bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In a downturn do you cut pay, slash the workforce or protect precious talent?
Authors: Zingheim Patricia K. , Schuster Jay R.
Published: July 2002

Little research has explored how best to reduce labor costs when the economy turns down. A recent phone survey of CEOs and senior executives at 20 “Fortune 100” companies suggests that CEOs are now concerned and confused about how best to shrink their workforce. It also indicates that they would rather use layoffs than pay cuts to reduce labor cost. But these senior executives realize they cannot “shrink to greatness.” Eventually these successful companies must again begin to add staff. So planning strategically now for both the growth and shrinkage of the workforce is essential to providing a high‐performance workforce and workplace.
The CEO’s “how to” guide to crisis communications
Authors: Ucelli Loretta
Published: July 2002

The best way to manage a crisis that requires communication with stakeholders is to plan for a variety of emergencies. In some cases, anticipating a crisis can even go a long way toward preventing one. Crisis can come in many forms ‐‐ from a product recall to a class‐action lawsuit to an SEC investigation. Being prepared to communicate quickly and adroitly‐and regularly rehearsing‐‐ is a corporation’s best defense against a wide range of possible miscommunication risks. The author proposes a six‐step plan.
Entrepreneurial marketing: a conceptualisation from qualitative research
Authors: Stokes David
Published: July 2002

Proposes a conceptualisation of “entrepreneurial marketing” based on the practices of successful entrepreneurs. The methodology took account of specific issues in researching entrepreneurs such as lack of common understanding of management terms, and the influence of ego on participants’ responses. Depth interviews used critical incident technique to elicit accounts from entrepreneurs of their marketing practices. Focus groups supplemented individual interviews to test the candour of responses. The results indicated that successful entrepreneurs undertake marketing in unconventional ways. They tend to focus first on innovations, and only second on customer needs. They target customers through a bottom‐up process of elimination, rather than deliberate segmentation, targeting and positioning strategies. They rely on interactive marketing methods communicated through word‐of‐mouth, rather than a more conventional marketing mix. They monitor the marketplace through informal networks, rather than formalised market research.
The war metaphor in retailing: do soldiers see going to war as like going shopping?
Authors: Whysall Paul
Published: July 2002

The metaphor of warfare pervades popular and academic portrayals of retailing. After a review of the literature on metaphors in marketing and the war metaphor in particular, this paper illustrates the widespread use of the war metaphor in retail and distribution studies and explores in some depth the nature of that metaphor through published depictions of Wal*Mart’s takeover of Asda. It is concluded that use of the war metaphor is both literary and theoretical, but that overuse in the former case may undermine its potential in the latter. Thus it is contended that a reappraisal of the war metaphor in retailing is overdue.
“Not in front of your mother!”: online marketing for pharmaceutical products addressing taboo topics
Authors: Wrobel Ursula
Published: July 2002

The paper borrows inspiration from three main sources: international marketing research, semiotic theory and communication studies. It explores online marketing for pharmaceutical products related to taboo topics. A qualitative analysis of a German Web site brings out strategies employed to market sensitive products. The three main strategies are analysed on a visual and verbal level. Multicodality, code switching, dynamisation of code and non‐sequential data structure are purposefully combined to communicate effectively with the user. It is argued that product marketing via Web sites is a balancing act between globalisation and localisation; global marketing aiming at economies of scale and local marketing at context‐sensitive communication – with both depending on each other for their own success.
Pre‐testing international press advertising: the need for informed consensus on methodology
Authors: Nancarrow Clive , Tiu Wright Len , Woolston Chris
Published: July 2002

Focuses on the pre‐testing of a global press advertising campaign for Seagram’s Chivas Regal whisky and contrasts the contributions of qualitative and quantitative applications. Examines how an informed decision could be made on the most appropriate research approach ‐ in particular the value of the concept of validity; and the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative and quantitative pre‐testing given the emotional nature of the product category, importance of branding and nature of advertising. These questions are addressed in this paper through focusing on the research needs for the “global campaign” as well as the need in Japan to evaluate the global campaign and an independently developed local campaign. In the case of Japan, Seagram’s management elected to examine two different research approaches ‐ qualitative and quantitative ‐ to address the question “how to effectively pre‐test international press advertising”. This exercise demonstrated that the two approaches produced seemingly contradictory findings. Reasons for this are discussed.
Predicting cooperative behavior during a retailer’s bankruptcy
Authors: Johnson Madeline , Gelb Betsy D.
Published: July 2002

