bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality Information Management: The Way to a Better Company
Culture
Authors: Southern G. , Murray Allistair U.
Published: May 2006

Describes a case company which believes that, although a strong
quality culture already exists, the quality activities resulting from
that culture can be better served by improving its quality information
infrastructure. Describes how the company is endeavouring constantly to
improve the information needed for good decision making, and not just
those affecting product manufacturing quality. Improvements in
information systems are helping in decision making on all business
matters and at all levels in the company.
A Model for Implementing New Technology
Authors: Weiland Greg , Motwani Jaideep G.
Published: May 2006

Provides an integrated model that can be used as a framework by
organizations planning to implement new technology systems. The inputs
of this model were obtained by a brainstorming session of MBA students,
interviews with several local computer vendors, and a review of the
current literature. The proposed model views the implementation of new
technology from three dimensions rather than two. These include:
management, employee group, and the vendor group. Three arrows, each
pointing in opposite directions, connect the sides of the triangle,
representing the expectations which each party has of the other. These
expectations or interfaces are examined.
Self‐directed Work Teams: A Key to World‐class Operations?
Authors: Sprague David A.
Published: May 2006

Presents some of the critical questions relating to self‐directed
work teams (SDWT) – small groups of employees who are responsible
for producing an entire product or product segment and for managing
themselves and the work that they do. While some companies have used
SDWTs for many years, interest in the concept has grown very rapidly in
the last few years but because of large differences in work and workers,
SDWTs are not a universally applicable concept. Any organization that is
considering adopting SDWTs must ask a series of questions to determine
if SDWTs “fit” their circumstances.
Expert Systems in Service Operations
Authors: Motiwalla Luvai F. , Gargeya Vidyaranya B.
Published: May 2006

Despite previous work on expert systems in the manufacturing sector
very few articles relate to a classification scheme for the application
of Expert Systems (ES) in the service operations area. Based on a review
of more than 200 abstracts from the ABI/INFORM database, seeks to
provide a categorization of ES in the service sector and also to detail
future needs in the application of this vital information technology in
service operations. Enhances the manager′s understanding of ES
technology and provides a perspective on how ES have been used in
service operations.
Systems Implementation Strategy: Behavioural and
Organizational Aspects
Authors: Morgan Malcolm J.
Published: May 2006

Examines the changing approach to implementing computer systems in
organizations. The methodological problems involved are analysed from
the original technically dominated approaches to the more recent
behaviourally motivated ideas. The hypothesis is that in today′s much
more complex world of business, a wider range of paradigms needs to be
used to improve the potential success of systems and implementation.
Outsourcing/Rightsizing for the 1990s
Authors: Hoplin Herman P. , Hsieh George S.
Published: May 2006

The terms “outsourcing” and “rightsizing”,
along with a third term, “downsizing”, have different
meanings to different people. Looks into these as alternatives for
managers in rejuvenating organizations. Outsourcing to many managers
means the loss of control of an internal operation. It is not as
foreboding as downsizing which, at first impression, has the connotation
that jobs are on the line or that expenses must be reduced. Rightsizing
may imply a shrinkage in managerial levels to arrive at longer term
“fat free” improvements. In a fast‐moving environment
traditional methods and organizational forms are too cumbersome, and
inflexible to bring about creative organizational change. More radical
steps are often needed to capitalize on leaner and more innovative
measures which, at the same time, reduce non‐productive
“baggage” which has developed over time in most
organizations.
New Developments in Facsimile (Fax) Software
Authors: Olsen Loren D. , Kleiner Brian H.
Published: May 2006

Covers the history, recent developments and technology gaps that
affect facsimile (fax) software development – one of the most
exciting and technologically challenging developments in computer
software today. Hopes to prepare readers to accept and understand the
fax software (and modem) technology of the near future.
Production Improvement Using a Management Information
System
Authors: de la Mare R.F.
Published: May 2006

Reports on research which investigated the production deficiencies
of a firm manufacturing plastic products, which was also engaged with
the Teaching Company Scheme. Owing to inadequate information it was
unable to sustain stable operations. A computer‐based Management
Information System (MIS) was installed to resolve this problem. This was
designed to meet the firm′s immediate needs and operate effectively
within its resource limitations. Despite substantial progress, the MIS
showed that overall performance was still poor and similar to that
experienced elsewhere in the industry. Discusses the reasons for these
deficiencies herein.
Expert System Usage, Hardware, Access and Features
Authors: Stone Robert W. , Good David J.
Published: May 2006

