bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The performance measurement of public libraries in Japan and the UK
Authors: Parker Sandra
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To present the results of a study of the public library system in Japan and contrast it with that of the UK and the other G8 countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Makes comparisons under the headings: libraries per head of population; library use; reference and enquiry services; funding; social capital and social inclusion.

Findings

Performance measurement is by its nature culturally dependent, with societies measuring what is important to them at any one time. Social cohesion and inclusion issues are not the same in Japan as in the UK; therefore the services needed from the public library systems are different. The statistics prove that Japan has the busiest public libraries of the G8 countries, but far fewer of them. It is a very densely populated country, with more than 50 per cent of the population concentrated in only 2 per cent of the land mass. Book borrowing in the UK overall is much higher than in other G8 countries, but has fallen in recent years. The culture of public library management is very different in Japan from that of the UK and each has many lessons to learn from the other.

Originality/value

Because of the differences in the two cultures, public libraries fulfil differing needs. Thus the systems used to measure and improve performance will differ. As measuring performance informs strategic development, both countries need to be aware of the wider issues and have much to learn from each other.
Building on sand?
Authors: Conyers Angela
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper sets out to consider the importance of statistical measures for any study of the impact of electronic services and to describe how relevant statistics can be collected and analysed.

Design/methodology/approach

It is based on the results of two complementary research projects at evidence base, the first, the e‐measures project, working with UK higher education libraries on establishing a set of national and local measures for electronic services, and the second, a study and analysis of usage statistics for four publisher deals within the NESLi2 initiative.

Findings

The e‐measures project has demonstrated some of the issues involved in the collection of reliable usage statistics, while the NESLi2 study has developed a framework for analysis which can be applied more widely. The successful introduction of COUNTER compliance has created a more reliable statistical basis for this analysis.

Research limitations/implications

The NESLi2 study covered only a limited time period (January 2003‐June 2004) and its findings remain confidential. The study is now being extended to cover the whole of 2004 and it is hoped that agreement will then be obtained to publish some of the major findings.

Practical implications

The NESLi2 report contains a number of recommendations that are designed to help higher education libraries with the management and analysis of statistical measures. These, and other initiatives, are discussed.

Originality/value

The paper is of interest particularly to higher education libraries that wish to gain a more accurate picture of their use of electronic services. The methods of analysis described will also be relevant to other types of library.
Giving way to Google
Authors: Gorman G.E.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to look into why there is an increasing number of library clients that are deserting their traditional knowledge store for something that is much more user‐friendly – Google.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on the author's own knowledge and expertise.

Findings

Opines that there is no contest in the head‐to‐head battle for information services supremacy and that Google Scholar, with its information “now” and “fast” beats others hands down.

Originality/value

This paper will be of interest to researchers and academics and those in the information field.
E‐business and small Ghanaian exporters
Authors: Hinson Robert , Sorensen Olav
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The digital divide is supposed to place disadvantaged economies like Ghana in a position where using information and communication technology for development might not be an immediate reality. The purpose of this current study is to argue that the adoption of e‐business practices has benefit for small Ghanaian exporters' organizational improvement, and begin a first‐level investigation in that regard.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was exploratory and focused on a sample of active, non‐traditional exporters in Accra. This sample represented the best typology of small export firms in Ghana that had been regular exporters from 2000‐2004. In all, 60 firms responded to questionnaires on e‐business and exporting. Analysis of the data was mainly by means of descriptive statistics.

Findings

One‐way ANOVA analysis revealed that the export firm internationalization (measured by export intensity) has no bearing on the level of e‐business involvement or perceptions of the strategic value of e‐business. However, export firms who were more involved in e‐business had a higher perception of the usefulness of e‐business to their export operation. One‐way ANOVA analysis also revealed that for the export firms involved in some e‐business activity, the more internationalized they were, the more importance they attached to e‐business as providing some sort of organizational improvement leverage.

Practical implications

Given the exploratory nature of this study, more research is needed to study internal and external barriers to e‐business adoption by these firms, as well as the relationship between e‐business adoption and performance.

Originality/value

One of the first e‐business studies focusing on export firms on the disadvantaged end of the digital divide.
The impact of metadata in web resources discovering
Authors: Mohamed Khaled A.F.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To explore the impact of using metadata in finding and ranking web pages through search engines.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has been divided into two phases. In phase one, the use of metadata schemes and the impact of overlapped documents have been examined by employing the usability technique. Phase two examined the impact of adding metadata elements to web pages in their original rank order, using the experimental method. This study focuses on indexing web pages using metadata and its impact on search engine's rankings.

