bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effective storytelling: strategic business narrative techniques
Authors: Denning Stephen
Published: January 2007

Purpose

As more and more firms grasp that narrative is central to addressing many of today's key leadership challenges – for example, articulating the risks and opportunities identified by strategic management tools like strategic plans, scenario analysis, and dilemma resolution – the question becomes: how is a CEO to make effective use of storytelling?

Design/methodology/approach

Narrative – also known as storytelling – comprises an array of tools, each suitable to a different business purpose. The author lists these tools and summarizes how to use them effectively.

Findings

Even executives who are naturally talented at narrative also need to learn to target their approach to the particular issue facing the company.

Practical implications

While leading companies increasingly recognize the need to train leaders to use artful narrative to inspire and guide their organization to respond effectively to these strategic challenges, the reality is that most organizations need help to get the full benefits of using storytelling.

Originalityl/value

When introducing storytelling a sharp focus needs to be kept on the business purpose being pursued with the tool, as well as on the different narrative patterns associated with different purposes.
Krafting leaders
Authors: Vishwanath Vijay , Blenko Marcia
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This article outlines what other firms can learn from Kraft Foods' successful leadership training program.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study of leadership development at Kraft Foods identifies the key elements of the firm's program of schooling junior managers.

Findings

The five key best leadership development practices at Kraft are: give up and coming managers bottom line responsibility; allow broad leeway in how they meet their targets; school managers in the art of influence, as distinct from merely issuing orders; promote collective achievement, not the desire to be in the spotlight; and create significant roles for talented people who are not made to be leaders.

Practical implications

It may be possible for many companies to successfully adapt and adopt Kraft's basic approach. After all, any company can give young managers the chance to think and start taking on responsibility chief executives.

Originality/value

Kraft management alumni are much sought after by other firms looking for talented managers. This article analyses why they are successful and suggests ways other firms can emulate their approach.
The model for integrating strategy and intelligence: the Executive Intelligence Officer
Authors: Little Mark , Fahey Liam
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The paper contends that a major reason for the persistence of the gulf between strategists and intelligence is the absence of an intelligence‐focused executive position at the senior levels of the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes one such intelligence role model – The Executive Intelligence Officer (EIO). In practice, creating an EIO position based on our model would be part of a set of innovative practices that leaders could adopt to link executive decision making and the processes of intelligence.

Findings

A key responsibility for the EIO is to introduce the CEO to viewpoints that lie outside the firm's “party line.” The CEO's thinking thus can be challenged, stretched, and extended by an EIO who has both the credibility and expertise to question the executive team's current assumptions.

Practical implications

Using the EIO role as a cornerstone, here is how we propose to address the executive‐intelligence linkage problem: establish the position of EIO; the EIO assumes the explicit responsibility for generating the intelligence needed for the CEO and executive team to do their jobs; and the EIO works as a collaborator and partner with the executive team.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the seven critical roles the successful EIO must play to truly influence organizational thinking and decision making at the highest levels.
Connecting strategy and competitive intelligence: refocusing intelligence to produce critical strategy inputs
Authors: Fahey Liam
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To refocus intelligence professionals toward the development of a short set of critically important outputs that can serve as inputs to strategy making – irrespective of the type of strategy or the kind of business involved.

Design/methodology/ approach

The paper addresses how to build a bridge between the many outputs typically generated by intelligence professionals and the analysis needs of those responsible for developing and executing strategy.

Findings

Drawing from the author's experience working with leading corporations, the paper condenses a wide range of intelligence outputs into five key sets domains: marketplace opportunities, competitor threats, competitive risks, core assumptions, and key vulnerabilities.

Practical implications

The paper details the key outputs that the intelligence function should deliver to managers and other decision makers. It enables managers to guide intelligence professionals to create strategy inputs that will better support a range of strategic, operating and investment decisions

Originality/value

The paper provides a framework of desired intelligence outputs or strategy inputs that should enable greater efficiency and effectiveness in any organization's intelligence work and more tightly integrate intelligence work into all facets of strategy development and execution.
Intelligence teams
Authors: Fahey Liam , Herring Jan
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To show how teams can be used to do intelligence work – all phases of the work from data collection through to development and deployment of the final intelligence outputs.

