bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of formalisation on coordination and effectiveness of refurbishment projects
Authors: Rahmat Ismail , Shah Ali Azlan 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe paper's aim is to establish the relationships between the formalisation of construction firms on the level of coordination and effectiveness of refurbishment projects.Design/methodology/approachThe approach takes the form of a literature review of published journals and textbooks, a postal questionnaire survey with managing directors, project managers and contract managers. About 94 construction companies were selected for the postal questionnaire survey. In total, 54 (57 percent) of returned questionnaires were considered to be useful for statistical analysis.FindingsHighly formalised construction firms require higher level of coordination than lowly formalised construction firms. In highly formalised construction firms, the participants managing refurbishment projects tend to circumvent formalisation by having more informal interactions, which contradicts the needs of the firms. The effectiveness of highly formalised construction firms is not significantly better than lowly formalised construction firms.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to medium and large refurbishment projects, with contract value above £500,000.Practical implicationsThe paper highlights the need to reduce formalisation in managing refurbishment projects. Large construction firms, which tend to be highly formalised should set up autonomous refurbishment division to manage refurbishment projects.Originality/valueThe paper shows that the formalisation of the organizational structure of construction firms affects the level of coordination of refurbishment projects.
A Scorecard‐Markov model for new product screening decisions
Authors: Chan S.L. , Ip W.H. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to propose a novel strategic approach, named a Scorecard‐Markov model, combining an evaluation scorecard and a hidden Markov model (HMM) for new product idea screening (NPIS) decisions.Design/methodology/approachA scorecard is constructed to evaluate new product ideas on several criteria, including customer needs, marketing strength, competency, manufacturing compatibility, and distribution channels, involving a consideration of risk buy. A HMM is then developed accordingly to predict the overall performance of new ideas in terms of success probability. To implement the model, it is trained and tested by the historical dataset of a world‐class, leading company in the power tools industry through a case study.FindingsThe approach is proven to be encouraging and meaningful. The scorecard can serve as a guide for new product idea evaluation to convert experts' linguistic judgments to quantifiable and comparable data, whereas the HMM can determine the success probability of new product ideas to support NPIS decision making based on their computed evaluation performance. The optimal cut‐off value for making either a go or kill decision on each idea can thus be determined. Concerning the case company, a go decision should be made when the probability lies in the interval [0.53, 1].Practical implicationsThe model can prevent companies from undertaking risky and failed new product development projects. Further, it is believed that this study can assist decision makers in choosing winning new product ideas towards commercialization in an effective and certain manner, thus enhancing the new product success rate in the innovation industry.Originality/valueThe approach incorporating the scorecard method and HMM is novel. Illustrated by the case study, the application of this approach to NPIS decisions is confirmed to be effective.
Manager's attitude toward environment
Authors: Leszczynska Agnieszka 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze corporate environmental awareness in an international cross‐section and to explore whether attitudes towards environmental issues mirror the development of an economy. Thus, do more advanced societies represent more progressive attitudes? How significant are differences in perception between countries?Design/methodology/approachThe empirical research was conducted in three countries. In total, 200 managers in public and private corporations nationwide were selected in Australia and Ukraine. In Poland the population of managers was 250. The study instrument was a two‐part survey. The first part concerned ecological awareness understood as a conglomerate of knowledge, values and attitudes. The second part of the survey concerned convictions and opinions pertaining to ecological issues. Responses were given in an interval response scale, on a 1‐5 rating scale for a particular question.FindingsThe research shows that in companies in some countries there are “gaps within awareness components”, and hence between convictions, ecological values and a readiness to take action. Moreover, an awareness gap has been diagnosed between more and less developed countries. So, the studies conducted showed that the perception of a kind of environmental threats changes together with socio‐economic development.Originality/valueSeveral analyses of attitudes towards various dimensions of the environment can be found in the literature. This paper focuses not on a general level of ecological awareness of the public but on managers' attitude towards environment. Issues concerning the ecological awareness of a selected group (population) are sporadically presented in the literature. Limited research to date has been undertaken with respect to managerial attitudes towards environmental issues. To the best of the author's knowledge there is no evidence which would enable a comparison of the level of awareness of Polish and Ukrainian managers and managers from other countries. The contribution of the paper to the literature is twofold: first, it complements the knowledge on managers' attitude towards environment in the studied countries. Second, it shows the relations between the level of socio‐economic growth and the attitude.
