bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Avoiding failure by using a formal problem diagnosis process
Authors: Cervone H. Frank
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Seeks to provide an overview of a formal method for diagnosing and resolving problems that arise during the system development process.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a communicative problem‐solving model proposed by Lumsden and Lumsden, the author applies the model to the problem diagnosis process in systems development by way of a case study.

Findings

Applying a formal model to problem diagnosis and resolution provides a way for the development team to truly understand the problem it is trying to solve and the implications of the solution. When the model is used, the problem can be analyzed within its larger organizational context, thereby creating more effective solutions that will be welcomed and embraced.

Originality/value

This paper will be of interest to systems developers and managers, especially those who need to diagnose and resolve issues within their larger organizational context. By situating the general model proposed by Lumsden and Lumsden within the systems development context, the paper describes a new approach to organizing this type of activity within the systems development function.
Educating Citizens serves to educate at all levels of higher education
Authors: Jordan Rebecca
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide readers with a summary and appraisal of the book, Educating Citizens: Preparing America's Undergraduates for Lives of Moral and Civic Responsibility.

Design/methodology/approach

After a thorough examination of the text, its value is considered from the perspective of a university faculty member who is interested in the development of citizen education programs.

Findings

Educating Citizens: Preparing America's Undergraduates for Lives of Moral and Civic Responsibility provides a thought‐provoking case for the development of civic and moral learning programs at undergraduate institutions. Using their research at 12 diverse higher learning institutions, the authors highlight the importance of and impediments to developing citizen education programs and go further to define and establish goals for such programs. Detailed strategies on how to incorporate civic learning into the classroom, curriculum programs, extracurricular activities, and the institution at large are also evaluated.

Research limitations/implications

This review is written from the perspective of a faculty member at a large US public university. While there are many commonalities between perspectives from the diversity of higher learning institutions, there are likely to be some differences.

Practical implications

This review provides the reader with insight into Educating Citizens: Preparing America's Undergraduates for Lives of Moral and Civic Responsibility and will aid in the decision to examine this text.

Originality/value

Given that citizen education initiatives are gaining international recognition, the reader is likely to gain further understanding into how colleges and universities are approaching the increasing demand for civic learning.
PAL in action: a company's OL experience
Authors: Chuah K.B. , Law Kris M.Y.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The paper aims to describe the development and introduction of the project action learning (PAL) framework as the OL vehicle in a company's move towards a learning organization.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a longitudinal case study of this company‐based LO and OL project. The paper describes the development and implementation experiences of PAL within the company, located in the Pearl River Delta of Southern China.

Findings

This paper describes the first four rounds of the PAL implementation within the case company. This is a work in progress. To date a very successful start to PAL implementation has been reported.

Practical implications

After a successful start of the PAL implementation, the authors and the sponsoring company anticipate a continued propagation of PAL activities as the main OL vechicles of the company.

Originality/value

This is a useful case reference for LO and OL development and implementation in industrial organization particularly for manufacturing enterprises in Southern China.
The privatisation process and evolving share ownership structure of Mainland China's leading state‐owned enterprises
Authors: McGuinness Paul B.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

China is in the midst of an aggressive privatisation process in which key state‐owned enterprises have already tapped, or have plans to tap, international capital through initial public offerings in Hong Kong. Aims to critically assess two major SOE bank IPOs, the Bank of Communications and China Construction Bank offerings of June and October 2005, respectively, in an attempt to shed light on the evolving share ownership structure of China's leading SOEs especially the extent of capital injections from “foreign” (i.e. non‐Mainland) entities.

Design/methodology/approach

The objectives of this paper are pursued, as noted above, through detailed analysis of recent ownership change in two highly topical and major SOE bank cases.

Findings

The forms and mechanisms for recent “foreign” capital injection are outlined – in terms of both the private equity and IPO capital injection routes – as well as recent initiatives, in a number of SOEs, to convert non‐tradable PRC stock holdings into tradable holdings. Recent cases suggest that foreign equity fusion is taking place at an unprecedented pace and scale, and is fostered by recent innovations like “unlisted foreign shares”.

Research limitations/implications

Only time will tell whether the evolving ownership patterns of China's leading SOEs result in the kind of governance and performance benefits that are eagerly anticipated. As this process of ownership is ongoing, and in some senses still in its early stages, much research will be necessary in the future to confirm whether the expectations of foreign investors and the SOEs themselves are likely to be met.

Practical implications

The case analysis of the evolving equity structure of SOE banks presented here provides useful background for those wishing to evaluate the merits of other SOE banks that are in the midst of IPO preparations, especially in light of the key vetting role played by the introduction of new stake holders.