Retailer bankruptcy provides an opportunity for studying the relationships among members of a channel of distribution because bankruptcy disturbs the ongoing pattern of such relationships. This study employs qualitative research to model the criteria that suppliers use in selecting their response to a bankrupt retailer. Results show that suppliers who continue cooperative behavior with a retailer employ a model that assesses whether the risks in continuing to supply that retailer are in balance with the outcomes generated from the relationship. However, behavioral variables appear relevant as well: retailers appear to benefit from adopting a collaborative communication strategy and building supplier confidence so that a turnaround will in fact occur.
The pursuit of value through qualitative market research
Authors: Victor Goodman Malcolm Robert
Published: July 2002

Offers a positive example of how small firms can benefit from low cost qualitative market research techniques to determine achievable advantageous marketing strategies. The issue of identifying “customer perceived value” was chosen as the prime focus. The experimental Pilot Programme featured a series of depth interviews and a focus group session. The research benefited from the inclusion of some classical creative problem‐solving techniques. Preliminary concerns that the research would breach the boundaries of academic rigour and that the depth interview interviewee samples would be too small for any significant findings to emerge proved unfounded. The success of the experiment (judged by the small businesses, in terms of its relevance in enabling them both to draft action marketing plans and to manage customer value) has prompted the local support agencies to provide a low cost qualitative market research service using similar qualitative research techniques as the experimental programme.
Motivated teams: an inter‐cultural case
Authors: Brooks Ian
Published: July 2002

Explores a managerial philosophy which focusses on teamwork.
Investigates how a simple yet sound belief in people takes shape on the
ground and infiltrates all aspects of organizational activity. The
context is a heavy truck assembly plant which is Swedish‐owned yet
located in northern France. Outlines the novel processes of work
organization employed in this complex multicultural setting. Although
both European countries, Sweden and France, are, in key cultural terms,
polar opposites, represents an example of a successful inter‐cultural
business activity. Based on a series of semi‐structured interviews with
senior management from both France and Sweden and considerable
observation of activities on the shopfloor, looks at the nature of, and
differences between, Swedish and French national cultures in an attempt
to account for the success of the plant and the skill of its managers in
overcoming potential cultural pitfalls and discusses the contributions
made by each culture to the success story.
Team rewards: lessons from the coal‐face
Authors: Brown Duncan
Published: July 2002

Features six lessons for firms seeking to introduce team rewards. Includes real‐life examples to illustrate these points and reports some relevant research findings. Concludes by condensing the lessons into three standards which are to be strategic, flexible and open.
Great teams build themselves
Authors: Wilson Fred
Published: July 2002

Describes the process of team development, emphasizing the role of the team members. Notes the importance of “catalyst” team members and the need for pace in the development process and the meeting of objectives. Gives examples from the author’s experience and concludes that the process is a positive one, bringing worthwhile results.
Peer review: its time has come
Authors: Williams Gary W. , Kleiner Brian H.
Published: July 2002

All work environments, give rise to disputes, complaints and grievances on the part of their employees. There are two traditional methods for resolving these conflicts. However, there is a non‐traditional conflict resolution method that is gaining popular acceptance: peer review is a process for resolving day‐to‐day work‐related grievances in a fair, just manner without involving outside parties or upper management. The employee has the opportunity to appeal his or her case to a panel of peers, whose decision is binding on the employee as well as the company. Allowing the employee’s peers to be involved in the grievance resolution process is unbiased and fair. Employees who have participated in peer review find that it was a positive learning experience.
Are traditional management tools sufficient for diverse teams?
Authors: Smith Mathew B.
Published: July 2002

Two issues which confront today’s managers are diversity and teams. The contradictory nature of these two terms, in the form of a diverse team, makes it appropriate that the role of many traditional project management tools and techniques be examined. This article describes how the leadership of a diverse team was able to successfully accomplish a major project on time and under budget. They used traditional project management tools and techniques but modified them to fit the requirements of the team. One primary area for focus was on identifying behaviors all team members should exhibit in order to for the project to be successful. After the behaviors were identified, applied behavior analysis was used to reinforce the desired behaviors. By focusing on behaviors which built trust and encouraged open communications, the team was able to take advantage of the diverse experience and backgrounds of all team members. This allowed the team to push decision making well down into the organization, motivate all team members around the objectives of the project and develop flexible processes which were enhanced as the project moved forward. This article attempts to describe and explain the major lessons the team felt they learned for this project.
You may need RCM to enhance TPM implementation
Authors: Ben‐Daya Mohamed
Published: July 2002

A brief article considering the nature of total productive maintenance (TPM) and reliability‐centered maintenance (RCM) and the relationship between the two. Notes equipment management and empowerment of employees as key features of TPM. Sees the development of an effective preventive maintenance program as essential to effective equipment management and suggests that RCM is central to the development of such a program. Points out that, if implemented within the framework of TPM, RCM can help achieve better results from the TPM implementation.
Optimal maintenance decisions on the basis of uncertain failure probabilities
Authors: van Noortwijk Jan M.
Published: July 2002

