bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Residue management systems and their implications for production efficiency
Authors: Paudel Krishna P. , Lohr Luanne , Cabrera Miguel
Published: May 2006

Cotton production is the number one crop enterprise in Georgia in terms of revenue generation. However, due to continuous deterioration of soil quality with conventional tillage and chemical fertilizer application, the economic viability and sustainability of cotton production in Georgia are questionable. Residue management systems (RMSs) comprising winter cover crops were analyzed as an alternative to the existing system, which consists of conventional tillage and chemical fertilizer using yield benefit, net revenue, carbon sequestration, and yield efficiency criteria. Four different RMSs were examined for profitability and input efficiency. Four RMSs encompassing tillage versus no-till and chemical versus organic sources of plant nutrients were compared for their yield and net return differences. No-till and poultry litter with a cover crop was the only system with a positive return and crop yield based on the results from experimental data. Limited results from the experimental field were reinforced using a simulation study. When cotton yield is simulated with an alternative level of organic matter and nitrogen application, production function shows efficiency in input application at the higher level of organic matter. Regression results based on an erosion productivity impact calculator/environmental policy integrated climate (EPIC) simulation indicated that, in the long term, a no-till and poultry litter system may have promise in the region. The results from simulation confirm the results from the experimental study. This study reflected a need to change the cotton management system from the 200-year-old practice of employing intensively cultivated conventional tillage and chemical fertilizers to a new renewable resource-based system where residue management and organic sources of nutrients would be the key components.
RARγ is critical for maintaining a balance between hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and differentiation
Authors: Purton Louise E. , Dworkin Sebastian , Olsen Gemma Haines , Walkley Carl R. , Fabb Stewart A. , Collins Steven J. , Chambon Pierre
Published: May 2006

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) sustain lifelong production of all blood cell types through finely balanced divisions leading to self-renewal and differentiation. Although several genes influencing HSC self-renewal have been identified, to date no gene has been described that, when activated, enhances HSC self-renewal and, when activated, promotes HSC differentiation. We observe that the retinoic acid receptor (RAR)γ is selectively expressed in primitive hematopoietic precursors and that the bone marrow of RARγ knockout mice exhibit markedly reduced numbers of HSCs associated with increased numbers of more mature progenitor cells compared with wild-type mice. In contrast, RARα is widely expressed in hematopoietic cells, but RARα knockout mice do not exhibit any HSC or progenitor abnormalities. Primitive hematopoietic precursors overexpressing RARα differentiate predominantly to granulocytes in short-term culture, whereas those overexpressing RARγ exhibit a much more undifferentiated phenotype. Furthermore, loss of RARγ abrogated the potentiating effects of all-trans retinoic acid on the maintenance of HSCs in ex vivo culture. Finally, pharmacological activation of RARγ ex vivo promotes HSC self-renewal, as demonstrated by serial transplant studies. We conclude that the RARs have distinct roles in hematopoiesis and that RARγ is a critical physiological and pharmacological regulator of the balance between HSC self-renewal and differentiation.
Three Food Multiple Superstores: Patronage and Attitudes: A Town Study
Authors: Lancaster Geoff , Reynolds Paul
Published: May 2006

Originally undertaken on behalf of a national multiple food
retailing chain concerned about a 50 per cent fall off in sales at a new
store within six months of its opening, this research includes a
comparative study of two other supermarkets in the same town. Interviews
were conducted with 321 store customers and 189 people at random
locations elsewhere and a standard questionnaire completed to determine
the store features important in attracting their patronage, including
price, layout, selection and variety of goods, opening hours, parking
facilities and convenience of location. It was established that there
was nothing radically wrong with the client company′s store and
subsequent implementation of recommended “fine tuning” of a
number of its features has led to its developing a comparably favourable
level of popularity. However, it is concluded that marketing research
should be commissioned at the initial planning stage, with particular
reference to suitability of location, rather than as a means of sorting
out deficiencies which become apparent only after completion and
opening.
Irradiated Foods: Whose Choice? Whose Opportunity?
Authors: Daly Lorna
Published: May 2006

The sale of irradiated food is currently prohibited in the United
Kingdom under The Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1967. This
situation seems likely to change given first the recommendation by a
number of expert committees that irradiated food is safe and wholesome,
and second the current need to complete the EEC internal market for food
in a situation where several member states already permit the sale of
irradiated produce. The controversy surrounding the irradiated food
issue is, in part, politically inspired. In particular, the issue has
served to articulate concern over the lack of consumer representation in
food policy decision making forums, both at the UK and European level.
Consumer resistance to the technology for the most part, however,
reflects an exaggeration of the perceived risks associated with buying
and consuming irradiated foods, together with a negative evaluation of
the benefits that the process offers. Consumers perceive these benefits
as accruing mainly to the food industry. The difficulty that consumers
have in believing that they, too, can share in these benefits stems from
the way in which consumers make sense of the knowledge that they possess
about food. It is this problem which needs to be addressed.
Catering Supply – Problems and Opportunities
Authors: Backman Peter
Published: May 2006