Examines the relationships between the frequency of expert system
use and the system′s hardware, access location, and features. Also
examines the relationship between the expert system′s hardware and
access location. The study is empirical, using a survey of marketing
executives who work within marketing organizations employing expert
systems. The findings include that the hardware type appears to
influence the frequency of expert systems use. Daily use is dominated by
mainframe computers, while weekly and monthly use is dominated by the
microcomputers. Further, the frequency of expert system use increases
with access availability and decreases as the expert system becomes less
available. The dominant feature of these expert systems is the ability
to perform what‐if‐analysis. When access location and hardware type are
examined, the dominant hardware is the microcomputer. Further,
particular hardware types tend to dominate specific access locations.
Neural Network and Cellular Manufacturing
Authors: Jamal A.M.M.
Published: May 2006

Reports that cellular manufacturing is a production techniques
where parts processed on similar machines are grouped into manufacturing
cells. These clusterings have been found to reduce production costs,
improve quality and generate other benefits for businesses.
Mathematically, the formulation of manufacturing cells is equivalent to
transforming a matrix representing the association of machine and parts
into a block diagonal form. The pattern recognition capabilities of a
neural network were used to transform matrices to represent
manufacturing cells. The results are likely to be more robust than using
standard heuristics based on specific assumptions.
Intelligent Corporate Strategy: Beyond World‐class
Manufacturing
Authors: Chan K.C.
Published: May 2006

The ideas expressed in this work are based on those put into
practice at the Okuma Corporation of Japan, one of the world′s leading
machine tool manufacturers. In common with many other large
organizations, Okuma Corporation has to meet the new challenges posed by
globalization, keener domestic and international competition, shorter
business cycles and an increasingly volatile environment. Intelligent
corporate strategy (ICS), as practised at Okuma, is a unified theory of
strategic corporate management based on five levels of win‐win
relationships for profit/market share, namely: ,1. Loyalty from
customers (value for money) – right focus., 2. Commitment from
workers (meeting hierarchy of needs) – right attitude., 3.
Co‐operation from suppliers (expanding and reliable business) –
right connections., 4. Co‐operation from distributors (expanding and
reliable business) – right channels., 5. Respect from competitors
(setting standards for business excellence) – right strategies.
The aim is to create values for all stakeholders. This holistic
people‐oriented approach recognizes that, although the world is
increasingly driven by high technology, it continues to be influenced
and managed by people (customers, workers, suppliers, distributors,
competitors). The philosophical core of ICS is action learning and
teamwork based on principle‐centred relationships of sincerity, trust
and integrity. In the real world, these are the roots of success in
relationships and in the bottom‐line results of business. ICS is, in
essence, relationship management for synergy. It is based on the premiss
that domestic and international commerce is a positive sum game: in the
long run everyone wins. Finally, ICS is a paradigm for manufacturing
companies coping with change and uncertainty in their search for
profit/market share. Time‐honoured values give definition to corporate
character; circumstances change, values remain. Poor business operations
generally result from human frailty. ICS is predicated on the belief
that the quality of human relationships determines the bottom‐line
results. ICS attempts to make manifest and explicit the intangible
psychological factors for value‐added partnerships. ICS is a dynamic,
living, and heuristic‐learning model. There is intelligence in the
corporate strategy because it applies commonsense, wisdom, creative
systems thinking and synergy to ensure longevity in its corporate life
for sustainable competitive advantage.
Quality Systems at Carello Lighting
Authors: Bohoris George , Coombes Jonathan , Hamer Tony , Pickering Alan
Published: May 2006

Deals with two main areas of the quality system of a world leader
in the vehicle lighting industry: conformance to recognized motor
industry quality standards (such as the Ford Q101 discipline) and
implementation of a TQM programme. First discusses improvements to
ensure compliance to standards then describes an approach employed to
gain certification to the ISO 9000 standard. The strategy developed for
achieving certification ensures that the problems encountered during the
development of the quality system improvements will not be repeated. The
second strategy is the TQM programme. Deals specifically with one
element of this ‐quality costing. Describes how the costing system is
being implemented, the problems encountered and the ways in which the
company plans to overcome them. One of the main conclusions is that the
resultant benefits are already extensive and are likely to prove
essential to the future performance of the business.
A Guide to Computer‐based Simulation
Authors: Lehaney Brian
Published: May 2006

Provides an introduction to simulation, and discusses the use of a
modern simulation environment. Examples of the uses of simulation are
queuing, scheduling and stock control. Simulation environments are now
far more user‐friendly, and software is more competitively priced, than
ever before. The manager can play a major role in model‐building by
using icon‐driven simulation tools, which enable a system to be
“drawn” on the screen, and which help to reduce the gap
between manager and modeller. The gap is even further reduced if the
manager understands something of simulation terminology and methods.
Simulation is a tool which can aid managers in policy making and
decision making.
Global Branding: Why and How?
Authors: Kelz Andreas , Bloch Brian
Published: May 2006

