bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hopping mobility concept for search and rescue robots
Authors: Dubowsky Steven , Kesner Samuel , Plante Jean‐Sébastien , Boston Penelope
Published: May 2008

Purpose

This paper seeks to present recent work demonstrating the feasibility of Microbots' mobility in rough terrain. Microbots are a new search and rescue concept based on the deployment of teams of small spherical mobile robots. In this concept, hundreds to thousands of cm‐scale, sub‐kilogram Microbots are released over a search site such as collapsed building rubble or caves. Microbots use hopping, bouncing, and rolling to infiltrate subterranean spaces in search of possible survivors.

Design/methodology/approach

The feasibility of the Microbot mobility concept is evaluated through laboratory prototypes and mobility simulations.

Findings

Experimental studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) to generate autonomous hops. High‐efficiency hydrogen fuel cells were shown to be able to power DEAs. Simulation results show that Microbots of proper diameter and hop height can successfully traverse very rough terrains.

Research limitations/implications

The implication of this research is that small hopping robots are appropriate for certain search and rescue missions. The limitation of the research to date is that issues of control, path planning, and communication have not yet been addressed.

Practical implications

Key technologies of the Microbot mobility, that use high‐energy‐density micro fuel cells combined with low cost and lightweight DEAs, are feasible. These technologies have the potential to make a significant impact on the search and rescue robots.

Originality/value

These results suggest that a team of Microbots‐based DEAs and micro fuel cells can be a useful and effective tool for search and rescue operations.
The robust construction of a generalized Voronoi graph (GVG) using partial range data for guide robots
Authors: Ahn Sunghwan , Lett Doh Nakju , Kyun Chung Wan , Yep Nam Sang
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe research to enable a robust navigation of guide robots in erratic environments with partial sensor information.

Design/methodology/approach

Two techniques were developed. One is a robust node discrimination method by using an adaptive sensor matching method. The other is a robot navigation technique with partial sensor information.

Findings

A successful navigation was implemented in erratic environments using partial sensor information.

Originality/value

First robot navigation is addressed along the generalized Voronoi graph (GVG) with partial sensor information. A solution is also provided for a phantom node detection problem, which is one of the main defects in GVG navigation.
New public management and social work in Sweden and England
Authors: Berg Elisabeth E.B. , Barry Jim J.J.
Published: May 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the issues for middle‐level social work managers arising from the development of the new public management, with its emphasis on the intensification of work, the measurement of performance in service delivery, and cost efficiencies. This is commonly thought to have affected those working in human services such as social work adversely. This paper explores the nature of these consequences, from the point of view of those centrally placed in its implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology adopted in this paper is designed to acknowledge and explore the perceptions of middle‐level social work managers as they contribute to the social construction of the new public management. This is accomplished through in‐depth interviews with a sample of their number in Sweden and England.

Findings

The findings reveal that social work managers are not only comfortable dealing with budgets but also enjoy the autonomy this affords them in their relationship with their subordinates. The findings also reveal that they appreciate the benefits of the more generalised knowledges of management, used in their work with junior colleagues, who they attempted to lead rather than manage and who they respected as colleagues. This has further implications: the possibility of new career opportunities for these predominantly women managers.

Originality/value

The managers in social work see the knowledges gained from their position as managers as transferable to other areas of the public and private sectors, thereby opening up new career opportunities. They were also found to enjoy dealing with budget issues, contrary to earlier studies.
Using g alternatives to reduce subgroup differences when predicting US public‐sector performance
Authors: Manley Gregory G. , Benavidez Juan
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to bring attention to the issues of validity and subgroup differences of selection devices currently being used in the public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

An attempt is made to identify unfair hiring practices, particularly important within the public sector, as this area of employment is characterized by a unique set of circumstances. Among them, economic constraints, the social burden to ensure fair treatment among applicants and incumbents, and an increasingly higher expectation of quality service among customers in the public sector. This paper also explores the effectiveness of two strategies for reducing subgroup differences while maintaining or increasing criterion‐related validity.

