bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An examination of the relationship between manufacturing flexibility and firm performance
Authors: Camisón César , Villar López Ana 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test the mediating role of three types of innovation (product, process, and organizational) in the relationship between manufacturing flexibility and performance.Design/methodology/approachBuilding on the resource‐based view, the paper examines the indirect effects of manufacturing flexibility on organizational performance considering product, process, and organizational innovation as mediating variables. A sample of 159 Spanish firms is taken to test the proposed theoretical model through structural equations modeling using the partial least squares approach.FindingsThe effect on organizational performance of adopting a flexible productive system is mediated by incorporating product, process, and organizational innovation. This paper calls for caution in defending flexible manufacturing systems as universally efficient solutions, and argues that their productivity is linked to the complementary introduction of organizational and technological innovations.Practical implicationsFirms that pursue manufacturing flexibility should develop innovation capabilities to obtain an improvement in organizational performance. Therefore, managers should bear in mind that the mere fact of adopting a flexible manufacturing system will not guarantee improvements in firm performance. If manufacturing flexibility is to help improve company performance, managers should use this flexibility to generate organizational capabilities based on product, process, and organizational innovations, since these are capabilities that can create competitive advantages.Originality/valueOperations management literature has not reached a consensus about the effect of manufacturing flexibility on organizational performance. This paper helps both academics and managers to gain a better understanding of this question by considering the mediating effect of three types of innovation (product, process, and organizational) in this relationship.
Aligning talent management with approaches to equality and diversity
Authors: Harrisr Lynette , Foster Carley 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation of talent management interventions in UK public sector organisations.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws upon the findings of a qualitative study of talent management in two UK public sector case study organisations.FindingsImplementing talent management was found to present particular tensions for public sector managers, particularly in terms of its alignment with well‐embedded diversity and equality policies and their own perceptions of fair treatment in the workplace. Despite an acknowledgement that the sector needs to attract, develop and retain the most talented individuals to achieve its modernisation agenda, interventions which require singling out those individuals for special treatment challenges many of its established practices for recruitment and selection, employee development and career management.Practical implicationsPublic sector organisations need to invest both time and effort into developing appropriate and relevant approaches to talent management, which take proper account of line managers' perceptions of fair treatment and established organisational approaches to diversity and equality.Originality/valueTalent management is a topic of growing interest from employers concerned about their work force demographics, specific skills shortages and the retention of high potential employees but the concepts that inform talent interventions are often unclear or are an uneasy fit with the beliefs and understandings about fair treatment of those who have to implement them.
The moderating effect of gender in the adoption of mobile banking
Authors: Riquelme Hernan E. , Rios Rosa E. 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThis paper seeks to test the factors that can influence adoption of mobile banking among current users of internet banking in Singapore and gender as a moderating variable.Design/ methodology/ approachA sample of more than 600 current users of electronic banking provided opinions about their intention to use mobile banking, perceptions of relative advantage of the mobile device, perception of risk, social norms, ease of use and usefulness of the device for banking purposes. The data were submitted to LISREL for structural equation modeling.FindingsUsefulness, social norms and social risk, in this order, are the factors that influence the intention to adopt mobile banking services the most. Ease of use has a stronger influence on female respondents than male, whereas relative advantage has a stronger effect on perception of usefulness on male respondents. Social norms (or the importance of others in the decision), also influence adoption more strongly among female respondents than male.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample is biased towards people who are currently using internet for banking. However, mobile banking innovators may not come mainly from current users of internet banking.Practical implicationsSince gender plays a moderating role in the perception of ease of use, social norms and relative advantage, companies are advised to target their communication tactics according to gender. Social norm is more important to females than males as well as ease of use, whereas, relative advantage is more important for males.Originality/ valueThe study purposefully uses gender as a moderator and risk as an independent variable not often considered in previous studies.
Can conflict management be an antidote to subordinate absenteeism?
