bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Width optimization of global inductive VLSI interconnects
Authors: Kaushik Brajesh Kumar , Sarkar S. , Agarwal R.P. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThe performance of a high‐speed chip is highly dependent on the interconnects, which connect different macro cells within a VLSI chip. Delay, power dissipation and cross‐talk are the major design constraints for high performance VLSI interconnects. The importance of on‐chip inductance is continuously increasing with higher clock frequency, faster on‐chip rise time, wider wires, ever‐growing length of interconnects and introduction of new materials for low resistance interconnects. In the current scenario, interconnect is modeled as an RLC transmission line. Interconnect width optimization plays an important role in deciding transition delay and power dissipation. This paper aims to optimize interconnect width for a matched condition to reduce power and delay parameters.Design/methodology/approachWidth optimization is done for two sets of interconnect terminating conditions, namely active gate and passive capacitance. SPICE simulations have been used to validate the findings.FindingsFor a driver interconnect load model terminated by an active gate load, a trade‐off exists between short circuit and dynamic power in inductive interconnects, since with wider lines dynamic power increases, but short circuit power of the load gate decreases due to reduced transient delay. Whereas, for a line terminated by a capacitor, such trade‐off does not exist. Many of the previous researches have modeled the active gate load at the terminating end by its input parasitic gate capacitance.Practical implicationsThis paper shows that such modeling leads to inaccuracy in estimation of power, and therefore non‐optimal width selection, especially for large fan‐out conditions.Originality/valueThe finding is that the impedance matching between transmission line at driver and load ends plays an important role in estimation of overall power dissipation and transition delay of a VLSI circuit.
An empirical study on the impact of standardization of materials and purchasing procedures on purchasing and business performance
Authors: Sánchez‐Rodríguez Cristóbal , Hemsworth David , Martínez‐Lorente Ángel R. , Clavel José G. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeStandardization of materials (i.e. replacement of several materials/components by a single component that has all the functionalities of the materials/components it replaces) is one important purchasing department decision. The primary objective of this study is to examine empirically the impact of standardization of materials and purchasing procedures (standardization in purchasing) on purchasing and business performance.Design/methodology/approachTo address our research problem, a survey instrument was developed and a structural model was hypothesized and tested using structural equation modeling. Data were collected from a field research on a sample of 306 manufacturing companies in Spain.FindingsThe results of this research indicate that standardization in purchasing has a significant positive effect on both purchasing and business performance. Thus, standardizing materials and purchasing procedures is important and may help firms to meet their materials expenditure targets, and increase the quality of materials, on‐time delivery from suppliers, inventory performance, as well as business performance.Research limitations/implicationsOne of the limitations of the study is that the use of a single key informant could be seen as a potential limitation of the study. The study was a cross‐sectional and descriptive sample of the manufacturing industry at a given point in time. A more stringent test of the relationships between standardization in purchasing and performance requires a longitudinal study, or field experiment.Practical implicationsThe empirically validated positive relation of standardization in purchasing to firms' performance, such as that documented in this study, can be very useful for the managers who take the initiative in standardization to promote and obtain the resources needed for the adoption of standardization of materials and purchasing procedures. Standardization in purchasing has, as this study shows, much to offer firms that wish to improve their performance.Originality/valueBecause there is a lack of empirical evidence about the impact of standardization of materials and purchasing procedures (standardization in purchasing) on purchasing and business performance, this paper filled an important gap in the purchasing literature.
Internships at Greek universities: an exploratory study
Authors: Mihail Dimitrios M. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeGreece has the highest youth unemployment rate in the European Union. Even though it is clear that persistent unemployment requires bold measures so as to engage young educated Greeks in the labour market, there is no coherent policy at present targeting that population group, especially university students. This paper explores university student internship as a new labour market institution that has the potential of enhancing youth employability in Greece.Design/methodology/approachIn order to answer the main research questions, an explorative case study methodology was chosen. This paper was based on a series of semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews whose aim was to explore student perceptions of the effects of a current co‐operative education programme launched by the University of Macedonia in Greece.FindingsThe findings of the empirical research indicate that co‐operative education can be used as a vehicle for linking theoretical knowledge and practice, and enhancing student employability upon graduation.Research limitations/implicationsThis is an exploratory study that seeks to analyse a limited number of internships within a university. A large‐scale national survey involving students from various academic disciplines and other universities would result in a more comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of internships in Greece.Practical implicationsThis study has shown that a work‐study programme promoting work opportunities for Greek youth seems to have great value for student employability.Originality/valueGiven the dearth of empirical research on youth unemployment in Greece, this study contributes to debates in the wider academic community on the issue of how to formulate and implement active labour market policies for young, well‐educated Greeks.
