bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The global recession
Authors: Sakbani Michael 
Published: June 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the evolution of the crisis, its causes and the corrective policy actions with the aim of drawing up from that a set of economics policy and substantive implications and conclusions.Design/methodology/approachTo throw into sharp relief the causes and particular features of the financial crisis, the paper traces the combined evolution of financial innovations and globalization which underscores the eruption of the crisis. It then analyzes the recession and the ensuing policy actions. The US actions are examined in detail by analyzing the pertinent technical, macroeconomics, and political issues. Thereafter, elements of reforms are outlined, which in part draw on the work of the Bank of International Settlements. This leads into substantive and policy conclusions of great significance.FindingsThe paper elucidates the major historic changes observed in monetary policy design and execution. It also brings out the changes in the empirical size of the various fiscal policy lags as compared with the received literature. It is argued that if the policy actions succeed the empirical relevance of the modern quantity theory and new classical macroeconomics would be thrown into question. Other set of conclusions involves setting up an internationally coordinated of financial regulations and bank supervision. It is argued that reforming the international monetary system has become unavoidable. There are also a host of specific other conclusions.Originality/valueThe conclusions and analysis contained in this paper are totally new. Given their comprehensiveness and global orientation, they will presage in future work, an overdue revision in received macroeconomic theory and financial supervision not seen since the 1960s.
Greed, financial innovation or laxity of regulation?
Authors: Imtiaz Mazumder M. , Ahmad Nazneen 
Published: June 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to shed light on the causes of the 2007‐2009 mortgage crisis, liquidity crisis, stock market volatility in the USA and their spillover effects on the global economy.Design/methodology/approachThe paper critically reviews the 2007‐2009 financial crisis from both academic and practitioners' viewpoints.FindingsThe paper explores how the liquidity crisis has evolved with the advent of poorly supervised financial products, especially the credit default swaps and subprime mortgage loans. Further, it analyzes the laxity in regulations that encouraged high financial leverages, shadow banking system and excessive stock market volatility and worsened the recent financial crisis.Originality/valueThe implication of this paper is to understand numerous policy reforms that will help the global capital markets to be more transparent and less vulnerable to systematic risks; the suggested policy reforms may also help to prevent such financial calamities in the future.
Proportional hazards modeling of engine failures in military vehicles
Authors: Lorna Wong E. , Jefferis Timothy , Montgomery Neil 
Published: June 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to present a case study where proportional hazards modeling software is used to evaluate the potential benefits of a condition‐based maintenance policy for military vehicle diesel engines.Design/methodology/approachMaintenance records for diesel engines were supplied by the UK Ministry of Defence. A proportional hazards model based on these data was created using EXAKT software. Covariate parameters were estimated using the maximum likelihood method and transition probabilities were established using a Markov Chain model. Finally, decision parameters were entered to create an optimal decision model.FindingsTwo significant covariates were identified as influencing the hazard rate of the engines. In addition, the optimal decision model indicated a potential economic saving of up to 30 per cent.Practical implicationsA model of this nature is particularly useful to predict failures, improve maintenance policies, and possibly reduce maintenance costs. In addition, the cost of implementing maintenance policies based on this model should be balanced with the potential to reduce the risk of danger to personnel.Originality/valueThe model presented provides military personnel with a decision tool that optimizes the maintenance policy for diesel engines installed in military vehicles.
Maintenance management in Italian manufacturing firms
Authors: Chinese Damiana , Ghirardo Gianni 
Published: June 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to give a picture of maintenance management in Italian manufacturing firms supported by empirical evidence. The purpose is also to highlight how far maintenance performance and strategies are influenced by context and which measures and goals are within reach of small‐sized firms.Design/methodology/approachFrameworks for describing maintenance management and strategies derived from literature were reviewed and used to develop a questionnaire. A survey‐based empirical research involving a sample of 100 manufacturing firms was performed. Non‐parametric statistics are applied to highlight correlations and dependencies between contextual variables, maintenance strategies and performance.FindingsMaintenance performance hardly seems a matter of size, while many elements of strategy certainly are. Some elements of strategy, in particular planning and control elements, seem to have little impact on performance. By contrast, an enhanced use of preventive maintenance and, above all, of condition‐based maintenance is demonstrated to be a highly effective action for maintenance improvement applicable to firms of all size.Practical implicationsThe research may help managers to decide on maintenance strategic variables by deducing from the experience of many different firms whether, and how, strategies affect maintenance performance.Originality/valueBesides giving a country's portrait, the empirical research addresses the links between strategies, context and performance, thereby understanding strategy in a broad sense and not just in terms of maintenance policies and concepts. In particular, the maintenance practices of small enterprises with fewer than 50 employees are studied, which has rarely been done in the literature.
Bayesian analysis of system availability with geometric failure law in life testing
Authors: Islam H.M. , Khan Maroof A. 
Published: June 2010