Application of AHP and Taguchi loss functions in supply chain
Authors: Ordoobadi Sharon M. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a decision model to help decision makers with selection of the appropriate supplier.Design/methodology/approachSupplier selection is a multi‐criteria decision‐making process encompassing various tangible and intangible factors. Both risks and benefits of using a vendor in supply chain are identified for inclusion in the evaluation process. Since these factors can be objective and subjective, a hybrid approach that applies to both quantitative and qualitative factors is used in the development of the model. Taguchi loss functions are used to measure performance of each supplier candidate with respect to the risks and benefits. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is used to determine the relative importance of these factors to the decision maker. The weighted loss scores are then calculated for each supplier by using the relative importance as the weights. The composite weighted loss scores are used for ranking of the suppliers. The supplier with the smallest loss score is recommended for selection.FindingsInclusion of both risk and benefit categories in the evaluation process provides a comprehensive decision tool.Practical implicationsThe proposed model provides guidelines for supply chain managers to make an informed decision regarding supplier selection.Originality/valueCombining Taguchi loss function and AHP provides a novel approach for ranking of potential suppliers for outsourcing purposes.
CociteSeer: a system to visualize large cocitation networks
Authors: Teng Chen Tsung , Yen David C. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe paper's aim is to document the development of a novel tool to address the inadequacies of existing cocitation visualization tools.Design/methodology/approachThe paper demonstrates the visualized effects of this tool and supplements the results with a case study that utilizes a large data set to explore the cross‐field studies among different computer science fields.FindingsThe tool displays cocitation graphs with latent visual cues and allows direct manipulation of the visualized graphs. The tool also facilitates the exploration of the relationships between articles in the graphs.Research limitations/implicationsThe indirect cocitation relationships are vividly visualized by the citation network itself. The context lost by the conventional cocitation network may be preserved. Instead of being linked by explicit lines, the implicit cocitation relationships are shown by the closeness among the cocited nodes.Practical implicationsThe preserved context of a cocitation network may facilitate the exploration of latent cross‐field studies. The cocitation visualization tool demonstrates that the context of the cocitation graph is preserved by using the citation network itself to reveal cocitation relationships.Originality/valueThe cocitation relationships are implied by the closeness among cocited nodes in a citation graph. The paper documents this novel approach which has not been seen before.
Using LibQUAL+TM to improve services to libraries
Authors: Asemi Asefeh , Kazempour Zahra , Ashrafi Rizi Hasan 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to urge the new culture of assessment of the quality of library services among Iran academic libraries and to assess the overall services quality of libraries from the users' perspectives based on the LibQUAL model.Design/methodology/approachIn this survey researchers used the LibQUAL model to assess service quality in the central libraries in engineering and technical governmental universities in Tehran city. For gathering data of libraries users, researchers used the LibQUAL questionnaire in a non‐electronic format and translated into Farsi.FindingsIt was found that library users were dissatisfied with their library building. But these libraries performed very well in the information control dimension. Furthermore, the examination of users' expectations showed that the proposition “Employees who are consistently courteous” was most important, and “Employees who instill confidence in users” had less importance.Originality/valueUsing the LibQUAL Survey has helped the university libraries in Iran to better serve their main user groups, and for the first time researchers used the non‐electronic format of LibQUAL questionnaire in the survey.
Students' keenness on use of e‐resources
Authors: Swain Dillip K. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThis study aims to focus on the keenness of students of business schools of Orissa (India) on the use of electronic resources and attempts to evaluate the level of electronic information services offered by the primary information reserves of the respective business schools with an opinion pool of sample respondents. Moreover, it intends to elicit the barriers in use of e‐information with recommendations for the improvement of services and usage of e‐resources.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines the use of electronic resources by students of business schools of Orissa (India) through structured questionnaires. SPSS is used for data analysis.FindingsThe study finds that students express keen interest in the use of e‐journals, followed by e‐books, e‐newspapers, e‐reports, and e‐articles. Least interest is shown towards the use of electronic theses and dissertations. The study reveals that the majority of students are aware of EBSCO, and Emerald Management Xtra. However, the awareness of all other databases is not quite so encouraging. Further, it is revealed that the use of printed materials is slightly more compared to that of e‐resources. Use of Web OPAC is also less than expected.Practical implicationsThe paper highlights the practicality of the use of electronic resources, compared to print, among the students of business schools of Orissa (India).Originality/valueThe paper reveals the degree of use of electronic resources by business students and makes some useful deductions for its subsequent generalization.