Findings

Meta tags are more widely used than Dublin Core. The overlapped pages tend to include metadata. The second phase shows that by adding metadata elements to web pages, it raises its rank order. However, this depends on the quality of the description and the metadata schemes. The study shows no great difference in page ranking between adding meta tags and Dublin Core.

Practical implications

To maximize the impact of metadata, more attention should be given to keyword and descriptive fields.

Originality/value

The hypothetical relationship between overlapped pages and the inclusion of metadata and indexing by search engines had not been previously examined.
An approach to the quality and reusability of metadata specifications for e‐learning objects
Authors: Plodzien Jacek , Stemposz Ewa , Stasiecka Alina
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss research that leads to identifying new metadata for learning objects and extending the SCORM standard.

Design/methodology/approach

The research involves a questionnaire to collect data from users of e‐learning resources and a statistical analysis of that data. The discussion employs concepts from such areas as e‐learning, didactics, and statistics.

Findings

The main finding is the identification of several learning objects metadata, including those that are not defined in current e‐learning standards. Some of the new metadata could be introduced to the existing standard metadata categories; the others could be used to form completely new categories.

Research limitations/implications

The general solution has been developed but more work is still necessary.

Practical implications

The ideas discussed in the paper, especially the identified metadata, could be used to extend the standard metadata (e.g. in the SCORM standard).

Originality/value

The paper presents both a method for identifying learning objects metadata and conclusions that, after further development, could be applied to extend the metadata parts of e‐learning standards. Both new categories and modification to some existing ones could offer additional support for users who need to choose a suitable resource.
Gathering meta‐data and instances from object referral lists on the web
Authors: Vadrevu Srinivas , Gelgi Fatih , Nagarajan Saravanakumar , Davulcu Hasan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to automatically separate and extract meta‐data and instance information from various link pages in the web, by utilizing presentation and linkage regularities on the web.

Design/methodology/approach

Research objectives have been achieved through an information extraction system called semantic partitioner that automatically organizes the content in each web page into a hierarchical structure, and an algorithm that interprets and translates these hierarchical structures into logical statements by distinguishing and representing the meta‐data and their individual data instances.

Findings

Experimental results for the university domain with 12 computer science department web sites, comprising 361 individual faculty and course home pages indicate that the performance of the meta‐data and instance extraction averages 85, 88 percent F‐measure, respectively. Our METEOR system achieves this performance without any domain specific engineering requirement.

Originality/value

Important contributions of the METEOR system presented in this paper are: it performs extraction without the assumption that the object instance pages are template‐driven; it is domain independent and does not require any previously engineered domain ontology; and by interpreting the link pages, it can extract both meta‐data, such as concept and attribute names and their relationships, as well as their instances with high accuracy.
Intellectual capital: disentangling an enigmatic concept
Authors: Swart Juani
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to review current literature on intellectual capital and its second‐tier sub‐components with a view to developing an improved research framework and a foundation for measures.

Design/methodology/approach

Refereed journal articles were selected from social sciences citations index (SSCI) and business source premier with a time limit of ten years.

Findings

Clear definitions are developed for each sub‐component of intellectual capital. This was done after identifying, for each sub‐component, the dimensions along which current definitions and research differ. A research framework is developed, which emphasizes the interaction between sub‐components of intellectual capital.

Originality/value

The paper provides a clear integrated framework and measures of forms of intellectual capital to guide and inform future research.
The relation between intellectual capital and intangible assets of pharmaceutical companies
Authors: Boekestein Bram
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to assess the visibility of intangible assets on the balance‐sheet of pharmaceutical companies. Further, how these assets overlap with intellectual capital and whether a relation can be established between intangible assets and company performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Intangible assets reporting practices of a group of 52 globally operating pharmaceutical companies are analysed. These assets are related to intellectual capital definitions and company performance.

Findings

Results indicate that the majority of companies are specifying intangible assets and that a considerable overlap occurs with intellectual capital. Intangible assets may constitute substantially to the companies' assets. However, clear relations of intangible assets with company performance could not be established.

