bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Legitimacy and parliamentary oversight in Australia
Authors: Jacobs Kerry , Jones Kate
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the question of whether two early Australian public accounts committees were established for the purpose of legitimating governments of the time.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper addressed these issues through a study of the establishment, early work and abolition in the 1930s of the Victorian Committee of Public Accounts (VCPA) and the Joint Committee of Public Accounts (JCPA).

Findings

Clear evidence is found that the Joint Committee of Public Accounts (JCPA) had been copied from the VCPA and that the VCPA had been copied from the UK House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts, which was established in 1861. This would indicate that the primary objective in the establishment of both these committees was legitimation rather than control. It was found that the subsequent work of both the VCPA and the JCPA showed a drift away from an accounting focus towards a policy focus. This is similar to the JCPA experience described by Degeling et al. in relation to the JCPA, which also supports the legitimation argument. It was also found that both committees could be disestablished with relative ease because their legitimating purpose was no longer strong enough to demand their continuation and that, in fact, their abolition became the factor that served a legitimating purpose for governments.

Originality/value

The paper suggests that the ideas of legitimation and mimetic isomorphism provide a more convincing explanation for the nature and work of these two public accounts committees than the idea of accounting colonisation.
FTSE4Good: exploring its implications for corporate conduct
Authors: Collison David , Cobb George , Power David , Stevenson Lorna
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to critically evaluate membership of the FTSE4Good “socially responsible investment” indices (membership of which is based on ethical criteria), which were launched in the UK in July 2001 as a means of increased accountability and change.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts an interpretive and critical approach when examining the perceptions of company representatives. The empirical findings are based on a small number of interviews and a postal questionnaire. Some descriptive and inferential statistics are used to summarise and help interpret the questionnaire results.

Findings

Respondents indicated that inclusion in the indices had a significant effect on their firms' reputation, and on relationships with specific stakeholder groups. All interviewees emphasised that peer group pressure encouraged top management to maintain their membership of the indices. Questionnaire respondents indicated an even balance of views regarding tightening the admission criteria for the indices. The influence of FTSE4Good on corporate conduct was found to be limited and mainly confined to reporting activity, though policy and management systems were amongst other areas where some impacts were noted. A small proportion of respondents felt that membership of the indices had had some significant influences on their companies.

Originality/value

The investigation of the influence of a “mass market” ethical investment index on constituent companies is where the main originality of this paper lies. In particular the interviews with constituent firm representatives and the questionnaire results are novel for ascertaining perceptions about the impact of inclusion in the indices on constituent companies.
Bundling management control innovations
Authors: Modell Sven
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to examine how organisational experimenting with total quality management (TQM) and the balanced scorecard affects the bundling of design characteristics associated with these innovations in a Swedish central government agency.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts an exploratory, longitudinal case study approach which builds on and extends the management fad and fashion literature.

Findings

While both innovations encountered considerable implementation problems, they continued to exercise a lingering influence on the “new” performance management system emerging in the focal organisation. The original adoption of the two innovations can be explained from a traditional management fashion perspective. However, the subsequent development of performance management features a more complex mix of explanatory factors and highlights how the bundling phenomenon is entangled with managerial learning processes. This resulted in a less linear trajectory of change than that predicted by prior research on the notion of bundling.

Research implications

The paper contributes to the literature on management fads and fashions by refining its conception of the role of managers of adopting organisations and organisational adoption, implementation and rejection of innovations.

Originality/value

The paper constitutes a first attempt to examine in greater detail how organisational experimenting with contemporary management control innovations affects the process of bundling in an individual organisation.
Conceptualising future change in corporate sustainability reporting
Authors: Adams Carol A. , Whelan Glen
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualise how future changes in corporate social disclosure (CSD), aimed at improving accountability for corporate performance to key stakeholder groups, might be brought about.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the work of the Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises with respect to human (and organisational) action and the work of Leon Festinger and Kurt Lewin with respect to human (and organisational) change, the paper examines how academics and other corporate stakeholders might effect changes in CSD.

Findings

Managers act in a way which maximises their formal happiness (from von Mises) and change occurs following the creation of cognitive dissonance (Festinger) which leads to “unfreezing” (Lewin). Stakeholders can effect change by creating cognitive dissonance. With specific reference to Anglo‐American limited liability and publicly traded corporations, such cognitive dissonance and unfreezing normally involves a perceived threat to profitability.

