bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A research agenda for loss prevention
Authors: Guthrie John , Guthrie Anna 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to draw attention to an area of research that has considerable potential for academic researchers in the disciplines of retailing and distribution studies.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology adopted was an overview of existing literature with a view to identifying possible trends in research in the area of loss prevention.FindingsThe paper identifies an extensive body of existing literature and provides an indication of areas for future research in loss prevention.Practical implicationsThe implications of these key issues are significant to the measurement of shrinkage in terms of the scope across the business from which shrinkage needs to be considered. This finding highlights the need to consider shrinkage as a systemic issue that extends across a business from design, through planning to operational execution. It also identifies the impact of shrinkage on increasing cost and depressing sales and considers the responsibility of management teams in addressing these matters.Originality/valueThis paper is an original discussion on the topic and thus of value to the academic community. It is also of value to the practitioner community as it highlights the importance of developing relationships with the academic community.
The role of perceived risk in pricing strategy for industrial products: a point‐of‐view perspective
Authors: Hunt James M. , Forman Howard 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this research paper is to examine the role corporate and individual risk (from the point of view of the pricing manager) plays in developing pricing strategies.Design/methodology/approachManagerial professionals in two graduate business programs were used to assess riskiness associated with pricing strategies. Grounded in attribution theory, t‐tests were used to compare the different types of risk associated with the various pricing strategies.FindingsThe findings suggest that pricing managers will view risk from different perspectives (i.e. corporate and individual) and that this “point of view” should have an impact on the pricing strategies selected.Research limitations/implicationsResearch limitations include the use of graduate students in lieu of actual pricing managers. However, this research is a first step in examining the different perspectives of risk that may be taken by managers.Practical implicationsPricing managers and organizations alike should be made aware of how a point‐of‐view perspective regarding risk can have a significant impact on selecting pricing strategies. The results of the study could provide guidance for corporations so that they can make sure pricing managers have the “correct” point of view regarding the riskiness of pricing strategies.Originality/valueThe research is the first to identify and examine the different risk perspectives. This provides value for academic research because it is the first in the area of risk regarding the different perspectives.
The oral epic and the web site: a story of convergence
Authors: Clougherty R.J. 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThe paper seeks to illustrate the way in which internet and hyper‐text practices reflect ancient and classical literary practice, both of which differ from linear published manuscripts.Design/methodology approachThe essay traces the shifts and alterations in the transformations from oral text and protonarrative, through manuscripts, printed texts, hyper‐text. It then compares the narrative structures and practices of ancient epics with contemporary web site design.FindingsThe essay argues that the linear printed narrative was a deviation from ancient practices which are being recovered in the use of the web; such that the web is actually a return to more traditional forms.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are the interpretations and mediation of common patterns.Practical implicationsThe essay posits a new continuity of literary history from ancient pre‐writing to contemporary hypertext.Originality/valueHyper‐text and the web have been primarily viewed as a technology which strongly deviates from established communication norms, whereas this essay seeks to initiate discourse through its re‐examination.
Review of Storytelling in Daily Life: Performing Narrative by Langellier and Peterson
Authors: McDowell Kate 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThis review seeks to evaluate the book Storytelling in Daily Life by Langellier and Peterson.Design/methodology/approachThis book presents an analysis of storytelling as a communication practice. The authors analyze stories collected from the field to show how they conform to and resist common understandings of what storytelling is, does, and means.FindingsThis review finds that the book will be engaging for communications scholars and others interested in critical theoretical approaches to storytelling.Originality/valueProvides a synopsis of the theoretical approach, topics, and audience for this book, pointing out its value for those interested in academic approaches to storytelling.
Review of Storytelling in Organizations: Why Storytelling Is Transforming 21st Century Organizations and Management by John Seeley Brown
Authors: Comstock Sharon L. 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThis is a review of Storytelling in Organizations: Why Storytelling Is Transforming 21st Century Organizations and Management by John Seeley Brown.Design/methodology/approachThis review looks at the applications of storytelling, as described by the authors of the book reviewed, in the context of a larger storytelling revival.FindingsThis review finds value in the advocacy of storytelling in contexts where it has often been neglected. Nevertheless, it criticizes the authors of the book for their lack of awareness of work on storytelling done in other fields.Originality/valueThis will help place the revival of narrative in corporate settings within the larger context of storytelling as an art.
