bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internal supply chain management in the Chilean sawmill industry
Authors: Singer Marcos , Donoso Patricio
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The existing business paradigm in the sawmill industry is that improvements are achieved by enhancements at each individual sawmilling plant. The authors investigate a collaborative approach, and propose a model for optimizing production and inventory planning decisions within a system of plants.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology models the sawmill production process in terms of two transformation stages and two inventory stages. The authors then extend the model to account for supply chain decisions consisting of timber transfers among plants. They apply the model at 11 Chilean sawmills to evaluate whether they can benefit from operating in a more integrated manner.

Findings

The authors find an opportunity to increase profits by more than 15 percent through a higher utilization of the capacity and a better assignment of production orders.

Research limitations/implications

The study neglects the possibility of exchanging raw material among plants. Also, the findings are derived from a computational simulation, so are estimates, not actual observations.

Practical implications

The study challenged the business paradigm of the company the authors performed the study for. Now, it is implementing the suggested improvements.

Originality/value

An investigation into how a number of sawmilling companies working together can profit from their distinctive competitive advantages, and which proved successful in challenging one company's business paradigms.
Developments in real‐time control with EtherNet/IP
Authors: Piggin R.S.H.
Published: April 2007

Purpose

Ethernet continues to evolve as a viable fieldbus technology for industrial automation. This paper seeks to discuss the development of the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) for Ethernet and standards with particular reference to time synchronisation, real time motion control and safety.

Design/methodology/approach

The CIP is introduced, with an overview of four network adaptations: CompoNet, DeviceNet, ControlNet, and EtherNet/IP. Developments in the EtherNet/IP implementation are discussed, along with key features. These include CIP Safety to meet the requirements for safety‐related control, CIP Sync for time synchronisation across CIP networks and CIP motion for real‐time closed loop motion control.

Findings

Standard, unmodified Ethernet will support time synchronisation, real time motion control and safety‐related applications with the CIP adaptation EtherNet/IP. The CIP enables complete integration of control with information, multiple CIP networks and internet technologies. CIP provides seamless communication from the plant floor throughout the enterprise, with a scalable and coherent architecture, incorporating functionality, such as safety, time synchronisation and motion control, hitherto only available with specialised or incompatible networks.

Practical implications

The implementations of CIP Sync, CIP Motion and CIP Safety and the corresponding standards provide functionality and flexibility not available from disparate specialist networks. The ability to fully integrate internet technologies and safety, synchronisation, motion and safety together is a distinguishing feature. Industrial Ethernet technologies vary in the ability to integrate to the same level of functionality and offer similar flexibility.

Originality/value

The development of CIP technology and the use of open standards are described. The opportunity to use the combination of an established automation protocol and standard, unmodified Ethernet provides potential cost benefits, flexibility, and innovative solutions, whilst providing integration, performance and cost advantages.
Assembly sequence planning of automobile body components based on liaison graph
Authors: Xing Y. , Chen G. , Lai X. , Jin S. , Zhou J.
Published: April 2007

Purpose

This paper presents an algorithm for the generation of mechanical assembly sequences.

Design/methodology/approach

The algorithm employs an adjacency matrix, and uses three different mathematical patterns of subassemblies to generate automatically all geometrical feasible assembly sequences.

Findings

This algorithm cannot only generate automatically all geometrical feasible assembly sequences but also reduce the number of sequences.

Originality/value

Assembly modeling is more completed than that of previous research; the method is able to automatically generate all possible assembly sequences and be implemented easily with program; and this paper makes use of exact mathematical equations describing every subgroup of the three‐subassembly patterns.
The curriculum materials center: library support for a teacher education program
Authors: O'Neill Uhl Jean
Published: April 2007

Purpose

To increase support for teacher education programs in colleges and universities through the development of the curriculum materials center (CMC).

Design/methodology/approach

Through statistics drawn from a student survey and departmental records of the C.W. Post CMC, along with the perspective of the author, the development of a CMC as support for a teacher education program is explored. The paper provides insight into various necessary collections and services that the center should offer.

Findings

General historical information is offered. The paper also provides information on key collections found in a CMC. Successful approaches to development and creative application of instruction are discussed.

Practical implications

This paper provides clear and useful information, including but not limited to suggested author lists, a professional collection bibliography, and software ideas. The objective is to improve the development, functionality and service in a CMC.