Research limitations/implications

Research and theorising in corporate social disclosure patterns should take as given: that the managers of Anglo‐American limited liability and publicly traded corporations continue to be strongly encouraged, via both legal and remunerative means, to maximize shareholder wealth; and that this state of affairs significantly influences the information which management choose to disclose. Future research might instead examine and consider means of creating sources of dissonance significant enough to result in managerial concern for change within the constraints imposed on managers of Anglo‐American corporations. Such research might be conducted by engaging with organisations and their stakeholders.

Practical implications

The findings have implications for the manner in which corporate stakeholders act and interrelate with others in order to effect change towards more complete and credible sustainability reports which demonstrate accountability for material impacts to key stakeholder groups.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on how change in corporate behaviour might be brought about given the personal motivations and institutional constraints imposed on the behaviour of corporate actors.
Your favourite manager is an organisational disaster
Authors: Aarum Andersen Jon
Published: January 2009

Purpose

When subordinates are asked what kind of manager they prefer, the answers are virtually the same. Subordinates have a different focus than managers, as the latter focus on organisational goal attainment. The purpose of this paper is to pinpoint the consequences of the subordinates' leadership preferences for organisational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws conclusions based on previous research and empirical data collected to illustrate the likely outcome of subordinates having the managers they prefer.

Findings

Subordinates favour the type of manager who has a relationship oriented style of leadership, and who is predominantly motivated by affiliation. Additionally, subordinates appear to prefer a servant leader to be their boss. Research has shown that relationship oriented and affiliation motivated managers, as well as servant leaders are detrimental to organisational effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The data refer only to Swedish samples of private and public managers regarding leadership styles and motivation profiles. Data have not yet been published on the occurrence of popular managers and the prevalence of servant leaders.

Practical implications

Both managers and subordinates need to acknowledge the conflicting issues in management. The manager that the subordinates want is precisely what they should not get.

Originality/value

This paper supplies theoretical as well as empirical arguments needed to warn organisations against having managers whose behaviour is preferred by subordinates, but also impedes organisational effectiveness.
The strategic orientations of rapidly internationalizing software companies
Authors: Ruokonen Mika , Saarenketo Sami
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper addresses the strategic orientations (entrepreneurial orientation, learning orientation, and market orientation) of rapidly internationalizing small software companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis is based on an intensive investigation of ten small Finnish software companies that have exhibited rapid and proactive internationalization behavior.

Findings

It is argued that the manifestations of the orientations evolve as the small company develops, and these concepts are thus strongly related to the internationalization process. Further, an entrepreneurial orientation, especially a strong desire to seek growth in international markets, must be embedded in the mindset of the rapidly internationalizing small company. However, It is argued that it does not have an effect on the success of the international venture if it is not combined with strong learning and market orientations.

Research limitations/implications

This paper brings an evolutionary viewpoint to the existing academic debate of strategic orientations of companies. It is suggested that the current conceptualization of entrepreneurial orientation should be developed to include also measures of market orientation.

Practical implications

It is suggested that the members of the management team of a small and global software company should not only possess a highly entrepreneurial mindset and previous experience of international operations, they should also show strong commitment to considering the customers the most important stakeholders of the company, and a willingness and ability to learn rapidly from all available information about global markets.

Originality/value

This is the first qualitative investigation of the strategic orientations during the internationalization process of small companies.
Child labour and supply chain: profitability or (mis)management
Authors: Zutshi Ambika , Creed Andrew , Sohal Amrik
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a realistic assessment, with an historical perspective, of the current practises and progress made by organisations towards elimination of child labour in global supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review in the area of use of child labour within the global supply chain was combined with additional information obtained from the company searches of the GRI database, company ranking tables, and other sources.

Findings

Child labour is one of a number of areas of concern in global supply chains. Continued exploitation of child labour indicates an imbalanced state and consequently forces can be unleashed through standardization, collaboration and communication amongst all stakeholders to ensure protection of the vulnerable. This paper is part of the broader analysis informing incremental changes to supply chain management to preserve the rights and welfare of children in the present and future generations.

Research/limitations/implications

The analysis is based on secondary data sources and further research is thus needed to verify the individual weightings of the criteria used in the primary ranking of the companies.

