bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Training Strategy in Reducing Skills Shortages:
Some Evidence from a Survey of Small Firms
Authors: Jones Robert A. , Goss David M.
Published: May 2006

Some evidence of a relationship between training provision and the
extent of skills shortages is provided by presenting the results of a
survey of small firms operating across a range of manufacturing and
service industries within the Portsmouth area of south Hampshire. By
empirically distinguishing between different types of training providers
and measuring the severity of skills shortages between companies, it is
shown that those organisations which lay emphasis on the development of human resources are less adversely affected by skills shortages
than those organisations which, in contrast, lay emphasis on the exploitation of human resources.
Screening Workers: An Examination and Analysis of Practice and Public Policy
Authors: Greenfield Patricia A. , Karren Ronald J. , Zacharias Lawrence S.
Published: May 2006

Every employer, unless he or she has no pool of applicants or
potential applicants to choose from, engages in hiring choices. While
the hiring process may vary, both from one employer to another and from
one job to another, some form of screening occurs. In recent years,
students of management have noted the proliferation of screening
practices in the hiring process, especially in bringing new technologies
such as medical and drug testing procedures. Testing and other screening
practices, while wide‐ranging both with respect to their ends and means,
have raised consistent patterns of concern among job‐seekers, public
policy makers and managers themselves. In this monograph a variety of
methods of screening and issues of public policy raised by screening
procedures are discussed. An overview of United States law regulating
the screening process is provided, together with future directions in
the area of screening in the US.
End of the Mystery – Calculating the True Cost of Employee Absence
Authors: Huczynski Andrzej , Fitzpatrick Michael
Published: May 2006

The very practical issue of calculating the costs to the company of
employee absence is discussed. The article is based on the research
carried out by the authors of their recently published book, Managing Employee Absence for a Competitive Edge, an acronym for the
seven‐step approach to controlling absence in the organisation. The
“A” stands for the assessment and costing of absence, the
topic of this article. The remaining steps of the ALIEDIM approach are
also described to set the article in context.
What is a Human Resources Strategy?
Authors: Thomas Mark A.
Published: May 2006

A general introduction to the concept of a Human
Resources Strategy with a practical framework for
developing such an approach by focusing on four
key elements – culture, organisation, people and
systems.
Government Exhortation and Collective Bargaining: Why the Priorities of Employers and Government Differ
Authors: Roots Paul
Published: May 2006

Although governments see high pay settlements
as inflationary and claim they make British products
uncompetitive, employers consistently give pay
increases above the level of cost of living increases.
Weakened unions and high unemployment have not
changed the trend, demonstrating that simplistic
“causes” are based on little more than myth.
Geographical and skill imbalances mean labour
shortages still exist. Employers, whose concern
is with total costs and returns, also need to buy
co‐operation with change and sometimes use the
savings of automation to do so.
Mismanagement and Quality Circles: How Middle Managers Influence Direct Participation
Authors: Brennan Maire
Published: May 2006

Despite the optimism which surrounded the advent
of quality circles a decade ago, recent research
suggests that there are few programmes still
functioning. The data on which this article is based
were collected in five organisations in central
Scotland in the period 1983‐86, when quality circles
were in operation or were being introduced. Since
then, all but one of the programmes has ceased.
The research indicates that the barriers
encountered by quality circles are of two kinds:
some general to any form of organisational change;
others specific to quality circles. In addition, quality
circles cannot easily be assimilated into existing
organisational power structures but require changes
to systems of reward, communication and decision
making. Specifically the role played by middle
managers is examined. They may see quality
circles as a threat to their managerial prerogative
and are in a position to impair the circles by denying
them the resources (such as time, information,
people and finance) they need to operate. Without
the co‐operation of middle managers, the circles
cannot select appropriate projects, collect data or
implement solutions, and may find it impossible
to continue.
Nurses in the National Health Service: Reflections on Recent Industrial Unrest
Authors: Sullivan T. , Christensen I. , Wan D.
Published: May 2006

The industrial unrest during January 1988 among
nurses in the UK National Health Service raised
the matter of the attitude and behaviour of that
group of employees towards industrial action. In
some circles that action is regarded as
“unprofessional”. While the causes are shown to
be complex, it is argued that they primarily involve
two issues. First there was the threat of a fall in
current pay levels and, secondly there was the view
taken by those nurses that professional standards
of nursing were falling. The nature of the dispute
showed how professionalism and industrial action
can be reconciled. This is done mainly by a
“demonstration” rather than by a “stoppage”,
while maintaining full cover of essential duties. A
major aim of the action was to mobilise public and
media opinion in favour of the nurses′ case.
DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL TRENDS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE INFORMATION PROFESSION: PART 1
Authors: Jackson Sarah
Published: May 2006

