bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of advanced manufacturing technologies using Taguchi's loss functions
Authors: Ordoobadi Sharon 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a tool for decision makers to consider both tangible and intangible factors while making decisions regarding investment in advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT).Design/methodology/approachTraditional financial approaches are often used for evaluation of advanced technologies. However, the difficulty arises when the result of financial techniques cannot provide a conclusive recommendation for a technology adoption. The current research is an attempt to address this issue by including factors that allow distinction between technology alternatives with similar financial results. This task is accomplished in a two step process. First, a process is developed for identifying all potential benefits associated with adoption of an AMT. These are the benefits that were not measurable for inclusion in the financial analysis. Second, a mechanism is developed for quantifying these benefits to be used for ranking of the technology alternatives. This task is done by soliciting decision maker's input on importance of the benefits, required benefit goals, and his/her perception of how well each technology meets the benefit goals. This information is then used in Taguchi's loss functions to assign ranks to technology alternatives.FindingsInvesting in new technologies is the only way for manufacturers to survive in today's competitive market. Thus, there is a need by these manufacturers to have access to a decision model that will help them with their investment decisions.Practical implicationsThe procedure proposed here helps companies to rank the technology alternatives and identify the best technology for adoption.Originality/valueThe identification of intangible benefits associated with adoption of a new technology and use of Taguchi's loss function to quantify these benefits.
Supply chain technology adoption in Malaysian automotive suppliers
Authors: Kamariah Kamaruddin Nor , Mohamed Udin Zulkifli 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the relevance of technology adoption factors and to explore how it can influence suppliers of automotive manufacturers to adopt the supply chain technology (SCT) within their organisations.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical survey of Malaysian's automotive supplier was conducted to study those factors and also their relationship to the types of technologies being adopted. Data were collected using mail questionnaires which were sent to suppliers of two leading national automotive manufacturers. Out of 122, a total of 73 respondents were used for the purpose of the study. The study tested three hypotheses in data analysis.FindingsThe results of the analysis confirm that three identified factors namely; organisational structure, organisational size and supply chain member pressure have a positive relationship with the SCT adoption. The analysis shows these three hypotheses have been supported and satisfied the identified gaps.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research shall be carried out to explore and comprehend the impact of SCT adoption on organisational performance. In addition, future research should also investigate the impact of SCT adoption in other stages of the adoption process.Practical implicationsThe proposed framework provides important insights into the key factors, which enable managers or supply chain practitioners to gain better understanding of these factors impacting SCT adoptions.Originality/valueUp to now, there are neither detailed studies focusing on the identification of SCT adoption factors in Malaysia environment nor studies that try to look at the organisational adoption of a considerable number of SCT.
A neural network forecasting model for consumable parts in semiconductor manufacturing
Authors: Jou Yung‐Tsan , Wee Hui‐Ming , Chen Hsiao‐Ching , Hsieh Yao‐Hung , Wang Laurence 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to create a usable life forecast model for consumable parts using neural network approach. It focuses on a consumable probe card used in the semiconductor wafer testing operation. Referring to the relevant resources and the semiconductor testing operation, a fundamental concept is built to develop a probe card management system.Design/methodology/approachA neural network analysis software package, Q‐net2000, is applied in this study. In this case, there is one hidden layer and the neural network learning rates and momentum are set to 0.1 and 0.7. Forecast the usable life by inputting the initial values of the neural network variables into a back‐propagation neural network.FindingsIn this system, the first thing is to collect the production, maintenance and repair data, and then analyze those data by using a neural network methodology to effectively forecast a probe card's usable life. Those data are integrated to derive an optimum timing of placing a probe card order using an inventory control technique. Finally, the actual production data of a company are used to verify the feasibility of this research.Research limitations/implicationsThe results presented are based on a representative expendable probe card manufacturing process in the Taiwan industry, a range of alternative scenarios and changes to the process design can be investigated using the simulation model.Practical implicationsFor the semiconductor industry, the research supports the introduction on lifecycle forecast technology for expendable probe card manufacturing process.Originality/valueThe paper proposes a neural network forecast analysis to solve the case company's current management problem of determining the life cycle of probe cards in an earlier time.
Determinants of public employees' performance: evidence from Ethiopian public organizations
Authors: Hailesilasie Gebregziabher 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain the determinants of employees' performance in Ethiopian public organizations, by examining the determinant factors of motivation, ability and role perception in seven different public organizations that reengineered their business processes.Design/methodology/approachUsing primary data collected from 100 respondents, individual performance, an ordered categorical variable, was regressed on motivation, ability, role perception and certain control variables. An ordered logistic regression model was employed in the research.FindingsResults of the STATA routine indicate that, in Ethiopian public organizations, ability has no significant effect on employees' performance. On the other hand, motivation positively determines performance until some stage of experience, beyond which performance declines with experience. Similarly, role perception is found to be strongly positively related to the likelihood of good performance.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is required into the dynamic nature of employees' performance. Panel data econometric models might be used to explain the determinants of performance across time. Similarly, future empirical researches in the area in question will be helpful to consider space‐time differences in explaining determinants of employees' performance.Originality/valueThe paper looks into the determinant factors of Ethiopian public organization employees' performance. Currently, Ethiopian public organizations are undertaking Business Process Re‐engineering (BPR) and striving for the system of performance‐based pay. This research has policy implications in relation to designing an effective performance‐based pay system. On the other hand, the paper contributes to the empirical literature, providing a clearer picture of the determinants of public employees' performance.