Examines the motivation for and the benefits of a global branding
strategy, and sets out a framework for its implementation. Discusses the
international environmental circumstances conducive to global branding,
analyses the major functions and benefits of the strategy –
advertising cost savings, rapid introduction of product innovation and
improved identification and motivation of the workforce with the
enterprise. Finally deals with the organizational conditions for global
branding, such as strategic planning and controlling, organizational
anchoring and marketing research. Draws on both English and German
management literature.
A Productivity Support or Meta‐view of IT Investment: The
Need for a Paradigm Shift
Authors: Thachenkary Cherian S.
Published: May 2006

The decline in US productivity growth is now well recognized. What
is not so obvious is that this is at a time when expenditures for
information technology (IT) have grown at a faster rate than ever
before. Shows that for the period 1980‐89, labour productivity grew at
an annual rate of 1.29 per cent while capital productivity declined at a
rate of ‐0.12 per cent. Information technology expenditures during this
period grew at 8.6 per cent with office, computing and accounting
machinery growing even faster at 10.22 per cent. Over $867
billion has been spent on IT equipment alone. Looks at the evolution of
technology expenditures and productivity growth in the US economy.
Argues that it is important for the information systems community to
reconsider some of its dominant design paradigms – specifically,
that IT investment needs to be evaluated from the standpoint of its
capacity to boost productivity.
User Participation in Expert Systems
Authors: Rees Patricia L.
Published: May 2006

Suggests that, though user involvement in the design and
implementation of expert systems (ES) is generally encouraged in the
literature, the incidence of successful user participation continues to
be low. Draws on research carried out for a large British company on
four expert systems projects, to illustrate the problems, and penalties,
of not involving the users. Company culture has a bearing on why
participation is difficult. Penalties of not involving the users include
non‐implementation and poor interfaces. Suggested advantages of
involving users are that happy users are the best advertisement for
future systems and that users can make useful suggestions to the
designers. Concludes that the concept of participation needs a strong
push so that it will become a familiar part of management.
Vendor Survey Plan: A Selection Strategy for JIT/TQM
Suppliers
Authors: Lee Huei , Wellan Dee M.
Published: May 2006

Just‐in‐time (JIT) is thought by managers to be an important key to
improving operations planning. JIT can be defined as a systematic
approach which minimizes inventory by having supplies arrive at
production and distribution points only when needed. Reports on a study
to examine a supply performance evaluation strategy for implementing a
just‐in‐time/total quality management (JIT/TQM) purchasing system for a
major chemical company. The innovative strategy includes a vendor survey
plan (VSP) with an evaluation system and a supplier self‐assessment.
Results show the average quality performance of suppliers improved after
implementing the new JIT/TQM strategies.
TQM and Environmental Excellence in Manufacturing
Authors: Klassen R.D. , McLaughlin C.P.
Published: May 2006

Recent public policy trends and new consumer demands are
redirecting the attention of management outside the traditional focus of
customers, suppliers and internal operations. However, little research
has focused on the perspective that operations management and the
growing body of literature on total quality management can offer much on
the environmental management of operations. Investigates the potential
link between the concept, approach, methodology and benefits of total
quality management (TQM) and environmental excellence in operations
management. Proposes a hierarchical model for the development of
environmental excellence. Environmental management has become strategic
and the integration of the design, production, delivery, circulation,
use and disposal of products is necessary to achieve improved
environmental performance. Second, by including environmental factors in
the integrated training of the workforce and the reward structure of the
firm, long‐term continuous improvement is possible. Like quality goals,
environmental improvement goals must become part of the annual business
plan, with performance reviews to track progress and to encourage
environmental excellence.
Unix Today
Authors: Anjard Ronald P.
Published: May 2006

Identifies Unix as the third wave of computer systems and one which
is already on the horizon and rapidly approaching. Outlines the history
of the development of Unix; the reasons why, to date, the Unix system
has failed as an effective competitor in the marketplace; and what is
being done to resolve its past limitations. Concludes that, following
major moves which have taken place in the Unix world in the last two to
three years and the resultant improvements in flexibility and
standardization, Unix will become an important part of the technology
and business world – perhaps today, certainly tomorrow.
Adapting Deming′s Philosophy: An Evaluative Model
Authors: Motwani Jaideep G. , Sower Victor E. , Roosenfeldt Martin E.
Published: May 2006

American manufacturers are striving to regain a competitive
position in the world market. The Company Quality Profile (CQP), based
on Deming′s 14 points, can be an effective way of determining a
company′s quality position and monitoring improvements. The CQP can also
be useful in cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies of quality,
productivity and competitiveness. Develops the CQP and conducts an
exploratory field evaluation of its utility in measuring a company′s
quality position.
Waste Elimination: The Common Denominator for Improving
Operations
Authors: Samaddar Subhashish , Heiko Lance
Published: May 2006