Present and projected demographic and
social trends in the United Kingdom are
outlined and their effect on the size and
structure of the workforce as a whole and
the information workforce in particular are
discussed. The implications of these changes
for the library and information studies
school and for the information profession
employment market are considered and
possible solutions are proposed as to how the
information profession could tackle the
impending skills shortage.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS: THE LIBRARIAN′S CHALLENGE
Authors: Day Abby
Published: May 2006

Performance indicators are described as
political tools in use, being largely subjective.
Clear objectives, matching the benefits
sought by various groups, will allow
measurement of the right kind of outputs – not
inputs which usually relate to cost‐effectiveness,
not benefits.
SURVIVING THE SKILLS SHORTAGE: EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION
Authors: Evans Roderick
Published: May 2006

The importance of equal opportunities in recruitment and selection
is assessed with particular reference to the way equal opportunities can
improve recruitment and selection while at the same time maximising
opportunities for groups who have previously suffered from
discrimination.
The Ways Managers Make their Organisations Succeed
Authors: Margerison Charles
Published: May 2006

An account of recent and future trends in management development is
given, with applications for managerial excellence for those in
Australian, UK and US companies.
Experience, Judgement and Intuition: Qualitative
Data‐gathering Methods as Aids to Strategic Planning
Authors: Wright Phillip C. , Geroy Gary D.
Published: May 2006

Qualitative information‐gathering techniques are focused on to
determine whether they can be adapted or adopted to support strategic
goal‐setting. Much of the literature suggests that if planning is based
on information gathered and presented in a manner which managers can
understand they are more likely to act on it, and, for this reason,
qualitative rather than quantitative techniques are stressed here.
Factors which are not amenable to numerate analysis but which are useful
to the strategic planner, such as experience, judgement and intuition,
are also isolated and analysed. An attempt is made to facilitate the use
of qualitative data‐gathering methods and suggestions are made as to
where particular techniques may prove beneficial, together with their
limitations. Research, from a small (n = 20), in‐depth survey of
small business owners/ managers in Canada, is included which shows that
they do not use quantitative planning processes but that judgemental
techniques were most widely used; in general, the less sophisticated the
planning process the higher it would be ranked among the survey
participants. The research from other surveys also shows that scientific
mathematically based models often do not fit with small business
organisational reality and that methodologies should be developed that
integrate research into the decision‐making process.
Leadership in Planning and Problem Solving
Authors: Barton Cunningham J.
Published: May 2006

Planning approaches have long been of interest in identifying
opportunities and co‐ordinating decisions. An “action”
planning perspective is offered which seeks to assist managers in
gaining membership commitment in the planning process.
The Skills Time Bomb: Part I
Authors: Sinclair John , Collins David
Published: May 2006

A growing awareness is developing with regard
to the need for a highly skilled workforce to
maintain and improve the UK′s competitive
position. This realisation has developed hand‐in‐hand
with fears over the demographic changes
anticipated within the population, namely the
decline in the 16‐25 age group. It is becoming
commonplace to link these two themes with the
result that a “skills time bomb” is said to be
developing. In this first of three related articles,
an alternative view of the skills time bomb as a
micro‐level problem requiring micro‐level solutions
is offered. The skills time bomb may have been
exacerbated by the piecemeal and macro‐level
approaches to training – the solutions, however,
are to be found at the level of the firm, yet these
will not be unproblematic since the competitive
pressures to adopt increasingly sophisticated
attitudes to IT require a “new skills mix” from
workers, and so require a radically different
approach to training and development.
Gender Differences in Wage Rates, Work Histories, and
Occupational Segregation
Authors: Main Brian G.M.
Published: May 2006

Using data from the Social Change and Economic Life Initiative, an
attempt is made to gauge the extent of gender differences in wages that
are due to discrimination. Allowance is made for gender differences in
occupational attainment. It is estimated that discrimination in the
range of 11 to 24 per cent of female wages can be found.
Movements in masonry buildings
Authors: Hendry A.W.
Published: May 2006

Outlines the most common causes of movements in masonry buildings,
how they should be avoided by design measures and, if cracking has
occurred, how the cause may be identified. Discusses moisture movements
in materials, temperature changes, strains resulting from applied loads,
foundation movements and chemical reactions in materials. Examines
methods of accommodating movement and the assessment of damage. Suggests
the structure of an examination undertaken by a surveyor on discovering
masonry cracks.
Agenda for Education
Authors: Nutt Bev
Published: May 2006

The focus of attention of the design and construction professions
has in the past been concentrated on new building design and
development, and little attention has been given to the use and
maintenance of buildings over time. An agenda for facilities education
to address this problem is set out. A postgraduate facilities education
programme, to be set up in the next two or three years, will have a
curriculum which covers five areas: physical characteristics of building
stock; human issues of building occupancy; financial issues of
development and use; locational issues; and management issues –
which cut across the traditional boundaries of the
“property” professions.
FMEA: Quality Assurance Methodology
Authors: Webber Janet
Published: May 2006

