bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changing pattern of competitive disadvantage from disclosing financial information
Authors: Talha Mohammad , Sallehhuddin Abdullah , Mohammad Junaini
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To empirically examine the changing pattern of competitive disadvantage experienced by the reporting companies in disclosing segmental information in the Malaysian environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The study consists of a final sample of 116 Malaysian companies listed on the Malaysian Bourse for the years 2000‐2002. Four hypotheses were developed to investigate the relationship between segmental information disclosure and competitive disadvantage. Adopting weighted average correlation (WAC) techniques and total performance index (TPI), a multivariate least square regression model was employed to test the four formulated hypotheses.

Findings

The statistical analysis employed provides a mixed pattern yet comprehensive understanding of relationship between segmental information disclosure and competitiveness level among 116 reporting companies listed in Malaysian Bourse from the years of 2000‐2002.

Research limitations/implications

The proprietary theory assumes at least two forms that differ on the basis of who are included in the proprietary group. Secondly, the existence of discretionary judgments among managers in determining the segment definition, items to be disclosed and level of materiality involved. Lastly, the size of final sample leads to caution in generalizing the analysis.

Practical implications

The results provide insights to interested groups such as accounting standard bodies, affected companies and the accounting profession, specifically in the Malaysian environment with the introduction of the new standard on segmental information disclosure known as MASB 22 segment reporting.

Originality/value

The study is very timely especially with the introduction of new accounting standard governing segmental reporting by companies in Malaysian financial reporting environment. The great value of this study is highlighted by the effort to empirically investigate the competitive disadvantage experienced by the reporting companies as they disclose segmental information as required by the new standard.
Internal audit in Italian organizations
Authors: Arena Marika , Arnaboldi Michela , Azzone Giovanni
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To describe the main characteristics of Internal Audit Departments in six Italian companies and investigate the influence of enacted regulations on their development.

Design/methodology/approach

The research has been carried out through a multiple case study, which compared the Internal Audit Departments of six Italian companies, gathering evidence by interviews with chief internal auditors, by obtaining examples of internal audit reports, policy documents and corporate briefing notes.

Findings

The range of situations considered highlighted the diversity in Internal Audit Department characteristics, confirming the relevance of institutional pressures, but also providing evidence of the influence of additional elements in their development.

Research limitations/implications

Results provided by this research cannot be regarded as generally applicable or generalizable, although this study should contribute to the development of a deeper understanding of the characteristics of Internal Audit Departments.

Practical implications

This paper highlights some elements which can influence the development of Internal Audit Department characteristics, with a focus on value added activities.

Originality/value

This paper has referred to institutional theory to examine the development of Internal Audit Departments and provides a valuable framework for future research. Further it provides evidence of different structural characteristics and factors which can influence companies' choices in the development and support of their Internal Audit Departments.
An investigation of the expectation gap in Egypt
Authors: Dixon R. , Woodhead A.D. , Sohliman M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Investors and financial statement users may have differing beliefs about the responsibility of an independent accounting firm performing an audit of a client's financial statements. This study aims to investigate the existence of an audit expectation gap between auditors and financial statement users in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

The research method adopted in this study is identical to that used by Schelluch, Best et al. and Fadzly and Ahmed.

Findings

The results found evidence of a wide audit expectation gap in Egypt in the areas of auditor responsibilities for fraud prevention, maintenance of accounting records, and auditor judgment in the selection of audit procedures. To a lesser extent, an expectation gap was found concerning the reliability of audit and audited financial statements, and the usefulness of audit.

Research limitations/implications

The different economic and cultural conditions in Egypt may restrict the generalisability of this study.

Practical implications

In order to reduce the expectation gap and improve decision‐making by financial statement users, the results of this study support the adoption of the long‐form audit report, augmentation of the auditing framework, strengthening of the auditor's integrity, and finally educating users on the nature and functions of audit.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the understanding of the diverse nature of the expectations gap by examining the different economic and cultural setting of Egypt.
Corporate growth
Authors: Dalton Dan R. , Dalton Catherine M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to look at whether an organization should grow by acquisition or organic (internal) growth.

Design/methodology/approach

The study discusses problems with non‐organic growth and gives reasons why organic growth is a better alternative.

Findings

The study finds that firms relying on organic growth derive most of their expansion internally, by enhancing current customer relationships and building new relationships. Most importantly, organic growth is received with great favor by the financial markets; non‐organic is far less favored, if at all.

