bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of leadership effectiveness for Chinese managers
Authors: Vilkinas Tricia , Shen Jie , Cartan Greg
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This study sets out to investigate the leadership roles, the predictors of leadership effectiveness for Chinese managers, and the relative effects of gender and rater differences on perceived leadership roles. The study is important as it seeks to investigate whether a leadership model (the Integrated Competing Values Framework) developed for Western cultures explains the leadership behaviours of Chinese managers.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a 360° feedback method, the data for the study were collected from 49 middle managers and 142 of their significant others (boss, peers and staff). The data were submitted to a repeated measures ANOVA, with role displayed and position as the within‐subjects factors and gender as the between‐subjects factor, to determine whether there were any significant main or interaction effects. A standard multiple regression was performed, between the effectiveness as the outcome and the leadership roles. This was followed by a forward regression analysis.

Findings

The empirical evidence shows significant differences in the extent to which the leadership roles were displayed. Chinese managers were focused most on getting the job done (deliverer) and monitoring performance (monitor) followed by developing staff (developer) and developing networks (broker). Being innovative (innovator) was the least displayed leadership role. The managers showed moderate reflective capability (integrator) and moderate effectiveness. They rated themselves higher than did their bosses, peers and staff. Their bosses also rated the managers' leadership behaviours higher than did the peers and staff. However, there was no significant difference between men and women in their leadership roles displayed or effectiveness. In the forward regression, the developer contributed relatively most to the prediction of effectiveness.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature on cultural and institutional effects on leadership behaviour and effectiveness. The findings show that cultural and institutional differences do significantly affect variability in leadership behaviour associated with leadership effectiveness.
Employee reactions to M&A: role of LMX and leader communication
Authors: Bhal Kanika T. , Uday Bhaskar A. , Venkata Ratnam C.S.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess cognitive, affective, and behavioral reactions of employees to merger and acquisition (M&A) situations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports responses of 225 managers of four banks that have gone through mergers (two merger cases), recently in India. Data are collected on a structured questionnaire containing standard scales of leader‐member exchange (LMX), leader communication and employees' reactions to M&As. The psychometric properties of the measures are established before testing the hypotheses.

Findings

Results show that affect mediates the relationship between cognitive and behavioral reactions to M&A. Leader communication fully mediates the relationship of the contribution dimension of LMX with cognitive reactions.

Research limitations/implications

The results have implications for using LMX and communication with the leader in M&A situations. Though, single source data may be a limitation but primary data from real‐life M&A situation is strength of the paper.

Originality/value

The study offers insight into the affective, cognitive and behavioral reactions of employees to merger and acquisition situations.
Employee empowerment
Authors: Boudrias Jean‐Sébastien , Gaudreau Patrick , Savoie André , Morin Alexandre J.S.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend past research by investigating the relationships between supervisors' empowering management practices (SEMP), employees' psychological empowerment (PE), and a new measure of employees' behavioral empowerment (BE). A mediation model is hypothesized.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire study is conducted among 359 non‐managerial employees. Because BE is both self‐reported and externally assessed, relationships are verified with single‐source and multi‐source data.

Findings

SEMP are quite strongly related to PE, but more weakly related to BE. Structural equation analyses tend to support a model where PE completely mediates the relationship between supervisors' managerial practices and employees' BE.

Research limitations/implications

This cross‐sectional study does not provide indication of causality among the variables.

Practical implications

First, this paper suggests that feeling empowered is a pivotal mindset that needs to be created by supervisors to generate proactive behaviors. Second, the moderate correlation found between PE and BE measures suggests that they capture different facets of empowerment. Given management concern for bottom line results, behavioral measures should not be ignored in assessing employee empowerment.

Originality/value

This paper used a behavioral criterion to assess employee empowerment rather than relying solely on a psychological measure.
Leadership … for success
Authors: Mannion Kieran
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the underlying differences in the initial and ongoing development of business leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to see if causal links might be identified that could explain the leadership elements that lie beneath the US' productivity advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

Research was undertaken on a Fulbright Scholarship to study management and leadership development. The information was gathered through semi‐structured interviews with 45 internationally experienced human resource managers and management and leadership development practitioners in the public, private and not‐for‐profit sectors across eight states in the USA.

