bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Choosing a quality improvement project using the analytic hierarchy process
Authors: van de Water Henny , de Vries Jan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to address ways in which customer satisfaction could be improved.

Design/methodology/approach

In this article it is shown how the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) can be of use in making a choice between a number of alternative quality improvement projects. A case study performed in a large information technology oriented company illustrates that the model can play an important role in reaching a consensus about the ranking of quality management projects.

Findings

Results of the case study suggest that the AHP can strongly contribute to a more effective way of communicating and transforming knowledge between experts from different disciplines during quality improvement projects.

Originality/value

Based on this case study, it can be concluded that by means of the AHP model a rather simple method of making a decision regarding pilot projects related to quality improvement is available to companies. One final advantage of the AHP approach as experienced in the case study relates to the possibility to explore inconsistent judgements.
The evolving path of TQM: towards business excellence and stakeholder value
Authors: Mele Cristina , Colurcio Maria
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to analyze the present level of the adoption of TQM in firms, and to outline an evaluation of its evolving path.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative method was chosen to analyze the “state‐of‐the‐art” of TQM. A total of 21 firms were investigated, using the case study method, in detailed multiple case studies.

Findings

In most of the investigated firms, TQM was characterized by stronger and stronger cultural and behavioural features. The co‐ordinated and systematic development of TQM basic factors helps the priming and feeding of innovative processes favouring the course towards business excellence.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on a sample of firms and it is necessary to amplify the research process including other enterprises and to outline some forms of categories (with cultural and behavioural aspects).

Practical implications

If TQM is appropriately managed, it supports the organization in achieving excellence, the real source of stakeholder value's continuous creation. In order to achieve business excellence and stakeholder value, TQM importance can be found in two main levels: developing a strategic dimension and the organizational dimension of synergies among TQM, business excellence and stakeholder value.

Originality/value

This paper provides an important contribution in the understanding of the evolution of TQM, stressing theoretical and practical implications in a new perspective. This is a composite perspective based on three elements: innovation, excellence, and value.
Quality in the games industry: an analysis of customer perceptions
Authors: Ip Barry , Jacobs Gabriel
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore, via an examination of a large number of games released in the quadrennial 2000 to 2003 for the five dominant video‐games platforms, the extent to which current product quality matches expectations.

Design/methodology/approach

All games software released between 2000 and 2003 for the five dominant video‐games platforms (Playstation2, Xbox, Gamecube, Gameboy Advance, and PC) were recorded and analysed for their perceived level of quality. The games were sorted with respect to country of origin, platform, publisher, genre, and time of release with the aim of assessing possible relationships with quality.

Findings

The results are disquieting in that they suggest a threat to the long‐term prosperity of the games industry, when quality as perceived by experienced gamers and reviewers is taken into consideration.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the study is that customer perceptions in the form of review scores may be biased as a means of gauging true software quality. Further research is required to develop more stringent means of assessment for the benefit of consumers and developers.

Practical implications

The findings represent a comprehensive reflection of the quality of software in today's games market.

Originality/value

This paper fills a sizeable gap in the area of quality analysis for interactive software, and provides an objective overview of the current state of the games market and is a useful source of information for researchers of quality assessment in the area of software and market analysis.
A fuzzy safety control framework for oil platforms
Authors: Oke S.A. , Charles‐Owaba O.E. , Johnson A.O. , Omogoroye O.O.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims at developing a methodology capable of controlling accidents and failures in oil and gas production activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Fuzzy analysis that is based on fuzzy linguistics, rule matrix, rule structures, and system operating rules is utilised. Fuzzy methodology is applied to develop a safety control model for the prevention of accidents and failures in oil and gas production activity offshore platforms.

Findings

The model is demonstrated with a case study, thereby suggesting the feasibility of the applied approach in practical cases.

Practical implications

Primarily, the study aims to guarantee safety. Also uncertainties and imprecision that commonly characterize safety measurement systems are tracked. The time‐consuming activity in measurement and the requirement of lots of specific information about the process is avoided.

Originality/value

The results from the study provide valuable baseline information for future research investigating how safety of oil platforms is affected by some factors.
A comparative study on cultural differences and quality practices – Korea, USA, Mexico, and Taiwan
Authors: Kyoon Yoo Dong , Subba Rao S. , Hong Paul
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to present an international comparative study on cultural differences and quality practices of four countries – Korea, USA, Mexico, and Taiwan. The paper aims to present a model, which depicts the relationships among cultures (i.e. power distance and collectivism), employee empowerment, and quality results (i.e. internal and external quality results).