Practical implications

This paper provides executives with information on important factors to consider when determining growth plans

Originality/value

This paper is of particular value to CEOs and other board members.
The Little Prince approach to the future
Authors: Marren Patrick
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this column is to provide the author's opinions about key issues in strategy and the future to the readership.

Design/methodology/approach

Opinion column.

Findings

The column finds that traditional approaches to anticipating the future do not, in fact, work.

Research limitations/implications

The column is based not on rigorous research, but on the author's experience of planning engagements across a wide variety of private and public enterprises.

Practical implications

The column alerts readers to the dangers inherent in some traditional ways of planning.

Originality/value

The column expresses opinions that the author believes have not been expressed in quite this way before.
Staffing for high tech in China: finding the right leaders for global initiatives
Authors: Luo Train
Published: July 2006

Purpose

As almost all multinational companies (both large and small) continue to place increased emphasis on the Chinese market, they face a significant challenge of identifying and recruiting the right leadership talent. The huge demand for leadership talent in China has created an unbalanced talent gap there. This article aims to address this issue from the angle that companies not only need to find the talent, but also must find the right talent by matching skill sets with the particular business objectives of the companies in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The “three stages of globalization” concept was developed through a series of one‐on‐one discussions with several clients and candidates. Some of the stories used as examples in the article come from the author's own experience with Heidrick & Struggles clients while others were based on publicly disseminated news stories.

Findings

The article finds that China's talent gap will not be solved in short term. In fact, it is likely to get worse before it gets better. Therefore it is critical that companies have a full understanding of their particular stage of globalization and seek to recruit the right leadership talent for that stage.

Originality/value

Companies at different stages of globalization have different needs. This article emphasizes the importance of the link between the globalization concept and the business objectives. It will be of value to companies of any size that to seek to capitalize‐through expanded operations or increased revenue, for instance‐on the potential of the business market in China.
Reputation risk: it is the board's ultimate responsibility
Authors: Dowling Grahame
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the major sources of risk to a company's reputation that a board of directors should take responsibility for monitoring.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper looks at numerous corporate scandals around the world in the last decade which have highlighted that many boards of directors were unaware of some deep‐seated problems in their companies. Thus, their lack of diligence contributed in part to their company's loss of reputation.

Findings

The paper finds that when a board of directors takes formal responsibility for the overall health of its company's reputation, two things generally happen. One is that the various board sub‐committees look for the impact on corporate reputation of their decisions. The other is that corporate reputation becomes a key performance indicator of the company's executive management team.

Originality/value

This paper acts as a “call to arms” to boards of directors to put corporate reputation on the formal corporate governance agenda. The significance of this “signal” is that it notifies all employees of the importance of creating and maintaining a good corporate reputation.
Halogen‐free laminates: worldwide trends, driving forces and current status
Authors: De Boysère Jérôme , Beard Adrian
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To give an overview about market trends and driving forces of halogen‐free materials for PCB applications. The paper also includes an overview about new halogen‐free raw materials developed to meet the market demand.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper does not intend to deal with scientific aspects, i.e. whether halogenated flame retardants (FR) are bad or not. The goal of this paper is to explain why there is a discussion about FR and what is driving the market to environmentally friendly products.

Findings

Halogen‐free technology has been evolving for more than 15 years, but it has only gained significance in the past three to four years. It developed from a marketing concept to a real market (although still considered as niche), where the products offered can now meet demand. The paper explains the background to halogen‐free and the motivation for OEM's to switch to halogen‐free, as well as giving an overview of the current status.

Originality/value

Provides a market and technology review about state‐of‐the‐art technology and new products being developed.
Stress analysis for fracturing potential of blind via in a build‐up substrate
Authors: Hong Wang Tong , Lai Yi‐Shao
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The submodeling technique is incorporated in a finite element analysis to investigate the stress state of blind vias of different structural configurations.

Design/methodology/approach

The test vehicle is a multi‐chip module plastic ball grid array comprised of a four‐layer build‐up substrate. The calculated displacement field from the global model for the entire package is interpolated on the boundaries of the submodel, which involved the detailed structure of a blind via structure. Through the analysis, the potential of fracturing on the blind via is examined.

Findings

From the analysis it was found that filled blind vias in general have a smaller potential for delamination compared to the unfilled ones. Moreover, symmetric blind via layouts with a blind via located at the center of the through hole appear to be the most appropriate design for this particular test vehicle.