Findings

The determinates of business success are highly structural in nature. However, analysis indicates that dramatic improvements in productivity are readily, and universally, available to all business enterprises simply through the adoption of globally existing best practices.

Research limitations/implications

The results obtained from this work are the observations of well‐informed, managers and development practitioners. A high proportion of those interviewed had direct personal experience of working with managers in the UK and Ireland. Their views and opinions are, of course, anecdotal in nature but, where possible, they are either validated or rejected with reference to the current academic literature available.

Practical implications

For private enterprise and public sector policy makers alike, there are clear lessons on the value of investment in leadership and management development as one of the most cost‐effective ways to encourage higher levels of business and economic performance.

Originality/value

The paper provides an analysis of some of the factors that contribute to the persistent productivity gap between the USA and the UK and offers a range of action areas that would help to improve business and economic performance.
Organizational climate, relative psychological climate and job satisfaction
Authors: Schyns Birgit , van Veldhoven Marc , Wood Stephen
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Organizational climate has been shown to predict job satisfaction and other employee attitudes. Using the concept of organizational climate, strength has shown mixed success. However, diversity in psychological climate at the individual level has not been explored. The paper aims to introduce a new individual‐level concept: relative psychological climate paper.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the example of supportive leadership climate, the significance of this concept for predicting job satisfaction is assessed. Data from a large national British survey (the Workplace Employment Relations Survey of 2004) of 19,993 employees within 1,593 workplaces are used.

Findings

Workplace supportive leadership climate quality, climate strength and individual relative leadership climate position are shown to be significantly associated with job satisfaction. So is the interaction of climate quality and climate strength. When all three variables are assessed simultaneously, only the individual relative position and the climate quality are substantially related to job satisfaction.

Originality/value

Individual relative climate is introduced and the shows that this new concept is related to job satisfaction, thereby demonstrating its usefulness in climate research.
Understanding failure to change: a pluralistic approach and five patterns
Authors: Werkman Renate A.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand failure to change by examining patterns of coherent structure and agency characteristics in changing organizations in specific sectors and to provide specific recommendations for intervention in these patterns.

Design/methodology/approach

A large survey in 367 organizations engaged in different change processes and from different sectors, among employees in different positions.

Findings

The paper finds that there are five patterns among changing organizations, each with their own specific problems, characteristics, and change approaches that require different interventions.

Research limitations/implications

Parsimony in research models and the study of overall relations between variables does not help to understand failure to change. More integrative approaches are needed that take variety among changing organizations into account.

Practical implications

Change agents should not opt for a “one best strategy” for change but choose a contingent change approach that takes into consideration the specific characteristics of their organizations, change processes, and contexts in order to make change more successful.

Originality/value

This paper establishes that successful change cannot be explained by one or a few variables but is contingent on an interplay of agency, structure, and contextual characteristics. Together, these characteristics form constellations that characterize different sectors. The paper provides suggestions for more successful change.
Exoskeletons and robotic prosthetics: a review of recent developments
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review recent developments in exoskeletons and robotic prosthetics.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper first describes a number of recently developed exoskeletons for military, civil and medical applications. It then discusses robotic prosthetics and concludes with a brief consideration of progress in brain‐computer interface (BCI) technology.

Findings

Robotic exoskeletons are the topic of a major research effort, much being funded by the US military, and aims to impart superhuman strength to the wearer. Japanese research is also well advanced and concerns a range of non‐military applications, including strength enhancement and medical rehabilitation. Some products have recently been commercialised. There has also been significant progress in the development of robotic prosthetic limbs, a topic which is also attracting support from the US military. A key aim is the development of thought‐controlled prosthetics which will arise from advances in BCI technology.

Originality/value

This paper provides a detailed review of the latest developments in exoskeletons and robotic prosthetics.
Forward kinematics analysis of a six‐DOF Stewart platform using PCA and NM algorithm
Authors: Wang Zhelong , He Jianjun , Shang Hong , Gu Hong
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an adaptive numerical algorithm for forward kinematics analysis of general Stewart platform.