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a discriminant analysis were employed to test hypotheses following the research model. Using reliable and valid instruments, data from four countries were collected on employee empowerment, and internal and external quality results to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggest that collectivistic cultures, not power distance cultures, make a significant difference in employee empowerment, employee empowerment plays an important role in enhancing quality results in the four countries, and successful employee empowerment practices are not uniform across countries.

Originality/value

This paper makes a contribution to revealing the relationships among cultures, employee empowerment, and quality practices at the international level of study and to evoking managerial insights to multinational firms.
The importance of self‐ and shared leadership in team based knowledge work
Authors: Bligh Michelle C. , Pearce Craig L. , Kohles Jeffrey C.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To address the increasing need for novel approaches to leadership that deal with the challenges organizations face as they flatten, diversify, and confront increasingly complex problems.

Design/methodology/approach

A meso‐level theoretical model is developed that outlines the relationship between self‐ and shared leadership, focusing on the intermediary processes of trust, potency, and commitment that may lead to the development of shared leadership and ultimately more innovative knowledge creation.

Findings

Nine propositions are developed, addressing the relationships between self‐ and shared leadership, concluding with some of the theoretical and practical implications of the model and specific recommendations for future empirical work in this area.

Research limitations/implications

An important boundary condition of the model is that it assumes team and organizational incentives are in place to encourage team building and the facilitation of team over individual achievements.

Practical implications

Conceptualizing leadership in this way leads to numerous unanswered questions regarding how team dynamics influence, and are influenced by, various forms of leadership (including lateral, upward, and downward influence attempts). Greater dialogue between the team dynamics literature and the leadership literature may lead to new insights into how shared leadership is influenced by a variety of team characteristics, including team ability, size, member maturity, familiarity, likeability, cohesion, etc., all of which are potential areas for future research.

Originality/value

Important research questions that stem from consideration of these two theories in concert will prove critical in understanding the complex interrelationships among self‐leadership, shared leadership, and the creation of new knowledge in today's complex and dynamic organizations.
An investigation of TBL report assurance statements: UK and European evidence
Authors: Deegan Craig , Cooper Barry J. , Shelly Marita
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to document a study of European and UK triple bottom line (TBL) report assurance statements.

Design/methodology/approach

In undertaking the research, an international database was constructed from which all known European and UK third‐party assurance statements that accompanied the release of TBL reports were selected for review.

Findings

The results of the analysis indicate that there is much variability and ambiguity inherent within the contents of the third‐party statements.

Research limitations/implications

The UK and European reports included within the database compiled by the researchers provide the basis of the information used to develop this paper. In selecting assurance statements to include within the database, the latest TBL report from each reporting organization was obtained (and it should be appreciated that many organizations do not produce TBL reports on an annual basis). Of the 170 reports available internationally at the time the research was undertaken, 8 are from 2000, 86 from 2001, 65 from 2002, and 11 from 2003. Whilst the database is the most extensive one of its type, given the finite nature of resources available, it is stressed that the database is not exhaustive.

Practical implications

Taken together, the results of this analysis lead us to question the value that such assurance statements provide to the TBL reporting process.

Originality/value

Assesses the ambiguity and questions the value of assurance work on TBL statements as currently being undertaken.
Crime and punishment in the marketplace
Authors: Reinstein Alan , Moehrle Stephen R. , Reynolds‐Moehrle Jennifer
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To develop theoretical frameworks to discuss high profile scandals, where responsible accountants and other executives could have saved themselves, many investors and others severe personal and financial loss by considering the costs of improper or immoral behavior. These cases emphasize the importance of ethics driving accountants' decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses these ethical lapses in light of applying Kohlberg's models, biblical examples from the Old and New Testaments and the Koran, and other ethical systems.

Findings

The paper shows that this concept is not new. Throughout history, people have taken actions that cost them their freedom, their money and most importantly, their good names. Upon reflection, many of these people are astounded at the seriousness of their action given what little they had to gain from continued involvement. In reinforcing lessons that should be learned from cases of business malfeasance and highlighting many well‐known accounting and other scandals, we develop recurrent themes in the nature of business scandals and show that many people are responsible for or complicit in the malfeasance. These individuals could have prevented the fraud or minimized any adverse impact if they had considered their behavior ex ante. We show that the employees portrayed demonstrated very low‐levels of ethical development and seemed to underestimate the probability of getting caught and the resulting punishment. We also elicit many reasons from several viewpoints for not becoming involved in fraud.

