bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fast fashion: a financial snapshot
Authors: Hayes S.G. , Jones Nicola 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish an objective measure for the success of fast fashion to deliver measurable financial improvement.Design/methodology/approachA statistical analysis of published financial data has been used to determine if any statistically significant difference exists between the financial performance of retailers split into two groups; fast fashion and non‐fast fashionFindingsThe research shows that no statistically significant difference exists between the financial measures of the two groups. However, some objectivity is given to the claim that reduced inventory contributes to the financial health of a fast fashion retailer.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was limited to published financial data; for some retailers this was not available at all, for others, it was not available for each, and similar, years.Originality/valueTo the authors knowledge, this is the first paper to look objectively at the financial benefits associated with retailing to a fast fashion model.
How to develop knowledge culture in organizations? A multiple case study of large distributed organizations
Authors: Oliver Stan , Reddy Kandadi Kondal 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper seeks to identify various factors affecting knowledge culture in some of the large organizations and suggest realistic strategies for developing knowledge culture.Design/methodology/approachIn‐depth case studies were conducted at six large distributed organizations to investigate and assess knowledge management (KM) practices and associated organizational culture. The core data collection is based on semi‐structured interviews with senior managers who play a significant role in KM programs at their respective organizations. A range of internal documents of these organizations has also provided some important inputs for the empirical analysis.FindingsThe study identified ten major factors affecting knowledge culture in organizations. These include leadership, organizational structure, and evangelization, communities of practice, reward systems, time allocation, business processes, recruitment, infrastructure and physical attributes.Research limitations/implicationsPerhaps, the major limitation of this research study is associated with the sample selection. All of the companies participated in this research project, were large‐scale distributed organizations. Therefore, the findings may not be applicable for small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Furthermore, the derived conclusions would be more assertive if they were tested as hypothetical propositions through a consecutive research survey.Practical implicationsThis study provides illustrations and rationale for a diverse range of factors influencing the knowledge culture. Some of the findings deviated from established notions in contemporary KM literature, especially in the issues such as organizational structure, leadership and reward systems. The organizational dimensions explored in this study provide some original thoughts for building sustainable knowledge cultures.Originality/valueThe factors described in this paper are based on the existing KM practices at organizations with well‐established KM programs. These can serve as pragmatic guidelines for KM practitioners in developing knowledge culture.
Structuring the underlying relations among the knowledge management outcomes
Authors: Anantatmula Vittal , Kanungo Shivraj 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis study aims to identify a set of criteria to assess the effectiveness of knowledge management (KM) and to understand how these criteria inter‐relate with one another. From a research and practitioner's perspective, the study seeks to study how to expand these criteria to develop measures.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology is based on literature review to determine a list of KM outcomes followed by the Delphi technique and survey questionnaire methods. The findings of the Delphi were used to supplement literature review findings. Both these results were used to develop the survey questionnaire. Survey‐based research, which used a questionnaire targeting knowledge management professionals as respondents, was aimed at establishing criteria for assessing knowledge management success.FindingsUsing the criteria based on survey results, a computer‐assisted model is used to understand the shared underlying organizational framework in which KM operates and to identify how these criteria were linked. These relations should be explored and utilized to improve organizational performance.Research limitations/implicationsSome of the limitations of this original research are limited number of experts participating in the study. Also, about 48 percent of the survey respondents represent for‐profit organizations and thus, research results may be biased towards for‐profit organizations. Future research should focus on translating the soft measures of knowledge management into detailed metrics.Originality/valueThis is an academic research paper providing information on the underlying relations among KM outcomes.
Understanding dynamic capabilities through knowledge management
Authors: Paarup Nielsen Anders 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper sets out to integrate research on knowledge management with the dynamic capabilities approach. This paper will add to the understanding of dynamic capabilities by demonstrating that dynamic capabilities can be seen as composed of concrete and well‐known knowledge management activities.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on a literature review focusing on key knowledge management processes and activities as well as the concept of dynamic capabilities, the paper connects these two approaches. The analysis is centered on knowledge management activities which then are compiled into dynamic capabilities.FindingsIn the paper eight knowledge management activities are identified; knowledge creation, acquisition, capture, assembly, sharing, integration, leverage, and exploitation. These activities are assembled into the three dynamic capabilities of knowledge development, knowledge (re)combination, and knowledge use. The dynamic capabilities and the associated knowledge management activities create flows to and from the firm's stock of knowledge and they support the creation and use of organizational capabilities.Practical implicationsThe findings in the paper demonstrate that the somewhat elusive concept of dynamic capabilities can be untangled through the use of knowledge management activities. Practicing managers struggling with the operationalization of dynamic capabilities should instead focus on the contributing knowledge management activities in order to operationalize and utilize the concept of dynamic capabilities.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates that the existing research on knowledge management can be a key contributor to increasing our understanding of dynamic capabilities. This finding is valuable for both researchers and practitioners.