Computerised Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) reduces
wastage and delivers high quality standards. Previously restricted to
large companies, the Halesowen Microcentre software package brings the
technique within the range of smaller companies.
Protecting the Bottom Line
Authors: Steddon Peter
Published: May 2006

The use of Employee Assistance Programmes in the UK has seen a
marked upturn in the past year. Four main types of organisation use
these programmes: those which already have them in the USA, and those
concerned about safety, effects of rapid change, or staff retention.
Motivation to introduce EAPs may be influenced by the decision to have a
programme either positively (gain staff welfare benefit) or negatively
(avoid losses through sickness, absenteeism, staff turnover) reinforced.
The basic EAP concept is to prevent performance impairment by
identifying and resolving employees′ personal problems at the earliest
possible stage without risk to employee′s job. Five components of the
system are detailed: policy decision and programme design: training and
orientation of key staff: communication to all employees and families:
counselling and referral service: programme evaluation. There are three
main advantages of such a system: staff benefit, manager support, cost
saving giving a low‐cost programme with one‐year payback with evidence
of 4:1 savings‐to‐investment ratios.
Just‐in‐time: Supplier‐side Strategic Implications
Authors: Abraham Yohannan T. , Holt Thomas , Kathawala Yunus
Published: May 2006

The Japanese practice of Kanban (Just‐in‐time – JIT),
has won a lot of converts in recent times in the US and elsewhere.
Literature is rife with success stories, though, mostly from the users′
side. The strategic implications of this emerging management philosophy
on the large number of suppliers on whom depends the very survival of
hundreds of JIT buyers are examined.
Enhancing Quality Control: New Developments
Authors: McCracken Michael L. , Kleiner Brian H.
Published: May 2006

The quality of American products after decades
of improvement has stopped progressing.
Historical trends of traditional quality management
fail to motivate workers and ensure quality
production. A new way of addressing quality is
necessary. Innovative quality programmes provide
a stimulus to increased competitiveness in
domestic and international markets. Companies
which adopt these approaches receive benefits in
reduced costs, expanded productivity, higher
employee morale, and greater customer
satisfaction.
Information for Competitive Positioning: How Does the UK Compare?
Authors: Tomlin Roger
Published: May 2006

Information technology has undergone, and is
likely to continue to undergo, profound changes,
especially with the advent of the new European
environment. Research has shown that, to be
successful, companies in Britain have got to make
better use of IT than they have done in the past.
Leadership from the top is essential in
implementing the use of IT, and the issue of risk‐taking
becomes a style of management not
necessarily inherent in parts of Britain.
A Manager′s Guide to Executive Information Systems
Authors: Bucknall Christopher
Published: May 2006

The characteristics of Executive Information
Systems (EIS) are outlined together with a
discussion of their use and possible future
developments. EIS are to be preferred to
management information systems because they
can supply timely, relevant and understandable
data in a flexible manner.
Annual review of interlending and document supply
statistics in the UK and Republic of Ireland for 1990/91
Authors: Unsworth Joan
Published: May 2006

Summarises statistics from the seven regional library systems in
England, the Library Council of the Republic of Ireland and the National
Libraries of Scotland and Wales. Provides figures for non‐fiction,
fiction and non‐print materials also grouped by source of supply. Notes
that interlending has decreased by 2 per cent over previous year.
International Outlook of US‐based Franchisers
Authors: Aydin Nizamettin , Kacker Madhav
Published: May 2006

Many US‐based franchisers have expanded into international markets
during the past two decades. However, a vast majority is still confined
to the domestic market. Domestic franchisers are focused on and their
international outlook is examined. In particular, the reasons why most
US franchisers have not extended internationally, the extent of their
disposition towards overseas expansion, and the attributes associated
with prospective future international franchisers are explored.
Relationships among Organisational Characteristics,
Marketing Strategy and Export Performance
Authors: Koh Anthony C.
Published: May 2006

The relationships between organisational characteristics, export
marketing strategy, and export performance are examined. Based on a
nationwide survey of United States exporting firms, it is shown that
exporters who are committed to exporting and are formally trained in
international business tend to sell directly to final end‐users, utilise
their own export department, and charge higher prices for products
exported than for sales in the domestic market. In turn, such exporters
tend to perform better financially.
Cross‐cultural Colour Comparisons: Global Marketers Beware!
Authors: Jacobs Laurence , Keown Charles , Worthley Reginald , Ghymn Kyung‐Il
Published: May 2006

The Lüscher colour test is used to compare colour
associations in China, South Korea, Japan and the United States.
Respondents were asked which colour they associate with words such as
expensive, happy, love and dependable. They were also asked to relate
the colours to countries, such as Italy and France; institutions, such
as restaurants and theatres; and product packages, such as a soft drink
label and a box of headache remedy. The findings show that, while some
colours seem to show cross‐cultural consistency, other colours, such as
purple and grey, hold opposite meanings in different cultures.
Comparative Analysis of the Textile and Apparel Industries
in India and the United States
Authors: Umberger Douglas Sara , Narayan Arathi
Published: May 2006