Due to a lack of data, many maintenance optimisation models have to be initialised on the basis of expert judgment. Rather than eliciting the parameters of a continuous lifetime distribution, experts give more reliable answers when assessing a discrete lifetime distribution. If the prior uncertainty in the probabilities of failure per unit time is expressed in terms of a Dirichlet distribution, Bayes estimates can be obtained of three cost‐based criteria to compare maintenance decisions over unbounded time‐horizons: first, the expected average costs per unit time; second, the expected discounted costs over an unbounded horizon; and third, the expected equivalent average costs per unit time. Illustrates the maintenance model by determining optimal age replacement and lifecycle costing policies, which optimally balance both the failure cost against the preventive repair cost, and the initial cost against the future cost.
A systems thinking perspective of maintenance, operations, and process quality
Authors: Jambekar Anil B.
Published: July 2002

Drawing from observations made at a couple of manufacturing firms, this paper weaves together behavioral aspects of process improvement and maintenance concepts with ongoing commitments to operations management goals. Causal loop diagramming, part of the system dynamics tool‐kit, is used to structure the interrelated nature of involved concepts and variables. An objective is to offer insights from a systems perspective. The paper offers behavioral explanation for limited success in implementing improvement programs and suggests reversing the traditional “maintenance service supplier‐and‐customer relationship” between maintenance and operations.
Reliability data analysis and modelling of offshore oil platform plant
Authors: Wang W. , Majid H.B.A.
Published: July 2002

This paper reports on the reliability data analysis and modelling of offshore oil platform plant. We first analysed the effectiveness of preventive maintenance to the plant concerned, and then identified the key sub‐units and major preventive maintenance activities to be modelled. A modelling technique called the delay time is then used to determine the optimal periodic inspection intervals. The analysis showed that preventive maintenance is generally effective, but a slight decrease of the periodic inspection intervals is favourable.
Strategic dimensions of maintenance management
Authors: Tsang Albert H.C.
Published: July 2002

The contemporary business environment has raised the strategic importance of the maintenance function in organizations which have significant investment in physical assets. Four strategic dimensions of maintenance management are identified, namely service‐delivery options, organization and work structuring, maintenance methodology and support systems. The alternatives available are reviewed: the guidelines for selection of these alternatives, the key decision areas in each of the four dimensions, as well as the critical success factors for the transformation process are discussed. The two factors that permeate in these strategic dimensions are human factors and information flow; the latter can be made more efficient by embracing the e‐maintenance model.
Increasing the effectiveness and cost‐efficiency of corrective maintenance using relay‐type assignment
Authors: Quintana Rolando , Ortiz Juan G.
Published: July 2002

There has been extensive research on techniques to assign mechanics to machines in order to maximize their availability in corrective maintenance systems. However, the focus has been on achieving high machine availability, while disregarding the utilization of mechanics. The maintenance brigade system (MBS), a team‐based mechanic‐assignment technique based on the relay‐type, self‐balancing bucket brigade system created by Bartholdi and Eisenstein, was thus developed and tested. The MBS was compared to a traditional assignment technique via machine availability and mechanic utilization, each at different levels according to the industrial partner’s opinion of high and low, with medium levels taken to be the status quo. Each system was modeled and, after a validation and verification process, simulated under the same number of machines and mechanics. Results and implications are discussed
TPM implementation in Land‐Rover with the assistance of a CMMS
Authors: Bohoris G.A. , Vamvalis C. , Trace W. , Ignatiadou K.
Published: July 2002

Details how Land‐Rover was one of the leading companies in the UK
to adopt total quality management (TQM). Shows that in order to provide
both effective and efficient maintenance in accordance with TQM needs,
Land‐Rover (LR) reintroduced in 1994 total productive maintenance (TPM)
in its manufacturing plant in Birmingham, UK. TQM is not possible
without TPM so demonstrates how, in order to achieve its goals, TPM in
LR is assisted by a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
Describes in full the implementation steps of TPM, the difficulties
encountered, and the usefulness and necessity of a computerized
maintenance management system (CMMS) for the successful implementation
of TPM in LR.
Quality assurance for safety‐related components in a waste repository
Authors: Beckmerhagen Ingo A. , Berg Heinz P. , Harnack K.
Published: July 2002

