bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and tribological behavior of ionic liquid substituted fluoroalkoxycyclophosphazene derivatives in steel‐steel contacts
Authors: Li Jinlong , Feng Dapeng , Liang Yongmin , Xia Yanqiu , Liu Weimin
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to synthesize a series of cyclophosphazene derivatives with better tribological properties.

Design/methodology/approach

To improve the adsorptivity to substrate, a series of cyclophosphazene derivatives substituted with ionic liquids were synthesized. The lubricity characteristics of phosphazene derivatives were evaluated on an Optimol SRV IV oscillating friction and wear tester. Scanning electron microscope and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscope analyses were conducted to examine the morphology and chemical composition of the wear scars and the possible tribochemical changes involved in the friction process.

Findings

Alkoxycyclophosphazene derivatives substituted with ionic liquids synthesized in the present work show better antiwear ability and load‐carrying capacity in steel‐steel contacts. The density of ion pairs plays an important role on tribological properties.

Research limitations/implications

The paper deals with only a limited compounds and steel‐steel contacts. The paper works on the subject progressively to explore more combinations for better tribological properties.

Practical implications

All the cyclophosphazene derivatives present better tribological performance and could be used as base oils, such as hard disk surface lubricants.

Originality/value

Ionic liquids are introduced to cyclophosphazene derivatives in this paper. This is a new method to improve the tribological properties of cyclophosphazene derivatives.
New Zealand unit trust disclosure: asset allocation, style analysis, and return attribution
Authors: Fowler Ross , Grieves Robin , Clay Singleton J.
Published: May 2010

Purpose

This article aims to explore three facets of the historical performance of a sample of actively managed unit trusts available to New Zealand investors: asset allocation, style analysis, and return attribution.

Design/methodology/approach

Because New Zealand does not require unit trusts to disclose their security holdings, the paper used returns‐based style analysis to infer how these trusts have allocated their funds among asset classes.

Findings

The research has found that, for unit trusts available to New Zealand investors, asset allocation can explain a significant amount of the differences in return across time and between trusts. Across time, asset allocation accounts for about 80 per cent of the variation in actual return. Between trusts, asset allocation explains about 60 per cent of the variation in returns. From either perspective, the choice of asset allocation is an important factor in explaining returns.

Originality/value

The paper suggests that active management barely earns its fees and that passive investments might do as well or better.
Actuarial gains and losses: the determinants of the accounting method
Authors: Morais Ana
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of the choice of the accounting method for recognising actuarial gains and losses of defined benefit plans.

Design/methodology/approach

In the paper, a logit model is estimated in order to relate the dependent variable (actuarial gains and losses method) with some explanatory variables (size, industry, leverage, profitability, size of pension funds and the existence of actuarial gains or losses).

Findings

The results of this study indicate that size, industry, profitability and the existence of actuarial gains or actuarial losses are important determinants in the choice of the accounting method for actuarial gains and losses.

Research limitations/implications

The study only addresses the choice between the equity recognition method and the corridor method due to the small number of companies that adopted the profit or loss method (only eight observations).

Originality/value

This paper examines the recognition of actuarial gains and losses which can have an economically significant impact on companies' financial position and financial performance. This paper contributes to the accounting choice literature by exploiting the determinants of the choice of the accounting method for recognising actuarial gains and losses under IAS 19.
Factors associated with the quality of audit committees
Authors: Baxter Peter
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyse whether several indicators of audit committee quality are associated with a number of supply and demand factors such as board composition, board activity, auditor type and leverage.

Design/methodology/approach

The 2001 annual reports of a random sample of 200 Australian listed companies were analysed and data gathered on several audit committee quality indicators, i.e. independence, expertise, size and activity. Regression analysis was performed to determine the level of association between these indicators and several board and other variables.

Findings

The results indicate that, in 2001, many Australian listed companies were already complying with several of the ASX Corporate Governance Council's recommendations relating to audit committees. Furthermore, in a time period absent of audit committee regulation, there was strong support for the influence of the board of directors on the composition and activity of the audit committee.

Research limitation/implications

Consistent with prior research, this study confirms the influence of the board of directors on a number of audit committee quality indicators.

Practical implications

Corporate regulators and companies will find these results useful to understand the factors driving several of the main indicators of audit committee quality.

