bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do subnational business taxes reduce a region's competitiveness?
Authors: Williams Michael F.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This paper's purpose is to investigate the claim that capital taxes imposed by a subnational government reduce the economic competitiveness of the geographic area in which these taxes are imposed.

Design/methodology/approach

A two‐region, four‐good, three‐factor computational general equilibrium model of the USA is constructed. Simulations are performed to represent US state governments replacing wage taxes with capital taxes.

Findings

Household utilities rose when wage taxes were replaced by capital taxes, contradicting the conventional wisdom that capital taxes are harmful to a region's residents.

Research limitations/implications

As with all computational economic models, there are simplifications in this paper's model that abstract from reality and may limit the applicability of model results to the real world.

Practical implications

Subnational governments need not shy away from capital taxes when funding government programs.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the investigation of subnational tax incidence.
From technology imitation to market dominance: the case of iPod
Authors: Abel Ivan
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This study aims to examine validity of the first mover advantage theory (FMA) in the context of digital audio player (DAP) market. It explores two research questions: do first‐movers improve their resources and capabilities and thus establish industry leadership? Do firms' initial resources affect the timing of entry?

Design/methodology/approach

To overcome the methodological problems of earlier research, the study employs historical analysis of archival sources, capturing the longitudinal nature of the market evolution and competitive dynamics within the industry.

Findings

The results show that pioneering entry is significantly inferior to later entry strategy. While the pioneers failed, Apple Computer, a follower, gained dominance. Firm's resources influence timing of entry. The pioneers are small firms while large firms prefer to enter later.

Research limitations/implications

This study analyzed the evolution of a single radical innovation from its inception through growth stage and results may not apply to continuous innovations.

Practical implications

Managers should understand that it is not the first‐in‐market, but the firm that invests in developing its resources and capabilities in marketing, production and continual product improvement that ends up dominating the new market.

Originality/value

The contribution is identified in three areas as the most important for future research of FMA: it considers advantages of both pioneers and followers in an integrative fashion, it looks into how firms' resources and environmental conditions affect performance, and it uses multiple measures of performance.
Assessing shifts in Canada's competitive exposure in its home markets
Authors: Yerger David , Sawchuk Gary David
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The paper's aim is to analyze changes in the relative importance of Canada as a supplier for its home markets; and, the rising importance of China versus other Canadian trading partners.

Design/methodology/approach

The market overlap measure (MOM) statistic, developed by Sawchuk and Yerger is used to analyze the Canadian home market shares for Canada and every other nation with sales in the Canadian market for each of 61 different NAIC sectors (56 at the four‐digit NAIC level and five at the three‐digit NAIC level).

Findings

The USA remains the most important foreign supplier to Canadian markets with a weighted average 23.6 percent market share as of 2003 (Canadian‐based production having a 63.0 percent market share). US market share, however, has been declining by nearly a percentage point per year since 2000. Approximately, half of the lost US' market share has been captured by Canadian‐based firms and approximately a quarter has been captured by Chinese production. China's growth in Canadian market share places it second behind only the USA in terms of Canadian‐based firms' home market competitive exposure.

Research limitations/implications

The work does not include an analysis of service sector trade flows due to inadequate data.

Practical implications

The MOM statistic is shown to be a useful diagnostic tool for analyzing the level of, trends in, and industries driving the competitive exposure a nation's firms have on sales in a specified market.

Originality/value

The MOM statistic is shown to yield better insights regarding the actual degree of competitive exposure than does the more commonly used similarity indices such as Finger‐Kreinen.
In the crucible: Robert J. Thomas explains how leaders learn
Authors: Allio Robert J.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Findings by leadership researcher Robert J. Thomas suggest that organizations reconsider what they know about how successful leaders actually learn. In an interview Thomas aims to explain what he means by crucible experiences and how leaders learn from them.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of an interview with leadership researcher Robert J. Thomas.

Findings

Thomas believes that organizations can develop more leaders by helping promising employees learn from experience, especially situations he calls “crucibles.” Potential leaders, he says, must then develop and apply a personal learning strategy, and they must practice as they perform. Aspiring leaders must learn from experience, develop and apply a personal learning strategy, and practice their craft as they perform it. The five criteria for experience‐based leadership development are presented.

Practical implications

Thomas found that leaders benefit from difficult experiences that transform their attitudes or behavior. These tests – crucible experiences – can and often do provide rich opportunities to learn leadership lessons and learning perspectives that last a lifetime.

