bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Triple‐A supply chain performance
Authors: Dwayne Whitten G. , Green Kenneth W. , Zelbst Pamela J.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

In 2004 Lee proposed that successful supply chains must be agile, adaptable, and aligned and described those chains as “Triple‐A” supply chains. The purpose of this paper is to theorize a Triple‐A supply chain performance model that incorporates Triple‐A supply chain status as antecedent to supply chain performance and supply chain performance as antecedent to organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from a national sample of 132 supply chain professionals collected in partnership with APICS, the authors develop scales based on descriptive items listed by Lee for the Triple‐A supply chain strategy dimensions of agility, adaptability, and alignment and assess the complete model using a structural equation methodology.

Findings

Results indicate that Triple‐A supply chain strategy positively impacts supply chain performance and that, in turn, supply chain performance positively impacts organizational performance. Supply chain performance is more strongly related to the marketing performance than to the financial performance of the organization. Additionally, marketing performance positively impacts financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation is that only one person in each organization was surveyed with regards to both organizational and supply chain performance. Future research can be aimed at multiple respondents per organization.

Practical implications

Based on the results of this study, the authors argue that organizational success depends on the agility, adaptability, and alignment of supply chains.

Originality/value

This is the first research which has empirically tested Lee's suggestions; his propositions were based on his extensive supply chain research and experience and reported in the Harvard Business Review. The paper's findings are valuable to both practitioners and academic researchers.
An empirical investigation of the impact of strategic sourcing and flexibility on firm's supply chain agility
Authors: Chiang Chung‐Yean , Kocabasoglu‐Hillmer Canan , Suresh Nallan
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate two potentially key drivers of a firm's supply chain agility, namely strategic sourcing and firm's strategic flexibility. Despite some theoretical and conceptual works suggesting that some elements of these two constructs may relate to agility, this has not yet been assessed together empirically. This study aims to address this gap in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involves an empirical investigation of a theory‐based model based on the competence‐capability framework, and a dynamic capabilities theoretical perspective, where the internal competencies of strategic sourcing and firm's strategic flexibility relate to the dynamic capability of the firm's supply chain agility. This investigation also includes the testing of a possible mediation effect of firm's strategic flexibility on the relationship between strategic sourcing and the firm's supply chain agility. The model is tested utilizing data from 144 US manufacturing firms via partial least square methodology.

Findings

The results of the empirical study indicated that both strategic sourcing and firm's strategic flexibility were significantly related to the firm's supply chain agility. In addition, while a full mediation effect was not found on the part of strategic flexibility, there was evidence for partial mediation.

Research limitations/implications

Given that the data are from specific US industries, the generalizability of current findings to other industries or countries may require additional investigation.

Originality/value

Given the attention paid to agility in terms of its importance to responding to business uncertainty, and more recently, as an important capability in managing supply chain disruption risks, this paper investigates how strategic sourcing and flexibility can contribute to agility.
A dynamic feedback model for partner selection in agile supply chains
Authors: Wu Chong , Barnes David
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a four‐phase dynamic feedback model for supply partner selection in agile supply chains (ASCs). ASCs are commonly used as a response to increasingly dynamic markets. However, partner selection in ASCs is inherently more complex and difficult under conditions of uncertainty and ambiguity as supply chains form and re‐form.

Design/methodology/approach

The model draws on both quantitative and qualitative techniques, including the Dempster‐Shafer and optimisation theories, radial basis function artificial neural networks (RBF‐ANN), analytic network process‐mixed integer multi‐objective programming (ANP‐MIMOP), Kraljic's supplier classification matrix and principles of continuous improvement. It incorporates modern computer programming techniques to overcome the information processing difficulties inherent in selecting from amongst large numbers of potential suppliers against multiple criteria in conditions of uncertainty.

Findings

The model enables decision makers to make efficient and effective use of the vastly increased amount of data that is available in today's information‐driven society and it offers a comprehensive, systematic and rigorous approach to a complex problem.