Practical implications

Imperfections in the reporting of intangible assets are observed. These are the non‐uniformity of generally agreed accounting principles and practice around the world, the specification of goodwill and the position of R&D. A number of proposals are put forward to improve the visibility of intangible assets and to bring these in line with intellectual capital definitions.

Originality/value

The value of the paper can be found in the approach to fulfil the ideal of intellectual capital valuation through the more practical way of intangible asset specification on the balance‐sheet. For the group of companies studied, this paper assesses the situation in 2003 and the way ahead to further improvement.
The voluntary reporting of intellectual capital
Authors: Guthrie James , Petty Richard , Ricceri Federica
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the voluntary reporting of intellectual capital (IC) by listed companies in Australia and Hong Kong and to evaluate size, industry and time effects on IC disclosure levels.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is an empirical one conducted in two stages. Stage one is an exploratory study of voluntary IC disclosure for the 20 largest listed Australian companies in 1998. Stage two, using 2002 data, examines voluntary disclosure of IC attributes for 50 listed entities in Australia and 100 in Hong Kong. Content analysis is used to collect data.

Findings

Levels of voluntary IC disclosure are found to be low and in qualitative rather than quantitative form in both locations. Disclosure level is positively related to company size, a finding that is consistent with the previous literature on voluntary reporting.

Research limitations/implications

External validity may be compromised somewhat by the relatively small sample size. Managers are not observed in the process of making decisions, so management intent is inferred.

Practical implications

Documenting variations in types of reporting and in reporting frequency enables a greater understanding of why some companies voluntarily report whilst others do not. Such an understanding holds the potential to guide policy‐makers, creditors and investors in giving prescriptions to firms over whom they have control or with whom they have dealings.

Originality/value

This study is the first to comparatively examine the voluntary reporting of IC in a longitudinal setting using Australasian data.
The 1st World Conference on Intellectual Capital for Communities in the Knowledge Economy
Authors: Chatzkel Jay
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to discuss issues raised at The 1st World Conference on Intellectual Capital for Communities in the Knowledge Economy: Nations, Regions and Cities, which took place in Paris, June 20, 2005.

Design/methodology/approach

The conference was structured into four sessions: intellectual capital and the knowledge economy; intellectual capital for nations; intellectual capital for regions; and looking at the future.

Findings

Finds that there is a gap that must be addressed. There are very few actual case studies that articulate how a knowledge economy is nurtured and operates on a regional and local basis.

Originality/value

This article is based on the first conference, which was a remarkable convocation and springboard event and will be of interest to those in the field of intellectual capital.
High performance facility synchronization
Authors: Mirrielees Bruce F.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

A research‐based overview of high performance facility synchronization (HPFS), this paper aims to help facility managers understand trends and performance criteria as well as the financial and qualitative benefits that can result from implementing HPFS within their facilities.

Design/methodology/approach

To derive the statistical findings in this paper, empirical data were used. This data were compiled based on typical industry data for costs as well as observation of actual client findings.

Findings

By gaining improved performance capability, flexibility, and tax benefits, facilities that implement HPFS can achieve long‐term quantitative improvements. In addition, substantial qualitative improvements – from air quality to lighting – can also result.

Research limitations/implications

Data inputs used in the calculations such as costs, room sizes and other factors are based on a typical US‐based facility and may differ for other markets.

Practical implications

This paper will be of use for those considering HPFS who have little exposure to the concept and/or who were not certain what benefits can be achieved by implementing it within their facilities.

Originality/value

With its in‐depth look at HPFS, this paper will be useful for anyone wishing to understand the concept and the financial justification for deploying it within their facility.
Effect of R&D investments on persistence of abnormal earnings
Authors: Asthana Sharad C. , Zhang Yinqi
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper sets out to test the effects of firms’ and industry's R&D intensity on persistence of abnormal earnings.

Design/methodology/approach

Ohlson's valuation model is used with pooled regressions along with Fama–Macbeth methodology on yearly regressions and partitioning on Herfindahl index to conduct the tests.

Findings

It was found that firms’ and industries’ R&D intensities are both positively correlated with persistence of abnormal earnings. The evidence suggests that the positive effect on earnings persistence caused by R&D's effectiveness in mitigating competition dominates the negative effect brought by more risk from R&D projects

Practical implications

The fact that the firm's own R&D investment leads to incremental earnings persistence beyond that of the industry suggests the importance of incorporating both industry and firm's R&D intensity in earnings persistence. While industry R&D investment leads to competition mitigation via creation of entry barriers, a firm's own investment in R&D differentiates its products from those of its competitors, and thereby results in further competition mitigation by creating replacement barriers.