Practical implications

The findings provide encouragement for policy and decision makers to implement incremental changes to global supply chains in order to protect the rights and welfare of children, according to the standards of Social Accountability (SA) 8000, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and other world trade stakeholders.

Originality/value

This paper questions the view that child labour incidences have diminished proportional to economic development. A swinging fulcrum with hidden traps for developed and developing nations in light of cross border transactions through supply chains has been proposed.
Barriers to entry and market strategy: a literature review and a proposed model
Authors: Pehrsson Anders
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review previous research and to propose a model for the impact of barriers to entry on the market strategy of an entrant firm, where product/market scope and product differentiation are central strategy components. The paper asks, what is the impact of barriers on market strategies of entrants? Are early and late entrants affected in different ways?

Design/methodology/approach

A model and propositions are developed‐based on a review of previous research. The model applies the contingency perspective and company cases exemplify the model.

Findings

It is proposed that a firm that enters a market late and faces extensive barriers would choose a broader product/market scope and differentiate its products to a larger extent than an early entrant. It is also proposed that incumbents' market strategies indirectly affect the market strategy of an entrant firm as incumbents' market strategies interact with barriers, and the effects are due to entry timing.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes theoretically as it extends current knowledge of the impact of barriers to entry on strategy. Management of entrant firms are advised to strive for a fit between barriers and market strategy and consider the propositions.

Originality/value

The model and the propositions concern barrier effects on two key components of the market strategy of an entrant firm: product/market scope and product differentiation. Another important value is that the model accounts for interactions between incumbent strategies and barriers to entry, and effects on the market strategy of an entrant firm.
The driving drivers of dynamic competitive capabilities: a new perspective on competition
Authors: Chen Hung‐Hsin , Lee Po‐Yen
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical driving drivers of dynamic competitive capability (DCC) from the perspective of dynamic learning mechanisms (DLM), a viewpoint that has been neglected by prior studies. This paper's implicate previous research utilizing the resource‐based view (RBV) as tautological animadversion, and provide a clear theoretical model for developing DCC, especially as it relates to alliance organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The pertinent literature is reviewed and five case studies were conducted on firms in Taiwan to identify and verify what drivers of DLM influence the evolution of DCC.

Findings

The paper finds that external linkages, previous experience, repeated practice, experience codification, and the integration power of managers play key roles in developing DCC, while ambiguity has a negative impact.

Research limitations/implications

Strategic utilization of these DLM drivers enhances the DCC of alliance organizations. The results provide a reliable basis for developing the DCC of enterprises and improving the success of business activities.

Originality/value

This research closes the gap of previous research on developing DCC via DLM, and defines a clear theoretical model. Thus, this work provides a framework for firms to maintain dynamic, long‐term competitive advantages in varied and fast‐paced environments.
When the owl of Minerva flew at dusk: marketing in Greater Germany, 1918‐1939
Authors: Fullerton Ronald A.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

During the 1920s and into the 1930s, German‐language work on consumer behavior led the world; for example, segmentation was clearly discussed from the late 1920s. The purpose of this paper is to show how marketing thought in Germany and Austria reached a peak even as the environmental substructure that sustained it was being seriously eroded by political and economic changes that forever consigned it to a peripheral position upon the world stage.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the study is a critical historical one relying heavily upon documents produced during the period discussed. Statements are weighed and evaluated.

Findings

The paper finds that very impressive, at times world‐leading, work was being done in the 1920s and early 1930s, particularly in the areas of segmentation and what would later become known as consumer behavior. Much of what later became known as Motivation Research, or example, was pioneered in Germany and Austria before 1934.

Research limitations/ implications

The primary implication is that a great deal of marketing thought developed outside the USA, sometimes drawing upon US marketing thought, in other cases developing completely independently. A second implication is that marketing thought can be weakened by political and economic conditions, as Germany and Austria painfully experienced.

Originality/value

This is the first study to explore historical German and Austrian marketing thought in a cross‐cultural manner, comparing and contrasting them with thought developed elsewhere.
Investigation into wrinkle behavior of woven fabrics in a cylindrical form by measuring their tangential force
Authors: Shaikhzadeh Najar S. , Hezavehi E. , Hoseini Hashemi Sh. , Rashidi A.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a unique approach to investigate the wrinkle force of textile structures in a cylindrical model.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, an apparatus was designed and constructed in order to investigate the torsional and wrinkle behavior of textile structures in a cylindrical model under a different rotational level using data acquisition and micro‐controller systems.

