bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Numerical modelling of a slope stability test by means of porous media mechanics
Authors: Sanavia Lorenzo 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a finite‐element analysis of the initiation of a slope failure in a small‐scale laboratory test due to pore pressure variation. To this aim, a fully coupled multiphase model for saturated/partially saturated solid porous materials based on porous media mechanics is used.Design/methodology/approachThe slope is described as a three‐phase deforming porous continuum where heat, water and gas flow are taken into account. The gas phase is modelled as an ideal gas composed of dry air and water vapour. Phase changes of water, heat transfer through conduction and convection and latent heat transfer are considered. The independent variables are: solid displacements, capillary pressure, gas pressure and temperature. The effective stress state is limited by Drucker‐Prager yield surface for the sake of simplicity. Small strains and quasi‐static loading conditions are assumed.FindingsThe paper shows that the multiphase modelling is able to capture the main experimental observations such as the local failure zone at the onset of slope failure and the outflow appeared in that zone. It also allows understanding of the triggering mechanisms of the failure zone.Research limitations/implicationsThis work can be considered as a step towards a further development of a suitable numerical model for the simulation of non‐isothermal geo‐environmental engineering problems.Practical implicationsThe multiphysics approach looks promising for the analysis of the onset of landslides, provided that the constitutive models for the multiphase porous media in saturated/unsaturated conditions and the related mechanical and hydraulic properties are described with sufficient accuracy.Originality/valueElasto‐plastic thermo‐hydro‐mechanical modelling of the initiation of slope failure subjected to variation in pore pressure boundary condition.
Optimization of non‐convex water resource problems by honey‐bee mating optimization (HBMO) algorithm
Authors: Bozorg Haddad O. , Afshar A. , Mariño M.A. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the honey‐bee mating optimization (HBMO) algorithm tested with, first, a well‐known, non‐linear, non‐separable, irregular, multi‐modal “Fletcher‐Powell” function; and second, with a single hydropower reservoir operation optimization problem, to demonstrate the efficiency of the algorithm in handling complex mathematical problems as well as non‐convex water resource management problems. HBMO and genetic algorithm (GA) are applied to the second problem and the results are compared with those of a gradient‐based method non‐linear programming (NLP).Design/methodology/approachThe HBMO algorithm is a hybrid optimization algorithm comprised of three features: simulated annealing, GA, and local search. This algorithm uses the individual features of these approaches and combines them together, resulting in an enhanced performance of HBMO in finding near optimal solutions.FindingsResults of the “Fletcher‐Powell” function show more accuracy and higher convergence speed when applying HBMO algorithm rather than GA. When solving the single hydropower reservoir operation optimization problem, by disregarding evaporation from the model structure, both NLP solver and HBMO resulted in approximately the same near‐optimal solutions. However, when evaporation was added to the model, the NLP solver failed to find a feasible solution, whereas the proposed HBMO algorithm resulted in a feasible, near‐optimal solution.Originality/valueThis paper shows that the HBMO algorithm is not complicated to use and does not require much mathematical sophistication to understand its mechanisms. A tool such as the HBMO algorithm can be considered as an optimization tool able to provide alternative solutions from which designers/decision makers may choose.
An assessment of the Gurson yield criterion by a computational multi‐scale approach
Authors: Giusti S.M. , Blanco P.J. , de Souza Netoo E.A. , Feijóo R.A. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the Gurson yield criterion for porous ductile metals.Design/methodology/approachA finite element procedure is used within a purely kinematical multi‐scale constitutive modelling framework to determine estimates of extremal overall yield surfaces. The RVEs analysed consist of an elastic‐perfectly plastic von Mises type matrix under plane strain conditions containing a single centered circular hole. Macroscopic yield surface estimates are obtained under three different RVE kinematical assumptions: linear boundary displacements (an upper bound); periodic boundary displacement fluctuations (corresponding to periodically perforated media); and, minimum constraint or uniform boundary traction (a lower bound).FindingsThe Gurson criterion predictions fall within the bounds obtained under relatively high void ratios – when the bounds lie farther apart. Under lower void ratios, when the bounds lie close together, the Gurson predictions of yield strength lie slightly above the computed upper bounds in regions of intermediate to high stress triaxiality. A modification to the original Gurson yield function is proposed that can capture the computed estimates under the three RVE kinematical constraints considered.Originality/valueAssesses the accuracy of the Gurson criterion by means of a fully computational multi‐scale approach to constitutive modelling. Provides an alternative criterion for porous plastic media which encompasses the common microscopic kinematical constraints adopted in this context.