Originality/value

Thomas describes the methods of Toyota and Boeing (with its Waypoint program), two corporate exemplars of experience‐based leader development. These programs prepare people to extract learning from experience. They understand that people have to be supported while they're engaged in experienced‐based learning.
A non‐profit theater's strategy focuses on experiences
Authors: Sterling John
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This case study aims to demonstrate how the Timeline Theatre, a non‐profit organization that has won awards for managerial excellence and artistic achievement, has implemented both an experience‐driven strategy (its conscious choice) and an ongoing commitment to co‐creation of unique value through experiences (its values‐based approach). By adopting both, TimeLine has achieved significant artistic and organizational growth.

Design/methodology/approach

The case traces the non‐profit's strategy development and its implementation of two innovative strategic management concepts.

Findings

The paper finds that TimeLine's strategy and core values are both important factors underpinning its run of success.

Practical implications

The case provides a model for other organizations that want to experiment with these strategic concepts.

Originality/value

The ideas of co‐creation of value and experience‐based strategy are mutually reinforcing and become more powerful taken in combination. In settings where experience‐based offerings involve the customer directly, opportunities for co‐creation become abundant. Further, application of the co‐creation model can lead directly to “new engagement experiences of value to the customer.”
Innovation: scenarios of alternative futures can discover new opportunities for creativity
Authors: Ringland Gill
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how scenarios of the future can offer “stretch zones” for the imagination. Such scenarios provide several alternative model future worlds for consideration and exploration by teams seeking breakthrough innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

Two case studies are offered to illustrate the role of scenarios in developing new opportunities for innovative and creative thinking in organizations.

Findings

The paper finds that investigating the constraints and possibilities of these future worlds increases the range of “what we have experienced” and “what is relevant to our future”.

Practical implications

Because scenarios offer a glimpse of what “different” futures are like, an organization's innovators can more readily imaginatively experience buying and selling products, living, commuting, under the particular constraints and opportunities of a number of possible future conditions.

Originality/value

The paper shows how using scenarios to investigate the constraints and possibilities of future worlds exposes decision makers to new opportunities to be creative.
How CEOs can promote a strong market culture
Authors: Brown Linden , Gallagher Sean M. , Brown Christopher
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The authors believe that corporate culture, if correctly aligned with the external environment, is the key to long‐term organizational success. The paper aims to explain how CEOs can take an abstract concept like culture, visualize it, and take steps to harness its power to create enduring competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on previous research, the paper hypothesizes that a strong market culture exhibits high ratings on six dimensions of corporate beliefs and behaviors related to: customer insight, competitor awareness, collaborative approach, criteria for decisions, CEO leadership, and a deep organizational commitment and contribution of all functions to creation of superior value for customers, profitably.

Findings

The case study of Telstra is presented to illustrate how their concept works in practice.

Practical implications

The paper offers the authors' 6Cs Model as an actionable framework for building a strong market culture. Significant steps can be taken in each of the Cs to strengthen a company's market culture.

Originality/value

The paper offers a prescription for market culture change. Each of the six dimensions of the 6Cs Market Culture Model is discussed, concluding with specific steps for leaders to foster the attributes of the dimension.
Internet tools enable organizational transformation from the inside out: the Nokia Siemens Networks case
Authors: Deering Anne , Cook Andy , Jonk Gillis , van Hall Anne
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to show that large organizations or geographically dispersed businesses that adopt “Web 2.0” tools to power their transformation process can become as nimble and personal as smaller firms in pursuing their required change.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper demonstrates how leaders can accelerate transformation using an array of new internet tools – such as discussion forums, wikis and blogs – that allow many people to engage more easily in meaningful interactions.,

Findings

The paper finds that these new web‐based tools are revolutionizing a change process the authors call Transformation 2.0. Pioneering efforts, such as those used in the Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) change process, highlight the possibilities and concrete benefits Transformation 2.0 can deliver; this case is described in detail in this paper.

Practical implications

Transformation 2.0 provides the tools managers need to build momentum behind a change process rapidly and in ways that energize and give voice to virtually every person in a large organization. In addition to Nokia Siemens Networks, organizations such as Del Monte Foods, Eli Lilly, the Girl Scouts of the USAand Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance are successfully forging Transformation 2.0 collaboration initiatives. Transformation 2.0 allows companies to communicate with the problem solvers in their organizations at all levels and to work together to make transformation happen.

