bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Territories still to find – the business of hotel internationalisation
Authors: Litteljohn David , Roper Angela , Altinay Levent
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present directions for researching “new territories” by systematically reviewing contemporary research in the area of hotel internationalization.

Design/methodology/approach

Comprehensive analysis drawing on frameworks and debates in the international services management literature of research published over the period 1996‐2005 identifies approaches and results of hotel internationalization research. Work is organized into two broad categories: studies that relate hotel organizations to their external environments and those taking an internal perspective. This analysis is complemented by a short review of relevant demand and policy trends to ensure relevance of the critique.

Findings

Modal choice research has now reached a stage where it can provide greater depth of understanding in the relationships between this choice and organizational capabilities. Secondly, there has been a welcome increase in more internalised, qualitative research. Thirdly, while there have been some comparative industry studies more is encouraged as dialogue between researchers in different service (and manufacturing) industries will be of value as hotel internationalization meets new supply and demand conditions.

Research limitations/implications

Eclectic paradigms to be supplemented by more focused industry and comparative industry studies; internal, organization focused research must account for cultural diversity amongst new hotel developers, firms and customers to prevent parochialism or ethnocentrism; more specific work could explore policy dimensions.

Practical implications

The paper outlines some future trends which will affect the internationalization process and bases of competitiveness/competitive advantage of hotel companies.

Originality/value

Through a timely review of one of the first service businesses to internationalise the paper contributes to knowledge of hotel internationalization by a rigorous review of contemporary research and suggests a research compass for the future.
The internationalization of retailing
Authors: Doherty Anne Marie
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that motivate international retail companies to choose franchising as a method for entering international markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Employs a qualitative methodology and a multiple case study design. Six major UK‐based international fashion retailers form the empirical basis for the work.

Findings

Finds the motivating influences to be a combination of both organisational and environmental factors. International retailing experience, availability of financial resources, presence of a franchisable retail brand, company restructuring and influence of key managers emerge as the organisational factors while environmental influences are revealed as opportunistic approaches, local market complexities, domestic competitive pressures and availability of potential franchise partners.

Practical implications

Provides a useful source of information for those retail firms considering internationalization via the franchising method. Research is made all the more pertinent by the fact that retail service firms do not necessarily have franchising experience in the domestic market before they adopt franchising in the international environment. While findings are particular to retail firms they could also have relevance for other service sectors.

Originality/value

Addresses a gap in international franchising literature by examining the factors that motivate retail firms to internationalise via franchising. As such, the paper contributes to academic and practitioner understanding of the international retail franchise process.
Assessment of atmospheric particulate matter in São Carlos‐SP, Brazil
Authors: Marques K.A. , Celli C.E , Passoni J.H. , Teixeira D. , Bachiega E. , Vidal E.S. , Carvalho W.M. , Aguiar M.L. , Coury J.R.
Published: April 2007

The monitoring of respirable particulate matter (PM10) and of total carbon percentage (mass basis) in the atmosphere of São Carlos (SP) was performed in the period between September 1997 and January 2000. São Carlos, located in the central region of the state of São Paulo, has a population of close to 180,000 inhabitants and about 500 industrial establishments of medium to small size, mainly dealing with metallurgy, textiles, food and ceramics. The equipment used for air monitoring was a high volume sampler (GVS‐GRASEBY/GMW) equipped with a one‐stage inertial separator for a 10μm particle cut diameter. The PM10 concentration was determined by gravimetry and the total carbon concentration by the Ströheim method. The results show a well defined seasonal dependence of both the PM10 and of the total carbon concentration. Higher concentrations of PM10 and carbon were observed in autumn and winter, which also coincided with low relative humidity and precipitation. The measured trends were compared with the PM10 data from the city of São Paulo in the same period and showed similar seasonal dependence. However, in relative terms, the PM10 concentration in São Carlos showed stronger seasonal dependence than in São Paulo.
An overview of environmental and management problems in Mariupol, Ukraine
Authors: Butorina Irina V. , Butorina Marina V.
Published: April 2007

The eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol is among the most polluted cities in the Ukraine. Even with a decrease in manufacturing after the dissolution of the USSR, the high amounts of hazardous wastes in the water, air and soil have not been reduced, often exceeding the safety limits used by the World Health Organisation (WHO). City dwellers continue to have worryingly short lifespans, as well as a high percentage of oncological diseases. The current extent of the problems seen in the city is described in this paper, along with a programme aimed at the sustainable development of the city. Public discussions of Mariupol’s environmental problems are documented in this paper and took place via workshops, newspaper articles, television programmes and surveys. As a result of these investigations, increasing life expectancy by ten years was chosen as the primary goal for city development. A summary of the project is presented, along with some analysis and recommendations.
Developing a tool for environmentally preferable purchasing
Authors: Curran Mary Ann
Published: April 2007