Reliability‐redundancy optimization using simulated annealing algorithms
Authors: Kim Ho‐Gyun , Bae Chang‐Ok , Park Dong‐Jun 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThis paper aims to present a simulated annealing (SA) algorithm to search the optimal solution of reliability‐redundancy allocation problems (RRAP) with nonlinear resource constraints.Design/methodology/approachThe developed SA algorithm is coded in C++ and is applied to reliability design problems which include the series system (P1(a) and P1(b)), the series‐parallel system (P2), and the complex (bridge) system (P3). The numerical experiments are executed on an IBM‐PC compatible with a Pentium IV 2.0 GHz. The results are compared with those of previous studies.FindingsThe SA algorithm can find better solutions comparable to the previous studies in all problems except the problem P1(b). The difference on the order of 10−4 between the best and worst for all problems indicates good solution convergence of the SA algorithm. Note that the CPU times for these problems are within a few seconds by Pentium IV 2.0 GHz (P1(a) =2.78 sec, P1(b) =3.37 sec, P2=1.38 sec, and P3=1.40 sec).Originality/valueThe application of the SA is expanded to the RRAP, which can help reliability engineers design the system reliability.
Reliability design of industrial plants using Petri nets
Authors: Bertolini M. , Bevilacqua M. , Mason G. 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThe paper aims to develop a new methodology for reliability modelling able to use the data collected in an FMECA analysis to simulate the reliability behaviour of a complex system and the effects of different maintenance policies.Design/methodology/approachA new methodology has been developed, that combines the FMECA analysis with the Petri nets, oriented graphs able to simulate the behaviour of complex systems with concurrent events. This approach was tested on a case study in API oil refinery in Falconara Marittima (AN, Italy).FindingsBy using data collected during an FMECA analysis as input for a Petri net, it is possible to obtain important reliability parameters that describe the behaviour of the system, such as MTTR, MTBF, availability of the plant/machine. It is possible to perform what‐if analysis observing how the reliability parameters change depending on changes in preventive maintenance policies.Research limitations/implicationsIn the case study proposed it was not necessary to simulate on condition maintenance. Even if the approach here described is able to do that, it would be interesting to evaluate the methodology presented also in other case studies. The approach described can be used as a starting point to develop techniques of optimization of preventive and on condition maintenance.Practical implicationsThe application of the methodology of a case study demonstrated its practical effectiveness, obtaining data very close to experimental ones. This approach is able to provide useful data that help maintenance managers in scheduling maintenance activities and assessing their effect on the behaviour of the whole system.Originality/valueThe methodology presented shows a new solution for reliability modelling of complex industrial systems and represents the first combination of Petri nets with FMECA technique.
Stochastic performance evaluation for multi‐task processing system with software availability model
Authors: Tokuno Koichi , Yamada Shigeru 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThe paper seeks to provide new stochastic measures for evaluating software reliability and performance characteristics comprehensively.Design/methodology/approachThe time‐dependent behavior of the software system itself alternating between operable and inoperable states is described by a Markov process. Then several software performance measures when the arrival process of tasks follows a homogeneous Poisson process can be derived with the infinite‐server queuing theory.FindingsProvides a new evaluation method for understanding software reliability‐related performance quantitatively. Presents a way to decide the testing time duration to satisfy the software performance requirement based on the model.Research limitations/implicationsProduction of the reasonable method for deciding the model parameters characterizing the processing time and the arrival process of the task remains as future study.Practical implicationsMost of the past models have paid attention only to the software failure‐occurrence phenomenon. On the other hand, this model includes the software restoration and the task‐processing characteristics as well and can evaluate customer‐oriented quality. In software project management, this model can provide more useful and comprehensive information than before for software development managers.Originality/valueThis paper introduces the concept of performability into the stochastic software reliability modeling and provides new quantitative evaluation measures considering reliability and performance simultaneously.