Originality/value

Transformation 2.0 allows companies to communicate with the problem solvers in their organizations at all levels and to work together to make transformation happen.
Strategy development by SMEs for competitiveness: a review
Authors: Singh Rajesh K. , Garg Suresh K. , Deshmukh S.G.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

SMEs are considered as engine for economic growth all over the world. After the globalization of market, SMEs have got many opportunities to work in integration with large‐scale organizations. They cannot exploit these opportunities and sustain their competitiveness if they focus only on certain aspects of their functioning and work in isolation. This paper tries to identify the major areas of strategy development by SMEs for improving competitiveness of SMEs in globalised market.

Design/methodology/approach

About 134 research papers, mainly from referred international journals are reviewed to identify thrust areas of research. On the basis of review, gaps are identified and research agenda is proposed.

Findings

SMEs have not given due attention for developing their effective strategies in the past. They are localized in functioning. On export fronts SMEs face many constraints due to lack of resources and poor innovative capabilities. For sustaining their competitiveness, they have to benchmark their assets, processes and performance with respect to the best in industry. There is also need for developing a framework for quantifying the competitiveness by adopting a holistic approach.

Originality/value

This paper explores major areas for research on SMEs. It will be of great value for researchers and professionals involved on SMEs management.
Performance benchmarking in gas distribution industry
Authors: Goncharuk Anatoliy G.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to research the capability of using the tools of domestic and international performance benchmarking for estimation of efficiency, determine its key factors and reveal the full reserves of inputs reduction and potential growth efficiency for gas distribution companies.

Design/methodology/approach

In the research, three models of data envelopment analysis (DEA) and other tools of performance benchmarking are used to analyse the efficiency of gas distribution companies. Some factors are examined for their impact on efficiency. There are the scale, regional location, property category and other endogenous and exogenous factors. The results are based on the samples of 54 Ukrainian and 20 US gas distribution companies.

Findings

International benchmarking vastly expand performance improvement for domestic companies. The results of analysis and tools of this research allows to widen the capability of reduced consumption of various inputs by 10 per cent and provide the general gain of Ukrainian gas distribution company's and industry efficiency two times as much.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited by single industry and by relatively short data set. The former is explained by requirement of technology (product and service) homogeneity when using DEA tools. The latter is connected with specificity of the industry and generally little numbers of firms in it.

Practical implication

The results of researching contain the data and recommendations to optimal scale, best proprietors makeup, specific reserves of input reduction for each company that was analysed. These results can be practicable for companies' management, present and potential investors and proprietors, regulative public authority. It is possible to use results of this research to make benchmarking for the other industries.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that adopts the various DEA models for measuring of efficiency in gas distribution industry of Ukraine and the tools of international benchmarking for Ukrainian and US companies.
Patient‐perceived dimensions of total quality service in healthcare
Authors: Duggirala Mayuri , Rajendran Chandrasekharan , Anantharaman R.N.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This research paper aims to identify dimensions of patient‐perceived total quality service (TQS) in the healthcare sector. Further, the impact of the dimensions of patient‐perceived TQS on patient satisfaction is examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire has been developed based on an extensive literature review of research in service quality and based on responses of the pilot survey among patients recently discharged from hospital. The instrument thus developed has been examined for its psychometric properties using tests of reliability and validity. Multiple regression analysis has been used to examine the impact of the dimensions of patient‐perceived quality on patient satisfaction.

Findings

Findings highlight seven distinct dimensions of patient‐perceived TQS and the relationships among them. Positive and significant relationships among the dimensions and patient satisfaction have been found.

Research limitations/implications

Contribution to research on healthcare services by the development of a comprehensive instrument of patient‐perceived healthcare quality.

Practical implications

This instrument would enable patients to provide feedback to hospitals regarding the quality of healthcare received by them. Hospitals could use this feedback to analyze their performance, gauge patient satisfaction and benchmark their performance against competitive hospitals.

Originality/value

This paper illustrates a comprehensive instrument of patient‐perceived healthcare quality.
A performance benchmarking study of Indian Railway zones
Authors: Abraham George Sajeev , Rangaraj Narayan
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to carry out a performance benchmarking study of the zones of Indian Railways (IR) to develop an alternate approach for measurement of aggregate operational performance of the railway zones and to envisage its operations in a supply chain perspective, so as to gain academic and practical insights.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study research employing data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology has been used, with the help of data obtained from the IR annual statistical statements published by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.