Design/methodology/approach

Unlike the convention of developing a set of kinematic equations and then solving them, an alternative numerical algorithm is proposed in which the principal components of link lengths are used as a bridge to analyze the forward kinematics of a Stewart platform. The values of link lengths are firstly transformed to the values of principal components through principal component analysis. Then, the computation of the values of positional variables is transformed to a two‐dimensional nonlinear minimization problem by using the relationships between principal components and positional variables. A hybrid Nelder Mead‐particle swarm optimizer (NM‐PSO) algorithm and a modified NM algorithm are used to solve the two‐dimensional nonlinear minimization problem.

Findings

Simulation experiments have been conducted to validate the numerical algorithm and experimental results show that the numerical algorithm is valid and can achieve good accuracy and high efficiency.

Originality/value

This paper proposes an adaptive numerical algorithm for forward kinematics analysis of general Stewart platform.
Omni‐directional vehicle control based on body configuration
Authors: Chugo Daisuke , Kawabata Kuniaki , Kaetsu Hayato , Asama Hajime , Mishima Taketoshi
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a new wheel control scheme for wheeled vehicle with passive linkage mechanism which realizes high step‐overcoming performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Developing wheeled vehicle realizes omni‐directional motion on flat floor using special wheels and passes over non‐flat ground using the passive suspension mechanism. The vehicle changes its body shape and wheel control references according to ground condition when it runs over the rough terrain.

Findings

Utilizing the proposed wheel control scheme, the slip ratio and the disturbance ratio of the wheel reduce when the vehicle passes over the step and its step‐overcoming performance is improved.

Originality/value

The paper's key idea is modification of its kinematic model referring to the body configuration dynamically and using this model for wheel control of the vehicle. The controller adjusts the wheel control references when the vehicle passes over the rough terrain changing the body shape and reduces the slippage and the rotation error of wheels.
Motion planning for omni‐directional mobile robots based on anisotropy and artificial potential field method
Authors: Leng Chuntao , Cao Qixin
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a suitable motion planning for omni‐directional mobile robots (OMRs) by taking into account the motion characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the kinematic and dynamic constraints, the maximum velocity, motion stability and energy consumption of the OMR moving in different directions are analysed, and the anisotropy of the OMR is presented. In order to obtain the optimal motion, the path that the robot can take in order to avoid the obstacle safely and reach the goal in a shorter path is deduced. According to the new concept of anisotropic function, the motion direction derived from traditional artificial potential field (tAPF) is regulated.

Findings

A combination of the anisotropic function and tAPF method produces high‐speed, highly stable and efficient motion when compared to the tAPF. Simulations and experiments have proven the validity and effectiveness of this method.

Research limitations/implications

The practical factors, such as the effect of wear on the omni‐directional wheels, are not considered. Typical problems of APF, e.g. local minima, are not addressed here. In our future research, we will deal with these issues.

Practical implications

The proposed motion planning is applicable for any kind of OMRs, both three‐ and four‐wheeled OMRs, which can fully exhibit the advantages of OMRs.

Originality/value

The new concept of an anisotropic function is proposed to indicate the quality of motion in different directions. Different motion effects can be obtained in the same direction with different weights denoted by the anisotropic function, i.e. different trade‐offs can be achieved by varying the weights.
A robotic system based on fuzzy visual servoing for handling flexible sheets lying on a table
Authors: Zacharia Paraskevi , Aspragathos Nikos , Mariolis Ioannis , Dermatas Evaggelos
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a flexible automation system for the manipulation of fabrics lying on a work table and focuses on the design of a robot control system based on visual servoing and fuzzy logic for handling flexible sheets lying on a table. The main contribution of this paper is that the developed system tolerates deformations that may appear during robot handling of fabrics due to buckling without the need for fabric rigidization.

Design/methodology/approach

The vision system, consisting of two cameras, extracts the features that are necessary for handling the fabric despite possible deformations or occlusion from the robotic arm. An intelligent controller based on visual servoing is implemented enabling the robot to handle a variety of fabrics without the need for a mathematical model or complex mathematical/geometrical computations. To enhance its performance, the conventional fuzzy logic controller is tuned through genetic algorithms and an adaptation mechanism and the respective performance is evaluated. The experiments show that the proposed robotic system is flexible enough to handle various fabrics and robust in handling deformations that may change fabric's shape due to buckling.

Findings

The experiments show that the proposed robotic system is flexible enough to handle various fabrics and robust in handling deformations that may change fabric's shape due to buckling.