LCA‐based guidance was developed by EPA under the Framework for Responsible Environmental Decision‐making (FRED) effort to demonstrate how to conduct a relative comparison between product types to determine environmental preferability. It identifies data collection needs and issues, and describes how to calculate numeric impact indicators for a given product or service across eight human health and environmental impact categories that were selected specifically to meet the goal of the effort: global climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, acidification, photochemical smog formation, eutrophication, human health, ecological health, and resource depletion. Case studies were conducted on motor oil, wall insulation, and asphalt coating. It was concluded that the FRED LCA approach can be performed in a much shorter time period than is typical for a more detailed LCA. This more practical duration for procurement decisions is achieved though the focusing of data collection and a simplified impact assessment procedure.
Nutrition education for medical undergraduates
Authors: Garrow J.S.
Published: April 2007

In the past medical undergraduates have received nutrition
education piecemeal – as part of courses in biochemistry,
pharmacology, physiology, gastroenterology, etc. In clinical medicine
doctors need to show understanding of nutrition in the following areas:
diseases caused by unsuitable diet; nutrition in groups with special
needs; and public health nutrition. A recent innovation is the allotment
of seven teaching days at the end of the preclinical courses to
nutrition, and the inclusion of a nutrition section in the second MB
exam.
Why food research?
Authors: Holmes A.W.
Published: April 2007

New industries associated with food altered the face of the food
industry in the 1950s. Food research has continued since then. Discusses
the Delphi and brainstorming and debate approaches to technological
forecasting. Presents food research forecasts carried out between 1966
and 1986 and discusses their accuracy in the light of actual
developments. Also presents current opinions of likely future
developments.
Unveiling Enablers and Inhibitors of Collaborative Planning
Authors: Barratt Mark
Published: April 2007

As part of organizations' drive towards supply chain integration. Collaborative Planning (CP) emerged in the late 1990s. Lack of visibility of demand (in the form of point of sale data) and inventory holding status across the supply chain, together with adversarial relationships between trading partners remain as significant barriers to the goal of supply chain integration. Collaborative planning, originating from the consumer packaged goods industry, is an approach that promises to overcome these barriers, and seeks through joint planning and development of a clearer understanding of the dynamics of the supply chain replenishment process to deliver some of the promised benefits of actual supply chain integration. A case study of six organizations across three tiers of a supply chain in the UK grocery sector identifies many critical enablers and inhibitors at strategic, tactical and operational levels, both between and within the case study organizations.
E‐business strategy: how to benefit from a hype
Authors: van Hooft Floris P.C. , Stegwee Robert A.
Published: April 2007

A fundamental approach to setting up an e‐business initiative is needed to fully utilise the capabilities of Internet technology in a specific business setting. Such an initiative has to build on the strengths of the organisation and take full advantage of the opportunities in the market, meanwhile identifying costly unsuccessful projects and preventing unwanted market disturbances introduced by carelessly designed e‐commerce solutions. In this paper, a method is presented for the development of an e‐business, based on research in the area of strategic information systems planning. The proposed method is designed to help clarify a strategic e‐business vision and to solicit management commitment to change and take action on new business opportunities. In addition, it takes into account the unique possibilities of an organisation’s IT architecture, thus further advancing the value of past investments in IT.
Internet transactions and physical logistics: conflict or complementarity?
Authors: Gurãu Cãlin , Ranchhod Ashok , Hackney Ray
Published: April 2007

Every business can be described in terms of flows – both of materials and of information. Materials flow into the company, between activities within it, and in the form of finished goods and services from the company to its customers. Simultaneously, there are flows of information in the reverse direction that provide valuable data for the system: feedback from the marketplace in the form of customers’ orders, customer reaction, and information on needs and wants; flows of information within the company that provide data in the form of inventory schedules, production schedules, etc., and orders from the company to outside suppliers. In one sense the whole company and the market in which it operates can be regarded as a series of linkages and relationships, and the company’s operating efficiency can be seen to depend on how well these connections work. If the system can be made to flow smoothly, at minimum cost, then the chances are that the overall company performance, measured by any criteria, will be high. In practice, however, it is very common to find bottlenecks and poor integration between different parts of this system, with consequent unsatisfactory performance.
An integrated SPC approach for manufacturing processes
Authors: Xie M. , Goh T.N. , Cai D.Q.
Published: April 2007