Research limitations/implications

It is hoped that the next generation of business leaders and middle level staff alike will consider the results/messages of this paper when faced with ethical dilemmas.

Practical implications

The paper concludes that the best internal control in a business structure remains the hiring and training of morally upstanding employees and managers who recognize the values of their good names before temptations arise. Incentive plans can encourage ethical behavior.

Originality/value

Practitioners must consider fully the potential consequences of their actions no matter how small the perceived probability of a bad outcome.
The impact of audit risk, materiality and severity on ethical decision making
Authors: Marshall Rex , Smith Malcolm , Armstrong Robert
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the role of the tax agent as a preparer of tax returns and provider of professional tax advice under a system based on self‐assessment principles. It recognises the competing pressures under which tax agents attempt to discharge their professional responsibilities, and examines the implications for potentially unethical behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a mail survey of tax professionals in Western Australia. Respondents are presented with realistic tax return scenarios, in which the demands of the client are varied according to the risk of audit, the severity of tax law and the materiality of dollar amounts involved.

Findings

The findings suggest that the severity of tax law violation is an important factor in ethical decision‐making, but that audit risk and the amounts involved are not.

Research limitations/implications

The lack of support for audit risk as an influential variable is an important outcome, because policy makers have traditionally proceeded on the basis that increases in audit probabilities will reduce the likelihood of taxpayers adopting aggressive tax reporting positions. However, since the findings are based on an Australian sample, care must be taken in generalizing these findings elsewhere.

Practical implications

The implications are important in that alternative enforcement and compliance strategies must be considered by tax administrators.

Originality/value

The paper extends empirical research into taxpayer attitudes to those of the preparers of tax returns. The findings will be of relevance both to tax agents and to tax administrators.
Are Spanish auditors skeptical in going concern evaluations?
Authors: Guiral Andrés , Esteo Francisco
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study is an attempt to explore Spanish auditors' sensitivity towards financial evidence and the implications of the so‐called “recency effect” in a context of an ambiguous standard.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Hogarth and Einhorn's belief revision model, we designed a lab experiment to examine how presentation order affects the going concern judgments and the audit decisions of auditors, and the level of skepticism showed by auditors towards the signs of evidence. Two important factors, which may affect the decision‐making process and auditors' attitude to the evidence were also manipulated: the hypothesis frame and audit experience. The sample of subjects participating in this study comprises 81 Spanish auditors and 104 auditing postgraduate students.

Findings

It was found an order effect, whereby those auditors who received favorable evidence at the end of a series showed greater confidence in their client's continuity and thus issued less severe audit reports than in the case of when negative evidence was processed last. Further, it was did not found that experience or framing reduced the recency bias. Moreover, the estimation of auditor sensitivity to the evidence suggests a lack of professional skepticism in the evaluation of the client's going concern status.

Practical implications

First, the structure of auditing standards might contribute to auditors' reluctance to issue qualified audit reports. Second, the absence of skepticism might be contributing to the profound debate and notable feeling of distrust regarding the social function that the auditor profession should fulfill.

Originality/value

Recent major financial scandals give us a reason to question whether auditors are skeptical in the going concern task. This study expands previous research of Bamber et al. by investigating the auditors' attitude towards the evidence in the going concern evaluation.
Perceptions of auditor independence in Barbados
Authors: Alvin Alleyne Philmore , Devonish Dwayne , Alleyne Peter
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The study investigates the perceptions of auditor independence (PAI) between auditors and users in Barbados.

Design/methodology/approach

A self‐administered questionnaire was adapted and modified from Beattieet al.'s study in the UK the sample included 66 auditors and 148 users. Factors relating to the size and closeness of Barbadian society, lengthy tenure and being a sole audit practitioner, small audit firm, provision of non‐audit services (NAS) among others, were investigated.

Findings

Economic dependence of auditor on the client, the provision of NAS, high competition, small firm size, being a sole practitioner, lengthy tenure and the size and closeness of Barbadian society were found to negatively affect PAI. Auditor independence was perceived to be enhanced by the existence of audit committees, rotation of audit partners, risks to auditor arising from poor quality, regulatory rights and requirements surrounding auditor change and an auditor's right to attend and be heard at the company's annual general meetings.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to the relatively small sample size and small emerging market, these findings should be interpreted with caution.