Originality/value

Arguably, this study is the first to examine and promote in detail the CMC as support for teacher education programs in colleges and universities.
Developing leadership competence of production unit managers
Authors: Rappe Christoph , Zwick Thomas
Published: April 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the leadership role of first‐line managers in self‐managed production units, particularly the existence, relevance and closability of competence gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

Self‐assessments on competence and other variables shed light on the first‐line managers' situation; a quasi‐experiment investigates the effects of a leadership development programme. The sample consisted of 38 lower‐level managers in a typical manufacturing plant in Germany that had recently introduced a teamwork structure.

Findings

Results indicate that the production unit managers report difficulties with their new leadership‐related tasks. Higher levels of leadership competence are found to be associated with better perceived acceptance as a manager by superiors, but not by subordinates, better interaction with both subordinates and superiors, and with higher job satisfaction. Finally, a quasi‐experiment shows that a combination of workshops and individual coaching has measurable positive effects on reported leadership competencies and partly improves identification with the managerial role.

Research limitations/implications

The causality of the relationships requires further research, ideally with larger samples, as does the partner‐oriented leadership style that tends to be practiced by the first‐line managers.

Practical implications

The findings imply that it is advisable to improve front‐line managers' leadership competencies and identity, and that leadership development can contribute to closing the competence gaps.

Originality/value

This paper closes a research gap regarding a key position in modern work organizations by using a new format of self‐assessments for a more valid measurement of competencies.
Creativity development in engineering education: the case of mind mapping
Authors: Zampetakis Leonidas A. , Tsironis Loukas , Moustakis Vassilis
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to exploit student preference and propose, discuss and experimentally validate a strategy that aims to reduce time necessary to introduce tutoring of mind mapping to engineering students.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey instrument was designed and used to collect student preferences about mind mapping. Preferences were linked to alternative scenarios of mind mapping deployment. Survey responses from a 100 second‐year students from the Department of Production Engineering and Management were analyzed using conjoint analysis.

Findings

Results indicate that an effective strategy to present mind mapping to engineering students is to explain in detail all the possible applications of mind mapping; present mind maps with different colours using both words and drawings and encourage students to use mind maps in team assignments.

Originality/value

The findings of this paper provide a well documented framework in addressing mind mapping technique to engineering students. The proposed framework tries to make the best use of the available time for creativity development programs, in engineering departments. This framework may also be applied to other creativity enhancing techniques, providing solutions for incorporating creativity in engineering curricula.
The IN Harmony project
Authors: Riley Jenn , Dalmau Michelle
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a user‐centered approach to developing a metadata model for an inter‐institutional project to describe and digitize sheet music collections.

Design/methodology/approach

Query logs analysis, card sort, and task scenario studies were used to explore users' needs for the discovery of sheet music. Findings from these studies were used to design an interoperable metadata model for sheet music meeting the needs of libraries, archives, and museums.

Findings

The user studies conducted demonstrated to the project team the need and methods for recording titles, names, dates, subjects, and cover art for sheet music described as part of the IN Harmony project. It was also learned that tying user studies directly to the design of metadata models can be an effective approach for digital library projects.

Practical implications

The metadata model developed by the IN Harmony project will be reusable for other sheet music collections at a wide variety of institutions. The user‐centered methodologies used to develop the metadata model will similarly be reusable for other digital library projects in the future.

Originality/value

The approach described in this paper brings together standard user study methodologies with metadata design in a novel way, and demonstrates the effectiveness of a methodology that can be reused to plan metadata creation in future digital projects.
Metadata for digital collections of e‐government resources
Authors: Tambouris Efthimios , Manouselis Nikos , Costopoulou Constantina
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a process for developing a metadata element set that will describe e‐government resources in digital collections. The outcome of the process is a metadata schema that reuses as many elements as possible from existing specifications and standards (termed as an e‐government metadata application profile). The use of e‐government metadata is to facilitate the electronic categorization and storage of governmental resources, as well as to enhance users' electronic interactions with the public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper extends an initial process presented in the context of the European Standardization Committee CEN/ISSS, proposing four steps for developing the application profile: determine the resources to be described by the metadata, identify the stakeholder groups who will use the metadata, determine the use of metadata for each stakeholder group, and specify the metadata elements corresponding to each use.

Findings

The steps of the proposed process are followed in order to develop an e‐government metadata application profile for a particular digital collection: a one‐stop governmental Web portal that enables discovery and access to e‐government services and documents residing at the Web sites of geographically dispersed public authorities.

