bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Product characteristics and Internet commerce benefit among small businesses
Authors: Poon Simpson , Joseph Matthew
Published: July 2002

Conventional wisdom indicates that companies offering digital and information‐based products that can easily be delivered online, are likely to benefit from Internet commerce. However, the validity of this statement is not clear. Endeavours to explore the relationship between product characteristics and their impact on Internet commerce among small businesses. We classified products into search and experience, tangible and intangible goods and examined their effects on Internet commerce benefit. The key finding is that product characteristics alone might not have significant influence on Internet commerce benefit and further research into market scope, characteristics of business sector and value chain is needed to understand more precisely what contributes to Internet commerce benefit.
Does advertising in the UK need older models?
Authors: Szmigin Isabelle , Carrigan Marylyn
Published: July 2002

Focuses on the use and role of older people in advertisements in the UK. Investigates the current situation in the UK with regard to the use of older models, and considers the views of advertising executives in relation to which types of products and services are considered appropriate by advertisers for representation by older people. Using a framework developed in the USA, this initial study which included responses from 19 London agencies found executives were cautious of using models that they considered might alienate the younger audiences for their advertisements. Aims to open a debate which is already well developed in the USA but less so in the UK as to the approach taken towards advertising and older people. In particular it raises the question as to whether this is purely a social issue of discrimination or a broader one of consumer and managerial concern.
The Ideology of Political Correctness and Its Effect on Brand Strategy
Authors: Prevel Katsanis Lea
Published: July 2002

Describes the phenomenon of political correctness and its effect on the
way brand marketers conduct their business. Discusses in detail the
effect of this ideology on brand association, brand symbolism, target
marketing, promotional messages and brand features; provides case
studies. Presents first, a brief discussion of political correctness
with a working definition; then the differences between politically
correct and politically incorrect brands. Uses the examples of Dakota
cigarettes and Stroh′s beer to show how brand symbolism is affected by
political correctness. PowerMaster beer, Uptown cigarettes and Nike
athletic shoes are examples of politically incorrect target market
selection. Benetton is controversial, yet politically correct, as is Ben
and Jerry′s ice‐cream, with respect to promotional messages. Fur coats
and Barbie dolls have incorrect product features, while The Body Shop
has correct ones. Recommendations for brand marketers include two
possible strategies: prevention and proaction; or reaction (damage
control). Observes that as marketing is a highly visible activity,
marketers must act to protect brand equity regardless of their beliefs
about the political correctness phenomenon.
Matching Appropriate Pricing Strategy with Markets and Objectives
Authors: Duke Charles R.
Published: July 2002

Standard approaches to price decisions are normally illustrated as
step‐by‐step developments that try to group pricing issues loosely into
some format. These current approaches do not emphasize the interaction
of consumer characteristics with the competitive environment of each
market. Describes a modified version of the Tellis Price Strategy Matrix
to enable coordinated market issues and company strategies by directing
emphasis on pricing issues and techniques that are appropriate and
effective, given the consumers′ (or segment′s) as well as the company′s
objectives, as constrained by the competitive nature of the product′s
market. By using this type of matrix as a guide, product managers can
quickly evaluate the appropriate issues of concern for a given pricing
decision and then progress toward a pricing decision with more
confidence.
Commentary: Securing the Future of Your Brand
Authors: Davis Scott
Published: July 2002

Offers two new practical mechanisms on how best to ensure a brand′s
future viability: developing a key brand insurance strategy and
measuring return on brand investments (ROBI). A key brand insurance
strategy is a defensive strategy companies should use to help combat a
number of threats a brand may face over its lifetime. This strategy
allows companies to take a proactive, not reactive, stance. Measuring
return on brand investment gives companies a simple formula for charting
their brand′s success internally and externally. ROBI forces companies
to look regularly at their brand from several different perspectives.
These two tools will ultimately help to strengthen the future of the
brand.
The Exclusive Value Principle – A Concept for Marketing
Authors: Groth John C.
Published: July 2002

Codifies a unique marketing and valuation principle: the exclusive value
principle (EVP). This principle relates value creation to “psychic
space”. Psychic needs can create enormous margins and other benefits.
One can influence price/demand as well a create, stimulate, or help
define a need for a customer. Attractive margins result from psychic
needs as opposed to pure utility fulfilment. Focuses on psychic needs
and relationships to price, margins, risk, value. Provides an overview
of psychic dimensions and a multidimensional characterization of
utility‐psychic space. Principles and perspectives offered are useful in
identifying evaluating, targeting and focussing marketing strategy,
plans and in product/service design and delivery of customer needs.
Recognition of special factors related to psychological dimensions are
critical in matching products and services to needs and are fundamental
to delivering products and services in the exclusive value category that
offer unusual opportunities for profit. Relates the principle to
margins, risk assessment, and the opportunity to garner attractive
economic profits. Gives overview of factors that give rise to psychic
needs, needs satisfaction, and opportunities for market exploitation.
Discusses factors that affect the application of the EVP. Gives
guidelines useful to determine if the EVP will be of value to your firm.
Product Development with a New Technology:
Authors: Rhyne Lawrence C.
Published: July 2002