Research limitations/implications

The model has two main drawbacks. First, practitioners may find it difficult to match supplier evaluation criteria with the strategic objectives for an ASC. Second, they may perceive the model to be too complex for use when speed is of the essence.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper is that, for the first time, it draws together work from previous articles that have described each of the four stages of the model in detail to present a comprehensive overview of the model.
Eddy current losses of segmented Nd‐Fe‐B sintered magnets without insulation under various conditions
Authors: Takahashi Norio , Shinagawa Hirofumi , Miyagi Daisuke , Doi Yuhito
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mechanism of the increase or decrease of eddy current loss of the segmented Nd‐Fe‐B sintered magnets without insulation, and the effects of parameters on such a phenomenon are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

The measured contact resistance is used in the finite element analysis.

Findings

It is shown that the eddy current loss in a magnet shows the peak value when the number of segments are increased at 40 kHz, but this property is changed at low frequency (10 kHz). Its tendency is changed by the contact resistance and the permeance (surrounding iron core).

Originality/value

The reason of a curious property of eddy current loss of segmented magnets is clearly explained by examining the eddy current distribution at various contact resistances.
Measurements and simulations of the heat transfer on end windings of an induction machine
Authors: Hettegger Martin , Streibl Bernhard , Bíró Oszkár , Neudorfer Harald
Published: December 2011

Purpose

For an accurate simulation of the temperature distribution inside an electrical machine a method for deriving the convective heat transfer coefficient numerically would be desirable. The purpose of this paper is to present a reliable simulation setup, which is able to reproduce the measured convective heat transfer coefficient at certain spots on the end windings of an electric machine.

Design/methodology/approach

The heat flux density on certain spots on the end windings of an induction motor have been measured with heat flux sensors, in order to find out the convective heat transfer coefficient. To identify the air mass flow inside a cooling duct of an encapsulated cooling circuit during the operation of the motor, the pressure loss inside the duct has been measured. The measured data for temperature and air mass flow have been used as boundary conditions for the identification of the convective heat transfer coefficient with a commercial software for computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

Findings

The measured data for the local convective heat transfer coefficients have been compared to the results of the numerical simulation for various rotational velocities. The quality of the simulated convective heat transfer coefficient depending on the rotational velocity meets the measured values. Owing to the used simplified model, the quantity of the measured values differ strongly around the simulated coefficient for the convective heat transfer.

Originality/value

The derivation of the convective heat transfer is a challenging subject in CFD but has become more reliable with the invention of the SST and the SAS‐SST turbulence model. In the present work, measurements on the end windings have been compared to simulation results derived with the SAS‐SST turbulence model.
Computation of the noise radiation of an induction machine using 3D FEM/BEM
Authors: Weilharter Bernhard , Bíró Oszkár , Lang Hermann , Rainer Siegfried
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set up a comprehensive numerical approach to estimate the 3D structural vibration and noise radiation of an induction machine.

Design/methodology/approach

The rotating force waves, acting in the air gap of an induction machine and obtained by an electromagnetic finite element multi‐slice simulation, are applied to the 3D structural finite element model and a structural harmonic simulation is performed. The sound emission due to the vibration of the surface of the machine is computed with a 3D boundary element model.

Findings

The paper outlays problematic issues when setting up the numerical models, i.e. the structural finite element model. The material properties strongly affect the structural behaviour and therefore the radiated noise.

Originality/value

The 3D force distribution in the air gap and the resulting vibrations are computed. The structural behaviour, i.e. the different vibrational behaviour of stator and surface is discussed. The correlation of the structural vibrations and the noise radiation is investigated.
Acceleration of moment method using CUDA
Authors: Kiss Imre , Pávó József , Gyimóthy Szabolcs
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to accelerate the time‐consuming task of assembling the impedance matrix resulting from the discretization of integral equations by the moment method, accelerated using massively parallel processing scheme.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides several approaches for the implementation of moment method on compute unified device architecture (CUDA) capable general purpose video cards, as well as giving general implementation design patterns and a good overview on the topic.

Findings

The proposed method seems to be efficient in the light of the presented numerical results.

Originality/value

The subject of the paper is an evolving, considerably new aspect among computation techniques which could be of high interest for the scientific community.
Meshless local Petrov‐Galerkin (MLPG) methods in quantum mechanics
Authors: Nicomedes Williams L. , Mesquita Renato C. , Moreira Fernando J.S.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve both eigenvalue and boundary value problems coming from the field of quantum mechanics through the application of meshless methods, particularly the one known as meshless local Petrov‐Galerkin (MLPG).