Originality/value

This study adds to the current limited empirical research on Australian audit committees by analysing several indicators of audit committee quality in a time period not affected by regulation.
The journey from market orientation to firm performance
Authors: Chen‐Ho Chao Mike , Spillan John E.
Published: May 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the link between market orientation and performance of US and Taiwanese small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). This study is primarily centred on empirically investigating two issues: test the effectiveness of MARKOR (a widely used market orientation measure developed by Kohli et al.) in US and Taiwanese SME contexts, and investigate the factors influencing US and Taiwanese SMEs’ performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study's participants were owners or managers from 138 SMEs located in three states in the USA (i.e. Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania) and 151 SMEs located in Taiwan. A survey was created to collect data: market orientation scale items used in this survey were mainly adopted from MARKOR; performance scale items were adopted directly from previous studies. Structural equation modelling was employed to analyse the data collected.

Findings

This study finds that neither US and Taiwanese SMEs’ intelligence generation, nor intelligence dissemination had a significant relationship with their firm performance. However, the findings do indicate that there was a significantly positive link between US and Taiwanese SMEs’ responsiveness and their firm performance.

Originality/value

In almost all previous studies in this field, the primary emphasis has focused on the market orientation of large businesses. Research on market orientation in SMEs has been scarce. Hence, this paper contributes to the extant literature by changing the research direction and studying market orientation in SME context. In addition, this paper provides SME managers with a more understandable guide to specific market‐oriented activities.
The impact of “green‐collar workers” on organizations
Authors: Harvey Diane M. , Bosco Susan M. , Emanuele Gregory
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a better understanding of the presence of “green‐collar workers” in organizations, including whether their perception of the organization with regard to environmental activities would affect their willingness to recommend the employer to others. It also aims to analyse generational differences with regard to this phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a survey developed from other research on green‐collar workers. It was distributed electronically and the data analysed using primarily χ2 and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Findings

There were differences in knowledge levels regarding environmental topics such as the Kyoto treaty and the Green‐Collar Jobs Act. Significant correlations were also found among the variables of generation, willingness to recommend employer, and importance of school/workplace being environmentally friendly.

Research limitations/implications

The use of an online survey was a limitation due to the need for technology access to respond. Despite this limitation, subjects included sufficient members of all four generations to perform the analyzes.

Practical implications

Organizations that are trying to “go green” may well benefit from improved employee relations as a result. Employees who are interested in environmental issues will more likely recommend their companies to others when they feel the organization reflects their interest.

Originality/value

Other studies have not included gender or generational aspects of the issue of environmentalism in their work. This empirical study also investigates the relationship between organizations’ environmental activities, employee perceptions of the organization, and their willingness to recommend their company to others.
Robots at the International Robot Exhibition 2009 in Tokyo
Authors: Kusuda Yoshihiro
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan 2009, with emphasis on new trend of Japanese robot industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on in‐depth interviews with exhibitors and the reporter's insight in Japanese robot industry.

Findings

A big change is observed in the direction of the Japanese industrial robotics in an attempt to overcome the economic crisis.

Practical implications

New markets, new applications, new robot types, and new robot‐based production systems will be emerging.

Originality/value

This is the first report describing the “change” in the Japanese robot industry after the breakout of the world economy recession.
Robotic watercraft make a big splash at the unmanned vehicle show
Authors: Bloss Richard
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the 2009 AUVSI Conference and Show held in Washington, DC with emphasis on unmanned vehicles or service robots, their application on the ground, in the air, and in the water.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is of in‐depth interviews with exhibitors of unmanned vehicles and the providers of the technologies which are fundamental to their design and deployment.

Findings

The unmanned robotic vehicle industry is largely driven by government requirements, both military and civilian. Unmanned service robots are also found in commercial applications such as pipeline surveillance, crop monitoring, and fish school location at sea.

Practical implications

Developers will be challenged to meet the need for improvements in speed, payload, sensor capabilities, autonomous operation, and command and control of fleets of unmanned vehicles.

Originality/value

The paper offers insights into trends and new products in the unmanned robotic vehicle industry.
Design principle based on maximum output force profile for a musculoskeletal robot
Authors: Niiyama Ryuma , Kuniyoshi Yasuo
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on an engineering application of the vertebrate musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system has unique mechanisms such as bi‐articular muscle, antagonistic muscle pairs and muscle‐tendon elasticity. The “artificial musculoskeletal system” is achieved through the use of the pneumatic artificial muscles. The study provides a novel method to describe the force property of the articulated mechanism driven by muscle actuator and a transmission.