Economic drivers of dwelling satisfaction
Authors: Frank Björn , Enkawa Takao 
Published: February 2009

PurposeSociologists are discussing whether or not economic growth enhances subjective well‐being. To complement their research from a housing perspective, the purpose of this paper is to investigate whether aggregate income enhances dwelling satisfaction over time. While cross‐sectional studies have only examined the direct influence of income on dwelling satisfaction, this paper suggests that there are additional influences mediated by other social indicators.Design/methodology/approachBased on data from Germany, correlation and regression analyses examine the impacts of aggregate income and other social indicators on dwelling satisfaction. Path analysis is used to test for the existence of mediated relationships.FindingsThe paper finds that aggregate income positively influences dwelling satisfaction. Environmental satisfaction, customer satisfaction and satisfaction with family relations also positively impact dwelling satisfaction and mediate influences of aggregate income. The mediated effects are stronger than the direct effect of aggregate income on dwelling satisfaction.Research limitations/implicationsThe longitudinal availability of aggregate customer satisfaction data is still limited. Future research on dwelling satisfaction is encouraged to account for customer satisfaction and to reexamine the analyses of this study with future data.Practical implicationsStimulating economic growth is a good strategy to improve dwelling satisfaction. Policies improving the environment, family support and shopping opportunities are also effective.Originality/valueThis paper is original in that it examines the impacts of economic growth and customer satisfaction on dwelling satisfaction. While the extant literature has only analysed direct effects of income on dwelling satisfaction, this study also accounts for mediated effects.
Exploring sales advertising in the housing market in Jordan
Authors: Al‐Homoud Majd , Al‐Oun Salem , Smadi Ayat , Al‐Hindawi Al‐Mutasem 
Published: February 2009

PurposeIn the housing sector in Jordan, sales advertisings are rarely used, though they, potentially, increase profits and sales and expand development geographically. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of sales advertising in the emerging housing market in the city of Irbid, Jordan. The aim is to reveal the effect of the use of advertising on sales and production of housing, and the obstacles that developers may face when advertising.Design/methodology/approachThe study elicited data through long, face‐to‐face interviews using semi‐structured and open‐ended questionnaires with 25 private sector developers. The data collected included companies' profiles; housing annual production; geographical location; sales and prices; and marketing and advertising.FindingsThe major finding of the study is that the use of sales advertising in the housing market in Irbid is low. The major advertising methods include public relations and word of mouth along with a limited use of newspaper and on‐site advertising. The obstacles developers face include lack of conviction, unawareness about advertising effect, lack of advertising professionals, lack of skills in advertisement designs and inability to afford it.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research is needed to undertake statistical references through a comprehensive survey of a large sample of developers from different geographical areas around Jordan.Practical implicationsThe study recommends finding means to encourage developers to use advertising and to introduce new media such as the internet.Originality/valueAs the first of its kind, the research pinpoints to developers the value of sales advertising, as marketing concepts, to attract buyers, increase sales and profit and to expand geographically around Jordan.
Judging a house by its cover
Authors: Rehm Michael 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to quantify leaky building stigma associated with monolithic claddings, explore how this stigma has likely been amplified by media coverage, estimate the number of affected properties and quantify the collective house price impact on homeowners of monolithic‐clad dwellings in the Auckland region.Design/methodology/approachResidential sales transaction data organised in two subgroups (single‐family houses and multi‐unit dwellings) from 1997 through 2006 are analysed using a series of annual hedonic pricing models to empirically test for the presence of stigma. This is coupled with a descriptive analysis of leaky building media coverage to understand how this coverage may be influencing the stigma.FindingsThe empirical results show that a leaky building stigma exists and is discounting prices of the Auckland Region's monolithic‐clad single family houses by 5 per cent and multi‐unit dwellings by 10 per cent. Approximately 37,500 monolithic‐clad dwellings have been built in the region since 1992 and their homeowners have suffered an estimated $1 billion reduction in property values due to leaky building stigma.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough leaky building stigma primarily relates to monolithic claddings, this stigma reflects elevated weathertightness risks associated with several Mediterranean‐style architectural features.Practical implicationsThe study's findings can be directly applied to residential valuation practice and can assist the New Zealand government more accurately assess the full economic cost of the nation's leaky building problem.Originality/valueThis research provides an initial empirical study on stigma associated with leaky building syndrome. The findings offer direction to further research on other domestic and international housing markets that are experiencing similar stigma phenomenon.
