bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Welfare mix, CSR and social citizenship
Authors: Moreno Luis 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reflect on those “meeting points” and “encountering places” where the action of individuals, families, corporations, NGOs and public policies can optimize the advancement of social citizenship within the European context.Design/methodology/approachAn analysis of the worlds of welfare capitalism is contrasted with a corporate social responsibility (CSR) typology of policy governance. It serves the purpose of highlighting not only institutional arrangements and operational welfare rationales, but also value‐systems and cultural tenets shaping commonalities and diversities in public policy governance in the European Union.FindingsConsiderations are made on the impacts that both the global order and the “new social risks” (NSR) have for the promotion of CSR and the advancement of social citizenship. The case of the reconciliation of work and family life illustrates how CSR might induce a greater role for businesses in welfare development.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is needed to establish the linkages between the welfare regime approach and the models of public policy supports for CSR.Originality/valueThe paper is original in its theoretical linking of welfare mix, CSR and social citizenship with regard to the improvement of citizens’ living conditions.
CSR and the “undeserving”: a role for the state, civil society and business?
Authors: Parkes Carole , Scully Judy , Anson Susan 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the conceptual lens of corporate social responsibility (CSR), business and civil society can be used to explore “less popular causes” (in this case, a community‐based public sector empirical study of initiatives with offenders) and, in particular, respond to the question used by Walzer “In which society can lives be best led?”Design/methodology/approachThis is a formative and summative evaluation study of a National Offender Management “community payback” offender scheme based in the UK using a mixed method, predominantly qualitative approach that integrates theory and practice.FindingsThe paper finds that citizenship actions of front‐line public sector employees, working in partnership with other agencies in the community, embody the essence of Walzer's notion of CSR and civil society by going beyond the call of duty to provide additional training and moral support for the community offenders.Originality/valueThe paper contributes towards an understanding of how CSR and civil society debates can inform wider aspects of public policy and business through its application to areas of society that are perceived to be “challenging” and “undeserving”.
Marginal intra‐industry trade and adjustment costs in the first phase of transition
Authors: Fertő Imre , Attila Soós Károly 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe aim of the paper is to investigate some dynamic aspects of the smooth adjustment hypothesis (SAH) associated with intra‐industry trade (IIT). The structure of trade expansion in Hungary and Poland over the period 1990‐1998 and its implications for labour market adjustment is examined.Design/methodology/approachThe paper applies an econometric approach and considers three‐digit International Standard Industry Classification classified data. The paper uses a model developed by recent empirical literature, both in static and dynamic forms and tests whether the results are sensitive for the choice of length of period and marginal intra‐industry indices.FindingsThe econometric analysis suggests that changes in domestic consumption and productivity have significant influence on employment changes. Significant and negative relationships were found between trade openness and employment changes. The calculations provide some evidence to support SAH, especially for Poland. However, the effects of IIT on employment changes are small especially to additional hypotheses. The estimations show that partial trade liberalisation in Hungary and Poland has led to lower adjustment costs.Originality/valueThe paper is one of the first to focus on labour market adjustment costs in transition countries. Its results also reveal that the estimations on the impacts of trade liberalisations should be interpreted only with care due to sensitivity on the length of time period and applied econometric techniques.
Obesity and motor vehicle deaths in the USA: a state‐level analysis
Authors: Simmons Walter O. , Zlatoper Thomas J. 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the linkage between obesity and motor vehicle deaths.Design/methodology/approachThe paper specifies a model that explains highway fatalities, which accounts for obesity in its set of potential determinants. State‐level data are utilized in this paper. The values for all variables are for the year 2005. They correspond to 46 of the contiguous states for all measures. The model is estimated by multiple regressions.FindingsThe paper finds that the motor vehicle death rate (fatalities per million vehicle miles) has a statistically significant positive relationship with the percentage of the population that is obese. The death rate also has significant positive associations with the percentage of elderly male drivers, per capita alcohol consumption, and temperature; and it has significant negative relationships with per capita income, the percentage of elderly female drivers, seat belt use, and precipitation.Practical implicationsThe estimates of this paper have various policy implications. For example, the findings pertaining to occupant body weight imply that efforts leading to a decline in the prevalence of obesity will also lower the highway death risk. Results suggest that obesity increases this death risk by contributing to more accidents. If so, measures that reduce obesity‐related unsafe driving behaviors (e.g. increased chance of falling asleep while driving) could save lives.Originality/valueThe paper adds to the research on the relationship between highway safety and obesity. The paper's unique contributions include estimating the linkage between obesity and motor vehicle deaths by regression analysis on US state‐level data for 2005 within a model that controls for economic conditions and other considerations such as driver and passenger characteristics, locational factors, government regulations, and weather conditions.