Design/methodology/approach

A musculoskeletal system consists of multiple bodies connected together with rotational joints and driven by mono‐ and bi‐articular actuators. The paper analyzes properties of the musculoskeletal system with statically calculated omni‐directional output forces. A set of experiments has been performed to demonstrate the physical ability of the musculoskeletal robot.

Findings

A method to design a musculoskeletal system is proposed based on an analysis of the profile of convex polygon of maximum output forces. The result shows that the well‐designed musculoskeletal system enables the legged robot to jump 0.6 m high and land softly from 1.0 m drop off.

Originality/value

The paper provides a design principle for a musculoskeletal robot. The musculoskeletal system is the bio‐inspired mechanism for all multi‐degrees‐of‐freedom articulated devices, and has the advantages of optimized actuator configuration and force control.
Development of an industrial pipeline inspection robot
Authors: Tavakoli Mahmoud , Marques Lino , de Almeida Aníbal T.
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe design and development of a pole climbing robot (PCR) for inspection of industrial size pipelines. Nowadays, non‐destructive testing (NDT) methods are performed by dextrous technicians across high‐level pipes, frequently carrying dangerous chemicals. This paper reports development of a PCR that can performin situmanipulation for NDT tests.

Design/methodology/approach

Introduces a PCR including a novel four‐degrees of freedom climbing serial mechanism with the nearly optimal workspace and weight, unique V‐shaped grippers and a fast rotational mechanism around the pole axis. Simplicity, safety, minimum weight, and manipulability were concerned in the design process.

Findings

The developed prototype proved possibility of application of PCRs for NDT inspection on elevated structures. Design and development of PCRs which are able to pass bends and T‐junctions faces much more difficulties than those which should climb from a straight pole.

Practical implications

The robot is successfully tested on an industrial size structure (exterior diameter of 219 mm) with bends and T‐junctions.

Originality/value

Design and development of a novel pole climbing and manipulating robot for inspection of industrial size pipelines. The robot is able to pass bends and T‐junctions. The V‐shaped grippers offer many advantages including safety and tolerance to power failure. After grasping the structure, in case of power failure in any of the grippers' motors, the robot does not slip on the structure. TheZ‐axis rotational mechanism provides fast navigation around the pole which is not possible with the traditional serial articulated arms.
Community empowerment
Authors: Adamson Dave
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine Communities First, an area‐based regeneration policy in Wales to explore the barriers to community empowerment. Three related research projects provide data to inform the discussion of community empowerment and to consider the implications of delivery of the policy for theorising the relationship between the citizen and the state as mediated through regeneration partnerships.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from three related research projects are discussed. These are an evaluation of local delivery of the Communities First programme, the delivery of technical support to participating communities and a Joseph Rowntree‐funded case study of nine regeneration partnerships. All projects are concerned with exploring the experience of community members within regeneration partnerships.

Findings

The findings identify major barriers to the achievement of community empowerment including issues of community capacity, institutional capacity, organisational cultures and regulatory frameworks. The findings identify mechanisms for improving community participation and empowerment. The findings are also used to identify community actor agency within regeneration partnerships and to argue against an analysis of regeneration initiatives as a mechanism of social control and incorporation of community activism into a state led agenda.

Research limitations/implications

The paper explores one specific policy within a UK devolved region and is not able to comment extensively on similar policy programmes in other areas of the UK. However, it uses this specific experience to comment on generic issues in the community empowerment field and to elaborate theory on the relationship between the citizen and the state.

Practical implications

The paper offers practitioners and policy makers insight into the community experience of participation in regeneration partnerships and proposes methods and policy refinements which can improve empowerment outcomes and assist community participation to achieve higher levels of influence over statutory partners.

Originality/value

While the paper identifies barriers to empowerment that are recognised in the wider literature, it demonstrates that such barriers can prevail even within a highly participative policy framework such as Communities First. The paper also provides evidence of a clear sense of agency on the part of community members of regeneration partnerships and counters models which suggest regeneration partnerships are simple mechanisms of social control which diffuse community activism.
Economic inequality and poverty: where do we go from here?
Authors: Smith Noel
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to compare applied social policy approaches to child poverty and economic inequality, the latter being mainly operationalised in the UK in terms of social mobility.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers the theoretical stance underpinning New Labour's approach towards social policy, with particular reference to “individualisation”, and reviews Government strategies towards tackling poverty and economic inequality.

