bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Capital movement through trade misinvoicing: the case of Africa
Authors: de Boyrie Maria E. , Nelson James A. , Pak Simon J.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify capital flows due to trade misinvoicing in 30 African nations.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 30 African nations were examined for deviations from average import and export prices as an indicator of capital flows This paper uses US customs data to document the amount of capital flows which may be hidden in commodity trade. Deviations from average prices (price filter matrix) within these commodity classes are used to identify abnormal prices and to produce conservative estimates of the amount of capital movement from 30 countries in Africa to the USA.

Findings

The results of this study demonstrate that, between 2000 and 2005, capital outflows from all 58 countries in Africa to the USA grew by more than 50 percent, through both low‐priced exports and high‐priced imports.

Research limitations/implications

A clear understanding as to the true purpose of the overall capital movement is not easy to determine from the data. Approximately half of the countries (16 out of 30) utilized low‐priced exports as a means to move more money into the USA, while the other half (14 out of 30) used high‐priced exports to move the most money.

Practical implications

When trade misinvoicing is used as a tool to move capital in and out of a country or continent in order to evade taxes and/or customs duties, avoiding quotas, smuggling, and laundering illegally obtained money, or as a means of capital flight, the economic development of the given country is severely hindered. This movement of capital may be due to tax evasion, duty reduction, money laundering, capital flight, or other reasons beyond the scope of this paper.

Originality/value

The technique of using a price filter matrix can be of value to researchers and governments to identify capital flows due to trade misinvoicing.
The ghost of 0.7 per cent: origins and relevance of the international aid target
Authors: Clemens Michael A. , Moss Todd J.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the historical origins of the international goal for rich countries to devote 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI) to aid, in order to assess its present relevance.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews all the original documents, interviews decision makers of that era, and uses their same essential method to estimate a new goal with today's data.

Findings

First, the target was calculated using a model which, applied to today's data, yields ludicrous results. Second, no government ever agreed in a UN forum to actually reach 0.7 per cent – though many pledged to move toward it. Third, ODA/GNI per se does not constitute a meaningful metric for the adequacy of aid flows.

Research limitations/implications

Any further work on aid targets must be based on a country‐by‐country assessment of realistic funding opportunities.

Practical implications

The 0.7 per cent goal has no modern academic basis, has failed as a lobbying tool, and should be abandoned.

Originality/value

Anyone who studies or works on the ways that rich countries can assist the development process must confront the 0.7 per cent goal sooner or later. The paper shows for the first time that it arose from an economic model with no modern credibility, and that – contrary to conventional wisdom – none of the UN documents contains a promise to meet the goal.
Export linkage to economic growth: evidence from Iran
Authors: Atrkar Roshan Sedigheh
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the export‐led growth hypothesis for Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

This is done through an investigation of causal relationship between exports and economic growth, based on Hsiao's synthesis and Akaike's optimal lag criterion, and then by examining the impact of disaggregated exports on economic growth. Using annual time series data, it covers the period of 1970‐2001.

Findings

The evidence supports the export‐led growth hypothesis for aggregate exports. This is not due to accounting effect; since the results indicate that real export growth also causes net‐real GDP growth for Iran. In examining the effects of decomposition of exports and growth, while oil exports are found to have a very important role, manufactured exports are suggested to have the potential to bear further growth in the future.

Originality/value

The paper provides evidence from Iran linking exports to economic growth.
Poverty and vulnerability in urban Bangladesh: the case of slum communities in Dhaka City
Authors: Hossain Shahadat
Published: September 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the poverty and vulnerability of poor urban communities living in Dhaka City's slums.

Design/methodology/approach

Poverty line definition often conceptualises poverty in terms of income, consumption and household resources which has been used for this study. Data have been collected from 500 respondents living in slums in three neighbourhoods of Dhaka City by using a structured questionnaire. In addition, qualitative data have been used to supplement the survey data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics are used for analysing data.

Findings

The paper argues that slum communities experience poverty and vulnerability in terms of income, consumption and asset which is most strongly influenced by location, pattern of habitat, gender, recent migration and household organisation.