The impact of cognitive dissonance on learning work behavior
Authors: Dechawatanapaisal Decha , Siengthai Sununta 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThis research proposes a framework, which identifies the underlying factors that shape learning behavior in the workplace. It takes organizational members' perspectives into consideration to gain better understanding on managing people and their behavior in the organizational learning process.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were obtained through a questionnaire survey of 162 respondents from three organizations that had recently experienced an array of changes.FindingsIt is found that psychological discomfort is a condition that blocks people from acquiring and learning new knowledge during the transformation period. However, effective HR practices are likely to moderate individuals' inconsistent attitudes and unpleasant psychological states as well as enable their learning work behavior.Practical implicationsThe results support the notion that building and managing organizational learning requires basic shifts in how people think, behave, and interact in the process. Effective HR practices can help avoid dissonance and induce learning behavior in the workplace.Originality/valueThe contribution to the literature and business management is its empirical investigation and survey instrument developed to measure the impact of employees' cognitive dissonance as well as that of the HR practices on organizational learning during the change process. These perspectives were taken into consideration since people are regarded as key players in the learning process. The results also confirm the “normative perspective” of organizational learning that the effective learning process can be driven by some underlying factors including cognitive dissonance and HR practices.
Putting Robin Hood out of business: a proceeds of crime case study
Authors: Kennedy Anthony 
Published: June 2006

PurposeTo demonstrate how the range of tools provided in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 can be used in a strategic and integrated way by law enforcement agencies against organised crime groups.Design/methodology/approachThe case study takes the legend of Robin Hood and reworks the story, portraying Robin as a godfather of organised crime.FindingsThe paper shows how a combination of criminal confiscation proceedings, civil recovery proceedings, cash forfeiture proceedings, taxation action and money laundering charges can be used in an effective way against an organised crime group. It demonstrates how law enforcement should not just focus on taking away the liberty of criminals but how they should also focus on criminal assets and criminal markets.Originality/valueThe paper presents a strategic view of dealing with organised crime in an imaginative and humorous way.
International legal war on the financing of terrorism
Authors: Chukwuemerie Andrew I. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine certain important aspects of the domestic laws of Nigeria, the UK, the USA and Canada with a view to pointing out the remarkable differences capable of affecting adversely the war on terror.Design/methodology/approachAnalyses the domestic laws of all four countries with a view to pointing out the remarkable differences capable of affecting adversely the war on terror.FindingsDespite the obvious zeal and commitment with which nations and states of the world have set out to wage a legal war on terrorism, particularly the aspect of financing it, and despite the existence of a convention of which they are members, serious disparity exists in the legal frameworks adopted for the war. Even amongst such countries as the UK, the USA and Canada, uniformity of laws and approach is still a far‐fetched idea, a situation that is capable of hurting the international collaboration against terror. There is an urgent need for closer affinity between the laws of such countries while even countries like Nigeria that may not presently consider themselves as serious targets of terrorism need to urgently shirk themselves of such impressions and reform their laws.Originality/valueThe paper makes suggestions as to how the differences in the laws of the four countries may be corrected or down played, and how the international objectives of uniformity of laws may be achieved.
Performance measurement of AMT: a cross‐regional study
Authors: Mora Monge Carlo A. , Subba Rao S. , Gonzalez Marvin E. , Sohal Amrik S. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeTo examine the relationship of performance in advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) to the levels of AMT investments and planning and implementation activities in two regions of America: Anglo‐Saxon (USA and Canada) and Hispanic (Mexico and Costa Rica).Design/methodology/approachSurvey methodology was employed to collect data. The instrument was translated into Spanish for administration in the Hispanic region. Exploratory factor analysis was used to establish discriminant validity of the constructs under investigation. Through multiple regression analysis, predictors for two types of performance (organizational and operational) were examined.FindingsBoth types of performance are reasonably predicted by the AMT investment and planning and implementation factors. Performance predictors are different between the two regions.Research limitations/implicationsThere are limitations common to survey research (e.g. subjective perceptions and respondent bias). Also, results depart from the literature in terms of the predictors for operational and organizational performance. This can be due to other complex relationships among the variables not identifiable by regression analysis. Future work should address this by using more sophisticated statistical tools such as structural equation modeling.Originality/valueThe study can help managers understand the factors leading to a successful AMT implementation. This is one of the first studies on AMT in developing countries; and as such, it should encourage more research in these countries.