Findings

Despite a decade of unprecedented investment, there is an impasse in reducing child poverty and economic inequality has increased. Policy now relies on education as being the clinching factor to break this impasse. Education is vital but education alone will not tip the balance in eradicating poverty. The assumption that education will facilitate social mobility, by serving to position the UK at the high end of the global labour market, fails to address the prevalence of the “low‐pay‐no‐pay” cycle associated with the flexible labour market. Further measures are necessary to ensure that the labour market accommodates the needs of those entering it.

Originality/value

The paper shows that, given the failure of current social policy to address poverty and inequality, especially given that post‐recession conditions are likely to be less favourable than in the last decade, there is an urgent need for bold, new policy thinking. Pinning all hopes on education – and seeing solutions only in terms of individuals' skills and aspirations, without critical consideration of the nature of the labour market – cannot be accepted as the best way forward.
Effectiveness, inequality and ethos in three English schools
Authors: Engel Laura C. , Holford John , Pimlott‐Wilson Helena
Published: May 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the nature of effective schools serving socially disadvantaged communities, and to point to an overlooked feature in the literature on school effectiveness in relation to social inclusion.

Design/methodology/approach

As part of a trans‐European project, three English schools are investigated. A qualitative case study approach is utilised. The schools selected have high proportions of ethnic minority students with low socio‐economic status backgrounds, yet demonstrate successful results.

Findings

The data show the importance of high expectations, and the development of classroom and school‐wide systems to translate these into practice. This reflects areas highlighted by earlier research on schools in disadvantaged communities. The data also point to important conclusions about school ethos.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based on a sample of three schools. Though purposively selected (as successful in challenging circumstances), further research is needed into the role of an inclusive ethos in school effectiveness.

Practical implications

As Scheerens and Bosker argue, schools are most important for underprivileged and/or initially low‐achieving students. Improving the effectiveness of schools in disadvantaged communities is therefore vital, and an ethos of inclusion is an essential dimension in this.

Originality/value

The conclusions mirror in many respects the findings of earlier research on effective schools in socio‐economically deprived communities. However, the paper also draws attention to the importance of developing and sustaining an ethos of inclusion in schools serving disadvantaged communities.
New class inequalities in education
Authors: Ball Stephen J.
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to develop a case for re‐considering the role of schools in education policy. The argument is made that considerable amounts of the variation in pupil performance may in fact derive from factors based on variations in parents' ability to buy‐in support and enrichment of various kinds for their children.

Design/methodology/approach

The argument of the paper is developed using secondary sources to make the case for non‐school explanations of variations in pupil performance and then offers a set of illustrations of the variety of types of bought‐in support and enrichment now being used in some families.

Findings

The paper concludes with the point that two contradictory education policy discourses are in play under New Labour. One, the discourse of standards/achievement, which works through testing, benchmarks, league‐tables, “coasting” schools, special measures, etc. totalises, individualises and commodifies the student as an “ability” – a cluster of performances. And in turn gives rise to “local economies of student worth” that “value” students differently within the processes of “school choice”. The other, the discourse of choice and active parenting, totalises, individualises and commodifies parents and families as “consumers” of education and investors in cultural capital.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is discursive, exploratory and wide‐ranging. It sets out to make a plausible case that would merit further research rather than to establish at this stage a set of firm conclusions.

Practical implications

If the argument is taken seriously then the focus of education policy would be decisively shifted. There is some evidence of a shift of emphasis towards more intervention and individual attention but achievement differences remain firmly located within schools.

Originality/value

Little attention has been focused on this kind of argument and there has certainly been no attempt to map the variety of and growth in private educational services.
Customer relationship oriented marketing practices in SMEs
Authors: Reijonen Helen , Laukkanen Tommi
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine to what extent small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) gather customer information and act on it keeping in mind the profitability of the business operations. A customer relationship oriented marketing process is suggested. This process includes customer information gathering, customer segmentation, creating value by differentiation and managing customer profitability. Special attention is paid to whether industry, size and customer markets affect the extent to which these tasks are performed.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected mainly through an online questionnaire from SMEs in three industries operating in North Karelia, Finland. Principal component analysis was used and, thereafter, the variables loaded on each of the factors were combined to composite measures. These composite measures were used as dependent variables in the analysis of variance exploring the differences between the SMEs.