Research limitations/implications

It is not possible to cover all the aspects of robot handling of flexible materials in this paper, since there are still several related issues requiring solutions. Considering the future research work, the proposed approach can be extended to sew fabrics with curved edges and correcting the distortions presented during robot handling of fabrics.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for robot handling a variety of fabrics with low and medium bending rigidity on a working table. The intent of this paper deals with buckling in context of achieving a successful seam tracking and not the correction strategy against folding or wrinkling problems.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to study the fabrics' behavior towards robot handling on a working table.
Civil society as a contested field of meanings
Authors: Roginsky Sandrine , Shortall Sally
Published: October 2009

Purpose

During recent years, the concept of civil society, particularly global civil society, has come to the fore in both academia and policy circles. A key component of recent theoretical and policy research is the attempt to do international comparative research on the meaning of civil society. The purpose of this paper is to argue that the language and the terminology used to describe the agents of civil society are reflective of cultural and historical contexts of societies, have distinct meanings and cannot be used interchangeably.

Design/methodology/approach

In different national contexts, the key agents of civil society are referred to differently; nonprofit sector, voluntary and community sector, third sector and social economy. In comparative studies, scholars often list these concepts to indicate that they recognise that the agents of civil society are referred to differently in different societies. The article offers a socio‐historical analysis of each concept. It is concluded that teasing out the differences, as well as the similarities, between the nonprofit sector, voluntary and community sector, third sector and social economy, is crucial to robust comparative research on civil society.

Findings

This paper exposes a number of limitations of each of the terminologies used to describe civil society. They all present a much more limiting notion of civil society than that proposed by the founding fathers. None seem to capture the range of civil associations in any society. Yet, assumptions are made that the terminologies used have similar meanings rather than attempting to clarify and define exactly what is being written or described. This is exacerbated by the interchangeable usage of nonprofit/third sector/community and voluntary sector/social economy. In order to progress beyond culturally specific understandings of civil society, it is necessary to examine the terminology used and how it emanates from a specific cultural and political context. Having a clear understanding of the language used and what it signifies is crucial to robust cross‐national comparative research.

Originality/value

This paper examines context specific understandings of civil society and the terminology used to define it; a question not previously addressed. It is hoped that this article will generate much needed further debate on cross‐national meanings of civil society.
Ethnic minorities, retirement planning and Personal Accounts
Authors: Gough Orla , Hick Rod
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine issues relating to public and private pensions for individuals from some of the major ethnic minority groups in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on data from in‐depth interviews and focus groups with 64 respondents from the six largest ethnic minority groups in the UK, as well as from a white British control group.

Findings

The research found that a belief in the need for retirement planning was held by respondents of all backgrounds, that there was a widespread view that state pension should be increased to a more adequate level, and concern amongst some respondents that they would be unable to receive retirement income from pension schemes if they were to retire in another country.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of the research largely concern the limited sample of respondents (n = 64), the use of English in all interviews and significant reliance on the internet in order to contact potential respondents.

Practical implications

It is suggested that more widespread information about retirement planning is needed in minority ethnic media and that in promoting the forthcoming scheme of Personal Accounts, the government should make clear the extent to which the scheme will allow members to receive retirement income in another country, for those who choose to retire abroad.

Originality/value

The paper contributes new information about attitudes to the forthcoming scheme of Personal Accounts, and explores retirement strategies of ethnic minority individuals in the UK.
Rational volunteering: a benefit‐cost approach
Authors: Lee Young‐joo , Brudney Jeffrey L.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the perceived benefits and costs of volunteering affect participation. Based on this rational choice approach, the research tests a multivariate model of the determinants of volunteering.

Design/methodology/approach

The database for the empirical analysis is the 2005 Americans' Time Use Survey. To estimate the model of participation in volunteer activity, this research uses the complementary log‐log technique.