Banking development, human capital and economic growth in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA)
Authors: Hakeem I. Mobolaji 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relevance of three economic growth theories in Sub‐Saharan Africa economies.Design/methodology/approachThis empirical paper employs a panel data framework, using fixed effect, random effects and maximum likelihood estimation techniques. It further conducts some sensitivity analyses.FindingsThe paper finds that both the stock of human capital (HC) and the physical capital are important for growth in the region, the paper does not find strong impact of financial development (FD) in the region, perhaps due to long period of financial repression or financial underdevelopment in the region. It however finds strong complementarity features in interaction of both finance and HC on growth.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis in the paper is confined to banking development indicators, due to inadequate data for capital market indicators as well as underdevelopment of the stock market in the region.Practical implicationsThe policy regime since the mid‐1980 s (Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, era) is to reduce government investment and involvement in economic activities; this paper however suggests that this measure has to be carefully considered especially with due concern for the trade off between short‐run adjustment programmes and long‐run stabilisation policies. The paper advocates for more efficient and effective investment in HC and FD in the region.Originality/valueIt is believed that this is the first time such a study has been carried out, testing the relevance of three growth theories and further testing an interaction of two different theories in a growth model.
Automated assembly innovations at the 2009 Assembly Expo
Authors: Bloss Richard 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to review automated assembly technology at the Assembly Technology Expo.Design/methodology/approachAssembly Expo is the feature show, which is combined with five other manufacturing, shows in Chicago at the same venue. In‐depth interviews with exhibitors of automated systems, system integrators as well as suppliers of related components motion elements, laser markers were conducted.FindingsAutomated assembly cells continue to be more flexible, modular, as well as better suited for smaller lot orders and include more real time inspection capabilities.Practical implicationsUsers who investigated automated assembly solutions in the past and found they did not meet applications requirements may find it is time to revisit automation.Originality/valueThe paper shows that automated system builders and system integrators are providing more suitable solutions that can better address application needs in a more cost‐effective manner than ever before.
A robotic welding system using image processing techniques and a CAD model to provide information to a multi‐intelligent decision module
Authors: Sanders David A. , Lambert Gareth , Graham‐Jones Jasper , Tewkesbury Giles E. , Onuh Spencer , Ndzi David , Ross Carl 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to propose a system that uses a combination of techniques to suggest weld requirements for ships parts. These suggestions are evaluated, decisions are made and then weld parameters are sent to a program generator.Design/methodology/approachA pattern recognition system recognizes shipbuilding parts using shape contour information. Fourier‐descriptors provide information and neural networks make decisions about shapes.FindingsThe system has distinguished between various parts and programs have been generated so that the methods have proved to be valid approaches.Practical implicationsThe new system used a rudimentary curvature metric that measured Euclidean distance between two points in a window but the improved accuracy and ease of implementation can benefit other applications concerning curve approximation, node tracing, and image processing, but especially in identifying images of manufactured parts with distinct corners.Originality/valueA new proposed system has been presented that uses image processing techniques in combination with a computer‐aided design model to provide information to a multi‐intelligent decision module. This module will use different criteria to determine a best weld path. Once the weld path has been determined then the program generator and post‐processor can be used to send a compatible program to the robot controller. The progress so far is described.
A desktop virtual reality‐based integrated system for complex product maintainability design and verification
Authors: Gaoliang Peng , Yu Haiquin , Xinhua Liu , Yang Jiang , He Xu 
Published: October 2010

PurposeMaintainability is the ability of a product system to be maintained and is a design characteristic. The paper aims to provide an integrated system for complex product maintainability design and verification. It includes processes and tools that can be effectively used to plan, quantify and cost maintenance.Design/methodology/approachAn integrated platform for maintainability design and verification is designed. A case‐based reasoning method of maintainability design and Extensible Markup Language‐based representation of maintenance procedure information are presented.FindingsThe paper finds that the proposed system is an efficient tool for complex product maintainability design and verification.Practical implicationsEarly and effective planning and implementation of a maintainability program can significantly improve the reliability and availability of product system.Originality/valueA desktop virtual reality application for product maintainability design and verification is presented.