Control charts have been widely used in the manufacturing industry as the most important statistical process control (SPC) technique. One assumption for successfully applying control charts is that the process is stable to begin with and adjustments are made only at a later point when the process is deemed to be out of control. A situation that often arises is when the process is subject to a slow trend caused by factors such as equipment deterioration, power decline during its consumption, or other reasons. For this type of situation, an integrated monitoring and adjustment approach can be considered and the relevant issues involved are discussed in this paper. This problem of implementing SPC is studied from the point of view of process management, together with the concept of engineering process control. A general approach is then formulated for monitoring processes with trend and subject to regular adjustments and a specific model for a general case with linear trend is studied in more detail.
Human resources development and integrated manufacturing systems
Authors: Sun Hongyi
Published: April 2007

This paper records the research on human resources development associated with integrated manufacturing. The research is based on a survey in 18 countries. It is found that only parts of the human resources factors are significantly related to the level of computerised integration. It is also found that the level of integration and the development of human resources vary from country to country. However, the difference in human resources development is bigger than the differences in the level of integration. The country context may be another source for explaining the development of human resources. Future research on revealing the forces driving human resources development is suggested.
The instructional leadership behaviour of Papua New Guinea high school principals ‐ A provincial case study
Authors: Lahui‐Ako Boe
Published: April 2007

The purpose of the study was to investigate to what extent Papua New Guinea (PNG) high school principals engage in tasks which constitute instructional leadership. The major finding of the study was that the principals did engage in tasks which constitute instructional leadership, but the results indicated that their involvement in performing the five major functions were to a lesser degree than was deemed desirable and expected by the principals and teachers surveyed. This paper calls on the education authorities in PNG to re‐examine the selection, promotion, training and staff development opportunities for principals in order to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of principals in their jobs. With the challenges and demands of the changing educational environment in PNG now, more effective principals equipped with leadership and organizational knowledge and skills are required to lead schools.
The food shopping experience of older consumers in Scotland: critical incidents
Authors: Hare Caroline , Kirk David , Lang Tim
Published: April 2007

The number and proportion of older people in the UK are increasing and it has been found that this population segment is a nutritional risk group. Food choice research and health promotion reports have sought to identify the influences on diet and the food retailing sector has been found to particularly impact upon older people. Low income, poor mobility and an inability to access food shops disadvantage many. This paper considers the food shopping experiences of older consumers by identifying, through critical incident technique, positive and negative aspects of the food shopping activity. A total of 120 interviews were conducted and 248 incidents collected from people aged 60/65+ in various locations in Scotland. Content analysis produced eight primary categories and 22 sub‐categories of key elements in the shopping experience. The main factors that contribute to the quality of the shopping experience were merchandise related, retail practices and staff issues. The internal store environment, accessibility, external shopping environment and personal factors were also identified and featured both positive and negative incidents, with social aspects only having positive incidents.
Taxonomy of inventory policies for supply‐chain effectiveness
Authors: Chandra Charu , Kumar Sameer
Published: April 2007

The concept of taxonomy is applied to inventory management in a supply‐chain using the example of the US textile industry. Through classification and standardisation of issues related to inventory management problems, it is shown how inventory models and techniques can be generalised across diverse application environments represented by autonomous business entities that form the supply‐chain. Three generic models that implement inventory decision rules to address constant (or level), time varying (or chase), and mixed demand patterns associated with stock keeping unit (SKU) categories are proposed. Applications of these inventory models to a textile supply‐chain are discussed.
Who needs information systems in the health care sector and who
will use them? An experiment
Authors: Légaré Judith , Douzou Sylvie
Published: April 2007

Considers that complexity of relationships between organizational,
human and technical factors involved in any technological change
increases in cases of network‐based information technologies (NBIT), due
to the multiplicity of institutional levels and the diverse nature of
professional and organizational groups of potential users. Suggests
that, to understand NBIT integration in organizational settings and
practices, we must focus on the significance that various actors
involved invest in the innovation. Argues that networked technologies
cannot by themselves induce new forms of practice and change
professional attitudes and behaviour. In fact, NBIT can result in
reinforcement of existing practices that were intended to be changed.
Some characteristics of women managers in the hotel industry
Authors: Soehanovic´ Jusuf , Zougaj Miroslav , Krizoman Danijela , Bojanic´‐Glavica Benedikt
Published: April 2007