The purpose of this study was to explore relationships between
textile and apparel manufacturers in India and the United States.
Results of the survey indicated that respondents differed significantly
on perceptions of industry opportunities and problems in their
respective countries. Significant differences were also found between
industry leaders in the two countries when various aspects of their
business practices and opinions were examined. Findings are analysed and
discussed in relation to their implications for improving global
marketing strategies, industrial competitiveness, and international
trade.
International Marketing Strategies for a Cultural Service
Authors: Hoskins C. , McFadyen S.
Published: May 2006

The role of culture in international marketing strategies for a
widely traded cultural service, television programming, is examined. The
focus is on how non‐US television programme producers can exploit
opportunities in the foreign marketplace by adopting a marketing
approach that analyses the needs of foreign buyers and audiences in
terms of the options available for segmenting the market. One approach
is to identify a cross‐national segment where the producer possesses a
competitive advantage. Another is to offer customised attributes desired
by viewers in a major foreign market. An international coalition helps
assure this. Paradoxically we find that this strategy may not always be
inconsistent with standardisation.
Conventional and Islamic Banks: Patronage Behaviour of Jordanian Customers
Authors: Erol Cengiz , Kaynak Erdener , Radi El‐Bdour
Published: May 2006

In recent years financial institutions, marketing
researchers and public policy makers have
recognised that behavioural analysis is vital for
understanding bank customers. Most studies so
far have focused on understanding the behaviour
of customers of commercial banks in developed
economies. Very little research has been
undertaken concerning bank customers′ attitudes
and behavioural characteristics in developing
countries. The purpose of this study is to
understand customers′ attitudes, beliefs and
perceptions about the services offered by
conventional and Islamic banks in Jordan. The
information presented here will provide Jordanian
bank executives and public policy makers, and
other developing country executives, with insights
into the kind of services bank customers find most
appropriate to their banking needs.
New Banking Technology in Hong Kong
Authors: Ho Suk‐ching , Chan Chi‐fai , Hsu Dan‐lin
Published: May 2006

The introduction of a financial service – the easy
pay system – in Hong Kong is the subject of
study. It is a form of electronic fund transfer at
point of sale and is considered as a continuous
innovation in the evolution of the electronic fund
transfer systems. Irrespective of the theoretical
benefits – safe, convenient and a sound approach
to fund management – associated with the
service, the adoption rate is not encouraging. The
peculiarities of the marketing issues associated
with the life cycle of financial service innovations
are discussed. It is contended that the successful
introduction of services in the earlier stages of
the life cycle may be both an asset and a liability
to later innovations. As such, a continuous
educational programme is deemed necessary to
capitalise on the positive effects carried over from
earlier phases of the life cycle.
Statistical Quality Control in Retail Banking
Authors: Yasin Mahmoud M. , Green Ronald F. , Wafa Marwan
Published: May 2006

The importance of quality and statistical quality control as
strategic tools, well established in the manufacturing community, has
recently been extended to the service sector. The application of
statistical quality control techniques within the banking industry is
discussed. Recommendations for establishing a quality control programme
within a typical banking service environment are provided.
Vendor Evaluation Criteria and Perceived Organisational Performance: A Comparison of American and Japanese Firms
Authors: Ebrahimpour Maling , Mangiameli Paul M.
Published: May 2006

Important evaluation criteria as they are perceived by quality managers in American and US‐based Japanese firms are examined. For this study, three different groups of companies contained within four industries were considered. They included American firms using a traditional approach to manufacturing management, Japanese firms operating in the United States, and American firms attempting a Japanese approach to manufacturing management. This study identified price, on‐time delivery, and the supplier′s product quality as the three major criteria for evaluating vendors. The attitudes of quality managers concerning the importance of these variables were counter to the impressions portrayed in the academic and managerial press. Also differing from the literature was how much the managers in these different types of firms linked the evaluation criteria and overall organisational performance.
Designing Sampling Inspection Plans When the Sample Size is Fixed
Authors: Soundararajan V. , Vijayaraghavan R.
Published: May 2006

The readily available acceptance number value is revised in the form of three tables. From these tables it is possible to determine single or chain sampling inspection plans when the sample size is fixed. These tables replace the large number of existing tables in use.
Human Factors and Reliability in Colliery Maintenance
Authors: Winterton Jonathan
Published: May 2006

