bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ductility of a Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy produced by selective laser melting of prealloyed powders
Authors: Facchini Luca , Magalini Emanuele , Robotti Pierfrancesco , Molinari Alberto , Höges Simon , Wissenbach Konrad 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe aim of the paper is the study of the change in the mechanical properties (and in particular in ductility), with the microstructure, of a biomedical Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy produced by different variants of selective laser melting (SLM).Design/methodology/approachTi‐6Al‐4V alloy produced by different variants of SLM has been mechanically characterized through tensile testing. Its microstructure has been investigated by optical observation after etching and by X‐ray diffraction analysis.FindingsSLM applied to Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy produces a material with a martensitic microstructure. Some microcracks, due the effect of incomplete homologous wetting and residual stresses produced by the large solidification undercooling of the melt pool, are observable in the matrix. Owing to the microstructure, the tensile strength of the additive manufactured parts is higher than the strength of hot worked parts, whereas the ductility is lower. A pre‐heating of the powder bed is effective in assisting remelting and reducing residual stresses, but ductility does not increase significantly, since the microstructure remains martensitic. A post‐building heat treatment causes the transformation of the metastable martensite in a biphasic a‐b matrix, with a morphology that depends on the heat treatment. This results in an increase in ductility and a reduction in strength values.Originality/valueThe study evidenced how it is possible to obtain a fully dense material and make the martensite transform in Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy through the variation of the SLM process. The stabilization of the microstructure also results in an improvement of the ductility.
DOE based three‐dimensional finite element analysis for predicting density of a laser‐sintered part
Authors: Singh A.K. , Srinivasa Prakash Regalla 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the transient three‐dimensional temperature distribution for a laser sintered duraform fine polyamide part by a moving Gaussian laser beam. The primary objective of the present paper is to develop computationally efficient numerical simulation technique with the commercially available finite element software domain for the accurate prediction of the temperature history and heat‐affected zones of the laser sintered parts so as to finally obtain the density of the sintered sample.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes a mathematical model of scanning by moving laser beam and sintering sub‐model. Based on the mathematical models, a simulation model was developed by using author written subroutines in ANSYS® 11.0, a general purpose finite element software. The simulation model was then run at experimental designed points using two‐level factorial design of experiments (DOE) approach. The data thus generated were used to predict the equation for the density of sintered part in terms of process parameters using Design Expert software in order to analyse the designed experiments.FindingsLaser power and scan spacing were found to be significant parameters affecting the part density. Amongst the interaction terms, significant effect of laser power was found on the part density at the lower settings of the scan velocity. Temperature‐time plots were generated to study the transient temperature distribution for the sintering process and with further applicability to study the thermal stresses.Research limitations/implicationsThe simulation model hence developed can be used for only simple part geometries and cannot be generalised for any complex geometry.Originality/valueThe paper presents a simulation model which is integrated with a DOE approach so as to develop a robust as well as simple and fast approach for the optimization of quality objective.
Past organizational change and managerial evaluations of crisis
Authors: Mano Rita S. 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis paper examines the critical effect of learning from past changes on employees' evaluations regarding the extent that a crisis can be controlled and prevented. It is suggested that previous changes incorporate elements of a double‐loop learning process that shape managerial perceptions of crisis controllability and crisis prevention.Design/methodology/approachThe present study is based on a field study of 225 NPOs. Using closed‐end questionnaires the issues pertaining to crisis and learning are examined.FindingsThe results show that the mere experience of previous changes enhances managers' estimations of crisis control, but lowers their estimations of crisis prevention. These results indicate that using the double‐loop learning process contributes to a better understanding of organizational competence in non‐profit organizations.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study provides a starting‐point for further research, in which crisis is seen as the antecedent of possible learning experiences that could further enhance capabilities of preventing future crises. The sample is restricted to nonprofit settings, using a relatively small sample. Further studies should address this link using for‐profit and public organizations, or even conduct comparative studies.Originality/valueNo empirical studies are available that assess the line between crisis learning and probable crisis prevention evaluations. The notable and promising side‐effect of the study shows how much remains unexplored in regard to both crisis and learning, forming important lessons for managers.
