bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An evolution of excellence: some main trends
Authors: Hermel Philippe , Ramis‐Pujol Juan
Published: July 2003

Peters and Waterman brought the concept of excellence into the conscious practice of organizations during the early 1980s. Theory has timidly followed afterwards. However, the concept existed before and it is broadly used nowadays. This article attempts to synthesize the evolution of excellence, especially in the last 20 years, during which time some legitimate counter developments have shown important limits for these “excellence stages”. Those counter developments tend to be enlightening but have often brought about confusion. Where could excellence be tomorrow and what should organizations do about it? Concludes from this analysis that: deep conceptual work is necessary; the importance of implementation is often mentioned in the literature but not addressed in detail; the idea of sustainability may need further development, especially concerning a clear separation between the socio‐ecological and the competitive advantage perspectives; the different excellence approaches have not looked deeply into the differences between large and small enterprises, public and private sectors, and the organization itself and its components.
ISO 9000 and TQM: are they complementary or contradictory to each other?
Authors: Magd Hesham , Curry Adrienne
Published: July 2003

The ISO 9000 series of standards has formalised systems for evaluating the ability of organisations to consistently design, produce and deliver quality products and services. Total quality management (TQM) is seen as a relatively new concept and a way for organisations to improve the quality of their products and services, but it may well be the key to survival and achieving competitive advantage in today’s turbulent business environment. However, there are mixed views in the literature concerning whether ISO 9000 and TQM complement or contradict each other. The primary objective of this paper is to address the competing views on both concepts in an attempt to show that both concepts complement each other and ISO 9000 should be used in association with TQM to secure organisational success.
Financial accounting of ISO 9001:1994 based on quality information system
Authors: Kathiravan N. , Sundararaj G. , Kulandaivelu K. , Devadasan S.R. , Sakthivel M.
Published: July 2003

Cites the importance of quality information system (QIS) in attaining the ultimate goals of TQM. Presents the essence of QIS by describing a typical real time example. Points out that practitioners show little interest in QIS implementation as its results are seldom financially sensed. Views that a system to financially account the performance of QIS would contribute significantly towards sustaining TQM projects. Briefs the efforts made to develop the system to financially account ISO 9001:1994 based QIS and validate the same. Brings out the various financial accounting documents, including income and expenditure account and balance sheet pertaining to ISO 9001:1994 based QIS financial accounting system. Concludes by claiming that the work has shown promising results, but further research is required to bring out much more valuable contributions.
The relationship between total quality management practices and organisational performance in service organisations
Authors: Hasan M. , Kerr R.M.
Published: July 2003

Quality is an effective strategic weapon for improving productivity in the organization. A quality management framework based on the attribute theory of service quality was used to show how the organisational performance is affected by various quality dimensions. Using a questionnaire survey and subsequent data analysis, an empirically valid and reliable measurement instrument of quality dimensions was developed. Several multiple regression models were developed which indicated that the dimensions “role of top management” and “customer satisfaction” are among the most important in terms of their effect on organisational performance.
Building the corporate memory in the e‐environment
Authors: Sutcliffe Paul
Published: July 2003

Focuses on the records management function in organisations. Describes how organisations should organise their most vital asset, which is information and how they should harness the skills and expertise of their most vital resource, which is their people.
Applying the Australian Series system to the management of current records
Authors: Feldman Paul
Published: July 2003

The Australian Series system is an archival control or metadata system, used primarily to describe records in the custody of archival institutions. However, the article explains how concepts and descriptive model embodied in the system can also be usefully employed to document the content, context and management requirements of current records, including electronic records, at an aggregate level. This can assist in situations where records have been undermanaged, where the functionality of existing systems is limited, or where there are multiple localised systems. The system can be used as a basis to gather and present structured evidence of the need to improve existing practices. It can also assist the management of legacy records, once improved systems have been established.
Are ISO 15489‐1:2001 and ISAD(G) compatible? Part 2
Authors: Shepherd Elizabeth , West Victoria
Published: July 2003

Part 1 of this article presented a provisional set of metadata elements for the implementation of ISO 15489‐1 Information and Documentation – Records Management. In Part 2 the elements are mapped to the General International Standard Archival Description (ISAD(G)) to establish the extent to which the two standards are compatible and the degree to which ISO 15489‐1 metadata can be transferred directly from a current records management system to an archival description system. The mapping reveals a large degree of correlation between the metadata that should be captured as part of a records management system to satisfy ISO 15489‐1, and the information required to compile an ISAD(G)‐compliant archival description. Most of the compatible information comes from the description area of ISO 15489‐1 metadata elements rather than the management area. Out of the six mandatory elements for ISAD(G) interoperability, five, i.e. reference code, title, dates, extent, and creator, are present in the ISO 15489‐1 metadata element set, albeit often in an abbreviated form.
Assessing the impact of ISO 15489 – a preliminary investigation
Authors: McLeod Julie
Published: July 2003