Originality/value

The value of the paper lies in its ability to provide insights into the prevention of fracturing of blind vias in a build‐up substrate through a novel numerical analysis using the submodeling technique.
Jobless growth: a new challenge for the transition economy of Poland
Authors: Wolnicki Miron , Kwiatkowski Eugeniusz , Piasecki Ryszard
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To explain the sources of jobless growth in Poland, the country undergoing economic system transition and integration with the European Union (EU).

Design/methodology/approach

The research used the Harrod‐Domar model together with an interpretation proposed by Barro and Sala‐i‐Martin to determine the growth threshold level of jobless growth in Poland. The technical, econometric calculation does not dominate the paper, which is destined for both academic and non‐academic readers studying the phenomenon of jobless growth.

Findings

The paper provides a review of literature and theories of jobless growth. The calculations show that Poland has a high threshold of jobless growth. The Polish GDP needs to grow at least 4 per cent to add new jobs.

Research limitations/implications

To evaluate the overall long run impact of labor productivity on the job market one needs to include the growth of non‐manufacturing jobs in the service sectors which accommodate the needs of more affluent worker/consumers. This long‐term analysis is outside the scope of the paper.

Practical implications

The authors calculated an important variable for the Polish economy, i.e. the threshold growth rate of jobless growth, which indicates a minimum rate of growth, needed to create a net demand for labor. This research is likely to be quoted by the economists studying sources of unemployment in Poland and as well as in any high growth economies.

Originality/value

It is the only research known to the authors attempting to explain high level of unemployment in transition economies using recognized economic theories. The paper contributes to a better understanding of the phenomenon of jobless growth in market economies in general.
The philosophical foundation of the lecture‐versus‐case controversy
Authors: Ardalan Kavous
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To see how educational philosophies that underlie lecture and case methods of teaching are related to how faculty perform their teaching, research, and service.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the premise that foundational philosophies, worldviews or paradigms underlie educational philosophies, and each educational philosophy favors a certain instructional methodology, which in turn implies a certain way or method of instruction.

Findings

The findings of this paper are that each educational philosophy favors a certain instructional methodology, which in turn determines not only the way that the instruction is performed but also how faculty perform their teaching, research, and service.

Research limitations/implications

This paper implies that differences between the underlying world views of lecture and case methods of teaching similarly lead to differences in many other aspects of the teaching and learning process.

Practical implications

This paper implies that, in practice, faculty would perform their teaching, research, and service in a more consistent manner if they become consciously aware of the underlying philosophy of their teaching method.

Originality/value

The original contribution of this paper is that it shows how in a systematic manner the differences in teaching philosophy lead to differences in what faculty do in all areas of their activities: teaching, research, and service.
Fund management, intellectual capital, intangibles and private disclosure
Authors: Holland John
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how fund managers (FMs) deal with major problems of ignorance and uncertainty in stock selection and in asset allocation decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews were conducted with 40 fund managers in the period October 1997 to January 2000. A seven stage approach was adopted to sift through and process the large volumes of case data. The interview case data formed the basis for identifying common patterns and themes across the cases.

Findings

The case data revealed the nature of this private information agenda concerning intellectual capital or intangibles and the dynamic connections between these variables in the value creation process. The case data provided insight into how the book value and market value gap arose and the special role of information on intangibles and intellectual capital in valuing the company.

Practical implications

The fund management behaviour has important implications for regulatory policy issues on insider information, on corporate disclosure, the corporate governance role of financial institutions, and for the governance of financial institutions.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on issues of importance in an increasingly concentrated and global FM industry.
Constitutionalising immigration law
Authors: Marzal Elia
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The object of this research is the reconstruction of the existing legal response by European Union states to the phenomenon of immigration. It seeks to analyse the process of conferral of protection.

Design/methodology/approach

One main dimension is selected and discussed: the case law of the national courts. The study focuses on the legal status of immigrants resulting from the intervention of these national courts.

Findings

The research shows that although the courts have conferred an increasing protection on immigrants, this has not challenged the fundamental principle of the sovereignty of the states to decide, according to their discretionary prerogatives, which immigrants are allowed to enter and stay in their territories. Notwithstanding the differences in the general constitutional and legal structures, the research also shows that the courts of the three countries considered – France, Germany and Spain – have progressively moved towards converging solutions in protecting immigrants.