Presented are the research results on some characteristics of women managers in hotel enterprises in Istria, the best‐developed Mediterranean tourist region in the Republic of Croatia. The results pertain to number of women in management, age and educational structure, permanent education, necessary knowledge, capabilities and skills, and delegation of authority and responsibility. The research was performed in 1996.
High performance work practices and competitive advantage in the Irish hospitality sector
Authors: Connolly Pauline , McGing Geraldine
Published: April 2007

Purpose

Failte Ireland argues that high performance work practices will provide the Irish tourist industry with the necessary competitive edge. The main focus of this study is to explore the extent of these practices in the Irish hospitality industry with particular emphasis on the practices of staff empowerment and participation.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was chosen as the most appropriate means of obtaining information from managers because respondents could be targeted in a cost effective method. A total of 71 questionnaires were mailed to managers in all three, four and five‐star hotels in the Dublin and greater Dublin area.

Findings

The data show that Dublin‐based hotels display some of the human resource practices associated with high performing work practices. There are, however, very low levels of employee participation, which many authors argue are the cornerstone of high performance practices.

Practical implications

The Irish hotel industry is undergoing fundamental change, not least of which is the increasingly demanding and discerning clients. Customers are demanding quality products and services, speed and reliability of service, price competitiveness and innovation. If Irish hotels are to survive and remain competitive, the issue of staff representation, participation and the channels of communication will have to be addressed. Recognising, utilizing and developing their human resources may be the most significant challenge that management faces, and it is posited that those organisations that excel at this will be the industry leaders.

Originality/value

The paper offers insights into the realities of management practices in hotels in an Irish setting.
Quick response practices and technologies in developing supply chains
Authors: Perry Marcia , Sohal Amrik S.
Published: April 2007

Discusses the adoption of quick response (QR) practices and technologies in developing supply chains within the Australian textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry. The results presented are based on a four‐year study in which 50 companies were involved. Discusses the in‐house practices identified which enable quick response. A case study is also presented of a company that is recognised in the Australian TCF as a leader in the adoption of QR practices. Identifies a number of key factors that impact on the success of QR and supply chain management.
Selection matters – in construction supply chain optimisation
Authors: Kumaraswamy Mohan , Palaneeswaran Ekambaram , Humphreys Paul
Published: April 2007

A Hong Kong‐based study of factors affecting construction industry performance levels confirms that selection methodologies and decisions are critical, both at the upstream formulation of procurement and operational systems themselves as well as the downstream selection of various project participants. Needs are identified for a holistic approach to broader procurement choices that incorporate all procurement sub‐systems, an integration with synergistic operational sub‐systems and more informed and intelligent participant choices. The many interacting variables and potential information overload point to the consequential need for harnessing IT/IS (information technology/information systems) to enable smarter selections at all stages of the construction supply chain. Frameworks and sample modules of the proposed knowledge‐based decision aids are presented in the case of overall procurement system selection and contractor selection.
Motivational profiling of logistics Master’s students in Great Britain
Authors: Dinwoodie John
Published: April 2007

Ponders the elemental role of professionally skilled logisticians on sustained corporate success in global supply chain networks and the obligation of human resources managers and academics to advance professional competence. Considers the perceived importance of enhanced knowledge and employment prospects in motivating logistics Master’s students in Great Britain. Investigates the appeal of Master’s qualifications to enrolled and latent logisticians at several British universities and reports a statistical discriminant analysis of previously unknown groupings of motivations for undertaking study. Contrasts the basic motivations of domestic students with the combined basic and academic motivations of non‐British Europeans and the concerns of non‐European students for reputation and teaching quality. Relates the discriminating power of the importance of study abroad and a practical course and the perceived influences of study in English, a relevant academic system, and teaching methods. Explores the implications of the findings for course planning and marketing, professional development and further research.
Satellite communication in road freight operations: the METAFORA experience
Authors: Anderson S. , Jorna R.A.M. , Verweij C.A.
Published: April 2007

At the beginning of 1992, the European Commission inaugurated its second DRIVE R&D programme to examine the benefits of implementing various Advanced Transport Telematic applications. METAFORA, one of the projects funded within this programme, was initiated by a consortium of 14 organizations. The objective of this project was to assess the applicability of mobile data communications (MDC) using satellite and electronic data interchange (EDI) in the real working environment of the road freight sector, with special attention paid to the needs of small and medium‐sized enterprises. Concentrates on presenting the findings of the MDC pilots carried out during the project. Describes the pilots, technology implemented, data sources and collection techniques, evaluation methodology used and concludes with a financial and socio‐economic cost‐benefit analysis of the trials.
Diving into service quality – the dive tour operator perspective
Authors: O’Neill Martin A. , Williams Paul , MacCarthy Martin , Groves Ronald
Published: April 2007