The 1992 America′s Cup featured 12 competitors from ten countries
sailing high technology boats at an early stage of development. The
contest provides a dynamic model of patterns of international high
technology competition. Utilizes the America′s Cup campaign as a case
study to illustrate lessons for product design in early stages of
technological development in international arenas.
Faculty Internships:
Authors: Lantos Geoffrey P.
Published: July 2002

Faculty internships in business organizations are becoming a popular
means to satisfy the criticism that too many business professors lack
recent, relevant experience. Offers encouragement to, and reasons for,
marketing educators and business people to consider seriously faculty
internships as a means to bridge the gulf between marketing education
and business practice. Discusses how faculty internships should be
structured and implemented and the advantages, as well as problems, of
internships for academic institutions, firms, professors and students.
Uses the author′s recent experience as a faculty intern in a well‐known
package goods company as an example and discusses lessons learned from
the experience. Provides observations on differences between the
college world and the corporate world.
Punctuated equilibrium and the evolution of the product manager
Authors: Prevel Katsanis Lea , Pitta Dennis A.
Published: July 2002

There has been overwhelming discussion about the death of the
product management system. Focusses on how the product management system
is changing, and how firms can best anticipate and manage this change.
Claims organizational change is inevitable and that marketing
organizations must anticipate and prepare for it. Concludes that product
management is not dead – merely evolving and at a rapid pace, and
that punctuated equilibrium provides a useful model for product
management for the next “equilibrium” period.
Brand popularity and country image in global competition:
managerial implications
Authors: Koo Kim Chung
Published: July 2002

This study examines how brand‐ and country‐related intangible
assets influence the market shares of brands and their marketing
effectiveness (particularly price effectiveness). Using the case of the
small car segment, seems to provide some interesting implications for
brand management in global markets where the intangible assets
associated with brand and country names are important. Found that a
country name (e.g. Japanese name) produces positive value to brands
originating from particular countries. Documents that long‐term
popularity positively influences brands′ short‐term market shares and
marketing effectiveness. Also discovers that a brand can generate
positive brand‐specific assets, i.e. brand popularity, without a
positive country name equity. Discusses managerial implications and
recommendations, within the context of global competition.
Innovativeness and price sensitivity: managerial, theoretical and methodological issues
Authors: Goldsmith Ronald E. , Newell Stephen J.
Published: July 2002

Presents a simple and concise survey method for measuring price sensitivity and illustrates its use by examining the relationship between innovativeness and price sensitivity within a specific product category. The results of a survey of 457 students revealed a negative relationship between fashion innovativeness and fashion price sensitivity, thereby confirming previous studies. Additional analyses showed that the individual scale items and the short summed scales operationalizing the constructs possessed discriminant validity, enhancing the credibility of the findings. Discusses applications of this self‐report method for measuring price sensitivity to other pricing issues.
An investigation of consumer reactions to the use of different brand names
Authors: Bhat Subodh , Kelley Gail E. , O’Donnell Kathleen A.
Published: July 2002

We examined consumer reactions to new products introduced under four different brand naming scenarios. The results suggest that when consumers see a high degree of fit between the new product and the existing brand, brand extensions, sub‐brands, and nested brands are about equally preferred. But when consumers perceive little fit, a new brand name is the most preferred, followed by nested brands, sub‐brands, and extensions, in that order.
Estimating the effect of odd pricing
Authors: Gendall Philip
Published: July 2002

This study used choice modelling to estimate the effect of odd pricing on the demand for three products: a $4 can of fly spray, a $7 block of cheese, and a $50 electric kettle, with each product represented by three different brands. For cheese and fly spray a significant odd‐price effect was observed at 99 cents but not at 95 cents, whereas for the electric kettles a significant odd‐price effect occurred at 95 cents but not at 99 cents. The estimated value of the odd‐pricing effect ranged from 4 cents for fly spray, to 6 cents for cheese, to $3.18 for the kettles. The results of the study provide empirical support for the assumption that odd pricing generates greater‐than‐expected demand, at least at the individual brand level, and for the common practice of setting retail prices that end in 95 cents or 99 cents.
Consumer perceptions of mentioned product and brand attributes in magazine advertising
Authors: Puth Gustav , Mostert Pierre , Ewing Michael
Published: July 2002