The way that food supply companies have structured themselves in
order to maximise their sales to the retail chain are examined. How
appropriate this structure is for supplying the catering market is
examined, and how food companies are coping with the strains of this
structure are identified. The role of the intermediate distributor in
the distribution chain is assessed.
New Rapid Detection Methods for Salmonella and Listeria
Authors: Eley Adrian
Published: May 2006

We are now very much aware of the hazards associated with
salmonella and listeria in foodstuffs. Newer methodologies are compared
with conventional techniques for their rapid detection. Recent
developments in culture media are discussed, as is a new rapid culture
test kit for salmonella. Novel techniques such as ELISA, nucleic acid
probes and flow cytometry are described, and a comparative assessment is
made of reported findings. Nucleic acid probe and ELISA assays are
considerably quicker than traditional culture techniques but they would
benefit from increased sensitivity; they show inferior specificity with
listeria and are still dependent on an enrichment stage. Recent DNA
amplification techniques could provide a solution to the problem of poor
probe sensitivity and allow the direct detection of pathogens from food
samples. Flow cytometry may have the potential for high sensitivity and
specificity and could be useful for on‐line monitoring in factories.
Consumer Perceived Risk in the UK Food Market
Authors: Mitchell Vincent‐Wayne , Greatorex Michael
Published: May 2006

The theory of perceived risk has been examined in many consumer
product areas but nowhere is it more applicable than in the purchase of
food. Recent food scares, which have greatly increased consumers′
perceived risk and decreased demand, have been testament to its power.
The numerous food scares, e.g. apple, tuna fish, babyfood and salmonella
in eggs, which have taken place over the past year in the UK, are
discussed and the results of a pilot study examining eight food
products: restaurant meals, wine, sausages, fast food, tinned pilchards,
apples, instant coffee and chocolate are reported. The order of
perceived risks in purchase was the same as above, with a restaurant
meal being the most risky. The most useful risk‐reducing strategy was
brand loyalty, followed by reading consumer guides and then reading
product information. The least useful were the use of special offers and
celebrity endorsement. Companies and academics should realise the
potential importance of this concept in consumer behaviour research. It
is hoped that more research will be stimulated.
Consumer Attitudes to Organic Foods
Authors: Beharrell B. , MacFie J.H.
Published: May 2006

The apparent conflict between what is scientifically known and what
is perceived concerning food acceptability by consumers provides an
interesting paradox. Some of the leading international contributions
concerned with organic farming system food products are thus reviewed in
the light of consumer beliefs and attitudes. It is concluded that, in a
market economy, consumer opinion will gradually prevail and that
agricultural farming systems will have to adjust to more extensive lower
input farming approaches.
Accessibility of Foodstores – A Case Study
Authors: Hallsworth Alan G.
Published: May 2006

Trends in food retailing in Britain suggest that the
industry is restructuring. Groups such as J.
Sainsbury, Tesco, Safeway and Asda are increasingly
concentrating their efforts on opening new, large
stores; usually superstores but, occasionally,
hypermarkets. There is the increasing likelihood,
then, that two or more such large stores will
become rivals for the same shopper catchment
area. A detailed examination of shopping behaviour
in an area where the clear choice is between a
superstore and a hypermarket is presented. Key
measures of accessibility such as car ownership
licence‐holding, car availability and bus availability
are examined in order to highlight the spatial
implications of this restructuring process.
Putting Something Back
Authors: Jones Bryn
Published: May 2006

Describes some elements of Gateway′s environmental policy: its
commitment to energy conservation and a programme of tree planting.
Details the reasons for its programme of tree planting and the
partnership which is envisaged between Gateway, local industry, the
local authorities and the community to restore derelict sites in the
Avon area.
Equal Opportunities
Authors: Burrington Gillian A , Kendall Margaret , Talbot Christine
Published: May 2006

The history and significance of equal opportunities are outlined
and the development of initiatives within the library profession in
Great Britain is examined. Two relevant research projects in Manchester
Polytechnic′s Department of Library and Information Studies are
discussed and outlined by their authors.
Library Service without Book Loans: A Future Strategy for
Nigerian University Libraries?
Authors: Oke Olufunso
Published: May 2006

The place of circulation among other library functions is discussed
and it is asserted that the reader′s sole interest is the immediate
satisfaction of his/her reading need. The problems of collection
development in Nigeria are analysed and it is concluded that economic
difficulties and certain government fiscal measures have combined to
make it impossible for Nigerian university libraries to keep their
collections up to date. It is argued that as economic conditions seem
unlikely to improve, the librarian′s major concern should be to preserve
existing stocks and ensure their continued availability for use.
Theme and Illustrations as Correlates of Literature
Preferences among Nigerian Primary School Pupils
Authors: Osiobe Stephen A. , Osiobe Ann E. , Okoh J.D.
Published: May 2006