Design/methodology/ approach

The paper addresses how intelligence teams might be designed and managed. It integrates the approaches employed by many firms to setting up intelligence teams and to managing how they conduct intelligence work.

Findings

Drawing from the experiences of the authors with leading corporations, the paper develops a framework for shaping the context of an intelligence team and for conducting an intelligence analysis. It provides sets of guidelines for key phases in analysis where the benefits of a team are particularly helpful.

Practical implications

The paper details key dos and don'ts in managing any intelligence team. It identifies how to set up an intelligence team so that team members will be motivated to collaborate with each other and how to execute some key stages in a typical intelligence analysis project.

Originality/value

The paper provides both intelligence professionals and key decision makers with a roadmap to undertake key intelligence challenges more systematically and comprehensively that would otherwise be the case.
How strategic innovation really gets started
Authors: Chapman Wood Robert
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Explains (using a model and cases) how companies that lack a capability for continual strategic innovation can bring one into existence.

Design/methodology/approach

Author developed histories of how continual innovation emerged or failed to emerge in six firms, drew conclusions based on what worked in the successes.

Findings

Strategic innovation gets started with a five‐step process that involves improvising initial innovation processes, then learning from what was improvised.

Research limitations/implications

Though the companies studied were selected to represent different industries and kinds of strategic innovation, the number was relatively small. Findings should be replicated in studies of more firms.

Practical implications

Instead of using standard organizational change models that call for clear goals that leaders can manage to, firms seeking repeated strategic innovation should create inspiring but necessarily vague goals, improvise first steps toward them, and encourage emergence of innovation routines based on what was improvised.

Originality/value

Provides an evidence‐based model of how to bring Continual Strategic Innovation into existence.
Exploring the determinants of success/failure of the advertising agency‐firm relationship
Authors: Triki Abdelfattah , Redjeb Nejla , Kamoun Istabrak
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the advertising agency‐firm relationship and aims at understanding and analysing its dynamics. In particular, it digs deep into the reasons behind success and failure of the relationship and attempts to unveil their determinants. This investigation is deemed important because a breaking of the advertising agency‐firm relationship is costly for both parties.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory study is conducted among partners of the relationship in a Tunisian small to medium‐sized business context. In‐depth interviews were conducted among key executives from the ad agency industry and from clients. Content analysis made it possible to extract factors related to ad agency performance, others related to client management, and still others related to interactive processes involved in the relationship.

Findings

Results led to the development of a theoretical framework summarising the three components of the relationship. These are performance of the ad agency, internal policy of the firm, and interpersonal factors. This framework is deemed relevant for both ad agencies and firms in understanding the dynamics of the relationship and in managing eventual conflicts.

Originality/value

The originality of the research lies in the fact that it focuses on the interactive aspects of the relationship and takes into account not only the role of the advertising agency but also that of the client in developing and maintaining such a relationship. This approach allows one to unveil areas of convergence and areas of divergence between both parties' roles perceptions.
Projective techniques in Taiwan and Asia‐Pacific market research
Authors: Boddy Clive R.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate the use of projective techniques in Asia‐Pacific markets with particular reference to Taiwan and to compare this with the literature on cultural differences in conducting research to see if any correspondence exists.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a literature review and a small qualitative study of indigenous and expatriate market researchers who work or had recently worked in South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Indonesia.

Findings

The paper concludes that the use of projective techniques in Asia‐Pacific can be usefully guided by an understanding of the different cultures there compared with the cultures in the UK and other western markets. It illustrates that projective techniques are as used and are as useful in market research in Asia‐Pacific as they are in the UK.

Originality/value

The research fills a gap in the literature and extends knowledge of how projective techniques are used in Asia‐Pacific markets.
Laddering: how (not) to do things with words
Authors: Brandi Sørensen Elin , Askegaard Søren
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide a discourse‐based critique of the laddering interviewing technique, and to make academics as well as practitioners aware of some of the limitations in applying this particular consumer interviewing technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper first describes the laddering interviewing technique, which traditionally has been conceptualised within a cognitively‐oriented perspective, i.e. the laddering interview is seen as a cognitive task. Then a critical discussion of some of the problems inherent in this view follows. After this, an alternative conceptualisation of the laddering interview is proposed, namely, that it is a discursive event. On the basis of insights from Wittgenstein and Austin it is suggested that the laddering interview is a room for social actions where both interviewer and interviewee are “doing things with words”. An example of applying the discursive approach to a sample sequence from a laddering interview is also provided. Finally, it seeks to evaluate the laddering interviewing technique in terms of its capacity to tap into “the voices in the marketplace”.

