are commonly pictured as the hottest real estate property in the USA. Will the European market follow suit? Brownfields are properties long considered lost to re‐utilization due to their polluted condition. Federal and state governments in the USA provide incentives to foster redevelopment. But the risks involved still keep potentially interested parties clamoring for more legal protection. It may validly be asked whether recovery schemes may pose subsequent health or other problems. Communities involved may react quite differently; the attitude may be one of apathy, distrust or opposition, or, in sophisticated milieus, of realism. Much will depend on “education” and communication.
Uncertainty associated with radioactive waste chacteristics
Authors: Kontic Branko , Ravnik Matjaz , Stegnar Peter , Kross Burton C.
Published: July 2002

To clarify uncertainty in predictions of the quantity, radionuclide inventory and activity of waste from the Krsko nuclear power plant, and to illuminate its role in related policy‐making, we made a scenario analysis in order to find out the variation in waste characteristics if the plant operates five years shorter or longer than anticipated, or if it uses fuel of a higher enrichment (levels between 3 per cent and 5 per cent of U‐235). We used ORIGEN2 computer code for calculations connected to spent fuel, and developed a code for calculating low‐ and intermediate‐level waste. We present and interpret our results using language which can be understood by decision makers and the general public. We believe that the clarification of the issues gained through our analysis will contribute to more informed decision making and be effective in building confidence among professionals, the public and politicians in the process of identifying the most appropriate waste management options.
A long‐term management plan for a watershed in a world metropolis – Istanbul
Authors: Tanik A. , Beler Baykal B. , Gonenc I.E.
Published: July 2002

Ömerli reservoir is the major reservoir of Istanbul in terms of water supply potential. However, rapid population increase, unplanned and illegal housing, irrelevant industries and motorways passing through the protection zones of the catchment area, together with insufficient infrastructure, cause the water quality of the reservoir to tend towards the eutrophic stage from the mesotrophic stage parallel to the land use profile. In order to achieve a long‐term water supply from the reservoir and to arrive at sanitary solutions, new land use plans should be developed. Therefore, the key idea of this paper is to develop a convenient protection strategy to keep the reservoir from further deterioration, in light of the guidelines of a new land use plan, and to allow the watershed to be used in accordance with the tendencies of society in a controlled manner, so as to maintain the sustainability of the reservoir for drinking water supply and to assure continuing control by implementing economic sanctions.
Overview to water recycling in California: success stories
Authors: Wong Arlene K. , Gleick Peter H.
Published: July 2002

Provides a summary of recycled water use in California, illustrating the evolution of its application from individual projects for nearby users, to city‐wide and district programs. Presents three detailed case studies of recent water recycling projects: the West Basin Water Recycling project in Los Angeles County, the South Bay Water Recycling project in Santa Clara County, and several projects in Marin County. Barriers to recycled water projects include the cost, institutional barriers that separate water supply and wastewater functions, slow regulatory response in permitting, recognizing new technology and expended uses, and educating stakeholders. From the case studies, common elements to successful implementation demonstrate the importance of working with numerous stakeholders throughout the process and addressing their concerns, creating new institutional partnerships, educating stakeholders to bring actors together, market services, and engender support, acquiring financial assistance and providing incentives and, finally, relying on large volume users to support a more cost‐effective design.
Environmental health aspects of coastal bathing water standards in the UK
Authors: Parker J. , Frost S.
Published: July 2002

Over 300 million gallons of sewage are discharged into the sea around the coastline of Britain each year. Raw or partially treated sewage contains a mixture of micro‐biological species, some of which are pathogens linked to many diseases. The most common gastro‐intestinal infections occur via the faecal‐oral route. A bather or water sports enthusiast could ingest enough pathogenic micro‐organisms from sewage contaminated sea water to cause illness. Legislation has been passed requiring the quality of bathing water to be tested so as to assess the risks to human health. Standards within the EC Bathing Water Directive remain above the level found to cause risks to human health, despite the existence of economically viable and environmentally sustainable technologies which would ensure safe levels in waste water discharges. Therefore even beaches which meet the standards of the Directive may not be as safe as they appear. This paper attempts to address the issue of Bathing Water Standards. It raises the questions of why standards are so low and looks at what is being done to improve coastal bathing water quality in the UK.
Improving Corporate Environmental Performance
Authors: Welford Richard
Published: July 2002