Quality assurance (QA) with regard to structures, systems and components is also an important task during the design and operational phase of a repository for the disposal of radioactive waste. The first step is to evaluate the technical design on the basis of a comprehensive safety assessment. The results of this evaluation can then be used in order to classify structures, systems and components into different QA areas. Type and volume of the necessary documentation depend on the relevance of the structures, systems and components to safety. Describes the application of this general procedure including design changes and maintenance aspects during operation, for the planned Konrad waste repository in Germany.
Cost‐benefit analysis of a complex system with correlated failures and repairs
Authors: Gupta Rakesh , Ramkishan
Published: July 2002

Studies the cost‐benefit analysis of a complex system consisting of two subsystems for example, A and B, connected in series. Subsystem A is composed of two identical units while subsystem B has only one unit. The system functions if one of the two units of subsystem A and the subsystem B are operative. Assuming a bivariate exponential density for the joint distribution of failure and repair times of the units, obtains various reliability characteristics useful to system managers. Also draws explicit results for the case when failure and repair times are independent.
Stochastic analysis of a two‐unit cold standby system with maximum repair time and correlated failures and repairs
Authors: Gupta Rakesh , Mumtaz S.Z.
Published: July 2002

Investigates a stochastic model of a two identical unit cold standby system. Assumes that, if repair of the failed unit is not completed within a specified time, then an order is placed to replace the failed unit by the new one. The specified time is also known as the maximum repair time limit which may change from user to user of the system, so that it is assumed as a random variable. Joint distribution of failure and repair times is bivariate exponential whereas the distributions of lead time (difference between order and delivery time for a new unit) and replacement time of the new unit are negative exponential. Obtains various reliability characteristics of the system under study by using regenerative point technique. Also studied characteristics through graphs.
A tabulated procedure for evaluating documents of maintenance tenders
Authors: Sirajuddin Abdullah M.Y. , Al‐Bulaihed Farhan K.
Published: July 2002

The evaluation of maintenance tenders is a task that involves not only consideration of the prices offered, but the financial and technical expertise of the tenderers as well. The evaluations can be highly complicated and lengthy when dealing with large projects and numerous tenderers. Presents an evaluation methodology in the form of a tabular procedure to be used by the evaluators of maintenance contracts. Develops seven tables to provide quantitative values for the submitted tenders. The first five tables are designed to evaluate the technical efficiency of the tenderers, while the sixth table is designed for the final evaluation including prices. In the first table, the tender compliance as per the requirement of the tender document is evaluated. Uses the second table to evaluate the support and maintenance plan. The third table presents an evaluation of the experience and the financial status of the tenderer. The fourth and fifth tables are used to evaluate the tenderer’s staffing proposal and how it is related to the requirements of the project. The sixth table summarizes the evaluation of the previous four tables for each evaluator. The seventh table illustrates the final evaluation of each tenderer, and hence a decision could be made. By adding the average technical score of each tenderer to his price score, the evaluator can easily rate each tenderer’s ability to carry out the work rather than depending only on price, which might not always mean a good choice.
Comparison of aircraft tyre replacement policy at Saudi aviation facility to the international standard
Authors: Al‐Garni Ahmed Z.
Published: July 2002

States that aircraft tyres are critical for safety and they must have high reliability. Compares two policies for tyre replacement and their reliability and cost which are for Saudi aviation and the international standards.
Estimation of distribution parameters of mixed failure mode data
Authors: Arts Rudi H.P.M. , Saxena Anuj , Knapp Gerald M.
Published: July 2002

Describes research into the problem of estimating the distribution parameters of failure data of industrial equipment subject to two failure modes. It is assumed that time to failure data are available, but it is unknown for each failure which of the two main failure modes caused the event. A loglikelihood method was developed and tested on generated mixed failure mode data. Shortcomings of this method triggered the development of two additional methods, MINESS and MINESS+, which minimize the error sum of squares of the reliability function, after separating the failure data into two sets.
Sources of fuzziness in vehicle maintenance management
Authors: Knezevic Jezdimir , Papic Ljubisa , Vasic Branko
Published: July 2002

Deals with sources of fuzziness in individual parts and stages of maintenance and utilization of vehicles in large fleets. Effective vehicle fleet maintenance management requires data on reliability and maintainability. In most cases, however, available data are insuffucient for proper statistical identification of performance, making it impossible to define an adequate model to support decision‐making procedures. Demonstrates that, in such cases, the fuzzy set theory is convenient for modelling these processes so as to enable decision making and maintenance management.
The cost of unreliability: a case study
Authors: Bradley Malcolm , Dawson Ray
Published: July 2002