Practical implications

This research serves to inform audit related policies and regulation on the potential threats to auditor independence.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the limited body of research on auditor independence in small developing countries.
Public diplomacy practitioners: a changing cast of characters
Authors: Snow Crocker
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to illuminate the role of multiple non‐governmental players in the practice of public diplomacy.

Design/methodology/approach

Public diplomacy has become a crowded and competitive field in the US in terms of who speaks for the country and who in fact has the most impact and influence on overseas public perceptions of it. Reviewing the history of public diplomacy as primarily the practice of government agencies leads on to the new reality of multiple non‐governmental players in the field today, including mainly media, business and NGO's. This new reality parallels the fact that America no longer has the field of public diplomacy largely to itself; many governments have their own public diplomacy activities with mixed influence and effect.

Findings

While governments initiated the official practice of public diplomacy during the cold war, there are a host of new unofficial players in the field today – in the US and other countries – with competing national and international interests.

Originality/value

This article highlights the particular role played by media, multinational corporations, and NGO's in public diplomacy today, in the context of the contemporary history of the field.
The shifting subtleties of “special”: differences in US and UK approaches to public diplomacy in business
Authors: Holmes Alison
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to compare the American and British approaches to public diplomacy and the impact that has on the role of business.

Design/methodology/approach

Since the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001, both the UK and US governments have been examining their public diplomacy activities with a view to a more effective use of their resources as well as the involvement of other parties. Given the strength of the economic relationship between these two countries, it is instructive to compare their resulting definitions of public diplomacy to attitudes found in the transatlantic business community. To that end, their current definitions of public diplomacy will be examined in light of data gathered from business survey of transatlantic companies conducted by UK Trade and Investment and BritishAmerican Business Inc. as well as views from those working in public diplomacy.

Findings

The US has increasingly taken a view of public diplomacy that conflates its political diplomatic agenda concerned with national interest and security with its general outreach in terms of information and dialogue. This makes it more difficult for business to effectively support broader public diplomacy objectives.

Originality/value

This paper provides a different view of US public diplomacy activities that may be a useful guide in revising their approach so as to make it more similar to the UK version which values more of a separation between political and public diplomacy.
Businesses for Middle East peace‐building: a framework for engagement
Authors: Kidder Rushworth M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper outlines a framework for engaging international business in the Palestinian‐Israeli peace process, based not on traditional profit models but on corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Design/methodology/approach

A crucial ingredient to Middle East peace is an economic development process providing jobs, stability, and growth in the West Bank and Gaza. This paper reports on a 26 member consultation at Windsor Castle, England, convened by the Institute for Global Ethics (IGE) in September 2002 to bring together Palestinians and Israelis from the region with business leaders and professionals from Europe, the US, and Canada. The consultation was preceded by an IGE research paper and followed by a published report.

Findings

A discussion of the arguments for CSR engagement in the Middle East, along with two key documents agreed by the participants, are reported here. A “statement of principles” identifies six traits of successful CSR activities in the region. The second, listing 21 “practical steps for promoting economic development,” identifies potential business interventions listed in descending order of risk, complexity, cost, and long‐term commitment, including such items as “create micro‐enterprise opportunities for local entrepreneurs, and commit to purchasing their outputs,” and “help create management and/or skills training programs within the region.” The participants strongly agreed that the global business community, acting within a CSR framework, could significantly advance the prospects for Middle East peace.

Originality/value

This paper will interest business executives, CSR proponents, diplomats and economists, and leaders within the region seeking ways to jump‐start the currently stalled peace process.
Knowledge‐based organizations in context
Authors: Calabrese Francesco A.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This article seeks to discuss a balanced and effective holistic knowledge management (KM) framework, which consists of four key domains postulated and validated in the late 1990s and 2000 as The George Washington University (GWU) four‐pillar KM framework: leadership, organization, technology, and learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The two conceptual organizational models of an “adaptive enterprise” and “agile enterprise” are briefly described, their utility challenged and a request launched for empirical findings documenting the organizational implementations and linkages to leadership, technology and learning with attendant performance results.