The processes of consumer perception and decision making remain relatively complex phenomena despite the depth of research undertaken in the area. One way in which these processes may be influenced is through the explicit mentioning of product attributes in advertising. This study investigates consumer perceptions of mentioned product attributes in magazine advertising for a specific product category. Results confirm a clear relationship between attributes specifically mentioned in advertising for the three selected brands and respondents’ rating of those attributes against evaluative criteria for the product category. Factor analyses of respondents’ ratings indicate a clear convergence of factors extracted and the mentioned attributes for each brand.
National brand responses to brand imitation: retailers versus other manufacturers
Authors: Collins‐Dodd Colleen , Lynne Zaichkowsky Judith
Published: July 2002

Data from national brand manufacturers suggest they are more willing to take legal action against other independent manufacturers than against retailers when they think their trademark brands have been infringed. Imitation by other independent manufacturers prompts national brands to be more likely to improve their products than imitation by retailers. Those manufacturers who have taken legal action against imitating retailers are less fearful of possible retaliation tactics, such as delisting, or losing shelf space in the retail environment.
JUBILEE: monitoring user information behaviour in the electronic age
Authors: Banwell Linda , Gannon‐Leary Pat
Published: July 2002

The three‐year JUBILEE project – JISC User Behaviour in Information seeking: Longitudinal Evaluation of EIS – is being funded by the UK Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC). It is seeking to predict, monitor and charcaterise the information seeking behaviour of UK students and academics in relation to electronic information services (EIS) and is providing illuminative and contextualised pictures built up over time and in different disciplines. The project began in August 1999 and is approaching the end of the first annual cycle. Data are being collected and analysed in each cycle, to inform subsequent cycles. Preliminary analysis of the first cycle is already characterising the differences and similarities existing between the disciplines studied in cycle one, with some general themes emerging. The picture is not straightforward, with a very wide variation of views and experiences already reported within as well between disciplines at different sites.
Arrangement techniques for archives and manuscripts
Authors: Jimerson Randall C.
Published: July 2002

Arrangement is the process of gaining physical and intellectual control over archives and manuscripts, in accordance with archival principles. Throughout the arrangement process, two goals must be kept in mind: protecting the integrity and identity of the records, and making them accessible for research. Archivists base arrangement decisions on provenance and original order, and they establish control over groupings of materials rather than individual items. Up to five levels of control may be established, based on provenance and filing structure. The most critical level, the series, identifies records with common characteristics based on function, activity, form, or use. When manuscripts and archives are disorganized, the archivist must bring order out of chaos.
Improving the performance of Web access by bridging global ranking with local page popularity metrics
Authors: Garofalakis Panagiotis John , Kappos Panagiotis , Makris Christos
Published: July 2002

Considers the problem of improving the performance of Web access by proposing a reconstruction of the internal link structure of a Web site in order to match the quality of the pages (measured in terms of their link importance in the Web space – global ranking) with the popularity of the pages (measured in terms of their importance recognized by Web users – local metrics). Provides a set of simple algorithms for local reorganization of a Web site, which results in improving users’ access to quality pages in an easy and quick way.
Corporate community:
Authors: Halal William E.
Published: July 2002

The general concept of stakeholder management seems to be widely accepted, but its central tenet of “balancing” interests was prominently abandoned during the 1990s, as corporations favored financial interests rather than the balanced treatment proposed by stakeholder theory. The prevailing logic of business provides little incentive to do otherwise. Managers and scholars generally think about stakeholders in terms of morality, ethics, and social responsibility rather than economic value and competitive advantage. This article presents an economic theory of the firm and supporting evidence that reconcile the conflict between profitability and responsibility. Rather than passive recipients of responsible treatment, modern stakeholders work with managers to improve their own benefits while also enhancing corporate profitability. Thus, the wealth‐creating role of business arises directly out of integrating stakeholders into a productive whole – a “corporate community.”
To build brand equity, marketing alone is not enough
Authors: Schreuer Richard
Published: July 2002

New technologies and distribution channels are creating an environment in which branding will become more important. At the same time, consumers are becoming increasingly sophisticated about the relationship between brand promise and performance. Marketing must create branding that is based on delivering critical elements of value and must design marketing communications and customer experiences to reinforce that value. Brand managers must understand the nature of customer‐company interactions and have the influence to act when there is a problem.
Understanding strategy
Authors: Davies Warnock
Published: July 2002