Design/methodology/approach

Regarding eigenvalue problems, the authors show how to apply MLPG to the time‐independent Schrödinger equation stated in three dimensions. Through a special procedure, the numerical integration of weak forms is carried out only for internal nodes. The boundary conditions are enforced through a collocation method. The final result is a generalized eigenvalue problem, which is readily solved for the energy levels. An example of boundary value problem is described by the time‐dependent nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The weak forms are again stated only for internal nodes, whereas the same collocation scheme is employed to enforce the boundary conditions. The nonlinearity is dealt with by a predictor‐corrector scheme.

Findings

Results show that the combination of MLPG and a collocation scheme works very well. The numerical results are compared to those provided by analytical solutions, exhibiting good agreement.

Originality/value

The flexibility of MLPG is made explicit. There are different ways to obtain the weak forms, and the boundary conditions can be enforced through a number of ways, the collocation scheme being just one of them. The shape functions used to approximate the solution can incorporate modifications that reflect some feature of the problem, like periodic boundary conditions. The value of this work resides in the fact that problems from other areas of electromagnetism can be attacked by the very same ideas herein described.
Regularized inversion of a distributed point source model for the reconstruction of defects in eddy current imaging
Authors: Bausson S. , Thomas V. , Joubert P.‐Y. , Blanc‐Féraud L. , Darbon J. , Aubert G.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The inverse problem in the eddy current (EC) imaging of metallic parts is an ill‐posed problem. The purpose of the paper is to compare the performances of regularized algorithms to estimate the 3D geometry of a surface breaking defect.

Design/methodology/approach

The forward problem is solved using a mesh‐free semi‐analytical model, the distributed point source method, which allows EC data to be simulated according to the shape of the considered defect. The inverse problem is solved using two regularization methods, namely the Tikhonov (l2) and the 3D total variation (tv) methods, implemented with first‐ and second‐order algorithms. The inversion performances were evaluated in terms of both mean square error (MSE) and computation time, while considering additive white and colored noise, respectively, standing for acquisition errors and model errors.

Findings

In presence of colored noise, the authors found out that first‐ and second‐order methods provide approximately the same result according to the SEs obtained while estimating the defect voxels. Nevertheless, in comparison with (l2), the (tv) regularization was proved to decrease the MSE by 10 voxels, at the cost of less than twice the computational effort.

Originality/value

In this paper, an easy to implement mesh‐free model, based on virtual defect current sources, was used to generated EC data relative to a defect positioned at the surface of a metallic part. A 3D total variation regularization approach was used in combination with the proposed model, which appears to be well suited to the reconstruction of volumic defects.
Virtual power principle and Maxwell's tensor: which comes first?
Authors: Bossavit Alain
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the status of Maxwell's tensor with respect to the virtual power principle (VPP).

Design/methodology/approach

Mathematical analysis is employed.

Findings

The VPP, logically stronger, is more fundamental. Maxwell's tensor derives from it, under further restrictive assumptions, and hence, its range of applicability is limited. In particular, it fails to deal with some aspects of magnetostriction.

Originality/value

The paper shows that when magnetic constitutive laws depend, locally, on strain, the body force is not, as a rule, the divergence of the Maxwell tensor. People who intend to compute forces this way should be wary of that.
A hybrid multiobjective differential evolution method for electromagnetic device optimization
Authors: Alotto Piergiorgio
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that the performance of differential evolution (DE) can be substantially improved by a combination of techniques. These enhancements are applicable to both single and multiobjective problems. Their combined use allows the optimization of complex 3D electromagnetic devices.

Design/methodology/approach

DE is improved by a combination of techniques which are applied in a cascade way and their single and combined effect is tested on well‐known benchmarks and domain‐specific applications.

Findings

It is shown that the combined use of enhancement techniques provides substantial improvements in the speed of convergence for both single and multiobjective problems.

Research limitations/implications

The increased speed of convergence may come at the price of a somewhat decreased robustness. However, such behavior is justified by the CPU time constraints under which the optimization has to be performed.

Practical implications

The proposed approach appears to be an efficient general purpose stochastic optimizer for electromagnetic design problems.