This article shares the results of a preliminary investigation into the impact of ISO 15489, the international records management standard, conducted between January 2002 and March 2003. Attendees at a series of records management and information management events were asked about their awareness of, initial reactions to and plans for using the standard. The results show a relatively high level of awareness of the standard within and beyond the records management profession and very positive reactions to its publication, despite any imperfections. Most encouraging of all was the range of plans for using the standard. As well as using it for policy/strategy development, to underpin records management procedures and to benchmark current practice, many records professionals plan to use the standard to raise the profile of records management within their organisations.
Archives and records management in Kenya: problems and prospects
Authors: Mnjama Nathan
Published: July 2003

The Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services is seen as a success story by many other African archival institutions. The Department has made major strides in developing records services, opening five regional centres and partially automating most of its finding aids. However, as this article indicates, major aspects of managing public sector records remain chaotic and regulations governing the management and disposal of public records are flouted by many Civil Servants. The article concludes by suggesting that the time has now come for the National Archives to focus on the management of the entire life cycle of records rather than managing only the archival preservation stage.
An exploratory study of the effects of experience on consumer perceptions of the service quality construct
Authors: O’Neill Martin , Palmer Adrian
Published: July 2003

The SERVQUAL methodology has been challenged on a number of grounds, including the failure of many researchers to replicate the original SERVQUAL factor structure, and the unrealistic notion that consumers can form expectations about a service when they have little prior knowledge about the product. This paper explores the role of experience on the dimensions of service quality. An exploratory survey is reported in which a sample of visitors to a theme park was divided into two groups according to their level of experience of theme parks. A factor analysis of the data indicated a more complex factor structure for the group with prior experience of theme parks.
Service quality in hospitals: more favourable than you might think
Authors: Sadiq Sohail M.
Published: July 2003

This paper examines and measures the quality of services provided by private hospitals in Malaysia. Empirical research is used to determine patients’ expectations and perceptions of the quality of service, and a comprehensive scale adapted from SERVQUAL is empirically evaluated for its usefulness in the Malaysian hospital environment. Results based on testing the mean differences between expectations and perception indicate that patients’ perceived value of the services exceed expectations for all the variables measured. A comparative analysis with similar studies in other regions is reported, and the implications are discussed.
Service quality factors and outcomes in dental care
Authors: Baldwin Alan , Sohal Amrik
Published: July 2003

The research question developed for this study was: “Which aspects of the delivery of dental care impact most significantly on patients’ perceptions of the service quality of the care received?”. The research methodology used a questionnaire based upon the SERVQUAL instrument. A number of implications are identified that impact significantly upon the service quality perceptions of dental patients. Amongst these are patient fear and anxiety, patients’ appreciation of punctual and convenient service delivery, and the positive advantages of involving patients in the development of treatment plans. Dental practitioners are encouraged to develop strategies within their practices that are designed to build upon the advantages identified within the study.
Differentiating between service quality and relationship quality in cyberspace
Authors: Keating Byron , Rugimbana Robert , Quazi Ali
Published: July 2003

The onset of Internet marketing is revolutionising marketing practice. Although growth in sales of goods and services online has been dramatic, very little research has addressed the factors that lead to the delivery of superior service and the creation of effective marketing relationships. This paper explores and defines two related constructs – service quality and relationship quality – to ascertain whether consumers can meaningfully distinguish between the constructs. The research uses focus groups and an online survey to address this issue. The paper finds that, although service quality and relationship quality are distinct constructs, they overlap in the area of personal interaction and problem solving. The key drivers for the delivery of superior service and the creation of an effective relationship are reliability and trust emanating from service quality and relationship quality respectively.
E‐service quality: a model of virtual service quality dimensions
Authors: Santos Jessica
Published: July 2003