A random sample of 216 primary schoolchildren in Port Harcourt,
Nigeria, was interviewed with a view to finding out the influence of
theme and illustrations on their literature preferences. Results of the
study indicated that children preferred books written by Nigerian
authors with local themes to western books with alien themes. The
influence of illustrations, however, seems to be dominant among primary
1 and 2 pupils (aged 5‐7 years) with a decreasing effect on primary 3
and 4 pupils (aged 7‐9 years) and a minimal effect on primary 5 and 6
pupils (aged 9‐11 years).
The Vocational Route to Higher Education
Authors: Fowler Graham
Published: May 2006

Plans to increase the number of students entering
higher education are welcomed; although it is
argued that student loans do not fit in with this
policy, and that in reality higher education requires
extra funding. The way to expand higher education
is seen as through a high‐status vocational route.
This is contrasted with current forms of vocational
schooling. A good general education for students
up to the age of 16 is proposed, with subsequent
quality vocational training which encourages access
to higher education. The increased status of the
vocational route will follow and, in return, high
quality vocational education will offer motivation
for schools, a higher proportion of graduates and
more highly qualified staff.
Flexible Management Training Provision in Parcelforce
Authors: Moss G.D.
Published: May 2006

The study reports the views of Parcelforce managers who are
undertaking training programmes using distance learning strategies. The
programmes of study are well received by all of the managers and a
majority of them indicate their preference for such a training strategy.
There is a suggestion that some managerial groups may have more
difficulty than others in organising their study programmes and most
managers have some difficulty in organising their study time. The
tutorial elements of the distance education programmes are found to be
especially useful and many managers would like these to be extended.
Suggestions are made for ways of overcoming the problems and
reservations of such learners while still retaining the benefits of the
distance‐learning model
Developing the Curriculum: Experience and Practice from the First Year of EHE at Sheffield University
Authors: Collins Robert , Hector‐Taylor Matt , Wedgwood Marilyn
Published: May 2006

The EHE programme at Sheffield University focuses primarily on the
process of curriculum change so as to become embedded within the
institution. In the first year of the programme, these changes to
curricula are generally experimental, testing new techniques and
searching for ways actively to involve students. Departments define
“enterprise” in the context of their particular subject.
This has resulted in a diverse range of curriculum development projects
operating in a large number of departments. Each project aims to address
one or more of the four main objectives of the EHE programme at
Sheffield: personal skill development, collaborative work with
employers, IT skill development and monitoring of student achievement
through a personal profile. A key feature of the Sheffield programme is
the aim of actively involving students in all aspects of curriculum
change. A Student Development Manager is employed to secure student
participation in EHE developments. A tripartite partnership is in
operation, between staff, employers and students at Sheffield, to
support and stimulate the development of EHE.
″My God, Isn′t This Like Real Life!″: Learning Lessons in the Outdoors
Authors: Bank Graduate Management Trainees Barclays
Published: May 2006

This account of a week‐long outdoor management development course
at Skern Lodge in North Devon was written by the trainees for regional
publication to their non‐participative colleagues. It describes the
content of the course and its relevance to real‐life situations
Managing Change in a large HE Institution: A Case Study of the EHE Project
Authors: Heycock Mary C.
Published: May 2006

The conflict which can arise when creating or reinforcing
curriculum change in an academic institution is explored, with reference
to the start of the Enterprise in Higher Education Initiative at Leeds
Polytechnic.
Cultural Change in Further Education: A Management Development Initiative in Hertfordshire
Authors: Norman Linda , Watson Sally
Published: May 2006

Describes a management development initiative undertaken by the
Hertfordshire FE service to accelerate the process of cultural change
throughout the area. College managers became the first group to
experience a management development programme during 1990. In early 1991
a second phase of the initiative included workshops for Principals,
Governors and LEA (FE) advisers and officers. All training and
development programmes are designed to be client‐centred, demonstrating
both the process and benefits of this style during the learning
experience.
Economic and Industrial Understanding in Primary Education: Problems and Possibilities
Authors: Holden Cathie , Smith Liz
Published: May 2006

Education for Economic and Industrial Understanding (EIU) now forms
part of the school curriculum across the 5‐16 age range as one of
several cross‐curricular themes. Considers how initiatives in
schools‐industry links have developed during the last 15 years and
raises several important issues. Argues that EIU can broaden children′s
learning experiences but at the same time must be incorporated in ways
which are relevant and appropriate to this age group and which reflect
different forms of economic activity. Case studies provide evidence of
the possibilities for curriculum development avoiding some of the
problems which have been encountered in EIU.
Implementing Training and Development Standards: Part 1.
The Background
Authors: Scholefield Maureen
Published: May 2006