Originality/value

The paper offers insights into poverty and vulnerability in urban Bangladesh.
Trust and economic growth in a democratic power shift: an empirical study of Taiwan
Authors: Liou Fen‐May , Ding Cherng G.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of the movement from “authoritarian democracy” to full democracy on the relationships between trust with economic growth and investment.

Design/methodology/approach

Simple regression models were applied to Taiwan as a case study.

Findings

Results indicate that: the direct effect of social trust on growth was significant regardless of the democratic power changeover; the indirect effect through fixed investment was significant only after the transfer of political power; and the direct effect of political trust on growth and the indirect effect through fixed investment were both significant only after the transfer of political power.

Research limitations/implications

The time span of the data used for the regression models in this paper is only ten years, which constrains the number of control variables used in the model.

Practical implications

This study indicates that the political regime plays as a contingency to the essay of social capital and economic growth.

Originality/value

This paper first provides a detailed investigation to specify the effects of social trust on economic growth during the first democratic power changeover.
The Lüneburg Sustainable University Project in international comparison
Authors: Beringer Almut
Published: September 2007

Purpose

To assess the Lüneburg Sustainable University Project (the Project) in a non‐European international context; to relate the project scholarly approach to selected scholarly and practice‐oriented North American sustainability in higher education (SHE) methods; to analyze project innovations against North American initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

Benchmarking indicators were developed inductively in four SHE areas – governance/administration, curriculum/student opportunities, research/scholarship, and operations – via thematic content analysis of 15 descriptions of USA and Canadian universities active in SHE. Data were triangulated with data from the four Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Campus Sustainability Leaders 2006.

Findings

The assessment against selected North American peers suggests that the project is unique in its scholarly approach to and scientific foundation of sustainability in higher education. The transdisciplinary transformative case study is not replicated at any of the comparison institutions; however, elements of the approach and scholarly framework can be found at all North American universities participating in this assessment. North American institutions tend to excel in operational innovations; to keep abreast of international developments, University of Lüneburg is encouraged to commit to a climate‐neutral campus strategy and to implement a sustainability management system, amongst other initiatives.

Practical implications

Knowledge transfer and capacity‐building: North American post‐secondary institutions can learn from the theoretically‐guided, applied research‐based approach to SHE. Through intensified exchange (partnerships) with North American peers, the project and the University of Lüneburg stand to profit from community‐based research approaches and the practice‐oriented work of USA and Canadian campus sustainability offices.

Originality/value

The paper contributes an “outsider's perspective” to the project evaluation. Methodologically, the paper contributes to inductive SHE indicator development.
Current state of construction enterprise information systems: survey research
Authors: Tatari Omer , Castro‐Lacouture Daniel , Skibniewski Mirosław J.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The paper's purpose is to describe and examine the level of utilisation of construction enterprise information systems (CEIS) and to identify critical success factors and benefits from their implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted to quantify the current situation of CEIS. The population consisted of stakeholders with reliable working knowledge of their firms' information systems. Statistical tests were conducted to draw conclusions from the data.

Findings

A total of 48 per cent of the firms use enterprise resource planning packages, but only 4 per cent of these firms chose to implement the project management modules that are commercially available. Only 16 per cent of the respondents were satisfied with their current level of integration due to CEIS. There was no evidence to suggest a tendency for the integration level due to CEIS to increase together with the business geographical dispersion.

Research limitations/implications

The rate of response to the survey was low (9 per cent), maybe due to the unavailability of CEIS in all the firms that were contacted. Further, research is needed to study the dynamics between management practices and their effect on CEIS adoption and level of integration.

Practical implications

Integration efforts and software that are currently in use still do not fully address the concerns of industry practitioners. Associations found between the level of integration and project characteristics can be used to help IT stakeholders decide on the CEIS functions to adopt.

Originality/value

The strategic, operational and organizational benefits found from the implementation of CEIS are based on current data obtained from a targeted survey of construction related firms.
A non‐linear optimisation technique based on the complex method
Authors: Al Nageim H. , Pountney D.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The aim is to present findings of a theoretical analysis for optimal design of a concrete trough for a new lightweight low‐profile rail track system.