Originality/value

The research contributes to a better understanding of the different legal orders analysed.
Discovering market networks
Authors: Mattsson Lars‐Gunnar , Johanson Jan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

In 1982 two books published in Sweden suggested a network perspective on markets and marketing. The purpose of this paper is to explain the emergence in Sweden of the network perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Provides an examination of research in industrial marketing and related fields during the 1970s and the roles of the societal and academic contexts for the research.

Findings

Close relations between academic research and business was particularly crucial since it provided access to industry on all organisational levels and business relevance of the research. Three areas of research seem to have been especially important in the development: supplier‐customer interaction, strategy and organisation of the firm and the interconnectedness between markets. The emergence of the network perspective is seen as a result of a conceptual compromise between a group engaged in dyadic business relationship research and another group that had a wider systems interdependence view on markets. The paper shows that the development can be regarded as a discovery process.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to the development in Sweden during the 1970s and leading to the publication of two books that suggested a network perspective. A result of the paper is that the development during the period is only the first phase in the discovery of market networks. This suggests that analysis of the later development may be fruitful.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates the roots of the network perspective on markets and marketing and contributes to the understanding of the development of new paradigms in general.
Research in relationship marketing: antecedents, traditions and integration
Authors: Eiriz Vasco , Wilson Dom
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the theoretical foundations of relationship marketing from the perspective of several management‐related disciplines, and to attempt a fresh perspective that seeks to integrate these contributions.

Design/methodology/approach

Despite the recent popularity of research into relationship marketing, there is still some confusion surrounding the concept of and how it differs both from “non” relationship marketing and from other ways of managing marketing relationships. This confusion reflects, to some extent, the diverse origins of the concept and the scarcity of research into such fundamental questions as what is a relationship, and what forms of relationship are more or less suited under different circumstances to management through relationship marketing. Taking a broad approach to the subject, the paper explores and integrates these theoretical foundations.

Findings

This article finds that an integrated account can be offered for the emergence of relationship marketing as a coherent area for research. Areas of marketing research with particular relevance to the development of research into relationship issues are: supply chain management, interaction theory, database marketing, and services marketing. Future research into relationship marketing should focus on: the rationale, processes and structures involved in relationship marketing.

Originality/value

The paper encompasses and integrates the diverse theoretical origins of relationship marketing and integrates the research traditions emerging from these origins as they relate to relationship marketing. The paper then considers the implications and priorities for the future development of research and theory in relationship marketing.
Ethics and value creation in business research: comparing two approaches
Authors: Lindfelt Lise‐Lotte , Törnroos Jan‐Åke
Published: July 2006

Purpose– The purpose of this article is to develop a conceptual framework for studying value creation derived from an ethical perspective, in a business marketing context.Design/methodology/approach– First, a conceptual and comparative analysis is made of the ethics and value concepts in two research traditions: the stakeholder approach and the business network approach. Second, a conceptual framework is developed that contains tools for conducting research on value co‐creation in business networks from an ethical perspective. An exemplifying case study from the paper industry is included.Findings– Four key concepts are proposed for further research into ethics and value creation in business networks that enable the study of ethical embeddedness: ethical network identity, ethical role, ethical position, and ethical atmosphere. The analysis also presents fundamental differences between the stakeholder and the business network approaches when dealing with ethics and value.Research limitations/implications– The developed conceptual framework should be applied in more extended empirical settings to evaluate its usefulness.Practical implications– The paper provides an ethical perspective for understanding value in industrial markets using a network approach.Originality/value– The study presents a novel approach to incorporating ethics and value creation to an industrial marketing context. Ethical issues are traditionally studied using stakeholder, agency or institutional perspectives and such research in business‐to‐business contexts is almost non‐existent. The business network approach contains very few studies from an ethical point of view. The paper covers this gap and offers a starting‐point for further inquiry into this field.
Assessing the impact of culture on relationship creation and network formation in emerging Asian markets
Authors: Fletcher Richard , Fang Tony
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to develop an alternative approach to researching the impact of culture on relationship creation and network formation in Asian markets.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual approach is taken.

Findings

The paper has argued that in Asian markets culture can be better understood on the basis of cultural groupings (e.g. ethnic grouping) than on politically defined and artificially created national boundaries. The assessment and comparison of cultural differences and similarities in Asia can be conducted by using an “enlarged” emic approach. Given the idiosyncratic nature of relationships and the increasing significance of the emic contexts enriched by globalisation, the proposed approach is likely to generate a better understanding of the impact of culture on relationship creation and network formation in emerging Asian markets.