Brand origin in an emerging market: perceptions of Indian consumers
Authors: Jin Zhongqi , Kondap N.M. 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThe study aims to examine the usefulness of the brand origin concept in shaping the perceptions of Indian consumers.Design/methodology/approachGuided by recent advance in social identity theory and social motivation theory, a dynamic iterative model of brand origin recognition is proposed. Six hypotheses were tested using a sample of 145 consumers from west of India. Using paired t‐test, average consumer preference of brand origin was analysed for different product categories. A factor analysis with varimax rotation for determining band images was also carried out.FindingsThe results demonstrated that most consumers can recognise the brand origin correctly but the power of recognition decreases when the brand has a long history of “localization”. Distinguished trajectories of consumer perceptions of foreign brands and domestics brands were projected, and this allowed one to extend existing country of origin (CO) research to brand of origin research.Practical implicationsThe results implied that brand origin is a useful concept for companies engaging in an emerging market such as India. But the changing nature of the concept requires careful steering and nurturing if companies want to attach a positive value to its brand via brand origin association.Originality/valueResearch into CO effect has been extensive. However, few studies examine empirically the effect of “brand origin” which is more appropriate in emerging market in today's increasingly competitive global environment. This paper is a first to explore the validity of the concept of brand origin in the Indian market.
Importance of appropriate marketing strategies for sustainability of small businesses in a developing country
Authors: Sengupta Kalyan , Chattopadhyay Atish 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThe study is designed to explore the importance of appropriate marketing strategies for sustainability of small firms in India, a developing economy.Design/methodology/approachA framework based on accepted definition of marketing strategy was developed which could notionally evaluate the appropriateness of marketing strategies and its impact on the market position of the firms. The framework was tested on a set of small scale bakery firms operating in the city of Kolkata. The marketing mix of the firms was studied through case study method. A customer survey was conducted to measure the firms’ market offerings with respect to their target segment. For this, data were collected from 546 consumers and analyzed using multivariate techniques.FindingsIt was observed that the firms, which could align their market offerings with respect to the target segment, achieved higher performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe framework used was easy and simple to comprehend. The only two input components required were the marketing mix elements and a corresponding survey to understand customer perceptions. The interpretation of appropriateness, which is reactive in nature, is important, particularly for small firms where marketing is mostly informal, unplanned, relies on intuition and differs from that of large companies. The marketing mix elements were composed through qualitative observations and interviews only. Further research may be undertaken to refine the same in future.Originality/valueThe current research addresses the issue of interpreting the appropriateness of marketing strategy adopted by a set of small firms.
The implications of management by walking about: a case study of a German hospital
Authors: Beil‐Hildebrand Margitta 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to report on case study research conducted in a German hospital and describe the implications that the “Management by walking about” approach had on healthcare employees. “Management by walking about” is widely seen as one of the favoured procedures for increasing employee commitment and shared understanding as well as supporting high trust work relations.Design/methodology/approachThis case study set out to examine the actual labour processes and the concrete experiences of healthcare employees behind the “Management by walking about” approach in a German hospital. This was achieved by means of a six month field study of day‐to‐day life in the hospital's nursing division.FindingsIn this case study, the popular initiative of “Management by walking about” was used as a means of managerial control and, as such, the internal promotion of soaring values and path‐finding visions was met with both scepticism and cynicism.Practical implicationsPre‐commitment and motivation levels were high among healthcare employees, they were passionate about their healthcare work and they actively engaged in open communication and organisational development. But all this had little to do with “Management by walking about”, and its implications raise questions about its influence on high trust work relations more generally.Originality/valueThe paper concludes that a more critical analysis is necessary to challenge the way in which “Management by walking about” is examined by healthcare management academics and practitioners.