Findings

The twenty‐first century has surfaced the need for more flexible and responsive knowledge‐based organizational entities capable of rapidly adjusting to the increasing rate of change and demands in both products and services.

Originality/value

Provides an insight into the George Washington University four‐pillar KM framework.
The transformation of business knowledge into intangible assets
Authors: Green Annie
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Proposes that one should take a few steps back to engineer and understand one's knowledge blueprint, so that one can understand better and have more certainty in one's outcome of knowledge valuation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses knowledge valuation.

Findings

Businesses are chasing “knowledge” and implementing “knowledge” solutions, with not a clue as to whether the knowledge they are chasing or using to solve business problems is achieving the outcome towards which they are driving. In other words, there is no clear starting‐point (baseline measures) that can be monitored and tracked over time to ensure that the goal is being achieved, to encourage abandonment if the results are not favorable, or to revise the goal if the outcome is favorable. Notwithstanding, there are success stories in leveraging knowledge, but have businesses in the knowledge era truly institutionalized the identification, capture and leveraging of knowledge to adequately manage and control the intangible assets that contribute 70 percent of the value of a business?

Originality/value

Contains useful information on knowledge valuation.
Knowledge management needs security too
Authors: Ryan Julie J.C.H.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper proposes that research should be conducted in how to manage the tension between the conflicts of interest between knowledge sharing and knowledge protection.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper gives an overview of the security needs of knowledge management.

Findings

A particularly interesting challenge is the conflict of interest between individuals (including enterprises) and communities of practice. Innovation spurred through common interest can be dangerous for individuals in the short term, while beneficial to the community as a whole. Greater understanding of these tensions can assist managers in understanding how and when to apply protections in knowledge management.

Originality/value

Contains useful information on the security needs of knowledge management.
A research agenda for the enterprise of the future
Authors: Murray Arthur J. , Greenes Kent A.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the results of the first enterprise of the future industry roundtable. The purpose of the roundtable was to identify the major areas of research needed to help organizations transform themselves in order to achieve sustainable performance in a flat world.

Design/methodology/approach

The agenda consisted of individual presentations by thought leaders, followed by a roundtable discussion.

Findings

The group concluded that in order to help organizations transform themselves, a focused research effort was required in the following four areas; transformation through the co‐creation of new business ecosystems and strategies; new, non‐hierarchical organizational designs; creating ideal environments for attracting, retaining, and growing talent; integrating a myriad of technology components into a unified infrastructure.

Originality/value

Enterprise transformation is an expensive and risky undertaking. These findings provide an initial set of the most critical research areas needed for successful transformation. Decision makers can use these results as a guide for planning their future research agenda.
Using the internet to communicate during a crisis
Authors: Jefferson Theresa L.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the internet is influencing and changing communication practices utilized during a crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

Provides an overview of communication practices during recent disasters.

Findings

Discusses the need for disaster management responses to change in order to capitalize on the technology.

Originality/value

This paper is a useful source of information about now the internet is influencing and charging communication practices.
Evolution of a wiring concept – 30 years of flex‐rigid circuit board production
Authors: Wille Markus
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Seeks to answer the question: have the reasons for using flex‐rigid circuit boards changed through the years?

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the development of flex‐rigid circuit board construction techniques from the first applications to the current status of a modern interconnection system. The paper discusses that it was the military and avionic industry that in the past required an interconnection technique that was reliable under environmental stress but compact and lightweight. Today it is the automotive and communication industry that is driving the development of printed circuit board technology.

Findings

Finds that wiring and interconnection must be cheap, reliable, light in weight, and must fit into very small housings. The demand for complex interconnection solutions like the flex‐rigid circuit technique is rising with the increased level of integration of more functions into electronic devices. The reasons for using flex‐rigid circuitries are nearly still the same as in the beginning.

Originality/value

Shows how the flex‐rigid circuit board technology has developed during the last 30 years.
Occupational exposure and environmental emissions related to nickel plating: a sample of the UK nickel plating sector
Authors: Ghyoot Wouter , Green Rebecca , Fisher Bryan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Metallic nickel and four nickel compounds are undergoing a risk assessment in the European Union. The outcomes of this risk assessment may be used for a revision of existing or introduction of new occupational exposure limits (OELs) and environmental quality standards (EQS). This study aimed at determining the impact on the nickel plating industry of reduced nickel OELs and EQS, these should be proposed in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

Seven companies involved in nickel plating were visited. These companies were selected to provide a reasonable cross‐section of the UK nickel plating industry.