Practical implications

Managers doing business in emerging Asian markets need to go beyond traditional national culture stereotypes to capture cultural diversities and paradoxes in terms of, for example, ethnic culture, regional culture, professional culture, and emerging global culture groupings within and across national borders.

Originality/value

Differing from the “either/or” nature of the mainstream scholarship which tends to bipolarise national cultures, this paper emphasises the “both/and” character of Asian cultures which intrinsically embrace paradoxes in philosophies, values, and behaviours. The paper has suggested that an “enlarged” emic approach to cross‐cultural clustering and comparison be used in Asian contexts to better understand the workings of relationship creation and network formation in emerging Asian markets.
Mapping out devolution: an exploration of the realities of devolution
Authors: Cascón‐Pereira Rosalía , Valverde Mireia , Ryan Gerard
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Few definitions in the HRM literature have reached as much consensus as the term “devolution”. However, devolution is a phenomenon that has been defined from the perspective of HRM specialists, with little or no contribution from middle managers. This paper seeks to explore what is behind the commonly shared definition of devolution, by examining not only the actual tasks that are being devolved, but also by trying to establish different degrees of devolution according to a number of dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

An approach that facilitated the exploration of the extent of devolution and impact on middle managers' perceptions was required. A qualitative approach was adopted. Specifically, a case study of a hospital in Spain was undertaken. The research methods included in‐depth interviews, participant observation and internal documentation.

Findings

The findings emphasize the importance of reflecting on the reality and the rhetoric of devolution. The results indicate that it is worthwhile to break down the concept of devolution into dimensions (tasks and responsibilities, decision‐making power, financial power and expertise power) and to specify what dimensions are devolved.

Practical implications

There is a clear difference between the rhetoric of devolution and what actually happens in practice. In order to distinguish between those organisations that go beyond the rhetoric of devolution, it is important to differentiate between the devolution of tasks and the devolution of decision‐making power and autonomy in order to undertake these tasks. This differentiation facilitates the identification of those companies which display superficial levels of devolution and take steps to advance the process.

Originality/value

This paper questions the traditional definition of devolution. It proposes a new definition of devolution based on the identification of various dimensions and incorporates the perspectives of all the actors involved in the process.
Mathematical model of an electromechanical actuator using flux state variables applied to reluctance motor
Authors: Burlikowski Wojciech
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Aims to present a new approach for formulating state‐space equations of an electromechanical actuator using magnetic flux linkages as state variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is based on employment of discrete databases and their interpolation. The algorithm of determination of databases defining the flux/current characteristics of an actuator is described. Graphical interpretation of variable transformation is presented. A simplified, two‐axis model of reluctance motor is used to illustrate the application of the proposed modelling technique. Comparison with the classical model of the motor is used to verify the validity of the method. Analysis is focused on determination of saturation phenomenon influence on formulation methodology and on correctness of obtained results.

Findings

A very good agreement is observed between reference dq model and the proposed model. The main problem of the presented method is the existence of undefined entries in databases. Sufficiently dense databases can be used to overcome the problem.

Research limitations/implications

The model is limited to actuators in which eddy currents and hysteresis phenomenon can be neglected. Future research will be concentrated on evaluation of different interpolation strategies of databases used in the model for realistic saturation conditions.

Practical implications

The model can be used as a library block for testing various control strategies for actuators without standard simplifying assumptions (e.g. sinusoidal winding distribution). It can be implemented in any simulational software (e.g. SIMULINK) as its block diagram is simple and no numerical differentiation is necessary in derivation of the model data.

Originality/value

Presents an extension of state‐space model of an actuator based on database discretised description of variables to two or more state variables.
Artificial neural network based robust speed control of permanent magnet synchronous motors
Authors: Pajchrowski Tomasz , Urbański Konrad , Zawirski Krzysztof
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to find a simple structure of speed controller robust against drive parameters variations. Application of artificial neural network (ANN) in the controller of PI type creates proper non‐linear characteristics, which ensures controller robustness.

Design/methodology/approach

The robustness of the controller is based on its non‐linear characteristic introduced by ANN. The paper proposes a novel approach to neural controller synthesis to be performed in two stages. The first stage consists in training the ANN to form the proper shape of the control surface, which represents the non‐linear characteristic of the controller. At the second stage, the PI controller settings are adjusted by means of the random weight change (RWC) procedure, which optimises the control quality index formulated in the paper. The synthesis is performed using simulation techniques and subsequently the behaviour of a laboratory speed control system is validated in the experimental set‐up. The control algorithms of the system are performed by a microprocessor floating point DSP control system.