Originality/value

Finally, since R&D intensity is correlated with earnings persistence, inclusion of R&D intensity in future earnings persistence studies may lead to better model specification by reducing the problem of correlated omitted variables.
The motivation to care
Authors: Moody Roseanne C. , Pesut Daniel J.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to describe a model of nurses' work motivation relevant to the human caring stance of professional nursing work.

Design/methodology/approach

The model was derived from selected theories of behavioral motivation and work motivation. Evidence‐based theory addressing nurses' work motivation and nurses' motivational states and traits in relation to characteristics of organizational culture and patient health outcomes is suggested in an effort to make a distinct contribution to health services research. An integrated review of selected theories of motivation is presented, including conceptual analyses, theory‐building techniques, and the evidence supporting the theoretical propositions and linkages among variables intrinsic to nurses' work motivation.

Findings

The model of the Motivation to Care for Professional Nursing Work is a framework intended for empirical testing and theory building. The model proposes specific leadership and management strategies to support a culture of motivational caring and competence in health care organizations.

Originality/value

Attention to motivation theory and research provides insights and suggests relationships among nurses' motivation to care, motivational states and traits, individual differences that influence nurses' work motivation, and the special effects of nurses' work motivation on patient care outcomes. Suggestions for nursing administrative direction and research are proposed.
Decentralising the NHS: rhetoric, reality and paradox
Authors: Goddard Maria , Mannion Russell
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the issues of decentralisation in the NHS.

Design/methodology/approach

Evidence was gathered from an empirical study in order to illustrate the effect of policy reform on relationships at both the central and the local level. In this paper issues were examined in the context of two reforms at the heart of the decentralisation agenda in the English NHS: earned autonomy and the introduction of foundation hospitals.

Findings

Past and current policy in the NHS reflects elements of both centralisation and decentralisation. The tension created by such opposing forces has an impact not only on inter‐organisational partnership working but also on the balance of power within local health economies.

Originality/value

Attempts to control the NHS exhibit unresolved contradictions and tensions. This research showed that the challenge for policymakers, managers and clinicians is to manage such tensions.
Predicting future healthcare costs: how well does risk‐adjustment work?
Authors: Cucciare Michael A. , O'Donohue William
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Risk‐adjustment is designed to predict healthcare costs to align capitated payments with an individual's expected healthcare costs. This can have the consequence of reducing overpayments and incentives to under treat or reject high cost individuals. This paper seeks to review recent studies presenting risk‐adjustment models.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a brief discussion of two commonly reported statistics used for evaluating the accuracy of risk adjustment models and concludes with recommendations for increasing the predictive accuracy and usefulness of risk‐adjustment models in the context of predicting future healthcare costs.

Findings

Over the last decade, many advances in risk‐adjustment methodology have been made. There has been a focus on the part of researchers to transition away from including only demographic data in their risk‐adjustment models to incorporating patient data that are more predictive of healthcare costs. This transition has resulted in more accurate risk‐adjustment models and models that can better identify high cost patients with chronic medical conditions.

Originality/value

The paper shows that the transition has resulted in more accurate risk‐adjustment models and models that can better identify high cost patients with chronic medical conditions.
Home care outsourcing strategy
Authors: Drake Paul R. , Davies Bethan M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to help public sector managers that are formulating strategies for outsourcing home care from the independent sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A review was performed of relevant literature on the outsourcing of home care and its political drivers in the UK. This indicates that the future of home care services, taking into consideration outsourcing and how Best Value will be achieved, has not been researched widely. Therefore, an exploratory approach to research was adopted here using in‐depth analysis of a small number of particularly informative local authorities and private providers selected by purposive/judgemental (extreme and critical case) sampling. Personal contact was deemed necessary in order to perform an intensive investigation to pursue in‐depth information.