Pipe‐assembly approach for aero‐engines by modified particle swarm optimization
Authors: Liu Qiang , Wang Chengen 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to present a modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO) approach for automatic generation of near‐optimal pipe routes in constrained aero‐engine 3D rotational space.Design/methodology/approachPipe assembly for aero‐engine is formulated as searching for the optimal pipe paths meeting certain objectives in a constrained 3D rotational space. The routing space is first modelled by grid discretization in the cylindrical coordinate system, and then is simplified into several 2D planes by mapping development. The objective function is formulated to minimize the pipe lengths and the number of pipe turns, to place pipes next to the inner jacket as close as possible, and also to make pipe trajectories closely follow around obstacle contours while avoiding collisions. Then, an MPSO approach, which adopts a discrete operator and a fixed‐length encoding mechanism, is developed to seek optimal solutions to the objective function. The convergence of MPSO is theoretically proved. Finally, numerical computations of pipe‐routing examples are conducted by using Matrix Laboratory and Unigraphics NX 4.0 system, which demonstrates effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method.FindingsResults show that MPSO can quickly find the optimal pipe routes meeting certain engineering constraints, and also manifests better computation convergences.Practical implicationsThe application of the MPSO approach in pipe routing for aero‐engines is demonstrated. MPSO is a general modified particle swarm optimization version that it is not restricted to the pipe‐routing problems, and the routing approach can also be applied in similar path‐planning problems such as robot path‐planning and very large‐scale integration design.Originality/valueThe paper develops a new formulation for aero‐engine pipe‐routing problems, and presents an MPSO approach to find the optimal pipe paths.
An approach to find task sequence for re‐balancing of assembly lines
Authors: Ağpak Kürşad 
Published: October 2010

PurposeCycle time fluctuations in assembly lines are one of the important reasons of re‐balancing. As a result of re‐balancing of assembly lines, it will be necessary to change task sequences or equipment locations. The purpose of this paper is to find the task sequence which enables assembly line balancing (ALB) with minimum number of stations (NS) for different cycle times such that tasks and equipment or fixture locations remain unchanged.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper a heuristic which consist of two stages is proposed to find a common task sequence for different cycle times in assembly lines.FindingsIt is shown that optimal NS for different cycle times can be achieved with a fixed task sequence.Research limitations/implicationsThe approach is limited to a single model case. Model variety together with cycle time variety can be investigated in further studies.Practical implicationsAssembly lines which require less time and cost for re‐balancing can be easily designed by the proposed approach.Originality/valueALB problem is handled with a new viewpoint. Also, it is observed that the proposed approach serves as a bridge between assembly line design and balancing. In this regard, it is thought to have an important place in the ALB literature.
Applications and extensions of quality function deployment
Authors: Zare Mehrjerdi Yahia 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to review the fundamental concept of quality function deployment (QFD) and discusses the fact that a road to success for a new product development is the identification of customers' requirements and their conversion into engineering design requirements. Thereafter, it seeks to review the subject and to study four new cases on the topic of QFD.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses key elements of QFD and the fact that the vision for the development of a comprehensive quality system can be built upon the principles of QFD taking customer requirements into consideration and relating that to the design requirements.FindingsTo make product development task successful and bringing competitive advantages to the core business, management must be committed to the needs of the customers through marketing surveys and implementing that into the process of product development by converting them into engineering design requirements.Practical implicationsThe method has been used successfully in practice in areas such as: facility locations, marketing strategies, robot selection, ERP selection, software development, and sports.Originality/valueThe paper reviews QFDs, and its extensions such as fuzzy QFD, analytic hierarchy process, analytic network process and QFD, statistically extended QFD, dynamic QFD, and other extensions of that. In addition to that, cases covering topics of: ship of quality, cost‐design parameter modeling, enhanced version of the quality function development, financial factors and uncertainties in the product design process with fuzzy formulation, and a model for prioritizing and designing rule changes for the game of soccer, are also reviewed.