Findings

The findings of this study are important and answer some central questions. First, g and job knowledge were the best individual predictors of overall performance criteria; second, the g, alternative, and full models all significantly predicted the performance criteria, with the alternative model predicting more variance than the g model; third, the alternative model had more incremental validity over the g model than the g model had over the alternative model; the alternative model also produced less subgroup differences for Black–White comparisons than the g model. The Native American‐White differences were larger for the alternative model compared to the g model, but these differences are considered small effects and were non‐significant in the statistical sense. The Hispanic‐White differences were also somewhat larger for the alternative model when compared to the g model; however, this result is probably unreliable due to a very small Hispanic sample size and is a small effect. Thus, the alternative model will predict performance well for similar public sector samples while producing generally smaller subgroup differences.

Originality/value

There is little extant published research examining the validity and ethnic group score differences of alternate predictors used in the US public sector and the current effort seeks to provide empirical evidence to fill this void.
Managing diversity in organisations
Authors: Alexandra Beauregard T.
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on a seminar sponsored by the Academy of Management's Gender in Management Special Interest Group, which comprised discussions on aspects of diversity policy, initiatives, and programme development within Bank of Scotland, National Australia Group UK, and BBC Scotland, and also academic and industry presentations.

Design/methodology/approach

The report is based upon observations, notes and discussions on a range of issues relating to diversity in organisations.

Findings

The seminar highlighted practitioner perspectives of diversity management – both for staff development and for the development of a customer base in the case of banks, by actively encouraging business from female entrepreneurs and by aiming to make mainstream financial products appropriate for both female and male customers.

Originality/value

This report brings together a number of interesting and important themes linked to improvements in female recruitment and development.
SME ERP system sourcing strategies: a case study
Authors: Sledgianowski Deb , Tafti Mohammed H.A. , Kierstead Jim
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify ERP system sourcing strategies available to SMEs and to provide insights from a case study of the practices applied and decisions made by an SME in using a hybrid of sourcing resources to implement the successful conversion of their legacy ERP system to a new information technology (IT) environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is a case study utilizing various data sources including face‐to‐face interviews, informal conversations, and e‐mails with members of the case company. Company software applications and documents were examined and employees were observed in action. The analysis compares characteristics of the client‐vendor relationship of the case company with findings from relevant outsourcing literature.

Findings

This case study identified, among others, the following practices that were critical to the case company in their outsourcing endeavors: attending networking events for SMEs, obtaining formal contract for ownership of intellectual property, utilizing local vendor contact point for communication with offshore contact point, and utilizing vendor's skill‐set for specialized resources.

Practical implications

This case study relates practice with theory, providing a reference for both academia and practitioners.

Originality/value

The decision making and practices described in this paper provide insights that may be useful to organizations considering IT software implementations. ERP systems are increasingly more affordable for SMEs and offshore outsourcing is becoming more accessible; therefore, SMEs considering these options may benefit from Kanebridge's experience.
Location, location: the geography of industry clusters
Authors: Schiele Holger
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the implications of regional‐sectoral agglomerations – clusters – for the strategic management of firms. Concentration of firms along a single value chain is a common phenomenon in modern economies, but has seldom been reflected in the realm of strategic management.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws back on Porter's cluster model and the innovative milieu approach. A case‐study methodology consisting of a combination of action research and semi‐structured interviews is applied to four cases, illustrating the managerial implications of firm membership in industry clusters.

Findings

The existence of regional‐sectoral clusters has a substantial impact on the strategic position of firms. An assumption underlying most current strategic management thinking, namely that spatial factors are not relevant, must be challenged. The paper illustrates options for firms located within as well as outside clusters.

Research limitations/implications

This research does not prove the cluster theory, but rather illustrates a part of it requiring further clarification: its application to management issues. Future research should substantiate the findings on a broad empirical scale.

Practical implications

The paper alerts managers to the necessity of considering their company's entire value‐creating system from a geographical perspective. Several common strategic decisions may be viewed differently if a cluster perspective is taken: decisions regarding location, such as locating in a cluster in new countries; sourcing decisions, such as re‐evaluating global sourcing; marketing and innovation issues, such as linking up with the most competitive market globally rather than avoiding it; or portfolio decisions, such as divesting of firms not located in clusters.

Originality/value

The paper is highly thought‐provoking as it challenges a common assumption, namely the “death of distance” argument. The cluster approach demonstrates that proximity matters fundamentally affects a firm's profitability and ultimately its chances of survival. Applying the cluster approach to corporate management provides a new set of explanations, for example for firms that continue to underperform, even after successive management changes. On the other hand, taking advantage of clusters could be a source of strength for firms which have largely remained untapped up to now. In particular, this paper provides a real‐life case account, illustrating the relevance of clusters, as well as options for managers.
Cauchy theater phenomenon in diagonal method and test principle of finite positional differences
Authors: Zhu Wujia , Lin Yi , Gong Ningsheng , Du Guoping
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The paper's purpose is to show a class of well‐used methods in set theory is invalid.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual approach is taken.