A benchmarking implementation framework for automotive manufacturing SMEs
Authors: Baba  , Mohd Yusof Sha'ri , Azhari  
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework for benchmarking implementation in small medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) taking into consideration their characteristics.Design/methodology/approachThe paper begins with the review on the definition of SME and a comparison of the characteristics of SMEs and large organizations. It presents the need for a framework and its relationship with benchmarking and TQM. This is followed by reviewing the benchmarking implementation frameworks proposed by researchers and discusses these frameworks based on their strengths and weaknesses from SMEs perspective. The frameworks were categorised into two broad types based on the different writer's background and the approach on how they view the benchmarking implementation process.FindingsThe paper suggested a conceptual framework for benchmarking implementation dedicated to the automotive manufacturing SMEs. This framework guides them through from the start to end of the benchmarking process. The framework was validated at six pilot case study companies, which gave useful comments and suggestions regarding the usefulness and applicability within the SMEs context.Research limitations/implicationsThe conceptual framework is still in the development stage and research is undertaken to include the pilot study companies suggestions and comments into the final version of the framework.Practical implicationsThis guidance and framework provides a useful guide for companies to adopt and adapt before embarking on their benchmarking journey.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils an identified knowledge gap and offers practical help to SMEs starting out a benchmarking implementation effort.
An empirically validated quality management measurement instrument
Authors: Singh Prakash J. , Smith Alan 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo develop a quality management (QM) measurement instrument that has sound psychometric properties and recognizes a key feature of the field, i.e. QM is currently characterized by three competing approaches: standards‐based; prize‐criteria; and, elemental implementation approaches.Design/methodology/approachThe three disparate approaches were analyzed to identify sets of key constructs and associated items. The assembled instrument was empirically validated through a survey of 418 Australian manufacturing organizations. A full set of reliability and validity tests were performed. Wherever applicable, confirmatory approach using structural equation modeling was used.FindingsThe results of psychometric tests suggest that the constructs of the three approaches have good empirical support. In the manner in which the instrument is presented, it is possible to separately measure constructs related to each of the three approaches.Research limitations/implicationsThe measurement instrument has been validated with manufacturing organizations from Australia. It is applicability to other industry sectors or country contexts needs to be verified.Practical implicationsPractitioners and consultants can use the measurement instrument for conducting QM benchmarking exercises within and across organizations. Researchers can use the instrument in future studies for, inter alia, theory development in the area.Originality/valueThe measurement instrument overcomes the shortcomings of the existing instruments by explicitly including all three practical approaches to quality management. Also, a rigorous psychometric validation process is adopted that provides credible outcomes.
Complementarities creating substitutes – possible paths towards 3G, WLAN/WiMAX and ad hoc networks
Authors: Martikainen Olli E. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeInternet and GSM have become the dominant designs for information and communication technology (ICT) industries in the late 1990s. Internet protocol (IP) is the dominant standard for cost effective networking and new interactive broadband services. GSM (2G) is currently the dominant cellular technology and it is the basis of GSM, GPRS (2.5G) and UMTS (3G), the GSM‐continuum of standards. The marriage of broadband internet and mobile has created open questions on which are the future winning wireless standards. Will mobile internet be based on the GSM‐continuum or on US wireless developments such as WLAN and WiMAX? In longer time‐scale the Mobile Ad‐hoc Network (MANET) which does not use any preinstalled communications infrastructure may also become a cost‐effective challenger to infrastructure based networks. The paper seeks to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe paper elaborates these questions with the aim to provide an analytically clarifying conceptualisation of the competitive relationships between 3G, WLAN/WiMAX and the emerging MANET opportunities both in network and application perspectives. By considering the interaction of the possible competitive regimes we analyze the disruptive capabilities of new solutions to become substitutes to the existing ones.FindingsThere are a number of open issues in the WLAN/WiMAX and MANET architectures, which require further work and global standardization. For the while, the integration of the personal applications to the GSM continuum seems to be the most potential approach to import internet to the mobile world. However, there is no winner yet, and the author strongly believes that a new wave of innovations may come around these lines and that these developments will also change the mobile technology and services landscape.Originality/valueThe paper contributes with a systemantic analysis of the competition between 3G, WLAN/WiMAX and ad hoc network technologies. A novelty in the analysis is that it incorporates both network access technologies and applications.