Findings

Finds that the laddering interviewing technique has its raison d'être as a quick and structured way of tapping into the voices and institutionalised rationales of the consumers in the marketplace. However, it is also found that the laddering interviewing technique “locks” the interviewee into one particular consumer identity; it prompts only answers that are valid with perfect strangers; it prevents the interviewee from unfolding his arguments fully; and it has a constant focus on personal preferences excluding the possible dissociations from other consumers – all of this making the data less rich and varied.

Originality/value

The unique value of this paper is that it sums up and provides a theoretically‐based critique of the laddering interviewing technique. It is believed that this critique will lead to a more appropriate appreciation of what is going on in a laddering interview and of the utterances that the consumers make in such an interview.
Auto‐ethnographic consumer research and creative non‐fiction
Authors: Hackley Chris
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Narrative accounts of subjective consumer experience are, in one form or another, a staple of qualitative market research. They have an obvious connection with the literary form of creative non‐fiction (CNF), yet this connection has rarely been explored. Based on the assumption that writing craft is a neglected yet fundamental part of qualitative research practice, this paper seeks to contribute a new, literary‐based perspective to the interpretive turn in qualitative market research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on a range of extant literature to draw out the distinguishing features of CNF, placing these in juxtaposition to biographical and narrative auto‐ethnographic consumer research. The overall aim is to begin to detail the particular qualities of writing that might contribute to better qualitative research. To assist in this quest the attempts at scholarly discussion in the paper are interpolated with a series of digressive interludes written in an auto‐biographical CNF style. These interludes are intended to exemplify aspects of the interpretive research mentality.

Findings

This is a conceptual paper seeking to draw attention to and develop a relatively neglected research agenda. The concluding reflections suggest some tangible consequences of this research. The paper suggests that a stronger focus on research writing craft through CNF can liberate the imagination of research respondents and enrich the analysis of narrative forms of qualitative data.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the vast area of narrative‐based qualitative research from a perspective which will be entirely new to many researchers and practitioners. It suggests tangible benefits that this new perspective could bring to the work of each.
A social capital explanation of the relationship between functional diversity and group performance
Authors: Randy Evans W. , Carson Charles M.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Functional diversity research has resulted in equivocal findings for group performance suggesting the need for theoretical clarification. A review of previous functional diversity research indicates that high quality productive relationships are a key determinant in the performance of cognitively diverse groups. A theoretical framework is provided that demonstrates that assets embedded in the social structure of group member relationships impact group performance. The primary goal of this paper is to consider the concept of social capital at the group level and explain its role in mentoring the relationship between functional diversity and group performance

Design/methodology/approach

These concepts are supported by prior studies and theoretical development rather than empirical evidence.

Findings

Social capital is introduced as a moderator in the group performance model improving the group processes of communication, social integration, and coordination. Enhanced group processes in turn lead to elevated group performance. It is argued that social capital offers promise for understanding and improving the performance of functionally diverse groups.

Originality/value

This paper offers a bridge between the diversity‐group performance relationship. This bridge, social capital, offers a new and exciting means of further examining these key relationships.
Top management team, international risk management factor and firm performance
Authors: Auden William C. , Shackman Joshua D. , Onken Marina H.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The paper seeks to address four key Top Management Team (TMT) demographic characteristics in their relationship with firm performance: age, functional background, educational field, and team tenure. The study extends research on the TMT by explicitly introducing team performance as a new context measured in the form of International Risk Management Factor, in addition to demographic characteristic effects. International Risk Management Factor is developed based on multiple international risks trading off theory. In order to calculate that factor International Risk Management Index is introduced.

Design/methodology/approach

In the paper a sample of 212 firms was used, including 4,009 executives; also four hypotheses were tested. The hypotheses were tested using multiple regression analysis.

Findings

The findings in this paper support the proposition that top management team is an appropriate unit of study, due to its impact on firm performance. The results indicate that there is a significant correlation between TMT demographic characteristics and firm performance. This study concluded that three of the proposed four TMT demographic characteristics, including age, functional background, and team tenure influence firm performance. Results validate the proposition that TMT demographic characteristics show a significant positive correlation with firm performance, particularly when the accounting measure is applied. In addition, Top Management Team performance was positively correlated to team tenure, suggesting that as team tenure progresses team performance improves.