Originality/value

In sum, this paper provides key insights on how a unique equity model is being transformed such that SOE stakeholders are rapidly, in many cases, seeking ways to share and diversify ownership risk. This paper sheds light on the mechanisms for doing so by reverting to real and highly topical examples with the SOE bank sector.
Internal risk control benchmark setting for foreign exchange exposure
Authors: Al Janabi Mazin A.M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide foreign exchange risk measurement/management techniques and strategies that can be applied to investment and trading portfolios in emerging financial markets, such as the Moroccan foreign exchange market, with the objective of setting up the basis of a methodology/procedure for the measurement, management and control of foreign exchange exposures in the day‐to‐day trading operations.

Design/methodology/approach

Demonstrates a proactive approach for the measurements, management and control of market risk exposure for financial trading portfolios that contain foreign exchange securities. This approach is based on the renowned concept of value‐at‐risk (VAR) along with the creation of a software tool utilizing matrix‐algebra technique. In order to illustrate the proper use of VAR and stress‐testing methods, real‐world examples and practical reports of foreign exchange trading risk management are presented for the Moroccan Dirham.

Findings

To this end, several case studies were achieved with the objective of setting up a practical framework of trading risk measurement and control reports in addition to the inception of procedures for the calculation of VAR's limits. Moreover, the effects of hedging of foreign exchange trading exposures with reciprocal equity trading positions were explored and quantified. Finally, initial empirical tests of the long‐term behavior of the Moroccan foreign exchange and debt markets were quantified and analyzed.

Practical implications

In this work, key foreign exchange trading risk management methods, rules and procedures that financial entities, regulators and policymakers should consider in setting up their daily foreign exchange trading risk management objectives are examined and adapted to the specific needs of emerging markets, such as in the context of the Moroccan foreign exchange market.

Originality/value

This paper fills a gap in the foreign exchange risk management literature especially in the emerging markets perspective. The risk management procedures that are discussed in this work will aid financial markets' participants, regulators and policymakers in founding sound and up‐to‐date policies to handle foreign exchange risk exposures.
Learning lessons? The registration of lobbyists at the Scottish parliament
Authors: Dinan William
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The Scottish Parliament was founded on principles of openness and accessibility and signalled the potential for a new style of politics after devolution. In the aftermath of allegations of political sleaze early in the life of the new institution, the Standards Committee of the Scottish Parliament conducted an inquiry into the registration of lobbyists. This process attracted much comment and criticism from public affairs practitioners and the Scottish media. Based on original empirical research, numerous interviews and first‐hand observation, the purpose of this paper is to offer a response to some of these criticisms.

Design/methodology/approach

The research reported here is based upon extended fieldwork and observation of the developing lobbying industry around the new Scottish Parliament, spanning the period from late 1998 until summer 2003. It involved some 73 interviews with various corporate and voluntary sector lobbyists, public servants and elected representatives. It also draws on participant observation at more than 70 official, public and private meetings for those involved in public affairs in Scotland. In addition, the paper monitored the popular and specialist media in Scotland for news and analyses of issues relating to lobbying at the new Parliament, undertook focus group research to test public opinion on the issue of registration, designed and administered an e‐mail survey of public servants in the USA and Canada charged with maintaining registers of lobbyists and conducted archival research at the Scottish Executive's library at Saughton House in Edinburgh.

Findings

The paper suggests the efforts by parliamentarians to regulate their relations with lobbyists need to be grounded in principles that apply to all outside interests seeking to influence the democratic process.

Originality/value

The paper challenges the assertions that lobbying is misunderstood by elected representatives and that the lobbying industry is entirely committed to increasing transparency.
MNCs and knowledge management: a typology and key features
Authors: Michailova Snejina , Bernhard Nielsen Bo
Published: July 2006

Purpose

In the literature there is inherent lack of process‐oriented, evolutionary perspectives of organizational knowledge as it pertains to international business. To fill this gap, the aim of this paper is to draw on existing theories of the multinational corporation (MNC) and integrate it with knowledge management research to analyze key knowledge management features and dynamics of different types of MNCs. The paper aims at proposing a link between types of MNCs and knowledge management strategies applied by MNCs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a series of examples from MNCs worldwide to propose a knowledge management based typology of MNCs and to illustrate how they exhibit different strategic dynamics related to knowledge management.