Nodal ordering for bandwidth reduction using ant system algorithm
Authors: Kaveh A. , Sharafi P. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeFor the solution of equations with sparse matrices, the problem of bandwidth reduction is an important issue. Though graph theoretical algorithms are available, the purpose of this paper is to examine the feasibility of ant systems (AS).Design/methodology/approachFor band optimization an ant colony algorithm based on AS is utilized. In this algorithm a local search procedure is also included to improve the solution.FindingsAS algorithms are found to be suitable for bandwidth optimization.Originality/valueApplication of AS to the bandwidth reduction is the main purpose of this paper, which is successfully performed. The results are compared to those of a graph theoretical bandwidth optimization algorithm.
Marketing strategy antecedents of value adding by foreign subsidiaries
Authors: Pehrsson Anders 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to extend the knowledge of marketing strategy antecedents of industrial value adding in foreign markets. It attempts to answer the following two questions: how is the marketing strategy of a foreign subsidiary associated with the extent of its value‐adding activity? Is there an association between the extent of value‐adding activity and financial performance of the subsidiary?Design/methodology/approachA model is developed and hypotheses are tested. Data are collected from 191 subsidiaries of Swedish manufacturing firms in Germany, the UK, and the USA.FindingsProduct‐market breadth and market experience positively affect the extent of foreign value adding. Also, market experience has a moderating effect and strengthens the positive association between product‐market breadth and the extent of value adding. A foreign subsidiary's financial performance is positively associated with the number of value‐adding activities of the subsidiary.Research limitations/implicationsThe study shows that the marketing strategy of a foreign subsidiary needs to be acknowledged to understand the antecedents of foreign value‐adding activity. In addition, the extent of value‐adding activity contributes to the implementation of an effective international strategy.Practical implicationsAn industrial firm wanting to implement an effective international marketing strategy needs to pay attention to the links between the marketing strategy of a foreign subsidiary and the extent of the subsidiary's value‐adding activity.Originality/valueThe study is unique in that it applies a subsidiary perspective and focuses on foreign subsidiary strategy associations. The study both extends the common approach, which argues that the value adding of a foreign subsidiary is determined only by the corporate marketing strategy, and explores associations with foreign subsidiary performance.
Brand identity documentation: a cross‐national examination of identity standards manuals
Authors: Jordá‐Albiñana Begoña , Ampuero‐Canellas Olga , Vila Natalia , Rojas‐Sola José Ignacio 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the key features of an identity standards manual and assess the differences in the rules used for applying the brand to both low‐ and high‐context cultures, companies selling consumer goods and those selling services, and multinational and local companies.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is based on the analysis of 341 identity standards manuals and on the analysis of three key features found in the manuals: contents, normative tone, and development.FindingsThe results divide the contents of the manual into two blocks: core and peripheral; and show that there are differences between the manuals of high‐ and low‐context cultures, companies selling consumer goods and those selling services, and multinational and local companies.Research limitations/implicationsType I errors could have been introduced and the conclusions must be regarded as tentative.Practical implicationsThe findings show that applying the brand at an international level requires a strategy of adaptation which takes into account the particular nature of each culture.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the debate on standardization/adaptation of the signs of visual identity (name, logo, and color) in global marketing, by studying the rules used in applying the brand and discussion of the documents which contain them.
Is branding creating shareholder wealth for banks?
Authors: Ohnemus Lars 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to analyse, from a shareholder perspective, the link between branding and financial performance. The paper focuses, in the European context, on situations in which shareholder wealth is created or destroyed, and this is measured by using return on assets or market‐to‐book value as a performance benchmark.Design/methodology/approachThe investigation is designed as a quantitative study and is based on responses obtained from 847 listed banks including 480 located in Europe. There is an analysis of the correlation between branding and shareholder value, by means of regression analysis. Deductions are made for key variables including capital structure, ownership and capital market ratios.FindingsThe regression analysis indicates that there are different strategic branding phases and there is correlation between branding and shareholder value. Each phase has its own strategic implications for shareholders, with value either being created or destroyed.Research limitations/implicationsThe data deal with secondary accounting information submitted in annual reports and are based primarily on European or US‐based banks, which mean that the conclusions and generalizations cannot necessarily be applied to other industries, products or on a global scale.Originality/valueThis is the most comprehensive quantitative study so far conducted in the field of branding and shareholder value in the banking sector, thus providing unique insight into the strategic branding phases with which banks have to contend. Academics and practitioners, including board members, are offered guidance and a conceptual framework for assessing whether branding activities are generating satisfactory financial results for their investors. Furthermore, it also documents that banks with the right balance between branding and overall operating expenditures can achieve a significantly higher return on assets, which can be a decisive factor in achieving a competitive edge in a crowded and competitive market place.