Human resource strategic management in NPOs
Authors: Benevene Paula , Cortini Michela 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis explorative research aims at examining the social representation of psychosocial training in NPOs managers.Design/methodology/approachAn adopted multiple research approach was adopted to analyse a corpus of qualitative data. A detailed semi‐structured interview was administered to 122 senior managers of as many Italian NPOs. Interviews were analyzed using different techniques of content analysis and, run through the software T‐Lab (analysis of word occurrence and co‐word mapping, analysis of Markovian sequences).FindingsItalian NPOs' organizational culture seem to be action‐oriented and self‐referral, rather than knowledge‐oriented. Training is not considered as a tool for strategic management of HR. Senior managers are mainly self‐taught, trained on‐the‐job and, lack of a proper competence on HR management.Research limitations/implicationsThe group reached is a convenience sample and not a statistical representative sample.Practical implicationsThe paper suggests that intellectual capital can be an effective tool to address Italian NPOs self‐referential knowledge and overcome their gaps in strategic management of human resources.Originality/valueNPOs' senior manager training has rarely been addressed; in addition, the adopted methodology mixes different techniques of analysis.
Workforce cross training: a re‐emerging trend in tough times
Authors: Abrams Carmen , Berge Zane 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to explore advantages, disadvantages, advice and concerns regarding workforce cross training practices, as well as examples of businesses and organizations that have successfully implemented cross training programs.Design/methodology/approachThis article is a general review, based on the literature available and the knowledge and expertise of the authors.FindingsThere are a number of realities, such as increased training cost, questionable improvement in productivity, complexity of workflow, and employee resistance, that an employer must consider carefully before moving towards a cross training approach. At the same time, cross training can provide employees with learning and growth opportunities that can help them be ready for emergencies, recessions, and the competition of a global economy.Originality/valueThis article adds to the literature on workforce cross training and will be of interest to those involved in that field.
Assessing the impact of web‐based electronic commerce use on the organizational benefits of a firm
Authors: Mora‐Monge Carlo A. , Azadegan Arash , Gonzalez Marvin E. 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of web‐based electronic commerce (WEC) use on organizational benefits (OBE).Design/methodology/approachThe researchers develop a research model based on a literature review. A large‐scale instrument was applied to empirically test the model. MANOVA was first used employing a general linear model. Then, univariate tests were performed to further analyze differences. The model was tested and validated using a sample of 180 firms in the USA.FindingsThe findings empirically tested that there is a significant positive impact of WEC use on OBE. Findings also demonstrated the multi‐dimensional nature of both factors.Practical implicationsThis research develops and validates reliable measures for the WEC use and OBE. It also provides several indicators that can be used to measure the extent of usage of WEC for both transactional and strategic purposes, and OBE that span several dimensions, including information quality, business efficiency, and competitive advantage. These indicators can serve as benchmarks to evaluate the current state of a firm and help in setting future organizational goals, which can also help managers gauge the risks and benefits associated with WEC.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature by providing evidence of the positive impact of WEC on OBE. It also develops and validates measures for all the constructs involved in the study that can be used in other empirical studies.
An integrated strategic benchmarking model for assessing international alliances with application to NATO membership enlargement
Authors: Tavana Madjid , O'Connor Aidan 
Published: October 2010

PurposePromoting security, stability and cooperation is the raison d'être of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and these are the aims of its strategy of membership enlargement. The incentive of NATO membership has led some former Warsaw Pact applicant countries to reform their political systems, transform their economies, deal with corruption and improve social justice and human rights. However, controversy has surrounded NATO's enlargement because of the current ambiguous and subjective decision‐making process and the effect that it could have on the organization. This paper aims to present the results of a study to develop a benchmarking model as a means to assist NATO evaluate and screen potential applicant countries.Design/methodology/approachA novel and structured multiple‐criteria decision analysis model that considers specific NATO applicant evaluation criteria and environmental forces is offered and a template for a membership evaluation process is proposed. A total of 120 researchers in France, Germany, Switzerland and the USA provided the necessary data on the 23 countries that are analyzed in order to develop the benchmarking model. Four distinct categories were established to categorize these countries. The ranking of the countries based on Euclidean distance from the ideal state is illustrated with a classification schema outlining four typologies as beneficial believers, detrimental disadvantaged, perilous partners and apathetic acquaintances.FindingsAmong the potential applicant countries considered as “beneficial believers” are Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Finland and Ireland while other countries, such as, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Montenegro, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are considered as “detrimental disadvantaged”. Furthermore, Russia and Ukraine were identified as “perilous partners” and Malta, FYR Macedonia, Cyprus, Serbia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia and Moldova were identified as “apathetic acquaintances”.Practical implicationsThis model could be applied to other supranational organizations and multinational firms when assessing international strategic alliances.Originality/valueThe paper presents the results of a study to develop a benchmarking model as an aid in evaluating and screening potential NATO applicant countries.