Design/methodology/approach

A non‐linear numerical optimisation technique is adopted to predict the minimum area of a pre‐tensioned pre‐stressed trough section satisfying the serviceability and ultimate limit states as per British Standard BS 8110 for critical loading and boundary conditions.

Findings

An optimum concrete trough section is calculated to carry all possible load combinations expected during the design life of the track. The performance of the rail, elastomeric pad and track base were found to be satisfactory under the same critical loading and boundary conditions.

Originality/value

The theoretical analysis gives a valuable insight into system parameter values that can optimise design performance and cost. However, these optimal design features now need to be tested experimentally.
Proposal of a system‐based model to simulate river water quality in São Paulo state – Brazil
Authors: Scariot M.R. , Romitelli M.S. , Ortega E.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

In order to help watershed committees improve Basin Planning, the purpose of this study is to propose to apply system dynamic models to understand watershed conditions and to evaluate the main aspects of human impact on water quality for Brazilian rivers.

Design/methodology/approach

This work makes use of the energy system language to propose a system modeling. The river is longitudinally modeled as a web of inter‐connected compartments and individually described for each control volume by differential equations.

Findings

The model considers particular and significant characteristics such as turbidity and sedimentary organic matter content of São Paulo State rivers and results in ordinary differential equations that are adequate to the Brazilian water quality database. It is expected that simulation will provide the longitudinal and temporal dynamic behavior of total phosphorus, biomass, dissolved oxygen, organic matter, benthonic organisms and fishes that will be used to evaluate future scenarios and to identify sustainable public policies for the Basin.

Originality/value

Water quality simulators available in developed countries are strongly dependent on an extensive series of observed data, most of which are not available for the Brazilian rivers. The model here proposed is adapted to the current Brazilian water quality monitoring system, which provides historic series of observed data of pollution sources and water quality parameters along the stream.
Environmental regulations
Authors: Gurtoo Anjula , Antony S.J.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose in this paper has been to draw from literature to understand the not‐so‐direct or non‐implicit impacts of environmental regulations and propose some consequences on economic and business activity. In more general terms this research facilitates understanding on the broad concerns about the consequences of environment legislations, that is, the nature and magnitude of their capacity to produce significant change in industry and business structures in the long run, through indirect and not‐so‐obvious routes.

Design/methodology/approach

The discussion of the indirect and unintended consequences is based on systematic review of literature that includes studies in the area of international trade, technology, interactions at the national and regional level, industrial processes and dynamics, psychology, communication and organisational systems.

Findings

Review evidence reveals indirect and unintended impacts at the levels of economy and industry such as unintended negative effects on the environment itself, discrimination and additional international trade barriers, evolution of new commercial structures like secondary and used goods markets and recycling and refurbishment as a new industry, need for secondary level legislative support, decreased entrepreneurship and small firm activity, and emergence of circular supply chain models and strategic‐collaborative inter firm competition models.

Practical implications

The paper suggests possible future business and economic scenarios. Some of the possible models include emergence of a new industry in recycling and waste management, growth of secondary goods market for domestic consumption and trade, and emergence of a circular supply chain model where consumers and competitors play an interactive and collaborative role for survival and productivity. However it is imperative to empirically test these finds before generalisations.

Originality/value

The paper is a comprehensive review of an inadequately studied theme of indirect and unintended effects of environmental regulations. As environment issues become increasingly important it becomes more and more critical for both researchers and practitioners to understand what are these indirect impacts and the directions these indirect environment impacts will compel business and economies to move towards. It sets an agenda for future research.
Emergy and fair trade assessment of soybean production and processing in Brazil
Authors: Cavalett Otávio , Ortega Enrique
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the soybean agricultural production system and the subsequent industrialization processes in order to assess the environmental sustainability of the soybean chain in Brazil and, also, to evaluate the amount emergy exchanged in the soybean trade.

Design/methodology/approach

The emergy accounting methodology was used as analysis tool in this paper.

Findings

The main findings were, first, the distribution of emergy flows inputs according to soybean chain stages, being 94 percent used by the agricultural production system, 1 percent used by transport to industry, 4 percent used by crushing, and 1 percent for oil refining. Second, emergy indicators showed negative sustainability trends trough the soybean chain stages. Third, the emergy exchange ratio demonstrated that the soybean farmers are delivering around five times more emergy with the soybean sold that the emergy they are receiving with the money paid for it and, thereby, depleting its local natural resources.