Originality/value

The combination of existing metadata schemas, in order to create an e‐government application profile, requires a well‐defined process for identifying the context requirements. This paper presents such a process and reports its engagement in a real case study. It may serve as a roadmap for other interested researchers, managers or implementers of digital collections of e‐government resources.
Rule‐based metadata interoperation in heterogeneous digital libraries
Authors: Ding Hao , Sølvberg Ingeborg
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to describe a system to support querying across distributed digital libraries created in heterogeneous metadata schemas, without requiring the availability of a global schema.

Design/methodology/approach

The advantages and weaknesses of ontology based applications were investigated and have justified the utility of inferential rules in expressing complex relations between metadata terms in different metadata schemas. A process for combining ontologies and rules for specifying complex relations between metadata schemas were designed. The process was collapsed into a set of working phases and provides examples to illustrate how to interrelate two similar bibliographic ontology fragments for further query reformulation.

Findings

Equipping ontologies with inferencing power can help describe more complex relations between metadata terms. This approach is critical for properly interpreting queries from one ontology to another.

Research limitations/implications

A prototype system was built based on examples instead of practical experience.

Practical implications

The approach assumes that relations between metadata sets, or ontologies in the approach, are provided by domain experts with/without ontology tools.

Originality/value

A new approach has been proposed for facilitating heterogeneous metadata interoperation in digital libraries as a way of empowering ontologies with rich reasoning capabilities. The traditional approach assumes a global schema controlled by a central or virtual server to provide mapping between local and external metadata schemas. A more flexible and dynamic environment was studied, i.e. P2P‐based digital libraries, where peers may join and leave freely.
Cybernetic‐scanning management
Authors: Rodrigues Carl A.
Published: April 2007

Purpose

To describe six management thoughts that evolved during the past century in the USA and to link them to the concept of cybernetic‐scanning management (CSM) and to vaguely explore the extent it is practiced in today's organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Employed MBA students were asked to rate the extent their corporations, as they perceive it, practice the CSM framework. The framework was fully discussed in class prior to the ratings. Students were asked to prepare a term paper describing the rationality for their ratings.

Findings

Today's organizations pay a lot of attention to the external environment, their organizational structures are still too tall, and the Theory X managerial mindset is still more prevalent than the Theory Y mindset.

Research limitations/implications

The study involved only MBA students enrolled in the writer's management and organization course in the school of business at Montclair State University. Therefore, the study's findings cannot be generalized.

Practical implications

Organizations need to establish a system where there is more internal communication, cooperation and collaboration among their subunits (e.g. 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina).

Originality/value

The study tells us how the past influences the present and the future.
Applying distance histograms for robust object recognition
Authors: Arques Pilar , Pujol Francisco A. , Llorens Faraón , Pujol Mar , Rizo Ramón
Published: April 2007

Purpose

One of the main goals of vision systems is to recognize objects in real world to perform appropriate actions. This implies the ability of handling objects and, moreover, to know the relations between these objects and their environment in what we call scenes. Most of the time, navigation in unknown environments is difficult due to a lack of easily identifiable landmarks. Hence, in this work, some geometric features to identify objects are considered. Firstly, a Markov random field segmentation approach is implemented. Then, the key factor for the recognition is the calculation of the so‐called distance histograms, which relate the distances between the border points to the mass center for each object in a scene.

Design/methodology/approach

This work, first discusses the features to be analyzed in order to create a reliable database for a proper recognition of the objects in a scene. Then, a robust classification system is designed and finally some experiments are completed to show that the recognition system can be utilized in a real‐world operation.

Findings

The results of the experiments show that including this distance information improves significantly the final classification process.

Originality/value

This paper describes an object recognition scheme, where a set of histograms is included to the features vector. As is shown, the incorporation of this feature improves the robustness of the system and the recognition rate.
On estimation error using maximum entropy density estimates
Authors: Noonan J.P. , Basu Prabahan
Published: April 2007

Purpose

In many problems involving decision‐making under uncertainty, the underlying probability model is unknown but partial information is available. In some approaches to this problem, the available prior information is used to define an appropriate probability model for the system uncertainty through a probability density function. When the prior information is available as a finite sequence of moments of the unknown probability density function (PDF) defining the appropriate probability model for the uncertain system, the maximum entropy (ME) method derives a PDF from an exponential family to define an approximate model. This paper, aims to investigate some optimality properties of the ME estimates.