The first in a series of articles, explains the background to the
establishment of the Training and Development Lead Body standards and
introduces two organizations which are adopting the TDLB standards. The
organizations concerned are the Man‐made Fibres Industry Training
Advisory Board and the London and South East Region Advisory Council for
Education and Training.
Integrating Computer‐based Training: Exploiting the Best of CBT at Marks & Spencer
Authors: Holden Richard
Published: May 2006

Discusses Marks & Spencer′s application of computer‐based
training (CBT) in training its food supervisors. CBT is used to enhance
the transfer of learning following training input using workbooks.
Argues that the particular application is a very powerful and effective
use of CBT, illustrating the real potential of CBT when integrated with
other training techniques. Reflects on how such an application may
assist in the development of CBT more generally.
Enterprise Education and Training: Dimensions of Course Design
Authors: Nelson Edwin G.
Published: May 2006

Presents a case study and a model for course design in enterprise
education and training. The model features three main stages (context or
environment appraisal, commitment to purpose, producing a blueprint)
each of which is an umbrella for other considerations plus a fourth
(programme development themes) which proved to be irresistible to the
course designers. Presents the model as a rationalization of a course
committee process. The outcome was a course design which is modular and
flexible, designed to accommodate multiple perspectives, open to
changing client needs, anticipating development themes, and which met
with immediate acceptance.
Searching for Excellence in Second‐hand Clothes?: A Note
Authors: lles Paul A. , Johnston Thomas
Published: May 2006

Organisation Development (OD) seems to have become unfashionable in the UK in recent years, with “culture and excellence” and “strategic human resources management” approaches more popular. This is in part due to OD’snaiveteover power and politics, its neglect of corporate‐level issues in favour of personal, interpersonal and group issues, and its neglect of the environment in which the organisation is located. However, within OD there has been a continuing focus on mission, strategy and excellence, and on leadership, culture and excellence. Curiously, however, the authors of literature in those areas are not cited in the works of the “excellence” school. An effective approach to managing organisational change requires a perspective that integrates both “mission and strategy” and “personal and team development” approaches. Drawing on work in British Telecom, it is proposed that a focus on individual skills assessment and development, such as that generated by developmental assessment centres, is also required.
A Case of a Financial Approach to Manpower Planning in the NHS
Authors: Dawson Chris , Barrett Vanessa , Ross Jane
Published: May 2006

A discussion is presented of the elements in
Human Resource Planning and how they can be
incorporated into a common denominator of costs.
This is the framework for a report on a study of
loss and recruitment of nurses in a typical district
general hospital and analysis of the nurse labour
market in the light of future developments
proposed for the NHS.
The Management of Personnel
Authors: Thomason George F.
Published: May 2006

The broad approaches to the acquisition and utilisation of human
resources at different phases in the growth of industry are examined. It
is concluded that at each stage some relationship exists between
business strategy and human resourcing responses made to external labour
market conditions, even if the human resource strategy is not always
fully integrated with the business strategy. A four‐fold classification
of approaches to managing human resources is suggested as a device for
organising thinking about these phenomena.
The Role of Personality in Assessing Management Potential
Authors: Alun Gulliford Richard
Published: May 2006

The increasing use, and misuse, of personality tests in selection
is a matter of perennial concern. Their utility and validity have been
questioned, most tellingly on statistical grounds. Some of the critical
weaknesses inherent in personality test development and application are
examined, identifying some of the theoretical, conceptual and ethical
issues involved. The implications, particularly for managerial
assessment and development, are discussed. An alternative strategy is
suggested, employing more objective and reliable means of developing
managerial assessment instruments based on a behavioural analysis of
managerial effectiveness.
Defiance at Work
Authors: Analoui Farhad , Kakabadse Andrew
Published: May 2006

Discussions about conflict at work generally tend to revolve around
examples of overt industrial action, taken against an employer by a
group of well‐organised employees. As the service sector becomes
increasingly prominent within the UK, this model is no longer adequate
– if it ever was – since much action is covert and
individualistic in nature. Moreover, managers themselves may also engage
in activities designed to defy or subvert central policy initiatives.
This monograph is concerned with an analysis of such activities in a
night‐club environment, and is based on six years research during which
one of the authors worked as an employee for a large service sector
organisation. It illustrates graphically the way in which employees
resisted management instructions, or sought to “get even”
with individuals who had alienated them. The implications which this
research suggests for improving systems of management in an environment
such as this are assessed.
The Stress of the Executive Life Style: Trends in the 1990s
Authors: Cooper Cary L. , Sutherland Valerie J.
Published: May 2006