Findings

The findings support the central hypothesis that participation in volunteering decreases as the opportunity cost of volunteer activity increases. In addition, participation in volunteering increases as people perceive themselves as more embedded in their communities, thus suggesting that rational individuals make strategic assessments in their decisions to volunteer based on the level of trust in the exchange relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest that policies that promote a sense of embeddedness in the community, as well as those that link the workplace and volunteer opportunities, would help motivate rational individuals to volunteer. In‐depth interviews to ascertain people's motivations to volunteer would be useful to supplement the findings.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that policies that promote a sense of embeddedness in the community, as well as those that link the workplace and volunteer opportunities, would help motivate rational individuals to volunteer.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the understanding of volunteer behavior as a rational choice in an exchange relationship. Based on these findings, this research argues that policies that promote a sense of community embeddedness as well as those that link the workplace and volunteer opportunities, help motivate rational individuals to volunteer.
Lean and agile manufacturing: external and internal drivers and performance outcomes
Authors: Hallgren Mattias , Olhager Jan
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Lean and agile manufacturing are two initiatives that are used by manufacturing plant managers to improve operations capabilities. The purpose of this paper is to investigate internal and external factors that drive the choice of lean and agile operations capabilities and their respective impact on operational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Lean and agile manufacturing are each conceptualized as a second‐order factor and measured through a bundle of distinct practices. The competitive intensity of industry and the competitive strategy are modeled as potential external and internal drivers, respectively, and the impact on quality, delivery, cost, and flexibility performance is analyzed using structural equations modeling. The model is tested with data from the high performance manufacturing project comprising a total of 211 plants from three industries and seven countries.

Findings

The results indicate that lean and agile manufacturing differ in terms of drivers and outcomes. The choice of a cost‐leadership strategy fully mediates the impact of the competitive intensity of industry as a driver of lean manufacturing, while agile manufacturing is directly affected by both internal and external drivers, i.e. a differentiation strategy as well as the competitive intensity of industry. Agile manufacturing is found to be negatively associated with a cost‐leadership strategy, emphasizing the difference between lean and agile manufacturing. The major differences in performance outcomes are related to cost and flexibility, such that lean manufacturing has a significant impact on cost performance (whereas agile manufacturing has not), and that agile manufacturing has a stronger relationship with volume as well as product mix flexibility than does lean manufacturing.

Research limitations/implications

Cross‐sectional data from three industries and seven countries are used, and it would be interesting to test this model for more industries and countries.

Practical implications

The results provide insights into the factors that influence the choice of lean or agile manufacturing for improving operations, and the results that can be obtained.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first large‐scale empirical survey of leanness and agility simultaneously, using data from manufacturing firms in Europe, Asia, and North America. The model incorporates a wide perspective on factors related to lean and agile manufacturing, to be able to identify similarities and differences.
A quantitative model for the introduction of RFId in the fast moving consumer goods supply chain
Authors: Miragliotta Giovanni , Perego Alessandro , Tumino Angela
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe an analytical model to assess the costs and benefits of radio frequency identification (RFId) applications in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an in‐depth literature review and a classification of the main contributions regarding the assessment of RFId applications. The impact of RFId technology on supply chain processes has been modelled using an activity‐based approach. An extensive, six‐month discussion and refinement process with the logistics and supply chain managers of 30 FMCG companies is conducted to validate the model and to collect the required inputs.

Findings

Pallet‐ and case‐level taggings have been explored. The former scenario shows limited benefits, whereas the actual potential of RFId becomes clear in the latter. The profitability of these projects is significantly affected by the costs of RFId tags and by the characteristics of the base‐line supply chain in terms of efficiency, quality requirements and, of course, product features. The model provides a clear assessment of how and when a positive return on investment can be achieved, even with today's technology (in terms of costs and performances).

Originality/value

This is one of the first attempts to provide a comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of an RFId application, taking into account all the major factors involved. The model can be a valuable support to manufacturers and retailers in evaluating their investments.
Internationalization of supply networks inside and outside clusters
Authors: Chiarvesio Maria , Di Maria Eleonora
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare supply network strategies of district firms (from now on ID) and non‐district (non‐ID) firms with the aim of outlining emerging strategies as well as identifying similarities and differences between business models.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is based on a quantitative approach: the TeDIS survey focuses on 45 leading Italian districts and SMEs located outside districts (Made in Italy sectors). Results refer to 630 Italian firms.