New technologies of coal production have improved machine reliability but increased technical complexity. More man shifts are now devoted to maintenance than to coalface production, so maintainability is crucial. The reorganisation of craft work, to increase labour flexibility and reduce workers′ autonomy, reveals a fundamental conflict between the production objectives of the new systems and human factors. The full productive potential of computerised systems is not being realised because of random breakdowns. The new technology has been designed to circumvent the skills and knowledge of the workforce, but its success depends on harnessing these skills. A system designed to enhance maintenance workers′ skills would avoid these contradictions, raise productivity and improve the working environment.
Scheduling Imperfect Preventive and Overhaul Maintenance
Authors: Olorunniwo Festus O. , Izuchukwu Ariwodo
Published: May 2006

Although each maintenance task performed on an item of equipment may enhance its reliability, neither preventive nor overhaul maintenance can return the equipment to good‐as‐new condition. Applying the concept of maintenance improvement factors to both types of maintenance, mathematical models are developed that are used to generate preventive and overhaul maintenance schedules. Examples are provided to demonstrate the sensitivity of the schedules to model parameters.
Total Quality Management in the Australian Banking Industry
Authors: Dawson Patrick , Patrickson Margaret
Published: May 2006

The need for a strategic shift in senior management philosophy which encourages and promotes a culture of total employee involvement towards the attainment of service quality is one of the major competitive challenges facing the Australian banking industry in the 1990s. Some of these issues are addressed through a case‐study analysis of the origin, rationale and implementation of a quality service programme in the State Bank of South Australia. In examining these changes a historical outline of the State Bank of South Australia and an account of the research methodology used in the study form the introduction. This is followed by an analysis of the design and development of a programme of change and an identification of the key factors shaping the implementation of total quality management. In conclusion an assessment of the opportunities and constraints for the successful implementation of service‐quality delivery programmes in the Australian banking industry is given.
Quality and Cost Improvements
Authors: Haworth R.
Published: May 2006

The management and control of random process variations is often neglected in Europe. The Japanese emphasise the control and reduction of these variations and some multinationals have realised that this is an area of great potential for quality improvements. There are essentially two approaches. The first is to design the effects out of the product and therefore make it robust against both the random and the non‐random process variations. The second approach is to improve the process capability. It is stressed that if industry is to stay competitive then it must tackle product quality at all levels of design and manufacture. Some useful insights into process variation reduction are given.
Contingency Factors in Quality Circles: A Review of Empirical Evidence
Authors: Fabi Bruno
Published: May 2006

Considers the factors which affect the success or failure of QCs. Analyses international QC experience through empirical literature reporting field results in various European, North American and Australasian countries. Summarizes a process aimed at identifying the main contingency factors likely to influence the QCs, since their smooth operation depends on a variety of economic, organizational and psychological contingency factors. Overall, the results suggest the predominance of external environmental and organizational factors over group or individual‐related factors. A final major trend points to the key importance of contingency factors at the pre‐introduction and introduction phases of QCs.
Can Questionnaires Objectively Assess Organisational
Culture?
Authors: Tucker Robert W. , McCoy Walt J. , Evans Linda C.
Published: May 2006

A two‐year qualitative study with business leaders identified
salient dimensions of organisational culture (OC) which were then
operationalised into a multiscale survey. The Survey of Organisational
Culture (SOC) was then employed in ten empirical studies to assess:
reliability, validity, perceived usefulness to professional managers and
the overall feasibility and adequacy of objective assessments of OC. The
results indicate that reliable and meaningful information can be
obtained that will be useful to managers.
Evaluation of Organisation Training by the Solomon Four
Group Design: A Field Study in Self‐esteem Training
Authors: Holdnak B.J. , Clemons Tanya C. , Bushardt Stephen C.
Published: May 2006

The evaluation of training programmes is discussed: objectives must
be defined and a proper experimental design must be used. The article
describes a field study in “Self‐esteem Training” which was
also used to examine the application of the Solomon four group design.
It was shown that although the participants in the study were
unqualified in their support for the programme, the evaluation revealed
that it did not have the desired effect on job satisfaction and
organisational commitment.
Decision‐making Styles of White‐collar Workers
Authors: Savery Lawson K. , Waters Henry
Published: May 2006

The research reported in this article is the study of the preferences for decision‐making responsibilities indicated by white‐collar workers of a mining company′s headquarters in Perth, Western Australia. The research methodology used a “specific situation” item questionnaire with the preferred style for making the decision concerning the specific situation measured on a continuum with five alternatives of decision making. The results suggested that there were five factors underlying the data collected, each with a different desired decision‐making style. These preferred styles appeared to be influenced by the personal skills and experiences which allowed the person to feel (s)he could have some constructive input into the decision. Hence, management should consider installing a system of leadership which recognises that differences do exist concerning the preferred leadership styles depending on the worker′s perceived impact of the decisions on the individual′s work life.
Culture and Negotiation in the Asian Context: Key Issues in
the Marketing of Technology
Authors: Swierczek Fredric William
Published: May 2006