Findings

The proposed controller structure with proper control surface created by ANN guarantees expected robustness.

Originality/value

The original method of robust controller synthesis was proposed and validated by simulation and experimental investigations.
Transcending organisational autism in the UN system response to HIV/AIDS in Africa
Authors: Clarke John G.I.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To encourage the ongoing transformation of the UN system by conceptualising leadership challenges within a cybernetics/systems paradigm.

Design/methodology/approach

A grounded theory methodology was used to explore the “paradox of plenty” within the UN system in Southern Africa – how the system can more effectively metabolise the considerable latent creative synergic potential within it, to respond to the challenges of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Findings

Statements from UN leaders call for a new paradigm of humanitarian assistance if the challenges of HIV and AIDS are to be met. However, conversations with a wide range of people both within the UN system and closely connected to it suggest a disconnect between what the system does and what the system espouses – a bias toward “doing things right” rather than “doing the right thing”. Drawing on the writings of Berry (eco‐spirituality), Beer (VSM), Argyris and Schon (double loop learning), Hock (chaordic organisation) and Ackoff (corporate planning) the sub‐optimal organisational performance is interpreted as an “autistic” condition, whereby organisations become “so locked up inside themselves that nothing and no one can get in”. Interactive dialogue with primary health care workers in Swaziland generated five interconnected principles for developing a systemic response to HIV and AIDS. These are proposed as “antidotes” to counteract autistic tendencies within the UN system.

Research limitations/implications

The principles are offered for discussion and refinement through further research by cyberneticians and systems thinkers.

Originality/value

If internalised by UN leadership the perplexing challenges that HIV/AIDS is posing could be met with renewed confidence and hope.
Paradoxes of optimisation in public service management
Authors: Dewhurst D.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To examine the paradoxes of optimisation in public service management.

Design/methodology/approach

Considers the managerial philosophy of target setting as an organisational control and examines its resulting consequences.

Findings

That while the temperate use of the philosophy has its place, awareness of its limitations will control the damage done by its uncritical acceptance.

Practical implications

By discussing target setting and its susceptibility to a range of difficulties in the public service management raises awareness of its limitations.

Originality/value

Considers an important concern about the use of target setting in the public and private domains.
Governance of economic transitions: a case study of Ukraine
Authors: Sergeyev Andrey , Moscardini Alfredo
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Ukraine has had to change in ten years from a strong centrally controlled communist economy to a market economy. It has not been successful. The purpose of this paper is to explain this failure from the complexity management point of view.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes a cybernetic view of the attempts at Governance in Ukraine over its transition period. To diagnose the problem a novel approach based on the Viable Systems Methodology of Stafford Beer is used.

Findings

Serious structural flaws are identified in the organisation of governance at the national level and it is shown how these inadequacies induced the formation of mutant abnormal strategies at the level of economic agents.

Practical implications

Presents credible explanations of phenomena such as barter, corruption, growth of overdue debts and the existence of incentives (other than profit maximizing ones) which drive the behaviour of firms.

Originality/value

There are many explanations of the same phenomena in contemporary economic literature but our explanations are based purely on an analysis of the complexity management tasks performed at each level of recursion: from a government to a firm. Moreover, the paper shows that the structural specificity of a system shapes the behavioural patterns of each systemic element, would it be a government body or a firm's management. Therefore, the notion of structural determinism allows one to state that structure defines the dynamics of any systemic change.
A cybernetic diagnosis of Sri Lanka's 2002‐2003 peace negotiations
Authors: Solomons Leonie , Moscardini Alfredo
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper identifies meta‐level considerations long ignored in Sri Lanka's peace negotiations.

Design/methodology/approach

Variety absorption being at the heart of manoeuvres by the various parties of the negotiation, Ashby's Law of Requisite Variety informs the diagnosis. Also used are Beer's viable systems model, Maturana's structural coupling and Stokes sociological thinking on identity which encompasses the nature of identity, levels of identity, organisation of identity.

Findings

Whilst in Sri Lanka's conflict resolution parlance, identity has been pivotally limited to race, in socio‐cybernetic terms it denotes much more. This leads to the recognition that relationships between structurally coupled entities change as negotiations progress thus calling upon them (and others) to dynamically adapt their identity in their endeavour to retain viability.