Authors: de Reuver Renee , van Woerkom Marianne 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between supervisors' conflict strategies and subordinates' affective commitment and absenteeism.Design/methodology/approachTo test the hypotheses, the authors conducted a survey of 173 higher educated employees in consulting and staff functions. They measured supervisory conflict management by asking subordinates to rate the conflict strategy of their superior. For the measurement of absenteeism the officially recorded sick leave figures of days per year were used.FindingsThe results show a pure mediating effect of commitment in the relationship between supervisory integration strategy and absenteeism. The non‐confrontation strategy is negatively related to commitment, but neither directly nor indirectly related to absenteeism. There is no direct or indirect (through commitment) relationship between the supervisory controlling strategy and absenteeism.Practical implicationsSuggestions for absence management and management development are offered.Originality/valueThe work advances the thinking on supervisory cooperative and competitive behavior and the operating mechanisms between this behavior and employee work attitudes and behavior.
Efficiency and utility: an evolutionary perspective
Authors: Mann Stefan , Wüstemann Henry 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop the argument that the link between efficiency and utility was strongest in the twentieth century. This would not only explain the growing focus on efficiency in the past, but also suggest that the importance of efficiency in society is set to decrease from now on.Design/methodology/approachThe two arguments in support of the claim were: first, the growing importance of the service sector where an exaggerated focus on efficiency may decrease utility and second, the utility that is generated by different working environments and identities where heterogeneity is increasing.FindingsGood reasons are found why the strong correlation between utility and efficiency that could be found in the process of industrialization is loosening.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings imply that the role of economic science is probably rather decreasing.Social implicationsSocial indicators for utility will probably gain importance.Originality/valueThis paper puts the importance of efficiency into a historical context.
Diaspora, social entrepreneurs and community development
Authors: Dhesi Autar S. 
Published: July 2010

PurposeIn view of significance of social entrepreneurial activity for community development, the purpose of this paper is to attempt to identify attributes of social entrepreneurs and philanthropists among returning successful diaspora in North Indian villages. Philanthropists are defined by the fact that they only invest money, whereas the social entrepreneurs invest their activities as well. An attempt is also made to ascertain key determinants and processes influencing outcomes of social entrepreneurial activity with a view to facilitate it.Design/methodology/approachEmphasis is on qualitative analysis based on interviews of scientifically sampled respondents. However, the paper suggests that the rational choice approach is inappropriate to address the issue of community development. An approach based on a broader view of man in works of some classical economists like Adam Smith is more useful.FindingsThe results of empirical analysis suggest that there exist substantial factors, such as early socialization, experience in community work, education and health, that differentiate social entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Salience of relationship between formal and informal institutions, personal traits and social skills of social entrepreneurs in influencing outcomes of social entrepreneurial activity is indicated. By investing moral and material resources in communities, social entrepreneurs augment social capital and facilitate social action. In contrast, philanthropists may add to distortions in community functioning, especially if they opt to operate through largely dysfunctional formal local institutions due to structural impasse in rural areas.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper pertains to Indian Punjab, an area with a long history of emigration. However, researchers need to take into account distinct socio‐economic conditions in Punjab when designing studies for other areas.Practical implicationsPolicy measures addressing hurdles in the way of social entrepreneurial activity can speed up the modernization of traditional communities.Originality/valueThe paper adds to understanding of what motivates human behaviour in economic analysis of community development. Further, it makes an important distinction between the roles of the philanthropist and the social entrepreneur in community development. The paper would be useful to researchers desirous of doing similar exercises in other areas.
E‐book readers and college students
Authors: Massis Bruce E. 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThere is evidence that the percentage of students in the higher education environment in the USA who will be using technology everyday in 2010 could reach nearly 100 percent. With such a possibility looming, will the plethora of e‐book readers or hand‐held multi‐functional devices designed to download and read e‐books change the reading habits of our students? The purpose of this paper is to discuss the present state of e‐book readers and consider their potential impact on the academic environment.Design/methodology/approachThe approach taken is a literature review and commentary on this topic that is now being addressed by cost‐conscious colleagues.FindingsThe e‐book reader that becomes the standard will win the day appealing to college students by virtue of its cost and the variety of features that allow them the ability to retrieve the largest number of accessible materials to support their coursework.Originality/valueThe value is in addressing this issue is to keep fresh the discussion on this topic and its potential impact on college students.