Service quality is increasingly recognised as an important aspect of electronic commerce (e‐commerce). Because the online comparison of the technical features of products is essentially costless, feasible, and easier than comparisons of products through traditional channels, service quality is the key determinant for successful e‐commerce. A conceptual model of the determinants of e‐service quality is proposed and discussed. Given the exploratory nature of this research, focus groups are used to investigate e‐service quality dimensions. It is proposed that e‐service quality has incubative and active dimensions for increasing hit rates, stickiness, and customer retention. The incubative dimension consists of: ease of use, appearance, linkage, structure and layout, and content. The active dimension consists of reliability, efficiency, support, communication, security, and incentives. The importance and implications of each determinant are presented.
Committed to quality: the use of quality schemes in UK public leisure services
Authors: Robinson Leigh
Published: July 2003

Public leisure service providers have become increasingly conscious of the need to improve the quality of their service provision as a result of increasing customer expectations, growing competition and government legislation. This paper presents the findings of a survey carried out in the UK, investigating the role of quality schemes in public leisure services. The study shows that a significant proportion of public leisure service providers are using quality schemes to manage the quality of their facilities. In addition, the findings show that managers are using quality schemes to improve customer satisfaction and improve management effectiveness. Finally, the study provides evidence of the positive effect of quality schemes upon service delivery aspects of these facilities, but little evidence of the financial advantages of such schemes.
Work‐family conflict and coping strategies adopted by female married professionals in Hong Kong
Authors: Lo Susanna , Stone Raymond , Ng Catherine W.
Published: July 2003

This study examined the kinds of work‐family conflict experienced by female married professionals with children in Hong Kong and the coping strategies they had adopted. Data were obtained through 50 in‐depth interviews. The results revealed the general ineffectiveness of coping strategies being used by married women professionals. The percentage of women who attempted to use positive coping strategies designed around job changes was low, possibly due to their reluctance in negotiating for family‐friendly organizational policies. It appears that companies in Hong Kong extend little support to working mothers in managing the work‐family interface. Implications of the findings for women’s career progressions are also discussed in this paper.
Win some, lose some: women’s status in the field of human resources in the 1990s
Authors: Simpson Patricia , Lenoir Delphine
Published: July 2003

Drawing on a sample of 313 human resource professionals who graduated from a university‐based Master’s degree program in human resources over a 20‐year period, this study examines how the rewards and emotional labour content of jobs varied by gender within the field of human resources. After controlling for experience, results indicated no significant gender differences in either the intrinsic or extrinsic rewards available to human resource professionals. However, the emotional labor content of jobs differed significantly. Women were more likely to engage in emotional labor behaviors that conform with stereotypical “feminine” forms of emotional expression, while men were more likely to adopt a stereotypical “masculine” form of emotional expression.
Gender differences of mobility: analysis of job and work‐family factors
Authors: Pilar de Luis Carnicer María , Martínez Sánchez Angel , Pérez Pérez Manuela , José Vela Jiménez María
Published: July 2003

This paper analyzes the results of a survey about labor mobility of a sample of 1,182 Spanish employees. The results indicate that women have lower mobility than men, and that the mobility of men and women is explained by different factors. The employee’s perceptions about job satisfaction, pay fairness, and employment stability are also more explicative of job mobility than traditional job‐related factors, such as wages or training. These results have managerial implications for the segmentation of men and women in the labor market.
Project management as a knowledge management primer: the learning infrastructure in knowledge‐intensive organizations: projects as knowledge transformations and beyond
Authors: Lytras Miltiadis D. , Pouloudi Athanasia
Published: July 2003

The digital economy is based on knowledge and the ultimate objective is the reinforcement of performance. The business strategy has been shifted from the management of tangible assets to intangible resources and the traditional competitive position of business units is based on their capacity for effective action. The main conclusion is that a knowledge and learning management infrastructure is required in order to realize every knowledge organization as a learning organization capable of exploiting the organizational knowledge wealth.
Exploring the divide – organizational learning and learning organization
Authors: Sun Peter Y.T. , Scott John L.
Published: July 2003

The terminologies organizational learning and learning organization were once used interchangeably. However, in the mid‐1990s there was a bifurcation into two streams. Organizational learning became the descriptive stream and dealt mostly with the learning processes in the organization. This stream had its roots in social and cognitive psychology with a strong academic focus. Learning organization became the prescriptive stream with a strong practical focus. A broad theoretical framework is presented that links the two streams. In the implementation of learning organization prescriptions, enormous practical difficulties were encountered, making implementations less than successful. The barriers involved in transfer of learning to all levels in the organization (i.e. individual, collective, organizational, and inter‐organizational) and the absence of a link to the learning processes are identified as the major issues in implementation failures. It is postulated that these are the reasons for the gap between the two streams.
Improving organizational learning capability: lessons from two case studies
Authors: Goh Swee C.
Published: July 2003