Environmental auditing is becoming increasingly important for business
who wish to demonstrate their corporate responsibility and commitment to
environmental improvement. It offers a methodology to evaluate the
environmental performance of companies and is likely to become
increasingly widespread as more and more environmental regulations and
codes of practice have to be adhered to in industry. Outlines the
benefits of environmental auditing and offers a methodology for
undertaking the audit procedure. Examines the aims and objectives of the
audit process, analyses incentives to undertake the audit and maps out
the practice of implementing the audit. In an analysis of the EU Euro
Eco‐management and Audit Scheme, shows how this scheme will increase the
attractiveness of environmental auditing to companies who wish to be
recognized as leaders in the field.
Sustainable multiple‐use and management of the coastal zone
Authors: Charlier Roger H. , Charlier Constance C.P.
Published: July 2002

Population migration to the coastal zone has increased by 50 to 70 per cent. Conflicts of inhabitation and use are escalating rapidly. Single use is economically risky if not unsound. In traditional societies multiple‐use has been exercised successfully. Concentration among today′s users should lead to an acceptable balance and to sustainable situations. Physical, biological and geological equilibria and conservation should be maintained. For this to happen communication approaches should be fine‐tuned.
Health criteria for radon indoors
Authors: Suess Michael J.
Published: July 2002

Reports on the deliberations of a World Health Organization working
group which met in Eilat, Israel, in 1993 to discuss “risk
assessment values”, and a unified approach to the control of human
exposure to radon, which is known to cause lung cancer in human beings.
Summarizes the working group′s conclusions and recommendations.
Britain and the intergovernmental panel on climate change
Authors: Boehmer‐Christiansen Sonja A.
Published: July 2002

The important role played by the UK in the negotiation of the
Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 can be explained by the
support given to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and
especially to its working group on scientific assessment. Outlines the
context in which this support became possible and the role and
functioning of the Panel. Argues that a mature national research lobby
assured that the international scientific advisory process was
incorporated into both domestic environmental policy and environmental
diplomacy. By ensuring that scientific assessment was indeed considered
to be policy relevant by policy‐makers, attention and resources were
attracted to a research area of global significance. Policy relevance
was claimed on the basis of the argument that predictions of future
climates and their impacts on eco‐systems, now including potential
health risks to the population, are essential precautionary reasons.
Suggests that this assertion needs debate. By supporting global research
which is primarily concerned with predicting the behaviour of systems
that include human beings as a biological species, more fundamental
questions about the capacity of political systems and societies to
respond to and cope with the asserted environmental threats are not
addressed. If political inability to act leads mainly to support for
more research, how should the research enterprise react?
New information on nuclear tests
Authors: Warner Frederick
Published: July 2002

The recently established SCOPE‐RADTEST (Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment‐Radioactivity from Nuclear Test Explosions) programme is examining releases of radioactivity due to nuclear detonations which have occurred at various test sites around the world, for peaceful and military purposes, taking into consideration both ecological and human effects. Presents the background to this programme, together with a summary of the proceedings of RADTEST’s North Atlantic Treaty Organization Advanced Research Workshop meetings held during 1994 in Vienna, Austria, and Barnaul, Russia, and of the 1995 meeting in Brussels/Liège, Belgium.
The objectives of the environmental audit
Authors: Vinten Gerald
Published: July 2002