Research on nearly 120 chief executive officers
(CEOs) and their spouses from among The Times
1000 European companies is explored. The
research found that many CEOs are showing
increasing signs of stress, and that the main
difficulties are associated with the job interfering
with family and private life due to enhanced
workloads, work‐related travelling, weekend
working, etc. Suggestions are made about what
organisations can do to help.
Lengthy Strikes: Do they Influence the Duration of Peace in the Future?
Authors: Somers Toni M. , Gupta Yash P. , Smith Arthur W.
Published: May 2006

In this article the data are analysed on strike and normal working durations from three industries – the public school system, electronics, and seaports – over the period 1946 to 1987. The duration of strikes experienced immediately prior to negotiation is shown to have a positive effect on a bargaining unit′s duration of normal working during a current contract negotiation. For all three industries the impact of strike duration was greatest immediately following a strike; the longer the duration of the strike, the longer the ensuing normal working time.
The Other Side of the Equation – The Demands of Women on Re‐entering the Labour Market
Authors: Healy Geraldine , Kraithman David
Published: May 2006

The recent interest in women returning to, or
increasing their, labour market participation has
largely ignored the skills and aspirations of women
themselves. This article is based on a survey of
mothers of young children in a fairly prosperous
part of the South East of the UK. Research
findings indicate that women lack confidence about
their ability to return to economic activity, have
a high demand for training, and expect to be
frustrated in their career aspirations if training is
not available. Childcare provision, flexible working
hours and training would enable them to increase
their participation in work. Constraints operate on
the level of entry to the labour market and prevent
women achieving their full potential. The discussion
considers the forces which can facilitate or impede
the full participation and development of women
at work: occupational segregation, employer
attitudes, the gender bias within organisations,
Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs), trade
unions and changing labour market demands. The
findings indicate important policy directions for
employers, trade unions and TECs to utilise this
human resource more effectively.
Redesigning Management Consulting Practices
Authors: Maupin Rebekah J.
Published: May 2006

Redesigning work is an innovative and potentially effective method
for improving the productive ability of workers and organisations. When
thoughtfully and skilfully applied, work redesign can also result in
more interesting and challenging work for employees. Traditional and
most contemporary work design approaches examine either the technical
(scientific management) or the social (human relations) system in
isolation. Sociotechnical work design theory demonstrates that both the
social and technical systems must be jointly considered. The
applicability of sociotechnical work design in various organisational
settings is addressed, focusing particularly on the management
consulting practices in a large public accounting firm. The results of
interview and survey data on test site employees are examined, and it is
concluded that sociotechnical work design is an appropriate tool for
improving productivity and employee job satisfaction.
Action Planning: A Programmed Approach for Managing Change
Authors: Schell Charles
Published: May 2006

Good strategy is not worth much unless it can be
put into action. In practice it is usually
implementation, not the underlying strategy, that
makes a project succeed or fail. This article
provides a framework for strategy implementation
through action planning. This approach to
implementing strategic change was originally
prepared for the benefit of a major UK clearing
bank and has been used by branch‐level managers
to plan and implement wide‐reaching changes in
the way in which small business customer
relationships are handled.
International Migration and Remittances in a Two‐country
Temporary Equilibrium Model
Authors: Hatzipanayotou Panos
Published: May 2006

Open economy macroeconomic models generally overlook the effects of
international migration and remittances on income and welfare. A
two‐country temporary equilibrium model is presented which incorporates
trade theoretic elements of international migration and remittances. In
the model, an expansionary incomes, or a trade, policy by the host
country induces migration, while expansionary demand policies in the
source country discourage migration. In all cases, however, when some
degree of international migration exists, potential income and welfare
gains to both countries induced by such policies exceed the equivalent
policy gains where international migration and remittances are absent.
Management Development and IT: Bridging the Gulf
Authors: Thomas Ceri
Published: May 2006

The problem of management development in the Information Technology
area is addressed. Some of the symptoms of the gulf between IT producers
and consumers are identified and various bridging strategies are
proposed, some of which are being put into practice in the author′s own
organisation.
The Minimalist Approach to Business
Authors: Willis Eric
Published: May 2006

Increasing competition and the liberalisation of trade in Europe
after 1992 means that British firms will face a difficult, if
challenging, future. It will be essential to minimise fixed costs
wherever possible. The failure to control such costs can result in
bankruptcy. Ways of achieving cost minimisation are suggested and
examples are given of companies where such a strategy has been
successfully pursued.
A Systems Approach to Engineering Organisation
Authors: Parnaby J.
Published: May 2006

To achieve competitive performance in engineering
manufacturing may require design of a
number of organisational elements. The systems
approach is essential because engineering
manufacturing is an integrated set of subsystems.
The characteristics of an organisation that are
relevant to systems redesign are described. The
author then lists eight redesign principles and tools
to support a five‐step accepted approach to overall
business design. These are fully worked out in
a detailed Appendix. One way to tackle necessary
change is by adopting a total quality and
competitiveness achievement programme, rolling
over two to three years of projects in parallel and
in series.
Impact of Export Market Expansion Strategy on Export
Performance
Authors: Lee Chong S. , Yang Yoo S.
Published: May 2006