PurposeThe main objective of this paper is to consider the problem of a system amenable to maintenance and to provide to posterior analysis, Bayesian point estimators and Bayesian availability analysis of a k− out of −m system with geometric failure as well as repair time distribution.Design/methodology/approachThe study considers a Bayesian approach, treats these population models as random quantities and makes good use of old information to construct a prior distribution model for these parameters, and then make use of current data to revise this starting assessment in the form of a posterior distribution model for the population model parameters, while the primary motivation to use a Bayesian reliability method is typically a desire to save on test time and materials cost.FindingsThe study clearly demonstrates that, when inspections are performed at specific intervals, time is not continuous and is measured on a discrete scale. It considers the number of successful cycles or operations before failure, then the repair process helps to improve the system reliability.Originality/valueThe proposed methodology represents an efficient way to evaluate the maintenance performance when time is not continuous and measured on a discrete scale.
Enabling role of governance in strategizing and implementing KM
Authors: Kannabiran Ganesan , Pandyan Chandrasekar 
Published: June 2010

PurposeKM governance plays a vital role in KM strategy planning and its implementation. Despite the importance of KM governance, empirical research in this area so far has been limited. This research seeks to show how a federated and self‐governance framework enabled effective KM strategy planning and implementation in a captive offshoring unit in India.Design/methodology/approachThe approach takes the form of an in‐depth study of KM strategy planning and implementation process in a captive offshore unit of a leading financial services company, using the case research method.FindingsThe research shows that a KM program, driven by a federated governance for strategizing and a self‐governance for implementation, results in successful adoption, practice and sustenance of organization‐wide KM. In addition, self‐governance has also helped the organization to achieve an efficient single‐person‐driven KM function to manage the entire KM program. KM function should be reporting to a governance committee (chosen from across the business units of the organization) rather than a single leadership position.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are based on a study of a single organization and therefore it may have limitations in its applicability in other settings. However, it brings out the importance of federated and self‐governance in effective and efficient KM strategy planning and implementation. A KM council, comprising the CEO, BU heads, and the CKO to spearhead the entire strategy planning helps in successful KM strategy implementation. It suggests that the commitment of senior management and functional managers can be achieved by suitably linking their contribution to KM with their goals and KRAs.Practical implicationsTo make the KM program successful, organization‐wide KM governance has to precede strategy. The research shows how the Balanced Score Card may be used to align KM initiatives with the business strategy. Ownership among the senior managers and heads of business units can be achieved by making their contribution to KM part of their KRAs. The KM head (CKO) should be reporting to the governance committee rather than a single leadership position.Originality/valueThe research paper provides both theoretical and practical insights into how federated and self‐governance as an approach for KM governance enables effective and efficient KM strategy planning and implementation.
Knowledge‐based inter‐organizational collaborations
Authors: Cricelli Livio , Grimaldi Michele 
Published: June 2010