Waste is defined as anything other than the minimum amount of
resources which are absolutely essential to add value to the product.
Resources include equipment, parts, materials, space, energy, worker′s
time, and so on. Explores six types of waste which are relevant to all
types of operations. Presents ways to eliminate all six. Uses examples
relevant to both manufacturing and services. Provides summary
implications. Concludes that a systematic and continuous identification
and elimination of waste should be used to increase efficiency, improve
productivity and enhance competitiveness.
International Infringement of Software as Intellectual
Property
Authors: Barton Laurence , Malhotra Yogesh
Published: May 2006

The legal and economic value of intellectual property is under
seige in much of the world. Creators of software find that, throughout
much of the industrialized and Third World, their products are illegally
copied and sold in breach of bilateral treaties and international
protocols. Prosecutions of violators, though increasing in number, offer
only a partial solution. Comparatively analyses how Western firms have
responded to this issue, which transcends ethics, industrial management,
data systems, profit and law. The analysis includes research into those
nations which are often found to house a disproportionate share of
violators of intellectual property rights.
″Just‐in‐Time″ Manufacturing Systems: A Literature Review
Authors: Keller A.Z. , Kazazi A.
Published: May 2006

Examines Just‐in‐Time (JIT) from its evolution as a Japanese
concept through to a review of its philosophy and implementation. Cites
several techniques of implementation. Includes a review of the early
work of various researchers and practitioners. Concludes that JIT is a
very effective manufacturing philosophy which is universal in nature
encompassing all aspects of manufacturing. Suggests a few deficiencies
in current literature.
Satellite transmission and document supply
Authors: Tuck William R
Published: May 2006

Discusses an attempt by the British Library Document Supply Centre
to exploit the capabilities of electronic mail linked to satellite
transmission as a channel for large scale document delivery. Examines
the background, transmission procedure, mode of operation, and future
directions for electronic document delivery. Surmises that satellite
transmission′s most serious competition comes from ISDN, although the
likelihood is that the two will merge to carry a multitude of services.
The changing role of the subscription agent
Authors: Cox John
Published: May 2006

Examines the way subscription agents must adapt to changing market
needs as intermediaries between libraries and publishers. Compares the
value of printed journals as a means of disseminating academic
information with the cost advantages of electronic media. Surmises that
while printed journals remain essential for peer‐review purposes, the
use of electronic media will grow and the subscription agent must
embrace these new formats.
Using Ariel, RLG′s document transmission system to improve
document delivery in the United States
Authors: Jackson Mary E
Published: May 2006

Examines the nature, background, development, testing, advantages,
and creative uses of Ariel, a software package that can send, receive
and print images of documents via the Internet. Compares the
capabilities of Ariel to fax transmissions. Surmises that Ariel offers
benefits of higher resolution, telecommunications charges, transmission
time, and flexibility, giving it the potential to become de facto
standard for image transmission and to reduce turnaround time.
On‐line vs DC‐ROM delivery of information
Authors: Waaijers L.
Published: May 2006

Considers the use of new technologies in library information
delivery systems. Discusses the virtues of paper, CD‐ROM, and online
media in terms of accessibility, timeliness, compactness, searchability,
preservability, authenticity, and appearance, as well as end user
benefit. Surmises that information is a means to an end to the end user,
who wants the easy access and speed offered by paper media, with the
language and help availability benefits of electronic media.
UnCover and UnCover2: an article citation database and
service featuring document delivery
Authors: Lenzini Rebecca T , Shaw Ward
Published: May 2006

Presents an overview of two projects undertaken by CARL systems to
provide on‐line indexing and self‐service document delivery for
journals. Considers two major issues raised by indexing services:
copyright and economic realignment. Summarises that UnCover2 is a
transition project, one of the major challenges facing the profession
being the accessibility of scholarly discourse to all.
Training staff for interlending and document supply
Authors: Cornish Graham P
Published: May 2006

Considers the particular challenges of training staff for
interlending work in libraries. Discusses the need for interlending as
part of the concept of publication availability, the problems of setting
up a training course, aims and objectives of training, the trainees and
trainers, and techniques and training materials. Concludes that the
problems posed by the co‐operative nature of interlending demands a
structured training programme to ensure its success.
Picking Winners: Solving an Industrial Policy Problem with
a Sustainable Growth Model
Authors: Jarvis Lance P. , Mayo Edward J. , Lane Paul M.
Published: May 2006