Practical implications

The agricultural production stage uses the highest amount of resources. Therefore, any improvement in the management of this stage will result in improvement of the whole soybean chain. In this context, the adoption of more sustainable soybean agricultural production systems becomes fundamental for the long‐term environmental sustainability of the soybean chain. Organic production models and agro‐forestry technologies should be used toward more sustainable soybean chain because it can help to decrease the dependence of the soybean production systems on external non renewable resources.

Originality/value

Emergy accounting methodology provides a very comprehensive tool to complement and complete energy, economic and social information about the soybean chain in Brazil. The emergy exchange ratio provides information to access and enrich the discussion about soybean fair trade.
Eco‐labels: a sustainability performance in benchmarking?
Authors: Proto Maria , Malandrino Ornella , Supino Stefania
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to map and analyse the state of the art of eco‐energy labelling and its potential as a fundamental component in the transition process towards eco‐sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

A detailed scenario of trends in eco‐energy labelling systems, both on an international and European Union scale are outlined, followed by identification and analysis of the key representative experiences. Subsequently, the main constraints that limit their full potential as a benchmark and tool of improved customer communication for environmental sustainability have been highlighted and critically analysed.

Findings

The full implementation of eco‐energy labelling, as a authentic driving force in sustainability building processes, requires the elimination of the critical factors identified. Therefore, standardisation of benchmarking methodologies, based on improved customer information mechanisms regarding qualitative and quantitative indicators, need to implemented. A strong commitment on the part of all participants involved, to define a multi‐level framework, capable of promoting a recognised international rating scheme in needed.

Practical implications

The most significant implications regard the attempt to classify and coordinate all the information concerning instruments, initiatives, policies and strategies related to eco‐sustainability.

Originality/value

The paper is a contribution towards pinpointing the current fragmented scenario of eco‐energy labelling tools with the aim of re‐conducting them into a coherent and more functional whole.
Valuing environmental resources in the context of flood and coastal defence project appraisal
Authors: Polyzos Serafeim , Minetos Dionissios
Published: September 2007

Purpose

Non‐marketable natural coastal resources such as beaches, sand‐dune systems and cliff sides have an economic value deriving not least from the various services which they provide as well as the human demand for consuming some of these services. Coastal defence projects designed to protect the coast against erosion and flooding by the sea have often caused irreversible degradation to coastal natural resources. The main aim of this article is to investigate whether the joint use of cost‐benefit analysis and environmental resource valuation techniques can give any insights toward the sustainable use of the coast.Design/methodology/approach– This paper employs cost‐benefit analysis (CBA) in order to assess the justifiability of carrying out coast protection works in a particular location. This paper also uses contingent valuation methodology (CVM) to estimate the economic values of non‐marketable coastal environmental services. In particular, this paper employs willingness to pay (WTP) technique and try to elicit satisfaction values from beach users by conducting an on‐site questionnaire survey.Findings– his paper argues that there are many advantages in approaching shoreline protection project appraisal both from an environmental as well as an economics point of view. However, when conducting a cost‐benefit analysis the monetary value of environment elicited by contingent valuation techniques has very limited use in it self. It can set the financial budget within which likely coast protection options should be considered but it cannot determine which option is more sustainable. What the decision‐maker needs is to give real meaning to this value by translating it into people's specific preferences and behavioural characteristics. The next step should be setting out pragmatic project characteristics to accommodate the above preferences.Practical implications– Knowledge‐based planning and scheduling as well as informed coastal protection decisions is central to achieving sustainability in the coastal zone. Prior to managing a coastal area, the baseline information needed is the economic value of services that the coastal location in question provides.Originality/value– Generally speaking, the economic value of non‐marketable natural coastal resources such as beaches is closely associated with the way in which society perceives the environment. Both use and non‐use values that are placed upon the environment by individuals have an anthropocentric basis. In this respect, it could be argued that these values often reflect multiple coastal zone uses, conflicts of human interests, levels of environmental education, environmental awareness and environmental appreciation.
An overview of changes in the provision of forest ecosystem services through forest land markets in the USA
Authors: Sedjo Roger A.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effects of the use of environmental easements and forest certification on the output of ecosystems services from private forestlands in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The discussion of the changes in ownership and management of private forest lands in the USA is based on a review of the literature, the degree of recent activity in the innovative changes, and an assessment of the extent of ownership and management changes.