Findings

An important stream of literature on MNCs distinguishes between two traditional models for established MNCs, originally described as ethnocentric and polycentric models. A common theme in these studies propose that dramatic changes in the competitive environment has reduced the effectiveness of traditional MNC approaches, highlighting the need to move toward network‐based structures. Building on the evolutionary perspective of MNCs, the paper suggests a third type of MNC characterized by a virtual infrastructure based on an e‐business model. The paper argues that this type may be more appropriate for organizing managerial activities across organizational and national boundaries in the new web‐based knowledge economy.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that whereas traditional MNCs invite for management interventions based on centralized economies of information, it makes more sense to manage networked MNCs as integrated learning organizations and e‐business based MNCs as boundary‐less virtual communities of practice.

Originality/value

The paper develops a new typology of multinational corporations based on key features and dynamics related to knowledge management. The paper distinguishes between traditional MNCs, knowledge networks and MNCs as e‐businesses. It particularly addresses strategic, technical, organizational and human dimensions of knowledge management and how these differ in the three MNC models.
KM your way to CMMI
Authors: Dayan Rony , Evans Stephen
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe two related fields – knowledge management (KM) and capability maturity model integrated (CMMISM) – and highlight their similarities.

Design/methodology/approach

The KM framework used for this comparison is the one established and used at Israel Aircraft Industries, while the CMMISMsource of information is none but the original document produced by the CMMISMproduct team at the Carnegie Mellon University, as well as papers published on the subject.

Findings

Knowledge management is a rather young discipline promising to maximize innovation and competitive advantage to organizations that practice knowledge capture, documentation, retrieval and reuse, creation, transfer and share to its knowledge assets in a measurable way, integrated in its operational and business processes. The capability maturity model integrated deals with the ways an organization has to follow, in order to maintain well mapped processes, having well defined stages, because of the assumption that in mature organizations, it is possible to measure and relate between the quality of the process and the quality of the product. Though KM and CMMISMtake different approaches to the achievement of competitive advantage, they seem to be supporting as well as dependent of each other.

Originality/value

Practitioners as well as researchers in the field of knowledge management and in the implementation of the CMMISMstandard will find comfort in realizing how mutually supportive are these two fields.
The Hungarian space research knowledge management project: a focus on the Rosetta Mission
Authors: Sándor Lipusz Csaba , Tróznai Gábor , Bogdány János , Szalai Sándor
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is supported by the Hungarian Ministry of Informatics and Communications (RMKI). RMKI started a research and development project in 2003 with the aim of studying the knowledge management methods for long duration space research projects and to develop an information system providing a base for saving and using the knowledge gathered. The aim of this article is to investigate the RMKI research and development project.

Design/methodology/approach

This article first describes the environment of the project, details the questions identified by the project staff, and gives some characteristics of the solutions when found.

Findings

The article finds that the outcomes identified by a knowledge management project grow fast and have a tendency to become unmanageable very quickly, even if technical questions are taken into consideration when starting. The main question remains whether an acceptable solution exists in the area covered by the economical resources.

Originality/value

This article focuses on the technical aspects of knowledge management projects and identifies a mechanism for setting up an information system with the capacity to support knowledge preservation for at least a decade, which is considered to be a long period.
Strategic or operational perspectives on performance: what is prioritized in a large construction company?
Authors: Samuelsson Peter , Ekendahl Per , Ekevärn Petter
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This case study sets out to discuss the balance of operational and strategic perspectives on performance measurement in a large construction company.

Design/methodology/approach

In interviews, managers at two middle organizational levels in the case company were asked to prioritize which criteria they found most important to direct their business. The results from these interviews were compiled in success maps in order to describe how the managers thought these criteria were interrelated.

Findings

A gap was found between operational and strategic perspectives at the two organizational levels: lower management ranked criteria that corresponded to strategic objectives lower than did the middle management. One reason for this gap seems to be the lack of incentives for aligning with the strategic objectives. If there were no incentives, lower managers tended to prioritize operational criteria prior to strategic criteria.

Practical implications

This study emphasizes the need to link strategic objectives to criteria that give incentives for lower management to comply with the strategic objectives, to formulate unambiguous strategies and to communicate these strategies clearly.

Originality/value

In large construction companies, measurement of effectiveness is particularly complicated since adjustment to local markets must be balanced with alignment with corporate strategies in order to benefit from the competitive advantages of a large organization. Managers in a large construction company have to combine operational and strategic perspectives in measurement and management. Little research has been done to investigate and understand this area and therefore this paper can make a useful contribution.
Micro politics and micro firms: a case study of tourism policy formation and change
Authors: Thomas Rhodri , Thomas Huw
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the extent to which micro businesses in tourism might influence the process of tourism policy formation and change in urban settings.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual framework that considers the motivations to participate in the policy‐making process and the resources needed to influence policy change informs a case study of micro businesses in Saltaire, UK.

