bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Knowledge creation and flexibility of distribution of information
Authors: Mihi Ramírez Antonio , Jesús García Morales Víctor , Arias Aranda Daniel 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to increase knowledge about the four modes of knowledge conversion (SECI model: Socialization, Externalization, Combination, Internalization) and their impact on flexibility of distribution of information and performance.Design/methodology/approachBased on a survey of 284 Spanish firms, the paper performs an empirical analysis using structural equation modelling.FindingsThe results of the research confirm that the four modes of knowledge conversion have positive direct and indirect influences on the flexibility of distribution of information in the organization and therefore improve the company's performance.Practical implicationsThe structural equation model provides useful information for managers and researchers concerning how knowledge creation enhances flexibility and performance of the organization. Through better processes and tools for updating the organization's concepts or methods, flexibility programs, cross functional and self‐directed teams, autonomy, participation, cooperation and coordination in the firm improve the flow of information and performance and reduce uncertainty in changing environments.Originality/valueThe paper illustrates the effects of the four modes of knowledge creation on flexibility of distribution of information and demonstrates that these four modes of knowledge creation affect flexibility of distribution of information positively, thereby improving organizational performance.
Rethinking IT governance for SMEs
Authors: Devos Jan , Van Landeghem Hendrik , Deschoolmeester Dirk 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to critically rethink the concepts and the theoretical foundations of IT governance in small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on multiple case studies. In total, eight cases of outsourced information system projects where failures occurred were selected. An outsourced information system failure (OISF) is suggested as a failure of governance of the IT in a SME environment. A structure for stating propositions derived from two competing theories is proposed (Agency Theory and Theory of Trust).FindingsThe results reveal that trust is slightly more important than control issues such as output‐based contracts and structured controls in the governance of IT in SMEs.Practical implicationsThe world of SMEs is significantly different from that of large companies, and therefore, the concept of IT governance in SMEs needs reconsideration. For researchers and practitioners, it would be more meaningful to focus on actual, working SMEs instead of on a version of their activities derived from those of large companies.Originality/valueThe paper offers two contributions. First, it elaborates the limited research on IT in SMEs and second, it brings theoretical foundations for their IT governance. The value of IT governance in SMEs is explained.
Modeling supplier risks using Bayesian networks
Authors: Lockamy Archie , McCormack Kevin 
Published: March 2012

PurposeTo counteract the effects of global competition, many organizations have extended their enterprises by forming supply chain networks. However, as organizations increase their dependence on these networks, they become more vulnerable to their suppliers' risk profiles. The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology for modeling and evaluating risk profiles in supply chains via Bayesian networks.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical data from 15 casting suppliers to a major US automotive company are analyzed using Bayesian networks. The networks provide a methodological approach for determining a supplier's external, operational, and network risk probability, and the potential revenue impact a supplier can have on the company.FindingsBayesian networks can be used to develop supplier risk profiles to determine the risk exposure of a company's revenue stream. The supplier risk profiles can be used to determine those risk events which have the largest potential impact on an organization's revenues, and the highest probability of occurrence.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation to the use of Bayesian networks to model supply chain risks is the proper identification of risk events and risk categories that can impact a supply chain.Practical implicationsThe methodology used in this study can be adopted by managers to formulate supply chain risk management strategies and tactics which mitigate overall supply chain risks.Social implicationsThe methodology used in this study can be used by organizations to reduce supply chain risks which yield numerous societal benefits.Originality/valueAs part of a comprehensive supplier risk management program, organizations along with their suppliers can develop targeted approaches to minimize the occurrence of supply chain risk events.