Originality/value

The paper differs in many features from previous research. Some of the most important aspects include scope of the study, scale of the sample, complexity of the moderated variable, uniqueness of moderated variable operationalization, and innovation in calculating International Risk Management Factor. For the first time, the study focuses exclusively on Top Management Team performance. The concept, which captures complexity of all TMT characteristics, is not included in demographic characteristics of TMT.
Trust and cross‐cultural dissimilarities in corporate environment
Authors: Rajagopal  , Rajagopal Ananya
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to show how Latin American corporate executives are faced with a serious problem, low trust and peer confidence. The factors of criticism in the workplace, increased corporate controls, and growing expectations for improved performance and accountability, have accompanied this decline in trust. Traditional approaches to corporate governance, epitomized by organizational behavior theories, have focused on short‐term profits and organizational systems, which fail to achieve desired results. This paper presents the analysis of behavioral dimensions of cross‐cultural team performance in corporate environment in Mexico.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a literature review of previous research contributions focused on the managers of multinational companies operating in Latin American countries in a cross‐cultural environment. The success of the corporate ventures in Mexico has been evaluated from the perspectives of economic and relational attributes. The discussion in the study revealed that the degree of fit between a corporate parent and venture affects the success of the venture.

Findings

The paper finds that corporate venturing as a strategy for international business development has become significant in view of the process of globalization resulting in the free trade and business development opportunities for multinational companies. The success is associated with high levels of commitment, competitive skills and dynamics in functional management of the venture. In the study the variables of economic and relational dimensions of external and internal fit have shown greater association with venture success. It has also been found that ventures opt for greater autonomy and less economic dependency with their parent ventures for leading success and this finding makes intuitive sense.

Practical implications

The paper shows that the success in corporate venturing is associated with high levels of commitment, trust, group dynamics and skills in functional management of the venture. The discussions in the paper offer analytical insights for the managers to develop an operational balance in the team to achieve higher performance.

Originality/value

The thesis of the paper is developed around the issues of the cross‐cultural variables affecting workplace environment in reference to trust, team work and gender sensitivity required for achieving efficiency in a business ventures. The paper explores and maps the symbiosis between the cognitive drivers of team member personality and organizational work culture.
Prediction of corporate financial distress in an emerging market: the case of Turkey
Authors: Uğurlu Mine , Aksoy Hakan
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To identify predictors of corporate financial distress, using the discriminant and logit models, in an emerging market over a period of economic turbulence and to reveal the comparative predictive and classification accuracies of the models in this different environmental setting.

Design/methodology/approach

The research relies on a sample of 27 failed and 27 non‐failed manufacturing firms listed in the Istanbul Stock Exchange over the 1996‐2003 period, which includes a period of high economic growth (1996‐1999) followed by an economic crisis period (2000‐2002). The two well‐known methods, discriminant analysis and logit, are compared on the basis of a better overall fit and a higher percentage of correct classification under changing economic conditions. Furthermore, this research attempts to reveal the changes, if any, in the bankruptcy predictors, from those found in the earlier studies that rested on the data from the developed markets.

Findings

The logistic regression model is found to have higher classification power and predictive accuracy, over the four years prior to bankruptcy, than the discriminant model. In this research, the discriminant and logit models identify the same number of significant predictors out of the total variables analyzed, and six of these are common in both. EBITDA/total assets is the most important predictor of financial distress in both models. The logit model identifies operating profit margin and the proportion of trade credit within total claims ratios as the second and third most important predictors, respectively.

Originality/value

This paper reveals the accuracy with which the discriminant and logit models work in an emerging market over a period when firms face high uncertainty and turbulence. This study may be extended to other emerging markets to eliminate the limitation of the small sample size in this study and to further validate the use of these models in the developing countries. This can serve to make the methods important decision tools for managers and investors in these volatile markets.
The cultural diversity phenomenon in organisations and different approaches for effective cultural diversity management: a literary review
Authors: Aytemiz Seymen Oya
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To make a literary review related to effective management of cultural diversity in organisations and to systematically bring up different views put forward regarding this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the literature which covers the “diversity management” and “cultural diversity management” is reviewed in detail and then tried to explore the contributors’ different views about the effective cultural diversity management approach. In the paper these different perspectives about this matter are classified.