This paper describes a diagnostic tool to benchmark improvements in an organization’s learning capability over time. This diagnostic tool was used by two different organizations that embarked on a change program to improve their learning capability. Access to these two organizations has allowed a diagnostic measure of their learning capability on a longitudinal basis. Measures were taken prior to change efforts being implemented to improve learning capability and then two to three years later to assess whether any improvements have been achieved. Other qualitative information on the interventions they implemented to improve their learning capability was also obtained. The paper draws from these two case studies some conclusions and implications for managing change and specifically for improving the learning capability of an organization.
Examining the linkages between team learning behaviors and team performance
Authors: Chan Christopher C.A. , Lim Lynn , Kuan Keasberry Siew
Published: July 2003

Despite a plethora of studies purporting that learning could occur at the individual, team and organizational levels, there is still a lack of reported empirical evidence on these linkages. Accordingly, these theoretical assumptions will be tested with empirical evidences in this study. Interestingly and contrary to the literature, individual learning was not significantly related to organizational learning. Internal team learning (learning within teams) was partially related to organizational learning, and external team learning (cross‐functional team learning) was significantly related to organizational learning. Organizational learning was conceptualized and tested as a three‐factor variable that consists of commitment to learning, shared vision, and open‐mindedness. A discussion of the results is provided.
Social insects and mobile agents in a virtual university
Authors: Stengel Ingo , Bleimann Udo , Stynes Jeanne
Published: July 2003

To view virtual universities as an extension of real universities and of distant learning Institutes, new concepts in the area of distributed systems and virtual universities are needed. Mobile agents satisfy many requirements of such a highly dynamic system. Originally, mobile agents were used as a workflow system for a virtual university. These autonomous entities must next generate dynamic workflows. Examining the behaviour of ants in different situations, some conclusions regarding the use of mobile agents can be drawn. This paper presents the new ideas of a joint research project and gives an overview of the problems that confront us.
Endpoint study of Internet paths and Web pages transfers
Authors: Ghita B.V. , Furnell S.M. , Lines B.M. , Ifeachor E.C.
Published: July 2003

This paper presents the findings of a pilot study to provide information about the characteristics of current networks and data transfers. The main aim of the study was to infer the properties of a large number of network paths. In addition, the study produced statistics relating to the average size of a typical Web page and both under the restriction of a single‐point connection. The study was performed in two steps: trace collection followed by TCP per‐flow analysis. The trace collection used the functionality of a random link generator, combined with an automatic HTTP retrieval tool. The TCP analysis was applied to the collected traces and it involved an offline TCP per‐flow method developed in previous research.
IS security, trust and culture: a theoretical framework for managing IS security in multicultural settings
Authors: Slay Jill
Published: July 2003

System security today focuses on the design of safe and secure information systems and their operation. In the analysis of any information system, whether small or large, one observes within it a “set of human activities related to each other so they can be viewed as a whole”. If one particularly focuses on security aspects of large information systems, and then considers the many layers of complexity comprising the human activity systems within them, it becomes apparent that one of these layers, or subsystems, is a cultural one. This paper proposes that the perspective gained on the impact of culture in such a system by the application of a systems theory, augmented by perspectives supplied by worldview theory, is helpful in designing appropriate learning, e‐commerce or other kinds of distributed environments for multicultural settings.
Internet smartcard benefits for Internet security issues
Authors: Urien Pascal
Published: July 2003

This paper suggests using smartcards as Internet nodes, including HTTP servers and client protocols. Because XML is the emerging standard for data syntax, we propose to describe smartcards, cryptographic resources by DTDs, and to access these objects through URLs or XML messages. We underline that according to their computing capacities, smartcards could support classical remote procedure call paradigms (using CGI like mechanisms) or implement trusted proxies performing authentication operations and computing session keys. These components could realise authentication, authorisation and accounting features needed in the next Internet generation. As an illustration we present our work for EAP support in smartcards, the protocol specified by the IEEE forum, for authentication over wired and wireless (802.11) networks.
The strategic context of education in America – 2000 to 2020 – part 2
Authors: Pearce Snyder David , Edwards Gregg
Published: July 2003