Contractual and quality aspects on warranty
Authors: González‐Prida Díaz Vicente , Barberá Martínez Luis , Gómez Fernández Juan Francisco , Crespo Márquez Adolfo 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a brief summary of quality and contractual aspects for the improvement of the warranty management. Together with this, the present work will show also some of the best practices followed by companies in order to manage properly those kinds of issues related to warranty, as well as some indications to assess the implementation degree of such practices in the whole organization. Basically, the global objective of the study is to present to the reader and in few words the importance of taking into account legal and quality aspects, when a company offers a technical service for the warranty assistance of any of its products, together with the maturity level that this company achieves applying some best practices currently available.Design/methodology/approachThe study starts by mentioning some antecedents related to warranty, in order to summarize a reference framework, proposed for proper warranty management, and how the information exchange should be performed among the different departments of a generic company. Then, it will be suggested how to apply this according to a strategic management which is divided in phases, taken from the product life cycle concept: Front‐end, Design and Development, Production, Marketing, and Post‐sale Support. These phases are included in three higher stages considered as Pre‐Launch stage, Launch and Post‐Launch stage, where different decisions play important roles. Afterwards, it will be shown how warranty management is viewed from the contract and legal point of view, in order to link the above mentioned topics on generic management, with those best practices currently presented in actual markets. Finally, once analysed, all those aspects related to best practices and its application on the reference framework, it is required now to quantify how a company manages the warranty assistances by a maturity assessment on warranty management.FindingsThe paper observes what today's companies are doing in this field, that is, their best practices in warranty management covering the quality and contractual aspects already mentioned, in order to round off the development of a completed framework for such management.Originality/valueThe paper presents a review, a framework and a practical application of the framework for the management of warranty contracts, including a maturity assessment or evaluation.
Library Hi Tech at 30
Authors: Seadle Michael 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis article aims to look at the last 30 years of Library Hi Tech to identify which topics have continued and what priorities have changed.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is a review in which the author looks back at articles from each of the past decades to discuss how they represent core topics for the journal.FindingsWhen Library Hi Tech first appeared 30 years ago, the key topics involved how to make our work as librarians more efficient. Today the question has become: how do we make it easier for those using our resources?Originality/valueKey future issues for the library community, as well as for Library Hi Tech, include not only how to preserve digital information over long periods, but how humans interact with computers and digital resources, and how the human physical environment – in this case the library buildings – can adapt. This paper is of value in looking at the implications of these issues.
Measuring travel time and distance in library use
Authors: Jae Park Sung 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to provide a full understanding of library use patterns in their full temporal and spatial environment. By analyzing individuals' daily travel activity, this study seeks to measure the travel distance and travel time of library users in multi‐destination trip settings.Design/methodology/approachThe data set for analysis was collected from the Metropolitan Travel Survey Archive, which stores 79 household daily travel data sets. Daily activities of 409 people who visited public libraries were extracted from the Puget Sound Region data set.FindingsThrough the analysis, four library access patterns were identified: single‐destination, en route, base camp, and trip‐chaining trips. Only 20 percent of library users made single‐destination trips, while 80 percent of users made trips of a multi‐destination nature; these are depicted by the latter three listed patterns. In particular, 62.2 percent of the activities fell into the trip‐chaining travel pattern. Such a pattern is defined as “discretionary activities which include a library visit.” Findings indicate that although travel distance is still a constraint to library access, travel time is a more informative factor than travel distance for gaining a richer understanding of the nature of library visits.Originality/valueThis study develops new measurements of travel distance and time, Dlibrary and Tlibrary respectively, enabling more accurate measures of travel distance and time, and further supporting precise measurements of the portions of multi‐destination trips most relevant to library visits.
Anatomy of crisis management: lessons from the infamous Toyota Case
Authors: Heller Victor L. , Darling John R. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the issue of crisis management within the Toyota Corporation's series of worldwide recalls for multiple malfunctions on a number of different Toyota brands of vehicles. The analysis relates to the difficulty now faced by Toyota, previously recognized as the world's leading manufacturer of automotive vehicles. The crisis became so great that Toyota corporate leaders even traveled from Japan to testify before a US Congressional Committee hearing.Design/methodology/approachA crisis, typically considered to be a negative issue, can be a positive event in the life of a business firm, such as Toyota, if the management involved seizes the opportunity to make appropriate changes in its operations to facilitate continuing positive growth and development. However, this opportunity was not initially addressed by Toyota in a meaningful way, and the crisis continued to evolve through subsequent stages, bringing a vast array of negative international criticism. The crisis management paradigm that is the focus for this case identifies four stages of a crisis – the preliminary (pre‐) crisis, acute crisis, chronic crisis, and crisis resolution. The present crisis deals with several different malfunctions that were identified, apparently by customers, in various Toyota brands, but publically ignored by Toyota's management. Therefore, the pre‐crisis stage was not appropriately dealt with by Toyota, and the firm was thrust into an acute crisis that has now evolved into a chronic crisis. A brief overview of the historical development of Toyota is presented, and an analysis of the present crisis situation in which the firm found itself is presented in some detail.FindingsIt was concluded that Toyota is now in a very difficult position in the chronic crisis stage due to the failure of its management to facilitate a timely response to the malfunctions of its vehicles.Originality/valueThe paper presents an excellent example of crisis mismanagement by a previously recognized world leader.