Findings

Within the set of inputs and outputs considered, the exercise identified the best performing railway zones over the years and the efficiency trends. Some weaknesses of the conventional DEA were addressed by including the concept of cross‐efficiencies along with self‐efficiencies, by analyzing longitudinal data spread over four years and also by comparing the efficiencies with the operating ratios. To an extent, this study has also helped to understand the impact of the recent restructuring of the zones on their performance.

Originality/value

The study enables the reader to gain some valuable insights from a managerial perspective for IR so as to formulate strategies of its zones to foster better performance.
Using the ANP approach in selecting and benchmarking ERP systems
Authors: Perçin Selçuk
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This study aims to provide a good insight into the use of analytic network process (ANP), a multi‐criteria decision‐making methodology in selecting and benchmarking enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, ANP model is proposed with an actual case example in selecting the best ERP system as a framework to guide managers.

Findings

This model provides firms with a simple, flexible and easy to use approach to evaluate ERP systems efficiently. Findings demonstrate that the ANP model, with minor modifications, can be useful to all firms in their ERP system selection decisions.

Research limitations/implications

ANP is a highly complex methodology and requires more numerical calculations in assessing composite priorities than the traditional analytic hierarchy process and hence it increases the effort.

Originality/value

This is probably the first time that an attempt has been made to apply the ANP model in ERP system selection decisions. ANP has the ability to be used as a decision‐making analysis tool since it incorporates feedback and interdependent relationships among decision criteria and alternatives. In addition, evaluation and selection of ERP system software can be very useful for both academic research and practice.
US innovation is secure
Authors: Whaley Richard
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a short comment on the current US innovation concerns and a recent paper by Tom Abeles.

Design/methodology/approach

Extracts are given from the Business Trends Library showing the relationship of the advanced (post‐industrial) countries with the rest of the world. Insights are given into the rising importance of the multi‐national corporations.

Findings

The post‐industrial countries have overwhelming advantage over the rest of the world, with very different world development roles played by both sides. The multi‐national corporations act as the organs of transfer of technology to the less developed world.

Originality/value

The importance of how innovation and business development arises in the post industrials and how it is defused is shown.
Visions of the future of employment: a critical overview
Authors: Williams Colin
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a critical overview of the diverse visions of the future of employment.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual framework is presented for understanding the common narrative structure that underpins a multitude of contrasting visions on how employment will be organized in the future.

Findings

This paper shows how the diverse stories about the future of employment adopt a similar storyline, and reveals how most visions: firstly squeeze all forms of employment into one side or other of some dualism; secondly, order the two sides into a temporal and/or normative sequence in which one side is seen as universally replacing and/or more progressive than the other; and finally, represent this one‐dimensional linear trajectory by concocting some label to represent their vision, which usually involves using some ‐ism, ‐ation or post‐something‐or‐other.

Practical implications

Visions of the future of employment are shown to be grounded in some binary hierarchy (e.g. from Fordism to post‐Fordism, bureaucracy to post‐bureaucracy), all of which over‐simplify lived practice. To offer a way forward that transcends these one‐dimensional and linear stories, this paper argues for a more kaleidoscopic understanding that recognizes the heterogeneous and multiple directions of employment and opens up the future to new possibilities.

Originality/value

This paper highlights how a common storyline underpins a diverse array of competing visions of the future of employment.
Forecasting the future of data storage: case of hard disk drive and flash memory
Authors: Daim Tugrul U. , Ploykitikoon Pattravadee , Kennedy Elizabeth , Choothian Woraruthai
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to forecast the future of data storage technologies, using the case of two major technologies driving the data storage world; hard disk drive (HDD) or conventional longitudinal recording and flash memory.

Design/methodology/approach

Four principal tools of forecasting technology are applied to present the coming future of data storage technologies. These tools consist of bibliometric trend analysis, patent trend analysis, technology cycle time (TCT), and growth curve. Numbers of publications each year and cumulative patents are used to analyze the future of these competitive technologies. The median age of the patents is applied to find the technology lifecycle of both technologies. Finally, areal density of HDD is plotted on the growth curve to forecast the saturation point of researching on conventional longitudinal recording.