Findings

Concerning occupational exposure it would appear that most companies could comply with a reduced maximum exposure limit (MEL) for soluble nickel of 0.05 mg Ni/m3. There is a need to be better informed on the state‐of‐the‐art monitoring methods for airborne nickel species in the workplace. Companies need to be encouraged to start measuring their workplace exposure levels to build up a realistic database. This can be of value when discussing new proposals for exposure limits. In relation to environmental emissions it was concluded that discharge of residues to landfill sites is becoming more difficult. For emissions to water all companies met their consent limit although a reduction in consent limits would place a burden on many companies. Atmospheric nickel emissions from extraction systems appeared to be of minor importance.

Originality/value

The value of the paper lies in the collection of data during site visits, the cross‐section of nickel plating industry studied and the identification of further needs. All data and information presented in this study were collected during site visits and discussions with the operators and managers involved. The 16 companies visited provided a reasonable cross‐section of the UK nickel plating industry which is demonstrated with a discussion of the process information. The paper clearly identifies the areas where further actions are needed.
A variant of conductive filament formation failures in PWBs with 3 and 4 mil spacings
Authors: Rogers Keith L. , Pecht Michael G.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To show how the use of conductor spacings below 4 mil in printed wiring boards (PWBs) can introduce an unanticipated failure mechanism, leading to current leakage and short circuit failure.

Design/methodology/approach

The tests in this study were conducted in accordance with IPC‐TM‐650 2.6.25, using boards designed with conductor spacings between plated through holes (PTHs) ranging from 6 to 3 mil and from 8 to 3 mil between PTHs and ground planes. The board types and conductor spacings were selected to include current and future printed circuit board fabrication technology.

Findings

For PWBs that may be used in harsh environments where the relative humidity and temperature may approach those of the test environments, even for relatively short periods of time, spacings of 4 mil or less in the materials tested may not be appropriate. However, it is unlikely that the 85°C and 85 percent RH conditions are the minimum conditions to induce this failure mechanism. More tests at lower temperatures and relative humidity combinations should be conducted to evaluate conditions at which this type of failure begins.

Originality/value

The value of the paper lies in that the tests show that the IPC industry standard for conductive filament formation (CFF) testing of PTH‐PTH conductor spacings of 4 mil or less, at 85°C/85 percent RH can introduce a CFF variant failure mechanism, and therefore, may need to be modified to ensure that the test conditions accelerate the CFF mechanism and not other low resistance paths.
Making printed circuit boards (PCBs) using an LPKF plotter
Authors: He D.F. , Itozaki H.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To present the steps for creating printed circuit boards (PCBs) using Protel and an LPKF plotter.

Design/methodology/approach

The LPKF ProtoMat C20 plotter and three kinds of software (Protel99se, CircuitCam, BoardMaster) were used to rapidly produce PCBs.

Findings

Small quantities of PCBs can be created in the laboratory using a mechanical plotter, giving a fast method that generates no chemical pollution.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the file formats and steps needed to produce PCBs using an LPKF plotter.
Funding and managing agricultural research in a developing country
Authors: Omuru E. , Kingwell R.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To illustrate problems a developing country faces in generating and managing agricultural R&D funds and to portray some practical solutions to these problems.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study of cocoa and coconut R&D in Papua New Guinea is used to illustrate the problems and solutions associated with funding and managing agricultural R&D in a developing country context.

Findings

Several problems associated with donor funding, unreliability of funding and corruption are outlined. Solutions to these problems include fund diversification, commercial activity by the R&D provider to generate their own source of R&D funds, changes to national legislation to provide greater security of national funding for agricultural R&D and introduction of some performance‐based incentives for scientists.

Research limitations/implications

Being a case study limits the ease of generalizing its findings.

Practical implications

The issues of generating R&D funds and their governance are widespread problems in developing countries. This study shows some practical solutions to these problems.

Originality/value

This paper offers some practical solutions and insights about improved management of agricultural R&D funds in a developing country. Its findings have possible relevance for many other developing countries.
Conscience as a deterrent to free riding
Authors: Eisenhauer Joseph G.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is threefold: conceptually, to demonstrate that ethical behavior is rational; theoretically, to illustrate that conscience can be readily incorporated into an expected utility framework; and empirically, to investigate whether conscience is an effective and economically important deterrent to free riding.