Findings

There are more similarities than differences between the approach of ID and non‐ID companies to supply networks. ID firms rely more on local systems in terms of supply networks, while non‐ID firms have also invested at national level (subcontracting networks). The global geographical extension of supply networks stresses the ID companies' search for efficiency in addition to value‐added competences. Non‐ID firms have a more hierarchical approach to internationalization than ID firms, but differences decrease as the size of the companies increases.

Research limitations/implications

The study is still preliminary. Future research should explore the relationships between the strategic approach to supply networks of district firms and non‐ID firms in terms of characteristics of the relationship management and aims of relationships, also with a focus on the size of these firms.

Originality/value

Within the existing literature, the original contribution of the paper lies in its comparison of supply network strategies in ID and non‐ID firms based on a significant quantitative analysis.
Rationales for outsourcing domestic services to off‐the‐books workers
Authors: Williams Colin C.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate critically the assumption that the main reason for acquiring domestic services from the off‐the‐books economy is to save money.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are reported from an internet survey of 5,500 people living in households with one or more members in employment in the city of Sheffield in the UK, which resulted in 418 responses (a 7.6 per cent response rate).

Findings

In just 13 per cent of cases where domestic tasks were outsourced to the off‐the‐books economy the main reason was to save money or cost. Instead, off‐the‐books workers were used principally due to the problems customers confronted regarding the availability and quality of formal service providers.

Research limitations/implications

This survey covers only households with one or more members in employment, a population group previously shown to be more likely to outsource domestic services and use off‐the‐books workers. It does not cover no‐earner households and is not a nationally representative sample.

Practical implications

The implication is that using penalties to change the cost/benefit ratio confronting those acquiring domestic services from the off‐the‐books economy is unlikely to be successful since cost is in most cases not their major rationale. Instead, attention needs to be paid to improving the availability and quality of formal service provision so as to negate the need for customers to outsource to off‐the‐books workers.

Originality/value

The paper refutes the assumption that goods and services are acquired from the off‐the‐books economy in order to save money.
Electricity consumption, income, foreign direct investment, and population in Malaysia
Authors: Foon Tang Chor
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This study attempts to re‐investigate the electricity consumption function for Malaysia through the cointegration and causality analyses over the period 1970 to 2005.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed the bounds‐testing procedure for cointegration to examine the potential long‐run relationship, while an autoregressive distributed lag model is used to derive the short‐ and long‐run coefficients. The Granger causality test is applied to determine the causality direction between electricity consumption and its determinants.

Findings

New evidence is found in this study: first, electricity consumption, income, foreign direct investment, and population in Malaysia are cointegrated. Second, the influx of foreign direct investment and population growth are positively related to electricity consumption in Malaysia and the Granger causality evidence indicates that electricity consumption, income, and foreign direct investment are of bilateral causality.

Originality/value

The estimated multivariate electricity consumption function for Malaysia implies that Malaysia is an energy‐dependent country; thus energy‐saving policies may have an inverse effect on current and also future economic development in Malaysia.
Forecasting in inefficient commodity markets
Authors: Gogas Periklis , Serletis Apostolos
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper set out to use an autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH)‐type model to capture the time‐varying conditional variance of Alberta electricity prices. This is of major importance in forecasting, since ARCH‐type models allow the conditional variance to depend on elements of the information set.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the model to perform static and dynamic forecasts over different horizons and to compare its forecasting performance with a random walk and a moving average model.

Findings

The paper provides a study of hourly electricity prices using recent advances in the financial econometrics literature.

Originality/value

The contribution of the paper is its use of models of changing volatility to properly identify the type of heteroscedasticity in the data‐generation processes. This is of major importance in forecasting.
Marginal wage subsidies: a rent‐extracting instrument for employment creation
Authors: Knabe Andreas
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effects of marginal and general wage subsidies on employment and income distribution.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper constructs a theoretical, partial‐equilibrium model of an economy in which a large number of competitive firms produce a homogeneous output good. Involuntary unemployment arises from a too high and rigid wage. By conducting comparative static analyses, the paper evaluates the impact of general and marginal wage subsidies on employment and incomes.

Findings

The paper shows that a marginal wage subsidy is a fiscally more efficient instrument for employment creation than a general wage subsidy because it resembles a combination of a general wage subsidy with a profit tax. These favorable effects persist even if between‐firm displacement effects are taken into account.