Findings

The use of environmental easements, resulting from ownership changes, and forest certification have facilitated, indeed mandated, forest management that is consistent with an increase in the provision of environmental and ecosystem services from private forests. The rapid expansion of environmental easements has been accommodated by the dramatic changes in forest ownership patterns in the USA, as traditional corporate ownerships have sold off large land areas to other private ownership types. Forest certification, which provides for improved management of ecosystem services, also has expanded rapidly in recent years.

Practical implications

This study suggests forest management to provide environmental and ecosystem services can be achieve through environmental easements and forest certification. These changes can occur as the result of environmental interests entering forest land markets and affixing easements to the land. This finding suggests an alternative to the approach to establishing separate markets for ecosystem services, as is often suggested, and requires no increased governmental actions or new regulations. Rather these improvements are driven by voluntary forest certification and/or environmental groups entering the private markets for forest lands.

Originality/value

This study suggests an alternative to the commonly held notion that separate markets for environmental and ecosystem services are required to increased their outputs. Rather, environmental easements and voluntary certification, in the face of changing ownership can provide the incentives for management changes that increase the outputs of environment and ecosystem services.
Access to success
Authors: Machika Pauline
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this evaluative study is an attempt to understand the bridging programme by drawing on the work of Wadsworth and to prove that a place still exists for bridging programmes within the University of Johannesburg and the higher education sector in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The research study is both quantitative and qualitative in nature. An interpretative naturalistic approach is used to understand the thinking and experiences of the students in the bridging programme.

Findings

This study reveals, first that a causal relationship exists between the length of the bridging programme and how long students take to successfully complete the national diploma in engineering. Second, that bridging programmes can contribute to the success of engineering students who want to successfully complete their engineering studies within the designated timespan. Third, that, if designated staff are utilized in the teaching of the bridging programmes, students are able to receive the necessary support which enables them to successfully complete the national diploma in engineering.

Originality/value

This research reveals that bridging programmes, implemented over an extended period, are valuable because they allow student access to higher education and lay a solid foundation by equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in mainstream diplomas such as the national diploma in engineering. These programmes put into practice the shift of policy emphasis from “access” to “success”, which has implications not only for the University of Johannesburg but also for the higher education sector in South Africa.
Building features and site‐specific factors affecting buildability in Hong Kong
Authors: Lam Patrick T.I. , Wong Francis K.W. , Wong Franky W.H.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

Buildability is concerned with enhancing building designs to achieve ease of construction. Adapting from the Buildable Design Appraisal System in Singapore, a tailored‐made Buildability Assessment Model (BAM), which scores buildability of building designs, has been devised for use in Hong Kong. In developing the BAM, local factors and terrain characteristics, e.g. highly constrained and sloping site conditions, which are common features besetting the industry, are particularly considered. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to report on the effects of building sites on buildability.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey with 39 valid responses was administered on construction practitioners, aimed at understanding the relative buildability importance of a number of building features and site‐specific factors in Hong Kong. Analysis was carried out using the relative importance index method.

Findings

It is found that the most important buildability considerations for building features and site‐specific factors are “simplicity” and “allowing working space for safe construction and minimising water ingress and geotechnical difficulties”, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

The small sample size, though statistically significant, can be increased in further studies of similar type, to enhance the representativeness of the rankings.

Originality/value

The survey findings are valuable in that they offer a practical reference for design professionals, by scoring their designs, to comprehend the degree to which various building features and site‐specific factors impact on the ease of constructing their designs.
Formable multilayer PCB structure: design and technology demonstrator
Authors: Peltola Tero , Mansikkamäki Pauliina
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to deal with the benefits and challenges of 3D integration of electronics and mechanics as well as the special requirements in designing a system.