This empirical study investigates the relationship between the
choice of an export market expansion strategy and the subsequent
performance of exporting firms. Multiple measures of export performance
were compared across three groups of firms following different export
market expansion strategies: export market concentration, concentric
diversification, and diversification strategies. A sample of 52 small
and medium‐sized US high technology manufacturers showed significant
differences among three strategic groups in export level and growth
measures, but no significant differences in export profitability
measures were found.
Product and Promotion Transfers in Consumer Goods
Multinationals
Authors: Hill John S. , James William L.
Published: May 2006

This article sheds light on MNC product transfers to subsidiaries
– whether from the US or from third‐party markets – and on
promotion transfers. Findings indicate that consumer goods subsidiaries
have product mixes with heavy US orientations, but that this orientation
diminishes over time. Promotion synergies are also shown to decrease
with time. Overall, this research confirms the Levitt thesis that US
products can in many cases be globalised, and that MNCs perceive
inter‐market similarities to be more important than differences in their
formulating of international product strategies.
Customer Motivations: Use and Non‐use of Automated Banking
Authors: Leblanc Gaston
Published: May 2006

The results are presented of an exploratory study on customer motivations towards the use and non‐use of an automated teller machine with data collected from a total of 208 customers of a financial institution. An analysis of results based on demographic variables reveals significant differences between users and non‐users in terms of education only. Results also show that convenient accessibility of a financial institution and avoidance of waiting lines are the principal reasons for using the automated teller. Furthermore, in comparison with non‐users, the user group is more likely to believe the automated teller improves service quality, reduces the financial institution′s operating costs, presents no personal or financial risks, and is simple to use. The non‐user group for its part prefers dealing with human tellers, finds the machine complex to use, and associates personal and financial risks with the use of the automated teller.
Human Tellers: Who Needs Them?
Authors: Marr Norman E. , Prendergast Gerard
Published: May 2006

Human tellers are still the primary means of
product delivery, despite the trend towards
electronic and remote banking. In New Zealand,
there exists a newly deregulated environment in
the financial services industry. Therefore a
“customer‐oriented” approach is needed to
achieve customer satisfaction. Amongst ATM card
holders the majority still used human tellers, on
a regular basis. This pointed to the fact that there
are a number of improvements to be made in two
categories; impolite/inefficient tellers; queuing
difficulties.
Corporate Banking Behaviour: A Survey in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Allan K.K. , Ma Vincent S.M.
Published: May 2006

This article contains findings of a survey in Hong
Kong amongst a representative sample of
companies directed to understanding their buying
behaviour and attitude to banking services. The
areas explored include split‐banking behaviour,
bank usage, bank switching, perceived importance
of attributes of a bank in a banking relationship,
and usage of other financial services. As Hong
Kong may be the third financial centre in the
world, after New York and London, and there is
a general lack of literature on corporate banking
behaviour of Hong Kong companies, this research
aims to contribute a pioneering study, which is
expected to provide invaluable insights to banks
operating in Hong Kong both locally and foreign‐based
so as to formulate their bank marketing
strategies.
Adult Singles: An Untapped Market
Authors: Burnett John J.
Published: May 2006

While bank management has become aware of the
need to identify and assess potential market
segments carefully, single persons remain a
segment overlooked. This study addresses the
need to view singles as heterogeneous in
composition and behaviour. Three categories of
singles (divorced, widowed, never married) and
a sample of married individuals were compared
in respect to a number of bank‐related variables.
The findings support the need to distinguish
between the types of singleness. Theoretical and
pragmatic implications are discussed.
Co‐makership as an Extension of Quality Care
Authors: Harrison Alan
Published: May 2006

The role of quality and how it is defined in a supply chain are discussed and the change in the meaning of quality as relationships evolve from supplier to co‐maker described. The way in which the supplier′s responsibility for quality grows as co‐makership develops is dealt with and the appropriate steps in this process outlined.
High‐level Management and Disaster
Authors: Brearley Sally A.
Published: May 2006

Corporate management must face not only the legal consequences of failing to manage risk adequately and to protect the public and the environment, but also the potential risks to profits and corporate reputations. There is thus an urgent need to understand organisational and industrial disasters better, and to suggest how strategic decisions makers can plan to prevent them. A formal systems methodology is applied to risk management problems. This approach is used to examine a number of case studies which cover a broad spectrum. All the case studies resulted in disastrous consequences either in terms of human suffering or for the environment. In addition, the financial and legal consequences for top management were severe. The failures of each system are examined, with particular reference to the role played by top management. It is suggested that all the failures can be analysed under three broad categories: organisational issues, human response issues and external factors. Specific strategies are suggested for each of these areas to assist corporate decision makers in disaster prevention.
Selection of ChSP‐(0,1) Plans for Given IQL and MAPD
Authors: Subramani K. , Govindaraju K.
Published: May 2006