Findings

The paper argues that, although the propensity of local micro firms to influence the local political agenda will be affected by structural considerations that manifest themselves differently from place to place, it is possible to identify key conditions that will need to be present if such enterprises are to challenge the power of other local interests.

Originality/value

The paper begins to redress the imbalance in the literature that has neglected micro business participation in policy formation and change.
POINTS OF VIEW Assessing the scale of the equity gap
Authors: Harding Rebecca , Cowling Marc
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper sets out to assess the market for start‐up finance in the UK for high growth potential entrepreneurial firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses data from the UK's Global Entrepreneurship Monitor surveys between 2001 and 2003 to assess the scale of equity finance in the UK. It further examines the strengths and weaknesses of the UK financial markets for supporting high growth potential firms on the basis of an additional survey of 60 experts conducted during September and October 2003.

Findings

The paper suggests that there are areas of the market that are strongly served by existing financial mechanisms. However, there is a perception amongst business support agencies, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs alike that the size of investments in the formal venture capital market has been increasing and that companies seeking investments above this level, up as high as £2 million, may be restricted in their access to finance. The paper tests this qualitative finding on a number of empirical data sources and finds that there is indeed an “equity gap” of between £150,000 and £1.5 million. It concludes that lack of finance in this area represents a brake on the expansion of high growth potential businesses in the UK.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical data covered in this paper are from three large‐scale surveys of the adult population in the UK. While this is robust as a reflection of what is happening amongst the whole spectrum of business start‐up activity, the methodology was not originally conceptualised as a mechanism for assessing the scale of the equity gap. This evidence was gained from a qualitative survey of actors in the market. Further research should survey high growth potential firms and financiers themselves in more detail to develop the analysis on a more systematic basis.

Practical implications

The research will be of interest to policy makers who seek appropriate mechanism for developing a funding “ladder” to support businesses through the growth process. It identifies a clear gap in the market for growth finance that is evidence on which to base funding priorities in the future.

Originality/value

Academic and policy attempts to quantify the scale of the equity gap in the UK have been limited by availability of longitudinal and systematic data. As a result, they have tended to be largely qualitative in nature and prone to anecdote. Many of these studies do corroborate the findings reported here, but this does represent a first attempt to provide a quantification of the equity gap and thus should be of interest to policy makers, practitioners and academics alike.
Knowledge‐based benchmarking of production performance
Authors: Denkena B. , Apitz R. , Liedtke C.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Recently, benchmarking has become a common approach to optimize production processes by comparing certain aspects of a company with its competitors. However, one of the biggest challenges is not only to define suitable benchmarking topics and partners, to gather and statistically evaluate characteristic data, but to derive concrete measures to interpret the results, i.e. to overcome the revealed weaknesses. The purpose of this paper is to present an already implemented and successfully used functional benchmarking methodology for production performance of small and medium batch size processes, that is currently extended by using a knowledge base for reasoning strategies to semi‐automatically support the interpretation of the extracted statistical data.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive approach is presented to develop a new model for the evaluation of a small to medium‐sized enterprise's production performance using an existing European database called BETT Benchmark.

Findings

The knowledge‐based concept enables sophisticated interpretation strategies to be used on an already existing base of real company data. The decisive point of the approach presented is to map production variables on room for improvement by taking varying parameters into account.

Originality/value

The proposed tool is a valuable tool that takes advantage of a statistically firmed analysis of a substantial database and combines it with the comprehensive expertise of experienced specialists in the field of performance assessment.
Will de Gaulle's state planners bite the dust?
Authors: Richardson Jacques
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To examine the survivability, in France, of what may be one of the world's oldest state planning bodies.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a straightforward account of what is happening to centralized planning in a democratic state.

Findings

France's current government found the agency unneeded.

Practical implications

If the State Planning Agency in Paris is eliminated, France will have no centralized office for strategic planning.

Originality/value

The chronicle records the abolition of an entity recognized by government during the previous 60 years as being essential to its functioning.
The role and effectiveness of continuing education training courses offered by higher education institutions in furthering the implementation of sustainable development
Authors: Wehrmeyer Walter , Chenoweth Jonathan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To investigate the effectiveness of one‐off short continuing adult education courses for expanding the penetration of sustainable development education beyond current tertiary students.