The running cost of over 300 PCs has been studied at Rolls‐Royce and Associates. The company helpdesk system was employed to provide detail of the frequency and nature of the PC component failure and the time taken for the repairs. The cost of unreliability was then calculated as the cost of replacing each faulty component plus the cost of unavailability while waiting for the repair. It was found that for most PC components there is a higher probability of failure, leading to a higher cost of unreliability, in the early part of life. The conclusion is drawn that bulk purchase of PCs will lead to higher running costs in the initial period and for many organisations a rolling replacement policy would spread costs more evenly. The helpdesk was found to be an excellent source of information for improving the quality of maintenance procedures.
An optimal software release problem under cost rate criterion: artificial neural network approach
Authors: Shinohara Yasuhide , Nishio Yasuhiko , Dohi Tadashi , Osaki Shunji
Published: July 2002

The determination of the release schedule for a new software product is the most important issue for designing and controlling a software development process. In fact, the optimal software release problem based on some software reliability growth models has been studied by many authors. In this paper, we propose a new method to estimate the optimal software release time under an alternative cost criterion. More precisely, two kinds of artificial neural networks are used to estimate the fault‐detection time observed in both testing and operation phases. As a cost criterion, we adopt the expected cost rate (the expected total software cost per unit testing time). Then, it is shown that the optimization problem to obtain the optimal release time can be reduced to a graphical one to minimize the tangent slope from a point to an (estimated) empirical curve in two‐dimensional space. Through numerical examples using actual fault‐detection time data, it is illustrated that the method proposed is a very useful device to estimate the optimal software release time precisely.
Reliability analysis of microprocessor systems with watchdog processors
Authors: Imaizumi Mitsuhiro , Yasui Kazumi , Nakagawa Toshio
Published: July 2002

A large number of microprocessors (μPs) have been widely used in many practical fields and the demand for improvement of their reliabilities have recently increased. Watchdog processors (WDPs) are small and simple coprocessors that can detect errors by monitoring the behavior of μPs. This paper formulates three reliability models of μP systems with WDPs: model 1 considers the system where a main processor (MPu) has n WDPs with self checking. Next, model 2 considers the system with upper limit number of resets. Further, model 3 discusses the system with limit processing time. The expected costs of each model are derived and the optimal policies which minimize them are discussed analytically. Finally, the numerical examples are given.
The raison d’être of maintenance
Authors: Narayan V.
Published: July 2002

The effective management of risk is the characteristic feature of a successful organization. The risk may be relating to safety, the environment, or one affecting profitability. This paper discusses failures and the mechanism by which they escalate into serious incidents. A generalized model is used to illustrate the method by which such escalation may be prevented. A hypothesis is then postulated to relate the frequency of serious events, minor failures and the availability of protective barriers. The methods that can be used to optimize the barrier avilability are then explored. A practical way to compute the test intervals in order to obtain the required barrier availability is suggested. The role of maintenance planning to achieve this objective is discussed briefly. The paper attempts to provide a unified approach to manage maintenance and thus reduce risks to an acceptable level.
Decision support in a condition based environment
Authors: Andersen Trond M. , Rasmussen Magnus
Published: July 2002

This paper presents an approach for short‐term maintenance planning, based on information about the technical health of an item. A simple cost/risk model is used to calculate the expected costs when postponing preventive maintenance for an item that is soon to fail, based on the cost of corrective and preventive maintenance and the probability of failure. The probability of failure is calculated on the basis of an underlying probability density function f(t), which is determined from available quantitative and qualitative information. The preventive maintenance cost is time dependent, and can be described either as a general cost function or as a specific cost function. The specific cost function can be derived from stochastic shifts in the maintenance cost for the actual problem at hand.
Case study: RCM – yes, no or maybe?
Authors: Pintelon L. , Nagarur N. , Van Puyvelde F.
Published: July 2002

The basic research question of this paper is how to determine the optimum maintenance concept for an industrial installation in a practical, i.e. with a reasonable input effort, way. The paper starts out with a critical review of maintenance concepts available from literature. These concepts are considered for use in a specific case, i.e. a paint spraying robot in an automobile manufacturing plant, and it is decided to implement a RCM‐like approach. The original RCM concept is modified in order to better fit the specific needs in terms of technical and organizational requirements of the company in question. The paper concludes with some general thoughts on the applicability of such an RCM‐like concept for the company in question.
Gender and scientific management – Women and the history of the International Institute for Industrial Relations, 1922‐1946
Authors: Oldenziel Ruth
Published: July 2002

The relationship between the women’s reform movement and scientific management has been neglected because secondary literature has focussed primarily on class relations rather than on gender. Moreover, the neutral‐sounding formulations of scientific management discourse and the diversification of the women’s activism after suffrage has obscured linkages between both movements. Through the case study of the International Institute of Industrial Relations, through which many women reformers of different stripes found each other, the author argues that scientific management had a special appeal for women reformers and should prompt a reconsideration of the connections between gender and the scientific management movement.
The other John Brown and the Blackstone Canal
Authors: Trinkaus John
Published: July 2002