Findings

The results produced from utilizing these tools indicate that these two technologies are continuously under development. It is found that the growth of improving areal density of conventional recording will be nearing zero by year 2013 and the maximum growth rate of development was in year 2006.

Research limitations/implications

The forecasting is based on principal technologies of conventional longitudinal recording of HDD. Also, NOR and NAND are considered as two main technologies dominating flash memory. Other emerging data storage technologies such as holographic data storage, phase‐change memory (PCM) are not included in this paper. Likewise, the growth curve of flash memory is not analyzed as part of this paper.

Originality/value

This paper forecasts the future of data storage technologies. Integration of scientific indicators and growth curves is demonstrating a powerful tool for forecasting technology futures.
The difficult future
Authors: van der Duin Patrick
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to describe three major difficulties with dealing with the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is an essay with limited use of literature.

Findings

Looking to the future is difficult due to cognitive, social, business problems.

Research limitations/implications

No empirical research was conducted.

Practical implications

Suggests that more practical training in futures research and testing ideas and plans against future trends is required.

Originality/value

The paper provides a broad view on difficulties of dealing with the future.
The concept of value and its dimensions: a tool for analysing tourism experiences
Authors: Gallarza Martina G. , Gil Irene
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This work aims to introduce the usefulness of the concept of value for tourism research both conceptually and empirically. Destination and tourism services can be better understood if analysed through the multidimensionality of value, as the tourist can simultaneously experience several factors: affective and cognitive, social and personal, active and reactive.

Design/methodology/approach

From literature review, Holbrook's conceptual framework (definition and typology) is chosen to investigate the dimensionality of consumer value in a travel‐related context (students' tourism behaviour). An empirical investigation on one of his conceptual axes – the relativistic character of consumer value – is presented.

Findings

Several research questions are proposed regarding the relativity of value, using the t‐test contrast of hypothesis: dimensions of value (efficiency, quality, play, aesthetics and social value) and a measure of overall perceived value are tested as being personal (they vary across people), comparative (with differences among objects) and situational (specific to the context).

Research limitations/implications

The results presented can fully confirm the relativistic character of value dimensions; hence, the value concept is useful for analysing tourism experiences. Nevertheless, the analysis is made interpersonally. Real intrapersonal measurements on these variations with longitudinal studies are recommended for further research. The scope of this work could be broadened by testing additional axes of Holbrook's typology.

Practical implications

Tourism managers should regard the helpfulness of perceived value as a segmentation tool. Because of its multidimensionality, different facets of services value can be enhanced for different consumers, reinforcing in this way the strategic usefulness of value.

Originality/value

Although Holbrook's types of value have been the subject of several conceptual debates there are very few empirical works on it. Any multidimensional approach to value shows the richness and complexity of the value concept, but Holbrook's dimensionality is particularly interesting because it encompasses and interrelates all relevant facets of the tourism experience.
From branded to endorsement corporate identity strategy: the case of the Fattals Hotel Management Group
Authors: Herstein Ram , Mitki Yoram
Published: September 2008

Purpose

During the past several years, many hotel management firms have changed their corporate identities. Such corporate identities are based primarily on one of the following three approaches: monolithic, endorsed and branded. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of designing a corporate identity for a hotel chain management firm based on the transition from a branded corporate identity to an endorsement corporate identity.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes the transition from a branded corporate identity to an endorsement corporate identity as undergone by the Fattals Hotel Management Group, which manages a chain of 12 hotels. The paper examines the various stages of the process, from the decision to change the company's identity up to the final stage of examining the results.

Findings

The case presented here illustrates the extent to which assimilating the new identity requires the cooperation of all members of the organization and must be executed both vertically (top‐down and bottom‐up) and horizontally.

Originality/value

This case study, which presents differences between the various strategies adopted by the company during its identity change from one extreme approach to another, adds a new element to the process of creating and assimilating corporate image in the hospitality industry.
Climate change and tourism – scenario analysis for the Bernese Oberland in 2030
Authors: Müller Hansruedi , Weber Fabian
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate possible impacts of climate change on tourism on a regional level and therefore to provide a basis for discussion for tourism destinations.

Design/methodology/approach

By means of a statistical analysis of data and a comprehensive desk research, the ecological consequences of climate change on regional level were outlined. In expert workshops, the effects on tourism were discussed and the main challenges for tourism enterprises and destinations were derived.