Findings

The answer to the question of how cultural diversity should be managed effectively cannot be given easily. There are various typologies about the organisational and managerial literature. In order to be able to effectively manage cultural diversity in organisations, it is beneficial to develop a “cultural diversity management model” peculiar to the organisation by considering the positive and negative sides of different perspectives located in this study.

Research limitations/implications

Because the main aim is to make only a detailed literary review and bring up different views through a classification, there are no theoretical interpretations nor personal critiques about the writers’ different perspectives in the paper.

Practical implications

The researchers of this topic would be able to make empiric and theoretical evaluations in the frame of perspectives explored in the paper.

Originality/value

This paper will provide a contribution to cultural diversity in organisations related to its management as an anthology and will be a systematic knowledge base for researchers.
Creating value from cross‐cultural teams
Authors: Evans David
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To demonstrate the added value potential of cross‐cultural teams specifically related to Franco–British joint ventures. The paper begins by outlining the current context in M&As across Europe, then homes in on the specific trade links between France and the UK. To what extent are cultural differences a hindrance or a driving force in attaining mutual performance goals?

Design/methodology/approach

The main findings are collected from a survey of 300 companies in France and the UK carried out in 1999. The respondents were HR managers, training officers or middle managers in general. The research was supplemented by three in‐depth, semi‐directive interviews with HR managers at BP, Vivendi and Eurotunnel.

Findings

The research uncovers some of the main obstacles encountered when setting up Franco–British teams. Certain factors such as education systems, training systems and employment norms are brought to the forefront in an attempt to explain these fundamental differences.

Research limitations/implications

The study is longitudinal and aims at providing a more representative sample since the response rate on the English side was lower than that in France. The authors viewpoint is fuelled by information received during the in‐depth, semi‐directive interviews.

Practical implications

The article provides a useful insight into the workings of cross‐cultural teams in France and the UK.

Originality/value

Little has been written to date on the specific field of the cultural barriers influencing the success of Franco–British work teams.
Managing international business communication problems at work: a pilot study in foreign companies in Thailand
Authors: Sriussadaporn Roong
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To provide information regarding international/intercultural communication problems, along with management tactics for coping and handling such problems occurring in the international business work setting in foreign companies operating in Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

Exclusive 14 in‐depth interviews with expatriate executives and Thai senior employees were conducted in four Japanese, two German, and two multinational companies in Thailand. Both expatriates and Thai employees were asked to identify communication problems and describe how they managed such problems with international/intercultural partners, supervisors, or subordinates.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was quite small. The subjects reacted to the interview protocol based upon their own personal experience working in eight foreign companies in Thailand, which might not represent the entire intercultural/international viewpoints.

Practical implications

This study provides guidelines for prospective expatriates who will be assigned to work in the Thai host country and for Thai newcomers who are interested in working in foreign companies and must prepare to cope with the problems they may have in working with foreign managers.

Originality/value

It is hoped to be beneficial for both expatriates and Thai employees to perceive and learn each other's understandings, needs, and expectations. Also, it is hoped that information presented in this paper can trigger more thoughts and generate further discussions in international/intercultural business communication classrooms. The study also provides a framework for further investigation of commonalities and differences in tactics for dealing with international/intercultural communication problems at work in other countries compared with those found in Thailand.
Cultural diversity and leadership
Authors: Ayoko Oluremi B. , Härtel Charmine E.J.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To provide a new way of conceptualizing the leader's role in managing conflict for increased task and social outcomes in culturally heterogeneous workgroups (CHWs).

Design/methodology/approach

The objectives of the paper can be met by hypothesizing the proposed relationships and testing them quantitatively using multiple regression.

Findings

Finds that the effect of conflict in CHWs depends, in part, on the way the parties concerned manage it, and in particular the group leader.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation of the current research is that it is theoretical. Future research will now need to test the propositions put forward in this paper.

Practical implications

The paper conceptually identified some skills and behaviors that are pertinent to effective leadership in culturally heterogeneous workgroups.