Findings

The British Government's Best Value regime is driving local authorities towards increasing levels of outsourcing in the provision of home care. A local authority may choose to outsource all of its home care or maintain some in‐house provision based on capacity or capabilities that are complementary to those provided by the independent sector. The 100 per cent outsourcing strategy places enabling demands on the local authority, whereas the alternative strategy requires decisions to be made on what should be outsourced. Across the authorities surveyed, six strategies for creating a mixed economy of care have been identified, with the mix being based on complementary capacity and/or capabilities. With Best Value driving authorities to consider lower‐cost options, the outcome may be a reduction in the amount of complementary capacity provided in‐house, in favour of strategies involving complementary capabilities that deliver the Best Value possible. Re‐enablement is emerging as a common, complementary or core capability that is remaining in‐house. Outsourcing also requires decisions to be made on the number of independent providers to be used and the type of contracts to be employed. This paper considers the decisions that have been made in the local authorities surveyed and critiques the alternative home care outsourcing strategies so derived.

Research limitations/implications

To date, the research has focused on Wales in general plus a few local authorities in England. The next stage will be to survey England in more detail along with other countries that are implementing substantial outsourcing of home care, such as Canada.

Practical implications

This paper provides timely guidance to public sector and health care managers seeking Best Value in home care through outsourcing.

Originality/value

Little has been found in the literature on strategies for outsourcing home care, yet such strategies are needed urgently in the UK to achieve Best Value. The World Health Organization stresses that strategies should be drawn up for providing support to patients and carers at community level in order to avoid costly institutional care.
Hospital organization culture, capacity to innovate and success in technology adoption
Authors: do Carmo Caccia‐Bava Maria , Guimaraes Tor , Harrington Susan J.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Absorptive capacity has been defined as an organization's ability to recognize the value of new information, assimilate it, and apply it to productive ends. This study aims to examine the type of organization culture that influences the capacity of hospital organizations to innovate by absorbing new technology and the importance of this absorptive capacity in information technology (IT) implementation success.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on previous research, this study proposes a measure of absorptive capacity that includes managerial IT knowledge and communication channels and tests its relationship to the level of success implementing new systems. A sample of 192 hospital administrators shared their opinions about their organizations culture, ability to absorb new technology, and the extent to which their latest IT implementation operational for at least one year has been a success.

Findings

The results show the importance of organization culture as an important factor in developing absorptive capacity, and the latter's influence in the implementation of new technologies.

Originality/value

The study provides insights into the types of activities that management should undertake in order to enhance absorptive hospital capacity.
Safety and complexity
Authors: Waring J. , McDonald R. , Harrison S.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Current thinking about “patient safety” emphasises the causal relationship between the work environment and the delivery of clinical care. This research draws on the theory of normal accidents to extend this analysis and better understand the “organisational factors” that threaten safety.

Design/methodology/approach

Ethnographic research methods were used, with observations of the operating department setting for 18 month and interviews with 80 members of hospital staff. The setting for the study was the Operating Department of a large teaching hospital in the North‐West of England.

Findings

The work of the operating department is determined by inter‐dependant, “tightly coupled” organisational relationships between hospital departments based upon the timely exchange of information, services and resources required for the delivery of care. Failures within these processes, manifest as “breakdowns” within inter‐departmental relationships lead to situations of constraint, rapid change and uncertainty in the work of the operating department that require staff to break with established routines and work with increased time and emotional pressures. This means that staff focus on working quickly, as opposed to working safely.

Originality value

Analysis of safety needs to move beyond a focus on the immediate work environment and individual practice, to consider the more complex and deeply structured organisational systems of hospital activity. For departmental managers the scope for service planning to control for safety may be limited as the structured “real world” situation of service delivery is shaped by inter‐department and organisational factors that are perhaps beyond the scope of departmental management.
Paediatric surgery fluid management audit (January‐June 2004), John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
Authors: Hall T. , Lakhoo K.K.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To ensure that paediatric surgery patients receive appropriate intravenous fluids post‐operatively.

Design/methodology/approach

Retrospective case‐series study of paediatric patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, comparing fluids received with a target regimen and noting the effect on urine output and serum sodium.

Findings

Patients in the study received larger amounts of fluid than the target regimen. Urine outputs were normal to high. Post‐operative sodium levels were normal in all patients.