Resisting HRD's resistance to diversity
Authors: Bierema Laura L. 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically illustrate how human resource development (HRD) resists and omits issues of diversity in academic programs, textbooks, and research; analyze the research on HRD and diversity over a ten‐year period; discuss HRD's resistance to diversity; and offer some recommendations for a more authentic integration of diversity into HRD research, teaching, and practice.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyzes common HRD textbooks and refereed diversity research over a ten‐year period to examine the amount of HRD research is being conducted in the area of diversity.FindingsThe paper found that HRD overwhelmingly omits diversity topics, in contradiction to its claims of “diversity” as a legitimate part of the field. The paper concludes that HRD's omission of diversity is a form of resistance since fundamentally addressing diversity threatens HRD's performative frameworks and practices.Practical implicationsThe paper has implications for scholars and practitioners who are interested in not only producing more robust diversity scholarship, but also improving practice. The paper challenges HRD researchers to more systematically examine diversity and practitioners to be more cautious consumers of diversity practices.Originality/valueThe paper is original in its premise that HRD resists diversity and in its illustration of how glaring omissions of diversity are in HRD scholarship.
Specific power as objective function in GA optimal design of permanent magnet disc motor
Authors: Cvetkovski Goga , Petkovska Lidija , Gair Sinclair 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe application of the analysed permanent magnet disc motor (PMDM) is in electric vehicle and therefore there are several objectives that could be tackled in the design procedure, such as an increased efficiency, reduced total weight of the motor or increased power/weight ratio (specific power). The purpose of this paper is to perform an optimal design of a PMDM using specific power as objective function. In the design procedure performed on the PMDM, genetic algorithm (GA), as an optimisation tool is used.Design/methodology/approachThe created optimal design programme genetic algorithm for optimal design of electrical machines is using the GA as an optimisation tool. According to the design characteristics of PMDM, some of the parameters are chosen to be constant and some variable. A comparative analysis of both motor models based on the values of some specific parameters is performed.FindingsFrom the comparative data analysis of both motor models, it can be concluded that the main objective of the optimisation is realised, and that is achieved by a reduction of the total weight of the motor, as well as the increase of the torque, as a result of which the specific power is increased.Originality/valueAn optimisation technique based on GAs has been developed and applied to the design of a PMDM. According to the results investigated above, it can be concluded that the GA is a very suitable tool for design optimisation of PMDM and electromagnetic devices in general. The quality of the GA optimised model has been proved through the data analysis of the prototype and optimised solution. At the end, the quality of the GA solution has been again proved by comparative analysis of the two motor models using FEM as a performance analysis tool.
Induction thermoelastic actuator with controllable operation regime
Authors: Doležel I. , Kotlan V. , Krónerová E. , Ulrych B. 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a new device (thermoelastic actuator) for accurate control of position whose principle is based on thermal dilatation of its working unit brought about by induction heating.Design/methodology/approachThe device must satisfy the prescribed operation parameters (mainly the above thermal dilatation). The task to find them is a multiply coupled problem (interaction of electromagnetic field, temperature field and field of thermoelastic displacements) that is solved by the finite element method supplemented with a number of other procedures.FindingsThe control of position based on the described thermoelastic effect is very accurate and ranges from 1×10−6 to 1×10−3 m.Research limitations/implicationsThe device also contains two self‐locking friction clutches of conical shapes whose purpose is to fix the position of the plunger in the prescribed position. Further attention should be paid to their dynamic behaviour during the process of fixing.Practical implicationsThe device can be used in various technical domains such as optics and laser or microscope techniques.Originality/valueThe principal part of the device contains no movable element, which is a substantial advantage in comparison to other systems based on mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic principles working with movable elements or media.
Computer modelling of magnetotherapy in orthopedic treatments
Authors: Miaskowski Arkadiusz , Krawczyk Andrzej , Ishihara Yoshiyuki 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to clarify the method/methodology of establishing a computer model of the electromagnetic therapy connected with some knee joint problems. Two cases are considered: the arthritis of the knee and the fracture of bone. In both cases the analysis of eddy current distribution in the knee is made. It gives results which can be helpful in the planning of treatment. The paper presents the exemplary results of eddy current distribution inside a bone. A short discussion on the safety aspect of magnetotherapy has been carried out.Design/methodology/approachIn order to calculate the eddy current distribution in human knee joint the low frequency finite‐difference time‐domain algorithm has been applied. The numerical model of the leg was based on US Air Force Research Laboratory data and the electrical properties of tissues were modeled using 4‐Cole‐Cole approximation with parameters taken from Gabriels.FindingsThe paper presents the general methodology which can be used in magnetotherapy to estimate a magnetic flux density of stimulators and value of current density inside the knee joint. Both factors mentioned above can be helpful in therapeutical processes, i.e. in magnetoteraphy.Research limitations/implicationsThe eddy current distribution is limited to the presented model and it is obvious it can be different for another one as it is shown in the paper but it is also shown that the biggest value of eddy current density is just in the vicinity of the joint, so it can help in a therapeutical process.Practical implicationsThe methodology of estimating the values of current density and magnetic flux density can be used by physiologists and doctors to determine the value of current density which gives therapeutical effect.Originality/valueThe efficient application of low frequency finite‐difference time‐domain algorithm to the electromagnetic therapy connected with some knee joint problems has been shown and the general methodology has been conducted.