Marketing productivity and profitability of Indonesian public listed manufacturing firms
Authors: Edy Halim Rizal 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis research tries to fill a gap in research and to suggest a rigorous quantitative approach to benchmarking marketing productivity. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is useful in identifying the best‐performing units to be benchmarked against as well as in providing actionable measures for improvement of a company's marketing performance.Design/methodology/approachThis study applied the DEA approach to aid traditional benchmarking activities and to provide guidance to managers, and to evaluate the productivity and efficiency of manufacturing firms listed at the Indonesian Stock Exchange as a result of their marketing activities. The time period observed is 2001‐2007. The total number of manufacturing firms observed is 94.FindingsThe evidence shows that on average, this industry experienced total productivity decline by over the observation periods, mainly due to deterioration of managerial efficiency.Originality/valueThe paper compares public listed manufacturing firms in Indonesia.
Key performance indicators in the Kenyan hospitality industry: a managerial perspective
Authors: Wadongo Billy , Odhuno Edwin , Kambona Oscar , Othuon Lucas 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe overall purpose of this study is to investigate impact of managerial characteristics on key performance indicators in the Kenyan hotel industry.Design/methodology/approachA cross‐sectional survey research design was used to gather primary data using self‐administered questionnaires. A sample of 160 hospitality managers was selected proportionately by simple random sample method from six hotels in Nairobi and Mombasa. A custom factorial univariate analysis of variance was used to analyze the data.FindingsHospitality managers in Kenya are still focusing on financial and result measures of performance while ignoring non‐financial and determinant measures. Managerial demographic characteristics; age, education, current position, functional area, and performance appraisal influence managers' choice of key performance indicators.Research limitations/implicationsThe model violated assumptions of homogeneity of variances. Literature review revealed a severe lack of Kenyan‐based research in tourism and hospitality industries on performance measurement practices hence the need for future research in this area.Practical implicationsThe hotels need to invest in comprehensive performance management systems suitable for Kenyan hospitality industry that will incorporate both financial and non‐financial performance measures.Originality/valueThe study focuses on level of use of performance indicators and level of importance attached to performance indicators in the Kenyan hospitality industry. Managerial demographic characteristics influence on key performance indicators are examined in leading service industry in a growing economy thus contributing to a new body of knowledge in management literature in Africa.
An optimisational model of benchmarking
Authors: Reza Mehregan Mohammad , Dehghan Nayeri Mahmoud , Reza Ghezavati Vahid 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a quantitative methodology for benchmarking process which is simple, effective and efficient as a rejoinder to benchmarking detractors who debate benchmarking is just a catch‐up process.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology developed for benchmarking here consists of three phases; define, analyze and results. Define phase concentrates on what to benchmark, whereas analyze and results concentrate on how to benchmark. Analyze phase is developed based on two popular mathematical programming techniques which are called technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and goal programming.FindingsThe developed benchmarking methodology is deployed in the case of business schools and results show its efficiency and effectiveness as well as its applicability to various business environments in implementation.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation here is necessity of collecting data about all the peers involved in benchmarking which indirectly restricts the number of peers in the benchmarking process.Practical implicationsBased on the TOPSIS that addresses the benchmark (what to benchmark) and the GP model that addresses the way to reach the benchmark, this methodology may be implemented as a solution procedure for business benchmarking process.Originality/valueThe novelty in this approach is that TOPSIS and GP are being used as a benchmarking techniques in a simple methodology which choose a non‐real benchmark that is more than all the peers involved. In that sense, this research work may be the first, where quantitative methodology for benchmarking is developed and rejoined to the benchmarking old criticize that debates benchmarking is just a catch‐up play.