Originality/value

Paediatric surgery fluid management is an ongoing and important subject for debate. Audit can help improve implementation of accepted fluid management protocols. Interdepartmental seminars, a national survey of practice, and revision of fluid management protocols have resulted from this survey.
Water demand management in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Magiera Philipp , Taha Suzan , Nolte Lothar
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide an overview of current trends and developments in water demand management (WDM) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted based on a questionnaire, approaching members of the German Technical Cooperation network in the Mediterranean and the EMWIS internet platform. Survey results were compiled, analysed, and compared, tabular data was compiled and visualised.

Findings

Paper summarises main trends and issues related to water consumption, water pricing, water awareness, and water efficiency in the MENA, and derives changes compared to an earlier study. WDM efforts now focus more on drinking water supply than irrigation, the breadth of efforts has increased in the recent past.

Research limitations/implications

No information for Israel and Lebanon could be provided. It is recommended to repeat this kind of research in, i.e. five year intervals to be able to track the further development of WDM in this water scarce region.

Practical implications

Very useful primer for WDM in the region, summarising current trends, facts and figures. Deduces fields of action for policy makers, development agencies and NGOs active in WDM in the region.

Originality/value

Most recent overview on the topic available. Provides benchmarks for decision makers in the countries covered, encourages regional dialogue on best practices in WDM.
Toxicity of heavy metals to duckweed‐based wastewater treatment ponds with different depth
Authors: El‐Shafai Saber A. , Nasr Fayza A. , El‐Gohary Fatma A. , van der Steen N. Peter , Gijzen Huub J.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the bioaccumulation pattern and fate of heavy metals in duckweed‐based wastewater treatment ponds with different depth.

Design/methodology/approach

Three replicates of four reactors were used in this experiment. The reactors were randomly distributed on the bench and filled with 50 percent diluted sewage for the control reactors whereas diluted sewage mixed with 5 mg Pb/l and 5 mg Zn/l was used for the treatment reactors. The reactors were stocked with Lemna gibba at 1,000 g fresh weight per each square meter. The culture tanks were exposed to temperature range of 21‐25°C and light regime of 16 hours light using halogen lamps and 8 hours dark. The light intensity was maintained around 200 μ E m−2 S−1. The experiment extended for 30 days. Regular monitoring of the growth performance of duckweed was carried out with subsequent analysis of dry matter, heavy metals, phosphorous and nitrogen content. Composite samples from the water phase were subjected to the analysis of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate and sulfate concentration. The analysis of sediment and biofilm were carried out at the end of the experiment. Interpretation of results was carried out using one‐way analysis of variance.

Findings

Statistical analysis showed a significant reduction in the growth rate of duckweed within the first five days exposure time. After five days exposure, the growth rate in the treatments returned to the normal growth till day 15 after which the growth became significantly lower in the small and medium scale ponds. The results revealed that zinc is more bio‐available than lead and both metals are mostly precipitated in the sediment probably as sulfides.

Practical implications

The results help in enhancement of heavy metals removal in a small anaerobic pretreatment unit before entering to the pond system by sulfate addition.

Originality/value

The results of the study confirm the positive effect of pond depth in reducing the heavy metal toxicity to the duckweed‐based wastewater treatment ponds.
Implementation of dust control system using management and planning tools (MPT)
Authors: Ahmad Rosmaini , Kamaruddin Shahrul , Khan Zahid A. , Mokthar Mohzani , Putra Almanar Indra
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To introduce a research carried out in a real world for implementing a dust control system (DCS) for controlling the indoor air quality (IAP) on the production floor of one of the major electronics company in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is arranged as follows, a brief description of the significant of DCS in electronic industry and brief introduction to the electronic company as a case study company for introducing the DCS. The discussion on the characteristics management and planning tools (MPTs) that have been adopted as the analysing tools for assisting in the decision‐making process in identifying the problems and improvement strategies. It follows by the detail analysis phase regarding the implementation process that it as backbone for introducing the DCS. Finally a discussion about the result obtained from the MPT analysis on the techniques for identifying the root causes of the dust pollution problem as well as the best improvement strategies that can be adopted by the case study company.

Findings

Three analysis techniques from MPT have been used; there are relation diagram, tree diagram and prioritization matrices analyses. These techniques are very powerful for analysing the specific problem using verbal data. The outputs (results) from these techniques have been used as the solutions to the dust pollution problem. As a result, the implementations of DCS successfully reduce the dust level and stabilise the dust distribution on the production floor.

Practical implications

This paper offer a systematic way in identifying and controlling the IAP in industry.