Seeks to investigate the conceptualization and measurement of service quality and its importance to the dive tourism industry. It reports the findings from a recently conducted study of dive tourist perceptions of service quality as they relate to a tour operator running tours on an artificial reef dive experience in Western Australia. The study also assesses the importance assigned by consumers to the various service quality attributes relative to those perceptions. The results are of significance to operators in that they identify clearly the managerial implications of providing a quality service during the dive tourism experience.
Are you looking forward to your surgery?
Authors: Gummesson Evert
Published: April 2007

Considers the current state of health‐care provision – noting that the sector is in distress. Suggests that we need to find the root cause of the problems and not just the symptoms. As an example of good practice, points to Shouldice Hospital in Toronto, Canada – a single‐service clinic doing 7,000 hernia operations per year. Notes that Shouldice has an almost nil recurrence rate – one out of 200 operations – which is close to Six Sigma. Suggests that the Shouldice story underlines the importance of obvious service quality factors such as the need to be long‐term and to work on continuously developing methods and skills.
Quality and the role of strategy
Authors: Handley Roger
Published: April 2007

Posits that quality and process improvement are recognized
strategic issues for companies which wish to compete successfully.
Examines the strategy of Decision Processes International (a UK
company). Concludes with a number of questions intended to assess the
strategic quotient of an organization.
Total quality appraisals
Authors: Choppin Jon
Published: April 2007

Examines, in the form of an amusing discussion, a total quality approach to appraisals set during a company expansion. Questions and examines the value of appraisals for both staff and management. Through the character of Thomas Quentin Makepeace, argues that the job descriptions proscribe and limit activity rather than create opportunities for development.
Striving for number one: practices from the US banking industry
Authors: Brown Kathryn , Kleiner Brian H.
Published: April 2007

States that the financial services industry has become one of the USA most visible players in the tough, new competitive era. What worked for corporations in the past has been re‐engineered; re‐evaluated, reprocessed, and reinvented in hopes of entering this new era with an edge on competition. Presents three corporate strategies of today′s banking industry’s “heavy‐hitters”. Each corporation has a strategy unique to its corporate culture, but all of these banking corporations have the same desire: to be the customer’s number one choice for their banking products and services. Customers equal profitability, and profitability equates to future success and prosperity. The banking industry has witnessed an evolution from the old way of doing business. With this evolution comes new possibilities in all facets of the business environment. Helps to illustrate how each corporation is “rising to the occasion” and developing their own unique strategies to remain a successful and profitable player in the banking game.
Customer service: what’s a smile got to do with it?
Authors: Cook Sarah , Macaulay Steve
Published: April 2007

Notes that good service delivery has come a long way from “smile training”, but many managers are left wondering whether they should put emphasis on the “hard” or the “soft” aspects of service. There is no doubt that “soft” issues are key and many successful service companies stress the importance of developing customer‐friendly values, a positive environment and interpersonal skills to match. Remarks that “hard” aspects are important too and include process alignment, customer surveys, benchmarking standards and capacity management. The ability to handle times when something goes wrong demonstrates the interplay of “hard” and “soft”, service delivery necessitates a complex blend of “hard” and “soft” approaches.
Effective quality assurance in the personal investment industry: part 1 ‐ an impossible task?
Authors: Groocock John
Published: April 2007

This paper is a response to a consultative document by the Personal Investment Authority (PIA), the UK financial services industry regulator. The PIA exists, not because the industry is a monopoly or concerned with health or safety, but because of the unsatisfactory quality it has provided to its customers. The approach of the paper is to examine if the quality management principles developed in manufacturing during past years could be useful in addressing this problem. The paper appears in two parts; the second part proposes a different type of regulatory system.
Laminar forced convection heat transfer from a cylinder covered with an orthotropic porous layer in cross‐flow
Authors: A/K Abu‐Hijleh Bassam
Published: April 2007

The problem of laminar cross‐flow forced convection heat transfer from a horizontal cylinder covered with an orthotropic porous layer was investigated numerically. The effects of porous layer thickness, radial resistance, tangential resistance, and incoming flow Reynolds number on the average Nusselt number were studied in detail. There was up to 40 per cent reduction in the average Nusselt number at high values of Reynolds number. The tangential resistance effect on the Nusselt number was dominant over that of the radial resistance. The effectiveness of the porous layer increased at high values of porous layer thickness as well as at high values of Reynolds number.
Rewetting of an infinite tube with internal heating
Authors: Satapathy A.K. , Sahoo R.K.
Published: April 2007