Explores the concept of the environmental audit. Emphasizes its importance as one contribution that attempts to prevent the destruction of the world in which we live. Stresses that it is everyone’s responsibility ‐ that of both individuals and the companies and organizations in which they operate. Describes stages of the audit process that have been successful in practice.
Persistent organochlorine compounds in water and soil environments
Authors: Drevenkar Vlasta , Fingler Sanja , Fröbe Zlatko , Vasilic Zelimira
Published: July 2002

Reviews compound physico‐chemical properties and water and soil properties influencing the transport and distribution of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorophenols in a water and soil environment. As highly hydrophobic compounds of low water solubility, organochlorine pesticides and PCBs are rapidly and strongly sorbed by most soils and sediments. The sorption of weakly acidic chlorophenols comprises both molecular and ionic forms and depends not only on the soil/sediment organic matter content but also on the pH and ionic strength of the aqueous phase. Briefly describes the analytical methods for trace analysis of organocholorine pesticides, PCBs and chlorophenols in water and soil/sediment samples. Presents some results of those micropollutants’ analysis in surface, ground and drinking waters, soils, river sediments and wet depositions in Croatia.
Economic impact of electrostatic precipitators pulse energization on dedusting in iron‐ore sintering plants
Authors: Pelagagge P.M. , Caputo A.C. , Giacchetta G.
Published: July 2002

Investigates the application of the up‐flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor for the anaerobic treatment of sewage sludge containing high concentrations of soluble and insoluble sulphides. Assesses the reactor’s performance in terms of volatile organic matter (VOM) and biogas production rate. The average percentage removal of VOM, total sulphide and biogas for the reactor operation without sulphide was 67 per cent, 65mgS/L and 1 L/day, respectively. The corresponding average percentage removal of VOM, total sulphide and biogas production rate for the experiment with 800mgS/L soluble sulphide was 45 per cent, 450mgS/L and 0.7L/day. Equilibrium concentrations of soluble sulphide up to 200mgS/L exert insignificant toxic effects, but toxicity increases as the concentration of soluble sulphide increases. A concentration of soluble sulphide of 1,200mgS/L produces severe toxic effects and the complete termination of gas production. An inhibitory concentration of sulphides affects gas production first, while significant volatile acid accumulation takes place much slower, and only after gas production has been severely retarded. Insoluble sulphide has an insignificant effect on the UASB up to a concentration of at least 800mgS/L. The addition of iron as ferric chloride prevents the toxicity of soluble sulphides as indicated by the minor effect on gas production. Therefore, the use of iron to precipitate sulphide could be used on a continuous basis to reduce sulphide toxicity.
Utilization of controlled cement dust as a concrete material in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Hindy Kamal T.
Published: July 2002

Investigates the characterization of cement dust collected by electrostatic precipitators and fabric filters to study its ability to be used as a concrete material. The study includes 26 cement dust samples collected from different points on dry process lines in four of the major cement plants in the United Arab Emirates. The collected samples were subjected to detailed physical tests and chemical analyses. Results obtained were compared with the British Standard Specifications set for ordinary Portland cement. Finds that eight samples show comparable physical properties and chemical as well as mineral composition.
Estimation of organic carbon stocks in crown phitomass of pine stands in the Central Povolgie region (Russia)
Authors: Alekseevich Sokolov Petr
Published: July 2002

Investigates carbon sequestration by tree age and ripeness in the concrete forest region of Central Povolgie, Russia. Recommends the resulting data for use in the ecological estimation of reducing greenhouse gases in an investigated territory.
Current problems ‐ emerging issues in occupational and environmental health
Authors: Kogi Kazutaka
Published: July 2002

Sheds light on emerging problems in occupational and environmental health in the Asia‐Pacific region which include the changing employment structure, including the increased participation of women and ageing workers, hazards from new kinds of carcinogens and organic chemicals, reproductive hazards, AIDS, technology‐related stress at work, and environmental problems resulting from industrial operations.
Ergonomic modifications of shovels in India
Authors: Nath Sen Rabindra
Published: July 2002