Originality/value

The model presented in the paper and the research emanating from it should assist in training leaders for these workgroups.
Optimizing life cycle cost of complex machinery with rotable modules using simulation
Authors: El Hayek M. , van Voorthuysen E. , Kelly D.W.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Maintenance is constantly challenged to increase productivity by maximizing up‐time and reliability while at the same time reducing maintenance expenditure and investment. Traditional reliability models are based on detailed statistical analysis of individual component failures. For complex machinery, especially involving many rotable parts, such analyses are difficult and time‐consuming. This paper aims to propose an alternative method for estimating and improving reliability.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based on simulating the up‐time of the machine or process as a series of critical modules. Each module is characterized by an empirically derived failure distribution. The simulation model consists of a number of stages including operational up‐time, maintenance down‐time and a user‐interface allowing maintenance and replacement decisions.

Findings

Initial analysis performed on aircraft gas‐turbine data yielded an optimal combination of modules out of a pool of multiple spares, resulting in an increased machine up‐time of 16 percent.

Practical implications

The benefits of this methodology are that it is capable of providing reliability trends and forecasts in a short time frame and is based on available data. In addition, it takes into account the rotable nature of many components by tracking the life and service history of individual parts and allowing the user to simulate different combinations of rotables and operating scenarios. Importantly, as more data become available or as greater accuracy is demanded, the model or database can be updated or expanded, thereby approaching the results obtainable by pure statistical reliability analysis.

Originality/value

The model presented provides senior maintenance managers with a decision tool that optimizes the life cycle maintenance cost of complex machinery in a short time frame by taking into account the rotable nature of modules.
Organism manufacturing engineering based on rapid prototyping principles
Authors: Xiong Zhuo , Yan Yongnian , Zhang Renji , Wang Xiaohong
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Aims to provide information on organism manufacturing engineering (OME), a newly proposed interdisciplinary research area.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual discussion and approach are taken.

Findings

OME is based on layer‐by‐layer RP principles and the integration of the new advancement of manufacturing science, biomaterials, cell molecular biology and developmental biology. OME aims to construct live tissues and organs through controlled assembly of 3D cell structure with the principles and methods of modern manufacturing science and life science.

Originality/value

Focuses on important processes for indirect and direct cell assembly using OME approaches.
Experimental determination of friction coefficients between thermoplastics and rapid tooled injection mold materials
Authors: Kinsella Mary E. , Lilly Blaine , Gardner Benjamin E. , Jacobs Nick J.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To determine static friction coefficients between rapid tooled materials and thermoplastic materials to better understand ejection force requirements for the injection molding process using rapid‐tooled mold inserts.

Design/methodology/approach

Static coefficients of friction were determined for semi‐crystalline high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and amorphous high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) against two rapid tooling materials, sintered steel with bronze (LaserForm ST‐100) and stereolithography resin (SL5170), and against P‐20 mold steel. Friction tests, using the ASTM D 1894 standard, were run for all material pairs at room temperature, at typical part ejection temperatures, and at ejection temperatures preceded by processing temperatures. The tests at high temperature were designed to simulate injection molding process conditions.

Findings

The friction coefficients for HDPE were similar on P‐20 Steel, LaserForm ST‐100, and SL5170 Resin at all temperature conditions. The HIPS coefficients, however, varied significantly among tooling materials in heated tests. Both polymers showed highest coefficients on SL5170 Resin at all temperature conditions. Friction coefficients were especially high for HIPS on the SL5170 Resin tooling material.

Research limitations/implications

Applications of these findings must consider that elevated temperature tests more closely simulated the injection‐molding environment, but did not exactly duplicate it.

Practical implications

The data obtained from these tests allow for more accurate determination of friction conditions and ejection forces, which can improve future design of injection molds using rapid tooling technologies.

Originality/value

This work provides previously unavailable friction data for two common thermoplastics against two rapid tooling materials and one steel tooling material, and under conditions that more closely simulate the injection‐molding environment.
Volume deviation in direct slicing
Authors: Kumar Chandan , Roy Choudhury A.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To calculate the volume deviation between a CAD model and built‐up part in 5‐axis laminated object manufacturing employing direct slicing with first‐order approximation.

Design/methodology/approach

It is proposed here that the deviation between the CAD model and the built‐up part, which is normally calculated as a linear dimension in specific 2D sections of the CAD model, be treated as a volume (as it actually is), for higher accuracy in subsequent calculations. An algorithm has been developed and implemented for identification and calculation of volume deviation, considering all possibilities.