Findings

The ecological consequences of climate change are shown for the different destinations in the Bernese Oberland. The economic effects on tourism under changed conditions are estimated. The changes in tourism revenue, including adaptation measures, would result in annual losses of approximately 70 million CHF, or about −4 per cent.

Research limitations/implications

There are many uncertainties regarding climatic development, effects on tourism and adaptability of the industry. In addition, the impacts depend heavily on local conditions and the structure of tourism.

Practical implications

The paper provides a useful basis for discussion for alpine tourist destinations planning to set climate change and its consequences on the agenda and develop strategies to face these new challenges.

Originality/value

This paper presents an analysis of ecological consequences of climate change and possible implications on tourism on a regional level and points out the challenges as well as possible mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Work organisation practices for lean production
Authors: Olivella Jordi , Cuatrecasas Lluís , Gavilan Nestor
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to obtain and to expose work organisation practices common to the factories that successfully follow lean production (LP) principles.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of the literature and interviews with experts.

Findings

An analysis of the literature reveals clear connections between work organisation practices and LP. However, general reports on LP barely deal with work organisation. A set of work organisation objectives for LP was established for the authors and interviewed experts and analysed by reviewing the literature. Similarities are found between the different sources in terms of defining a set of policies and practices covering all the aspects of work organisation. It is shown that there are indeed work organisation practices characteristic of LP.

Originality/value

This paper is believed to be the first complete analysis of work organisation practices for LP.
A study of AMT in North America
Authors: Mora‐Monge Carlo A. , González Marvin E. , Quesada Gioconda , Subba Rao S.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of an exploratory survey administered in North America on advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs). The objective of the survey is to compare the status of AMT investment, planning and implementation, and performance in two different regions: Anglo America (developed countries) and Middle America (developing countries).

Design/methodology/approach

Responses from 97 Anglo‐American companies (62 from Canada and 35 from the USA) were compared to responses from 125 Middle American companies (85 from Mexico and 40 from Costa Rica). The researchers used different statistical analyses such as exploratory factor analyses, analysis of variance and regression.

Findings

In general, Middle American countries representing the developing region show higher AMT investment, planning and implementation activities, and finally, higher performance due to AMT implementation. This phenomenon was hypothesized since developed countries have shifted most of their manufacturing operations into developing countries, while they keep ownership of multinational firms. Therefore, big corporations that previously invested in AMT in their home countries are now investing in AMT in their manufacturing plants in developing countries.

Originality/value

This research provides insights to the growing body of knowledge on AMT. Most AMT research has been done in developed countries. In this study, the researchers show results comparing developed versus developing countries.
Strategic consensus on manufacturing competitive priorities
Authors: Sarmiento Roberto , Knowles Graeme , Byrne Mike
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of studies on strategic consensus along manufacturing competitive priorities. Based on this analysis, a new methodology to measure strategic consensus on manufacturing competitive priorities that is more consistent with mainstream operations management theory is proposed. The paper also includes novel proposals for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The new methodology and proposals for research are mainly based on a literature review of previous studies on strategic consensus regarding manufacturing competitive priorities and also on relevant research and works in the field of operations management.

Findings

Previous methodologies used to measure strategic consensus regarding manufacturing competitive priorities are mainly based on studies in the business strategy field. Thus, these methodologies are deemed as inadequate in the operations management field. It is also found that there are very few studies that have analysed this topic in the operations management field. Moreover, since the methodologies used in those studies are based on previous research in the field of business strategy, the results of the reviewed papers are considered as questionable.

Practical implications

For academics, the paper and its results imply a change in the methodologies and research used to study the issue of strategic consensus on manufacturing competitive priorities. The lack of research into this topic is also observed. More research and studies on this theme are needed. For practitioners, the methodology proposed in the paper could be utilised in order to assess the employees' knowledge of the relationships between manufacturing capabilities inside manufacturing firms.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first review paper into this under‐researched theme in the operations management field. The paper also presents the first methodology that incorporates mainstream theory and research in the field of operations management into the measurement of strategic consensus on manufacturing competitive priorities.
Structural modelling and integrative analysis of manufacturing systems using graph theoretic approach
Authors: Singh Varinder , Agrawal V.P.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to integrate manufacturing system analysis to obtain system‐wide optimized solutions and to increase the level of comprehensiveness of the manufacturing system modelling and to develop method of characterization of manufacturing systems based on its structure.