Originality/value

This paper explorers the combined use of many of the most recent and successful algorithmic improvements to DE and applies them to both single and multiobjective problems.
A robust objective function for topology optimization
Authors: Li Min , Lowther David A.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

Robust design is very important for manufacturers to ensure the quality of the finished product. Therefore, a robustness measure is needed for the topological design of electromagnetic problems which may be sensitive to parameter variations. The purpose of this paper is to propose a robust objective function for topological design problems.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a robust objective function for topology optimization is defined on an uncertainty set using the worst case analysis. The robustness of a topological design is defined as the worst response due to the variations of the location of the topology change. The approach is based on the definition of a topological gradient.

Findings

The robust topology optimization (RTO) was applied to eddy current crack reconstruction problems. The numerical applications showed that this method can provide more reliable results for the reconstruction in the presence of significant noise in the measured signal.

Research limitations/implications

The RTO may be applied to some more complicated design problems; however large computational costs may result.

Originality/value

This paper has defined a robustness metric for topology design and a robust design model is proposed for topology optimization problems.
Nonlinear magnetostatic BEM formulation using one unknown double layer charge
Authors: Ishibashi Kazuhisa , Andjelic Zoran
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve generic magnetostatic problems by BEM, by studying how to use a boundary integral equation (BIE) with the double layer charge as unknown derived from the scalar potential.

Design/methodology/approach

Since the double layer charge produces only the potential gap without disturbing the normal magnetic flux density, the field is accurately formulated even by one BIE with one unknown. Once the double layer charge is determined, Biot‐Savart's law gives easily the magnetic flux density.

Findings

The BIE using double layer charge is capable of treating robustly geometrical singularities at edges and corners. It is also capable of solving the problems with extremely high magnetic permeability.

Originality/value

The proposed BIE contains only the double layer charge while the conventional equations derived from the scalar potential contain the single and double layer charges as unknowns. In the multiply connected problems, the excitation potential in the material is derived from the magnetomotive force to represent the circulating fields due to multiply connected exciting currents.
Electromechanical analysis of end windings in turbo generators
Authors: Albanese Raffaele , Calvano Flavio , DalMut Giorgio , Ferraioli Fabrizio , Formisano Alessandro , Marignetti Fabrizio , Martone Raffaele , Rubinacci Guglielmo , Tamburrino Antonelle , Ventre Salvatore
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical approach for the computation of 3D magnetic fields in rotating electrical machines. The technique is suitable for the computation of flux densities and forces in the end windings of large synchronous turbo generators (TG).

Design/methodology/approach

The magnetostatic FEM model of the generator end windings is carried out for different displacements of the rotor axis to the stator magnetomotive force (MMF) axis. The method is based on a parallel integral formulation allowing to substantially reduce the computational effort.

Findings

The computational model requires only the discretization of magnetic materials and conductors and is fast enough for carrying out 3D analyses on a time scale fast enough for the needs of the designer. As far as the present application is concerned, the analysis of a synchronous generator in the class of 300‐400 MVA has shown that the most stressed elements of the armature conductors are those closer to the stator ends. The study demonstrates that the maximum stress component on the end windings is axial and is achieved when the MMF is aligned to the direct axis.

Originality/value

The present approach combining an efficient integral formulation, the sparsification of the relevant matrices and the parallel implementation of the related algorithms gives rise to an original computational tool that allows a more accurate description of the machine in comparison to other numerical simulations that can be found in the literature.
Hidden metallic object localization by using giant magnetic resistor sensors
Authors: Renhart Werner , Bellina Mario , Magele Christian , Köstinger Alice
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to achieve a very accurate localization of hidden metallic objects in human medicine applications.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed methodology takes advantage of the eddy current effect within a metallic object. Its magnetic reaction field will be measured, e.g. with giant magnetic resistor (GMR) sensors.

Findings

A comparison of measurements and numerical results obtained by finite element computations demonstrate the reliability and positively gives a clue about the feasibility of the suggested method.

Research limitations/implications

While measuring noisy signals, the use of a lock‐in amplifier is rather expensive; especially, in applications with a high number of GMR sensors the use of channel multiplexer must be considered, which again may generate noise.

Originality/value

The paper shows how appropriate shielding of external fields in the measurement setup ensures results of satisfying quality.
Crimea 2011 International Conference: Libraries and Information Resources in the Modern World of Science, Culture, Education and Business
Authors: Kesselman Martin
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a conference report of Crimea 2011 that the author attended in June 2011. The conference is held in Sudak, Crimea, Ukraine, each year and is organized by the Russian National Public Library of Science and Technology.