Design/methodology/approach

Three‐dimensional integration technology has been enabled by innovations in thermoplastic printed circuit board (PCB) materials and novel system integration. Furthermore, the integration of electronics and mechanics helps manage product creation, as design phases must be integrated and teamwork well organized. A multidisciplinary approach is another must in marketing technology, because any decision to incorporate an integrative technology in a product must be based on an understanding of the many forms of expertise involved in creating a product.

Findings

With a unique copper pattern for each 3D shape, inconvenient distortions can be controlled, as dedicated copper patterns enable designers to make efficient use of formable multilayer structures and advance an extra step in freedom of design. Findings are based on a working demonstrator.

Research limitations/implications

Even if 3D multilayer design now lacks dedicated tools, software is likely to evolve to include all necessary functions.

Practical implications

Forming a multilayer PCB enables designers to free their imagination and to take advantage of numerous possibilities, including even futuristic shapes.

Originality/value

Three‐dimensional integration offers great potential for product design, although by definition and in terms of production technology 3D integration is an incremental change.
Establishing the link between plant operator performance and personal motivation
Authors: Edwards D.J. , Yang J. , Wright B.C. , Love P.E.D.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

Research suggests that personal motivation is a critical internal driving force that, if harnessed, can significantly improve an operator's productivity rate when working mobile plant and machinery. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of personal motivation upon plant operator productivity (and examine those variables that stimulate personal motivational forces).

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this, an artificial neural network (ANN) was developed. The ANN's topology comprised a multilayer perceptron, with one hidden layer and three output classifications of “good”, “average”, and “poor” (productivity performance). During development of this model, a non‐linear dynamic mapping function and metric were used to improve its classification accuracy. The model initially utilised 32 independent (input) variables identified from the literature such as: pay bonuses; relationships between work colleagues; promotion prospects; and job satisfaction.

Findings

Subsequent analyses condensed these variables down to the five most significant (i.e. best motivational classifiers of operative productivity), these being: (v2) receipt of payment for overtime, (v11) job promotion potential, (v22) a safe working environment, (v24) variety of work activities, and (v31) availability of flexible work patterns. Model accuracy when employing these most significant predictors was high at 87.67 per cent. By testing on a hold out sample of original data, the developed model was validated as being reliable and robust.

Originality/value

The main conclusion of the work is that operators' personal motivation can best be encouraged by paying attention to “personal satisfiers” and “security” aspects, with particular emphasis being given to work flexibility and variety, a safe work environment, and appropriate operator remuneration. By delivering and exploiting these variables, employers can improve plant productivity rates and, as a consequence, company profitability.
Building global supplier networks: a supplier portfolio entry model
Authors: Liao Kun , Hong Paul
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to address critical issues on how a global enterprise establishes an effective supply network. The example of a Japanese firm operating in China illustrates a supplier portfolio entry model that has not previously been examined in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a research model based on theories of resource dependency and supplier networks. The model shows how profit optimization is achieved through a series of decisions that build an effective supplier network.

Findings

The concept of portfolio management is useful in optimizing profits through a supplier network.

Research limitations/implications

This research is based on a single case in one country, so it has limited validity. Further studies are also needed to examine more complex cases in multiple countries.

Practical implications

The leading enterprise (e.g. original equipment manufacturer) may effectively build its global network by strategically applying the key features of the supplier portfolio model.

Originality/value

Practitioners and academics may gain new insights into how a global enterprise was able to build an effective supplier network in China.
Acquiring competitive advantage in industry through supply chain integration: a case study of Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings Ltd
Authors: Du Liqun
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a case study of a successful corporate group, Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings Limited (abbreviated “Yue Yuen” below), which acquired its competitive advantage through supply chain management (SCM) and supply chain integration (SCI). Focusing on this as a representative example, the paper discusses the features, operations model and performance of SCM and SCI as a useful reference for business, enterprise and academia.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on classical works on supply chain management, a detailed eight part questionnaire, on supplier and customer relationship management, was designed. This was completed by Yue Yuen managers.

Findings

Through nearly two years of research work, it was found that Yue Yuen's success in supply chain management lies in its large investment in information technology. It was found that a global supply chain strategy should target timeline improvements in product development and procurement to produce optimal effects in terms of cost and quality. Rather than optimizing a single process or segment of the supply chain, a firm should target improvements throughout the entire supply chain.