A numerical study has been made to investigate the effect of internal heating and precursory cooling during quenching of an infinite tube. The finite difference solution gives the quench front temperature as a function of various model parameters such as Peclet number, Biot number and dimensionless heat flux. The parametric dependence of the rewetting rate is obtained by the condition that the surface can only be wetted when its temperature is below the quench front temperature. Also, the critical heat flux is obtained by setting Peclet number equal to zero, which gives the minimum heat flux required to prevent the hot surface being rewetted. The numerical model is validated by comparing the results with known closed form solutions.
Employers appreciate 360‐degree feedback
Authors: Curtis Derek
Published: April 2007

Suggests that once companies introduce 360‐degree feedback, it becomes an established part of their performance appraisal system. Provides reasons why one‐dimensional feedback is often not enough, and how 360‐degree feedback can increase individuals’ awareness of how they are perceived. Lists benefits of the system and discusses what is involved.
Beyond the QFD House of Quality: Using the Downstream Matrices
Authors: Scheurell Diane M.
Published: April 2007

QFD is a product development and implementation tool to translate
the customer′s product requirements into the design of the equipment to
make that product, and then into the manufacturing plan to produce that
product. QFD ensures that the “voice of the customer” is not
lost as plans for changing a product or making a new one proceed from
concept generation through to production start‐up. Focuses on steps
beyond the house of quality: the process planning and the production
planning matrices, and emphasizes the practical application of QFD to
new product development. Describes the formation of the QFD team, at
Kimberley Clarke Corporation, the strategies used to get around the
barriers that existed, the results of the effort of the programme, and
the transformation in the use of QFD from a “tool” to
“the culture” by which business gets done on this programme.
Defining great products
Authors: Marks Peter
Published: April 2007

The success of product development teams rests on their ability to
think like their customers. A “Customer $APPEALS”
model provides a proven framework for defining customer wants and needs,
setting development priorities, and measuring customer satisfaction.
The building‐blocks of future success
Authors: Parr Jack
Published: April 2007

Focuses on Renishaw plc, a small UK engineering organization which
is the world′s leading metrology probe supplier. Describes the company
philosophy and practice, particularly its concurrent engineering
programme which is built on from major‐building blocks: design for
manufacture, multifuntional project teams, tools and techniques and
developing composite engineers.
Engineering quality improvement programme
Authors: Combes Alan , Connolly Christopher , Henshall Ed
Published: April 2007

Highlights the need for engineers who design vehicles to work
simultaneously with engineers who manufacture these vehicles in order to
improve product quality. Discusses the advantages of changing the
emphasis of the total engineering process from one which concentrates on
problem identification and resolution to one which focuses on meeting
and exceeding customer expectations. Identifies behavioural and
technical skills which support an engineering process which reflects
these two key attributes and a training programme in these skills
outlined. Considers the structure of the training programme and
emphasizes the complementary nature of the behavioural and the technical
skills and their relationships. Includes a case study on the application
of engineering quality improvement programme methodologies in the design
of experiments.
Designing for profit
Authors: Mughal Hamid , Osborne Richard
Published: April 2007

For any company, the management of the new product development
process is critical to maintaining its market share and competitive
advantage. The consequences of designs which are incompatible with key
business processes of a company are more severe now than ever before.
Focuses on the importance of recognizing that the design process has
more to contribute to a manufacturing business than the technological
progress it helps to bring about. To this end, for some years now, the
principles of design for manufacture have been applied right across the
industry, but these have invariably concentrated on making the
manufacturing processes simpler, more consistent, user‐friendly and
cheaper to operate. This philosophy needs to be extended much further so
that the design process takes full account of the requirements of the
total supply chain to ensure maximum flexibility and responsiveness to
customer demands at a minimum total cost to the business.
Moving from continuous to discontinuous innovation in FMCG: a
re‐engineering perspective
Authors: Zairi Mohamed
Published: April 2007

Is innovation still a mystery as far as many organizations are
concerned? Or is it simply poorly understood and inadequately controlled
and managed? Although there is a massive database on innovation, and
ample reading sources on the subject, there is indication that
organizations in the 1990s are still wrestling with new product
development, quality, speed, timeliness and that consumer impact on the
whole is still very elusive. The problem is that what is desired by most
organizations is major discontinuities on a more frequent basis, but in
reality what is focused on is still the product and not the process
(i.e. the means by which innovation is delivered). Addresses the issue
by distinguishing between various types of innovations and by presenting
models of re‐engineering which can provide organizations with the
opportunity to generate discontinuities on a more frequent basis.
Provides some useful guidelines based on examples of best practice in
fast moving consumer goods.
Leading the way: women’s experiences as sports coaches
Authors: West Amanda , Green Eileen , Brackenridge Celia H. , Woodward Diana
Published: April 2007