John Brown, a colonial American merchant‐adventurer, was unwilling
to settle for the status quo. The Blackstone Canal typifies his interest
in anticipating – and even precipitating – change so as to
promote the growth of business. Measured in terms of creativity and
innovation, his management style could probably benefit industry today.
Designing the capital‐labour accord
Authors: Field Gregory
Published: July 2002

Examines the origins and ideology of the Beyer Plan, a co‐operative
productivity venture designed in 1918 for railway labour by Taylor
Society member, Otto Beyer, but not implemented until after the 1922
strike. Argues that the traditional depictions of the plan as a sign of
labour′s ebbing strength in the 1920s neglect the extent to which the
plan marks the emergence of a constellation of interests that influenced
industrial relations in the following decades. The plan promoted a
reformulation of the wage relation, involving a break with piece‐work
and a focus on aggregate productivity levels. Reveals the significant
role played by a labourist cadre within the Taylor Society (including
Beyer and Morris L. Cooke) in the development of the politics of
productivity that characterized labour relations in America′s core
industries by the 1940s.
From mechanical engineering to re‐engineering: Would Taylor be pleased with modern management
Authors: Martin Daniel
Published: July 2002

Asks the question “If Taylor and his cohorts were alive today, would they be pleased with what has become of management thought?” Discusses the underlying theme that there might be common concerns of management which are consistent across the ages, adjusting only for cultural differences. Defines modern management thought through four foci of the total quality management movement: focus on customers; continuous improvement; total participation; and social networking. Only on total participation do there seem to be important differences between Taylor and more modern authors. However, workers have changed dramatically since the beginning of the century in their desires and capabilities for participating in meaningful decision making. Taylor permitted some workers participation. If he was alive today, he would likely find the total participation movement to be quite acceptable. If so, he would likely be quite pleased with modern management thought.
A new flexible layer fabrication method for the jet deposition system to accelerate fabrication speed
Authors: Jeng Jeng‐Ywan , Wang Jia‐Chang , Te Lin Tsung
Published: July 2002

The key principle of the jet deposition rapid prototyping (RP) system is to deliver material through a jet and deposit the liquefied material onto a platform to build a physical model. Model Maker (MM) RP system is one of the jet deposition processes with the smallest slice thickness and better model accuracy. In order to maintain thinner layer thickness and model accuracy, a cutter is employed to plane off the deposited surface. The fabrication speed for MM models is extremely low because of the employment of the tiny jet and the cutting operation. The model interior filling does not affect the model accuracy very much but it does significantly affect the fabrication speed. Hence, a new flexible layer fabrication method is proposed in this paper to separate the fabrication processes of the profile and the interior, respectively, in order to maintain model accuracy and thinner slice thickness, and to accelerate the fabrication speed.
Managing organizations to address the finance gap
Authors: Harris Simon
Published: July 2002

Reviews and analyses the long standing concern over the
availability of finance for young and potentially growing business. The
perception of a “finance gap” has led to the creation of
financial institutions to address it, few of which now survive. Examines
the management practices of some in the UK and the USA, which have not
only survived, but also appear to be both filling “the gap”
and investing successfully. Identifies a number of resources other than
finance which these organizations have found it necessary to supply in
order to generate success among their investee businesses, and a number
of common investment management practices. Finds the issue of the
finance gap to be inseparable from issues of other resource deficiencies
within young firms. Suggests that policy makers might valuably heed the
experience of organizations which have learned, often painfully, how the
finance gap might, and might not, be filled.
The corporate communication system of managing
Authors: Varey Richard J. , White Jon
Published: July 2002

This paper explores the integration of corporate and marketing communication in tomorrow’s company, and discusses a model of the corporate communication system of managing. It defines the need for a total stakeholder perspective and to integrate communication activities around constituent‐constituent relationships. Marketing is described as a special case of human communication, in which all elements of the marketing mix are seen as communicative in action. The paper agrees with the Tomorrow’s Company study that inclusion is a necessity, and argues that new management involves a form of economic democracy, which in turn creates a need for new forms of corporate governance, monitoring, and management. This will require managers to re‐evaluate the appropriateness of their thinking. The corporate communication model of systemic managing is forwarded for this purpose
Investor relations: perceptions of the annual statement
Authors: Clarke Geraldine , Murray L.W. (Bill)
Published: July 2002