Submits that, in developing countries, there is still a large dependence on handheld, non‐mechanical tools. For a long time, the design of tools, such as shovels, has not improved. Describes a new design for a shovel, which reduces the workload and enhances productivity. The cost is minimal.
International dimension of occupational and environmental health
Authors: Takala Jukka , Obadia Isaac
Published: July 2002

Describes the Global Programme on Occupational Safety, Health and Environment of the International Labour Office (ILO). The inculcation of a safety culture, access to knowledge, standard setting and self‐regulation are key points of the ILO Programme.
Finland’s role in promoting collaboration in occupational health and safety
Authors: Rantanen Jorma , Lehtinen Suvi
Published: July 2002

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) has, through the Finnish International Development Agency, FINNIDA, supported the development of occupational health and safety in Africa and Asia since 1974. Training of occupational health personnel, employers’ and workers’ organizations, expert advice and information dissemination are components of the collaborative of the FIOH/FINNIDA programmes.
Water‐borne cryptosporidiosis: a recurring problem
Authors: Donnelly J.K. , Stentiford E.I.
Published: July 2002

States that the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in potable water supplies continues to be a high profile problem in the UK and the USA, causing concern among public health officials and those responsible for water treatment. Reviews the current status of knowledge about this troublesome parasite and considers water treatment options.
REMSSBOT: a general survey
Authors: Inguaggiato Claudio
Published: July 2002

Most public administrations have already some environmental management systems or subsystems in place, which are usually incompatible. An obvious way to remedy this patchwork of systems and information would be to redesign and implement a new IT system from scratch, taking all user requirements into account. The REMSSBOT project (EU DG XIII, Telematics Application Programme) aims at overcoming these disadvantages by offering integral management using an innovative telematic solution. Public administrations of the regions Piemonte (IT), Attica (GR) and Scheldt (NL, B) participate in the project. The REMSSBOT approach is based on a catalogue conforming to the guidelines of the European Environment Agency (EEA). The project‐supporting tools and building blocks allow users to navigate through the catalogue and explore information sources, regardless of environmental topic and location. Based on such a design approach, three software applications (demonstrators) have been implemented in the participating regions, which prove the feasibility of using a catalogue‐driven approach to implement worthy applications at relatively low cost and with reduced effort.
System architecture and the catalogue of data sources
Authors: Gerrit van Barneveld ir.
Published: July 2002

The article describes the system architecture concept applied in the REMSSBOT project, focusing especially on the use of the Catalogue of Data Sources (CDS). The design approach is explained, taking into account the existing situation and the general requirements for environmental information in the REMSSBOT participating regions. The REMSSBOT meta‐information system is presented, together with a description of the EEA ETC/CDS and Thesaurus, on which the REMSSBOT CDS datamodel was based. The functionality of the CDS is also shown, as well as the search and navigation approach. Last, the standards and components used for the implementation of the system architecture are given, together with a short description of the implementation, design and process itself.
Development and implementation of environmental monitoring and information systems for water resources
Authors: Chukwuma Chrysanthus
Published: July 2002

Attempts to examine the principles which lead to the exploration procedures to obviate environmental and natural resource degradation. The present and future state of water resources in both developed and developing countries are inextricably linked to the general behaviour of the economy and political, social and administrative structures. Globally, emphasis in water provision is systematically placed on potable water, but a great proportion of the world’s population’s water resources are wells, ponds, boreholes, streams, rivers, seas and oceans which are susceptible to contamination and pollution by natural and anthropogenic sources ‐ industrial emissions, municipal waste sites, parasitic organisms, agriculture, etc. Suggests several developments and changes in global information and monitoring to stem further deterioration of water quality and to establish an acceptable state of the resource for the future.
Effect of pond ash on ground water quality: a case study
Authors: Suresh I.V. , Padmakar C. , Padmakaran Prabha , Murthy M.V.R.L. , Raju C.B. , Yadava R.N. , Venkata Rao K.
Published: July 2002