In order to provide executives with a better understanding of the nature and purpose of strategy, the author defines and discusses strategy‐related terms, concepts, and principles and shows how they are applied in practice. Strategy is one element in a troika that also includes policy and resources. The author explains the causal relationship between the elements of the troika and the plurality of inputs, options, and outcomes that characterize effective strategy. Case examples from GE and other firms are included.
Winning cultures for the new economy
Authors: Youngblood Mark D.
Published: July 2002

Classical management emphasizes efficiency, uniformity, control, predictability, and economies of scale. These principles, which are based on a mechanistic model, have been ingrained in the systems, organization structures, values, and assumptions of our culture. The emerging economy, on the other hand, rewards agility, innovation, and vitality. These attributes require a quantum culture that is based on an organic model. The structure and leadership of these two organizational styles are compared.
How boards can improve the odds of M&A success
Authors: Armour Eric
Published: July 2002

The four‐part framework described by the authors can help boards of directors to better focus their time and energy to provide substantial value to the M&A process. High standards for value creation; grounded, quantified strategic benefits; an integration focus on high‐value opportunities with clear accountability for delivering them; and a common management model are the key determinants of a successful deal. This framework can help boards add value to the M&A process. Moreover, it can help top executives to be more effective in evaluating and managing deals and more efficient in interacting with their boards.
Loyalty as a philosophy and strategy: an interview with Frederick F. Reichheld
Authors: Finnie William , Randall Robert M.
Published: July 2002

Loyalty in the workplace has become a radically misunderstood concept. In this interview, Frederick Reichheld argues that loyalty drives financial success ‐ especially, in today’s volatile economy. As companies face the harsh realities of an economic downturn, holding onto their customers must be a priority for growth. Reichheld believes companies must focus on building a loyal customer base by forming strong relationships with front line employees. By keeping profitable customers and growing relationships with them, the “loyalty leader” companies identified by Reichheld out‐performed their competitors in the stock market by a factor of 2.2 on average during the 1990s. Bain research shows that a mere 5 percent increase in customer retention generates 30 percent to 40 percent increases in a customer’s lifetime profitability in industries like software and building management, and as much as 90 percent gains in financial services and advertising. Reichheld concludes that companies can only build a sustainable competitive edge by creating enduring, mutually beneficial relationships built on trust with employees, customers and suppliers. The ability to build and nurture loyalty over time has become an invaluable differentiator for successful organizations.
Has talent, needs customers
Authors: Searle Loyd
Published: July 2002

This coatings lab and job shop with a talent for innovation has been operating for more than a decade without a marketing strategy. Short of cash, it must now quickly invent and implement a customer‐focused strategy if it is to survive. This case study highlights how strategy and proactive leadership work together in small, flexible and fast‐moving organizations. But the case shows why the work of discovery, communication, and implementation of strategic direction is such a messy process in the tactical world. This case looks at how Millis created its business plan, the tactics it implemented and the business practices it adopted.
The concept mapping approach in marketing: an application in the travel agencies sector
Authors: Enrique Bigné J. , Aldás‐Manzano Joaquín , Küster Inés , Vila Natalia
Published: July 2002

Presents the concept mapping technique as a tool in marketing research. The advantage of this technique lies in the development of qualitative research techniques like focus groups, by structuring results in an objective form; through representing the ideas expressed on a perceptual map. Technique requires statistical tools such as multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. Its study has been applied here to identify sets of variables that foster customer, given that it represents one of the most strategic sectors in Spain.
Issue‐based nets: a methodological approach to the sampling issue in industrial networks research
Authors: Melo Brito Carlos
Published: July 2002

Connectedness is a central characteristic of industrial networks with significant methodological implications. One of the most important implications has to do with the choice of the sampling unit. This paper introduces the concept of an issue‐based net and suggests its use as a unit of analysis in networks studies. An issue‐based net can be defined as a net of relationships amongst actors who are concerned with a particular issue through mutual or conflicting interests. Using a research project on the dynamics of the port wine industry in Portugal, the paper elaborates on the use of such a sampling unit as a way of understanding processes of change mainly driven by interaction amongst groups of interests.
Marketing landscapes: the social context
Authors: Anderson Alistair R. , McAuley Andrew
Published: July 2002

Explores the relationship between marketing theory and marketing activity within the context of rural entrepreneurship. The key to unlocking our understanding the dynamics of this relationship was to use a number of qualitative techniques including participant observation and unstructured interviews. The study revealed two groupings of entrepreneurs – the locals and the cosmopolitans who operated in contrasting marketing landscapes thus questioning the universal application of a marketing theory which is not context specific.
Researching possibilities in marketing
Authors: Christy Richard , Wood Michael
Published: July 2002