Presents an historic model of technologic maturation and examines five emerging information technologies projected to achieve marketplace pre‐eminence during the next three to five years that will pose transformational implications for traditional classroom‐based teacher‐mediated education.
Flying the KITE (knowledge innovation for technology in education) through a case‐based reasoning knowledge repository
Authors: Wang Feng‐Kwei , Means Tawnya , Wedman John
Published: July 2003

Case‐based reasoning (CBR), which has long been considered a branch of artificial intelligence, has recently gained great attention in the knowledge management circle because of its capability for storing and retrieving experience‐based knowledge by emulating human memory, and its ability to function similar to organizational memory to preserve organizational knowledge. While many successful CBR systems have been developed as knowledge repositories for preserving intellectual capital and for problem solving in business communities, both the concept and methodology of CBR are still novelties in education communities. While there are a plethora of projects and practical pursuits for CBR applications in business, literature relating to designing, developing and evaluating practical CBR educational applications is conspicuously scant. Based on the issues encountered and lessons learned in a CBR system development project, this paper attempts to provide some pragmatic guidelines for those who are interested in applying the CBR knowledge repository approach to supporting knowledge creation and diffusion in the education domain.
The university as a moral force
Authors: Scott Robert A.
Published: July 2003

In a time of ethical lapses and moral ambiguity, it is essential for the university, the source of preparation for managers, scientists, journalists, teachers, and other professionals, to understand its role as a force in preparing graduates for decision‐making. The university is a “moral force” because it constantly extends the boundaries of what is known, and therefore challenges societal rules describing desirable and undesirable states and behavior. By focusing on the decision‐making competence of those it educates, it also makes choices about the values it will express, exhibit, and eschew. In this way, the university has a unique opportunity to help create a culture of conscience not only for the professions and professionals, but for all citizens, through its teaching, scholarship, actions, and service to and with others. With this as its stance, the university would strengthen its place at the center of society and solidify its place at the margins – as curator, creator, and critic.
Artificial intelligence is almost here
Authors: Halal William E.
Published: July 2003

Trends in computer science show that various aspects of artificial intelligence (AI) are emerging, and other trends show that these advances are being applied to create intelligent information systems. Although the field of AI has not been very successful in the past, these trends suggest that it may finally arrive in the next few years.
Planning to use work teams effectively
Authors: Trent Robert J.
Published: July 2003

Few studies have definitively established a clear connection between teaming and higher performance, and even fewer have quantitatively assessed the impact of teaming on corporate performance. If using work teams is not a guarantee of greater effectiveness, then the challenge becomes one of creating an environment that increases the likelihood that teams will be successful. This article presents a work team planning guide that identifies the critical issues and topics that organizations should consider when planning to use work teams effectively. Primary research, training and development experience, and an integration of team‐based literature all contribute to the ideas presented here.
The typology of self‐managed teams based upon team climate: examining stability and change in typologies
Authors: Loo Robert , Loewen Pamela
Published: July 2003

Several studies have reported on psychometric and factor‐analytic work related to the team climate inventory (TCI), including its four scales and 13 subscales. This exploratory study reports on the first research to examine team typologies based on team climate scores. The TCI was administered twice to 84 and 63 self‐managed teams of management undergraduates completing graded term projects. Following each TCI administration, a two‐stage clustering procedure (Ward’s and K‐means) was used to determine the number and team composition of clusters. Clusters were then plotted on the multidimensional space (INDSCAL) and a discriminant analysis performed to determine how well cluster membership was predicted using scores from the 13 TCI subscales. At the first TCI administration, three weeks into the term projects, the study obtained three team clusters on a two‐dimensional space. Near the end of the term projects, the study found two team clusters on a two‐dimensional space. Implications are presented for team building, interventions to improve team climate and management training.
Palliative care teams and individual behaviours
Authors: Davison Graydon , Sloan Terry
Published: July 2003

This paper is the second in a series that will examine the management of innovation by cross‐functional, multidisciplinary patient care teams in palliative care. Two further outcomes of this research are reported here. The first is that within palliative care a number of distinct individual behaviours are identified that act as foundations for the successful development and application of innovative practices by multidisciplinary teams. The second is that interviews with multidisciplinary palliative care teams in case studies in Australia confirm the existence and use of these behaviours. Individual behaviours within these teams are found to fall into two groups: those used by palliative care professionals when working with patients and patient‐based carers; and those used by professionals when dealing with each other away from patients. The purpose of both groups is to generate useful valid information, knowledge and learning that can be transferred across boundaries regardless of boundary type or location.
The impact of cultural diversity on work team performance: a South‐African perspective
Authors: Kokt Deseré
Published: July 2003