Simulation of acoustic radiation of an AC servo drive
Authors: Franck David , van der Giet Michael , Hameyer Kay 
Published: July 2010

PurposeNowadays, the determination of the acoustic radiation of electric machines is of particular interest, because legal regulations restrict the maximum audible noise radiated by technical devices such as electrical machinery. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the electromagnetic excited structure‐borne sound and air‐borne noise of an AC servo drive.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents the required steps for the multiphysics acoustic simulation of electrical machines to evaluate its noise behaviour. This numerical approach starts with the electromagnetic force‐wave simulation. The computation by a structure dynamic model determines the deformation of the mechanical structure due to the force‐waves. The final step of the simulation approach consists of the computation of the acoustic radiation.FindingsFor the electromagnetic simulation analytical and numerical methods are combined to gain some acceleration of the entire multiphysics simulation approach. This combination offers additionally a detailed understanding of the noise generation mechanism in electrical machines.Originality/valueParticular attention is paid to the structural‐dynamic model. Modelling of microstructures, such as the laminated iron core or insulated coils, is memory and computational expensive. A systematic material homogenisation technique, based on experimental‐ and numerical modal analyses, yields a higher accuracy at lower computational costs when compared to standard numerical approaches. The presented multiphysics simulation is validated by measurements. The methods are presented by means of a case study.
Dielectric‐EBG covered conical antenna for UWB applications
Authors: Kliros George S. , Kyritsis George , Touzloudis Dimos 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate of the ultra‐wide band (UWB) characteristics of a conical antenna covered by an electromagnetic band‐gap (EBG) structure composed of alternating high‐ and low‐permittivity dielectric spherical shells.Design/methodology/approachA finite difference time domain in spherical coordinates is implemented in order to characterize the antenna's performance and waveform fidelity in case an UWB pulse is used. The method of projected effective permittivity is used in order to treat accurately the dielectric interfaces between the dissimilar spherical shells.FindingsThe design achieves a very wide impedance bandwidth above 5.5 GHz and presents UWB radiation characteristics and high average gain over the whole bandwidth. The radiation patterns are monopole‐like and their frequency dependence is small in the whole UWB frequency band. A time domain study has shown that the antenna distorts the excitation pulse in a moderate way.Originality/valueIn this paper, a quasi‐planar wideband conical antenna coated on a dielectric EBG structure is proposed for what is believed to be the first time. It is mechanically stable and, relatively easy to build and integrate with the planar circuits.
Service experiences in hospitals in Bangladesh: are there gender inequities?
Authors: Saad Andaleeb Syed , Millet Ido 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe disparities faced by women, especially in Bangladesh, have a long and contentious history. From education and employment to health care and other social products, the marginalization of women has been stark. This paper aims to examine whether women experience poorer services than men in the hospitals in Bangladesh.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted in both public and private hospitals in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. The sample comprised 305 randomly selected respondents. Using statistical and data mining techniques, the authors test the hypothesis and identify interesting data patterns.FindingsSurprisingly, very few differences were found between the service experiences of male and female patients. While the literature would predict differently, given the disparities that women generally experience, on most service quality attributes female patients were at least as well‐served as male patients.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings may be unique to the sample from the capital city where hospital users may be more affluent and are provided better service without gender inequity.Practical implicationsThe findings raise intriguing questions. Among the various possibilities the authors surmise the following: there may be deeper systemic changes underway that are reflected in service providers' attitudes toward women. It is possible that women have lower expectations from the service providers; thus, their ratings are at par with those of men even if they actually received poorer services.Originality/valueThis is probably a unique study in that it focuses on gender effects on perceived service quality in a hospital setting in Bangladesh