Findings

Based on the concept of Cauchy theater introduced elsewhere, it is proven that the argument employing the diagonal method for the fact that the set of all real numbers R={x|r(x)}, where r(x)=df “x is a real number” has an uncountable cardinality, is not valid. The diagonal method has appeared in naive and modern axiomatic set theories.

Originality/value

Point out more paradoxes in the methodology of mathematics.
Mathematical system of potential infinities (IV) – set theoretic foundation
Authors: Zhu Wujia , Lin Yi , Du Guoping , Gong Ningsheng
Published: May 2008

Purpose

This paper is the fourth part of the effort to resolve the following two problems that urgently need an answer: how can an appropriate theoretical foundation be chosen for modern mathematics and computer science? And, under what interpretations can modern mathematics and the theory of computer science be kept as completely as possible?

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a conceptual discussion.

Findings

The paper lays out the set theoretical foundation for the mathematical system of potential infinities.

Originality/value

This work is the non‐logical axiomatic part of the mathematical system of potential infinities: the axiomatic set theoretic system. At the end, the problem of consistency of this axiomatic set theory is discussed.
Consumer's value for informational role of agent in service industry
Authors: Trivedi Minakshi , Morgan Michael S. , Kaushik Desai Kalpesh
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the informational role played by an intermediary in the service industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used survey and choice data collected from agents and customers, respectively, in the hotel industry.

Findings

The paper shows that informational role of agents in choice varies from mere facilitation of the transaction (e.g. making reservation) to a more active role involving accurate predictions about attributes that consumers will perceive important, more realistic performance evaluation of choice options and providing information about experience attributes. The results also show how an agent's role depends on customer's prior knowledge about the choice options, the goal underlying service consumption (e.g. business vs vacation travel), benefits sought by the consumer and the agent's perception about a long term relationship with the consumer. Finally, the results also reveal a unique pattern of differences between agents and consumers in the perceived importance and performance ratings of various features of the service.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to agents in the hotel industry. The hypotheses should be tested on other service agent industries such as airlines and restaurants. Future research should consider other alternative sources of information that consumers may use, such as printed material.

Originality/value

The unique nature of the data set – that is, information from the agent as well as the consumer on the same transaction – offers a great opportunity to study the two different points of view and test some hypothesis regarding the degree to which the players understand each other.
An analysis of the gaming industry in the Niagara region
Authors: MacLaurin Donald J. , Wolstenholme Steve
Published: May 2008

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to profile the casino gaming industry in Niagara Falls Canada, home to Canada's largest and busiest casino infrastructure. The research also investigated the larger role played by casino gaming to the overall tourism industry and economy of the greater Niagara Falls region. Design/methodology/approach – Research methods included a comprehensive literature review combined with a structured interview with a leading executive in Niagara casino resort operations. Findings – The Canadian gaming industry has experienced significant growth in revenues, participation rates, and employment in the last decade. Major shifts in the core customer base of Canadian Niagara casino resorts have occurred in the past decade as a result of major valuation changes between US and Canadian currencies, significant challenges in border crossings for US visitors to Canada and the growth and development of new casino resorts operated by the Seneca Indian nations in neighboring New York State. Originality/value – An up‐to‐date synopsis of current operating challenges and opportunities for the casino gaming sector in the Niagara region is provided. Results should be of interest to academics, gaming and tourism officials and potential investors.
School supervision and evaluation in China: the Shanghai perspective
Authors: Chi‐kin Lee John , Ding Daoyong , Song Huan
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss recent developments in school developmental supervisory evaluation in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai in the Chinese Mainland.

Design/methodology/approach

The main research approach is qualitative, using documentary analysis and interviews of an inspector, principals and teachers from two primary schools.