Originality/value

This paper introduces very useful methods in decision making for identifying the solutions for environmental problem and implementation of DCS in a real world environment.
Which future urban scenarios can we construct?
Authors: Dischinger Marta , Marçal Jackson José
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To discuss and analyze models of urban design practice based on the examination of an accessibility project developed in Florianópolis, a medium‐sized capital city in the South of Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes a design process of a new problem – how to improve access to public urban spaces for excluded groups, such as visually impaired citizens – and examines its development, successes and failures and the relationships between its participants. A reflective analysis is done in order to reach a relational comprehension of the economic, social and political factors involved.

Findings

Critical examination of the project revealed three important aspects. The first is that at all stages it is fundamental to create channels of communication that give a voice to users. The second is that technical knowledge is not neutral, and incorporating multiple views can bring innovative technical solutions and also the external support that is necessary to solve complex problems. Third, the fragility of public institutions and the weakening of state services caused by neo‐liberal policies is a key determinant for the success of urban design processes.

Originality/value

The analytical effort needed to extend the boundaries beyond our own actions as architects (in a conflicting urban design project), demonstrated the importance of producing knowledge based on a reflective attitude towards practice.
Incorporating environmental concern in product development
Authors: Johansson Glenn
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The paper aims at providing empirically‐based insights into product development when environmental performance requirements are addressed. The purpose is to investigate characteristics of product development projects when environmental performance requirements are considered.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was carried out as in‐depth case studies of two commercial product development projects. Data was primarily collected via open‐ended semi‐structured interviews. Other sources of data include written project material, such as minutes from meetings, project and product specifications, company‐internal education material, etc. A few project meetings were also attended.

Findings

The paper indicates that the characteristics of product development projects differ when environmental performance requirements are considered. On the basis of the identified differences a two‐dimensional model is suggested. It contains the dimensions “level of ecodesign experience” and “environmental complexity”. The model outlines a tentative contingency framework that can be used for positioning different organisations concerning their level of experience in ecodesign and the challenges they face concerning complexity in the interrelationships between the products and the environment.

Practical implications

The findings presented in the paper provide some insights into the characteristics of projects carried out in organisations in which the “level of ecodesign experience” and “environmental complexity” differ. Aspects related to the two dimensions represented in the model are discussed in the paper. This should support companies to be better prepared for managing the challenges associated with the incorporation of environmental performance requirements into product development projects.

Originality/value

Although different issues have been addressed in earlier ecodesign research, one problem is that ecodesign research often addresses the environmental impacts exclusively, whereas other aspects of product development are omitted or only briefly discussed. Taking the starting point in a number of elements that have been outlined in the literature as representing vital areas of concern in product development, this paper contributes to the understanding of how development organisations consider environmental performance requirements in the product development projects.
Application of biotechnology in waste management for sustainable development
Authors: Englande A.J. , Jin Guang
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper covers a perspective as related to sustainable development of natural resources with a focus on application of biotechnology in waste management.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents an overall view of industrial waste management practices as pertaining to substantiality of resources with emphasis on biodegradation of industrial pollutants. Methodologies employing biotechnology and striving towards the goal of sustainable development/production are discussed in this regard and particular attention is given to: regulatory consideration and trends; characterization of toxics for resource reuse; ecotoxicological assessment evaluations; treatment trends and innovative techniques, residual management.

Findings

Biotechnology is an important component needed to successfully achieve the goal of sustainability. “Value‐added” products from by‐products/waste and novel technologies employing biotechnical principles represent areas where significant opportunities exist.

Practical implications

The approach described here not only applies to water resource management but also includes multi‐media and multi‐disciplinary consideration.

Originality/value

The information presented herein hopefully will stimulate discussion and act as a catalyst for future direction. It perhaps may also serve as a point of reference for future evaluations of accomplishment.
The use of the LCA polygon framework in waste management
Authors: Georgakellos Dimitrios A.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Recycling of non‐renewable resources serves both in reducing the consumption of virgin supplies and the discharge of associated residuals back into the natural environment. On the other hand, recycling has been criticized because of its environmental impacts. The aim of the present paper is to identify and quantify the environmental effect of recycling of a glass bottle.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, the life cycle assessment polygon framework is being used. This framework has been developed for evaluating the results of a life cycle inventory analysis using critical volume aggregation and polygon‐based interpretation.