Contrasts prospecting research with in‐depth qualitative research and statistical survey research. Presents a simple model – in mathematical terms, and as a numerical table – to relate the size of a sample to its power in terms of exploring the diversity of possibilities in a market. One implication of this model is that effective prospecting samples tend to be larger than those that are often taken for qualitative research: smaller samples may be surprisingly likely to exclude important possibilities and underestimate the degree of diversity in a population. By implication, qualitative researchers will often benefit from an initial prospecting survey of the market in which they are conducting in‐depth research.
A comparison of face‐to‐face and virtual software development teams
Authors: Andres Hayward P.
Published: July 2002

Looks at new communications technologies, such as videoconferencing systems, which have enabled the creation of “virtual organizations” and “virtual teams”. Investigates the hypotheses that both “social presence” and “media richness” associated with a communication medium used to support geographically‐dispersed software development teams, will have a significant impact on team productivity, perceived interaction quality, and group process satisfaction. Results supported the predicted superiority of the face‐to‐face setting over the videoconferencing setting with regard to team productivity. They also indicated that a communication medium characterized as high in both “media richness” and “social presence” can engender a greater sense of interaction quality. There were no significant differences between the face‐to‐face and videoconferencing settings for group process satisfaction.
“Come and get taken seriously”
Authors: Rowland Deborah
Published: July 2002

Explores the rationale and process undertaken to establish
self‐managed work teams at a new Walkers Smiths factory in Coventry.
Covers the background to the venture; objectives for establishing
self‐managed work teams; the actions undertaken to set up the factory;
and the transferable learning for other companies planning a similar
approach. Concludes that all organizational development should be
focussed against designed team behaviors and performance requirements
and instead should be specific in its aims.
Team performance management
Authors: Natale Samuel M. , Libertella Anthony F. , Rothschild Brian
Published: July 2002

Explores the shifting values and infrastructures which characterize
recent changes in US managerial systems – from a traditional
hierarchical approach to an emerging team management concept. Success
will come to those companies which place innovation and team spirit back
into the work environment. As we approach the twenty‐first century, two
major challenges confront US corporate managers in utilizing team
management techniques – a new corporate mindset and a
multicultural workforce. To accept the commitment needed for effective
team management, managers will be required to develop a paradigm shift.
This shift is a process which is both complicated and difficult.
Multi‐cultural teams must be helped to confront differences in
attitudes, value, behavior, experience, background, and expectations, as
well as language, with respect.
Central Europe – management training
Authors: Coast Colin R.
Published: July 2002

Describes the experiences of the European Operations of the Otis
Elevator Company in setting up joint ventures in Central Europe, viewed
from the management training perspective. Relates the problems of
designing and putting together a program for the top management teams of
the three countries concerned, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Examines the reasons for creating a program taught by company managers
and describes the successes and failures in the program. In the final
analysis, the program was considered highly successful and is being
repeated in both Central and Eastern Europe for the company′s other
joint ventures.
Using the stepladder technique to improve team performance
Authors: Orpen Christopher
Published: July 2002

Tests whether the stepladder technique, in which the entry of
members to a group is structured and every member is forced to
contribute, can improve team performance in managerial problem solving.
After completing the problem (the NASA moon landing exercise)
individually, 160 management students were randomly assigned to one of
40 four‐member groups in either the stepladder condition or the
conventional group condition, where subjects entered their groups and
worked on the problem simultaneously. The stepladder groups produced
significantly better decisions than the conventional groups, as
hypothesized, suggesting that managers can use the technique to improve
team performance in appropriate circumstances.
Why are common objectives so uncommon in top management teams?
Authors: Arroba Tanya , Felix Felix
Published: July 2002

Clear and shared goals are seen as important to the effectiveness of teams. Yet evidence from the authors’ team development workshops for teams of directors and chief officers in local government is that these groups are almost all dissatisfied with this aspect of team working. Reports on the authors’ findings using Woodcock and Francis’s “Nine Building Blocks” questionnaire and discusses the reasons why these teams face difficulty with goals and objectives. Concludes with discussing several practical approaches to helping teams to clarify an agreed set of goals.
Men and women at work
Authors: Margerison Charles , McCann Dick
Published: July 2002

Outlines the eight main types of work on offer in any organization and presents a “teamwork wheel” which incorporates these eight categories and the skill of “liking” which is common to all types of work. Gives the results of a questionnaire which aimed to indicate the work preferences of males and females largely based in the UK, USA and Australia. Finds that there is little difference in the work preferences of men and women but concludes that it is essential for each individual to understand his/her own work preferences and to understand ways to work effectively with others.
Advantages and disadvantages of group decision‐ making approaches
Authors: Brahm Carolyn , Kleiner Brian H.
Published: July 2002