Design/methodology/approach

Pre‐ and post‐course questionnaires are used to evaluate the effectiveness of a series of short training courses on environment and sustainability issues conducted by the Centre for Environmental Strategy for a UK government department.

Findings

These short continuing education courses were effective at meeting their specific aims of increasing awareness and understanding of sustainability issues, with longer courses being more beneficial and providing qualitatively different experiences. Learning on sustainable development was maximised by overtly drawing on the collective past learning experiences and knowledge of participants though carefully facilitated discussion that encourages the sharing of and building upon this knowledge base.

Practical implications

If the training effectiveness of short continuing education courses in sustainable development is to be effective then such courses need to exploit existing knowledge bases so that limited time resources are used for maximum benefit through teaching methodologies that promote a constructivist learning environment.

Originality/value

This paper examines a significant means for maximising the effectiveness short continuing education courses in sustainability. Ensuring the effectiveness of such courses is critical to increasing the penetration of sustainable development education in higher education.
Information quality of environmental and chemical databases exemplified by high production volume chemicals and pharmaceuticals
Authors: Voigt Kristina , Brüggemann Rainer , Pudenz Stefan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to establish that data on chemicals detected in the environment are urgently needed to comply with the future environment and chemicals policy in the European Union. The availability of data on chemicals can be evaluated by environmetrical and chemometrical methods.

Design/methodology/approach

The Hasse Diagram Technique (HDT) which originated in discrete mathematics is applied in this paper. It is a multi‐criteria evaluation method which can be used to measure information quality and is therefore also applicable for decision making. The study evaluated 15 environmental and chemical free internet databases with respect to the existence of data on chemicals in these resources. Two test‐sets were used first, 12 high production volume chemicals and, second 12 pharmaceuticals which are proven to enter the environment in considerable concentrations.

Findings

The evaluation indicates a rather disturbing situation in the data availability on existing chemicals, an especially bad result concerning the data availability on pharmaceuticals and hence an alarming signal concerning the chemicals policy of the EEC.

Originality/value

The information gap, especially for pharmaceuticals entering the environment, is demonstrated with a mathematically recognised method. The Hasse Diagram Technique can be applied to different questions in science when several objects are to be ranked by several criteria at the same time. Concerning the topic of the data availability on chemicals, the gaps are identified and should inspire future research to generate new and valuable data.
LIFT: 21st century health care centres in the United Kingdom
Authors: Holmes John , Capper Graham , Hudson Gordon
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To examine the processes used to procure and develop new primary health care premises in the United Kingdom and in particular the use of the private finance initiative and related methods.

Design/methodology/approach

An in‐depth study of two local improvement finance trust schemes to procure new primary health care premises. These are contrasted against the ad‐hoc arrangements for the traditional procurement of general practice doctor's surgery premises. Interviews were undertaken with key participants on both sides of the negotiations.

Findings

The process can be an unequal struggle between large consortia and small, inexperienced clients that may result in a wasted opportunity to obtain the optimum design and price.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to early use of the local improvement finance trust process and procedures; client bodies, such as primary care trusts, may benefit from the experience of earlier projects. The method of procurement will evolve and be refined and will become more widely used, not only for health but also in the education sector. Further examination of the procurement of education buildings using similar methods would be beneficial.

Originality/value

This method of procuring buildings is relatively new, and therefore, largely untried.
The Essence of Care in clinical governance
Authors: Badham John , Wall Debbie , Sinfield Maria , Lancaster John
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To review progress of the Essence of Care Programme of Clinical Governance. To describe its development and highlight its achievements.

Design/methodology/approach

The background to the programme is outlined and the methods adopted by the Clinical Governance Support Team (CGST) and NHS personnel involved are described.

Findings

At the heart of commitment to improve quality of health care lies Essence of Care to which the fundamental needs and comfort of patients are paramount. This provides a benchmarking tool for national standards of practice across health and social care which is applicable across medical specialties and relevant to all health professionals involved in caring for patients. Fundamental aspects of care were identified based on concerns of patients and professionals; these include communication, personal hygiene, food and nutrition. Standards are agreed between patients, carers, user groups, health care professionals, professional bodies and NHS departments. Systems for feedback and monitoring ensure continual improvement. Wide dissemination has ensured that Essence of Care is embedded in the NHS.

Originality/value

This review summarises the aims, objectives and progress of the work of the Essence of Care Programme of Clinical Governance since its initiation.
RAID methodology: the NHS Clinical Governance Team's approach to service improvement
Authors: Rogers Peter G.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To describe the methodology used to introduce Clinical Governance into the NHS and to review progress.