Role of web site design quality in satisfaction and word of mouth generation
Authors: Ha Young , Im Hyunjoo 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine a comprehensive model explaining how web site design influences consumer's emotional and cognitive responses and contributes to satisfaction and word‐of‐mouth (WOM) communication in an online shopping context.Design/methodology/approachA total of 804 female college students completed an online survey after browsing one of two mock web sites developed to manipulate web site design quality.FindingsWeb site design quality showed positive direct effects on pleasure, arousal, and perceived information quality and indirect effects on satisfaction and WOM intention. Pleasant shopping experience increased positive perceptions and satisfaction. The results also showed that satisfaction mediated the relationship between emotional and cognitive responses and positive WOM intention.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough an online survey was used to increase the reality of an online shopping experience, uncontrolled conditions may have influenced the results of the study. Further research needs to be conducted in a laboratory setting to control these factors.Originality/valueThe paper theoretically extends the applicability of the stimulus‐organism‐response paradigm to satisfaction and electronic WOM intention research and fills the gap in the current online shopping literature. The paper also offers valuable information to online retailers to maximize consumer satisfaction and generate positive WOM using web site design.
Joining mechanisms and mechanical properties of PA composites obtained by selective laser sintering
Authors: Bassoli Elena , Gatto Andrea , Iuliano Luca 
Published: March 2012

PurposeAdditive manufacturing is today a viable industrial solution alongside traditional processes. Techniques like selective laser sintering (SLS) address the issues of digital production and mass customization in a variety of materials. Composite parts can be obtained with specific functional and mechanical properties. Building orientation during additive manufacturing often causes anisotropy of parts' properties that is still unspecified in technical information. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanical performances and failure mechanisms of an aluminium‐filled polyamide and of a new alumina‐polyamide composite produced by SLS, in comparison with unfilled PA.Design/methodology/approachA specific focus is set on the evaluation of primary and secondary anisotropy in the case of metal or ceramic filler, as well as on the specific contribution of powder distribution modes and joining phenomena. Macroscopic mechanical tests and the observation of joining and failure micro‐mechanisms are integrated.FindingsThe results prove the absence of relevant anisotropy amongst specimens that are produced with the axis parallel to the plane of powder deposition. Samples whose axis is parallel to the growth direction Z, instead, reveal a significantly different response with respect to other orientations.Originality/valueAn original explanatory model is assumed and validated, based on an anisotropic distribution of the reinforcing particles during parts' production, which determines the efficacy of the strengthening mechanisms during crack propagation.
Polysilicon nanogap fabrication using a thermal oxidation process
Authors: Dhahi T.S. , Hashim U. , Ali M.E. , Taib Nazwa 
Published: March 2012

PurposeNanogap electrodes have important applications in power saving devices, electrochemical sensors and dielectric detections of biomolecules. The purpose of this paper is to report on the fabrication and characterization of polysilicon nanogap patterning using novelties technique.Design/methodology/approachPolysilicon material is used to fabricate the nanogap structure and gold is used for the electrode and two chrome masks are used to complete this work; the first mask for the nanogap pattern and a second mask for the electrode. The method is based on the control of the coefficients (temperature and time) with an improved pattern size resolution thermal oxidation.FindingsPhysical characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrates such nanogap electrodes could be produced with high reproducibility and precision. Electrical characterization shows that nanogap enhanced the sensitivity of the device by increase the capacitance and the conductivity as well. They have also good efficiency of power consumption with high insulation properties.Originality/valueWith this technique, there are no principal limitations to fabricating nanostructures with different layouts down to several different nanometer dimensions. The paper documents the fabrication of nanogaps electrodes on a polysilicon, using low‐cost techniques such as vacuum deposition and conventional lithography. Polysilicon is a low‐cost materials and has desirable properties for semiconductor applications. A method of preparing a nanogap electrode according to the present innovation has an advantage of providing active surface that can easily be modified for immobilizations of biomolecules.