Findings

There were perceived positive and negative impacts of school supervision and evaluation.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the implications for fostering a shared school‐government community of school supervision and evaluation, promoting a dynamic approach for addressing contextual differences as well as achieving better coherence among educational reform, supervision and evaluation policies.
Geometrical, electrical and stability properties of thick‐film and LTCC microcapacitors
Authors: Miś Edward , Dziedzic Andrzej , Piasecki Tomasz , Kita Jarosław , Moos Ralf
Published: May 2008

Purpose

Capacitors are frequently used in electronic circuits. Thick‐film technology allows fabrication of such components in the case of small‐ and medium‐capacitance values. They can also be manufactured in LTCC structures. The paper seeks to investigate the electrical properties of thick‐film and LTCC capacitors for as‐fired and long‐term thermally aged test structures in a wide frequency and temperature range.

Design/methodology/approach

Sandwich and interdigitated planar capacitors were fabricated on alumina or LTCC substrates using standard screen printing and laser shaping. Various dielectric inks and electrodes materials were used. The crystalline phases in thick‐film dielectric films were identified.

Findings

Planar and sandwich LTCC and thick‐film capacitors were designed and fabricated. Different technology variations were tested. X‐ray analysis indicated that both used commercial compositions, compatible with LTCC substrates are based on barium and titatium compounds. The difference in their dielectric constants probably are related with kind of crystalline phases, presented in these compositions and crystalline phase/glass ratio.

Originality/value

This paper presents results of investigations made on thick‐film and LTCC microcapacitors.
The UK's faster payment project: avoiding a bonanza for cybercrime fraudsters
Authors: Fisher Jonathan
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the increased exposure to cyber crime which would result if one‐day cheque clearance were introduced in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of the UK and US cheque‐clearance systems, examines the enhanced vulnerability to fraud occasioned by a one‐day cheque clearance system and considers the resulting evidential difficulties encountered in US cheque fraud prosecutions. The paper then anticipates the UK experience and examines recent cyber‐crime cases in the UK. Finally the paper explores the possibility of biometric fingerprint authorisation as a prevention strategy.

Findings

The introduction of one‐day cheque clearance in the USA heralded an increase in cyber‐crime banking fraud and a reduction of the ability of the prosecuting authorities to bring cases to court because of the paucity of documentary evidence. The same pattern of activity would be likely to occur if one‐day cheque clearance were to be introduced in the UK. Banks should lobby for the replacement of cheque banking with biometric fingerprint authorisation of electronic banking transactions as the best way forward.

Practical implications

This paper indicates the most pragmatic way forward for banks targeted by this type of cyber‐crime and warns the legal profession of the evidential difficulties in US prosecutions.

Originality/value

This paper is of value to legal practitioners, academics, students and financial market professionals with interests in banking, fraud, and cyber‐crime.
Economic crimes in the capital markets
Authors: Tellechea Albert F.
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an alternate view regarding enforcement of currency control laws to the real estate market.

Design/methodology/approach

Historical research and comparison of similar although not parallel systems.

Findings

Based on historical data, present approaches are not working.

Practical implications

Suggests new approach by incentivizing those to the potential crime.

Originality/value

The paper will be of value to law‐enforcement policy makers.
The role of procedural justice in the new product development process
Authors: Dayan Mumin , Colak Mustafa
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the antecedents and consequences of the level of procedural justice climate in new product development (NPD) teams. The aim is to discover answers to the following questions: First, can the procedural justice climate level be used to predict NPD team outcomes such as product performance and product creativity? Second, what NPD team characteristics can be leveraged to improve the justice climate?

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model was developed and tested on the survey data collected from 93 product managers of Turkish companies. The product managers who participated in this study represented various industries, including those of telecommunications, food, material, software, machinery, chemicals, and service technologies.

Findings

Statistical analyses demonstrated that stability, collectivism, and moderate‐level functional diversity of teams were significantly related to the procedural justice climate. In addition, procedural justice climate had significant positive impacts on new product creativity and speed to market. Such impacts were found to be more significant with regard to high‐turbulence conditions.

Originality/value

This paper is the first attempt to explore the role of procedural justice in NPD teams.
The internet and its wireless extensions in Japan: the portentous interface between chaos and order
Authors: Ratnadeep Suri Venkata , Sawhney Harmeet
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to chart the evolving internet‐mobile internet relationship in Japan.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of a case study.

Findings

The original i‐Mode‐based model for mobile internet in Japan was largely an ordered system except for relatively marginal unofficial web sites, which unlike official web sites were not listed on the browser, where an element of chaos reigned. The introduction of Google search engine changed the ecosystem by giving the unofficial web sites new visibility.

Practical implications

The interface between the internet and its wireless extensions is a potential source of powerful influences both ways and needs to be watched.