The potential problems and their consequences due to fly ash disposal have been well studied around the world. Ash pond is a common available disposal facility for thermal power plants. The pond ash is subjected to weathering and the ions present in ash migrate to the soil and subsequently to the ground water over a period of time. A study has been carried out at Vijayawada Thermal Power Station (VTPS), Andhra Pradesh, India, to monitor the ground water quality in order to determine the potential impact of ash ponds. It has been found that ground water quality is deteriorated due to the presence of fly ash ions (macro and micro such as Fe, Ca, Mg etc.) which were leached out from the ash up to some extent. The contamination is likely to increase in the case of toxic and other ions with the passage of time. The presence of vegetative cover and plant growth on the down stream slope and fly ash ponds which are covered by soil may effectively control the leaching of ions.
Modelling the future of groundwater resources in central Spain
Authors: Mulligan Mark , Burke Sophie
Published: July 2002

This paper looks at the potential implications of land use and climate change for replenishment of the five aquifers which lie beneath the Upper Guadiana catchment in central Spain. The impacts of scenarios for climate and land use change on groundwater recharge are explored using a physically based hydrological model. (Research is the downward flux of water from the base of the root zone, beyond which water is no longer available for evapotranspiration and forms part of the groundwater resource.) The model is integrated for a series of climate change scenarios spanning the range of predictions from general circulation models. Aquifer replenishment through recharge from the main four cover types is examined for each scenario and the implications for groundwater resources are examined. These climate scenarios are then coupled with a scenario for change in irrigated land use in the Guadiana derived from a cellular automata model based on historical change. The implications of coupled climate and land use change are discussed. The results indicate that current climatic variability has greater impacts on groundwater recharge than a number of extreme scenarios for climatic change. Although the impact of the land use change scenario is greater than that of the climate change scenarios, it is still significantly less than current vairability and represents a relatively small change at the catchment scale. This change is too small to significantly affect groundwater resources but may impact surface flows.
EMMA model: an advanced operational mesoscale air quality model for urban and regional environments
Authors: San José Roberto , Rodriguez Miguel A. , Cortés Enrique , González Rosa Maria
Published: July 2002

Mesoscale air quality models are an important tool to forecast and analyse the air quality in regional and urban areas. In recent years an increased interest has been shown by decision makers in these types of software tools. The complexity of such a model has grown exponentially with the increase of computer power. Nowadays, medium workstations can run operational versions of these modelling systems successfully. Presents a complex mesoscale air quality model which has been installed in the Environmental Office of the Madrid community (Spain) in order to forecast accurately the ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide air concentrations in a 3D domain centred on Madrid city. Describes the challenging scientific matters to be solved in order to develop an operational version of the atmospheric mesoscale numerical pollution model for urban and regional areas (ANA). Some encouraging results have been achieved in the attempts to improve the accuracy of the predictions made by the version already installed.
The service‐oriented agile logistic control and engineering system: SERVICES
Authors: Evers Joseph J.M. , Loeve Léanneke , Lindeijer David G.
Published: July 2002

Introduces the concept of service‐oriented agile logistics and presents a generic apparatus for the design of such systems. An analysis of future communication‐based logistics leads to the logistic control and engineering system SERVICES. The logistic system is conceived as a “society” of interacting “self‐responsible intelligent service‐producing actors”, where services or functions are taken as the system‐base. This means that, instead of working with process‐modules, the development of a service‐oriented information‐system primarily works with service‐modules that program the operational interaction between client, service‐producer and possibly sub‐contracted service‐producers. From this the supporting execution‐control in the context of the service‐producing units can be deduced. A case study of a high‐performance deep‐sea container terminal is given. This shows that the function‐programming system of SERVICES is generic, adequate and effective and that it favours distributed control.
Evaluating customer service performance in warehousing environments
Authors: Ezziane Zoheir
Published: July 2002