Findings

The results show great differences in the activity of different marketing tasks, e.g. following how the customer relationships develop and pursuing profitable customers are performed often, whereas such tasks as segmentation and differentiation in terms of marketing communication are carried out less frequently. Based on the results, it can be argued that customer relationship oriented marketing practices differ between SMEs. The SMEs that are micro‐sized, operated in the industry of other personal services and in consumer markets seemed to put less effort on marketing practices than did the other studied enterprises.

Practical implications

It is shown in this paper that marketing activities frequently do not get enough attention especially in the smallest SMEs. In these enterprises, the role of the owner‐manager is significant and consequently more attention should be paid to enhancing their marketing capabilities.

Originality/value

The paper offers deeper insight into the little researched area of SME marketing and, especially, into the differences in marketing practices within SMEs.
Measuring situational triggers of television channel switching
Authors: Dix Steve , Phau Ian
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a scale (SITUZAP) to measure the situational factors that trigger channel switching, specifically within the television environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The domain construct is defined and 14 potential scale items were drawn from the literature and qualitative research. The scale was purified during the pilot phase and three scale items removed. The scale was re‐tested during the main study via an independent sample, confirming the two‐dimensional nature of the scale.

Findings

Reliability analysis indicates that the scale is internally consistent with co‐efficient alpha high across both pilot and main studies. Moreover, confirmatory factor analysis supports the two‐factor measurement model – “advertising triggers” and “RCD empowerment”. The test‐retest result (r=0.662) further provides evidence of stability within the scale. The scale has also been verified for content, criterion, discriminant, and nomological validity. All other indicators are within the acceptable range of statistics.

Originality/value

This is the first scale that measures the effect of situational factors on channel switching.
Television advertisements and children's buying behaviour
Authors: Priya Pankaj , Kanti Baisya Rajat , Sharma Seema
Published: May 2010

Purpose

Children differ in their cognitive ability while trying to interpret television advertisements and hence form different attitudes towards them. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of children's attitudes towards television advertisements on their resultant buying behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The research has been based on exploratory and descriptive research design. Exploratory research includes a literature review and in‐depth interviews with child psychologists, advertisers and parents of young children. This was further carried forward by carrying out a survey of children in the age group five to 11 years, while they were in their class room. The filling up of the questionnaires was aided by the class teacher, which had response options in a pictorial manner.

Findings

The demand for the advertised products is heavily influenced by the children's attitude towards advertisements. Further, the cognitive changes among the different age groups leads to the formation of varying attitudes towards the advertisements. Yet there are other potent factors apart from advertisements, which result in the requests for a product or brand.

Research limitations/implications

The paper has been carried out among children studying in English medium schools in the National Capital region of Delhi. Hence, the sample size is too small and restricted. The interplay of the various buying dimensions on each other have not been probed.

Practical implications

More focused approach is required by advertisers while planning their advertisement campaign for different age groups of children, rather than considering them as one homogenous group. Various elements of the advertisements have to be meticulously planned for different age groups.

Originality/value

At the lower age group it is the entertaining ability of the advertisements, whereas at the higher age groups the credibilty element in the advertisements has the potential of creating a favourable attitude towards the advertisements. There seems to be a complex relationship between attitude formation towards advertisements and the resulting buying behaviour because of the presence of other intervening variables. Characters from folklores can be depicted for creating aspiration.
Children's buying behaviour in China
Authors: Fan Ying , Li Yixuan
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report an empirical study on children's buying behaviour in China, with a special focus on their information sources.

Design/methodology/approach

The key literature on consumer socialisation of children is reviewed. Primary data were collected from a sample of 155 children aged ten‐13 using questionnaire survey. Various statistical methods such as Pearson correlation and tests were employed to analyse the data.

Findings

Chinese children regard television commercials as an important information source for new products. However, they place greater level of trust in interpersonal information sources, especially in their parents who are perceived as the most credible information source with respect to their learning about new food products.

Originality/value

The paper has made a contribution to the extant literature on Chinese children as consumer. The findings would be valuable in assisting companies, specially those in the food industry, to have a better understanding of Chinese children's buying behaviour.
“Lights, camera, action...!” Marketing film locations to Hollywood
Authors: Hudson Simon , Wing Sun Tung Vincent
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand and identify the marketing strategies and specific promotional tools used by film commissions to attract the production of films and television.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper involves in‐depth interviews with film commissions worldwide and a content analysis of their promotional materials.