Research limitations/implications

The framework in the case discussed in this paper provides guidance for future research in the field of supply chain management and supply chain integration by focusing on the case of a specific company and industry.

Practical Implications

This paper provides some theoretical support and policy implications for the reform and development of China's manufacturing, especially in the footwear industry.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the importance of shifting from a “vertical solution” model to a “horizontal solution” model, and stresses that under this new management model, companies can use cooperation to provide customers with a full service supply chain model.
Coordinating global inter‐firm product development
Authors: Jin Yan , Hong Paul
Published: September 2007

Purposes

Global product development requires complex international inter‐firm coordination between suppliers and manufacturers. Prior research on the impact of opportunities and risks of supplier‐manufacturer partnership in the context of global product development is relatively limited. The purpose of this article is to explore the rich interactions among global supplier‐manufacturer relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the extensive review of global product development practices, an integrative framework of the global supplier‐manufacturer partnership is presented.

Findings

Effective inter‐firm practices require firstly, global inter‐firm interaction practices that balance opportunities and risks; and secondly, specific process and product outcome measures.

Research limitations/implications

This research model needs further empirical validation.

Practical implications

Managers may identify opportunities and risks associated with supplier‐manufacturer partnership and translate them into meaningful inter‐firm practices for global competitive advantages.

Originality/value

The research framework articulates the interrelationships that exist among global inter‐firm product development processes. Practicing managers may find useful insights in making their global new product launching decisions.
Cooperative innovation: a value chain approach
Authors: Walters David , Rainbird Mark
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to briefly review earlier contributions to partner/cooperative innovation with the aim of evaluating the application of the concept to the increasingly popular virtual/value chain business model.

Design/methodology/approach

A number of example cases of partner/cooperative innovation are examined and, although these are limited in number, it would appear that a classification of types of partner/cooperative innovation is possible.

Findings

Partner/cooperative innovation combines elements of process and product innovation management within a “network structure” to create a product‐service response that neither partner could create using its own resources. They extend in both directions of the supply chain (upstream and down stream) and include supplier relationship management such as that demonstrated between Dell and its myriad of suppliers, and examples of customer relationship management such as the relationship that Caterpillar has built with its distributor/service network.

Research limitations/implications

The findings need further validation through empirical data analysis in appropriate industrial settings.

Practical implications

The paper includes a model that facilitates the evaluation of the “total efficacy” of partner/cooperative innovation alternatives. As such, the paper offers a viewpoint to be considered by management.

Originality/value

The paper describes partnership/cooperative innovation that combines elements of process innovation management and product innovation management within a network structure. Neither partner can independently create this network using its own resources to meet customer/market determined expectations for product and/or service performance at an economic (viable) cost. Third party involvement is typical.
On using partial orders for web application design
Authors: Gabarró Joaquim , Vallejo Isabel , Xhafa Fatos
Published: September 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with some design issues of web applications using partial orders to enhance their navigability and extensibility.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a static web applications model as a deterministic labelled transition system in which states are html pages and transitions are urls.

Findings

By using this model it is possible, on the one hand, to characterize the temporal evolution of a web application and, on the other, to classify web applications into several types according to the way the information is organized over the web application. This classification captures interesting properties related to the navigability and extensibility of web applications.

Practical implications

These ideas are applied to develop a simple web application, namely, a small virtual museum based on approximations of original paintings. Moreover, based on the extensibility characterization, the virtual museum is extended with different paintings approximations, while preserving navigability properties as well as browsing of paintings' approximations of higher quality resolution.

Originality/value

The results of this work provide useful and practical insights into the design of web applications that ensure navigability and extensibility properties.
An XML document generator for semantic query optimization experimentation
Authors: Geng Ke , Dobbie Gillian
Published: September 2007

Purpose

XML semantic query optimization (XSQO) is an important area in eXtensible Markup Language (XML) query processing. However, the experiments evaluating semantic optimization methods often suffer because of the lack of suitable data sets. To evaluate XSQO methods it is necessary to be able to build datasets with specific characteristics. In particular, it is necessary to be able to set: selectivity of embedded elements, selectivity of values of elements, depth, fan‐out and size. The aim of this paper is to describe the requirements of such a generator, and the challenges of building the generator.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers that there is currently no generator that gives this flexibility, so the paper discusses the design and building of such a generator.