PurposeThe evolution of organization, management and production processes is moving towards complexity. The ever growing competition presses firms to give intangible internal and external exclusive resources the utmost attention. The improvement of the performance, through the retrieval of resources, neither available internally nor achievable autonomously, can be reached by going beyond traditional firm boundaries and by enforcing an external relationship system: proliferation of networks, partnerships, and inter‐organizational collaborations should be, consequently, triggered. The purpose of this paper concerns the evaluation of knowledge impact on relationships among the members of an inter‐organizational collaboration. It also aims to suggest conditions for the improvement of knowledge management in different types of knowledge‐based inter‐organizational collaborations.Design/methodology/approachCritical success factors of the networked organizations have been defined. Distinctive characteristics, that cannot be disregarded, whatever the environment, have been singled out from literature analysis; successively, they have been arranged into a classification schema to design knowledge‐based collaboration types. Properties of knowledge and peculiarities of knowledge management processes (identification, creation, storage, sharing/distribution, application, and capitalization/refinement) have been assessed according to the types of the collaborations.FindingsThe theoretical framework can be applied by network managers to adopt the most favourable knowledge management strategy and process, independent of the distinctive characteristics of the collaborations.Originality/valueThe paper provides a theoretical framework to arrange the knowledge‐based inter‐organizational collaborations into an innovative classification schema on the basis of their cognitive, strategic and structural aspects.
Technological knowledge breadth and depth: performance impacts
Authors: Moorthy Subba , Polley Douglas E. 
Published: June 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how the depth and breadth of firms' technological knowledge affect their performance.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical investigation of a sample of US manufacturing firms was conducted. The main independent variables were measured using firms' patent data. Three hypotheses based on theory were developed and tested using multivariate regressions. To increase reliability, alternative industry and firm explanators of performance are controlled.FindingsThe depth and breadth of technological knowledge, rather than total stock, are significantly better at predicting three measures of firm performance that was used in the study – return on invested capital, sales growth, and Tobin's q. The two knowledge dimensions exhibited either independent non‐linear effects or mutually reinforcing effects on each of the three performance measures.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to a fine‐grained analysis of effects of technological knowledge. It does not take into account the facilitating role of marketing and administrative knowledge.Practical implicationsCorporate managers need to measure the depth and breadth of their technological knowledge stocks and include them in their planning models. Extreme combinations of depth and breadth need to be corrected and brought into balance.Originality/valueThe paper represents one of the few studies to disaggregate a firm's total stock of technological knowledge into its depth and breadth components.
Relevant factors for tacit knowledge transfer within organisations
Authors: Joia Luiz Antonio , Lemos Bernardo 
Published: June 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to identify the pertinent factors for tacit knowledge transfer within a major state‐owned Brazilian oil company – Petrobras.Design/methodology/approachThe research analyses the literature concerning tacit knowledge transfer within organisations and, using a quantitative approach based on exploratory factorial analysis, seeks to collect facts in order to identify relevant factors for tacit knowledge transfer within the organisation in question.FindingsIt is seen that idiosyncratic factors, the knowledge management strategy adopted by the company, and its organisational structure are relevant elements for the success of tacit knowledge transfer within the organisation.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted just in the Sales and Marketing division of Petrobras. Therefore, its external validity cannot be tested and any attempt to make a statistical generalisation would be flawed. Another limitation is related to the acuity of perception of the employees involved in relation to tacit knowledge transfer. These limitations are related to the possibility of many varied interpretations of reality given by the respondents, in their attempt – not necessarily conscious – to paint a good picture of the company, to limitations of information available while they answer the questionnaire, to the epistemological model of the respondent, and to the very fact that they work in a state‐owned, rather than in a public oil company.Originality/valueThree propositions arising from the results obtained are consolidated and presented in order that they may be tested in a future explanatory study.
Knowledge transfer to partners: a firm level perspective
Authors: Hutzschenreuter Thomas , Horstkotte Julian 
Published: June 2010

PurposeFirms at the center of an organizational network may benefit from educating and building up competencies of their partners. For that reason, centers often seek to transfer knowledge from the center to partner firms. They even set up systems of inter‐organizational knowledge transfer to plan, to coordinate, and to control such transfers on a firm level instead of managing single knowledge transfer projects individually. However, little systematic attention has yet been paid to such systems on a firm level. This paper seeks to analyze the managerial mechanism to decide what knowledge to transfer to what partners.Design/methodology/approachTo address this gap, data were gathered on nine leading multinational center firms. An explorative approach was adopted using case study research to look at the characteristics of network centers, network partners, knowledge, transfer channels, and programmes.FindingsIt was found that center firms offered knowledge transfer products to partners and set up portfolios of knowledge transfer programmes targeted at specific partner groups. There is further elaboration on fundamental decisions on the programmes' design, communication, access, and pricing.Originality/valueThe research contributes to shed light on how center firms manage knowledge transfer activities from the center to partners on the firm level and how they structure it in the form of programmes. Therefore, the paper does not focus on the management of knowledge transfer in particular partnerships or networks, but also considers interdependencies between individual knowledge transfer initiatives.
Robert Rosen's anticipatory systems
Authors: Louie A.H. 
Published: June 2010

PurposeThis article aims to be an expository introduction to Robert Rosen's anticipatory systems, the theory of which provides the conceptual basis for foresight studies.Design/methodology/approachThe ubiquity of anticipatory systems in nature is explained.FindingsCausality is not violated by anticipatory systems, and teleology is an integral aspect of science.Practical implicationsA terse exposition for a general readership, such as the present article, by definition cannot get into too many details. For further exploration the reader is referred to the recent book More than Life Itself by the author.Originality/valueThe topic of anticipatory systems in particular, and methods of relational biology in general, provide important tools for foresight studies. It is the author's hope that this brief glimpse into the world of relational biology piques the interest of some readers to pursue the subject further.
Anticipatory systems in physics
Authors: Ferret J. 
Published: June 2010