Distribution centers and warehouses are becoming more and more dependent on advanced computer technology to establish and maintain competitiveness in a global economy. Using computerized information management tools in evaluating customer service performance, in warehousing environments, is a necessary requirement for today’s extremely demanding customer. Businesses view customer service as among the most important interfaces with the customer, and a prime means by which to penetrate, build, and maintain market share. Here, measurements of customer service performance are defined, discussed, and evaluated through a mathematical model and its graphical representation.
Managing real time interactions in industrial environments based on information supply chains: the ESPRIT ATLAS project
Authors: Walsh Patrick , Koumpis Adamantios , Barziv Orly
Published: July 2002

Builds on earlier work in developing the concept of information supply chains and the ways in which it can assist industrial organisations. Presents practical results that stem from the conceptual modeling and simulation environment. Asserts that the ATLAS “A push Technology Leveraging Action for ‘Slingshot”’ initiative, which is already successfully employed in the financial services sector, would be ideal in many other sectors. Provides a case study of a pilot application of real time management of operations in an industrial enterprise using Slingshot in a company producing flexible packaging materials, Chatzopoulos S.A.
Applications of statistical techniques to the quality improvement of a 15A circuit breaker
Authors: Leung P.K. , Chan Chi‐kin , Ng L. , Leung T.W. , Fung Vincent
Published: July 2002

As an initial step to implement total quality management (TQM) in a small manufacturing enterprise (SME) of electrical products, we applied statistical techniques to quantify and evaluate the data collected in order to improve the quality characteristics of a selected product circuit breaker. A circuit breaker will “jump” or the current will be cut short if a current stronger than 15A passes through the equipment. The time required for the circuit breaker to stop the flow of the current is called the trip‐time. Our major concern is to find out how sensitive a 15A circuit breaker is, and how reliable is the device. We were able to confirm several dominant factors that influence the trip‐time of the circuit breaker after conducting several experiments. We used regression analysis to find out the model that best fits the relationship between the current supply and the trip‐time of the 15A circuit breaker. Meanwhile reliability testings of the circuit breaker were performed. Balanced factorial design techniques were applied in finding out the optimal combination of factors with the highest success rate of trips. The results demonstrated that the optimal combination of factors we found could bring about quality improvement of the product.
Fractal manufacturing partnership: exploring a new form of strategic alliance between OEMs and suppliers
Authors: Noori Hamid , Lee W.B.
Published: July 2002

In today’s competitive environment, companies are paying more attention to product innovations, customized products, manufacturing agility, and lean operations. To support this mode of operations, companies are moving from highly vertically integrated organizations to leaner core business units supported by supplier networks. While partnership companies and their suppliers could take a variety of forms, “fractal manufacturing partnership” (FMP) is an emerging approach designed to maximize the logistical attributes of a lean production system and configured to provide the strategic merging of engineering network capabilities. FMP is most suitable for engineering assembly type work in which seamless operation is desired and where agile feedback is necessary. Based on the case study of the automotive industry, this paper will discuss the characteristics and attributes of FMP. However, more research is required to quantify the direct benefits of this approach.
Australian telecommuting: management communication strategies
Authors: Ilozor D.B. , Ilozor B.D.
Published: July 2002

This paper reports findings on the significance of management communication strategies to telecommuting, based on a survey of telecommuters at IBM Australia. With increased adoption of telecommuting, many strategies have been proffered to ensure that telecommuters have appreciable levels of job satisfaction. Low levels of job satisfaction can lead to unduly rapid employee turnover that is detrimental to business operation. The objective of this paper is to ascertain the perceptions of telecommuters at IBM Australia on a number of telecommuting practice measures, and to suggest how job satisfaction can be improved and maintained at high levels by giving greater attention to particular communication management strategies in Australia. Although the management communication strategies proffered in the literature appear to apply generally, this study concludes that a few aspects are distinctively applicable to the Australian environment. Those aspects should be specifically noted by those interested in benefiting from telecommuting practice.