Findings

In the light of research results, the fiber and fabric type, fabric physical and mechanical properties and imposed rotational level significantly contributed to wrinkle characteristics of worsted fabrics. It was noticed that with increase of rotational level, the wrinkle force, and energy increased along weft and warp directions. Wrinkle characteristics along warp direction exhibited greater values than in weft direction.

Originality/value

The study is aimed at determining wrinkle behavior of worsted fabrics under the combined influences of compression and torsional strains.
Effect of laundering on fabric drape, bending and shear
Authors: Orzada Belinda T. , Moore Mary Ann , Collier Billie J. , Yan Chen Jonathan
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of laundering on the drape, shear, and bending properties of bottom weight fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach

Six bottom‐weight 100 percent cotton fabrics were included. Collier's Drape Tester was utilized to obtain drape values. Bending and shear values were measured on the KES‐F Shear Tester and the Pure Bending Tester. Three laundering cycles (unlaundered, one and five home launderings) following AATCC methods were explored.

Findings

Laundry cycle did not have a significant effect on fabric drape, shear or bending properties. However, drape values increased overall, while shear and bending modulus and hysteresis decreased, resulting in a more drapable, pliable fabric after five laundry cycles.

Research limitations/implications

Future research examining a wider variety of fabrics and conducting a greater number of laundry cycles to approximate an average yearly number of laundry cycles is recommended. An expansion of this preliminary study should give more conclusive evidence of the trends observed.

Originality/value

Objective measurement of drape and fabric mechanical properties related to drape after laundry treatments would assist the apparel manufacturer in developing laundry recommendations based on the fabric's performance and in selecting fabrics which maintain their drape characteristics, mechanical properties, and dimensional stability with use. Higher quality garments with increased consumer satisfaction would result.
The abrasion resistance of socks
Authors: Özdıˆl Nilgün , Marmarali Arzu , Oğlakcioğlu Nida
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the yarn parameters and some finishing process that can affect the abrasion resistance of socks in detail.

Design/methodology/approach

The abrasion tests were made on socks produced from the most popular fibers (cotton, wool, PAC, PES, PA, and blends of these) by the Modificated Martindale method. The effects of fiber type, yarn count (for single and ply yarn), combing process, softness process with silicone and mercerization process to the abrasion resistance were investigated.

Findings

It was found that the use of coarse yarns, addition of polyester, polyamide fibers or elastane filaments to the structure and application of the mercerization process increase the abrasion resistance of the socks. However, the silicone softeners decrease this value. The resistance of wool socks is higher than acrylics.

Originality/value

Socks, which are a necessary item of clothing, need to be comfortable, affordable and retain their quality throughout their life. The most significant problem is abrasion which can greatly reduce the material's life. To determine the parameters affecting the sock abrasion will be useful both for producer and for consumer.
Factors affecting recovery of PTT shape memory fabric to its initial shape
Authors: Zhao Lihuan , Qin Li , Wang Fumei , Hin Chuah Hoe
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the recovery mechanism of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) shape memory fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach

Tests were designed to study the effects of force, temperature and their combinations on the fabrics' crease recoveries. In the test a cantilever device and an ironing force which simulated people ironing their clothes were used, respectively.

Findings

Temperature was found to have little effect on the recovery of both the warp and filling of the fabrics. Crease recoveries did not improve significantly when the temperature was increased to above the polymer's glass transition. However, forces, applied in primarily compressive and tensile modes to simulate ironing and hand stroking actions, were found to be very effective in the fabrics' crease recoveries. Recoveries were 81‐87 per cent even when the applied force was very small, at 5 N/cm2. When forces were applied at elevated temperatures, just below and above the polymer's glass transition, there were no significant improvements in crease recoveries. Therefore, force was the main factor in PTT shape memory fabrics' recovery mechanism for the fabrics to return to their initial shapes.

Originality/value

The results suggest that PTT shape memory fabric has excellent shape recoverability and easy care property and it has large application potentiality.
Exploring urban retailing and CBD revitalization strategies
Authors: Padilla Charlette , Eastlick Mary Ann
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an exploratory examination of urban retail marketing and management strategies employed in six US cities with reputations for having central business districts (CBD) that are either flourishing or developing. It also investigates the roles played by urban retailers in working with CBD revitalization efforts.