Design/methodology/approach

For n>m, when the exact model can be best approximated by one of an infinite number of unknown PDFs from an n parameter exponential family. The upper bound of the divergence distance between any PDF from this family and the m parameter exponential family PDF defined by the ME method are derived. A measure of adequacy of the model defined by ME method is thus provided.

Findings

These results may be used to establish confidence intervals on the estimate of a function of the random variable when the ME approach is employed. Additionally, it is shown that when working with large samples of independent observations, a probability density function (PDF) can be defined from an exponential family to model the uncertainty of the underlying system with measurable accuracy. Finally, a relationship with maximum likelihood estimation for this case is established.

Practical implications

The so‐called known moments problem addressed in this paper has a variety of applications in learning, blind equalization and neural networks.

Originality/value

An upper bound for error in approximating an unknown density function, f(x) by its ME estimate based on m moment constraints, obtained as a PDF p(x, α) from an m parameter exponential family is derived. The error bound will help us decide if the number of moment constraints is adequate for modeling the uncertainty in the system under study. In turn, this allows one to establish confidence intervals on an estimate of some function of the random variable, X, given the known moments. It is also shown how, when working with a large sample of independent observations, instead of precisely known moment constraints, a density from an exponential family to model the uncertainty of the underlying system with measurable accuracy can be defined. In this case, a relationship to ML estimation is established.
On a recursive sequence
Authors: Dehghan Mehdi , Mazrooei‐Sebdani Reza
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The aim in this paper is to investigate the dynamics of difference equation yn+1=(pyn+yn−k)/(qyn+yn−k), n=0,1,2,… where k∈{1,2,3,…}, the initial conditions y−k, … ,y−1,y0 and the parameters p and q are non‐negative.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper studies characteristics such as the character of semicycles, periodicity and the global stability of the above mentioned difference equation.

Findings

In particular, the results solve the open problem introduced by Kulenovic and Ladas in their monograph, Dynamics of Second Order Rational Difference Equations with Open Problems and Conjectures.

Originality/value

The global behaviour of the solutions of equation yn+1=(pyn+yn−k)/(qyn+yn−k), n=0,1,2,… were investigated providing valuable conclusions on practical data.
Investment spam, digital libraries, video tours, solid‐state PC
Authors: Andrew Alex M.
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The aim is to review developments on the internet, especially those of general cybernetic interest.

Design/methodology/approach

A current persistent type of unsolicited e‐mail is described, with speculation about its motivation. An initiative for a European Digital Library is reviewed, as are also arrangements for digital tours of the Hermitage art collection in St Petersburg and of the Alhambra in Spain and a major mosque in Istanbul. The last two demonstrate an important advance in the technology applicable in such displays. Reference is also made to a major advance in computer technology, particularly useful in portable machines.

Findings

These are reports on some current developments.

Practical implications

The discussion of investment spam may suggest studies of market dynamics. The other topics bear on practical issues of data management and retrieval, interactive visual display and computer technology.

Originality/value

It is hoped this is a valuable periodic review.
EDUCAUSE: A Conference Report
Authors: Riggs Colby , Cohen Barbara
Published: April 2007

Purpose

To report on the 2006 EDUCAUSE Conference held in October in Dallas, Texas

Design/methodology/approach

Provides a review of some of the events of the conference.

Findings

EDUCAUSE is a non‐profit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. The programs were designed to help participants tackle current issues and prepare them for future challenges. The conference focused on the theme “Transforming the Academy: Dreams and Reality” and the program included pre‐conference seminars; track sessions; poster sessions; small group meetings; and corporate exhibits, presentations, and workshops.

Originality/value

A conference report of interest to information management professionals, especially those involved with higher education.
Drivers of corporate voluntary disclosure
Authors: Boesso Giacomo , Kumar Kamalesh
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine what factors in addition to the needs of financial markets drive the voluntary disclosure practices of companies in Italy and in the United States.

Design/methodology/approach

Information provided in the management discussion and analysis section of the annual reports of 72 companies was content analyzed to determine the volume and the quality of voluntary disclosures.