Findings

Film commissions employ three key strategic marketing approaches when promoting their locations to film producers – product differentiation, service differentiation, and cost advantages. They use six main specific promotional tactics – advertising, sales promotions, joint promotions, public relations, online marketing, and direct marketing and personal selling. A model explaining the relationship between film commissions and film producers involving these strategies and promotional tools is suggested.

Research limitations/implications

The marketing of film locations is under‐researched and has to be further addressed in the marketing literature. Future research can seek to identify the specific marketing activities that will lead to success for the marketing of film locations.

Practical implications

Examples of the best marketing practices amongst film commissions are highlighted.

Originality/value

This is an original contribution in that it is the first academic paper to address the marketing of film locations. It will be of significant value to film locations seeking to attract production to their locations.
International Committee of the Red Cross: emblems of humanity
Authors: Torres Ann M.
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the branding and communications strategy of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC is the world's oldest non‐religious organisation dedicated to humanitarian relief. The ICRC's remit includes civilian and military victims of armed conflicts and internal disturbances, as well as human rights issues that transcend conflict situations, such as disaster response and preparedness, health and care in the community and humanitarian principles and values. The ICRC is the founding body of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and coordinates the efforts of the National Societies and their International Federation.

Design/methodology/approach

Various secondary sources are used to collate the information from which the case study is developed.

Findings

The ICRC's longevity is attributed to its ability to evolve, albeit at times slowly. However, the environment in which the ICRC operates is changing rapidly. Like many international non‐profit organisations, the ICRC faces considerable challenges to ensure it remains relevant by responding to the shifting environment in a flexible and creative manner. Consequently, the ICRC's communication efforts have become increasingly important.

Originality/value

The case study provides the opportunity to examine the branding and communications strategy for a prominent non‐profit organisation.
Low‐cost strategy through product architecture: lessons from China
Authors: Wang Hua , Kimble Chris
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The article shows how changes in product architecture have become the driving force behind a breakthrough strategy that has enabled Chinese carmakers to produce vehicles that are broadly equivalent to the products of western carmakers but at a fraction of the price.

Design/methodology/approach

The article presents an analysis of the development of a strategy based in an innovative product architecture used by a Chinese carmaker. The analysis covers the period between 1998 and 2006 and presents the results of a longitudinal study carried out by one of the authors in China between 2002 and 2007.

Findings

The article uses the literature on product architecture and breakthrough strategy to describe a quasi‐open modular product architecture used by Chinese carmakers. It provides an historical account of one company's approach to car making using this strategy and describes how it has allowed it to move from being a manufacturer of refrigerators to the ninth largest carmaker in China in period of ten years.

Practical implications

The article highlights the strategic potential of innovations in product architecture in general and that of quasi‐open modular architectures in particular. It also highlights the role of the emerging markets in China as the source of potential drivers for breakthrough strategies and as a threat to the current position of western carmakers.

Originality/value

This article uses evidence based on direct observation to describe a novel approach to product architecture that has been pioneered in the emergent markets in China.
Is the price right? Strategies for new introductions
Authors: Docters Rob , Katz Raul , Bernstein Jerry , Schefers Bert
Published: May 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to describe best practice in pricing strategy for new products and services being introduced to a market.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of introductory pricing patterns across a number of industries shows there are some common patterns in customer evaluation of new products and services. Study of customer behavior can be closely tracked where there is an ongoing relationship with the buyer, e.g. online services, software as a service, professional or technical services, consumables, consumer products and sometimes capital items with service suites and warranties (e.g. medical devices). The means for inferring and tracking customer understanding, beliefs and values is to quantify usage patterns, service call‐ins, warranty requirements and trade‐out of the new product/service for newer products and services.

Findings

This article examines customer behaviors to suggest that there are three phases to customer product or service adoption: a “learning” phase, where the customer or potential customer (in trial) learns about the products, its attributes, features, utility and value; a “use” phase where the customer has learned how to use the service or product, and is appreciating the value of the product, and using a lot; and a “reassessment” phase. Now the customer is very familiar with the product, the novelty and mystery has worn off, and they wonder if there is an equivalent substitute available for a lower cost.