Sustainable growth indicates how rapidly sales can increase when
new assets required to support higher sales levels are financed solely
through additions to retained earnings and new debt. The sustainable
growth model provides a way for public policy makers to assess the need
of any particular sector of an economy for government‐sponsored export
development assistance. These assessments are the macro equivalent of
product portfolio analysis. The sustainable growth approach, however, is
less subjective and requires far less data input than the directional
policy matrix approach recommended by others. The two approaches should
be viewed as complementing one another. Selection of export development
programmes can be improved by assessing the impact of any given
programme on the components of an industry′s sustainable growth level.
This should help to avoid initiatives that would impair the global or
regional competitiveness of industries with long‐term comparative
advantages.
Marketing Practices in the Changing Philippine
Macroeconomic Environment
Authors: Huszagh Sandra M. , Roxas Juanita P. , Keck Kay L.
Published: May 2006

A survey of marketing executives within randomly selected, major
firms in the Philippines investigates firms′ marketing actions in
response to stagflation caused by the 1990 Persian Gulf crisis. A
central premiss is that there will be differences in sensitivity to
macroeconomic conditions between industry sectors. Results show that the
manufacturing sector redirects pricing, product and research and
development strategies more extensively than non‐manufacturers. These
differences may be explained by the extent to which the industry sector
is capital‐intensive in its formation and operation. Empirically
demonstrates the effects of macroeconomic conditions on firms′ marketing
practices and the relevance of the stagflation paradigm outside the
United States.
The Intermediary Service Requirements of Canadian and
American Exporters
Authors: Castaldi Richard M. , De Noble Alex F. , Kantor Jeffrey
Published: May 2006

Reports a survey of 352 Canadian exporters regarding their use of
intermediaries in exporting endeavours. Contrasts results with results
obtained from other studies involving 394 American exporters. Tests
hypotheses regarding the effect of product type, export sales volume and
national exporting infrastructure differences on the various export
services performed. Prior studies of American intermediaries showed a
near inverse relationship between the perceived importance of specific
export services and the intermediaries′ level of performance of these
services. Canadian exporters, however, feel that their intermediaries
are meeting their exporting needs much more effectively.
Culture and Advertising Executions: A Comparison of
Selected Characteristics of Korean and US Television Commercials
Authors: Miracle Gordon E. , Yeol Chang Kyu , Taylor Charles R.
Published: May 2006

More than 2,000 Korean and US television commercials were analysed
to determine how soon, how long and how many times the brand, company
name and product are presented. These variables represent important
decisions that must be made by those who create television commercials.
Significant differences between US and Korean television advertising
were found. Cultural differences are identified that: (1) suggest
reasons for differences in television advertising between countries and
(2) provide guidance for international advertising managers who
supervise creative personnel doing advertising in Korea and the US.
An Application of Bagozzi′s Exchange Model to Integrate of Countertrade Research
Authors: Okoroafo Sam C.
Published: May 2006

As the use of countertrade increases and countertrade research proliferates, it is necessary to integrate the knowledge to document what has been done and identify gaps for future research. Proposes Bagozzi′s exchange framework as a model for integrating research and identifying situational contingencies, characteristics of social actors and third parties, and social influence between actors as the determinants of exchange. Managerial implications are also identified.
The Role of Accent on the Credibility and Effectiveness of
the International Business Person: The Case of Guatemala
Authors: Tsalikis John , Ortiz‐Buonafina Marta , LaTour Michael S.
Published: May 2006

Assesses the effect of an international business person′s accent on
Guatemalan subjects′ perception of the business person′s effectiveness,
credibility, competence, friendliness, as well as the Guatemalan
subject′s intentions to buy. Graduate students at a Guatemalan
university listened to tape recordings of three presenters speaking
Guatemalan Spanish and three presenters speaking Spanish with a foreign
accent. The findings suggest that, for the Guatemalan audience, a sales
pitch in Guatemalan Spanish evoked more favourable judgements on all
measured dimensions than the same sales pitch in foreign accented
Spanish. Females, however, evaluated the Guatemalan Spanish presenters
more positively and evaluated the foreign accented presenters more
negatively than their male counterparts.
International Franchising in the Context of Competitive
Strategy and the Theory of the Firm
Authors: Huszagh Sandra M. , Huszagh Fredrick W. , McIntyre Faye S.
Published: May 2006

Suggests that the strategic advantages of experience, scale
economies, product differentiation, capital requirements, and location
are important determinants of international franchise expansion, but are
slowly being diminished by technological and capital market innovations.
Explores this theme from the perspectives of competitive strategy and
economic theory of the firm. Based on these perspectives, hypotheses are
developed and tested with a large sample of US franchisors at two points
in time. Results show that franchise firms′ strategic advantages derived
from experience, scale economies and location differ for more
international firms compared to nationally‐focused firms. Results also
provide insights to the extent to which these differences are moderated
by technological and capital market innovations occurring over time.
Corporate Banking: Services and Relationships
Authors: Thunman Carl G.
Published: May 2006