Design/methodology/approach

Depth interviews were conducted with economic development managers and urban retailer owners/managers from each CBD. Content analysis, preceded by a comprehensive review of academic and trade literature, was used to identify key concepts. An iterative coding process resulted in identifying broad strategic themes and related strategies.

Findings

Strategies were classified into three urban retailing and five economic revitalization themes. These strategies varied depending on whether cities had flourishing or developing CBDs.

Research limitations/implications

The study provided a systematic and comprehensive examination of strategies that may guide theory development and provide practical information on CBD redevelopment. Potential bias in results should be considered when evaluating results due to the use of qualitative methods and convenience sampling.

Originality/value

Information concerning similarities in the redevelopment efforts of six comparable US cities is provided.
Are lifestyle centres unique? Consumers' perceptions across locations
Authors: Yan Ruoh‐Nan , Eckman Molly
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Lifestyle centres are emerging retail locations and yet have not been included in past studies of shopping centres. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether and how individual and retail characteristics impact consumers' patronage behaviours at three popular retail locations (i.e. central business districts, lifestyle centres, and traditional enclosed shopping malls) in the USA and understand consumers' perceptions of the three different retail locations.

Design/methodology/approach

A mail survey was conducted and 410 surveys were returned. Multiple regression analyses and t‐test were conducted to test proposed hypotheses.

Findings

This study revealed that shopping orientation, importance of retail attributes, and beliefs about retail attributes influence patronage behaviour (i.e. shopping frequency) at the three retail locations. Additionally, consumers' responses suggest that they did regard lifestyle centres differently from the central business district and the traditional enclosed shopping mall on many aspects of the retail attributes examined in this research.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited in that respondents were consumers of a specific geographic area with certain retail locations. Findings may not be generalizeable.

Practical implications

Understanding how consumers evaluate the three retail locations enables practitioners to develop and/or revise their retail strategies in order to be competitive in the current market.

Originality/value

This is the first study investigating consumers' perceptions of three major retail locations by including the newly emerging lifestyle centres in the USA.
Accessing retailer equity through integration in retailers' buying groups
Authors: Hernández‐Espallardo Miguel , Ángeles Navarro‐Bailón María
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the circumstances under which the retailers' use of the buying group's brand name may benefit them.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 121 retailers of home appliances, members of a buying group, provided useful information about the key variables of interest in this study through self‐administered questionnaires. That information was used to test the research model and the hypotheses proposed in the paper.

Findings

The data show that the retailer's use of the buying group's brand name is more capable of improving the retailer's economic satisfaction with the buying group when differentiation is perceived to be a source of competitive advantage, when environment is perceived as more dynamic and when the retailer is strategically integrated in the relationship with the buying group.

Research limitations/implications

Sample is restricted to a limited type of retailers: retailers of electric appliances integrated in buying groups.

Practical implications

The implications extracted are of special interest for buying groups managers about the potential of the buying group's brand to generate value to the buying group's members.

Originality/value

Brand equity in business‐to‐business markets is still an under‐researched and very descriptive topic. Specifically, in the context of retailers' buying groups, the issue is completely missing. This paper reflects the current interest in brand research into non‐consumer relations by empirically demonstrating that brand equity is not only useful but also a powerful tool to explain value creation in business relationships.
Customer satisfaction in food retailing: comparing specialty and conventional grocery stores
Authors: Huddleston Patricia , Whipple Judith , Nye Mattick Rachel , Jung Lee So
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast customer perceptions related to satisfaction with conventional grocery stores as compared to specialty grocery stores. The study examines store attributes of product assortment, price, quality, and service in order to determine which attributes have the greatest impact on store satisfaction for each store format.

Design/methodology/approach

A mail survey was sent to a sample of specialty and conventional grocery store customers. The ten state sample was drawn from US households located in postal (ZIP) codes in areas where national specialty stores (e.g. whole foods) were located.

Findings

Perception of satisfaction were higher among specialty grocery store customers compared to conventional grocery store customers. For both store formats, store price, product assortment, service and quality positively influenced satisfaction. Stepwise regression indicated that each store attribute contributed differently to store satisfaction for conventional and specialty store formats.