Findings

Results show that in addition to investors' information needs, factors such as company emphasis on stakeholder management, relevance of intangible asset, and market complexity affect both the volume as well as the quality of voluntary disclosures.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on the voluntary disclosures made in a single year, which makes this study a snapshot. The size of the sample used in this study is relatively small. Future research aimed at examining country differences in voluntary disclosures made by companies needs to examine the business contexts in a comprehensive manner, so that differences observed across country boundaries can be adequately explained.

Practical implications

The comprehensive framework developed in this study for organizing and evaluating voluntary disclosures is an initial step in the direction of examining voluntary disclosure from the stakeholder perspective.

Originality/value

While results of this study confirm the findings of previous researchers, they also identify new drivers of voluntary disclosures and give some evidence about the similarity and differences in these factors across country contexts.
Linking education and mental health – a European priority
Authors: Weare Katherine
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The paper seeks to clarify the links between education and mental health in European policy and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an overview of the literature and clarification of what it shows.

Findings

Education has a major role in promoting mental health by enhancing positive wellbeing and tackling mental health problems. Education is in itself protective of mental health – so we need to increase access support inclusively and target at‐risk groups. Mental health and education need to improve their mutual communication between them. More needs to be done to develop evidence‐based, explicit, planned and evaluated whole‐school programmes to promote mental health, which develop the kind of climates and practices that are conducive to emotional wellbeing and help staff and pupils learn key skills. The European evidence base is poor and we need to put more resources into developing it, and networks between programmes, research and policy makers.

Originality/value

Bringing together the key elements in the arguments and evidence on how mental health and education could and do link together.
“Let's Talk About Drugs”
Authors: Newbery Natasha , McCambridge Jim , Strang John
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The feasibility of a community‐level drug prevention intervention based upon the principles of motivational interviewing within a further education college was investigated in a pilot study.

Design/methodology/approach

The implementation over the course of a single term of “Let's Talk about Drugs” was studied with both action research methods and a quasi‐experimental design.

Findings

Modest qualitative evidence of attitudinal and environmental benefit provides some optimism that intervention of greater duration may have the capacity to produce more substantial impact.

Research limitations/implications

The sustainability of the achieved institutional changes following the delivery of this intervention, most notably centring upon a revised drug policy, is questionable. No quantitative data on reduced drug use behaviour or associated problems directly attributable to intervention was obtained.

Originality/value

Further education colleges offer relatively unexplored opportunities for drug prevention and harm reduction, at both individual and community levels. Three major lessons were learned: for the motivational interviewing approach to be applied with meaningful potential to effectively shaping behaviour at the college level, greater input is required; quasi‐experimental methods for evaluation are feasible and appropriate; and intervention must be coherent with, and shaped by, the specific college context.
Intention to implement a smoking cessation intervention in Dutch general practice
Authors: Hoving Ciska , Mudde Aart N. , de Vries Hein
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The paper seeks to identify determinants of general practice staff's intention to further implement a smoking cessation expert system, a computer‐generated tailored intervention, following their participation in an effectiveness study.

Design/methodology/approach

Written questionnaires based on the I‐Change Model, a socio‐cognitive model, were left in general practices where the expert system had been trialled. Respondents intending to continue their use (intenders, n=62) were compared to those who did not (non‐intenders, n=27).

Findings

Eighty‐nine individuals from 55 practices responded (73 per cent). GPs were more often intenders than general practice assistants. Responses from the same practice were not significantly related to each other. Intention to continue using the expert system was determined by a more positive attitude towards the expert system, a social norm towards engaging in smoking cessation activities, and higher self‐efficacy. Practice staff who had actively offered the expert system to their patients were more likely to be an intender.

Originality/value

Cognitive factors and trial involvement determined intention to further implement the expert system. Discussing barriers with practice staff could increase motivation to implement and ownership. Intenders can aid the implementation process by sharing experiences with non‐intending peers.
Best practices in business process redesign: use and impact
Authors: Limam Mansar S. , Reijers H.A.
Published: April 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide business process redesign (BPR) practitioners and academics with insight into the most popular heuristics to derive improved process designs.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was carried out in the years 2003‐2004 among a wide range of experienced BPR practitioners in the UK and The Netherlands.

Findings

The survey indicates that this “top ten” of best practices is indeed extensively used in practice. Moreover, indications for their business impact have been collected and classified.

Research limitations/implications

The authors' estimations of best practices effectiveness differed from feedback obtained from respondents, possibly caused by the design of the survey instrument. This is food for further research.