Design/methodology/approach

The author attended the conference and compiled a report.

Findings

The Crimea Conference has a special relationship with IFLA and highlights library developments in Russia and the former Soviet Union countries.

Originality/value

This is an original review of the conference, which is the premiere annual library conference for Russian and Ukrainian librarians, as well as librarians from the former Soviet Union countries. For librarians with a focus on Russian area studies and Eastern Europe, the Crimea is an event not to be missed.
BookExpo America 2011
Authors: Cassell Kay
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on e‐book readers and e‐book technology at the BookExpo America conference held in New York City, May 2011.

Design/methodology/approach

The author attended the conference and compiled a report.

Findings

Interest in e‐books is growing and the many companies offering e‐book readers, enhanced e‐books and technology to produce e‐books is increasing.

Originality/value

This is an up‐to‐date report on what is happening in the e‐book industry.
What are universities doing here? Migrating traditional dissertations into ETDs in Iran
Authors: Ardalan Reza , Feyzbaksh Omolbanin
Published: December 2011

Purpose

Many universities and libraries throughout the world are now making digitized versions of traditional (print) dissertations available online. Some of these institutions have even gone so far as to completely eliminate printed copies. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent of Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) in Iran and elsewhere.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper notes that many theses and dissertations are now sitting on shelves, unread, in our libraries. Electronic publication can make these works accessible to students, researchers, and others who perhaps lack time, search capabilities, or finances. The paper looks at what universities are doing about the problem, and summarizes the current position in Iran university libraries.

Findings

A growing realization has emerged among those working on ETDs in Iran that it is critically important that libraries remain not just involved, but centrally positioned in the development of the national information infrastructure.

Practical implications

The paper shows that the future of E‐theses and of archiving and searching in general depends on institutions being able to deliver top quality services, with a high degree of interoperability. This means, among other things, that systems must continue to be developed and they must be able to handle many different types of digital objects.

Originality/value

The paper claims that as we prepare students for scholarship in the twenty‐first century, Iran 1400, for example, it is imperative that librarians consider how to manage these important new forms of writing.
Publishing in international journals
Authors: Wagner Beverly A.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set out guidelines to de‐mystify the publication process and increase opportunities for successful publication.

Design/methodology/approach

An introspective method is employed based upon the author's experience as a reviewer and editor.

Findings

Findings highlight some of the challenges facing researchers when writing research papers, pitfalls on the path to publication and possible remedial actions.

Practical implications

Information gained may go some way to improve writing and increase the possibly of publication in international journals.

Originality/value

This paper is based on personal experience. The more information available to researchers regarding requirements for successful publication as well as greater transparency of the review process will improve writing quality and ultimately progress debate within academic disciplines.
Challenges in collaborative writing: addressing authorship attribution
Authors: Zutshi Ambika , McDonald Gael , Kalejs Linda
Published: December 2011

Purpose

Increasing pressure to enhance research coupled with a desire for a broadening of academic input, are prompting greater levels of collaboration. Research collaboration can generate notable benefits but can also pose a variety of challenges. The purpose of this paper is to explore the reasons, facilitators, benefits and challenges of academic collaboration. It also provides suggestions to manage identifiable risks and enhance team dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper exploring prior literature in relation to the contentious points of research collaboration, particularly in regard to authorship attribution.

Findings

The authors present two checklists that researchers can utilise to ensure the successful completion of collaborative projects. The checklists incorporate the main factors required for effective collaborative work and research, and form a foundation for discussion among team members.

Originality/value

The paper draws upon experiences, observations, academic literature and protocols, and provides strategies and recommendations to enhance collaboration and authorship attribution. The two checklists presented in the paper are value‐adding for team members.
Research process, report structure and journal outlets in scholarly studies
Authors: Svensson Göran
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the interconnection between the research process, the report structure and journal outlets in scholarly studies.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual frameworks to link the research process with the report structure, and in turn with journal outlets, are presented.

Findings

These indicate that the research process and the awareness of the components of the report structure as well as potential journal outlets may at an early stage uncover any pitfalls and flaws in one's scholarly studies in academia.