Practical implications

The diagnosis shows the need to design negotiation processes capable of absorbing the variety needed to address the content of negotiations.

Originality/value

Linking identity to viability explains why stakeholder relations move through emergent properties/relations and why negotiations between static protagonist, as done in all previous Sri Lankan peace negotiations, are doomed to failure. This work is useful for those who formulate the modalities of Sri Lanka's peace talks and for cyberneticians and people involved in conflict resolution – particularly those bedevilling sovereignty.
Identity: articulating cybernetics and sociology
Authors: Stokes Paul A.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To establish the concept of identity as the bridging concept of cybernetics and sociology.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is a pincers movement. On the one hand, it is argued that there has been a move towards an identity society; identity is a foundational concept for an understanding of contemporary society. On the other hand, the paper argues that in the work of Beer, identity became the key to his proposal that the VSM is the optimal form of variety management in a social system. The study is based on an extension and application ofFinalizierungstheorieto the problem.

Findings

Identity is the key concept for the articulation of cybernetics and sociology. There has been a singular failure to apply cybernetic ideas to sociological materials in a manner that has met with the approval and satisfaction of the sociological community. Beer's formulation of the identity phenomenon and its extrapolation in the social sphere proposes a solution to this long‐standing problem.

Practical implications

The approach allows for a broad ranging multi‐level research programme in sociological cybernetics to be formulated and pursued in a manner congenial to the accumulation of a substantial knowledge base ranging from micro‐ to macro‐issues.

Originality/value

This paper presents a unique synthesis of cybernetics and sociology building on and extending the work of Beer in the field of managerial cybernetics.
An ABC of British higher education
Authors: Thomas Rod
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper marks the centenary year of W. Ross Ashby (1903‐1972), one of the founders of the interdisciplinary subject of cybernetics. Its purpose is to Ashby's cybernetics to construct a framework for understanding some of the features that presently characterise British higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The contents of Ashby's 1956 book, An Introduction to Cybernetics, are outlined. Cybernetic concepts, principles, and laws are then applied to some of the features that presently characterise UK universities: growth in student numbers, the modularisation of curricula, concerns over academic standards, and bureaucracy.

Findings

The paper finds Ashby's writings to be critical to understanding the nature of many of the contemporary debates about UK higher education. A diagnosis and critical evaluation of the policy impetus to increase student numbers and modularise curricula is supplied. A cybernetic analysis in support of the current concerns over academic standards is provided. The paper demonstrates why the current higher education quality assurance regime produces a bureaucratised university.

Research limitations/implications

The paper's framework is supported by an analysis of available national statistics and other secondary evidence, but more detailed, cross‐comparative, longitudinal studies of the UK labour market and educational attainment are required.

Practical implications

Given the economic perspective adopted by policy‐makers – the paper identifies three reasons why the current policy of expanding UK higher education may be flawed.

Originality/value

The paper marks the centenary year of W. Ross Ashby by demonstrating how his writings can supply a framework for understanding the current debates about UK higher education policy.
Towards productive and sustainable forms of interaction in governance
Authors: Türke Ralf‐Eckhard
Published: July 2006

Purpose

A central question of governance in our time is how actors in complex, diverse and dynamic contexts can be harmonized, respecting the needs and limitations of their contexts. New technologies enable shaping and modelling interactions to an extent hitherto unknown. They constitute a huge potential to support and integrate interactions and to reshape governance. This paper sets out to explore a concept of interaction applicable to media which captures and addresses the specific characteristics of social systems required to ensure their viability.

Design/methodology/approach

The potential of cybernetics and systems theory for both the design and application of media in social contexts is explored. Building on an autopoietic concept of social systems, a notion of governance as a process of interaction is established. Beer's Viable Systems Model (VSM) and Schwaninger's Model of Systemic Control is applied to derive the characteristic elements, configurations and types of interaction required to support balancing actors' images in social systems. Links to political and social science theory are provided.

Findings

Cybernetic and system theories provide a solid conceptual basis for capturing the complexity, dynamics and diversity of interaction. Identifying and addressing the relevant characteristics of interaction in social systems can be achieved through the application of cybernetic tools and vocabulary. These can be used to specify and secure the necessary and sufficient design principles for media through which the viability of social systems can be promoted.