Research limitations/implications

The results demonstrate that price, product assortment, quality, and employee service influence store satisfaction regardless of store type (conventional stores or specialty stores). However, the degree of influence of these attributes varied by store type. The results imply that while specialty store shopper satisfaction characteristics are clearly delineated, conventional store shopper characteristics are more difficult to pinpoint. Research limitations include a sample that is more highly educated and has higher incomes than the average American household.

Originality/value

Despite the growth of new product categories and new industry players, few studies have investigated customer satisfaction within the retail food industry. Comparisons of specialty and conventional food stores are equally scarce.
An economic analysis of the convenience retail format in Spain (1998‐2004)
Authors: Berné‐Manero Carmen , de la Fuente‐Mella Hanns , Marzo‐Navarro Mercedes
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer an economic analysis of the convenience store format and the various categories thereof for the Spanish case in the period 1998‐2004.

Design/methodology/approach

Using secondary information sources, the analysis methodology is based on economic indicators of the output level and on the calculation of output/input ratios.

Findings

The results show a positive evolution of the format regarding both the sales volume and the number of establishments, a high‐concentration rate in the sector and a positive trend of the productivity ratios. However, differences are observed between distribution groups or chains, as well as between the various analysed types.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis uses secondary data, namely generally accepted apparent economic indicators that cannot reflect the entire reality of the market. The analysed market is the Spanish market. So, more effort of analysis is needed with primary data and it emerges the convenience of that the competent authorities provide more statistical information about the sector.

Originality/value

This work provides knowledge about management decisions by retailers regarding a specific format (the convenience format), which is emerging in some categories and is mature in others. This research covers a lack of both conceptual and empirical studies that are targeted at understanding these formats and at analysing their current and future situation. The most specific contribution is the focus on a specific format not analysed previously, from the point of view of economic ratios including an approximation to marketing productivity, a priority area of study in this area of knowledge. The analysis performed allows verifying the positive evolution shown by the format in recent years. It also reflects upon the fact that it would be advisable for competent authorities to publish periodic statistics on the global format and on its types.
Evaluation of confined natural and forced convection predictions by different turbulence models
Authors: Omri Mohamed , Galanis Nicolas
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the capacity of two equation turbulence models to reproduce mean and fluctuating quantities in the case of both natural convection and isothermal flows.

Design/methodology/approach

Numerical predictions of mean velocity profiles, air and wall temperatures as well as turbulent kinetic energy by three different two equation models (standard k‐ε, renormalisation group k‐ε and shear‐stress transport‐k‐ω) are compared with corresponding experimental values.

Findings

The prediction of mean velocities and temperatures is in all cases satisfactory. On the other hand, the prediction of turbulent quantities is less precise.

Originality/value

The three models under consideration in this paper can be used for engineering applications such as HVAC calculations.
A coupled dual reciprocity BEM/genetic algorithm for identification of blood perfusion parameters
Authors: Partridge Paul W. , Wrobel Luiz C.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an inverse analysis procedure based on a coupled numerical formulation through which the coefficients describing non‐linear thermal properties of blood perfusion may be identified.

Design/methodology/approach

The coupled numerical technique involves a combination of the dual reciprocity boundary element method (DRBEM) and a genetic algorithm (GA) for the solution of the Pennes bioheat equation. Both linear and quadratic temperature‐dependent variations are considered for the blood perfusion.

Findings

The proposed DRBEM formulation requires no internal discretisation and, in this case, no internal nodes either, apart from those defining the interface tissue/tumour. It is seen that the skin temperature variation changes as the blood perfusion increases, and in certain cases flat or nearly flat curves are produced. The proposed algorithm has difficulty to identify the perfusion parameters in these cases, although a more advanced genetic algorithm may provide improved results.

Practical implications

The coupled technique allows accurate inverse solutions of the Pennes bioheat equation for quantitative diagnostics on the physiological conditions of biological bodies and for optimisation of hyperthermia for cancer therapy.

Originality/value

The proposed technique can be used to guide hyperthermia cancer treatment, which normally involves heating tissue to 42‐43°C. When heated up to this range of temperatures, the blood flow in normal tissues, e.g. skin and muscle, increases significantly, while blood flow in the tumour zone decreases. Therefore, the consideration of temperature‐dependent blood perfusion in this case is not only essential for the correct modelling of the problem, but also should provide larger skin temperature variations, making the identification problem easier.
Computational study of heat transfer in a conjugate turbulent wall jet flow with constant heat flux
Authors: Vishnuvardhanarao E. , Das Manab Kumar
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the conjugate heat transfer from a flat plate involving a turbulent plane wall jet. The bottom wall of the solid block is heated by a constant heat flux.