Research limitations/implications

In line with most of the literature on marginal employment subsidies, attention is restricted to a partial‐equilibrium analysis in which the wage is assumed to be fixed. This helps to sharpen the focus on between‐firm competition, but is perhaps implausible when analyzing a general‐equilibrium setting. The inclusion of endogenous wage setting is bound to provide an interesting area for future research.

Practical implications

If politicians want to implement a wage subsidy scheme that has to be self‐financing, marginal wage subsidies are an effective policy instrument for employment creation. Its downside is an inefficient allocation of labor among firms, because some firms become larger than is necessary.

Originality/value

The paper provides a novel approach to model the between‐firm displacement effects of marginal wage subsidies and derives policy conclusions.
The competition and market structure in the Saudi Arabia banking
Authors: Al‐Muharrami Saeed
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to investigate the market structure of Saudi Arabia banking industry; and to evaluate the monopoly power of banks during the years 1993‐2006.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is examining the market structure using the most frequently applied measures of concentration k‐bank concentration ratio (CRk) and Herfindahl‐Hirschman Index (HHI) and it is evaluating the monopoly power of banks using the “H‐statistic” by Panzar and Rosse.

Findings

The results show that Saudi Arabia has a moderately concentrated market and is moving to a less concentrated position. Both the concentration indices indicate that the country is moving toward a better position in terms of the market concentration. The Panzar and Rosse “H‐statistic” suggests that banks in Saudi Arabia operate under monopolistic competition.

Research limitations/implications

These findings may be a temporary effect, evident during the sampled period only. To draw firmer conclusions a longer sample period is needed.

Originality/value

Studies of banking market structure in the developed economies' banking are commonplace, however, very few studies are conducted for Saudi Arabia's banking industry.
Uncertainty and social discounting for the very long term
Authors: Evans David
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine uncertainty in the social discount rate and explore the conditions favouring the application of higher present value welfare weights in the cost‐benefit analysis (CBA) of very long‐term social projects. The plausibility, or otherwise, of these conditions is an important matter generally but especially in relation to major environmental concerns associated with climate change.

Design/methodology/approach

The uncertainty conditions for a plausible range of discount rate values are examined in relation to the social time preference rate (STPR). This particular discount rate is favoured theoretically and has, in the latest EC guide to CBA for EU member states, been recommended for application in European social project appraisal. Value ranges for the main parameters are determined on the basis of surveys of empirical work and expert opinion. Then simulations based on alternative plausible probability distributions are used to explore the future time paths for discount factors.

Findings

Present value welfare weights decline to less than 2 per cent within 200 years if discounting is based on the full STPR. However, important appraisal contexts are identified where only the utility discount rate is relevant and this yields non‐trivial discount factors for distant future years.

Originality/value

The main new contribution is a direct empirical focus on the STPR and its component parameters under uncertainty. Alternative sets of long‐term discount factors are suggested for possible application in CBA. The paper will be of interest to academics specialising in applied welfare economics and also to practitioners involved in social project appraisal.
The effects of inflation uncertainty: some international evidence
Authors: Rahman Sajjadur , Serletis Apostolos
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of inflation uncertainty on real economic activity using data from four industrialised countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the econometric framework developed by Elder in the context of a multivariate framework in which a structural vector autoregression (VAR) is modified to accommodate multivariate GARCH‐in‐mean (MGARCH‐M) errors. It calculates the impulse response functions for the multivariate GARCH(1,1)‐in‐mean VAR in order to see whether the specification captures the fundamental dynamics.

Findings

The results show that inflation uncertainty has differential effects on output growth across these countries.

Originality/value

In the context of multivariate GARCH(1,1)‐in‐mean VAR, this paper uses a non‐recursive identification scheme and separate identification for the large and small economies.
Pneumatic modules for automatic applications
Authors: Connolly Christine
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore pneumatic components and the applications they address.

Design/methodology/approach

The extensive range of pneumatic grippers and actuators from various manufacturers is presented. An example of an end‐user pneumatic handling solution is given. Applications are then examined in plastics, mortise lock manufacture and food and pharmaceutical industries.

Findings

Pneumatic components are long lasting and reliable, giving tens of millions of operational cycles. Gimatic makes modular components that are particularly attractive for direct use by end‐users. Festo is already introducing a range of pneumatic products complying with the European Union safety directive to be introduced in December 2009.