Design/methodology/approach

The RAID (Review, Agreement, Implementation, Demonstration) process and its use in introducing the Clinical Governance Development Programme into the NHS are described.

Findings

The NHS Clinical Governance Programme employs RAID, a modification of an accepted “bottom‐up” approach to achieving successful organisational change, as the means of effecting service improvement. The “Review” stage involves analysis and understanding of the service; “Agreement” ensures that all staff, the organisation and stakeholders are committed to recommended changes; the “Implementation” phase tests effects that the changes have made to the service and “Demonstration” allows evaluation and monitoring. Lessons learned from the process can lead to further improvements. Initially staff from the Clinical Governance Support Team introduced the Programme but thereafter the process can be run internally. Specialised programmes, e.g. The Stroke Programme, have developed out of the general programme and the RAID process has been disseminated to other public sector services. Over half of NHS organisations have participated.

Originality/value

RAID is described in the context of the NHS and its implementation is summarised.
Pollution risk management of a natural medium
Authors: Djebabra Mébarek , Bentarcia Toufik , Saadi Saadia , Bahmed Lylia
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper proposes a risk management process that provides general specifications of the impact and hazard studies applied to a natural medium called Oued el‐gourzi (Batna) in Algeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed approach can be divided into two phases. First, the diagnosis consists of medium description, analysis and assessment of pollution risk and second, the therapy which includes identification, qualification and implementation of means, follow‐up and continuous amelioration. This approach is supported by the Fault‐tree method.

Findings

The approach defines risks that can affect a natural medium. Improvement of the medium security is required. The establishment of a program for the management and control of these risks is needed.

Practical implications

In the context of impact studies, solutions required regarding the pollution of a natural medium are going to lead concerned authorities toward the establishment of a policy of preventive and curative measures. Instigators will be influenced by the comparison of indemnities and environmental investments of pollutants.

Originality/value

The diffusion of information about risk management allows the establishment of relations between different actors by the risk management process and consequently ensures its credibility.
Analysis of multinational underwriting cycles in property‐liability insurance
Authors: Leng Chao‐Chun , Meier Ursina B.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The paper sets out to use the loss ratio series of Switzerland, Germany, the USA and Japan, to test whether underwriting cycles still exist internationally and to identify possible structural changes.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on financial theory and insurance pricing theory, co‐integration analysis was performed to check possible causes of structural changes.

Findings

All four countries have breaks in different years. This result leads to the hypothesis that the factors affecting underwriting cycles are mainly country‐specific, such as economic environment and regulations, rather than global/international. Although the financial theory and the insurance pricing theory suggest that the loss ratio series should be co‐integrated with the interest rate series with co‐integrating coefficient −1, the empirical results do not support the theories.

Originality/value

More detailed analysis for the time series characteristics for countries other than the USA is presented to investigate the possible existence of underwriting cycles.
The use of spectral analysis in insurance cycle research
Authors: Venezian Emilio C.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Aims to address a number of issues related to the use of spectral analysis in the study of insurance cycles.

Design/methodology/approach

Spectral analysis has seldom been used in the study of insurance cycles. This may be due to the fact that no statistical test is readily available for rejecting the hypothesis that a spectrum is significantly different from random uncorrelated noise in a context in which the period of the alternative is not known. This article suggests one such test.

Findings

In evaluating the proposed test, the relevant critical points, when the number of observations is small, and provided the power of the test is also explored to identify three cyclical processes: a sine process with noise, a second‐order autoregressive process, and the rational expectations process suggested by Cummins and Outreville.

Originality/value

The article provides the first comprehensive analysis and discussion of spectral analysis in the context of insurance‐cycle research.
Optimizing multi‐machining characteristics through Taguchi's approach and utility concept
Authors: Singh Hari , Kumar Pradeep
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Taguchi's technique is best suited to optimize a single performance characteristic yielding an optimal setting of process parameters. A single setting of process parameters may be optimal for one quality characteristics but the same setting may yield detrimental results for other quality features. Thus the purpose of this paper is to describe simultaneous optimization of multi‐characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

The multi‐machining characteristics have been optimized simultaneously using Taguchi's parameter design approach and the utility concept. The paper used a single performance index, utility value, as a combined response indicator of several responses.

Findings

A simplified model based on Taguchi's approach and utility concept is used to determine the optimal settings of the process parameters for a multi‐characteristic product. The model is used to predict optimal settings of turning process parameters to yield the optimum quality characteristics of En24 steel turned parts using TiC coated carbide inserts. The optimal values obtained using the multi‐characteristic optimization model have been validated by confirmation experiments. The model can be extended to any number of quality characteristics provided proper utility scales for the characteristics are available from the realistic data.