Originality/value

The paper looks at the little studied interface between the chaotic internet and its mobile extensions, largely ordered systems, to see whether the chaos of the internet will spill over to its mobile extensions or whether the order of the latter will march on to the former.
DTT in the UK and Spain: a comparative policy analysis (1998‐2006)
Authors: Trinidad García Leiva Maria
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the main results of a comparative policy analysis about the introduction and development of digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom and Spain.

Design/methodology/approach

After outlining the main policy responses forged in each case study, different national DTT models are suggested, described and compared. Similarities and differences are summarized and, finally, a conclusion is offered to explain why the service unfolded uniquely in each country.

Findings

The economic and technological dynamics of the television industry as a whole affected differently the development of DTT in the case studied since they were mediated by particular socio‐political systems.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to the fact that the paper presents a summary of a major research project, it does not offer in‐depth detail of the main findings.

Originality/value

The study belongs to the expanding area of comparative research and adopts a case study approach.
A rapid egocentric search scheme using authority estimation in blog space
Authors: Jeong Yoonjae , Lee Dongman
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to improve the egocentric search speed for important documents in neighbouring blogs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a rapid egocentric search scheme that narrows down the search space to more important blogs. To determine which blogs are more valuable among a user's neighbouring blogs, a heuristic function is developed that predicts the authority scores on the basis of the local information of the blog. The proposed approach improves the speed of the egocentric search process and the quality of retrieved documents.

Findings

A blog is a new medium that is receiving considerable attention. Its links enable one to acquire information about social relations between bloggers in a blog space, and these relations reflect bloggers' interests. Therefore, the ability to search documents in linked blogs is significant for bloggers. An egocentric search method is proposed to search for documents in such neighbouring blogs. However, it takes considerable time to find the most valuable documents in a user's neighbouring blogs when many blogs are linked to that user's blog.

Originality/value

This study shows that the number of neighbouring blogs, which are linked to a blog with trackbacks and comments, is important for estimating the authority of a blog. In the experimental results this method performs about five times faster than the egocentric search using a breadth‐first search strategy in searching for the top 5 per cent of the most important documents in the neighbouring blogs.
eLORM: learning object relationship mining‐based repository
Authors: Ouyang Yang , Zhu Miaoliang
Published: May 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the feasibility of using web‐mining technology on learning object (LO) usage information to discover the LO relation pattern and provide valuable recommendations on related learning resources.Design/methodology/approach– This paper proposes three kinds of learning object relation patterns and gives a specific definition of each pattern based on analysing the learners' usage data stored in the learning object repository. These relation patterns can be used to make effective recommendations to learners.

Findings

LO usage data indicate the potential relation patterns between LOs. By using web‐mining technology on the usage data, it is possible to discover valuable relation patterns.

Originality/value

The authors propose a set of LO relation patterns and indicate how they are closely related to users' learning behaviour.
Virtual and real boundaries of growth firms
Authors: Dettwiler Paul
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualise a dynamic model on the impact on office space and its boundaries of growth firms due to studied factors subject to fluctuations of business cycles.

Design/methodology/approach

Theories are based on a literature study on space relation to business cycles, entrepreneurial theories and the service‐oriented society of today. The data are collected from an extensive study of pre‐classified growth firms from all major business sectors in Sweden during the period 1998‐2003, which is studied as an upturn and a downturn period. The study is related to a questionnaire distributed to entire Sweden of 967 listed firms where the response rate was 40 per cent. Investigated factors are: fluctuations of GDP, outsourcing events of core business, events of mergers and acquisitions (Ms&As), creation of subsidiaries, proportion of office workers and temporary staff in offices.

Findings

The detected significant correlations of the survey give a platform for a model that indicates that opposite but various forces due to business cycles seem to adjust the space after the events of outsourcing or M&A.

Research limitations/implications

The study could fruitfully be developed theoretically with inclusion of a transaction cost theory and economics encompassing the society in general.

Practical implications

Significant correlations that are found could certainly function as an input for the various stakeholders in the provision of office spaces of growth firms during fluctuations of GDP and market growth.

Originality/value

An extensive survey is a base for a conceptualisation of the dynamics of office space related to studied factors.
Management of Henoch‐Schonlein purpura in a large district general hospital
Authors: Thattakkat K. , Garr R. , El‐Badri A.
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The paper's purpose is to document a clinical study of children with Henoch‐Schonlein Purpura that facilitated decision‐making with regard to investigations, follow up and timely referral to a nephrologist.