Describes the reasons for the increased importance of relevant
marketing tools for banks. Deregulation, increased competition, and
technological development in financial markets have contributed to the
emergence of a new situation. In recent years the theory of bank
marketing has seen the development of the relationship concept. Outlines
a model for relationships between banks and their corporate customers.
Divides financial services into subgroups and defines relationships as
composed of particular bonds. Applies the model to two sets of empirical
data on small and large companies in Sweden. The results demonstrate the
difference between small and large companies, and the content of the
relationships in the different services.
Strategy and Structure in Bank Advertising: An Empirical
Test
Authors: Laskey Henry A. , Seaton Bruce , Nicholls J.A.F.
Published: May 2006

Reports on the results of an empirical test to evaluate the
effectiveness of alternate forms of bank advertising, the alternative
forms of which differ in terms of main message strategy and overall
method of presentation (structure). Examines the relative effects of
verbal only advertisements compared to those which combine both pictures
and words. Specifically focuses on the differences between informational
and transformational strategies. Examines alternative forms of the
latter to include both male and female models, and studies several
alternative measures of advertising effectiveness. Results suggest that
an informational strategy is more effective for bank advertising than a
transformational strategy. Advertisements which include both verbal and
pictorial components were superior. No statistically significant
differences were observed when male versus female models were employed.
ATM Banking Behaviour in Kuwait: A Consumer Survey
Authors: El‐Haddad Awad B. , Almahmeed Mohammad A.
Published: May 2006

There has been a growing interest among banks and financial
institutions in encouraging bank customers to use automatic teller
machines (ATMs). This study attempts to identify customers′ awareness,
usage patterns, reasons for using (not using) ATMs, new services
required, as well as problems associated with using ATMs in Kuwait.
Significant differences in attitudes and opinions among age,
nationality, marital status, occupation, income, and educational level
groups are also reported. Implications of the study are suggested
regarding the role of electronic technologies in marketing developent.
Identifies some specific marketing strategy considerations designed to
ensure retail customers′ acceptance and usage of ATMs. In addition,
reports recommendations for further research.
Strategic Responses to Environmental Turbulence
Authors: Thwaites Des , Glaister Keith
Published: May 2006

To succeed in an industry an organization must select a mode of
strategic behaviour which matches the levels of environmental
turbulence, and develop a resource capability which complements the
chosen mode. Investigates UK building societies and identifies three
distinct modes of strategic behaviour. One group of societies are
reactive and driven by their environment. A second group are pre‐emptive
and seek to anticipate future events and prepare for them while the
third group exhibit the most aggressive stance; not only do they seek to
identify future scenarios, they actually work to bring these about. The
groups are compared across a range of marketing and strategy variables
to establish the extent to which these approaches are supportive of the
selected mode of behaviour. Clear differences are apparent between the
reactive and proactive groups although, surprisingly, few differences of
substance are evident between the two proactive groups.
Emerging Critical Success Factors in Marketing to the
Smaller Business: Issues and Trends from the US Market
Authors: Maru File Karen , Prince Russ Alan
Published: May 2006

In developed economies worldwide, small‐and medium‐sized businesses
(SMEs) account for over 90 per cent of all businesses and 40 to 50 per
cent of GNP. Bank marketers targeting this strategic segment should be
aware that the buying behaviour of SMEs is very different from that in
larger corporations. Presents a new model of SME buyer behaviour and
provides critical success factors for those marketing financial services
to this segment.
Islamic Banking
Authors: Dixon Rob
Published: May 2006

Gives an account of Islamic Banking practice, and the implications
of Islamic law for Islamic and Western banks. The growth in Islamic
fundamentalism presents problems for Islamic banks and Western banks in
serving Muslim states and countries with sizeable Muslim populations.
Shows the techniques available to Islamic banks and considers some of
the marketing problems they face in non‐Muslim countries. Also considers
the international banking market and the role Islamic banks have there,
and reviews the problems of bank recognition. A forward view examines
what the future may hold for Islamic Banking. The appendix presents the
principal concepts of banking under Islamic Law.
Conference Review: Quality Concerns for Management
Authors: Wilkinson Adrian , Witcher Barry
Published: May 2006

Quality concerns for management was one of the key themes of the Fifth Annual British Academy of Management Conference which was held in Bath in September 1991. This brought together a number of writers from a range of disciplines including production management, marketing and industrial relations. The sessions were chaired by Barbara Lewis from Manchester School of Management, UMIST, and papers were a mixture of reporting empirical findings and those being more conceptual in their approach. This short review summarizes the papers based on the abstracts with the aim of encouraging those interested to contact the authors concerned and also make a few general remarks on the state of TQM research.
Statistical Process Control: A Guide for Implementation
Authors: Kamal Gaafar L. , Bert Keats J.
Published: May 2006