A review on effect of minor alloying elements on thermal cycling and drop impact reliability of low‐Ag Sn‐Ag‐Cu solder joints
Authors: Abdul Ameer Shnawah Dhafer , Faizul Bin Mohd Sabri Mohd , Anjum Badruddin Irfan , Said Suhana 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the reliability of board level Sn‐Ag‐Cu (SAC) solder joints in terms of both thermal cycling and drop impact loading conditions, and further modification of the characteristics of low Ag‐content SAC solder joints using minor alloying elements to withstand both thermal cycle and drop impact loads.Design/methodology/approachThe thermal cycling and drop impact reliability of different Ag‐content SAC bulk solder will be discussed from the viewpoints of mechanical and micro‐structural properties.FindingsThe best SAC composition for drop performance is not necessarily the best composition for optimum thermal cycling reliability. The content level of silver in SAC solder alloys can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the application, package and reliability requirements. The low Ag‐content SAC alloys with different minor alloying elements such as Mn, Ce, Bi, Ni and Ti display good performance in terms of both thermal cycling and drop impact loading conditions.Originality/valueThe paper details the mechanical and micro‐structural properties requirements to design a robust bulk SAC solder joint. These properties provide design and manufacturing engineers with the necessary information when deciding on a solder alloy for their specific application.
The Arab Spring, MNEs, and virtual public spheres
Authors: Benmamoun Mamoun , Kalliny Morris , Cropf Robert A. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeAlthough multinational enterprises (MNEs), according to John Dunning's work, are driven by motives of ownership, location, internalization and, ultimately, higher returns, these business entities, by virtue of their transnational products and services, and extensive reach and resources, provide direct and indirect mechanisms that can shape political and social outcomes. This paper seeks to explore those mechanisms in the context of the so‐called “Arab Spring”, the popular uprising that has ensued in a number of Arab countries. The paper also aims to explore virtual public spheres, the platform from which the Arab Spring was launched, and which owes much to the presence of MNEs.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is grounded on the theoretical construct of the virtual public sphere. The approaches taken are that of a general review and secondary research.FindingsThe main findings of this paper are three‐fold. First, in the examination of the role of MNEs and the virtual public sphere in the Arab Awakening, it is found that the new information and networking technologies have already made a sizable impact in terms of paving the way toward political and social changes. Second, it is found that foreign investments in Arab media, mobile, and internet markets are dominantly regional. Third, behind the social media phenomenon in the Arab world are “born‐global” American firms (MNEs), notably Facebook, Inc., Twitter, Inc., and Google, Inc.Originality/valueMost research on the Arab Spring has not incorporated the likely distinctive influence of MNEs. In addition, the paper highlights the association between regional and transnational orientations of business activities of multinational firms and political outcomes.
Why MNCs tend to concentrate their activities in their home region
Authors: Wolf Joachim , Dunemann Till , Egelhoff William G. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe current paper seeks to analyze to what degree theories from different fields of social science are able to explain the home‐region orientation of MNCs. This is necessary since there has been only a relatively narrow, economics‐oriented explanation for such an orientation.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is based on a thorough review of the literature that refers to a MNC's home‐region orientation and on different theories from the social sciences.FindingsThe paper shows that several theories from economics, psychology, and sociology are able to explain an MNC's home‐region orientation.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper contributes to the development of a more multi‐faceted explanation of why MNCs generally prefer a home‐region orientation. The paper derives propositions that are consistent with each theory. These propositions can be tested empirically in subsequent research studies.Originality/valueThe paper discusses a number of different theories and streams of research that can be used to conceptually explain and gain insight into the phenomenon of a home‐region orientation for MNCs
Challenges and remedies of manufacturing enterprises in developing countries
Authors: Sami El‐Khasawneh Bashar 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe paradigm shift in global competition and the resulting business challenges have led manufacturing enterprises, particularly in the developing world, to take a different look at their operations. Responding to this climate meant reassessing their competitive advantage, and re‐engineering their business models and operations. The purpose of this paper is to discuss many of these new challenges and present potential solutions from the practitioner point of view.Design/methodology/approachThis paper discusses many of these new challenges and presents potential solutions. The results are from interviews with the enterprise managers and owners.FindingsThe issues are divided into three categories based on who can manipulate them: regional and international, national, and enterprise factors. The level of enterprises' ability to respond to these issues varies from full control to partial or no control. Nevertheless, issues' impact could be minimized by certain adopted polices and action plans.Practical implicationsThe paper creates a guiding compass for developing countries' manufacturing enterprises, by which they can navigate around the arising challenges, in a well‐rounded, comprehensive overview.Originality/valueThe paper lays a foundation for a road map for researchers and practitioners to assist small and medium‐sized enterprises in becoming more competitive and improving their survivability, in a well‐rounded, comprehensive way.