Design/methodology/approach

A retrospective analysis of clinical records of 33 children diagnosed with Henoch‐Schonlein purpura who attended the Whiston Hospital Paediatric unit over a 60‐month period between January 2001 and December 2005 was performed.

Findings

In the study 53 per cent (n 17) of the patients were boys. The commonest age group affected was between five to ten years (n 17), with mean age of 7.2 years (range 1 to 17 years). Of the cases , 71 per cent (n 22) presented between July and December. Four patients (13 per cent) had haematuria on dipstick examination at presentation. Eight patients (25 per cent) had neither blood pressure measurement on admission nor a documented plan for urine dipstick or blood pressure measurement on discharge. Daily urine dipstick was performed in 47 per cent (n 15) patients with one patient having checks twice a week. Information to parents was not documented in 72 per cent (n 23) of case notes.

Practical implications

The need to provide better parental education and support in the form of an information leaflet was identified.

Originality/value

This study highlights the importance of follow up of children with HSP with emphasis on regular urine dipstick examination and measurement of blood pressure even if they remain asymptomatic to ensure that they do not develop long‐term renal impairment.
Lessons from two decades of surgical audit
Authors: Holdsworth John
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on the use of a computer database used by medical secretaries to routinely and continuously store information on the work of a hospital consultant in order to monitor clinical activity and patient outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology uses database software developed to deal with discharge summaries, outpatient attendances, operation notes and in‐hospital ward referrals.

Findings

From October 1984 to June 2006 there were 18,743 discharge summaries and from 1991 15,827 outpatient and 6,199 operation notes. The paper demonstrates changing clinical practice over more than 20 years and reduction in the number of postoperative complications and patients having second operations during the same admission. There is also evidence of conformity to expected outcomes for patients having carotid thromboendarterectomy and grafting of aortic aneurysm.

Originality/value

The paper shows that computer software of this type can operate seamlessly to document clinical activity and should be in use by all consultants working in the National Health Service.
A modeling approach for natural resource management in nature protection areas in the Indian Himalayan region
Authors: Nautiyal Sunil , Kaechele Harald
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to critically evaluate the concept of ecosystem conservation in the areas where human and ecosystem interactions are really complex as – in one of the biodiversity hotspots – the Himalayas in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The research results reported in this paper are the outcome of empirical studies performed for last 12 years in the Himalayas, combined with a review of available literature, discussions with stakeholders and experimental‐design in the field conditions.

Findings

The paper identifies that conservation and management of the ecosystems/landscapes and the development of the local economy are interwoven. It evaluates the landscape management and development in economic and ecological perspectives and concurrently develops the theoretical model to understand the change in human behavior under shifting political, socio‐economic and environmental conditions.

Practical implications

Through the development of a theoretical agent model this study would help the design and development of sound methodological approaches in providing feasible solutions for complex human‐ecosystems interactions for sustainable landscape development in the fragile Himalayan environment.

Originality/value

This paper is original and shows that the development of a model framework and of appropriate models for natural resource management in the Himalayan region are still very limited and the paper is an initiative in this endeavor.
Environmental and economic potential of Bedouin dryland agriculture
Authors: Abu Rabia Khalil , Solowey Elaine , Leu Stefan
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to show that land degradation and desertification are threatening the livelihood of more than a billion dryland inhabitants. The paper aims to present traditional and novel approaches for sustainable agricultural exploitation of the arid drylands in Southern Israel and similar climatic zones, and their potential for rehabilitating degraded drylands and increasing agricultural productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses the current agricultural activities on the Abu Rabia farm as well as developing experimental approaches and discusses the expected impact on ecological, economic and social sustainability.

Findings

The farm investigated consists of about 120 hectares of semi‐desert land 30 km east of Beer Sheva, divided about 50:50 between rocky hill country and plains with deep loess soil. The area receives an average 200 mm of rain per year. The land is used for raising livestock (about 120 head of sheep and goats), wheat cultivation on high quality soil, and agroforestry, mainly olive cultivation in terraces designed to collect runoff water of seasonal streams. These activities provide a basic income and cover a significant amount of the families' food requirements, but can not provide a full income for a family head in a developed country like Israel. Improving the quality of the grazing land by silvipasture, further investments into high value dryland tree crops and simultaneous production of wood for industry and energy can dramatically increase the farm's income, its resilience to drought and ecological sustainability.