Practical implications

The presented framework can be used by practitioners to keep the various aspects of a redesign in perspective. The presented list of BPR best practices is directly applicable to derive new process designs.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the subject of process redesign, rather than the more popular subject of process reengineering. As such, it fills in part an existing gap in knowledge.
The influence of external variables on the executives' use of the internet
Authors: Seyal A.H. , Rahman N.A.
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The primary purpose of this paper is to test and augment the original technology acceptance model (TAM) with three external variables: computer attitude, computer self‐efficacy and personality to study the use of the internet of the business executives not addressed previously.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based upon survey approach to collect the primary data from 105 business executives selected randomly. The study tests and augments the proposed model by using structural equation modeling techniques and explained 42 percent of the variance as shared by the three variables. The final model has shown the influence of computer attitude and self‐efficacy on the TAM component. Finally, perceived usefulness (PU) directly affects the executives' use of the internet.

Findings

The results show that computer attitude has a significant effect on perceived ease of use (PEOU). Whereas, computer self‐efficacy has significant but negative effect on PU and has a positive and significant effect on PEOU.

Research limitations/implications

The study has its own limitations and suggests that with the inclusion of some more variablesR2could be enhanced and would be further improved by controlling the response biasness due to the self‐reported items. The study also lacks direction in assessing the problems faced by the executives at the inter‐organizational level.

Practical implications

The study has practical significance as at the inter‐organizational level these external variables are under the direct control of the top management and by capitalizing on them through structured training program improved self‐efficacy and by adding variety to the task of executives, the management could further expedite the use of the internet.

Originality/value

This preliminary work adds value to the existing knowledge and supports the previous work that PU belief segments have relationship to predict the behavior intentions to use the technology. The study concludes that business executives consider ease of use as a fundamental belief that helps them to achieve the usefulness component of the technology.
DART: a new missile in Australia's e‐research strategy
Authors: Paterson Moira , Lindsay David , Monotti Ann , Chin Anne
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to provide a brief overview of the evolution of a new e‐research paradigm and to outline key projects and developments in Europe, North America, Canada and Australia. The article also provides a detailed summary of the Dataset Acquisition, Accessibility and Annotation e‐Research Technology (DART) project.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of relevant government reports, documents and general literature was conducted.

Findings

Projects currently being conducted in Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia are part of an international movement that aims to use modern ICTs to enhance e‐research. The DART project is a significant part of this movement as it has adopted a “whole process” approach to e‐research, and provides a platform for the examination of the technical, legal and policy issues that arise in the new e‐research environment.

Originality/value

Provides an overview of current projects that concern the development of e‐research, with a particular focus on Australian research and the DART project.
Impact of the South African Construction Regulations on construction health and safety
Authors: Smallwood J.J. , Haupt T.C.
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the impact on architects of recently introduced Construction Regulations in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

Given the passing of the first anniversary of the promulgation of the Construction Regulations, a survey was conducted to determine the perceptions of member practices of the South African Institute of Architects.

Findings

Findings include: the traditional project parameters in the form of cost, quality, and time are still perceived to be substantially more important than health and safety (H&S); the manifestations of the impact of the Construction Regulations are wide spread – increased H&S awareness predominates among the manifestations, followed by increased consideration for H&S by most stakeholders, and H&S predominates in terms of the extent to which the Construction Regulations will impact on various project parameters.

Originality/value

The paper offers a valid argument for the inclusion of construction H&S to feature more prominently in architectural education and training programmes.
E‐business models and consumer expectations for digital audio distribution
Authors: Amberg Michael , Schröder Manuela
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to aim to evaluate to what extent present e‐business models for digital audio distribution meet the consumer's expectations.

Design/methodology/approach

The research method in this paper is particularly based on two empirical studies. In the first study, the supplier side was examined. In this context, 15 e‐business models in the German music market were identified, classified according to two criteria (type of compensation and dependency on the supplier or its technology) and analysed with regard to four aspects “type and volume of content”, “price of content”, “rights of use”, and “additional services”. To evaluate the identified e‐business models, the consumer expectations for digital audio distribution were analysed in a second study. Finally, the results of both studies were compared.

Findings

The paper finds that most of the identified e‐business models do not meet all of the fundamental consumer expectations. Either the identified category of e‐business models and its characteristics (e.g. dependency on technology) lead to a conflict with regard to the expectations of the consumers, or the implemented e‐business models reveal discrepancies between the concrete offer and the demand.