This article provides tables based on the Poisson model for selection of chain sampling plans of type ChSP‐(0,1). The Indifference Quality Level and the Maximum Allowable Percent Defective are the criteria used for fixing the ChSP‐(0,1) plan. Procedures for selection of plans for given (IQL,AOQL) and (MAPD,AOQL) are also discussed.
Managing the Process of Cultural Change
Authors: Hames Richard D.
Published: May 2006

Very few Australian organisations have been able to effectively integrate and sustain the principles of quality management. A number of factors have contributed to this situation but by far the most significant has been the disinterest exhibited in the relevance of organisational culture; especially as this is shaped by existing and imminent technologies. The steps that can and should be taken prior to embarking upon the strategic implementation of cultural change are explored and means of identifying and evaluating the key cultural dimensions and diagnosing specific factors that might impede the pace and scale of cultural transformation are proposed. Implementing a “quality‐appreciative” culture ultimately requires the remodelling of each cultural attribute. Thus an intimate understanding of culture is an imperative for those organisations wishing to make the transition to quality a natural and lasting reality.
Employee Participation in TQC: An Integrative Review
Authors: Harber Doug , Marriott Fern , Idrus Nirwan
Published: May 2006

Employee participation is now considered a key element in the successful implementation of new management strategies in manufacturing industry. Relevant literature on the various forms of employee participation is reviewed with emphasis on its role in Total Quality Control (TQC). The complexity of the relationship between employee participation and satisfaction and some of the change processes associated with the introduction of TQC are also discussed. This information provides the background for a subsequent article, also published in this special issue of IJQRM, which presents a longitudinal study of the effects on employee participation and job satisfaction when TQC was implemented in a large Australian manufacturing organisation.
Quality: Where Do We Go from Here?
Authors: Coulson‐Thomas Colin J.
Published: May 2006

CEOs and quality practitioners are concerned about quality. Explores the reasons for this concern and examines what needs to be done. Presents and discusses the barriers to quality and quality priorities based upon the results of three questionnaire and interview surveys. Reveals that quality is but one of a number of changes that are occurring within large organizations. Quality begins in the boardroom, and the competence of directors and effectiveness of boards should not be assumed. The management of change requires top‐management commitment, and the articulation and communication of a clear vision and strategy. The focus of quality is shifting to attitudes, values, approaches and perspective, and the creation of quality networks embracing customers, suppliers and business partners.
Reliability Assessment of Fire‐fighting Vehicles and Equipment
Authors: Keller A.Z. , Al‐Saadi S.J‐Fendi , Leckie L.
Published: May 2006

Analyses maintenance data collected by Greater Manchester Fire Service for their fire‐fighting vehicles and their equipment over the period 1980‐90. Details the three stages of analysis: preliminary, reliability, metrology. Reports the results of the preliminary analysis only. Draws specific and general conclusions for the study.
THE SINGLE PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST (OR TEST SYSTEM): MEASURING
FOR HOPE
Authors: Ziyal Leyla
Published: May 2006

The thesis of this article is that the single psychological test or
test system is a wholly inadequate decision‐aid to address the strategic
problem‐objectives of the people aspect of business. After reviewing the
current uses of the single test the article outlines the properties and
tasks of psychological measurement. It proposes that only the joint use
of several tests relevant to a specific problem objective can improve
the accuracy of management decisions on people in the varied contexts of
business.
Internal Auditor and Computer Fraud
Authors: Collier P.A. , Dixon R. , Marston C.L.
Published: May 2006

A survey of external auditors aimed to discover the response of
their organisations to the threat of computer fraud, and their opinions
about risks and counter‐measures. Four main topic areas were covered:
responsibility within the firm for the prevention and detection of
computer fraud; what the internal audit does to prevent computer fraud;
what the internal audit department does to detect computer fraud; and
the opinions of internal auditors on computer fraud.
A Corporate Code of Conduct: The Internal Auditor’s Role
Authors: Gavin Thomas A. , Roy Richard A. , Sumners Glenn E.
Published: May 2006

An illustration is provided for all readers, students and
practising professionals alike, of the dilemma faced by internal
auditors as they try to perform a new service, namely, helping to
operationalise a code of ethics (conduct) within their firms and at the
same time remain true to the objective of their profession, to carry out
“an independent appraisal function... as a service to the
organisation”. The steps necessary to get a code of conduct
operational are reviewed and the results are presented of a survey of a
small number of firms in the utility industry which illustrates, among
other things, the individual and/or groups responsible for making the
code of conduct a viable document within their organisation.
Further Reflections on Human‐nature Assumptions in Economics — Part I: The “Men” of Aristotle, Adam Smith et al. Revisited
Authors: Nitsch Thomas O.
Published: May 2006