Focuses on the Statistical Process Control (SPC) implementation phase in an effort to underline that SPC is not just control charts, and that many steps have to be accomplished before these charts are used. In addition, highlights the role of training and presents it as an ongoing process which involves everyone in the organization. These SPC implementation steps are not meant to be a checklist; they provide guidelines that can be modified in accordance with organizational‐specific requirements.
Quality Circles, the Production Function and Quality of Working Life: Results of a Study in Seven Large Companies
Authors: de Vries J. , van de Water H.
Published: May 2006

Although it is often posited that quality circles are an instrument for improving both efficiency and quality of working life, little systematic research has been done. In 1985 therefore, the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment initiated a research study. Describes the results of this study in seven Dutch organizations about the effect of quality circles on the quality of working life. First presents an analytic model in which the main assumption is that the structure of the production process can be considered as an important contingency for the success of quality circles. Next, examines seven cases of Dutch quality‐circle programmes. These programmes are analysed using the above mentioned framework. One of the main overall conclusions is that whether quality circles are a means to improve the quality of working life or not is, among other factors, determined largely by the characteristics of the production structure. Therefore, more attention should be focused on the given production structure of organizations whenever quality circles are initiated.
Development and Evaluation of Control Charts Using Double Exponentially Weighted Moving Averages
Authors: Shamma Shawky E. , Shamma Amal K.
Published: May 2006

The double exponentially weighted moving average (DEWMA), which is known in the literature as Brown′s one‐parameter linear method for forecasting is proposed as a control tool for process monitoring and detecting shifts in the process mean. Obtains a closed‐form expression for the asymptotic standard deviation of the proposed DEWMA control statistic and discusses the determination of its average run length. Provides examples and comparisons between the proposed DEWMA and the standard EWMA. The results reveal that the proposed DEWMA control scheme performs much better than a Shewhart scheme for small and moderate shifts in the process mean and it has average run length properties similar to those for EWMA control schemes. However, DEWMA has smaller variability and it allows more smoothing of the data with no compromise in the sensitivity of detecting shifts in the process mean. It also shifts the range of the design parameters for optimal ARL to larger values as compared with EWMA schemes. Such properties are more desirable for some industrial processes.
On Developing Optimal Process Capability Index
Authors: Raouf Abdul , Ali Zulfiqar
Published: May 2006

The process capability indices are used to assess the ability of a process to meet the present specification limits. These indices provide an easily understood qualification of a process performance. A fixed value for an ongoing process capability index is generally used. Minimization of statistical process control costs can be achieved by selecting an optimal process capability index. Presents a procedure to find an optimal ongoing process capability index.
Monitoring a Random‐input Production Model
Authors: Hui Y.V.
Published: May 2006

Considers an input‐output production model with random‐input variables. Presents statistical control charts to monitor the output quality, the random‐input variables, and the stability of the production process. These monitoring procedures serve the purposes of acceptance inspection of product output, acceptance inspection of input materials, and production process control. Gives an example in cotton spinning to illustrate the control of a random‐input production process.
Employee Receptivity to Total Quality
Authors: Kowalski E. , Walley P.
Published: May 2006

Discusses the results of a survey into the factors which motivate individuals to adopt, participate in and implement total quality (TQ) in their own work environments. A considerable literature survey was carried out in order to derive a framework which could be used to assess the many factors which might influence individuals. Concentrates on the results of the survey which was carried out to test the frame‐work. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire sent to 220 employees in the sales division of one company, achieving a response rate of 54 per cent, which was considered to be high for this type of project. Uses the responses to assess the influence of organizational culture, environmental and organizational change and TQ training on individuals′ decisions to practise TQ.
Measurement Variation between Analogue and Digital Equipment
Authors: Ozgur Ceyhun O. , Meek Gary E.
Published: May 2006

Recently, manufacturing companies have been evaluating measurement equipment used for in‐process inspection. The precision and accuracy of the measurement operation are a major factor of an overall quality control programme. Compares two measurement systems of scales and callipers in three laboratory settings for the purpose of identifying sources of significant differences in measurements. The experimental design used was a nested and crossed design with blocking on manufactured parts. Operators and types of equipment (digital and analogue) were nested within laboratories and crossed with one another. Finds, at a significance level of 0.001, that variation exists among laboratories and between types of scales, while, for callipers, significant variation occurred among laboratories, between types of callipers and between operators.
An Efficient Algorithm for Minimum Cost Control Designs Using np Charts
Authors: Chung Kun‐Jen
Published: May 2006

Discusses the economic designs of np charts for a single assignable cause. Develops a simple algorithm to get the optimum designs of np charts. Twenty numerical examples show that the algorithm is very efficient and accurate indeed.
Maintenance Planning for a Refining System in the Sugar Industry
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Pandey P.C.
Published: May 2006