Practical implications

This analysis demonstrates the potential of dryland agroforestry for sustainable development while solving a number of economic and social problems of poor dryland inhabitants, and it contributes to fighting desertification and global warming.

Originality/value

This case study demonstrates that sustainable dryland exploitation by agroforestry can establish significant agricultural production potentials on marginal lands often considered worthless. Because of the establishment of significant and permanent carbon sinks, carbon trading may be mobilized to cover the required investments creating a classical win‐win situation.
Collaborative forecasting in networked manufacturing enterprises
Authors: Poler Raul , Hernandez Jorge E. , Mula Josefa , Lario Francisco C.
Published: May 2008

Purpose

This paper seeks to propose an overall model of collaborative forecasting for networked manufacturing enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

Contributions by several authors to collaborative forecasting have been analysed from different viewpoints. A collaborative‐forecasting model for networked manufacturing enterprises has been proposed and validated by means of a simulation study.

Findings

This model significantly reduces the inventory levels of the whole network and improves customer service.

Research limitations/implications

Simulation experiments were done with the enterprise network herein described. Future research will include the simulation of more complex enterprise network scenarios with different characteristics.

Practical implications

The model can be implemented node‐to‐node, since not all the companies in the network have to participate, thus facilitating implementation and propagation throughout the network.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a new structured planning and forecasting collaboration model for networked manufacturing enterprises.
Some alternative approaches to performance management for councils
Authors: Walker Tim
Published: May 2008

Purpose

Arising from a study exploring whether best value and performance management had caused change within councils' waste services, this study, having found alternative approaches to those promoted by Government which could warrant further study, sets out to pursue this line of enquiry.

Design/methodology/approach

This was an exploratory, inductive theory‐building study using a practitioner‐researcher approach to develop a conceptual model based upon a literature review and a case study research methodology.

Findings

Despite much publicity, the cases studied did not use performance management frameworks to structure change. Several of the cases were aware of the intent of performance management and, in light of those approaches promoted by Government, other systems were considered to be potentially more suitable.

Research limitations/implications

The practitioner‐researcher approach provided particular insights to this study which may not be apparent otherwise. One of the principal findings was that there appeared to be an absence of coordinated independent research relating to management theory and councils' service delivery, as opposed to private sector applications of theory and practice, which appears unbalanced, especially given that the public sector is one of the largest employers in the UK. In particular, this paper highlights that simply transferring private sector performance management approaches without scrutiny and amendment to the different cultural and structural working environment within councils would appear imperfect and likely to create ad hoc success. These findings relate specifically to councils' waste services but may have a relevance outwith these operations.

Practical implications

This study recommended that further research should be conducted to develop a greater understanding of council management practice and examine how this could be positively affected. Simply recommending the transposition of private sector approaches was unlikely to work and, similarly, the current hands‐off approach adopted both between Government and councils and between councils' corporate centres and their operational services suggested the emergence of strategic/operational divides. This could be overcome with a more balanced approach and secondments between the different tiers.

Originality/value

As practitioner‐research, this paper provides an insight into how councils' waste services are prioritizing change which highlights the emergence of an apparent, growing dislocation between different government tiers. These findings emerge following case study research from a service whose perspectives on management theory rarely get expressed, owing to the demands arising from daily operational delivery.
A multilingual mobile university information portal designed to cater for visiting overseas students
Authors: Curran Kevin , Huang Winston
Published: May 2008

Purpose

Student dropout rates have been a source of contention throughout many Universities worldwide. Universities recognize this fact and many have acted to improve their induction process for students joining the University in the first year. However, student dropout rates continue to be higher than acceptable and it is in this context that this project has been undertaken. However, quite often there is no additional support provided to overseas students arriving on the campus. Frequently, these students are taken into final year and miss all the inductions aimed at year 1 students. The purpose of this research is to investigate the feasibility of designing an information portal in the Chinese language to assist new arrivals on campus.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors started with the premise that any additional information that can make life easier for these foreign language students is to be welcomed. Mobile communications is a continually growing sector in industry and a wide variety of visual services such as video‐on‐demand have been created which are limited by low‐bandwidth network infrastructures. The distinction between mobile phones and personal device assistants has already become blurred with pervasive computing being the term coined to describe the tendency to integrate computing and communication into everyday life.