On the application of quality management concepts in education
Authors: Mehra Satish , Rhee Munsung 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the role of quality management concepts towards enhancing classroom learning.Design/methodology/approachUndergraduate and graduate students in business discipline were asked for their views about cooperative learning. Collected data were analyzed using factor analysis to arrive at specific focus areas to improve learning.FindingsIt is found that specific quality management concepts can assist towards increased classroom learning for students.Originality/valueThis research broadens the scope of the applicability of quality management tools for enhanced students learning across varied cultural settings.
Assessing information quality in manufacturing planning and control processes
Authors: Gustavsson Mattias , Wänström Carl 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to define dimensions for describing information quality deficiencies and to describe forecast and customer order information quality deficiencies on various manufacturing planning and control levels.Design/methodology/approachThe purpose is fulfilled through the following steps: firstly, a literature review on information quality in manufacturing planning and control processes is conducted and the dimensions for describing information quality deficiencies are identified and defined, secondly, three case studies are presented in order to describe the phenomena in the companies' various manufacturing planning and control levels.FindingsA gross list of ten dimensions were defined from the literature and used in describing information quality deficiencies in forecasts and customer orders of three different cases.Originality/valueInformation quality deficiencies in manufacturing planning and control processes has been the subject of little research so far, despite the fact that the studied processes are extensively dependent on the input information. The contribution lies in the defined and exemplified dimensions for describing information quality deficiencies as a first step towards an information quality assessment model for manufacturing planning and control.
Multi‐response unreplicated‐saturated Taguchi designs and super‐ranking in food formulation improvement
Authors: Besseris George J. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to examine product formulation screening at the industrial level in terms of multi‐trait improvement by considering several pertinent controlling factors.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts Taguchi's orthogonal arrays (OAs) for sufficient and economical sampling in a mixture problem. Robustness of testing data is instilled in this method by employing a two‐stage analysis where controlling components are investigated together while the slack variable is tested independently. Multi‐responses collapse to a single master response has been incurred according to the Super Ranking concept. Order statistics are employed to provide statistical significance. The slack variable influence is tested by regression and nonparametric correlation.FindingsSynergy among Taguchi methodology, super ranking and nonparametric testing was seamless to offer practical resolution to product component activeness. The concurrent modulation of two key product traits due to five constituents in the industrial production of muffin‐cake is invoked. The slack variable, rich cream, is strongly active while the influence of added amount of water is barely evident.Research limitations/implicationsThe method presented is suitable only for situations where industrial mixtures are investigated. The case study demonstrates prediction capabilities up to quadratic effects for five nominated effects. However, the statistical processor selected here may be adapted to any number of factor settings dictated by the OA sampling plan.Practical implicationsBy using a case study from food engineering, the industrial production of a muffin‐cake is examined focusing on a total of five controlling mixture components and two responses. This demonstration emphasizes the dramatic savings in time and effort that are gained by the proposed method due to reduction of experimental effort while gaining on analysis robustness.Originality/valueThis work interconnects Taguchi methodology with powerful nonparametric tests of Kruskal‐Wallis for the difficult problem of non‐linear analysis of mixtures for saturated, unreplicated fractional factorial designs in search of multi‐factor activeness in multi‐response cases employing simple and practical tools.