In a culturally diverse environment, such as that found in South Africa it is imperative that one understands the dynamic elements that make us all different. As these differences influence the way individuals behave, it will influence their interaction in the workplace. The aim of this article is to reflect on the diversity issues as captured in a study conducted on operational level work teams in the security industry. One should expect to find substantial diversity problems where individuals, who traditionally do not have a history of mixing, are now working together to achieve organizational goals.
The dynamic team role behavior – the approaches of investigation
Authors: Leung Samuel H.N. , Chan Joseph W.K. , Lee W.B.
Published: July 2003

Team performances are usually affected by the combination of team members. When the roles of each of the team members are supplementing the functions of one another, a balanced team is formed. In a fast‐moving business environment, it is not uncommon to see that certain key team members may not be present in the team at all times. The remaining team members are required to play their roles dynamically in order to supplant the roles and the functions of the missing members. However, it is not very clear how the role adjustment process is managed. Understanding the role modification phenomenon may enable the management to regulate the composition of their work teams more effectively. Specifically, this paper will discuss two different approaches to studying this dynamic team role behavior.
Condition monitoring of steam turbines by performance analysis
Authors: Beebe Ray
Published: July 2003

Many power generation steam turbine generators today are required in service well beyond their intended lifetimes. Dismantling for inspection is expensive, and owners need to consider all relevant information in making the decision. Application of condition monitoring in all the applicable methods is justified, with each showing different degradation modes. Performance analysis is less well publicised, yet unlike vibration analysis and oil debris analysis, it will show conditions which reduce machine efficiency and output, such as deposits on blades and erosion of internal clearances. Data obtained from tests before and after overhaul also reveal whether any restorative work achieved the expected improvements in performance. The paper outlines, with examples, some condition monitoring techniques that have contributed to retaining some large fossil machines in service for up to 17 years without opening high‐pressure sections.
Development of a two‐wire thermal flow sensor for industrial applications
Authors: Al‐Salaymeh A. , Alhusein M. , Durst F.
Published: July 2003

Thermal flow sensors with a wide dynamic range are at present not available in spite of the large demand which exists for such sensors in practical fluid flow measurements. In this paper, it is shown that the velocity range of a “time‐of‐flight” thermal flowmeter for slowly changing flows can be increased by using wires (or other heating/sensing elements) with large thermal inertia (time constant) and heating the sending wire with a continuous sinusoidal current, instead of discrete, very short, square‐wave pulses as in the usual pulsed‐wire anemometer. The device described here uses two parallel wires of 12.5μm diameter and its usable speed range is 0.05 to 25m/s. Although the present thermal flowmeter can be applied as a point measurement device, the main applications are in pipe flow, especially at very low flow rates. The high sensitivity at low flow rates makes the device especially suitable for this purpose.
Experiments on the extraction of blade vibration signature from the shaft torsional vibration signals
Authors: Al‐Bedoor B.O. , Ghouti L. , Adewusi S.A. , Al‐Nassar Y. , Abdlsamad M.
Published: July 2003

This paper presents experiment results that examine the validity of extracting blade vibration signature from the shaft torsional vibration signals. A special test rig was designed and manufactured for this objective. A set of strain gages were bonded to the shaft and to the blades to measure the shaft twisting and blade bending deformations respectively. A controlled frequency exciter excited the blade vibration. The shaft torsional and blade bending vibration signals were simultaneously recorded and presented in the time and frequency domains. The blade bending vibration frequencies appeared dominantly in the shaft torsional vibration signals for all blade vibration frequencies up to 100Hz. For frequencies higher than 100Hz, less sensitivity of the torsional vibration to blade vibration was observed.
Detecting and measuring flaws using electric potential techniques
Authors: Merah Neçar
Published: July 2003