Design/methodology/approach

An analogy to risk aversion demonstrates the rationality of ethical behavior. An expected utility model of tax evasion is then augmented by a conscience parameter and calibrated using recent empirical data from a transition economy.

Findings

Taxpayers in Moldova are estimated to have engaged in roughly 10‐33 percent as much tax evasion as predicted by a model of amoral preferences. The difference amounts to between $11 million and $19.6 million in government revenues annually between 1997 and 2000.

Research limitations/implications

The model is calibrated with aggregate data and consequently the empirical results are approximate. Replications with disaggregated data sets would provide useful confirmation of the findings.

Practical implications

Economic models of individual decision‐making which assume amorality and ignore conscience vastly overestimate the level of free riding. In practice, compliance with taxation and other social regulation may be amenable to moral suasion as well as law enforcement.

Originality/value

Contrary to the predominant neoclassical paradigm of amoral self‐interest, this paper highlights the importance of ethical preferences in modeling and measuring economic behavior. Researchers can more accurately predict and policymakers can more effectively influence individual decision‐making by taking account of moral sentiments.
Factors that influence choice of major: why some students never consider economics
Authors: Noble Calkins Lindsay , Welki Andrew
Published: July 2006

Purpose

In the fall of 1996, Walstad suggested that the economics profession needed to obtain the students' perspective on the choice of major. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence the choice of major.

Design/methodology/approach

To recruit majors and to address Walstad's concern, economics and non‐economics majors were surveyed to determine which factors they consider important when choosing a major and to better understand why some students never consider economics.

Findings

The results suggest that interest in the subject, expected marketability, performance in major classes, and the approachability and teaching reputation of the faculty are influential to the choice of major.

Originality/value

The results may help the profession address enrollment issues, including the disproportionate number of women in the major.
Circulation economics – a turn towards sustainability
Authors: Ingebrigtsen Stig , Jakobsen Ove
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper is an attempt to advance the critical discussion regarding environmental and societal responsibility in economics and business.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents and discusses as a holistic, organic perspective enabling innovative solutions to challenges concerning the responsible and efficient use of natural resources and the constructive interplay with culture. To reach the goal of sustainable development, the paper argues that it is necessary to make changes in several dimensions in mainstream economics. This change of perspective is called a turn towards sustainability. To illustrate the theoretical discussion, the paper gives some practical examples from the reprocessing industry in Norway.

Findings

The paper finds, first, effective and efficient use of natural resources is necessary to implement circular value chains. Second, sustainable development presupposes a perspective integrating economic, natural and cultural values. Third, to organize the interplay between all stakeholders we introduce an arena for communicative cooperation.

Originality/value

The paper concludes that circulation economics presupposes a change in paradigm, from a mechanistic to an organic world view.
Is child labour a substitute for adult labour?
Authors: Bhukuth Augendra , Ballet Jérôme
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight that child labour is complementary to adult labour in the brick kiln industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a case study of bonded labourers in the brick kiln industry of Southeast India.

Findings

The paper finds that child labour is used by parents in the moulding process in order to avoid falling into debt bondage. In this industry, brick making is organized as a home‐based enterprise. Thus, child labour increases the family productivity and consequently its income. In case of a ban on child labour bonded parents will be worse‐off. NGOs can play an essential role by preventing families from falling into bondage and by improving their living standards.

Originality/value

The results may help the NGOs address child labour issues in the developing world.
Stock market crises and portfolio diversification in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Patev Plamen , Kanaryan Nigokhos , Lyroudi Katerina
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To investigate the Central and Eastern European (CEE) equity market co‐movements before, during and after major emerging market crises. To examine the impact of the crisis on the gains of international portfolio diversification in CEE.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on the concept of co‐integration. The daily US dollar returns are analyzed for the period August 28, 1996 to August 2, 2001. The whole period is split into three sample periods. The first one is the pre‐crisis period from August 28, 1996 to May 30, 1997. The crisis period is from June 2, 1997 to January 31, 1999. The third period is the post‐crisis from February 1, 1999 to August 31, 2001.

Findings

Indicates no long‐run relationship between the US and the four Central European stock markets. Demonstrates a feedback effect and causality in one direction during and after the crisis period. Confirms a decrease of portfolio benefits in the crisis period and an increase of portfolio benefits in the post‐crisis period.