Explores women’s under‐representation from sports coaching roles in general and from high status roles in particular. In‐depth interviews were carried out with 20 women who coached one of the following sports: cricket, gymnastics, netball, squash or swimming. A purposive sample ensured that the coaches reflected different levels of commitment to coaching. Witz’s model of occupational closure, used by her to analyse the medical profession, provided the basis for analysing the women’s experiences as coaches. Analysis of the interview data revealed that exclusionary and demarcationary strategies operated to limit women’s access to coaching roles. Such strategies included gendering the coaching role as a masculine role and closing access to networks of coaches. Women challenged such strategies through inclusionary and dual closure strategies by drawing on their coaching qualifications, their experiences as competitive athletes and the successes of the athletes whom they coached.
A population and economic overview of Cambria County, Pennsylvania following the 1977 Johnstown Flood
Authors: Spencer Jeffrey , Myer Rick
Published: April 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine the extent of monetary damage, the loss of life and the effect on employment caused by 1977 Johnstown Flood and their subsequent effects on population, unemployment rate, poverty rate, per capita income, median household income, and education in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Design/methodology/approach

Statistics from 1980, 1990 and 2000 were used to create an economic and population overview of Cambria County. Short‐term and long‐term effects of the 1977 flood were examined to uncover possible trends regarding population and economics. Revealed trends might aid communities in recovering following a natural disaster.

Findings

There have been continuous decreases in population following the 1977 Johnstown Flood and a drastic increase in the unemployment rate following the flood. These findings suggest that the loss of key employers following a major natural disaster may lead to long‐term losses in the overall population.

Research limitations/implications

These data relate to only Cambria County and may not relate to other areas. Implications suggest that following a similar natural disaster Crisis Counselors may aid community governments in rebuilding economic infrastructures and Career Counselors could assist displaced workers with retraining and job‐seeking.

Originality/value

This paper begins to explore the relationship between natural disasters and population changes.
Risk management: where banks fail
Authors: Dedman Richard , Robert‐Tissot Simon
Published: April 2007

Banks have more at stake than ever before through risk management. The authors, both London lawyers specialising in the financial services world, argue that technology has both made life easier and harder. But they stress that the same problems recur in every case of loss. They provide some examples, particularly from the world of derivatives, which underline how important it is to employ a systematic approach.
Risk aversion: the driver of the financial markets
Authors: Ben‐Ami Daniel
Published: April 2007

Daniel Ben‐Ami, author of Cowardly Capitalism: The Myth of the Global Financial Casino, argues that the popular view of the global financial markets as some sort of irresponsible and volatile casino is fundamentally wrong. He argues that the financial markets have been as susceptible as everywhere else in contemporary society to the idea that risks must be driven out. He argues that global financial markets are risk averse and that as a result companies focus on financial returns rather than their core abilities.
Goodbye to book value investing
Authors: Joyce Chuck , Gray Jack
Published: April 2007

The authors argue that book value accounting is now completely out of date. Citing examples based on the Campbell’s Soup company and AOL Time Warner they show how investors who are tied too closely to a simple value benchmark have missed out on the value rally in the markets. They advocate value‐based management.
Liabilities and how to account for them
Authors: Lennard Andrew
Published: April 2007

This is an extract from an exploratory essay on liabilities and how to account for them written by Andrew Lennard, Director of Operations at the Accounting Standards Board in London. It deals with the objective of financial statements and users’ needs in that context and then provides some overall conclusions.
Salary survey
Authors: Walters Robert
Published: April 2007

This survey shows how the market for senior management in the “balance sheet world” is evolving and changing.
ALM: educating the managers of the future
Authors: Byrne Jim
Published: April 2007

The author, whose company runs training courses for the UK Asset and Liability Management Association, explains the rationale behind the training and importance of creating informed professionals within the asset and liability management community.
Can I still be valuable … even if I do not know my applet from my router?
Authors: Norris Bob
Published: April 2007

Challenges the assumption that librarians, to remain useful, must master all the intricacies of new technology. Argues that the demand for esoteric info‐tech skills is a phase, not a transformation. Looks back at the integration of other technologies into society, to reinforce this argument. Contends that the future role of the librarian is in using their vision, common sense and research skills to harness the new technology to establish new services.
Benchmarking for Best Practices in Employee Development
Authors: Milonakis Stelios , Zairi Mohamed
Published: April 2007