Explains the advantages and disadvantages of the various approaches that are now being used in today’s society for group decision making. Groups are everywhere in our society, and learning more about them and how to work better in them can enhance the quality of each person’s life. Explains in detail five of the most widely used techniques: brainstorming, brainwriting, buzz sessions, quality circles, and nominal group technique. Points out the advantages and disadvantages of each approach with a view to reducing failures in implementing techniques as a result of lack of knowledge. The article will be useful for anyone involved in groups, e.g. managers or people wishing to improve their skills.
Managing transformational change: the learning organization and teamworking
Authors: Anderson Strachan Peter
Published: July 2002

The area of organizational learning and the learning organization is of burgeoning interest among progressive business organizations, educationalists and consultants concerned with transformational change in turbulent business environments. A key feature of this approach to learning and managing change is a focus on teamworking. Reviews the organizational literature and identifies the role of teamworking in building a learning organization. A challenge facing contemporary business organizations is to redefine and change their organizations in such as way as to be consistent with the learning organization notion, but many difficulties remain to be articulated in the design of such organizations.
Teamworking, or individual working in a team?
Authors: Staniforth David
Published: July 2002

Argues that teamworking is often portrayed as a panacea for a host of organizational problems. Reports that many modern managerial practices stress the importance of human resources and encourage movement away from the traditional individualistic approaches. Contends that effective teamworking requires relevant organizational systems and practices rather than those which were designed for the employment of individuals.
Self managing teams in high technology manufacture: overcoming technological barriers
Authors: McCalman James
Published: July 2002

This paper examines the introduction of self managing teams into a high technology workplace. The paper looks at the managerial and organizational implications of developing teams in what was considered a high technology environment where the physical restrictions of manufacture were assumed to dictate working practices. The case study evidence suggests that even in an atmosphere of clean rooms and clear communication difficulties, SMTs can prosper and suggests that it is only the physical boundaries which impede the development of more flexible forms of work organization.
Exploding the myths of high performance teams
Authors: Davis Richard
Published: July 2002

Reviews an initiative within a loss adjuster’s operation to create a high performance team. Focuses on the role of the manager in influencing team behaviour and changing the prevailing team culture. Asserts that the system in which the team works has a major influence on performance and demonstrates how management in this case organisation was encouraged to review its work system. Reports on how adjustments made by management to the work system impacted positively on the performance of the team and how changes in the manager’s behaviour led to team members taking greater responsibility for departmental tasks and goals.
Factors affecting housing maintenance cost
Authors: El‐Haram Mohamed A. , Horner Malcolm W.
Published: July 2002

One of the findings of the research looking at the application of integrated logistics support (ILS) to the existing building stock carried out by the authors was that many factors have an effect on maintenance cost. In an attempt to uncover the underlying factors, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 50 local authority and housing associations throughout Scotland. The aim of the questionnaire was to identify the extent to which 24 factors impede the optimum application of maintenance cost. This paper describes the objectives of building maintenance and the principal elements of housing maintenance cost. The study revealed that maintenance cost is greatly influenced by factors which can only be evaluated subjectively, such as high expectations of tenants and improper use of the property.
Highway maintenance quality optimization
Authors: Harper William V.
Published: July 2002

The Ministry of Communications (MOC) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken an aggressive approach to optimize the condition of its highway infrastructure. This includes pavement, bridges, culverts, tunnels, rest areas, and the multitude of related highway elements that comprise the transportation network. By maximizing quality given the available resources, the Ministry ensures that the focus is global and does not result in suboptimal maintenance decisions within the various subsystems comprising this elaborate network. The MOC had the insight to realize that a quality management system was needed to address the maintenance aspects of the Kingdom globally. Describes selected aspects of that system. This system integrates many diverse components to best address attaining global or system‐wide quality.
Building maintenance strategy: a new management approach
Authors: Horner R.M.W. , El‐Haram M.A. , Munns A.K.
Published: July 2002

Points out that increasing pressure to prolong the useful life of a building without compromising the objectives of maintenance has led to an increasing interest in methods of integrated maintenance management. As an alternative to budget‐driven maintenance strategies, develops a new approach to selecting an appropriate maintenance strategy which relies on determining the consequences of failure of every item in the building, and determining a suitable strategy for each one. Analyses the relative advantages and disadvantages of corrective, preventive and condition‐based strategies. Advocates a novel, systematic approach to the management of building maintenance. Suggests this method will help maintenance engineers and managers to reduce the cost of maintenance while preserving the safety, health and satisfaction of the user.
Predictive maintenance techniques and their relevance to construction plant
Authors: Edwards David J. , Holt Gary D. , Harris F.C.
Published: July 2002