Research limitations/implications

It is based on econometrics tests that quantify market integration and measure opportunities for international portfolio diversification. Employment of asset pricing models is viewed as a future research.

Practical implications

A very useful source of information for investors in Central and Eastern Europe.

Originality/value

One of the first papers investigated the benefits from portfolio investments in Central and Eastern Europe stock markets during financial crises.
Stock returns behavior during holiday periods: evidence from six countries
Authors: Picou Armand
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The study is a test for the existence of an international stock market anomaly.

Design/methodology/approach

To test for holiday anomalies over a ten year period, the study examines six major international indices using dummy variable regressions with continuous data and simple regression analysis with discrete data points.

Findings

Evidence is presented both for the existence of an ex‐post holiday anomaly for all exchanges tested and for the international effect of the ex‐post holiday reaction on other exchanges. The results differ from all prior holiday anomaly studies in finding a significant holiday reaction following, not preceding, the holiday.

Practical implications

Future holiday periods may be used to capture profits from closed markets.

Orginality/value

The findings are of value to international portfolio managers and investors.
The early performance of American depository receipts listed on the New York Stock Exchange
Authors: Schaub Mark , Uma Rao S.P.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study examines the initial two‐week excess performance relative to the S&P 500 Index of American Depository Receipts (ADRs) listed on the New York Stock Exchange from January 1987 to September 2001 to determine whether short‐term wealth effects exist.

Design/methodology/approach

Standard intial public offering methodology is used to test for significant excess performance.

Findings

Results for the entire sample of 281 ADRs suggest the initial excess performance was not significant. However, after segmenting the sample, emerging market ADRs significantly outperformed the S&P 500 by over three per cent while developed market ADRs underperformed by 0.92 per cent. Also, Latin American ADRs outperformed the market index by nearly five per cent during the first two weeks after issue while European ADRs underperformed the market by nearly one per cent. Asia Pacific ADRs underperformed the S&P 500, but not significantly in the early trading.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest emerging market ADRs, particularly those from the Latin American region, perform well in the early trading while developed market ADRs do not. Future research may identify variables that affect or explain ADR excess returns.

Originality/value

The paper provides insights into the types of ADRs that accumulate wealth in the short term investment horizon.
Dividend smoothing vs dividend signalling: evidence from UK firms
Authors: Goddard John , McMillan David G. , Wilson John O.S.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

We test for the validity of the smoothing and signalling hypotheses of dividend determination.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a VAR framework we examine the dynamic behaviour of share prices, dividends and earnings for 137 UK manufacturing and service companies, observed over the period 1970‐2003.

Findings

There is strong evidence of a contemporaneous relationship between prices, dividends and earnings, and little evidence of independence between these variables. Some evidence in favour of both the smoothing and the signalling hypothesis is obtained from causality tests, with perhaps more support for the latter hypothesis. However, there is considerable diversity in the causal relationships between prices, dividends and earnings.

Research limitations/implications

No single hypothesis regarding the determination of dividends, and the predictive power of dividends for earnings and prices appears to dominate.

Originality/value

The results presented here are of interest to markets agents in that while they suggest there is no single transition mechanism linking prices, dividends and earnings, nevertheless these three variables are strongly correlated and exhibit varying degrees of causality.
A temporal analysis of non‐executive director appointments to UK firms: 1990‐2000
Authors: Hamill Philip A. , McGregor Pat , Rasaratnam Symaralah
Published: July 2006

Purpose

While existing UK studies conduct a cross‐sectional analysis, this paper seeks to argue that the ratio of Executive Directors to non‐executive director (NED) on the boards of UK firms, coupled with a gradual appointment process, motivated by firms’ desire to comply with the recommendations of the Cadbury report, has the potential to produce a temporal effect.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this study were collected from January 1990 to May 2000.

Findings

The empirical analysis suggests that a temporal pattern does exist. Two distinct periods were identified. In the initial period, prior to March 1998 the market viewed NED appointments favourably. After March 1998 NED appointments were no longer significant economic events. Overall, it appears that the market viewed the appointment of NEDs to the boards of FTSE 350 firms favourably; suggesting that such appointees were viewed as a significant input by firms as they attempted to achieve an optimal corporate governance mix.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the small body of literature on the market's perception of the value of non‐executive, outside, director appointments to FTSE‐350 firms from 1990 to 2000.