Originality/value

The paper shows that requirements to the structure of media applied in social contexts can be specified. Analysing interactions in all kind of social systems does provide clues for the development, implementation, and configuration of improved media. When applied properly, these can boost up governing interactions to much more productive and sustainable forms. This turns out to be a remarkable opportunity to promote the governance of social systems.
A systems approach to analysing sub‐state conflicts
Authors: Wright Steve
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a more holistic approach to analysing the impact of all the behaviour of a conflict's participants its overall dynamics, using the example of the Northern Irish troubles.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel multivariate time series approach developed by Professor Paul Smoker is presented which can map the dynamics of this conflict and its causal inferences as a series or “systemograms”.

Findings

The case example reveals high levels of autocorrelation in the variety of techniques used by the state security authorities to suppress terrorism, indicating their strong role in maintaining this conflict. When more than one party exhibits such behaviour, the conflict “locks in”.

Research limitations/implications

The work remains preliminary and historical. Data was collected on a month‐by‐month basis which suggests associated rather than direct causal influence. It would be useful to further explore these findings using data from similar conflicts.

Practical implications

Suggests that some counter‐terrorism approaches may be dysfunctional especially those adopting sub‐lethal weapons. Provides some insight into behavioural changes required to prevent conflict destabilisation.

Originality/value

Provides a novel conflict research methodology which allows the strong structural dynamics of the conflict to be seen – much the way that elapsed time photography enables hidden processes to be revealed. The raw statistics are presented here.
Cybernetics and systems on the web
Authors: Andrew Alex M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe grids, an important development of internet‐like communication, with references to internet sources of additional information. The aim is to review developments on the internet, especially those of general cybernetic interest.

Design/methodology/approach

The tenth anniversary of the World Wide Web Consortium is noted, as well as music festivals in the Lent district of Maribor, which was the venue for the recent WOSC Congress.

Findings

The internet provides valuable information on each of the three topics.

Practical implications

Grids are an important current development, especially but not exclusively in connection with particle physics research.

Originality/value

It is hoped this is a valuable periodic review.
Corrosion inhibition and adsorption behaviour of Ocimum basilicum extract on aluminium
Authors: Oguzie E.E. , Onuchukwu A.I. , Okafor P.C. , Ebenso E.E.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To appraise the inhibiting effect of Ocimum basilicum extract on aluminium corrosion in 2 M HCl and 2 M KOH solutions, respectively, at 30 and 60°C.

Design/methodology/approach

Corrosion rates were determined using the gas‐volumetric technique and the values obtained in absence and presence of extract was used in calculation of the inhibition efficiency. The mechanism of inhibition was estimated from the trend of inhibition efficiency with temperature.

Findings

Ocimum basilicum extract was found to inhibit aluminium corrosion in the acidic and alkaline environments. Inhibition efficiency increased with extract concentration but decreased with rise in temperature, suggesting physical adsorption of the organic matter on the metal surface. These results were corroborated by kinetic and activation parameters for corrosion and adsorption processes evaluated from the experimental data at the temperatures studied. Halide additives synergistically improved the inhibition efficiency of the extract.

Originality/value

This paper provides new information on the possible application of Ocimum basilicum extract as an environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor. The mixed extract – iodide formulation provides an effective means for retarding aluminium corrosion even in highly aggressive alkaline environments.
Preparation and characterisation of grafted polysaccharides based on sulphadiazine
Authors: Moustafa H.Y.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To prepare bioactive polymeric materials by grafting methods and characterisation of the biological activity of such materials.

Design/methodology/approach

New bioactive polysaccharides were prepared by grafting of acrylonitrile onto water soluble starch and the resulted material was reacted with bioactive heterocyclic rings, converting to N‐halamine biocidal polymers by chlorination and to polyquats by converting it to quaternary ammonium salts using hydrochloric acid. The biological activity of the materials prepared against gram positive and gram negative bacteria was studied by three methods.

Findings

Most of the bioactive materials prepared showed high disinfecting power against bacteria.

Research limitations/implications

The bioactive materials were prepared by grafting of acrylonitrile onto starch and then reacting the resultant material with sulphadiazine. Many other heterocyclic rings that contain tertiary nitrogen atoms or amide group can also be used.

Practical implications

The new bioactive materials prepared can be used in disinfection of drinking water, swimming pools, etc.

Originality/value

The materials prepared and the use of such materials for disinfection were novel.