Presents a methodology for calculating the availability of a refining system in a sugar plant. The refining system consists of a number of subsystems including a filter, heating sulphitor and clarifier, each having series and parallel elements. The mathematical modelling of the failures and repairs of the subsystems is based on the birth and death process and the use of Chapman‐Kolmogorov equations. During the analysis of an actual sugar plant, it has been found that the clarifier unit of the refining system is the most critical component and requires immediate corrective action. Other critical components included are: filter and sulphonation units.
Quality Aspects of Composite Material Components
Authors: Corvi Andrea , Pierandrei Roberto , Vangi Dario
Published: May 2006

Examines the problems connected with quality assurance in composite material components. Focuses on the quality implications of the product during the material selection and characterization phases and on the evaluation of allowables through statistical analysis. Defines the relationship between design and the structural reliability evaluation of the loaded material and motivates the necessity of accounting for the material′s behaviour patterns with pre‐existent distributed and operation‐induced damage.
GERT Analysis of Conditional Repetitive Group Sampling Plan
Authors: Shankar Gauri , Mohapatra B.N.
Published: May 2006

Introduces a conditional repetitive group sampling plan. The OC and ASN functions are derived by GERT approach. The present development would be a valuable addition to the literature and a useful device to quality control practitioners and also to quality control engineers and plan designers in the development of further new plans.
Analysis of Aircraft Reliability Using Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Kurien K.C. , Sekhon G.S. , Chawla O.P.
Published: May 2006

Points out certain ambiguities in the usage of some reliability parameters in their application to repairable systems and presents a digital simulation model for analysing their reliability. The proposed model is useful for assessing intended changes in systems design or improvements in operational and maintenance procedures on system reliability. Outlines different steps of a computational algorithm for solving the proposed model. Describes an illustrative application of the proposed model to a fleet of trainer aircraft.
Monitoring Labour Productivity Using a Time Series Approach
Authors: Prasad Sameer
Published: May 2006

A measure of the performance of an operation at a plant is the plant labour productivity index. Deviations in this index often precede changes in the end product delivery time, and the overall company profitability. In this research, uses the M‐type Iterative Procedure and a level shift routine to model this index in terms of ARIMA (p,d,q) process, and to locate outliers and level shifts. These deviations help in identifying changes in this productivity index.
The Conceptual Relationship between Construction Quality and Economic Development
Authors: Sui Pheng Low
Published: May 2006

The relationship between construction and economic development has been the subject of much study in Singapore. None has, however, shown the stages through which construction quality in the industry has evolved over the last 30 years nor the significant role played by the government in achieving quality construction among indigenous building firms. Explores the relationship between the Singapore economy and quality in the construction industry. The evidence documented suggests a link between construction quality and economic development in Singapore. Proposes a conceptual framework which depicts this relationship.
Decision Support and Statistical Quality Control
Authors: Saniga Erwin M.
Published: May 2006

Examines some principles of the design and implementation of decision support systems in the context of statistical quality control. These principles are a function both of the level within the organization at which the decision is made and of the type of decision that is made. The principles are well known in the field of decision support systems and have proved effective. Argues that these principles are of great value to researchers, managers and quality specialists in the field of statistical quality control as well. The argument is supported by a number of actual examples in the application of statistical quality control where knowledge of the principles proved of value in improving quality.
Training and the Implementation of Quality Programmes by a Sample of Small and Medium‐sized Firms in Spain
Authors: Dolores Moreno Luzon M.
Published: May 2006

The importance of training in the implementation of a quality programme is well known. Training is needed to improve ability, to learn new techniques, and to stimulate involvement in the goals and objectives of the firm. Presents some of the results of a study made of a sample of 44 small firms in Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. The research has shown what specific characteristics and obstacles training for quality has encountered in these firms. The narrow focus of the majority of these quality programmes was an obstacle to overcoming resistance to change and lack of interest, problems which were frequently encountered. The research also detected a relationship between participative management and the training of managers for quality.
Capturing the Cost of Quality Failures in Civil Engineering
Authors: Abdul‐Rahman Hamzah
Published: May 2006

A description of failure events during construction illustrates the urgent need to emphasize the management of quality in civil engineering projects. During the construction of a civil engineering project, cost control techniques are used to monitor cost trends and to detect cost deviations in order to control project cost. However, this technique does not reveal the cause of any failure. The nature and collection of failure costs have been part of quality costing. Hypothetical illustrations show how failure costs can be extracted during construction using a matrix. Quality cost information can be used to supplement cost control techniques for cost control purposes and in identifying weaknesses within a system.
On Evaluating Maintenance Performance
Authors: Raouf Abdul
Published: May 2006

Maintenance costs are increasing as industry is trying to use automation and take advantage of advances in technology. Management needs to plan and control maintenance costs. Adequate techniques for developing standards for maintenance costs are not available. This article outlines such a technique and suggests means of comparing the maintenance performance efficiency of different plants/companies.