Financial development and economic growth: evidence from the European Union
Authors: Halkos George E. , Trigoni Marianna K. 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to detect the relationship between finance and growth in the European Union countries, by searching the direction of causations.Design/methodology/approachThe growth of real sector is expressed by real GDP per capita growth (dgdpcap), while the size of the financial system by the ratio of domestic credit to GDP (domcregdp). The deposit rate and inflation are used as indexes of monetary policy. This paper estimates vector autoregressive models, based on the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and the Schartz criterion (SC) criteria and cointegration tests are conducted. To test for stationarity, the paper uses Im, Pesaran and Shin (IPS) test. In case with variables are integrated of order one I(1), the paper tests whether they are cointegrated using Pedroni's methodology.FindingsIn the short run, the size of the financial system does not directly seem to affect growth, although its increase seems to lead to an increase in the deposit rate and consequently to a decrease in real GDP per capita. However, according to the vector error correction estimates, the significance of the error correction coefficients implies that there is a relationship between real sector, financial sector and monetary policy in the long run.Originality/valuePedroni's methodology, which allows for heterogeneity across members and residual serial correlation, is used for the first time, in Europe, regarding the above‐mentioned variables. According to the results, there seems to be a long‐term relationship, between finance, growth and monetary policy.
Arithmetic mean: a bellwether for unbiased forecasting of portfolio performance
Authors: Missiakoulis Spyros , Vasiliou Dimitrios , Eriotis Nikolaos 
Published: October 2010

PurposeWe know that estimates of terminal value of long‐term investment horizons are biased. Unbiased estimates exist only for investment horizon of one time‐period. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a method based on the arithmetic mean in order to obtain unbiased estimates for the terminal value of long‐term investment horizons.Design/methodology/approachThe method used for the investigation was to employ loss functions or error statistics. Namely, the mean error, the mean absolute error, the root mean squared error, and the mean absolute percentage error was used.FindingsThe suggested method produced the closest values to the actual ones than any other suggested averaging method when the authors examined ten‐year investment horizons for Standard & Poor's 500 index and on Dow Jones Industrial index.Practical implicationsPortfolio managers and individual investors may use this paper's suggestion if they wish to obtain unbiased estimates for investment horizons greater than one time‐period.Originality/valueThe suggestion to equate the time‐period of the observed data to the time‐period of the investment horizons is novel and useful to practitioners since it produces unbiased estimates.
Marketing a consumer durable brand in Malaysia: a conjoint analysis and market simulation
Authors: Sim Ong Fon , Kitchen Philip J. , Shiuan Chew Shih 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to use conjoint analysis to examine how Malaysian consumers make decisions regarding a consumer durable product – namely room air conditioners – under multi‐cue situations.Design/methodology/approachThis study first assesses the impact of a priori perceived differences between brand names, country of manufacture, price, quality, technological advancement, and warranty on product evaluation. Second, the relative importance of the attributes as evaluative criteria is determined by performing part worth analysis. Six pertinent hypotheses are developed and tested. Conjoint analysis is used to develop product profiles that respondents could evaluate via a survey. This is followed by a market simulation to suggest marketing strategies for Malaysian and Japanese products (the latter dominate the Malaysian market).FindingsThe findings indicate the importance of capitalising upon consumer durables' intrinsic qualities, and the need to carefully consider the relationship between price and quality. Ways to take advantage of the strength of foreign brand names need to be understood and operationalised. The simulation exercise also indicates ways in which indigenous and external competitors could take advantage of market opportunities.Research limitations/implicationsThe study does place in a Malaysian context, and moreover used a convenience sampling approach. The need is demonstrable for more representative probabilistic sampling. While country of origin effects are understood, other criteria (i.e. design, assembly, and source) need to be considered in future studies.Practical implicationsIt is felt that the approach utilised and the simulations developed can be applied in other geographic and cultural contexts and have implications for marketing strategies for branded consumer durable typologies.Originality/valueThe paper identifies and evaluates strategies for more effective competition in the Malaysian room air conditioner market. The use of conjoint analysis and market simulation provides a basis for competitive advantage in a tightly focused market sector.
Consumer perceptions of extended warranties and service providers
Authors: Albaum Gerald , Wiley James 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to assess consumer perceptions of extended warranties that are marketed by the manufacturer for an independent service provider as applied to the purchase of a computer by mail catalog, telephone ordering, or the internet.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive survey of a large sample of consumers in the USA was conducted using data collection by the internet. Measurement was responses to eight Likert scales of agreement and two demographic items.FindingsSignificant differences between perceptions of females and males were observed. Overall, there was no relationship between perceptions and age, although there were significant differences for some scale items. There were no interaction effects of gender and age. A major finding is that although service is provided by an independent service company, consumers believe it to be provided by the manufacturer.Originality/valueThis is the first known examination of the specific research questions underlying the study.