Examines three market leaders, referred to as RST, XYZ and ABC, and
shows their understanding of the quest for quality and the management of
employee development. The evidence is that continuous improvement
practices are a tribute to the “West” in the face of the Japanese
challenge.
People management: where is the evidence of best practice? Part I
Authors: Hamzah A. , Zairi M.
Published: April 2007

As the first of a series of three papers looking at best practice in people management, reports on a comprehensive study which was carried out by benchmarking five organizations representing the fast‐moving consumer goods sector, and the service and retail services sectors, using a methodology based on an adaptation of the European Quality Award model. Benchmarks five winners of prestigious quality awards using secondary data derived from award submission documents. Makes use of various comparisons in order to derive best practices and also to discuss critical factors in the area of people management. Discusses the primary data analysis of the five organizations studied, representing Elida Gibbs Ltd, the Nationwide Building Society, Post Office Counters Ltd, Birds Eye Walls and Natwest Bank.
Evaluating an undergraduate unit using a focus group
Authors: Wall Ann L.
Published: April 2007

Describes a small research project designed to assess the contribution to this process of focus group research in the context of one undergraduate unit on a Business Studies Programme. Problems with the delivery of this unit prompted a request to the Centre for Business Education Research (a small research centre within the School of Business and Finance) by the unit leader for a review and, as a consequence, the establishment of a focus group. The process of setting up and running the focus group and an assessment of its potential contribution as a supplementary source of information about the quality of teaching, learning and assessment in higher education represents the core of the paper. There were compelling reasons for choosing a focus group methodology and the results tend to confirm the validity of this choice. Nevertheless, a number of issues surfaced during the research.
Development and assessment of effective teaching: an integrative model for implementation in schools of business administration
Authors: Howard Finch J. , Helms Marilyn M. , Ettkin Lawrence P.
Published: April 2007

Schools of business administration have experienced a return to the importance of teaching effectiveness as external competitors are vying for declining student populations. To better assess teaching skills and offer suggestions for improvement areas, outlines the role of the key groups involved in assessment of faculty teaching and proposes an integrated development model for implementation.
Censorship on the Information Highway
Authors: Ebbs Geoffrey , Rheingold Howard
Published: April 2007

Provides summaries of the arguments of two contributors to The
Australian debating the case for and against censorship on the Internet
network.
Improving security in computational electronic mail systems
Authors: Foo Schubert , Chor Leong Peng , Nam Sng Yee
Published: April 2007

Posits that computational electronic mail is essentially traditional electronic mail messages with embedded programs or interpretable scripts. States, at the recipient’s end, the mail reading software will distinguish it from normal mail, and executes it on confirmation by the recipient, and if appropriate, output from the program can be channelled back to the sender automatically for further processing. Shows that, despite its potential for many applications, it has not however, taken off in a big way. Major reasons stem from security concerns among users. Examines security issues associated with computational electronic mail systems and suggests some techniques and approaches for improving the security of such systems.
Workplace learning: a concept in off‐campus teaching
Authors: Rose Emma , McKee Willie , Temple Bryan K. , Harrison David K. , Kirkwood D.
Published: April 2007

This paper delineates workplace and work based learning before going on to discuss in detail the application of workplace learning, based on experience gained from a number of case studies. The rationale, operational aspects and quality assurance requirements are described, before attention is turned to delivery methods, project management and financial considerations. The paper identifies the problems and opportunities associated with adopting this form of academic delivery for an existing university programme, and provides suggestions for likely future development.
Structural profiles of China’s library and information systems
Authors: Yitai Gong
Published: April 2007

The Library System of China and the Information System of China are the two systems of information organisations in China. This paper discusses the types of information agencies in each, focusing on structural characteristics, and governing regulations and especially on programmes and activities. Included in the discussion are such topics as publications, cooperative undertakings, new services and evaluation procedures.
The effects of alternative price promotional methods on consumers’ product evaluations and purchase intentions
Authors: Lauren Munger Jeanne , Grewal Dhruv
Published: April 2007

This research examines the effects of bundling format (partially‐bundled attributes vs. unbundled attributes) and framing of promotional discounts (rebate, discount and free‐options) on perceived quality, price acceptability, perceived value and subsequent purchase intentions. The results indicate that price reductions that are framed as providing “free” product options are perceived more favorably than conventional discounts which, in turn, are more favorable than rebates, holding the total amount of a price reduction constant. The results also suggest that unbundling of deals (or segregation of gains) enhances these perceptions.