Redesigning the supply chain: reengineering, outsourcing, and relational capabilities
Authors: Rodríguez‐Díaz Manuel , Espino‐Rodríguez Tomás F. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the competitive advantages of the networks of firms forming the supply chain and distribution channels through process integration, outsourcing, and creation of relational capabilities.Design/methodology/approachA four‐stage methodology is created to redesign the supply chain depending on the creation of relational capabilities: internal analysis to determine the focal company's competence; relational analysis in the outsourcing of activities; process integration; and development of relational capabilities.FindingsThe development of relational capabilities is based on two dimensions: company level of competence in performing activities, and strategic contribution of the activities to competitive advantage. Four cases are analyzed from those two dimensions: high competence/low strategic contribution; low competence/high strategic contribution; low competence/low strategic value; and relational and internal capabilities, where relational capabilities strengthen internal capabilities. Finally, it is established what actions are necessary for the activities analyzed from those dimensions to be a source of competitive advantage by means of relational capabilities created through process integration and outsourcing to highly competent firms.Practical implicationsThe development of a short self‐evaluation questionnaire that helps firms implement the methodology and creates the basis for its empirical application by researchers.Originality/valueThe paper studies relational capabilities, an aspect omitted from the internal perspective of the resource and capability theory. It also determines four ways in which relational capabilities influence the strengthening of internal capabilities. The theoretical approach is developed in the redesign of the supply chain.
How appropriate are two established concepts from higher education for solving complex real‐world problems?
Authors: Steiner G. , Laws D. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe main focus of this paper is to discuss appropriate forms of higher education for building up students' competence for working on complex real‐world problems.Design/methodology/approachWithin this paper the Harvard approach is accurately compared with the ETH approach by discussing theoretical and practical implications as well.FindingsIt is argued that the Harvard case study approach is a sensible approach to bridging the gap between the academic and the practical world, but it has important limits in preparing students to cope with complex real‐world problems. In some important respects, the ETH case study approach goes further by exposing students directly to the multi‐faceted and complex character of real‐world problems.Practical implicationsThe ETH approach puts additional demands on students and teachers to bridge the gap between university and society with a high degree of responsibility. Consequently, a combination of both the Harvard and the ETH approach might be interesting.Originality/valueThe comparison of the Harvard case study approach with the ETH case study approach is novel. The discussion of educational together with practical implications provides insight to the peculiarities of each single approach together with an orientation for their implementation within higher education. Guidance is given to universities who are deciding what educational means have to be implemented in order to prepare their students for the task of solving complex real‐world problems in an inter but also transdisciplinary manner.
Simple virtual attitude sensors for general aviation aircraft
Authors: Tomczyk Andrzej 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper aims to present a proposal of a simple analytical redundancy method using for virtual attitude reference system design. The main idea of the project is applied typical on‐board general aviation aircraft equipment for solving pitch and bank angles.Design/methodology/approachThe presented solution is based on satellite navigation and air data computer signals, which are independent from basic attitude and heading reference system. The concept described is related to the kinematics relations and aerodynamic forces formulas.FindingsThe paper shows that the virtual attitude sensors are used by failure detection and reconfiguration subsystem and as a standby attitude reference system for general aviation aircraft equipped with augmentation control system applied for improving safety and efficiency handling qualities of aircraft.Originality/valueThis solution allows improvements in operating properties of already existing and newly designed executive aircraft, as well as establishing a higher level of flight safety.
Development and validation of the psychosomatic scale for atopic dermatitis in adults
Authors: ANDO Tetsuya , HASHIRO Makoto , NODA Keishi , ADACHI Jun , HOSOYA Ritsuko , KAMIDE Ryoichi , ISHIKAWA Toshio , KOMAKI Gen 
Published: July 2006

ABSTRACTPsychosocial factors play an important role in the course of adult atopic dermatitis (AD). Nevertheless, AD patients are rarely treated for their psychosomatic concerns. The purpose of the present study was to develop and validate a brief self‐rating scale for adult AD in order to aid dermatologists in evaluating psychosocial factors during the course of AD. A preliminary scale assessing stress‐induced exacerbation, the secondary psychosocial burden, and attitude toward treatment was developed and administered to 187 AD patients (82 male, 105 female, aged 28.4 ± 7.8, 13–61). Severity of skin lesions and improvement with standard dermatological treatment were assessed by both the dermatologist and the participant. Measures of anxiety and depression were also determined. In addition, psychosomatic evaluations were made according to the Psychosomatic Diagnostic Criteria for AD. Factor analysis resulted in the development of a 12‐item scale (The Psychosomatic Scale for Atopic Dermatitis; PSS‐AD) consisting of three factors: (i) exacerbation triggered by stress; (ii) disturbances due to AD; and (iii) ineffective control. Internal consistency indicated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.86 for the entire measure, 0.82 for (i), 0.81 for (ii), and 0.77 for (iii), verifying the acceptable reliability of PSS‐AD. Patients with psychosomatic problems had higher PSS‐AD scores than those without. PSS‐AD scores were positively associated with the severity of the skin lesions, anxiety and depression. The scores were negatively associated with improvement during dermatological treatments. In conclusion, PSS‐AD is a simple and reliable measure of the psychosomatic pathology of adult AD patients. It may be useful in dermatological practice for screening patients who would benefit from psychological or psychiatric interventions.