Findings

It has been conclusively shown that volume deviation consideration results in improved feature recognition and less approximation.

Research limitations/implications

Increase in complexity of the CAD model leads to a considerable increase in the volume deviation computation time. Future research in this area would focus on optimization and calculation of the slice heights based on volume deviation.

Practical implications

Calculation of volume deviation would help eliminate the loss of intricate features in a complex surface and thus improve feature recognition. Slice height calculations based on volume deviation would reduce the deviation between the actual model and the built‐up part.

Originality/value

A new method has been developed for the calculation of volume deviation that could be implemented in the rapid prototyping software packages so as to build prototypes with higher accuracy.
Creating tactile captions in three‐dimensional computer‐aided design and manufacturing
Authors: Dickson Stewart
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to present new work on a topic/which has received very little attention.

Design/methodology/approach

Rapid prototyping technology is used to provide access to 3D computer graphics and visualization for people with visual disabilities. Software and techniques for composing DotsPlus(tm) Braille text in a three‐dimensional computer‐aided design (CAD) and rapid prototyping system are presented.

Findings

Vision‐limited people and people with cognitive or learning disabilities can benefit from casting the results of scientific computing into physical form using rapid prototyping.

Research limitations/implications

Not much is known about the extent of three‐dimensional spatial cognition in people with the kinds of disabilities who might benefit from this work. The argument for this application of rapid prototyping remains to be tested in a laboratory or classroom environment. The manufacturing principles in a limited test scenario are presented here. Work remains to be done to develop software in order to manufacture polygon mesh models from an arbitrary scientific visualization via rapid prototyping with tactile captions applied.

Practical implications

The CAD modeling and rapid prototyping innovations suggested in this paper will create pedagogical models, which are sufficiently robust to withstand the classroom and will lower the cost of producing and distributing these models.

Originality/value

Rapid prototyping has only been used on three documented occasions in the past to create experimental models of scientific information for the blind. There has been no attempt prior to now to integrate captions with these tactile models. These models have not been in general use for education of persons with visual, cognitive or learning disabilities.
Compensation zone approach to avoid print‐through errors in mask projection stereolithography builds
Authors: Shankar Limaye Ameya , Rosen David W.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Print‐through results in unwanted polymerization occurring beneath a part cured using Mask Projection Stereolithography (MPSLA) and thus creates errors in its vertical dimension. In this paper, the “Compensation Zone approach” is presented to avoid this error.

Design/methodology/approach

Compensation zone approach entails modifying the geometry of the part to be cured. A volume (compensation zone) is subtracted from underneath the CAD model in order to compensate for the increase in the Z dimension that would occur due to print‐through. Three process variables have been identified: thickness of compensation zone, thickness of every layer and exposure distribution across every image used to cure a layer. Analytical relations have been formulated between these process variables in order to obtain dimensionally accurate parts. The compensation zone approach is simulated on a test part with a slanted down‐facing surface.

Findings

The simulation results show that the compensation zone approach can reduce print‐ through errors significantly. In addition, it has been demonstrated numerically that the approach can also alleviate the problem of stair stepping.

Research limitations/implications

The derivations in the compensation zone approach are made with the following simplifying assumptions: exposure is additive; threshold model of resin cure is valid; the resin molecules underneath the part being cured are stationary; and the cleaning process can completely clean the part off the surrounding resin, due to these assumptions, the compensation zone model might require some calibration.

Originality/value

The errors in the vertical direction of a MPSLA build have been modeled for the first time. Compensation zone approach is a new concept.
Case study: promoting design automation by rural manufacturers
Authors: Tennyson Steve , McCain Gary , Hatten Steve , Eggert Rudy
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper describes a cooperative endeavor between a state university and a federal agency to modernize design automation among rural manufacturers. It concerns efforts to infuse leading‐edge design technology into rural product development.

Design/methodology/approach

Boise State University established a rapid prototyping (RP) laboratory and conducted an information campaign targeting Idaho's design and manufacturing sector. About 12 rural companies participated in a program supported by a federal grant wherein they received solid modeling and RP services while developing a product.