Design/methodology/approach

High Reynolds number two‐equation model (κ‐ϵ) has been used for turbulence modeling. The parameters considered are the conductivity ratio of solid and fluid, the solid slab thickness and the Prandtl number. The Reynolds number considered is 15,000 because the flow becomes fully turbulent and then is independent of the Reynolds number. The range of parameters considered are: conductivity ratio = 1‐1,000, solid slab thickness = 1‐10 and Prandtl number = 0.01‐100.

Findings

The non‐dimensional bottom surface temperature is high for high‐Prandtl number fluid and vice versa. As conductivity ratio increases, it decreases whereas it increases with the increase in slab thickness. Similar trend is observed for the distribution of the interface temperature. The Nusselt number computed based on the interface temperature increases with Prandtl number. It is observed that for the range of parameters considered, local Nusselt number distribution superimposes with each other. The average heat flux at the interface has been computed and found to be equal with average heat flux at the bottom which ensures the overall heat balance.

Originality/value

The study of conjugate heat transfer with a turbulent wall jet will be useful for cooling of heated body.
Reconstruction of an unsteady flow from incomplete boundary data: Part I. Theory
Authors: Tomas Johansson B.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

To propose and investigate a stable numerical procedure for the reconstruction of the velocity of a viscous incompressible fluid flow in linear hydrodynamics from knowledge of the velocity and fluid stress force given on a part of the boundary of a bounded domain.

Design/methodology/approach

Earlier works have involved the similar problem but for stationary case (time‐independent fluid flow). Extending these ideas a procedure is proposed and investigated also for the time‐dependent case.

Findings

The paper finds a novel variation method for the Cauchy problem. It proves convergence and also proposes a new boundary element method.

Research limitations/implications

The fluid flow domain is limited to annular domains; this restriction can be removed undertaking analyses in appropriate weighted spaces to incorporate singularities that can occur on general bounded domains. Future work involves numerical investigations and also to consider Oseen type flow. A challenging problem is to consider non‐linear Navier‐Stokes equation.

Practical implications

Fluid flow problems where data are known only on a part of the boundary occur in a range of engineering situations such as colloidal suspension and swimming of microorganisms. For example, the solution domain can be the region between to spheres where only the outer sphere is accessible for measurements.

Originality/value

A novel variational method for the Cauchy problem is proposed which preserves the unsteady Stokes operator, convergence is proved and using recent for the fundamental solution for unsteady Stokes system, a new boundary element method for this system is also proposed.
Tissue fluids in microchannel subjected to an externally applied electric potential
Authors: Huang Vincent C. , Sheu Tony W.H.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of an electroosmotic dynamic model to simulate the transport phenomena in association with the electric therapy in modern medicine.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study builds a new model by employing SUPG finite element method to solve the electroosmotic transport equation in microchannels of human body.

Findings

The present electroosmotic finite element analysis demonstrated that the electric treatment has a better curative effect.

Research limitations/implications

The governing electric field equations for tissue fluids in microchannel include the Laplace equation for the effective electrical potential and the Helmholtz equation for the electrical potential established in the electric double layer (EDL). The transport equations governing the hydrodynamic field variables include the mass conservation equation for the electrolyte and the equations of motion for the incompressible charged fluids subject to an electroosmotic body force.

Practical implications

The phenomena of microchannels are dominated by elliptic equations, Laplace, Helmholtz and diffusion equations (Navier Stokes equations at Re=0.0259). These governing equations explain why the reaction of electric treatment is very fast, even immediate.

Originality/value

The analysis of the coupled hydrodynamic and electrical fields, the externally applied electric potential has been shown to be an aid to accelerate the tissue fluid due to the formation of an EDL. Interaction of plasma and tissue fluids in human body is also revealed.
Effects of varying viscosity and thermal conductivity on steady MHD free convective flow and heat transfer along an isothermal plate with internal heat generation
Authors: Sharma P.R. , Singh Gurminder
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Physical properties of a viscous fluid, e.g. viscosity and thermal conductivity change with temperature and in most of the studies concerned with natural convection, generally, the simultaneous effect of temperature dependent viscosity, thermal conductivity have been neglected. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the simultaneous effects of varying viscosity and thermal conductivity on free convection flow of a viscous incompressible electrically conducting fluid and heat transfer along an isothermal vertical non‐conducting plate in the presence of exponentially varying internal heat‐generation and uniform transverse magnetic field.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing equations of motion and energy are transformed into ordinary differential equations using similarity transformation. The resulting boundary valued, coupled and non‐linear differential equations are converted into system of linear differential equations and solved using Runge‐Kutta fourth order technique along with shooting method.