An element addition strategy for thermally actuated compliant mechanism topology optimization
Authors: Ansola Rubén , Vegueria Estrella , Canales Javier 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe an element addition strategy for topology optimization of thermally actuated compliant mechanisms under uniform temperature fields.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed procedure is based on the evolutionary structural optimization (ESO) method. In previous works, this group of authors has successfully applied the ESO method for compliant mechanism optimization under directly applied input loads. The present paper progresses on this work line developing an extension of this procedure, based on an additive version of the method, to approach the more complicated case of thermal actuators.FindingsThe adopted method has been tested in several numerical applications and benchmark examples to illustrate and validate the approach, and designs obtained with this method are compared favorably with the analytical solutions and results derived by other authors using different optimization methods, showing the viability of this technique for uniformly heated actuators optimization.Research limitations/implicationsAs a simple initial approach, this research considers only uniform heating of the system, while many thermal actuators are heated nonuniformly. Future works will be based on electrothermal actuation, and nonuniform Joule heating will be considered as well, which might lead to more elegant and efficient solutions.Practical implicationsCompliant micromechanisms that are responsible for movement play a crucial role in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) design, which cannot be manufactured using typical assembly processes and may not make use of traditional hinges or bearings. The topology optimization method described in this paper enables the systematic design of these devices, which can result in reduced conception time and manufacturing cost.Originality/valueThe ESO method has been successfully applied to several optimum material distribution problems, but not for thermal compliant mechanisms. Even if most applications of this method have been oriented for maximum stiffness structure design, this paper shows that this computation method may be also useful in the design of thermal compliant mechanisms and provides engineers with a very simple and practical alternative design tool.
Managing i‐branding to create brand equity
Authors: Simmons Geoff , Thomas Brychan , Truong Yann 
Published: August 2010

PurposeGiven the emergent nature of i‐branding as an academic field of study and a lack of applied research output, the aim of this paper is to explain how businesses manage i‐branding to create brand equity.Design/methodology/approachWithin a case‐study approach, seven cases were developed from an initial sample of 20 food businesses. Additionally, utilising secondary data, the analysis of findings introduces relevant case examples from other industrial sectors.FindingsSpecific internet tools and their application are discussed within opportunities to create brand equity for products classified by experience, credence and search characteristics. An understanding of target customers will be critical in underpinning the selection and deployment of relevant i‐branding tools. Tools facilitating interactivity – machine and personal – are particularly significant.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research positioned within classification of goods constructs could provide further contributions that recognise potential moderating effects of product/service characteristics on the development of brand equity online. Future studies could also employ the i‐branding conceptual framework to test its validity and develop it further as a means of explaining how i‐branding can be managed to create brand equity.Originality/valueWhile previous research has focused on specific aspects of i‐branding, this paper utilises a conceptual framework to explain how diverse i‐branding tools combine to create brand equity. The literature review integrates fragmented literature around a conceptual framework to produce a more coherent understanding of extant thinking. The location of this study within a classification of goods context proved critical to explaining how i‐branding can be managed.
Product value importance and consumer preference for visual complexity and symmetry
Authors: Creusen Mariëlle E.H. , Veryzer Robert W. , Schoormans Jan P.L. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeProduct design is an important marketing variable. Most literature about consumer preference for product design focuses on aesthetic product value. However, the appearance of a product also influences consumer perception of functionalities, quality, and ease of use. This paper therefore, seeks to assess how preference for visual complexity and symmetry depends on the type of product value that is important to people.Design/methodology/approachIn a conjoint study the utility of visual complexity and symmetry in determining preference for eight VCR pictures are assessed (n=422). These utilities are used as dependent variables in regression analyses with the different product values (aesthetic, functionalities, quality, and ease of use) as independent variables.FindingsThe effects of visual complexity and symmetry on consumers' preferences depend on the product value to which consumers paid attention.Research limitations/implicationsTo increase insight into the relationship between design and consumer product preference, the impact of a design on consumer perception of all types of product value – not only aesthetic value – should be taken into account.Originality/valueThis research has direct implications for managers overseeing aspects of product development relating to aligning the design effort with target customers and determining specific product design executions.