Originality/value

This paper illustrates the versatility and reliability of pneumatic elements in automatic assembly operations.
Effectiveness of epoxy staking of fasteners in aerospace applications
Authors: Salmon S. , Swank M. , Janaki Ram G.D. , Stucker B.E. , Palmer J.A.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of locking or staking of fasteners with epoxy material systems to prevent loss of preload in aerospace environments.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative experimental method is adopted to evaluate epoxy material systems for staking of fastener assemblies subjected to varying dynamic and thermal loads. A statistical design of experiments is employed to probe specific design parameters.

Findings

Results show that epoxy application can provide satisfactory fastener locking under a variety of service conditions. It is found that: Epon 828 epoxy provides superior fastener locking compared to 3M Scotch‐Weld Epoxy 2216; epoxy application around screw threads is more effective than application around screw head; and abrading the plate surfaces with 180 grit SiC paper is not an effective or useful surface preparation technique.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is limited to two commercial epoxy material systems and does not consider important qualitative considerations for industrial use such as cure time and viscosity.

Practical implications

This and future paper may form the basis of new standards for epoxy staking in the global aerospace industry.

Originality/value

This paper is believed to be one of the very few original experimental studies of fastener staking available in the open literature.
RFID technology in product/part tracking during the whole life cycle
Authors: Stankovski Stevan , Lazarević Milovan , Ostojić Gordana , Ćosić Ilija , Puric Radenko
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new way for identification of products/parts and their tracking during the whole life cycle, from the manufacture and assembly phase to the disassembly phase.

Design/methodology/approach

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is applied on a chosen product, an in‐mould labelling (IML) robot.

Findings

This paper discusses a case study that highlights the use of RFID as automatic identification technology, especially in the processes of assembly/disassembly of the IML robot. The application can be expanded onto any kind of product, with the exception of some life cycle phases that are specific for a particular product.

Practical implications

The paper gives an example of how RFID technology can actually be realized in the case of the IML robot to improve the quality of tracking its main components.

Originality/value

The users have the possibilities to access and analyze information about the products/parts during their cycle.
Investigation of butt joint failure mode in sofa frame
Authors: Patel Vipul , Masood S.H. , Waterman Tim
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the static behavior of different type of butt joints for application in a timber sofa furniture frame. In timber sofa structure, butt joints are commonly used between plywood and hardwood members but they are normally designed without any regard to the effect of grain directions of the wood members on the joint strength. The focus of the paper is to look at the effect of grain directions on the wooden member properties and on the strength of the butt joint in order to understand the failure mode to establish a more durable and effective sofa butt joint than the one normally used by the manufacturers.

Design/methodology/approach

Experiment tests are conducted to determine the mechanical properties of joint members, the maximum load‐carrying capacity of the butt joints, and the types of the failure in the joints in relation to different grain orientations under transverse loading conditions. Plywood and hardwood members are used in construction of the joint tests. Four types of butt joints are constructed with different condition of grain orientation, glue, and screw used in the joint members. The specimens are tested by fixing the plywood member and applying a transverse load to the hardwood member to simulate the conditions in the sofa frame.

Findings

Result shows that butt joint with vertical grain orientation and joint with two screws and glue have the maximum load‐carrying capacity compared to the other three cases and compared to the current joint type used in the existing sofa frame design.

Originality/value

The paper is of value to furniture manufacturing industry, in which furniture members and joints are usually over‐designed without regard to grain orientations or applying sound engineering techniques.
Nanosensors: a review of recent research
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a technical review of recent nanosensor research.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes a number of nanosensor research themes and recent development activities, with an emphasis on work conducted or reported since 2006. It considers a range of emerging nanosensing technologies and two specific areas of application.

Findings

This paper shows that nanosensor technology is developing rapidly and is the subject of a global research effort. Technologies such as nano‐electromechanical system, nano‐opto‐electromechanical system, nanophotonics and the combination of nanotechnology with microtechnology offer prospects to yield sensors for a wide range of chemical, biochemical and physical variables in applications which include healthcare, defence and homeland security, environmental monitoring and light sensing and imaging.

Originality/value

This paper provides a technically detailed, up‐to‐date account of recent nanosensor research.