Findings

It was found that: fluid velocity decreases with the increase in magnetic parameter or Prandtl number; fluid temperature increases with the increase in magnetic parameter; velocity and temperature profiles increase due to increase in heat generation parameter; varying viscosity and thermal conductivity modifies the flow and heat transfer characteristic; and skin‐friction and heat transfer are affected by simultaneous change in viscosity and thermal conductivity in presence/absence of exponentially varying heat generation.

Research limitations/implications

The present study is applicable to an incompressible viscous fluid flow and heat transfer with linearly varying viscosity and thermal conductivity.

Originality/value

This paper provides useful information on the physical properties of a viscous fluid with regard to viscosity and thermal conductivity change with temperature.
Effect of computational grid in industrial‐scale boiler modeling
Authors: Saario A. , Oksanen A.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of a computational grid in computational fluid dynamics‐based mathematical modeling, focusing on but not limiting the attention to industrial‐scale boilers.

Design/methodology/approach

A full boiler model is used to show the difficulties related to judging iteration and discretization errors in boiler modeling. Then, a single jet is studied in detail to determine the proper degree of local grid refinement required in the vicinity of jets in the full boiler model. Both a nonreactive axisymmetric jet exhausting into a quiescent atmosphere and a reactive jet exhausting into a crossfiow are studied.

Findings

Over two million computational cells are required for the grid‐independent solution for a single jet. Local grid refinement is shown to be a good option for improving the results consistently without an excessive increase in the number of computational cells. Using relatively coarse grids of tetrahedral cells with a finite‐volume‐based solver may cause serious errors in results, typically by overpredicting the jet spreading rate and underpredicting the mean axial centerline velocity. Relatively coarse grids of hexahedral cells are less prone to error in a case where a jet exhausts into a quiescent atmosphere. However, their performance deteriorates when a crossfiow is introduced. As assumed, the differences in the predicted reaction rate and species concentrations are significant in the reactive case. It is confirmed that the standard k‐ε model tends to overpredict the axisymmetric jet spreading rate. The estimated inlet turbulence intensity is not among the most critical factors in modeling. Estimations of the axisymmetric jet centerline velocity from the analytical correlation may not coincide with the modeling results.

Practical implications

The error caused by the computational grid may easily dominate the errors caused by simplifying models used in industrial‐scale boiler modeling (turbulence, combustion, radiative heat transfer, etc.).

Originality/value

The present study deals with grid independency issues in industrial‐scale boiler modeling in a systematic and profound manner.
Impact of intellectual capital on organisational performance
Authors: Hang Chan Kin
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper, which is written in two parts, is to investigate empirically if intellectual capital (IC) has an impact on the financial aspects of organisational performance as well as attempting to identify the IC components that may be the drivers for the leading financial indicators of listed companies. The study sought evidence from the companies of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data of all the constituent companies of the Hang Seng Index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange from 2001 to 2005 and the VAIC™ methodology used in the measurement of IC by Pulic, regression models were constructed to examine the relationships between IC and the selected financial performance measures of these companies. Part 1 of the paper first explores a working definition of IC as well as appraising some of the methods in IC measurement. After advocating the use of VAIC™ and reviewing the relevant prior studies, research hypotheses are developed for this study. Part 1 of the paper concludes with a discussion of the research method and regression models used in investigating the hypotheses.

Findings

The results of the analysis is presented in Part 2 of the paper, which examines the association between IC, as measured by VAIC™, and the four measures of financial performance in the sample companies surveyed in Hong Kong. Part 1 of the paper develops the hypotheses for the study and establishes the research method used to investigate these hypotheses.

Originality/value

It is believed that this is the first study conducted in Hong Kong involving the use of VAIC™ for the measurement of IC. It not only contributes to the knowledge of IC research, but adds to the existing literature of the progress of IC development in relation to financial performance in companies internationally.