Practical implications

The proposed methodology can be applied to those industrial situations where a number of responses are to be optimized simultaneously.

Originality/value

The paper discusses a case study on En24 steel turned parts using titanium carbide coated tungsten carbide inserts. The material, En24 steel, has wide applications in aerospace, machine tools, automobiles, etc. The proposed algorithm is easy to apply.
Development of a web‐based tele‐manufacturing service system for rapid prototyping
Authors: Liu Xiao‐guang , Jin Ye , Xi Jun‐tong
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Rapid prototyping (RP) technology is playing an important role in new product development but, because of the RP machines' costliness, many enterprises, especially those small and medium‐sized enterprises, cannot afford them. Accordingly, in this paper, a web‐based tele‐manufacturing service system for RP is proposed, which enables geographically dispersed enterprises to share RP machines.

Design/methodology/approach

The system is composed of three parts: online commerce, online manufacturing service, and online data management. In addition, several distinctive supporting software packages are provided, which afford great convenience to enterprises to get RP services.

Findings

It is validated that the system can result in substantial saving in the cost and product development time.

Practical implications

The system is also a good reference for other similar shared resources.

Originality/value

The system embodies the new notion that an enterprise's full‐course participation in the manufacturing service, and the rapidness of manufacturing, embody the full course of RP manufacturing service and not merely the manufacturing process itself.
Large‐volume endoscopic injection of epinephrine plus normal saline for peptic ulcer bleeding
Authors: Liou Tai‐Cherng , Chang Wen‐Hsiung , Wang Horng‐Yuan , Lin Shee‐Chan , Shih Shou‐Chuan
Published: July 2006

Background and Aim:  Large‐volume endoscopic injection of epinephrine has been proven to significantly reduce rates of recurrent peptic ulcer bleeding. Injection of normal saline may be equally effective for the similar hemostatic effect of local tamponade. The aim of our study was to compare the therapeutic effects of large‐volume (40 mL) endoscopic injections of epinephrine, normal saline and a combination of the two in patients with active bleeding ulcers.

Method:  A total of 216 patients with actively bleeding ulcers (spurting or oozing) were randomly assigned to three groups (1:10 000 epinephrine, normal saline or diluted epinephrine plus normal saline). The hemostatic effects and clinical outcomes were compared between the three groups.

Results:  The initial hemostatic rate was significantly lower in the normal saline group (P < 0.05). The volume of injected solution required for the arrest of bleeding was significantly larger in the normal saline group (P < 0.01). Mean duration for arrest of bleeding was significantly longer in the normal saline group (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences between the three groups with respect to the rates of recurrent bleeding, surgical intervention, 30‐day mortality, amount of transfusion and duration of hospitalization. Significant elevation of systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05) and persistent high pulse rate after endoscopic injection were observed in the epinephrine group.

Conclusions:  For patients with active bleeding ulcers (spurting or oozing), we recommend a large‐volume (40 mL) combination injection using diluted epinephrine to cease bleeding, followed by injection of normal saline to achieve sustained hemostasis.
New Evidence on the Development of the Word Big
Authors: Sena Rhonda , Smith Linda B.
Published: July 2006

Previous studies of children's understanding of big suggest a curvilinear trend. 3‐year‐olds, like adults, interpret big as referring to area, while 5‐year‐olds take big to mean tall. The results of 6 experiments indicate that the curvilinear trend is not obtained in all stimulus contexts. When objects vary extremely, younger and older children take big to mean tall. The object to which big is applied also influences whether height, length, or area is attended to. Moreover, in a production task, adults rarely used the work big to describe the stimuli with which children's understanding of big is typically tested. Taken together, the results suggest that the meaning and use of big is complex and that big may not at any age refer simply to the larger object. It is proposed that the meaning of big is a dynamic system driven by a multiple of perceptual, conceptual, and semantic influences.
Activities and Interactions of Mothers and Their Firstborn Infants in the First Six Months of Life: Covariation, Stability, Continuity, Correspondence, and Prediction
Authors: Bornatein Marc H. , Tamis‐LeMonda Catherine S.
Published: July 2006