Originality/value

A bad introductory pricing strategy can destroy price levels and destroy a market, not to mention cost a company a lot of money. For some years many new product/service sponsors believed the best pricing approach for new products and services was to offer it for free. This paper shows that this simple approach is both ineffective and impracticable for most companies. The better approach is to understand customer product adoption cycles, and link the introductory pricing strategy to customer understanding and behavior.
Ultimate ownership structure and corporate disclosure quality: evidence from China
Authors: Liu Guoping , Sun Jerry
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the type of ultimate controllers (i.e. private vs state) affects corporate disclosure quality and whether the relationship between the type of ultimate controllers and corporate disclosure quality is moderated by the separation of ownership and control.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs the data of 405 Chinese listed firms in 2005. Annual reports were reviewed to collect the data including the type of ultimate owners, cash‐flow rights, and control rights; and the ratings of corporate disclosure quality were obtained from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange website. Ordered logistic regression tested the hypotheses.

Findings

It was found that corporate disclosure quality is lower for firms ultimately controlled by individuals than for firms ultimately controlled by the state. Also, the negative effect of private ultimate ownership on corporate disclosure quality is stronger for firms with high deviation of cash‐flow rights and control rights.

Practical implications

These findings suggest that privatizing state‐owned companies may increase the expropriation of minority shareholders by controlling shareholders if the privatization does not reduce the separation of cash‐flow rights from control rights. Thus, it may be necessary to strengthen the governance role of minority shareholders and constrain the divergence between cash‐flow rights and control rights of the ultimate owners when state‐owned companies are privatized.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on the expropriation of minority shareholders by examining the main effect of the type of ultimate controllers and the interactive effect of ultimate ownership type and the divergence of ownership and control on corporate disclosure quality.
Vulnerable American options
Authors: Klein Peter , Yang Jun
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend the models of Johnson and Stulz, Klein and Klein and lnglis to analyse the properties of vulnerable American options.

Design/methodology/approach

The presented model allows default prior to the maturity of the option based on a barrier which is linked to the payoff on the option. Various measures of risk denoted by the standard Greek letters are studied, as well as additional measures that arise because of the vulnerability.

Findings

The paper finds that the delta of a vulnerable American put does not always increase with the price of the underlying asset, and may be significantly smaller than that of a non‐vulnerable put. Because of deadweight costs associated with bankruptcy, delta and gamma are undefined for some values of the underlying asset. Rho may be considerably higher while vega may be smaller than for non‐vulnerable options. Also, the probability of early exercise for vulnerable American options is higher and the price of the underlying asset at which this is optimal depends on the degree of credit risk of the option writer.

Originality/value

This paper makes a contribution to understanding the effect of credit risk on option valuation.
Linear and nonlinear interest rate exposure in Spain
Authors: Ferrer Román , González Cristóbal , Soto Gloria M.
Published: May 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the influence of interest rate risk on Spanish firms at the industry level.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology employed has its origin in the two‐index linear regression model proposed by Stone. This traditional interest rate exposure model has been extended in this paper to allow for a nonlinear exposure component as well as the presence of asymmetric behaviour in the exposure pattern.

Findings

Interest rate exposure is not homogeneous for all the Spanish industries. In line with other markets, highly leveraged industries (construction and real estate), regulated industries (electrical and utilities), and banking industry are the most interest rate sensitive. Nevertheless, the interest rate exposure of Spanish firms also shows some distinctive features due to the peculiar structure of the Spanish market. It is also documented that the classical linear exposure profile prevails over the nonlinear and asymmetric exposure patterns, and that the introduction of the euro seems to have weakened the degree of interest rate risk.

Practical implications

The evidence presented in this paper can be used as input in decision making by corporate managers, investors, and regulators interested in assessing the impact of interest rate risk at the sector level for hedging, portfolio management, or risk assessment purposes.