Findings

The main characteristic of the generator is that it is possible to adapt existing XML documents, including XML benchmarks, for experiments that evaluate XSQO methods. With the generator, users are able to modify not only the structure of XML documents but also content quickly and directly.

Originality/value

The paper provides information of value to information technology professionals.
A hidden Markov model‐based approach for extracting information from web news
Authors: Tso Brandt
Published: September 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to present a method based on hidden Markov models (HMM) for extracting information from web news.

Design/methodology/approach

The samples under study are derived from the contents of PROC “People's Daily Online,” a web‐based news publication containing non‐structured archives. This study focuses on developing HMM‐based tools for news filtering in order to retrieve terms of interest, such as “Geo‐location,” “System,” and “Personas.” The experiments are performed in two stages. In the first stage, each HMM being built is exclusively serving for extracting unique target term in order to evaluate the fundamental information extraction (IE) capability. In the second stage, the experiment is then extended to resolve a more complex, multi‐term extraction issue.

Findings

The results reveal that, by using HMMs as a basis, the accuracies (F‐measure) for unique IE tasks can achieve more than 70 per cent on average, while no fewer than 66 per cent accuracies are obtained for multi‐term extraction.

Originality/value

The study reveals the promising of using HMM for developing automatic tool in filtering free‐structured data.
Monitoring the “health” status of open source web‐engineering projects
Authors: Wahyudin Dindin , Mustofa Khabib , Schatten Alexander , Biffl Stefan , Min Tjoa A.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

In response to the increasing number of open‐source software (OSS) project initiatives and the increasing demand of OSS products as alternative solutions by industries, it is important for particular stakeholders such as the project host/supporter project‐leading teams, and prospective customers to determine whether a project initiative is likely to be sustainable and is worth supporting. This paper aims to propose a concept of “health” indicators and an evaluation process that can help to get a status overview of OSS projects in a timely fashion and predict project survivability based on the project data available on web repositories.

Design/methodology/approach

For initial empirical evaluation of the concept, the indicators are applied to well‐known web‐based OSS projects (Apache Tomcat and Apache HTTP Server) and the results are compared with challenged projects (Apache Xindice and Apache Slide). The results are discussed with OSS experts to investigate the external validity of the indicators.

Findings

From a software project management point of view, a typical web‐based OSS project can be viewed as a web‐engineering process, since most OSS projects exploit the benefits of a web platform and enable the project community to collaborate using web‐based project tools and repositories such as mailing lists, bug trackers, and versioning systems (CVS/SVN) to deliver web systems and applications. These repositories can provide rich collections of process data, and artifacts which can be analyzed to better understand the project status.

Originality/value

The paper provides information of value about open‐source solutions.
Security improvement in embedded systems via an efficient hardware bound checking architecture
Authors: Georg Grasser Michael
Published: September 2007

Purpose

Embedded technologies are one of the fastest growing sectors in information technology today and they are still open fields with many business opportunities. Hardly any new product reaches the market without embedded systems components any more. However, the main technical challenges include the design and integration, as well as providing the necessary degree of security in an embedded system. This paper aims to focus on a new processor architecture introduced to face security issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In the short term, the main idea of this paper focuses on the implementation of a method for the improvement of code security through measurements in hardware that can be transparent to software developers. It was decided to develop a processor core extension that provides an improved capability against software vulnerabilities and improves the security of target systems passively. The architecture directly executes bound checking in hardware without performance loss, whereas checking in software would make any application intolerably slow.

Findings

Simulation results demonstrated that the proposed design offers a higher performance and security, when compared with other solutions. For the implementation of the Secure CPU, the SPARC V8‐based LEON 2 processor from Gaisler Research was used. The processor core was adapted and finally synthesised for a GR‐XC3S‐1500 board and extended.

Originality/value

As numerically, most systems run on dedicated hardware and not on high‐performance general purpose processors. There certainly exists a market even for new hardware to be used in real applications. Thus, the experience from the related project work can lead to valuable and marketable results for businesses and academics.