Exploring city, county and state e‐government initiatives: an East Texas perspective
Authors: Helen Fagan Mary 
Published: June 2006

PurposeIn order to understand the range of e‐government initiatives that occur in practice, this study aims to explore diverse applications that have involved one locale, the City of Tyler, Texas.Design/methodology/approachThe first case briefly describes the TylerTexas e‐government portal, an initiative that illustrates government‐to‐citizen and government‐to‐business applications. The second case describes a city/county government information technology integration effort that could support government‐to‐government applications if it is successful. Finally, the paper describes TexasOnline, a public‐private state government initiative that may have a large impact on local e‐government projects.FindingsThe paper explores some of the ways in which business process management approaches can help city and civic leaders manage the significant social and technical changes that will be needed to achieve the desired e‐government outcomes.Originality/valueThese examples illustrate many of the opportunities and the challenges involved in e‐government initiatives and, as such, may interest others who engage in similar efforts.
Integrated service delivery
Authors: Daniel Elizabeth , Ward John 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce enterprise portals and show their ability to provide integrated services in the local government domain.Design/methodology/approachThis paper describes the development and early stage deployment of enterprise portals within two country councils in the UK.FindingsIn both cases the portal is seen as a key element of their e‐government activities, enabling the councils to meet Central Government targets in this area. The intention is for the portals to provide a single location for residents, businesses and council staff, wishing to access the online information and transactional services provided by the councils. The portals offer the councils a number of very significant benefits that will improve service delivery to citizens, including the ability to share information across their own directorates and also to improve working with other agencies.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is based on just two organizations, both based in the UK. Although the intention of case study research is not to provide generalisable truths, rather to explore the rich inter‐relationship in a given situation, undertaking further case studies, particularly in different countries, may allow common benefits and experiences to be identified.Practical implicationsMany governments in the developed world have placed significant emphasis on the adoption of e‐business throughout the public sector. The findings of this study will therefore be of interest to those involved in such developments, not just only in the UK but also in all other countries. The study will be of particular relevance to those interested in local government, which, it has been reported, is under‐represented in the e‐government research literature.Originality/valueEnterprise portals are a relatively new development. Despite considerable coverage by vendors and consultants in practitioner journals, there is a paucity of academic papers in this area, with the few papers that have been published being theoretical in nature. The authors are unaware of any previous empirical studies in this domain and believe that this paper, although exploratory, represents one of the first such studies.
China‐bashing in the internet censorship wars
Authors: Gorman G.E. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeTo raise the subject of how most societies carry out internet censorship in some form or another.Design/methodology/approachConcentrates on the sanctimonious views emanating from the USA directed against the PRC. Recommends some authors' work for further reading.FindingsAfter making comparisons between the PRC and the liberal West, feels that one must learn to live with the reality that there are differing national and regional interpretations of what constitutes acceptable content.Originality/valueA strong and thought‐provoking personal view of a contentious subject.
On the metaphorical nature of intellectual capital: a textual analysis
Authors: Andriessen Daniel 
Published: June 2006

PurposeTo analyse common metaphors used in the intellectual capital (IC) and knowledge management literatures to conceptualise knowledge, in order to study the nature of the intellectual capital concept.Design/methodology/approachA textual analysis methodology is used to analyse texts fromThe Knowledge‐Creating Companyby Nonaka and Takeuchi,Working Knowledgeby Davenport and Prusak and “Brainpower” by Stewart, in order to identify underlying metaphors.FindingsOver 95 per cent of the statements about knowledge identified are based on some kind of metaphor. The two dominant metaphors that form the basis for the concept of intellectual capital are “knowledge as a resource” and “knowledge as capital”.Research limitations/implicationsMetaphors highlight certain characteristics and ignore others, so the IC community should ask itself what characteristics of knowledge the “knowledge as a resource” and “knowledge as capital” metaphors ignore.Practical implicationsKnowledge has no referent in the real world and requires metaphor to be defined, conceptualised, and acted upon. When using such metaphors we should become aware of their limitations as they steer us in certain directions and this may happen unconsciously. The paper concludes by asking whether we need new metaphors to better understand the mechanisms of the knowledge economy, hence allowing us to potentially change some of the more negative structural features of contemporary society.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to highlight that intellectual capital is a metaphor and that the metaphorical nature of the concept has far reaching consequences.