Design/methodology/approach

Elements constituting the manufacturing plant and the interactions between them have been identified through a literature survey and have been represented by graph‐based model. The matrix models and the variable permanent function models are developed for carrying out decomposition, characterization and the total analysis.

Findings

Structural patterns and combination sets of subsystems interacting in various ways have been recognized as capabilities of manufacturing system in different performance dimensions. The permanent function of the manufacturing system matrix has been proposed as a systematic technique for structural analysis of manufacturing system. Also, the terms of permanent multinomial characterize the manufacturing systems uniquely and are highly useful for computational storage, retrieval, communication as well as analysis of the structural information of manufacturing system.

Research limitations/implications

The structure‐based characterization technique developed has the potential of aiding the ongoing research activities in the field of benchmarking, and business process reengineering. The graph theory‐based methodology will serve as a framework to develop composite performance measures building on the performance measures of the individual elements of the manufacturing system graph in various dimensions.

Practical implications

Through the use of proposed methodology, a manufacturing manager will be able to make better informed decisions towards organizational efforts of improving the productivity and speed. For aiding several decisions, different “what‐if” scenarios may be generated with several structural modifications.

Originality/value

This graph theory‐based methodology is a novel mechanism to seamlessly integrate manufacturing system giving way to system wide optimization. The paper is an attempt to address the need for comprehensive and integrated analysis of the manufacturing system.
Investigation into the implementation stages of manufacturing and quality techniques and philosophies within the Libyan cement industry
Authors: Abdullah Hokoma Rajab , Khan Mohammed K. , Hussain Khalid
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implementation level of just‐in‐time (JIT), manufacturing resources planning (MRPII) and total quality management (TQM) within the cement industry in Libya.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper covers an overview of the investigated manufacturing and quality techniques and philosophies. A survey methodology has been applied in this investigation using an intensive questionnaire to the correspondent organizations.

Findings

Based on the analysis of the survey questionnaire responses, the results show that the management body does not have a clear strategy towards most of the areas that are considered as being crucial in any successful implementation of the JIT and MRPII techniques/philosophies, with slightly better results for TQM. The research has identified limitations within the investigated areas and has pointed to areas where the management should take immediate action in order to achieve successful and effective implementation of JIT, MRPII and TQM within their organisations. This is an important finding for the future success of the cement industry in particular, and the manufacturing industry in general, within Libya.

Research limitations/implications

Future research could be applied to cover other industries, in order to investigate how widely the findings from this study are reflected in other industrial sectors within Libya.

Originality/value

This research is the first to investigate the implementation status of manufacturing, planning, control and quality techniques and philosophies within the cement industry in Libya. It makes a contribution by providing an insight into what extent JIT, MRPII and TQM are understood and implemented within the Libyan cement industry.
A survey on web modeling approaches for ubiquitous web applications
Authors: Schwinger Wieland , Retschitzegger Werner , Schauerhuber Andrea , Kappel Gerti , Wimmer Manuel , Pröll Birgit , Cachero Castro Cristina , Casteleyn Sven , De Troyer Olga , Fraternali Piero , Garrigos Irene , Garzotto Franca , Ginige Athula , Houben Geert‐Jan , Koch Nora , Moreno Nathalie , Pastor Oscar , Paolini Paolo , Pelechano Ferragud Vicente , Rossi Gustavo , Schwabe Daniel , Tisi Massimo , Vallecillo Antonio , van der Sluijs Kees , Zhang Gefei
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Ubiquitous web applications (UWA) are a new type of web applications which are accessed in various contexts, i.e. through different devices, by users with various interests, at anytime from anyplace around the globe. For such full‐fledged, complex software systems, a methodologically sound engineering approach in terms of model‐driven engineering (MDE) is crucial. Several modeling approaches have already been proposed that capture the ubiquitous nature of web applications, each of them having different origins, pursuing different goals and providing a pantheon of concepts. This paper aims to give an in‐depth comparison of seven modeling approaches supporting the development of UWAs.

Design/methodology/approach

This methodology is conducted by applying a detailed set of evaluation criteria and by demonstrating its applicability on basis of an exemplary tourism web application. In particular, five commonly found ubiquitous scenarios are investigated, thus providing initial insight into the modeling concepts of each approach as well as to facilitate their comparability.