Originality/value

This is the first paper which tackles the analysis of the impact of interest rate risk on Spanish firms, taking into account not only the standard linear interest rate exposure profile but also the nonlinear one. The results found in the Spanish case reveal the existence of particularities which might also be present in countries immersed in a process of dramatic economic transformations similar to that experienced by Spain over the past two decades. This is the case of the Central and Eastern European countries which recently joined the European Union.
God, souls, and Turing: in defense of the theological objection to the Turing test
Authors: Bringsjord Selmer
Published: May 2010

Purpose

It is widely known that when Turing first introduced his “imitation‐game” test for ascertaining whether a computing machine can think, he considered, and found wanting, a series of objections to his position. It seems safe to say that one of these objections, the “theological objection” (TO), is regarded by Turing to be positively anemic, and that ever since he delivered his rapid (purported!) refutation over half a century ago, the received view has been that, indeed, this objection is as weak as can be. The purpose of this paper is to show that TO is not the pushover Turing, and others since, take it to be.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is devoted to the TO within the Turing test (TT) and to Turing's reply to this objection.

Findings

The paper reaches the conclusion that Turing's response to TO fails.

Originality/value

This paper is a defense of the TO to the TT.
Fair play for machines
Authors: Hodges Andrew
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider Alan Turing's philosophical paper on “Computing machinery and intelligence”, in which he defined the “imitation game”, now usually known as the Turing test.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper shows that Turing's paper contained more than the test; it contained a wide survey of what a computer could do and its relation to human thought.

Findings

This paper discusses how Turing's paper represented the outcome of many years in which Turing has both developed the concept and the design of the digital computer, and considered how its action could be related to human thought.

Originality/value

Analysis of Turing's paper provides an understanding and appreciation of Turing's contributions and the significance of the Turing test.
Testing Turing's five minutes, parallel‐paired imitation game
Authors: Shah Huma , Warwick Kevin
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider Turing's two tests for machine intelligence: the parallel‐paired, three‐participants game presented in his 1950 paper, and the “jury‐service” one‐to‐one measure described two years later in a radio broadcast. Both versions were instantiated in practical Turing tests during the 18th Loebner Prize for artificial intelligence hosted at the University of Reading, UK, in October 2008. This involved jury‐service tests in the preliminary phase and parallel‐paired in the final phase.

Design/methodology/approach

Almost 100 test results from the final have been evaluated and this paper reports some intriguing nuances which arose as a result of the unique contest.

Findings

In the 2008 competition, Turing's 30 per cent pass rate is not achieved by any machine in the parallel‐paired tests but Turing's modified prediction: “at least in a hundred years time” is remembered.

Originality/value

The paper presents actual responses from “modern Elizas” to human interrogators during contest dialogues that show considerable improvement in artificial conversational entities (ACE). Unlike their ancestor – Weizenbaum's natural language understanding system – ACE are now able to recall, share information and disclose personal interests.
Plastic machines: behavioural diversity and the Turing test
Authors: Wheeler Michael
Published: May 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider Turing's test and his objections to the idea that a machine might eventually pass it. Discusses behavioural diversity in relation to the Turing test.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper argues that this objection cannot be dismissed easily, taking the view that the diversity exhibited by human behaviour is characterised by a kind of context‐sensitive adaptive plasticity. Draws on Descartes' arguments and artificial intelligence to interpret the Turing test.

Findings

It is found that the distinctive context‐sensitive adaptive plasticity of human behaviour explains why the Turing test is such a stringent test for the presence of thought and why it is much harder to pass than Turing himself may have realised.

Originality/value

This paper provides an unique view of Turing's test that will assist researchers in assessing its value and its goals.
Not just Norbert
Authors: Bissell Chris
Published: May 2010

Purpose

Although Norbert Wiener is justifiably granted the epithet “father of cybernetics”, a number of other engineers from a control or telecommunications background also turned to areas that can broadly be categorised as cybernetic during and immediately after WW2. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of some of these lesser‐known technologist contributors to the emerging ideas of cybernetics.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on primary and secondary literature, as well as two interviews from the early 1990s.

Findings

In Germany, Hermann Schmidt, Chair of the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (Society of German Engineers) committee on control engineering (established in 1939) gave a talk on control engineering and its relationship with economics, social sciences and cultural aspects as early as October 1940. Winfried Oppelt, another member of the committee, also researched non‐technological applications of control ideas in his subsequent career (economics, biology), as did the communications engineer Karl Küpfmüller (pharmacokinetics, models of the human nervous system). In the UK, Arnold Tustin developed a mathematical model of a human gun operator during the war, and then applied control ideas to economic systems from the mid‐1940s.

Originality/value

The material presented here is not well‐known even within the control and communications engineering sectors, and is largely absent from histories of cybernetics – at least those in the English language.