Findings

Significant unfamiliarity about benefits of solid modeling and RP persists amongst Idaho's rural manufacturers. When exposed to the potential of these technologies, manufactures readily move to adopt them into their new product development processes. Those companies adapting design automation improved their capability to bring products to the marketplace more rapidly and with greater market success.

Practical implications

Other regions with similar dispersion of manufacturing can disseminate knowledge of advanced design automation technology and services through promotional approaches as described in this paper.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on a cooperative endeavor to infuse leading‐edge design technology into rural product development.
A first approach to choose between HSM, EDM and DMLS processes in hybrid rapid tooling
Authors: Mognol P. , Rivette M. , Jégou L. , Lesprier T.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To propose a method to manufacture a hybrid rapid tool (a multi component tool).

Design/methodology/approach

The part is decomposed into multi component prototype instead of a part made from a single piece. First, this method is based on a topological analysis of the tool. Features are regrouped starting from the numerical definition of the die. Second, the manufacturing possibilities of the high speed milling (HSM), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) and electro discharge machining (EDM) process are analyzed. Finally this information is synthesized to obtain solutions. This method is validated by industrial example.

Findings

A method is proposed to choose the best manufacturing process in order to optimize the manufacture of a “hybrid rapid tooling” between three processes: HSM, DMLS and EDM. So, it is possible to obtain the different components of the hybrid rapid tooling according to the envisaged process.

Research limitations/implications

The final goal is to propose a software assistant used in association with CAD system during the design of hybrid rapid tooling. An important work concerning the features recognition must be implemented. The assembly of the different parts of the hybrid rapid tooling must be considered and optimized.

Practical implications

This method allows the selection of the best process among EDM, HSM and DMLS technologies form manufacturing tools.

Originality/value

The analysis of manufacturing hybrid rapid tooling has not been studied yet.
Make or buy analysis for rapid manufacturing
Authors: Ruffo Massimiliano , Tuck Chris , Hague Richard
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline how rapid manufacturing (RM) could influence the decision‐making process for managers involved in make or buy decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review on make or buy issues has been carried out and the results of which have been distilled into a number of qualitative considerations. These considerations have been formed into three possible make or buy scenarios: the firm has no experience of rapid prototyping (RP) or RM; the firm already has an RP department; and the firm already has an RM function. In order to analyse the decision further a quantitative approach has been taken, mainly adapted to the last scenario but applicable also to the second scenario. Here, manufacturing cost data has been directly compared with price information from two current RP bureaus. The differences between RM cost and RP price have been studied.

Findings

Strategically, the points analysed were in favour of the make option. Economically, the lack of dedicated RM bureaus and the consequent use of RP costing has further pushed the make or buy decision in favour of make.

Originality/value

There is a lack of work on the implementation of RM as a mainstream manufacturing process. Existing knowledge has begun to look at the use and costs of RM, however, this paper highlights the lack of dedicated RM providers.
Comparative study of 3DP material systems for moisture resistance applications
Authors: Suwanprateeb J.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To study the properties of three dimensional printing (3DP) materials systems which were directly in contact with water or exposure to humidity in order to help in deciding the appropriate system for moisture resistance applications.

Design/methodology/approach

Two commercially available 3DP materials namely ZP 100 and ZP 15E were infiltrated with three commonly used infiltrants. All samples were subjected to three storage conditions including dry, room (55 percent RH) and wet (100 percent RH) for 168 h. Then they were characterized to compare the influence of storage conditions on properties such as dimensional change, moisture absorption and flexural properties including modulus, strength and strain at break.

Findings

Amongst six material systems investigated in this study, it was observed that the combination of ZP 15E with acrylate infiltrant showed the greatest flexural properties in room and wet conditions. All infiltrated ZP 100 samples were not likely to be as suitable for using in moisture resistance environment as infiltrated ZP 15E samples especially when they were in direct contact with water. Using low moisture absorption infiltrant and 3DP materials that can absorb high amount of infiltration are needed to produce low moisture absorption system.

Research limitations/implications

The moisture absorption experiment was done at 168 h. The values obtained from the report for some testing conditions, i.e. room environment may not be able to extend to long‐term performance.

Practical implications

The results presented here can be used as a guideline for 3DP materials selection for moisture resistance applications.

Originality/value

This study demonstrated the governed factors that were needed to consider for using 3DP models in moisture resistance applications.