Research on fault diagnosis method for transformer based on fuzzy genetic algorithm and artificial neural network
Authors: Peng Zhenghong , Song Bin 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to define a new method (grey relational analysis (GRA)) for extracting pattern samples of dissolved gases in power transformer oil, then a hybrid algorithm of the back‐propagation (BP) network and fuzzy genetic algorithm‐artificial neural network (FGA‐ANN) is used to power transformer fault diagnosis based on extracted pattern samples.Design/methodology/approachThe existing manners (e.g. international electro technical commission triple‐ratio method), in practice, have certain faultiness due to the ambiguity of the inference and insufficient standard for judgment. So GRA method is chosen to solve a problem of optimal pattern samples data, then a hybrid algorithm of the BP network and FGA‐ANN is developed to optimize initial weights and to enable fast convergence of the BP network, and lastly, this algorithm is applied to the classification of dissolved gas analysis (DGA) data and power transformer fault diagnosis.FindingsIf possible, the results should be accompanied by significance. For comparative studies, the proposed scheme does not require the three ratio code and high diagnosis accuracy is obtained. In addition, useful information is provided for future fault trends and multiple faults analysis.Research limitations/implicationsAccessibility and availability of data are the main limitations which model will be applied.Practical implicationsThis paper provides useful advice for power transformer fault diagnosis method based on DGA data.Originality/valueThe new method of optimal choice of options of pattern samples due to GRA. The paper is aimed at optimized samples data classified and abandons the traditional ratio method.
Stochastic differential portfolio games with Duffie‐Kan interest rate
Authors: Wan Shuping 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to research stochastic dynamic investment games with stochastic interest rate model in continuous time between two investors. The market interest rate has the dynamics of Duffie‐Kan interest rate.Design/methodology/approachRecently, there has been an increasing interest in financial market models whose key parameters, such as the bank interest rate, stocks appreciation rates, and volatility rates, are modulated by stochastic interest rate. This paper uses the Duffie‐Kan stochastic interest rate model to develop stochastic differential portfolio games. By the HJB optimality equation, a general result in optimal control for a stochastic differential game with a general utility payoff function is obtained.FindingsDerive a general result in optimal control for a stochastic differential game with a general utility payoff function. The explicit optimal strategies and value of the games are obtained for the constant relative risk aversion utility games of fixed duration.Research limitations/implicationsAccessibility and availability of stochastic interest rate data are the main limitations, which apply.Practical implicationsThe results obtained in this paper could be used as a guide to actual portfolio games.Originality/valueThis paper presents a new approach for the optimal portfolio model under compound jump processes. The paper is aimed at actual portfolio games.
A hybrid neural genetic method for load forecasting based on phase space reconstruction
Authors: Junguo Wang , Jianzhong Zhou , Bing Peng 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to improve forecasting accuracy for short‐term load series.Design/methodology/approachA forecasting method based on chaotic time series and optimal diagonal recurrent neural networks (DRNN) is presented. The input of the DRNN is determined by the embedding dimension of the reconstructed phase space, and adaptive dynamic back propagation (DBP) algorithm is used to train the network. The connection weights of the DRNN are optimized via modified genetic algorithms, and the best results of optimization are regarded as initial weights for the network. The new method is applied to predict the actual short‐term load according to its chaotic characteristics, and the forecasting results also validate the feasibility.FindingsFor the chaos time series, the hybrid neural genetic method based on phase space reconstruction can carry out the short‐term prediction with the higher accuracy.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed method is not suited to medium and long‐term load forecasting.Practical implicationsThe accuracy of the load forecasting is important to the economic and secure operation of power systems; also, the neural genetic method can improve forecasting accuracy.Originality/valueThis paper will help overcome the defects of traditional neural network and make short‐term load forecasting more accurate and fast.
Study on the second grey relational grade and its properties
Authors: Ma Yan 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a second relational grade based on the general grey relational grade and analyze several of its properties.Design/methodology/approachGrey system theory. The paper proposes and studies second grey relational grade, establishes second grey relational formula, and studies several characteristics of second grey relational formula.FindingsProposing a second relational grade proved it could solve the problem of the parallelism partly and weaken relativity of space position.Research limitations/implicationsUntil now, the problem of the consistency could not be solved, nor could the problem of the effect which keeps the sequence the same.Practical implicationsThe precision of the grey forecasting model could be strengthened if used in the forecasting model.Originality/valueThe general relational grade only thinks over the relation between two sequences but does not involve the relation in one sequence. The second relational grade considers these two, so if the forecasting model is established with it, the model should be more exact.