Findings

Recycling strategies can, in most cases, reduce the total environmental burden of the glass container examined. However, this reduction may considerably vary in relation to each “ecological parameter” (consumption of energy, consumption of water, air emissions, waterborne waste and solid waste), depending mainly on the “recycling mix” (the percentage of recycled material used in production and the percentage of product waste that goes for recycling).

Research limitations/implications

The extent to which these findings could be generalized to other materials and products could be confirmed by more applications of the framework.

Practical implications

This paper may help in developing recycling strategies.

Originality/value

A conceptual framework for the environmental evaluation of recycling, considering, not only general recycling targets, but also the particular interests or conditions that may exist, is introduced.
Can the student‐t distribution provide accurate value at risk?
Authors: Lin Chu‐Hsiung , Shen Shan‐Shan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how effectively the value at risk (VaR) estimated using the student‐t distribution captures the market risk.

Design/methodology/approach

Two alternative VaR models, VaR‐t and VaR‐x models, are presented and compared with the benchmark model (VaR‐n model). In this study, we consider the Student‐t distribution as a fit to the empirical distribution for estimating the VaR measure, namely, VaR‐t method. Since the Student‐t distribution is criticized for its inability to capture the asymmetry of distribution of asset returns, we use the extreme value theory (EVT)‐based model, VaR‐x model, to take into account the asymmetry of distribution of asset returns. In addition, two different approaches, excess‐kurtosis and tail‐index techniques, for determining the degrees of freedom of the Student‐t distribution in VaR estimation are introduced.

Findings

The main finding of the study is that using the student‐t distribution for estimating VaR can improve the VaR estimation and offer accurate VaR estimates, particularly when tail index technique is used to determine the degrees of freedom and the confidence level exceeds 98.5 percent.

Originality/value

The main value is to demonstrate in detail how well the student‐t distribution behaves in estimating VaR measure for stock market index. Moreover, this study illustrates the easy process for determining the degrees of freedom of the student‐t, which is required in VaR estimation.
Best execution compliance automation: towards an equities compliance workstation
Authors: Mainelli Michael , Yeandle Mark
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Forthcoming requirements in MiFID and RegNMS mean that buy‐side and sell‐side firms need to find ways of showing regulators that they are sifting through their trading volumes in a justifiable, methodical manner looking for anomalous trades and investigating them, in order to prove “best execution”. The objective was to see if a SVM/DAPR approach could help identify equity trade anomalies for compliance investigation.

Design/methodology/approach

A major stock exchange, a computer systems supplier, four brokers and a statistical firm undertook a cooperative research project to determine whether automated statistical processing of trade and order information could provide a tighter focus on the most likely trades for best execution compliance investigation.

Findings

The support vector machine approach worked on UK equities and has significant potential for other markets such as foreign exchange, fixed income and commodities.

Research limitations/implications

The research has implications for risk professionals as a generic approach to trading anomaly detection. The prototype compliance workstation can be trialed.

Originality/value

Automated anomaly detection could transform the role of compliance and risk in financial institutions.
Developing an SME based six sigma strategy
Authors: Thomas Andrew , Barton Richard
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The effective implementation of the six sigma strategy within UK manufacturing industries, in particular SMEs, can be considered to be poor. SMEs cite high costs and complexity of implementation as being the major limiting factors as to its widespread use. This paper aims to describe the application of six sigma in an SME and to show how the company applied a cost‐effective six sigma methodology to eradicate a critical to quality (CTQ) issue. The paper seeks to conclude by developing a strategic framework for the widespread use of six sigma in SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies the six sigma strategy in an SME in order to eradicate a major CTQ issue. It identifies the approach employed, the tools and techniques used and shows the savings that were made through the structured application of the DMAIC procedure, which is at the heart of the six sigma approach.

Findings

Through the correct application of experimental design approaches, this paper identifies the optimum parameter settings that enabled the company to eradicate the CTQ issue and achieve significant improvements in quality and cost from a modest financial outlay.

Research limitations/implications

The design and implementation of an SME‐specific six sigma strategy and its application to a real engineering problem will enable companies to apply the techniques and to attain improvements in terms of cost and quality.

Originality/value

The application of the six sigma strategy and the resulting conclusions as to its effectiveness for industry are the real value of this paper. This paper will be valuable for quality professionals, design engineers and manufacturing specialists in a wide range of industries.