Monitoring of parasitological contamination in treated wastewater from activated sludge system
Authors: Cutolo Silvana A. , Matté Maria H. , Rocha Aristides A. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThe goal of this paper is to detect helminth eggs in treated wastewater for sanitary control, using them as biological indicators of wastewater quality.Design/methodology/approachSamples were taken from the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Metropolitan Area. To concentrate the samples, centrifugation‐flotation on 33 percent zinc sulphate was applied.FindingsThe study revealed the constant presence of helminth eggs as Ascaris sp., Enterobius sp., Hymenolepis sp., and Strongyloides sp.Originality/valueThe results indicate that helminth eggs can be used as bioindicators for sanitary control of treated wastewater to be reused in urban areas.
Attitudes and perceptions of construction workforce on construction waste in Sri Lanka
Authors: Kulatunga Udayangani , Amaratunga Dilanthi , Haigh Richard , Rameezdeen Raufdeen 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThe construction industry consumes large amounts of natural resources, which are not properly utilised owing to the generation of waste. Construction waste has challenged the performance of the industry and its sustainable goals. The majority of the causes underlying material waste are directly or indirectly affected by the behaviour of the construction workforce. Waste occurs on site for a number of reasons, most of which can be prevented, particularly by changing the attitudes of the construction workforce. Therefore, the attitudes and perceptions of the construction workforce can influence the generation and implementation of waste management strategies. The research reported in this paper is based on a study aimed at evaluating the attitudes and perceptions of the construction workforce involved during the pre‐ and post‐contract stages towards minimising waste.Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire survey was carried out to understand and evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of the workforce. Four types of questionnaires were prepared for project managers/site managers, supervisors, labourers, and estimators.FindingsThe findings indicate the positive perceptions and attitudes of the construction workforce towards minimising waste and conserving natural resources. However, a lack of effort in practising these positive attitudes and perceptions towards waste minimisation is identified. The paper further concludes that negative attitudes towards subordinates, attitudinal differences between different working groups, and a lack of training to reinforce the importance of waste minimisation practices have obstructed proper waste management practices in the industry.Originality/valueThe paper reveals the effect of the attitudes and perceptions of the construction workforce towards waste management applications, which would be of benefit to construction managers in designing and implementing better waste management practices.
A study on the impact of environmental management system (EMS) certification towards firms' performance in Malaysia
Authors: Eng Ann Goh , Zailani Suhaiza , Abd Wahid Nabsiah 
Published: June 2006

PurposeTo investigate the impact of EMS certification on the performance of firms, including economic and environmental aspects and perceived customer satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachThe purpose of this study is hypotheses testing in order to explain the variance in the dependent variable (firms' performance in terms of economic and environmental aspects) by establishing the nature of the relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variables through the testing of the hypotheses.FindingsThe results reveal that certification impacts positively on both the environmental and economic performance of enterprises. Respondents perceived “enhanced corporate image” to be the strongest impact of certification, and they believe that the benefits obtained from EMS certification far outweigh the cost of its implementation.Research limitations/implicationsThe study only surveyed ISO 14001‐certified firms. Future research should include non‐certified firms.Practical implicationsTo improve the quality of the environment there needs to be a partnership between government, businesses and the community.Originality/valueISO 14001 certification has a positive impact on firms' performance, specifically on perceived economic impact, perceived environmental impact and perceived customer satisfaction. By failing to perceive a marketing opportunity from using this well‐known standard, firms can lose market share.
Cusum modelling of the dynamics of process performance improvement programmes
Authors: Owen Neil R.H. , Towill Denis R. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeTo evaluate the Cusum model as a means of rapid trend detection and dynamic response classifier in a low signal/noise environment.Design/methodology/approachThe method used was the design and implementation of an IT system for automatic on‐line monitoring of press operator performance.FindingsOperators engaged following an in‐house skills enhancement programme display a wide range of performance profiles.Research limitations/implicationsIdentifies opportunities for further management investigation of working practices identified as leading to regression plus operators obviously learning to “work smarter, not harder”.Practical implicationsA range of novel performance templates based on the Cusum model have been derived and tested on 18 press operators.Originality/valueThe Cusum model is already well established in the literature. This case study shows that the model can be readily exploited via automatic operator performance monitoring and subsequent classification.