Research limitations/implications

A transparent understanding and foresight of what is ahead in, and interconnected between, the elements of the research process, the components of the report structure and the potential journal outlets are crucial to enhance the ultimate scholarly performance. The discussion is in part limited to the commonly applied “deductive” research process in academia, though most parts also are applicable to the “inductive” research process.

Practical implications

It is important that the elements of the scholarly research process and the components of the report structure are thoroughly thought out in detail before too much investment in time and resources, as well as intellectual effort, have been made in order to avoid frustration and discontent. In addition, the potential journal outlets also need to be considered at an early stage of research.

Originality/value

Transparent understanding and foresight of research processes, report structures and journal outlets provide essential and valuable insights for scholars. The author has striven to show that realizing the link between the scholarly research process, the scholarly report structure and the potential journal outlets available will assist in efforts to perform and communicate the outcome of scholarly studies.
Assessing international journal impact: the case of marketing
Authors: Rosenstreich Daniela , Wooliscroft Ben
Published: December 2011

Purpose

Potential ethnocentric biases in stated preference journal rankings are reviewed and revealed preference ranking methods are investigated. The aim of the paper is to identify an approach to ranking journals that minimises ethnocentric biases and better represents the international impact of research.

Design/methodology/approach

Coverage of marketing journals in Ulrich's, EBSCO, SSCI, JCR, Scopus and Google Scholar is explored. Citing references to 20 articles are analysed to determine citation time lags and explore the content of SSCI, Scopus and Google Scholar. To further review the extent of citation coverage, h‐index scores are generated for ten marketing journals using data from SSCI, Scopus and Google Scholar. In total, 36 marketing journals are ranked using the g‐index and Google Scholar data and results are compared to ten published rankings.

Findings

Stated preference ranking studies of marketing journals rely on US‐based respondents. The coverage of EBSCO, SSCI, JCR and Scopus databases is not representative of marketing's literature as they have few international sources, and a disproportionate coverage of US‐based journals. Google Scholar provides broader international coverage. The Impact Factor may be inappropriate for marketing journals as a large proportion of citations occur more than five years post‐publication. Results indicate that the g‐index is a superior approach to measuring the impact of marketing journals internationally.

Practical implications

Exposure of the limitations in existing ranking methods should encourage improvements in the development and use of journal rankings.

Originality/value

The investigations present original evidence to support long‐term concerns about approaches to journal ranking and citation analysis.
Preventing smoking in open public places in university campus settings
Authors: Sun Jing , Prenzler Tim , Buys Nicholas , McMeniman Marilyn
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions using situational crime prevention approaches to reduce the smoking rate in outdoor areas of a university campus.

Design/methodology/approach

A prospective intervention design was designed for the study. Surveys and observations were used to measure the impacts of both the campaign generally and specific strategies on levels of smoking in public places and use of designated smoking areas. Pre‐ and post‐implementation measures were taken. The intervention strategies entailed encouraging voluntary compliance with a “Smoke‐less Campaign”, which asked staff, students and visitors to smoke only in nominated areas. The campaign was supported by “situational” strategies to facilitate compliance, such as making smoking areas available, setting rules and posting instructions, and using campaign ambassadors.

Findings

At the end of the three‐month trial the campaign was considered to have had a positive impact. After the campaign at the intervention campus there was a significant increase of 14.4 percent in the proportion of people who reported that they were not affected by second‐hand smoke – from 52.7 percent to 67.1 percent. In addition, 6 percent of survey respondents who smoked reported quitting, while 17 percent of smokers indicated the campaign had helped them to quit or cut down. Observational data showed that 98 percent of smokers complied with directions to smoke in nominated smoking areas.

Originality/value

This study is original in explicitly applying the techniques of situational crime prevention to the problem of smoking in public places. The results provide evidence for the effectiveness of the situational techniques, including “facilitating compliance”, through the availability of smoking areas, “setting rules” and “posting instructions”, and “extending guardianship”, through the use of campaign ambassadors.
Exploring our ecological selves within learning organizations
Authors: Rogers Katrina S.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The paper's aim is to explore the connection between individual worldviews, called ecological selves, and organizational change, which allows people to create the conditions to confront the global environmental challenges they face as a species.

Design/methodology/approach

The essay is a conceptual one, with reference to a small qualitative interview study conducted to explore the idea of ecological selves with organizational leaders.