PurposeThe study of anticipatory systems assumes the existence of two distinct types of systems in nature. Some systems anticipate the future and such anticipation forms part of the system itself, while other systems, however, do not anticipate and solely rely on past states. This article aims to argue that this distinction is inadequate given the current understanding of fundamental physics and it seeks to propose instead that all systems need to be considered fundamentally anticipatory.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis centers on showing how classical and quantum mechanics implies the concept of anticipatory system by showing how systems are relational and inherently anticipatory because of the potential interaction from a given reference frame of another system.FindingsThis article shows the fundamental relationship between the physical state of the system and its energy, first in classical mechanics and then in quantum mechanics. This serves, first, to remind that energy is arbitrary and so is the system, and second, that the role of potential energy is precisely one of anticipation of interaction with another system at the boundaries.Research limitations/implicationsThis article shows there is a fundamental concept of anticipation built in the concept of a closed system, but open systems can get around the analysis presented.Practical implicationsSystems engineering and decision theory fields may benefit from a renewed understanding of the role of anticipation in systems.Originality/valueThis analysis contributes to the fundamental understanding of the concept of anticipation, systems, and their fundamental role in physics.
Anticipation and future vision in Nicolai Hartmann's ontology
Authors: Scognamiglio Carlo 
Published: June 2010

PurposeThis article aims to explore anticipation from an ontological point of view and to analyze in particular some of Nicolai Hartmann's ideas.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a conceptual analysis of an ontological theory of anticipation.FindingsAnalyzing philosophical problems related to “futures” and “anticipation”, to the framework of modal categories, and connecting Hartmann with Ludwig von Bertalanffy and comparing the outcome with some Artistotelian theses, offers a philosophical perspective on futures studies.Research limitations/implicationsThe “human” phenomenon of anticipation will be defined as possibly the only form of authentic anticipation, interpreted as a teleological act.Originality/valueThe result is obtained through the distinction, articulated for each level of reality, among different kinds of determination.
Making anticipatory systems more robust
Authors: Rossel Pierre 
Published: June 2010

PurposeWhen coping with complex, but also possibly disruptive and open‐ended social dynamics, the anticipatory system idea, which was developed by Rosen in the realm of physical and biological system observation, remains a reference framework, but one that may need to be reinforced by other theoretical considerations. This paper aims at using a debate that took place in a specific foresight discussion arena on early detection and weak signal analysis, as a constructive epistemic detour to eventually contribute to such a reinforcement of Rosen's anticipatory system proposal.Design/methodology/approachThe author aims at revisiting Rosen's framework with stimulating inputs drawing upon the early detection debates, by first assessing the original concepts brought up by Ansoff in the 1970s and 1980s and its further enhancements by contemporary scholars. A rather constructivist approach is then developed to weak signal analysis, aiming at emphasising the need, in analytical situations involving social system features, for reflexive stages and capacities. Bearing this requirement in mind, the productive value of the “framing” and “meta‐framing” notions is explored, in order to apply them to Rosen's anticipatory systems and possibly contribute to enriching his original concept.FindingsHow effective the framing and meta‐framing couple can be for a series of anticipatory issues is described in a detailed manner and, then more specifically, Rosen's anticipatory system concept is revisited in the light of those inputs, aiming at putting into perspective new options for research and anticipation activities in general.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is essentially conceptual and based on a rich but disputable detour by early detection and weak analysis issues so as to emphasise key reflexive references and method. However, most of this material is taken from domains rather untypical of Rosennean debates and in addition would need to be completed by a series of supportive cases, but that is beyond the scope and scale of this paper.Practical implicationsThe paper sets clear distinctions and boundaries for when and when not to apply reflexive steps in a foresight exercise, including in the context of rolling out a Rosen type of approach. Research decision making both in the corporate and policy‐making contexts can benefit from such clues and supportive framework conditions.Social implicationsSocial systems are typically complex and involve multiple perspectives and viewpoints; they concern a series of major challenges to be coped with locally or more globally, at environmental, political, cultural or technological level, and in that category of anticipatory endeavor, the framing/meta‐framing epistemic couple may be of great usefulness.Originality/valueAlthough rather conceptual, the detour proposed by the paper aims at creating a reflexive distance and enriched capability to evaluate one's potential biases and blind spots in anticipatory modelling activities.