The importance of customer focus for organizational performance: a study of Chinese companies
Authors: Cai Shaohan 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe main objective of this paper is to empirically investigate the linkage among organizational customer orientation, customer relationship practices, and organizational outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe sampling frame of the study consists of 143,000 Chinese companies, each with revenue of more than 5 million RMB (Chinese currency). The target companies were randomly selected from 29 Chinese provinces using the stratified probability proportional to sizes (PPS) method. Structure equation modelling was utilized to analyze data.FindingsIt is found that organizational customer orientation affects customer relationship practices, which subsequently influence production performance and customer satisfaction. Production performance and customer satisfaction lead to financial performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has some limitations that provide directions for future research. Data were only collected from China. Therefore, the research findings might reflect unique aspects of Chinese companies. Caution should be exercised when generalizing these research findings to other nations. The study also focused only on manufacturing firms' customer focus practices.Practical implicationsCompanies need to promote customer orientation in their organization, in order to successfully implement customer relationship practices. Only when they effectively utilize the knowledge that they collect to improve production performance can they enhance customer satisfaction and their financial outcomes.Originality/valueThe paper maintains that customer focus practices should consist of two elements: organizational customer orientation and customer relationship practices. This offers new directions to researchers and practitioners for improving customer focus practices.
The impact of audit quality on earnings predictability
Authors: Hussainey Khaled 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of audit quality, measured by financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms, on the investors' ability to predict future earnings for profitable and unprofitable firms.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses the returns‐earnings regression model and interacts all independent variables in this model with a dummy variable, AUDIT, which is set to equal one if financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms, zero otherwise. Future earnings response coefficient is the measure of earnings predictability.FindingsThe paper finds that investors are able to better anticipate future earnings when financial statements are audited by the big four accounting firms. However, the findings are not applicable for unprofitable firms.Practical implicationsThe findings of the paper have implications for auditing related academic research and the users of financial statements. In particular, the study shows that the big four accounting firms have not lost their audit quality advantage and that financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms are arguably of higher quality than those audited by non‐big four accounting firms.Originality/valueIt is believed that there is no UK study to date examining the association of the quality of financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms and the returns‐earnings association. Consequently, this paper significantly contributes to the limited literature on the perceived value relevance of audit quality.
Intangible asset contribution to company performance: the “hierarchical assessment index”
Authors: Grimaldi Michele , Cricelli Livio 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to define a theoretical model that assesses and measures the intangible asset contribution to company performance. The model keeps in focus the most meaningful elements that reflect the success factors, crucial to company business strategy and value creation.Design/methodology/approachThe model adopts a hierarchical structure. The strategic intangible assets of the company have been divided into value drivers; a series of measurement indicators have been selected to describe the characteristics of each aspect of the intangible company performance. The measurements obtained from numerical indicators, which express the totality of the results achieved by the organizational strategies, are combined to create the hierarchical assessment index (HAI), by assessing quantitative and qualitative company features, through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).FindingsThe HAI identifies the sources of added value and competitive advantage in each business context; it traces the subordination of every element on company performance, and singles out those intangible assets that improve the company performance, at every level of the hierarchy.Practical implicationsThe HAI provides guidelines to understand what are the key intangible factors to create the value of the company and suggests the implementation of corrective strategies.Originality/valueThe HAI is the expression of the combination of the objective measurements of intangible assets with the subjective contributions by the managers. In fact, besides the numerical results of the performance of every element in the hierarchical structure, the managers' opinions about the significance of their performance are also considered. Thus, objective and subjective evaluations jointly contribute to suggest the way to achieving the expected objectives.
Accounting for intellectual capital: a comparative analysis
Authors: Brännström Daniel , Giuliani Marco 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to understand how many and what intangible assets firms from two different contexts disclose in order to comprehend whether an accounting harmonization is actually reached in practice and what are the eventual hurdles to surmount in order to reach it.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative and quantitative analysis of the purchase analyses disclosed by the Swedish and Italian listed companies in their financial statements refering to the first year of application of the IFRS3 is conducted.FindingsThe main findings are the following. First, firms do not disclose intangible assets in the same way. Second, contracts become a useful tool to make it possible to account for IC. Third, the disclosure of labels shows a variety. Fourth, differences in behavior are seen.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation is that only a sample of firms (the listed ones in the SSE and MTA/MTAX) that apply IFRS3 is investigated. The main implication is that the disclosing of IC in financial statements is problematic and makes harmonization difficult to achieve. The empirical deepening of these two conclusions represents opportunities for future researchers.Originality/valueThe research is an investigation of the first year of application of a new accounting principle from an inter‐country comparison considering it as an opportunity to disclose more IC and consequently to contribute to the debate about how and what IC should be disclosed.