Findings

The findings reveal the existence of several different ecological selves in organizational life; they also suggest fruitful avenues for further research and ongoing practice. The eight ecological selves are the Eco‐Guardian, the Eco‐Warrior, the Eco‐Manager, the Eco‐Strategist, the Eco‐Radical, the Eco‐Holist, the Eco‐Integralist, and the Eco‐Sage. This framework, which is derived from developmental stage theory, is a useful tool for understanding how individual actions are shaped by people's identities and values.

Research limitations/implications

The preliminary research referenced in this study is of limited scope, consisting of a small sample of organizational leaders in a semi‐structured qualitative interview setting. The implications, however, are more interesting for additional research on ecological selves as a tool for individual self‐reflection, organizational culture, and teamwork learning.

Practical implications

This essay argues that creating an ecological selves inventory is useful in understanding how leaders create the conditions for sustainability in their organizations.

Social implications

Implications for understanding organizational culture are considered: the ecological selves framework is one tool to build self‐awareness among organizational leaders, leading to stronger, more efficacious learning across a spectrum of skills necessary for leadership.

Originality/value

Although the ecological selves framework has been proposed as a theoretical concept in the literature of integral ecology, this paper refers to the first research done with organizational leaders.
Sustainable development: paradoxes, misunderstandings and learning organizations
Authors: Ramirez Gabriel A.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

Sustainability is, in itself, the idea of a harmonic answer to the dual nature of the most pressing problem for global society. Most of the problems dealing with sustainability concern its dual and contradictory nature. That paradoxical reality is in no way a unique feature of sustainability; its universal pervasiveness is demonstrated by the attention that Western and Eastern philosophies have given to it. This paper seeks to describe paradoxes that arise in managerial and organizational learning processes and proposes a taxonomy. It pays special attention to the central paradox of “complexifying” and to reductionism‐holism in science.

Design/methodology/approach

The work is based on the theories of organizational learning and managerial cybernetics, under the paradox view of management.

Findings

The study shows the relevance of the paradox view to management understanding of the complexity of sustainability, its controversial nature; and how the latter relates to epistemology and to the complementarity of analytical and synthetics methods in research and science. It also demonstrates that, at organizational levels, harnessing tensions that emerge from natural paradoxical situations enhances sustainable oriented decision‐making.

Research limitations/implications

The paper builds a bridge toward scientific communities that, working on sustainability and/or complexity, are unaware of the important contribution of cybernetics, especially Ashby's work and the VSM's relevance to the examination of complex societal issues.

Practical implications

The paper provides a platform to enquire on the implications of societal learning on sustainability, and on de facto global digital networks emerging from over ideologized constituents that, in the name of the greenness of the environment and of a just society, fail to see how rapidly global society is positively changing after the dark years of the Cold War.

Originality/value

The paper reviews current developments on the paradox view of management, and proposes a taxonomy of paradoxes based on managerial cybernetics and organizational learning.
Sustainability, organizational learning, and lessons learned from aviation
Authors: Pourdehnad John , Smith Peter A.C.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

While the importance of organizational learning for sustainability has been stressed by a number of authors in the literature, the practicalities of how organizational leaders might foster such learning are seldom treated. This paper seeks to demonstrate that there is much that could be learned from the aviation industry about organizational learning practice that could be gainfully applied by organizations in attempting to address the demands of triple bottom line sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The exemplary safety record of the US commercial aviation industry is explored in this paper, and the principal functions of its underlying learning and adaptive system are reviewed. Generalized application of such a learning and adaptive system in an organization operating according to triple bottom line sustainability principles is described.

Findings

Through the interaction of various functional components described in the paper, the commercial aviation industry has created a learning and adaptation support system that has significantly and effectively increased air travel safety. The characteristics of such a learning and adaptive system can be employed by any organization to vastly improve its performance as it pursues triple bottom line sustainability.

Originality/value

The learning and adaptive system approach presented expands the steps of understanding, creating and delivering triple bottom line sustainability by changing internal processes, organizational learning, and employee mindsets.
The importance of organizational learning for organizational sustainability
Authors: Smith Peter A.C.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

This Special Issue is intended to heighten awareness of the importance of organizational learning in addressing the demands of organizational sustainability, and in particular triple bottom line (TBL) sustainability. A definition of TBL sustainability is provided, together with an exploration of the practical issues relevant to adopting organizational learning in addressing it. By exploring research and practitioner viewpoints bearing on sustainability‐related applications of organizational learning, this Special Issue aims to help organizations remove barriers to achieving sustainability goals and catalyze the progress for an organization on its sustainability journey.