The construction industry relies increasingly on profits generated from high utilisation of mechanisation. Interruption of this mechanical supply not only incurs the “tangible” costs of labour, replacement parts and consumables, but also the less tangible costs of delays to contract, possible loss of client goodwill and ultimately, loss of profit. Cumulative costs associated with plant breakdown are therefore significant. Predictive maintenance (PM) techniques have evolved to keep a check on mechanical health, by generating information on machine condition. Such data allow just in time maintenance to be conducted. However, recent developments have witnessed an increased interest in determining “root cause” of failure as opposed to monitoring the time to breakdown once the wear process has begun. This paper reviews condition based monitoring (CBM) technologies and introduces the evolving concept of root cause analysis. Both these could have particular relevance to construction plant and equipment. In summary, the paper presents initial findings of ongoing research, which is the development of a model for predicting construction plant and equipment breakdown.
Factors affecting successful implementation of total productive maintenance
Authors: Bamber C.J. , Sharp J.M. , Hides M.T.
Published: July 2002

Modern manufacturing requires that to be successful organisations must be supported by both effective and efficient maintenance. One approach to improving the performance of maintenance activities is to implement and develop a total productive maintenance (TPM) strategy. However, it is well documented that a number of organisations are failing to successfully implement such strategies. This paper outlines research carried out by the Aeronautical, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Department at Salford University aimed at discovering the factors affecting the successful implementation of TPM. This research has led to the development of a generic model indicating factors affecting the successful implementation of TPM. The validity of the generic model has been tested in a UK manufacturing small‐ to medium‐size enterprise (SME) and the case study research findings further triangulated through a review of documented case study evidence. This research has also led to the development of recommendations to improve the TPM development and implementation program of the case study organisation. Further development of the research has resulted in a step‐wise program or generic roadmap for UK SMEs which is proposed as a tool for the implementation or rejuvenation of an organisation’s TPM program.
Optimizing condition‐based maintenance decisions for equipment subject to vibration monitoring
Authors: Jardine A.K.S. , Joseph T. , Banjevic D.
Published: July 2002

The paper reports the development of an optimal maintenance program based on vibration monitoring of critical bearings on machinery in the food processing industry. Statistical analysis of vibration data is undertaken using the software package EXAKT to establish the key vibration signals that are necessary for risk estimation. Once the risk curve is identified using a proportional hazards model, cost data are then blended with risk to identify the optimal maintenance program. The structure of the decision making software EXAKT is also presented. Concludes that perhaps the most important benefit of the study was the realization by maintenance management that it is possible to identify key measurements for examination at the time of vibration monitoring – thus possibly saving on inspection costs.
Searching for real maintenance performance measures
Authors: Dwight Richard
Published: July 2002

Performance measurement remains a complex issue. This is particularly so if some absolute measure of performance is sought. A definition of performance in terms of value is restated and further developed. Reacting to this strict definition, the systems audit approach to measuring performance is developed and its use illustrated. Concludes that the absolute definition of maintenance performance, in terms of changes in value, presents difficult practical problems. Notes that a systems audit approach to performance measurement can potentially overcome some of these problems while preserving the focus on both business outcomes.
Can elephants fly? Drucker and governmental reform
Authors: Garofalo Charles
Published: July 2002

The purpose of this article is to explore and evaluate Peter Drucker’s ideas on governmental reform, responsibilities, and management. Through an examination of his writings, as well as the work of a number of public administration scholars, Drucker’s views are analysed and assessed in the context of recent public management literature. The article situates Drucker as ade factopublic choice theorist, given his advocacy of privatization and his minimalist position on government, in general. Although he is an internationally‐renowned management theorist, Drucker’s views on the public sector are found wanting on both the theoretical and practical levels. The article concludes that governmental reform is far more complex than Drucker seems to realize, and that it requires a healthy respect for democratic values and the public interest, as well as the principles and practices of modern management.
Max Weber and US public administration: the administrator as neutral servant
Authors: Fry Brian R. , Nigro Lloyd G.
Published: July 2002

Compares and contrasts the writings of Max Weber and the US literature on public administration on the question of the appropriate role of the administrator in the political process. Examines the relevance of Weber’s analysis to the US experience. Concludes that Weber provides pertinent cautionary advice concerning the endorsement of an activist role for the administrator in political and policy processes.
Feedstock material property – process relationships in fused deposition of ceramics (FDC)
Authors: Venkataraman N. , Rangarajan S. , Matthewson M.J. , Harper B. , Safari A. , Danforth S.C. , Wu G. , Langrana N. , Guceri S. , Yardimci A.
Published: July 2002