Vaccination of Japanese patients with advanced melanoma with peptide, tumor lysate or both peptide and tumor lysate‐pulsed mature, monocyte‐derived dendritic cells
Authors: NAKAI Noriaki , ASAI Jun , UEDA Eiichiro , TAKENAKA Hideya , KATOH Norito , KISHIMOTO Saburo 
Published: July 2006

ABSTRACTWe performed a clinical trial to assess the feasibility and efficacy of immunotherapy with peptides, tumor lysate or both peptides and tumor lysate‐pulsed mature, monocyte‐derived dendritic cells (DC) for advanced malignant melanoma patients that are resistant to conventional therapies. Sixteen patients were enrolled in this trial. All patients received DC vaccines i.d. in the proximal thigh, close to the inguinal lymph nodes, one treatment per week or 2 weeks. Several factors such as clinical findings, computed tomography (CT) images, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay, and immunohistochemistry in primary, metastatic lesions and the DTH site were evaluated. Clinical results through DC vaccination were as follows: in 11 evaluable cases, three stable disease, six progression of disease and two disease‐free from the time of study entry to the completion of one vaccination course. One patient showed reduction of the tumors in the metastases on chest CT during the first and second course of DC vaccination. Ten out of 14 evaluable cases showed positive DTH responses to more than one treatment with melanoma peptides or tumor lysate. Eight out of 13 evaluable cases showed positive immunological responses to more than one treatment with melanoma peptides or tumor lysate in an ELISPOT assay. As for the experiences with toxicity and adverse reactions, autosensitization dermatitis‐like eruptions appeared in five cases during DC vaccination. No severe adverse effects were seen in any of the patients. In our study, the clinical efficacy in prolongation of the patients’ survival was confirmed. At the same time, cancer immunoediting of the tumor was also found. It will be necessary to improve the tumor‐specificity of this therapeutic approach and to analyze the mechanism(s) of tumor escape from immunosurveillance in melanoma.
Evaluation of fluence and pulse‐duration on purpuric threshold using an extended pulse pulsed‐dye laser in the treatment of port wine stains
Authors: KONO Taro , GROFF William Frederick , SAKURAI Hiroyuki , TAKEUCHI Masaki , YAMAKI Takashi , SOEJIMA Kazutaka , NOZAKI Motohiro 
Published: July 2006

ABSTRACTLaser therapy of port‐wine stains (PWS) using the extended pulse pulsed‐dye laser (EPPDL) is accepted as the optimal approach because the thermal relaxation time for the vessels in PWS is actually 1–10 msec. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the purpuric threshold using the EPPDL for treatment of PWS. One hundred and seventy‐seven Japanese patients with PWS were recruited for this study. All the patients were dark‐skinned with skin phototype III (n = 103) and IV (n = 74). PWS were treated with the EPPDL with a pulse duration ranging 1.5–10 msec, fluence ranging 9–15 J/cm2, and a spot size of 7 mm. Cryogen spray cooling (CSC) was fixed to 30 msec of delay and 30 msec of spray duration. Patients returned to our clinic within 1 week after their initial laser therapy and the treatment sites were examined for the evidence of purpura formation. Of the 177 patients, 108 developed purpura. The lowest fluences that caused purpura and were seen in more than 50% of patients were 10 J/cm2 with a pulse duration of 1.5 msec, 12 J/cm2 with a pulse duration of 3 msec, 13 J/cm2 with a pulse duration of 6 msec, and 13 J/cm2 with a pulse duration of 10 msec. The fluence and pulse duration thresholds were 12.5 J/cm2 and 1.65 msec, respectively. Because purpura is one of the treatment endpoints when using a pulsed‐dye laser for PWS, higher fluences are necessary when using a long pulse duration.