Design/methodology/approach

General sustainability‐related concerns and challenges associated with organizational learning are reviewed, and individual authors voice their understanding of the application of organizational leaning to particular aspects of sustainability based on their research, their case studies, and the extant literature.

Findings

Findings include enhanced understanding of the incompatibility of single‐ and double loop learning in TBL sustainability contexts, and the required emphasis on double‐loop learning to progress sustainability aims successfully. The effectiveness of dialogic interaction is described in achieving a transition towards sustainability in people, organizations and society as a whole. How individual worldviews called “our ecological selves” allow creation of the conditions for confronting global environmental challenges is explained. Contributions are made to the understanding of hybrid organizations through the case of a Brazilian networked organization, and a paradox view of management based on the theories of organizational learning and managerial cybernetics is applied to enlighten the understanding of sustainability. The learning and adaptive system of the US commercial aviation industry is explored and the application of such a system in an organization operating according to triple bottom line sustainability principles is described.

Originality/value

The opinions and research presented provide new and unique understanding of how organizational learning may contribute to organizational sustainability. Further value is added via the assessment of means to progress the sustainability ideal, the identification of barriers, and the many practical examples of means to facilitate progress toward that ideal.
Using screening level environmental life cycle assessment to aid decision making
Authors: Ingwersen Wesley W. , Curran Mary Ann , Gonzalez Michael A. , Hawkins Troy R.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to compare the life cycle environmental impacts of the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Sciences' current printed annual report to a version distributed via the internet.

Design/methodology/approach

Life cycle environmental impacts of both versions of the report are modeled using the online environmental input‐output life cycle assessment (EIO‐LCA) tool. Most monetary model inputs were obtained from the University of Cincinnati and the others were estimated. Results are presented for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy use, water use, and human and ecosystem health impacts. Alternative scenarios reflecting different reader behaviors were evaluated.

Findings

The electronic report reduces economic costs and all categories of environmental impacts so long as the recipients do not print the report at home. Impacts of the printed report were higher than the electronic report due to impacts associated with paper production and disposal and to a lesser extent differences in the impacts of mail versus electronic distribution. The environmental preferability of the options is heavily influenced by the number of users who choose to print the electronic report at home; if more than 10 percent print at home, it offsets the benefits of the e‐report.

Research limitations/implications

Using the EIO‐LCA tool limited the accuracy of the results by using average US data for a specific supply chain. It was limited by assumptions about reader behavior with the e‐report.

Practical implications

This case study demonstrates how a screening level life cycle assessment (LCA) might be used by a university administrator to make decisions supported by quantitative environmental information.

Originality/value

The screening level LCA‐based approach can provide grounding for environmental decision making within a reasonable time period and cost while maintaining sufficient accuracy for guiding purchasing or product decisions.
Higher education's sustainability imperative: how to practically respond?
Authors: Krizek Kevin J. , Newport Dave , White James , Townsend Alan R.
Published: December 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe four phases for how universities have addressed a sustainability agenda and offer specific lessons for how and where experiences on one campus, the University of Colorado Boulder, have been met with success and other challenges. The authors offer general reflections for executing university‐wide sustainability initiatives with a central intent of illuminating central barriers against, and incentives for, a coordinated and integrated approach to campus sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach for arriving at four phases and a description of the University of Colorado Boulder is based on experiences from learning, teaching, and administering within universities–collectively for almost a century among the authors–and lessons from “war room” discussions.

Findings

Sustainability initiatives on campus may evolve through a series of phases labeled: grassroots; executive acceptance of the business case for sustainability; the visionary campus leader; and fully self‐actualized and integrated campus community. The University of Colorado Boulder, while a leader in many respects of sustainability (research, student activities, facilities management) has experienced serious challenges for coordination.

Originality/value

The four phases are a relatively novel contribution for the specific literature on sustainability education. Second, the tangible examples from University of Colorado Boulder demonstrate how coordination is difficult in these situations; these examples allow readers to better relate to and understand such challenges. Finally, the authors reflect on central issues according to three categories: self‐reflection, recommendations, and advantages.