Findings

The authors believe that placing location based campus information on a mobile device outlining key information concerning the University of Ulster at the Magee campus in the Chinese language will assist overseas students greatly in the crucial early days of arrival at the University.

Originality/value

This paper outlines the unique implementation of a multilingual Chinese–English Campus information portal for mobile devices which assists fresh arrivals in locating important information about the university. The research finds that students are assisted by mobile portals created in their native language directing them to important sources of information on campus.
An evaluation of mental workload for effective navigation
Authors: Murai Koji , Hayashi Yuji
Published: May 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to propose that the nasal temperature is an effective index to evaluate the mental workload of a navigator for effective navigation.

Design/methodology/approach

The evaluation comes from the actual on‐board experiment, not simulation. The subject is real bridge teammates; captain, duty officer, and quarter master. The mental workload is evaluated for a lot of navigational situations.

Findings

The nasal temperature responds when the navigator makes a decision regarding ship‐handling and collision avoidance, and shows well the whole trend of his decision‐making. Then the nasal temperature takes effect to evaluate the bridge team work among captain, duty officer and quarter master.

Research limitations/implications

Future research is to make cross‐indices with the nasal temperature and the heart rate variability (R‐R interval) complementary to each other where the nasal temperature registers the trend and the R‐R interval registers the quick response of the mental workload.

Practical implications

The paper describes the effective index which is useful to evaluate bridge teammates’ mental workload for effective navigation.

Originality/value

Navigator's skill has been evaluated according to behavior (performance) and a questionnaire as a quantitative evaluation; moreover, the mental workload tries to do it using nasal temperature and heart rate variability.
Executive mentoring: turning knowledge into wisdom
Authors: Lawrence Ron
Published: May 2008

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to encourage HR departments to establish a formal executive mentoring program in their organizations and to guide them in their efforts of implementing such a program. Design/methodology/approach – The article provides recommendations on selecting mentors and mentees as well as do's and don'ts for implementing a successful program and measuring its outcomes. Findings – Thoughtfully structured and implemented, a formal executive mentoring program has significant measurable benefits for mentors, mentees and the organization far beyond those that can be achieved with an informal program. The sharing of experience and wisdom that occurs in mentoring is a unique form of development that fosters growth and lets leaders be the best they can be. Practical implications – HR departments should take the lead in establishing a formal executive mentoring program rather than rely on grassroots emergence of “organic relationships.” Mentoring facilitates the process of turning the experiences and knowledge of junior executives into wisdom on the path to senior leadership. Originality/value – A formal mentoring program assures that the experience and expertise of retiring baby‐boomer leaders is used wisely in what little time remains.
DIARY OF MARKETING EVENTS
Authors: Milne Thomas E.
Published: May 2008

It has been difficult to find actual events for this diary. In the period under review there has been controversy in good measure—over the future of the prices and incomes policy, over advertising, over resale price maintenance in the confectionery industry, over decimal currency—but while marketers have debated, marketing itself has tended to be over‐shadowed by major events elsewhere. The dominant outside influences were the continuation of the ‘freeze’ in prices and incomes and the Government's decision to apply for full membership of the European Economic Community. Interest was, however, provided by the outbreak of a price war in petrol associated with the introduction of a new system of ‘star’ grading, by the Co‐ops embarking upon a period of what promises to be painful re‐organisation, by the follow‐through from the R.T.P. Court's detergent prices decision, and the continuation of the tobacco marketing war. The car industry began to attract attention following the Leyland‐Rover and Rootes‐Chrysler mergers in terms which suggest that major distribution changes are to be expected.
DIARY OF MARKETING EVENTS
Authors: Forbes A.M.
Published: May 2008

The marketing scene, during the period under review, was notable for uncertainty among consumers and consequent confusion among suppliers. There were many reasons for this uncertainty, most connected with the apparent instability of the economy: the uncoiling spring effect of devaluation, the ‘gold panic’ with its 1929 overtones, the publicised announcements of inevitable price increases, countered by patriotic announcements of price reductions, and above all, the feverish spending created by the advance announcements of a severe Budget. After the Budget the state of confusion continued, apparently due to a lack of confidence in the practical effect of the strict measures which had been imposed. This attitude of distrust, which swung the pendulum of marketing between hopeful confidence and anguished despair, gave rise to an erratic and unpredictable marketing environment, in which intuition could be as valuable as sophisticated mathematical models, for predicting future buying trends.