Activities of primiparous mothers and infants were observed at 2 and at 5 months of age during naturalistic interactions at home. 5 prominent features of mother and infant exchanges in this short‐term longitudinal study are described and discussed in the context of 3 models of unique environment‐development relations, covariation, stability, continuity, correspondence, and prediction. Generally, mothers' activities did not positively covary at either age, nor did those of infants. Some maternal activities were stable in this time period; some developmentally increased, and some developmentally decreased. Infants' activities were unstable, but most increased over time. Specific mother and infant activities corresponded, and over time mothers and infants influenced one another in specific ways. In the critical period of the first half year, infants appear to be flexible and plastic in their behavioral repertoires and are influenced by their mothers; mothers are somewhat consistent, but they also adapt to the behaviors of their infants.
Spatial Components of Bird Diversity in the Andes of Colombia: Implications for Designing a Regional Reserve System
Authors: KATTAN GUSTAVO H. , FRANCO PADU , SAAVEDRA‐RODRÍGUEZ CARLOS A. , VALDERRAMA CARLOS , ROJAS VLADIMIR , OSORIO DANIEL , MARTÍNEZ JESÚS
Published: July 2006

Abstract:  Beta diversity, or the turnover in species composition among sampling sites in a region, is an important criterion for obtaining adequate representation of regional biodiversity in systems of protected areas. Recently, the additive model for partitioning regional (gamma) diversity (in opposition to the multiplicative model) has been proposed because it allows a direct measure of the contribution of beta diversity to gamma diversity. We determined avian beta diversity along latitudinal (among neighboring river drainages) and elevational axes in a 1347‐km2 region on the western slope of the Central Cordillera of the Colombian Andes, where a regional system of protected areas is being designed. We then compared avian beta diversity between sites based on rapid versus long‐term (>1 year) inventories and between fragmented sites versus continuous forest. Overall, beta diversity represented 63.1% of gamma diversity among 16 sites. Elevational differences in species composition accounted for 43.3% of regional diversity, whereas differences among drainages accounted for 19.8%. A complementary cluster analysis showed that sites grouped by elevational zones. Rapid inventories overestimated beta diversity because of sampling effects, but the effect was biologically small. Estimators of species richness derived from species accumulation curves provided a useful alternative to compensate for undersampling in short‐term surveys. Forest fragmentation increased beta diversity because of differential local extinction of populations. Nevertheless, in our region, forest fragments contributed to gamma diversity because they contained complementary sets of species. More importantly, they contained populations of special‐interest species. Although the region is relatively small, our analyses indicate that spatial differentiation of the biota is an important factor for deciding number and location of protected areas in the Andean region.
Mortality Gradients within and among Dominant Plant Populations as Barometers of Ecosystem Change During Extreme Drought
Authors: GITLIN ALICYN R. , STHULTZ CHRISTOPHER M. , BOWKER MATTHEW A. , STUMPF STACY , PAXTON KRISTINA L. , KENNEDY KARLA , MUÑOZ AXHEL , BAILEY JOSEPH K. , WHITHAM THOMAS G.
Published: July 2006

Abstract:  Understanding patterns of plant population mortality during extreme weather events is important to conservation planners because the frequency of such events is expected to increase, creating the need to integrate climatic uncertainty into management. Dominant plants provide habitat and ecosystem structure, so changes in their distribution can be expected to have cascading effects on entire communities. Observing areas that respond quickly to climate fluctuations provides foresight into future ecological changes and will help prioritize conservation efforts. We investigated patterns of mortality in six dominant plant species during a drought in the southwestern United States. We quantified population mortality for each species across its regional distribution and tested hypotheses to identify ecological stress gradients for each species. Our results revealed three major patterns: (1) dominant species from diverse habitat types (i.e., riparian, chaparral, and low‐ to high‐elevation forests) exhibited significant mortality, indicating that the effects of drought were widespread; (2) average mortality differed among dominant species (one‐seed juniper[Juniperus monosperma (Engelm.) Sarg.] 3.3%; manzanita[Arctostaphylos pungens Kunth], 14.6%; quaking aspen[Populus tremuloides Michx.], 15.4%; ponderosa pine[Pinus ponderosa P. & C. Lawson], 15.9%; Fremont cottonwood[Populus fremontii S. Wats.], 20.7%; and pinyon pine[Pinus edulis Engelm.], 41.4%); (3) all dominant species showed localized patterns of very high mortality (24–100%) consistent with water stress gradients. Land managers should plan for climatic uncertainty by promoting tree recruitment in rare habitat types, alleviating unnatural levels of competition on dominant plants, and conserving sites across water stress gradients. High‐stress sites, such as those we examined, have conservation value as barometers of change and because they may harbor genotypes that are adapted to climatic extremes.