The characteristics of cross‐cultural negotiation in the Asian
context are reviewed. Findings are presented concerning an exercise in
negotiation in an executive development programme in which participants
were to develop a strategy of marketing a computer system to a bank. The
two basic strategies of negotiation – instrumental and
collaborative – are compared.
After Further Sightings of the Heffalump
Authors: Perry Chad
Published: May 2006

In 1971, Kilby likened research about the psychology of
entrepreneurs to search for a “heffalump”, with no
convincing descriptions resulting from the research. This paper surveys
later research which compares entrepreneurs with other people, and
concludes that more is now known about the psychology of entrepreneurs,
but that entrepreneurs are not as different from other groups within the
general population, managers included, as was once assumed.
NEW JOB, NEW BOSS, NEW GAME: FIVE POSITIVE WAYS TO BUILD AN
EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH A NEW BOSS
Authors: Burdett John O.
Published: May 2006

Changing organisations is not only challenging but all too often a
time when the newly hired manager has a high propensity to fail. One
critical dimension of success in a new job ‐the relationship with the
boss – is explored, outlining five critical aspects of building
this relationship.
RELOCATION OF COMPANIES: THE HUMAN RESOURCE PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Altman Yochanan
Published: May 2006

Critical issues facing management in a rapidly expanding, yet
under‐researched, phenomenon, are outlined, namely the management of
company relocation. After surveying the strong evidence for the growing
tendency to relocate, some of the central processes involved are
analysed, in particular: the decision‐making process (to relocate), the
HR policies and the communication problem, the major issues in the
relocation period itself, and the aftermath.
Using General Semantics to Improve Communication in Audit
and Accounting
Authors: Money Christopher K. , Kleiner Brian H.
Published: May 2006

As the goal of most communication is cooperation, the study of
general semantics enables people to organise their thoughts and words so
that co‐operation rather than conflict results. Six ideas are identified
which use general semantics to aid co‐operation, resulting in higher
productivity and better relationships.
Evaluation of Management’s Judgements: The Auditor’s
Achilles’ Heel
Authors: Pomeranz Felix
Published: May 2006

The auditor′s responsibility for detecting management fraud of a
material nature is affirmed. Auditors are vulnerable to failure when
they perform substantive procedures concerned with matters such as asset
valuation. Some auditors have tended to “audit to”
management representations, a phenomenon known as anchoring to
statisticians. Yet, the technology has become available for an
independent approach to audit verification of management judgements and
estimates; public on‐line databases will play an important role in
helping the auditor to understand the client, and to validate individual
accounts.
Teaching Chaos: How to Manage Operational Audits
Authors: Vinten Gerald
Published: May 2006

Chaos theory has universal significance. It has
entered into management thinking, implicitly rather
than explicitly, as seen in works such as Schon′s
Beyond the Stable State, Toffler′s Future Shock and
Peters′ Thriving on Chaos. An attempt is made to
relate chaos theory to auditing and to consider the
implications for teaching.
UK Internal Audit Developments‐Towards Europe or America?
Authors: Vinten Gerald
Published: May 2006

Two major dates are 1991, the 50th anniversary of the Institute of
Internal Auditors (IIA), and 1992, the integration of the European
Community. The IIA‐UK is the largest among the European Institutes, and
the largest also outside North America. It began as an offshoot of IIA
Inc. in the USA, and significant developments in its history are
outlined. One of these was the deliberate break with the CIA
examinations, and the establishment of a homegrown qualification.
Damning criticism of standards of internal audit in central government
led to a rapid programme of improvements, and this included the wish
that government internal auditors join a professional body. The IIA‐UK
achieved a suddent influx of new members, was born again, and embarked
on a flurry of new activities. The central question now is whether the
IIA‐UK will go completely European, stay with the US Institute, or
manage to do both.
Developing a Training Programme
Authors: Sumners Glenn E. , Roy Richard A. , Gavin Thomas A.
Published: May 2006

A methodology for developing a training programme
responsive to the expanding scope of internal audit
functions is presented. A training development
cycle, of which an individual career record is an
integral point, is described, to enable the internal
audit function to adapt to the constant state of
change which will become the norm in the 1990s.
Modelling Churches as Collective Action Groups
Authors: Wallis Joe L.
Published: May 2006

Contrasting approaches to the economic modelling of churches are examined. The proposal that churches should be modelled as collective action groups, rather than wealth maximising firms is expounded, with particular focus on the way the two approaches treat church products, finances and externalities. The main implications arising from modelling churches as collective action groups are summarised.
An Essay on the Alleged Death of Socialism
Authors: McCormick Ken
Published: May 2006

Recent events in Eastern Europe are the framework within which the
Marxian theory of history is discussed – what Marx meant by
“revolution” and “socialism”. As with
“capitalism” they should not be confused with the essence.
The collapse of Soviet‐style regimes is not a refutation of Marxism.
Child Care Services in the Labourforce Participation and Income Distribution of Working Mothers in the US
Authors: Fayissa Bichaka , Fessehatzion Tekie
Published: May 2006