Predicting the unpredictable: dealing with risk and uncertainty in broadband roll‐out
Authors: Fijnvandraat Marieke , Bouwman Harry 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to offer a validated framework for the analysis of (future) risks and uncertainties involved in the decision‐making process concerning the upgrade and roll‐out of large infrastructural projects, e.g. broadband networks. The framework classifies risks and uncertainties based on the nature of the risks, levels and sources.Design/methodology/approachThe approach takes the form of conceptual as well as qualitative and quantitative empirical analyses.FindingsTelecommunications operators are faced with various types of risks and uncertainties in their decision‐making process concerning the upgrade and roll‐out of their broadband networks. In one respect, these risks and uncertainties have to do with the characteristics of large infrastructural projects, while, on the other hand, being caused by (unknown) competitor behaviour, (unknown) end‐user demand, rapid technological development and different development paths available to operators. Framing risks and uncertainties into a typology provides greater insight into the categories, characteristics and sources of the risks and uncertainties, as well as being a first step in finding ways to deal with them.Originality/valueThe paper presents and validates a framework for the analysis of risks and uncertainty. It also offers empirical data on how operators manage risk and uncertainties.
Analysing the future of railway freight competition: a Delphi study in Finland
Authors: Mäkitalo Miika , Hilmola Olli‐Pekka 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe entire sector of railway transport is in a state of flux in Europe as deregulation and structural changes are affecting the traditional transport mode. Even though the aim has been to increase railway freight competition, markets have changed only slightly, and the market shares of incumbent railway companies are remaining high. Some EU countries have not attracted any new entrants, which is also the current situation in Finland. This paper aims to assess how the Finnish railway freight competition develops and to analyze different views on railway transport policy.Design/methodology/approachThis research work analyses a Delphi questionnaire directed at 52 Finnish experts in this branch. Responses on the questionnaire were gathered during year 2005 (competition in Finland in railway freight started 2007) within two rounds with appropriate amount of response rate. Respondents were from the public and private sectors, actors working closely with railway transports and logistics. With an expert profiling matrix, three different railway transport policy viewpoint groups are identified, and character descriptions for these are constructed.FindingsBased on a qualitative expert profiling analysis, it is argued that there exist three different argument types in Finnish railway transport policy. The authors have constructed character descriptions for each group based on material collected by the Delphi technique. They conclude that the policy definitions have followed the views of the moderate group and the realization of the deregulation process has been slow, even though a great amount of competition was expected.Research limitations/implicationsThe research work is limited to the Finnish railway freight transport market, where development of competition on rails has been sluggish. To further confirm the used methodology, and the identified railway freight competition policy group types, the research work should be repeated in some other country, and particularly in an environment where competition has shown activity immediately after deregulation.Originality/valueThe research represents methodology to foresee the future development of deregulated industries, and especially in the transportation sector. The paper's approach can be used to divide stakeholders into groups and to make policy analysis. The problem with to‐be‐deregulated industry is often lack of competition, new actors and governmental actions, and therefore the used Delphi technique offers potential to gather empirical material before any activity has actually started in the observed industry.
Forecasting airplane technologies
Authors: Lamb Ann‐Marie , Daim Tugrul U. , Anderson Timothy R. 
Published: October 2010

PurposeAirplane technology is undergoing several exciting developments, particularly in avionics, material composites, and design tool capabilities, and, though there are many studies conducted on subsets of airplane technology, market, and economic parameters, few exist in forecasting new commercial aircraft model introduction. In fact, existing research indicates the difficulty in quantitatively forecasting commercial airplanes due in part to the complexity and quantity of exogenous factors which feed into commercial airplane introduction decisions. This paper seeks to address this gap.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is based on a literature review, supplemented by a collection of secondary data. The study then focuses on applying three technology forecasting techniques: multiple regression; linear regression; and the Pearl growth curve.FindingsThe results provide a valid model for multiple regression and linear regression on range and composite material percentage for use in commercial airplane forecasting. However, growth curve analysis, comparatively, appears to provide the most intriguing and flexible forecast outlook in alignment with industry dynamics.Research limitations/implicationsResearch implications include a caution for forecasters in support of the difficulty of commercial aircraft forecasting due in part to the quantity of exogenous factors, particularly compared with a related industry, military aircraft. Future work could include: utilizing other forecasting techniques that allow for greater numbers of forecast factors, additional future models, additional range aircraft and/or analyzing the impact that competing transportation modes in mid‐range aircraft could have on long‐range aircraft introduction.Originality/valueThe study provides value in extending a previous descriptive paper on airplane parameters. Additionally, it appears to be one of the first quantitative examples supporting previous research indicating the complexity of forecasting airplane new product introduction, but it overcomes some of this complexity by providing a valid model for forecasting with range and composite material percentage as inputs.