In previous efforts the author has examined the various
“men” of economics or human‐nature assumptions of
“economic thinkers” as a way of treating the history and
philosophy of the discipline. Here, under the thematic penumbra of
“Man as the Centre of the Social Economy”, and hoping to
incorporate the fruits of further inquiry into the matter, those
“creatures” and their fashioners are critically reconsidered
with a view towards arriving at a more adequate conception of a truly
human “economiser” and – accordingly – science
of human economy. In Part II, having presented homo oeconomicus
in both his/her “impudent” and “honourable”
versions, we shall attempt to transcend homo socioeconomicus and
even our own (former) homo oeconomicus humanus as well.
Gorbachev as a Social Market Economist
Authors: Karsten Siegfried G.
Published: May 2006

Gorbachev is in the process of not only abolishing central planning and the privileges of the nomenclatura but also establishing broad political dialogue and elections, and, most importantly, at least some forms of private property and the price mechanism. He realises that socioeconomic theories which abstract themselves from the observations and needs of daily life have little relevance. Furthermore, he is aware of the fact that a meaningful paradigm has to pay attention to society′s values, i.e. to the interrelationship of personal initiative, morality, law, government and public policy. Hence, Gorbachev advocates the establishment of more favourable socioeconomic conditions to lay the foundation for a “functional social market economy”, however defined, in the Soviet Union.
Protecting the Investment in People – Making Training
Pay
Authors: Long Ralph F.
Published: May 2006

Traditionally, training is seen as simply an activity to be
undertaken when all other priorities have been satisfied. The process,
still viewed by a majority as imparting knowledge and skills, has
progressed slowly from being trainer‐centred to student‐centred. Now, in the 1990s, training must become
self‐financing with its costs being recoverable by an identifiable
increase in efficiency and quality. The means of achieving this
objective is to use the problem‐centred approach in which pressing,
company‐specific problems are resolved in a training context ready for
immediate application in the workplace, and the necessary learning is
achieved during the process.
1992 and Harmonisation: Cases and Implications from Canada
and the USA
Authors: Wright Phillip C.
Published: May 2006

As Europe approaches 1992, there is little evidence that
para‐professionals are preparing to harmonise certification programmes
in readiness for changing trans‐border work patterns. Using the example
of the Canada‐US Free Trade Agreement and its effect on the
“service sector”, it is suggested how certification and
training for the para‐professions might be effected in Europe, in that
different nationalities have been shown to have varying traditions of
certification and training.
The UK′s Management Charter Initiative: The First Three
Years
Authors: Frank Eric
Published: May 2006

During the first three years of its existence, the Management
Charter Initiative (MCI) has become a powerful force for change in the
field of management education, training and development. Nearly 1,000
British companies have pledged to obey the Code of Practice,
occupational management standards for junior and middle managers have
been published and strong links are being forged between MCI networks
and Training and Enterprise Councils and Local Enterprise Companies.
Research Report: Hospitality Graduate and Diplomate Labour
Market Experiences
Authors: Orr Noreen E.J. , Murray Anna E. , McKenna Margaret A.
Published: May 2006

The labour market experience of graduates and diplomates is a
subject currently being explored in the United Kingdom. Reports on the
findings of a study undertaken in Northern Ireland with special
reference to the hospitality industry. Examines graduate and diplomate
opinions on the preparatory value of hospitality management courses and
their perception of job quality. Found that graduates in particular feel
overqualified because of a lack of opportunity to implement their
knowledge and skills acquired and developed in higher education. Part of
the problem appears to lie with the conflicting expectations of
graduates and employers in the hospitality industry and argues that this
could be overcome by forging greater links between the educators and
employers. As one of the major challenges of the 1990s is the recruiting
and retaining of graduates, hospitality employers must offer training
which builds on the foundation laid in higher education.
Viewpoint: Training and Development′s Worst Enemies –
You and Management
Authors: Sinclair John , Collins David
Published: May 2006

Discusses the major difficulties facing human resource development
in organizations with respect to the role of training and development
personnel who are seen to have been forced into a reactive position by
senior management dictates. Gives an overview of the failure to deliver
appropriate training and development and the lack of real commitment to
HRD. Puts forward the need for a new kind of training and development
professional and the key issues that need to be addressed.
Management Development in Europe
Authors: Berger Mel , Watts Paul
Published: May 2006

Analyses a bilateral UK‐French training programme which highlights
many areas of the cultural divide which must be addressed if
stereotyping is to be avoided. Outlines the consequent design of a
multilateral programme for facilitating business skills.