Research limitations/implications

The results in the paper are limited to e‐business models for digital audio distribution in the German music market.

Practical implications

The paper shows that, in order to reach more consumers, most of the existing e‐business models have to be modified.

Originality/value

Based on two empirical studies, this paper presents the state‐of‐the‐art of the digital audio distribution in Germany and systematically identifies gaps between the demand and the supply side of digital audio content.
Enterprise size matters: objectives and constraints of ERP adoption
Authors: Laukkanen Sanna , Sarpola Sami , Hallikainen Petri
Published: April 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the discussion on enterprise resource planning (ERP) system adoption by investigating the relationship of enterprise size to the objectives and constraints of ERP adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

In the paper, survey data, based on the responses of 44 companies, are analyzed, by dividing the companies into small, medium‐sized, and large enterprises; and comparing these groups, using statistical methods.

Findings

The paper finds significant differences exist between small, medium‐sized and large enterprises regarding the objectives and constraints of ERP system adoption. While small enterprises experience more knowledge constraints, large enterprises are challenged by the changes imposed by ERP adoption. Further, large and medium‐sized enterprises are more outward‐oriented in ERP adoption than small enterprises. Business development, as opposed to mere efficiency improvement, while being the most prevalent objective for ERP adoption in all the company groups, is considered especially important by medium‐sized enterprises. Finally, the findings suggest that, instead of considering small and medium‐sized enterprises as one homogeneous group of smaller enterprises, differences between these two groups of companies should be acknowledged in information system adoption.

Research limitations/implications

The paper shows that the Finnish context and the sample size should be taken into consideration when generalizing the findings.

Practical implications

The paper points out the differences in objectives and constraints between companies of different sizes that should be acknowledged in ERP adoption.

Originality/value

Instead of resorting to the customary approach of considering small and medium‐sized enterprises as a homogeneous group of smaller enterprises, this study acknowledges the differences between these two groups of companies.
Managing between science and industry
Authors: Boersma Kees
Published: April 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to deal with the history of Research and Development (R&D) management. It takes the history of the R&D Department of the Royal Philips Electronics of The Netherlands as an example to unravel the dynamics behind industrial R&D management.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based upon historical and theoretical studies on industrial R&D institutions and research cultures.

Findings

The paper proposes that the directors of the Philips R&D Department continually shaped and reshaped the organization in order to retain researchers with creative ideas, and to stimulate innovativeness. The R&D‐management was the outcome of a search process that comprehended a mixture of scientific and industrial (management) skills, knowledge and expertise, which together shaped an industrial research culture. One of the most difficult questions for the research managers was to find a balance between the professional status and motives of individual researchers on the one hand and the Philips company production strategy on the other. Over the years, the research leaders stimulated individual creativity in their own way, taking specific business and economic circumstances into account. They operated during different historical periods that reflect their management ideas.

Originality/value

Nowadays, the Philips research takes place at the High Tech Campus. Its philosophy is based upon Chesbrough's open innovation paradigm. In the discussion of this paper, it is argued that the history of industrial research teaches that the success of this organization, as in the past, will depend upon the management's ability to find a balance between scientific activities and industrial production.
Extending the bargaining power model
Authors: Lohrke Franz T. , Simpson Gina W. , Hunt David M.
Published: April 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to further develop the bargaining power model of political risk management by employing a historical case study to uncover issues not presently considered in the model.

Design/methodology/approach

It first examines current political risk research, primarily focusing on the bargaining power model and then reviews a historical case study to demonstrate that the model remains incomplete. Next, both the resource‐based view (RBV) of the firm and institutional theory are examined to develop propositions to guide future bargaining power research.

Findings

Examining the bargaining power model by employing a historical case study of Panton, Leslie and Company, which operated in the present day Southeastern USA during its tumultuous colonization period, not only provides an interesting historical account of how one firm managed political risk, it suggests the need to modify the bargaining power model to consider both the specific resources required for differentiation and the need to balance differentiation and conformity pressures in managing political risk. Based on what this case study reveals about the model, it is suggested that the RBV provides insights into factors that may help an multinational enterprise (MNE) maintain its bargaining power based on differentiation even under changing environmental conditions. Further, it is suggested that institutional theory highlights conditions that make it more or less necessary for an MNE to conform to host government demands, which can reduce or enhance its bargaining power, respectively. Thus, in tandem, both may provide useful insights to produce a more “balanced” bargaining power view of political risk.