Some evidence for the nexus of child care services, labour force
participation, fertility, and family income inequality of working
mothers in the US is presented in a cause‐effect framework. Based on
sample data of 100 SMSAs in 1980, the study finds that the provision of
child care services not only increases the labour force participation of
working mothers, but it also results in a more equal family income
distribution. Its policy implication is that the provision of child care
services at an affordable cost and the restructuring of the occupational
distribution of women from low paying to higher paying jobs, especially
of female‐headed households, may significantly improve the economic
welfare of the working poor and their children.
Resources, Resistances, and Economic Growth
Authors: Hill Lewis E.
Published: May 2006

Erich W. Zimmermann′s functional interpretation of resources is
expanded and elaborated into an instrumental theory of resources,
resistances, and economic growth. Both resources, which are useful to
man, and resistances, which interfere with the satisfaction of his
wants, are defined by technology and redefined by every technological
innovation. Therefore, technological innovation can create new resources
and can transform resistances into resources by teaching man how to use
environmental features which were previously useless. Technological
progress becomes the basis of unlimited economic growth. This
instrumental theory is used to suggest solutions to problems associated
with resource depletion, environmental pollution, and economic growth.
On the Need for Work as Such
Authors: O'Boyle Edward J.
Published: May 2006

The need for work as such, along with physical need, are the two
fundamental needs that flow directly from the materiality of human
nature. For this reason, these two needs, taken together, are referred
to as human material need. The embodiment of human beings is crucial for
both social economics and the social economy, because without embodiment
there would be no human material need and without that need there would
be no social economy and therefore no social economics. This article
proceeds from three main premises: (1) Man is not an object but a
person, and for that reason matters much; (2) Work is organised and
performed through two main modes conforming to the duality of human
nature – these modes are referred to as teamwork and contribution;
(3) Work has two main effects on persons conforming also to the duality
of human nature – these modes are referred to as individual
development and belonging.
Gorbachev's Critique and Vision of Soviet Socialism
Authors: Dowlah Abu F. , Elliott John E.
Published: May 2006

Gorbachev′s vision of democratic, decentralised and market‐oriented
socialism has generated diverse and controversial perceptions in the
Soviet Union. Gorbachev′s claim that the USSR is not retreating from
socialism but advancing towards it, having dismantled the Stalinist
Command model, is assessed.
Professor Raiklin, Hegel and the World Historical Individuals
Authors: Armour Leslie
Published: May 2006

Hegelian ideas are used to explain the success of Lenin. Hegel′s
account of the World Historical Individual may be especially relevant at
this time because the dialectic between decentralised grassroots
politics and the need for strong central authority not only figured in
the rise of Napoleon (an example Hegel had much in mind) but seems to be
at work in the affairs of Mikhail Gorbachev as well. But one must beware
the paradoxes associated with ideas of historical necessity. One can
avoid them by talking of probabilities, and conceptualising the
formation of leaders as a response to a market which has a tendency to
match supply and demand. But this does not wholly explain the
tendency of Marxist systems to produce leaders like Lenin, Stalin,
Ceausescu, Hoxha, Tito and Castro. It is argued that such figures become
surrogates for the free man of the future, and that the masses are also
encouraged to live vicariously through them; but it is also argued that
revolutions produce the kind of chaos which creates a demand for
authority.
The Team Management Resource in the Training Agency
Authors: Leslie Rae W.
Published: May 2006

An analysis of the practical application of the Team Management
Resource designed by Charles Margerison and Dick McCann in the
Training Agency (formerly the Manpower Services Commission) is
represented. The results represent the completion of the instrument by
855 managers in the Commission and compares these results with those
produced by Margerison and McCann for a wider, more general sample of
managers. Several differences are noted between the two samples and some
possible reasons for these differences are proposed. The article samples
were obtained principally during training events (normally Team
Development, although the instrument was administered during
developmental events) and suggests implications for trainers and
training in its use.
Developing Transformational Leadership: 1992 and Beyond
Authors: Bass Bernard M. , Avolio Bruce J.
Published: May 2006

European management must become more transformational with respect
to its leadership if it is to address the challenges confronting the
European community after 1992. The question arises, can transformational
leadership be trained? The answer is affirmative. A number of successful
training experiences in North America are described in this article.
These experiences form the basis for a prototype training programme now
being conducted in a large European conglomerate at the junior, middle
and senior management level. A general overview of these programmes are
provided, as well as evidence that they are having strong beneficial
effects on the participants in the workshops, and in their performance
back on their jobs.
Advances in Teaching and Learning Methods
Authors: Lyn Fawcett S.
Published: May 2006