Fused deposition of ceramics (FDC) is a solid freeform fabrication technique based on extrusion of highly loaded polymer systems. The process utilizes particle loaded thermoplastic binder feedstock in the form of a filament. The filament acts as both the piston driving the extrusion and also the feedstock being deposited. Filaments can fail during FDC via buckling, when the extrusion pressure needed is higher than the critical buckling load that the filament can support. Compressive elastic modulus determines the load carrying ability of the filament and the viscosity determines the resistance to extrusion (or extrusion pressure). A methodology for characterizing the compressive mechanical properties of FDC filament feedstocks has been developed. It was found that feedstock materials with a ratio (E/ηa) greater than a critical value (3×105to 5×105s‐1) do not buckle during FDC while those with a ratio less than this range buckle.
Experimental investigation of contour crafting using ceramics materials
Authors: Khoshnevis Behrokh , Bukkapatnam Satish , Kwon Hongkyu , Saito Jason
Published: July 2002

This paper presents research about the adaptation of Contour Crafting, a novel prototyping process, for two carefully chosen uncured ceramic materials. The details of the construction and operation of the fabrication machine, as well as procedures and results from our preliminary experimentation are concisely presented.
Simulation of injection molding into rapid‐prototyped molds
Authors: Aluru Rajitha , Keefe Michael , Advani Suresh
Published: July 2002

Injection molding is a very mature technology, but the growth of layer‐build, additive, manufacturing technologies (rapid prototypying) has the potential of expanding injection molding into areas not commercially feasible with traditional molds and molding techniques. This integration of injection molding with rapid prototyping has undergone many demonstrations of potential. What is missing is the fundamental understanding of how the modifications to the mold material and mold manufacturing process impact both the mold design and the injection molding process. This work expanded on an approach to utilize current numerical simulation programs and created a tool for optimizing the creation and use of non‐metal molds for injection molding. Verification and validation work is presented. The model was exercised by studying the effect of varying the thermal conductivity on final‐part distortions. This work clearly showed that one could not obtain reasonable results by simply changing a few input parameters in the current simulations. Although the approach did produce more realistic results, more work will be required for a tool capable of accurate, quantitative predictions.
Ethnic entrepreneurship in comparative perspective
Authors: Phizacklea Annie , Ram Monder
Published: July 2002

The growing participation of ethnic minorities in self‐employment
has been a conspicuous feature of the small business scene in many
European countries. Reports on a comparative examination of
entrepreneurship among ten Maghrebian businesses in Lyon, France and ten
mainly Pakistani businesses in Birmingham, England. Considers the
motivating factors for entrepreneurship, the financing of the firms and
their markets. The division of labour by gender in each firm was also
considered as well as the wider institutional and political contexts in
which they operate in the two countries. Of overriding significance are
the similarities between the firms in terms of motivation, markets and
the importance of family labour, despite differences between national
policies towards “ethnic minorities”.
Corporate venture capital: the financing of technology businesses
Authors: McNally Kevin
Published: July 2002

The availability of external equity finance is a key factor in the
development of technology‐based firms (TBFs). However, although a wide
variety of sources are potentially available, many firms encounter
difficulties in securing funding. The venture capital community,
particularly in the UK, has done little to finance early stage TBFs and
has failed to cater adequately for the specific value‐added requirements
of these firms. Non‐financial companies have the potential to become an
important alternative source of equity finance for TBFs through the
process of corporate venture capital (CVC) investment. Based on a
telephone survey of 48 UK TBFs that have raised CVC, examines the role
of CVC in the context of TBF equity financing. Shows that CVC finance
has represented a significant proportion of the total external equity
raised by the survey firms and has been particularly important during
the early stages of firm development. In addition, CVC often provides
investee firms with value‐added benefits, primarily in the form of
technical‐ and marketing‐related nurturing and credibility in the
marketplace. Concludes with implications for TBFs, large companies,
venture capital fund managers and policy makers.
A society for all ages: the UN year for older persons campaign
Authors: Gilks Ann , Palmer Jonathan , Robertson Lisa , Shute Vivien
Published: July 2002

In support of the UN Year of a Society for All Ages, this article suggests that Scottish Homes should lobby government to increase grants to developers who will build 25 per cent more SMART homes to barrier free standards by 2010. It concludes that as part of the communication campaign, a major re‐education programme should encourage people currently in their fifties to think ahead about their future housing needs.