The electric potential techniques are of two types: the direct current potential drop method (DCPD) and the alternating current potential drop method (ACPD). While the latter can be used mainly to detect surface defects, the first is more appropriate for detecting the initiation of cracks and monitoring their growth. One of the advantages of the ACPD is that it can be easily employed as a non‐destructive inspection tool. The DCPD has been used mainly in the laboratory environments under various conditions of loading including high gross inelastic deformations where subsurface flaws are present. Both these techniques have high accuracy and can be used as tools to detect defects in manufactured parts such as flaws in welds. Their findings are very useful in preventive maintenance; the inspectors and engineers use them to take decisions for scheduling maintenance. The present paper presents a review of the evolution in the design of ACPD and DCPD systems, with their advantages, disadvantages and fields of application. It is shown that ACPD and DCPD have comparable sensitivity and are widely used for surface crack measurement. The relatively new AC field measurement technique will be described. Its performance will be compared to that of ACPD. The use of DCPD in applications involving high temperature and gross inelastic strains will be stressed. The results obtained in low cycle fatigue conditions show that by including a special reference potential ratio, the DCPD yields a good estimation of the average surface and subsurface crack lengths. The method also allows an accurate detection of crack initiation in these conditions.
Crack localization in non‐rotating shafts coupled to elastic foundation using sensitivity analysis techniques
Authors: Al‐Qaisia Ahmad , Catania Giuseppe , Meneghetti Umberto
Published: July 2003

The problem of damage and crack detection in structural components has acquired an important role in recent years. Since the presence of cracks in a structure may alter its vibrational characteristics, the estimation of such variations can be used to detect cracks and damage, and to monitor the integrity of structures. The use of fast, easy and inexpensive non‐destructive testing is thus a major task. In this paper, sensitivity analysis by measurement of the reduction of eigenfrequencies was utilized to localize a crack in a non‐rotating shaft coupled to an elastic foundation. The shaft was modeled by the finite element method and coupled to an experimentally identified foundation model. The detection of a crack with different depths and orientations was verified experimentally and a good agreement between actual and detected crack positions was achieved. Finally easiness, effectiveness, applicability of the method and its extensions are also shown.
A linear thermo‐visco‐elastic creep model for the contact of nominal flat surfaces based on fractal geometry
Authors: Abuzeid Osama M.
Published: July 2003

The objective of this paper is to construct a continuous model for the thermo‐visco‐elastic contact of a nominal flat, non‐smooth, punch and a smooth surface of a rigid half‐space. The considered model aims at studying the normal approach as a function of the applied loads and temperatures. The proposed model assumes the punch surface material to behave according to the linear Kelvin‐Voigt visco‐elastic material. The punch surface, which is known to be fractal in nature, is modeled in this work using a deterministic Cantor structure. An asymptotic power low, deduced using approximate iterative relations, is used to express the punch surface approach as a function of the remote forces and bulk temperatures when the approach of the punch surface and the half space is in the order of the size of the surface roughness. The results obtained using this model, which admits closed form solution, are displayed graphically for selected values of the system parameters; the fractal surface roughness and various material properties. The obtained results showed good agreement with published experimental results.
Assessment methodology to prioritize knowledge management related activities to support organizational excellence
Authors: Bornemann Manfred , Sammer Martin
Published: July 2003

So far, a systematic and comprehensive assessment tool to prioritize organizational development activities, especially in the currently intensely discussed domain of knowledge management is not available in the literature. Utilizing the here proposed methodology, which is derived from a four dimensional system theory based model on knowledge utilization within an organization, managerial decision makers save time and money in the early process of implementation of (pilot) knowledge management projects by prioritizing critical actions out of several options right from the beginning. The methodology stresses four levels of potential intervention, starting with the strategy focused target level, next a knowledge level covering all knowledge workers of an organization, then an action level focusing on operations and processes and finally a data level with the explicitly available stock of (digital) resources. All levels are discussed in detail. These levels are complemented by categories that help to address the organizational entities of the individual, the communication and interaction dependent team and the organization. Additionally these categories are expanded to include the corporate environment as well. By applying the resulting matrix of four levels to organizational development activities with special focus on knowledge management supporting activities, a comprehensive methodology to prioritize those development options is suggested. The methodology is illustrated by the example of the innovation process which is an appropriate starting point to improve the organizational excellence in terms of knowledge and learning.
Excellence in knowledge management: an empirical study to identify critical factors and performance measures
Authors: Chourides Pieris , Longbottom David , Murphy William
Published: July 2003

Knowledge management (KM) has emerged in recent times as a phenomenon with wide‐ranging implications for organizational innovation and competitiveness. Supporters argue that as organizations understand the value of KM, they have the opportunity to establish long‐term internal strengths, which will lead to external competitive advantage. Further, we find the current literature advocates that KM can be implemented in every organizational discipline. KM is approached from several different perspectives, and a number of these are used to structure our paper and identify emerging factors in: strategy, human resources management (HRM), information technology (IT), total quality management (TQM), and marketing. This paper presents a summary of key responses to a recent survey of FTSE 100 companies conducted by the authors, which shows that KM is an extremely popular management topic, yet relatively few organizations have serious implementation programs in place. Also presented are findings from longitudinal studies of six case organizations, which have been approaching and deploying KM over the last three years. The academic arguments for organizations to be proactive in KM are strong and compelling. Our research identifies the critical factors that respondents feel are vital for successful KM implementation, and these provide a basis for a further stage of the study which considers how best to develop appropriate performance measurements.
The predictive power of intangibles
Authors: Eskildsen Jacob , Westlund Anders H. , Kristensen Kai
Published: July 2003