Findings

The results gained indicate that many modeling approaches lack a proper MDE foundation in terms of meta‐models and tool support. The proposed modeling mechanisms for ubiquity are often limited, since they neither cover all relevant context factors in an explicit, self‐contained, and extensible way, nor allow for a wide spectrum of extensible adaptation operations. The provided modeling concepts frequently do not allow dealing with all different parts of a web application in terms of its content, hypertext, and presentation levels as well as their structural and behavioral features. Finally, current modeling approaches do not reflect the crosscutting nature of ubiquity but rather intermingle context and adaptation issues with the core parts of a web application, thus hampering maintainability and extensibility.

Originality/value

Different from other surveys in the area of modeling web applications, this paper specifically considers modeling concepts for their ubiquitous nature, together with an investigation of available support for MDD in a comprehensive way, using a well‐defined as well as fine‐grained catalogue of more than 30 evaluation criteria.
Element classification‐based transformation of XML queries
Authors: Geng Ke , Dobbie Gillian
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Engines have been built that execute queries against XML data. The aim of this paper is to describe a novel technique that can be used to improve the speed of execution of the queries based on semantics of the data in the XML document.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper formally introduces algorithms for optimizing XML queries, implement the algorithms, and through experimentation demonstrate the improvement in speed.

Findings

Three possible semantic query optimizations based on the values of elements were introduced and these demonstrate that two of the three optimizations improve query performance but the third does not. It is hypothesized why this is the case.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation is obviously the query engine and how it works. Future work includes, executing the experiments on a different engine and comparing results, building a system to automatically generate the characteristics that are necessary to do the optimization, describing the best way to represent and maintain the characteristics once they are found, compare the results of optimizations based on content with optimizations based on structure.

Practical implications

The optimizations could be incorporated into new query engines.

Originality/value

Novel algorithms for query optimization have been developed and proven to work. They are of value to people who are building database systems for XML data.
Efficiently answering personalized queries on XML data
Authors: Penzo Wilma
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The semantic and structural heterogeneity of large Extensible Markup Language (XML) digital libraries emphasizes the need of supporting approximate queries, i.e. queries where the matching conditions are relaxed so as to retrieve results that possibly partially satisfy the user's requests. The paper aims to propose a flexible query answering framework which efficiently supports complex approximate queries on XML data.

Design/methodology/approach

To reduce the number of relaxations applicable to a query, the paper relies on the specification of user preferences about the types of approximations allowed. A specifically devised index structure which efficiently supports both semantic and structural approximations, according to the specified user preferences, is proposed. Also, a ranking model to quantify approximations in the results is presented.

Findings

Personalized queries, on one hand, effectively narrow the space of query reformulations, on the other hand, enhance the user query capabilities with a great deal of flexibility and control over requests. As to the quality of results, the retrieval process considerably benefits because of the presence of user preferences in the queries. Experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and the efficiency of the proposal, as well as its scalability.

Research limitations/implications

Future developments concern the evaluation of the effectiveness of personalization on queries through additional examinations of the effects of the variability of parameters expressing user preferences.

Originality/value

The paper is intended for the research community and proposes a novel query model which incorporates user preferences about query relaxations on large heterogeneous XML data collections.
Implementation of a JXTA‐based P2P e‐learning system and its performance evaluation
Authors: Matsuo Keita , Barolli Leonard , Xhafa Fatos , Koyama Akio , Durresi Arjan
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This work is motivated by the need to develop decentralized peer‐to‐peer (P2P) approaches to support e‐learning and teaching activity in virtual universities. This paper aims to present the implementation of the JXTA‐based e‐learning P2P system.

Design/methodology/approach

The design and implementation of a smart box environment that will be used for stimulating the learners to increase the learning efficiency is shown. The smart box is integrated with the JXTA‐overlay by using efficient message sending between peers in the system.

Findings

The proposed e‐learning P2P system is a useful tool for monitoring and controlling learners' activity.

Research limitations/implications

In the future, other effective stimulation for each learner using IC tag card will be added. Also, the Servo Motor has 12 control ports, so these will be used for implementing other stimulating functions. It is planned to extend the system with functionalities for presence mechanism of students in classrooms and activities.

Practical implications

The proposed system is evaluated by experimental results and it has a good performance.

Originality/value

This paper proposes and implements a novel e‐learning system, which is based on P2P, web and sensor technologies.