Explores the perceptions of investment trust chairmen about the role of the annual statement in communications policy and management. A short survey of all investment trust chairmen was undertaken. The results identify two major themes in chairmen’s perceptions of the annual statements role. The statement communicates with individual shareholders and seeks to create good impressions and build confidence. It is primarily a one‐way exchange.
Television clutter ‐ the British experience
Authors: Meech Peter
Published: July 2002

The promotion of television programmes and television channels is becoming increasingly important in the UK as it is elsewhere. This study focuses on those forms which appear on‐air between programmes on British television and which have come to be known collectively as “clutter”. The forms which this clutter takes and their marketing communications functions are discussed, with analyses provided of specific examples. A number of issues arising from the growing practice of on‐air promotions are identified and suggestions made for possible future research in the field.
Reporting corporate crime
Authors: Lloyd Clem , Walton Paul
Published: July 2002

Examines corporate fraud and its relationship with the media. Discusses rise in volume of fraud, due to technological advances, more teamwork and the involvement of organised crime. Looks at the decline in financial reporting this century, with the fourth estate or watchdog traditions of the press not overly concerned with financial news, due to the growth in market‐driven journalism. This means that financial crime in the press is seen as a downer in the market and therefore not encouraged. UK investigative journalists also face tough defamation laws and cannot be expected to act as early warning systems when the crime is undetected by the company involved. Looks at examples of major financial crimes that have been uncovered by journalistic investigation, but concludes that too much is demanded of news media and its resources and expertise is best used in developing news coverage once the financial scandal has been uncovered.
New approach for calculation of line parameters of IC interconnects
Authors: Ymeri Hasan , Nauwelaers Bart , Maex Karen , De Roest David
Published: July 2002

A new method for analysis of IC interconnects propagation parameters is suggested. A potential integral formalism is employed that enables us to express general solutions for the scalar potential in each layer of a multilayer model. These expressions for potential led to the derivation of an equation for calculating the line parameters of interconnect lines in such a multilayer configuration. This approach is verified by two‐dimensional examples of the integrated circuit interconnects with errors within 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent.
Novel Epoxy‐based Compositions for Microelectronics Packaging Applications: Part I
Authors: Ghoshal R. , Sambasivam M. , Mukerji P.K.
Published: July 2002

Novel epoxy formulations have been developed for microelectronic packaging applications. The resin compositions are based on cycloaliphatic esters and proprietary epoxies, which possess excellent thermal and electrical stability. The key features of these materials are short cure cycle, long‐term stability at 25°C, very low cure volatile, low moisture absorption, low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and excellent adhesion to various substrates. In addition, the change in CTE below and above the glass transition temperature of the polymers is minimal. This unique behaviour is attributed to the interpenetrating network‐like (IPN) structure of the base resin composition. Further evidence of the IPN structure is the broad loss modulus and tan δ observed between −150°C and +150°C in dynamic mechanical tests. The extensive curing reaction yields a high crosslink density polymer network, resulting in good moisture resistance (<0.2% after 14 days in 85°C/85%RH) and thermal stability (<0.3 wt % at 300 °C of the cured material). The extent of cure has been studied in a dynamic scanning calorimeter (DSC) by following the extent of post‐cure exotherm. Both in the accelerated and non‐accelerated systems, the curing is complete in a single step with no post curing required. Cure cycles used range from 1 hour at 140°C to about 1 minute at 170°C. Currently, cure stresses, fracture toughness (bulk and interfacial), fatigue life, and various reliability tests are being performed to characterise the underfill, glob top encapsulants, and die‐attach adhesives.
A five‐layer thin film MCM‐Si design using oxynitride dielectrics
Authors: Lernout Jo
Published: July 2002

A novel technology for a multichip module (MCM) on silicon is presented. The technology features the integration of a power and a ground plane, resulting in a five‐conductor layer module, the use of the heavily (n+) doped Si as the ground plane for integrated decoupling capacitances, integrated low TCR NiCr resistors, low resistance (13mΩ per square) TiW/Cu/TiW metallisation, high quality PECVD oxynitride (SiON) insulation layers, which are optimised to a low stress content, and a new wet‐dry etch technique for the vias. The module is able to handle 200MHz clock frequencies and, when carefully designed, can also be used for opto‐electronic interconnections in the GHz range. A test module for DC and HF characterisation has been designed and produced. Preliminary test results are presented.
Optimization of thermal distribution in ceramics and LTCC structures applied to sensor elements
Authors: Bauer Reinhard , Golonka Leszek J. , Kirchner Torsten , Nitsch Karol , Thust Heiko
Published: July 2002