Designing the primary health care centre of the future
Authors: Bowerman Jennifer 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe and assess the process undertaken by Capital Health responsible for planning and developing a new primary care centre in an older urban, and demographically mixed neighbourhood in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Design/methodology/approachThe approach to the paper is to describe how health centres, if they are to be fully effective in terms of meeting community needs, need more than technical excellence; they also need to fit into the community where they are to be located. Primary care centres, through helping people stay healthy and manage their own health in their own communities, can be an essential antidote to the challenges presented by an aging population. The paper uses the Capital Health initiative as a means of demonstrating how a primary care centre can achieve this objective, in terms of design and physical location, as well as planning process.FindingsThe paper describes the process the project planners have developed to enter into dialogue with representatives of the community. The proposed site selected for the clinic was met with some resistance because it was formerly a school built in the 1930s in the middle of a large area of green space and surrounded by mature elms in the midst of a mixed urban residential area. Through an intense two‐way communication process with residents of the area, the plans for the centre are iterative, evolving in such a way that the clinic will not only integrate architecturally and structurally, but better meet the needs of the community it serves.Practical implicationsThe paper has practical implications for anyone interested in designing and locating new health centres in already existing urban communities.Originality/valueDiscusses the issues of building a new primary care centre, while preserving precious green space and considering opinions of local residents.
A measurement scale for product innovation performance
Authors: Alegre Joaquín , Lapiedra Rafael , Chiva Ricardo 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report the results of a study aimed at conceptualising and developing valid measurements for two key dimensions of product innovation performance‐efficacy and efficiency – in the context of firm competition.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from French biotechnology firms. Using structural equations modeling, the constructs’ measurement models were tested and the scale was validated.FindingsThe results of the study indicate that the operational measures developed here satisfy the criteria for unidimensionality, reliability, and validity.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to innovation management research by providing a set of valid and reliable operational measures. These measures are expected to help researchers in theory testing. Because of the sample features, final results should be considered with caution.Practical implicationsThe proposed measurement scale for product innovation performance could be implemented as an innovation audit tool.Originality/valueThis paper provides a new measurement instrument for product innovation performance.
Constructing, enacting and packaging innovations
Authors: Erik Mørk Bjørn , Hoholm Thomas , Aanestad Margunn 
Published: October 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the knowledge generation in a cross‐disciplinary group in Norway that developed a new medical device. The aim is to shed light on how knowledge was generated and how the relationships between different communities of practice were mediated. In particular, the paper seeks to examine how material objects and contextual conditions influenced the innovation process.Design/methodology/approachIn this longitudinal case study an innovation process was followed for five years, and the research material was constructed through extensive observations, interviews and document analysis.FindingsThe innovation process exhibited different themes in varying degrees of blend throughout the process. First, the practices of constructing the device and ascertaining technical feasibility are described. Then the enacted nature of the work is outlined; how it was significantly dependent on circumstantial factors, but also strongly shaped by the need to ensure clinical usability of the device. Finally, the work to package the innovation and turn it into a commercial product is explored.Originality/valueIn contrast with many previous studies, this study follows large parts of the innovation process, and it emphasises how knowing and practice are a result of networked, and changing, relations between both human and non‐human actors. Rather than one community of practice emerging around the innovation work, what can be called an object‐centred assemblage of communities of practice was seen, which grew and changed according to the changing nature of knowledge needs for the project to continue and succeed. This has interesting implications for the understanding of cross‐disciplinary innovation processes.
An AHP approach in benchmarking logistics performance of the postal industry
Authors: Chan Felix T.S. , Chan H.K. , Lau Henry C.W. , Ip Ralph W.L. 
Published: October 2006

PurposeTo develop a new benchmarking process for continuous improvement against the market leader, and report a case study in the postal industry by employing the proposed benchmarking process.Design/methodology/approachA double AHP methodology is developed in this paper to divide benchmarking process into two main parts: performance evaluation and continuous improvement. Both qualitative and quantitative factors have been taken into consideration. The first phase aims at evaluation of the performance of the benchmarked company and its competitors. The second phase aims at finding the best practice from a list of improvement alternatives based on the first phase.FindingsThe proposed framework can evaluate the performance of the case company against its competitors. It can also help the company to select the best improvement alternative for implementation in order to enhance its performance on the weakest measures.Originality/valueThe proposed benchmarking process in this paper can help the case company to identify its weaknesses and then select the best improvement alternative in order to improve its performance against the market leader. Although the postal industry is used to demonstrate the proposed framework, it can be applied to other industries with a little modification.