Originality/value

For practitioners, the findings highlight critical considerations in managing political risk by illustrating the need to balance differentiation and conformity. In addition, this review provides propositions to guide future empirical political risk research, especially studies focusing on bargaining power issues.
Knowledge management in monastic communities of the medieval Irish Celtic church
Authors: McGrath Paul
Published: April 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to use the case of early medieval Irish monasticism to highlight the implicit a historicism of the knowledge management (KM) literature and to show how such a historical study can be used to increase the level of discourse and reflection within the contested and increasingly fragmented field of KM.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses secondary source analysis from a diversity of academic fields to examine the relatively sophisticated processes through which the monks gathered, codified, created, interpreted, disseminated and used religious and secular knowledge. The author then draws out a number of insights from this literature to aid current thinking on and debates within the field of KM.

Findings

The paper presents a church metaphor of KM operating at two levels. Internally the metaphor highlights the deliberate but politically contentious nature of knowledge creation, a process of developing both explicit and tacit knowledge among the monks, revolving around ideologies and cults, and primarily concerned with the avoidance, constraining and settling of controversies and debates. Externally, the metaphor highlights the political use of and the mediation of access to knowledge for the purposes of social position and influence.

Originality/value

This paper is original in providing a detailed consideration of KM activities within a specific early medieval historical context and in drawing from the study to contribute to current thinking within the field of KM.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAPITAL STOCK, UNEMPLOYMENT AND WAGES IN NINE EMU COUNTRIES
Authors: Arestis Philip , Baddeley Michelle , Sawyer Malcolm
Published: April 2007

The focus of this paper is to investigate the importance of the capital stock in the determination of wages and unemployment in a range of EMU countries and to compare the results across countries. A time‐series analysis is conducted in the case of nine euro area countries, which were selected solely on the basis of data availability and consistency: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain. The paper begins with a short review of the literature on capital stock and unemployment, before it deals with the theoretical model. This is followed by estimation and testing of the theoretical model put forward, using both time‐series and panel data. The results are supportive of the main hypothesis of the paper: capital stock is an important determinant of unemployment and wages in the countries considered for the purposes of the paper.
R&D INVESTMENT, CREDIT RATIONING AND SAMPLE SELECTION
Authors: Piga Claudio A. , Atzeni Gianfranco
Published: April 2007

We study whether R&D‐intensive firms are liquidity constrained, by modelling their antecedent decision to apply for credit. This sample selection issue is relevant when studying a borrower–lender relationship, as the same factors can influence the decisions of both parties. We find firms with no or low R&D intensity to be less likely to request extra funds. When they do, we observe a higher probability of being denied credit. Such a relationship is not supported by evidence from the R&D‐intensive firms. Thus, our findings lend support to the notion of credit constraints being severe only for a sub‐sample of innovative firms. Furthermore, the results suggest that the way in which the R&D activity is organized may differentially affect a firm's probability of being credit constrained.
Molecular characterization and functional importance of pectate lyase secreted by the cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii
Authors: VANHOLME BARTEL , VAN THUYNE WOUTER , VANHOUTEGHEM KATRIEN , DE MEUTTER JAN , CANNOOT BERNARD , GHEYSEN GODELIEVE
Published: April 2007

To analyse the parasitic behaviour of the plant‐parasitic nematode Heterodera schachtii, proteins secreted by this nematode were purified and separated by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis. Mass spectrometric analysis identified one of the spots as a pectate lyase (EC 4.2.2.2). The corresponding gene was cloned from a cDNA library using primers derived from the peptide tag. A second pectate lyase was cloned based on similarity to known pectate lyases of related cyst nematodes. The predicted proteins are only 29% identical. Despite the low homology, the proteins have a similar secondary structure and it is likely that they fold into a similar right‐handed β‐helix. Both proteins have a putative signal peptide for secretion, and in situ hybridization revealed that expression of the genes was limited to the subventral secretory glands. RT‐PCR showed that both genes were expressed in the migratory preparasitic stage although the level of expression between the two genes was different. Post‐transcriptional gene silencing by soaking the nematodes in double‐stranded RNA against the gene with the highest expression level affected the infection process of the nematode, which is in agreement with the general idea that pectate lyases are essential during migration of the nematode in the plant root.