The current requirements and recommendations found in BTEC
guidelines for Higher Diploma courses are examined and the teaching
stratagems which have been applied by the Department of Hotel and
Catering Management in meeting these guidelines are described.
Research Report: Cost‐effectiveness of Curriculum Revision
Authors: Mulder M. , Spitholt W.E. , Barents A.M.C.
Published: May 2006

The findings of a study on the cost‐effectiveness of using
computer‐based training (CBT) in the Post branch of the Dutch PTT are
reported. A cost‐effectiveness model is drawn from the literature and
used in the study. The results indicate that CBT can be successfully
integrated within a course of study.
Enterprise Training, Competently – Directions for
R&D
Authors: Nelson Edwin G.
Published: May 2006

Describes models for empirical enquiry. Since the publication of
the CEDEFOP guides to competence in the design of enterprise training
programmes the need to train a cadre of professional enterprise trainers
for small business has become widely accepted throughout Europe. There
is a consensus of opinion which favours a competence‐based and
process‐related approach. Discusses a framework for research and
describes models of the “process” of enterprise training,
based on practical experience, as a basis for functional analysis to
determine relevant enterprise trainer competences. Concludes that the
CEDEFOP guides provide a starting point, but there is considerable scope
for research into enterprise training processes, trainer competences and
outcomes in different small business contexts.
Turning Experience into Learning: The Strategic Challenge
for Individuals and Organizations
Authors: Bunning Cliff
Published: May 2006

Advances the view that learning is a strategic variable in
individual and organizational effectiveness; discusses the processes
involved in learning; proposes ways in which organizations can be more
supportive of learning; advocates action learning.
Coupon use in ethnic markets: implications from a retail perspective
Authors: Kaufman Carol J.
Published: May 2006

Reports on problems with coupon use experienced within ethnic
subcultures by presenting the results and implications of a study of
retailers in the Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey area. Argues that
marketers are challenged to understand the intricacies of ethnic markets
as they grow in number and size in the USA. Suggests that marketing
strategies that are successful in mass markets, such as couponing, are
likely to operate differently in ethnic subcultures, such as Hispanic
and Chinese markets. Recommends a retail perspective that uncovers
potential problem areas encountered by retailers, consumers, and
manufacturers alike.
Remarketing: Commercialization of Remanufacturing
Technology
Authors: McConocha Diane M. , Speh Thomas W.
Published: May 2006

Creates a framework for evaluating the marketing strategy
dimensions of remanufacturing. Discusses resource recapture and how
diffusion theory may be applied to the adoption of the
remanufacturing/remarketing concept. Concludes that the diffusion of
renovation will depend on the right firms having the right motivations
to adopt the concept of remanufacturing/remarketing.
Service Quality: the Front‐stage vs. the Back‐stage
Perspective
Authors: Glynn Mangold W. , Babakus Emin
Published: May 2006

Evaluates customers′ and employees′ service quality expectations
and perceptions from the example of a hospital environment. Considers
employees′ responses in administrative and nonadministrative categories.
Notes differences between the groups and discusses the managerial
implications arising from the differences found. Includes a detailed
description of the methodology involved in the study.
School Location in a Developing Nation: A
Location‐allocation Modelling Approach
Authors: London Norrel A.
Published: May 2006

Beginning in the early 1970s Trinidad and Tobago adopted a policy
of putting all of its junior secondary schools “on shift”.
The method allows for two schools conducted in the same facility at
different times of the day, and has the advantage of accessing a large
number of students to secondary school. The method, however, has
generated a number of problems and, as a result, has been earmarked for
alteration. Current plans in Trinidad and Tobago include dismantling the
shift system through construction of new, single shift, schools in new
locations. It is argued that proposals to build new facilities in new
locations as a means of resolving problems associated with the shift
system may be more effectively accomplished through application of the
method of location‐allocation modelling.
The Finance of Schools in British Columbia
Authors: Richards John
Published: May 2006

When formula funding for schools is to begin in the UK from April
1990, it would seem to be an appropriate moment to consider the methods
used in other educational systems. This article outlines the financial
arrangements for schools in British Columbia.
Choice of Secondary School: Consumer Behaviour and Implications for Local Management of Schools
Authors: Yorke D.A. , Bakewell Cathy J.
Published: May 2006

The management of schools is a prime
objective of the 1988 Education Reform Act.
However, local management of schools (LMS)
implies much more than managing existing
resources of people, finance and materials.
Schools will have to compete for pupils, the
numbers of which will determine financial support
from the local authority. Successful competition
for pupils will not simply mean more advertising
and promotion: it will depend on targeting certain
groups within the defined catchment area and
decisions on targeting will result from elements
of research. One such element, namely the
decision‐making unit (DMU) within the family or
household structure is examined. It identifies who
makes decisions on choice of school together with
the factors of schools′ activities which are
important in that choice. Finally, it contrasts the
above variables using ACORN (A Classification
of Residential Neighbourhoods) as a base.