Thermal properties of Pt or RuO2 thick‐film heaters made on alumina, aluminum nitride or low temperature co‐fired ceramics (LTCC) were compared in the first step of our work. Special holes to improve the heat distribution were included. Several heater layouts were analysed. The heat distribution was measured by an infrared camera, at different heating power. Second, the optimization of LTCC constructions was carried out. The simple structure of LTCC permitted the achievement of a high package density. It was possible to integrate a heating element made from special thick‐film ink as a buried film, inside a substrate. An important step in our technology was the making of the holes. A pattern of holes (achieved by punching or laser cutting) around the heating area permitted a changeable heat gradient. The quality of lamination and the structure of the buried elements were investigated with an ultrasonic microscope.
Performance of Cu‐ and Ag‐based microstrips up to millimetre wave frequencies
Authors: Kemppinen Esa , Mikkonen Petri , Collander Paul E. , Leppävuori Seppo
Published: July 2002

Attenuation characteristics of microstrip transmission lines on alumina substrates up to 50GHz are discussed. The lines under test came from three different manufacturers, each of whom used different processes to realise the transmission lines. Two of the manufacturers used silver (Ag) paste, whereas the process of one of the manufacturers was copper (Cu) based. Each manufacturer used identical alumina substrates and identical test pattern files so that the measured attenuation properties reflected manufacturer’s capability to fabricate microstrips and the quality of the metal system used. Measurements showed that the attenuation of copper microstrips was slightly lower than that of the silver microstrips, but the difference was small. Measured attenuation (S21) of about 50Ω microstrips was approximately 0.5db/cm at 30GHz and 0.8dB/cm at 50GHz, respectively. The loss coefficient,αt, of about 0.035dB/mm at 40GHz was obtained for the Cu microstrips. Such an attenuation is reasonable for many practical applications in the microwave and millimetre wave regions.
Mission statements in service and industrial corporations
Authors: Scandura Terri A. , Gitlow Howard , Choi Yau Siew , Greengarten‐Jackson Jill
Published: July 2002

Empirically examines mission statements in Fortune 50 service and Fortune 50 industrial corporations. Content analysis revealed underlying issues and structures of mission statements. Additional analysis indicated that there are issues which can be addressed by a mission statement, as well as issues which cannot be addressed. Concludes with an example of an ideal mission statement and an ideal vision statement.
An investigation of the willingness of UK certificated firms to recommend ISO 9000
Authors: Buttle Francis
Published: July 2002

Presents survey results which are derived from the most comprehensive investigation ever undertaken of UK companies certificated to ISO 9000. Reports an analysis of the willingness of certificated companies to recommend the standard to other, similar companies. States that the 4,250 certificated organizations mail surveyed, 1,220 (28.7 per cent) responded. Indicates that the companies most willing to recommend ISO 9000 were those most satisfied with the organizational impacts of the standard and these were of three major kinds: profitability impacts, process improvements and marketing benefits. Reports that companies also willing to recommend were those whose expectations had been met, and those who believed the standard to be cost‐effective. Proposes that these results should help deflect criticism about the perceived value of the standard, and motivate companies to pursue certification.
An integrative approach for selecting a TQM/BPR implementation plan
Authors: Fazel Farzaneh , Salegna Gary
Published: July 2002

States that there is general agreement among total quality management (TQM) and business process re‐engineering (BPR) experts that properly implemented organizational change programmes improve customer satisfaction and organizational performance. Suggests that there is, however, a growing frustration with the less than positive results that many companies have experienced with TQM or BPR. These failures have resulted in much debate about the usefulness of such programmes. Many executives believe that they have to choose between TQM and BPR and consider these programmes to be mutually exclusive. Yet, advocates of TQM and re‐engineering have recognized and acknowledged that the best organizational change programmes are those which integrate quality and re‐engineering initiatives. Examines some reasons behind TQM and BPR failures, and presents a model for integrating TQM and BPR implementation plans, while focusing on the linkage of the organization’s strategic goals and culture with this process. The framework uses the concept of quality function deployment and house of quality for the selection of a TQM/BPR implementation plan. Presents an example which illustrates the procedure.
Environmental versus quality standards ‐ an overview and comparison
Authors: Affisco John F. , Nasri Farrokh , Javad Paknejad M.
Published: July 2002

Considers the series of environmental standards known as ISO 14000. Presents an overview of the organization‐processes group of these standards, and a comparison with the existing quality standards ‐ ISO 9000 and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. ISO 14000 is concerned with establishing guidelines and principles for the management of environmental matters by organizations, through the establishment and operation of an environmental management system (EMS). Finds there is synergy between a quality management system (QMS) and an EMS; that like a QMS, an EMS must be an integral part of an organization’s overall management system; and that like a QMS, the design of an EMS is an ongoing process of continuous improvement. Concludes with several proposed research questions.