This paper describes the need for intangible measurements for non‐financial reporting. Nowadays book value accounts for just around one quarter of the market value making the relevance of the balance sheet questionable. There is therefore a need for developing standardized methodologies for quantifying intangible assets and this is already underway. Two recently developed methodologies, The European Performance Satisfaction Index and The European Employee Index, is described in the paper and the benefit of applying these methodologies is exemplified through empirical data. These data stems from Amtsparekassen Fyn which is a medium sized Danish bank that has measured employee/customer satisfaction systematically since 1997 and the data used for this analysis is from the surveys conducted in 2000. The analysis shows that the measures for employee and customer satisfaction are good predictors of financial performance.
Business excellence initiatives: dependencies along the implementation path
Authors: Meers Allan , Samson Danny
Published: July 2003

In this paper, we argue the success and sustainability of a business excellence (BE) initiative is influenced by (1) the contextual alignment of the initiative with the organization’s competitive business strategy and (2) the level of congruence between the initiative and the organization’s operating environment and culture. To illustrate these dependencies, we present case studies of three Australasian organizations that initiated BE initiatives and failed to sustain their commitment to the process. The case studies highlight the need for further research into the nature and variety of organizational characteristics that either support or undermine BE as an improvement strategy. We conclude that organizations seeking to implement BE should undertake contextual analysis of their business strategy, operating environment and culture prior to implementing a BE initiative. We also suggest BE measurements provide little benefit to executives as they fail to identify the priorities associated with the improvement opportunities presented.
The relationship between networking practices and business excellence: a study of small to medium enterprises (SMEs)
Authors: Terziovski Milé
Published: July 2003

Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are often perceived as a fertile area for the formation of effective networks. However, research to date has focused primarily on large companies. There seems to be a lack of rigorous research reported in the literature that tests the relationship between networking practices and business excellence. Quantitative data was gathered from a stratified random sample of SME site managers in the Australian manufacturing industry. A total of 550 manufacturing sites were sent the questionnaire from which a response rate of 20 percent was achieved. Networking practices regression (NPR) models were developed in order to test the strength of the relationship between key components of networking practice and several dimensions of business excellence such as success rate of new products, reduction in waste, increased market opportunities, etc. The data was analyzed using techniques available on the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) for Windows software package. The paper concludes that groupings of network practices are required to explain business excellence. This means that a single networking practice is not sufficient to explain business excellence significantly. The most significant networking practices were found to be: searching and incorporating diverse points of view; challenging the status quo; learning from failures; communicating with people outside the company, including experts; allocation of resources to support communication linkages. The main implication of the research results for SME managers is that a typical manufacturing SME is more likely to improve its chances of achieving business excellence with networking practices than without these practices.
Issues in the mass market deployment of broadband
Authors: Turner Colin
Published: July 2003

This article examines the changing pattern for strategic deployment of broadband by BT. BT’s initial attempts to deploy the technology through its ISP failed due to key commercial and technological weaknesses. Thereafter BT shifted to a more strategically defensive strategy based on securing its position of dominance on the UK local access market. This strategy proved considerably more successful. This strategy to deploy a mass market broadband created an evident industrial/corporate strategy interface as BT’s corporate objectives aligned with public policy objectives of creating a universally accessible broadband product. The result of this interface has been to place BT at the heart of the “Broadband Britain” programme – a position that contravenes the original intentions of the UK Government.
The FCC and the Internet’s challenges to traditional regulatory policy
Authors: Meisel John B. , Levin Stanford L.
Published: July 2003

The United States Federal Communications Commission has taken action or is considering taking action on several controversial issues that arise from the growth of the Internet. In analyzing these issues, the Commission is applying a voice‐centric circuit‐switched telecommunications model that is based on an outdated view of the world and is attempting to protect a regulatorily created system of artificial prices and subsidies. The Commission has failed to come to grips with a new state of the world, characterized by packet networks and data traffic. This has led to a series of decisions that are ill‐suited to the new environment.