Price bubbles in housing markets
Authors: Lind Hans 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to clarify the concept of bubble, what it means to explain a bubble and propose a list of bubble indicators.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a literature review and some philosophical ideas to derive conclusions for the problems studied.FindingsA price bubble should be defined only in relation to the development of prices: a dramatic increase immediately followed by a dramatic fall. The traditional definition in terms of prices not determined by fundamentals is problematic primarily because the concept “fundamentals” is vague. A bubble can never be explained by a single factor, but is the result of the interaction of a number of factors. The explanatory factors proposed are used to derive a set of indicators working as warning signals whether a dramatic increase in prices will be followed by a dramatic fall. The list developed covers, for example, interest costs in relation to household incomes, the elasticity of supply, price expectations and credit conditions.Research limitations/implicationsBoth the explanatory framework and the list of indicators should be seen as preliminary and the starting point for further development through empirical testing.Practical implicationsA developed list of bubble indicators could be useful for a number of actors, e.g. banks and authorities responsible for monitoring financial stability.Originality/valueThe contribution is a clearer and more useful concept of bubble, a clearer separation of the question whether bubbles exist and how they should be explained. The proposed list of indicators goes far beyond earlier indicators.
The influence of submarkets on water view house price premiums in New Zealand
Authors: Filippova Olga 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate the impact of submarkets on water view premiums of residential properties and investigate the correlation between submarket view premium and socio‐economic status.Design/methodology/approachOver 53,000 residential sales transactions from 2004 to 2006 are analysed using the hedonic method. The Auckland region is divided into 17 submarkets with similar water view scarcities. The region is analysed along with each individual submarket in order to determine if significant differences in view premiums exist.FindingsThe empirical results indicate that the regionwide model chronically over‐ or under‐estimates view premiums, for example, the regionwide model estimates that a wide water view adds 18 per cent to a home's value while the same view amenity adds only 5 per cent in modest West Harbour but 54 per cent in posh Mission Bay.Practical implicationsThe study's findings can be directly applied to residential valuation practice and in particular mass appraisal systems.Originality/valueThis research fills a gap in the body of knowledge relating to water view externalities by investigating the differing price impacts across submarkets.
The appraisal of equity investments by Nigerian investors
Authors: Tijjani B. , Fifield S.G.M. , Power D.M. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how investors and stockbrokers in Nigeria value shares and whether their approach to share valuation differs from that documented in other countries. In particular, the paper investigates whether the investors and stockbrokers use fundamental, technical and/or risk analysis differently to appraise investments. The information which investors and stockbrokers employ for share valuation purposes is also considered to see whether differences from developed market countries exist.Design/methodology/approachA series of semi‐structured interviews was conducted with eight stockbrokers and ten investors from Nigeria.FindingsThe main approach to share valuation employed by the Nigerian interviewees was fundamental analysis; investors and brokers forecast earnings for a company and multiplied this prediction by a P/E ratio to estimate the intrinsic worth of a share. This intrinsic value was then compared with the current share price to see if the equity was under‐ or over‐valued. Thus, Nigerian investors are similar to their counterparts in other countries in terms of the main approach to share valuation employed. Other company fundamentals considered in the valuation process included cash flows and dividend information. Technical and risk analyses were also undertaken to supplement any initial conclusions reached. Indeed, the findings suggest that there was a greater use of risk analysis by Nigerian investors in comparison to the results documented for other countries. Company financial statements and stockbroker reports were the main sources of information used by investors although qualitative information, such as that obtained from meetings with company executives, was also important. However, access to senior executives was not uniform across all interviewees.Practical implicationsInvestors and stockbrokers in Nigeria behave in a similar fashion to their counterparts in developed countries. However, political risk assumes a greater prominence in the equity valuation process within Nigeria; a reduction in this risk might help Nigerian equity values to increase.Originality/valueThe paper reports the views of senior stockbrokers and investors in Nigeria. To date, most work in this area has focused on developed markets; the current paper considers the case for an emerging market which is important in Africa. This market plays an important role in furthering the economic aims of the Government via their privitisation programmes. In addition, the market is attracting the attention of foreign investors who wish to invest in Nigerian equities.
Anti‐money laundering efforts, stock market operations and good governance
Authors: Jayasuriya Dayanath 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to articulate why money laundering is a matter of concern for stock market operations. It examines how anti‐money laundering efforts contribute to good governance and, conversely, how good governance measures themselves help promote anti‐money laundering efforts.Design/methodology/approachThis review examines issues and concerns from a theoretical perspective and, based on some of the governance problems that have led to the collapse of various corporations, it examines how good governance can make a difference.FindingsThe paper proves that good governance norms and practices can influence the further development and refinement of anti‐money laundering and terrorist financing regimes and their effective implementation. Likewise, compliance with anti‐money laundering and terrorist financing regimes can help create an environment conducive to the achievement of good governance norms and practices.Research limitations/implicationsNoting that very little empirical research has been done so far on the issue of money laundering in the context of stock market operations, the paper suggests that researchers should accord more attention to this subject.Originality/valueThe paper sheds light on an important area that has not been the subject of previous research studies and points to the importance of qualitative research in promoting a culture of stable and compliant capital markets.
Influence and power dynamics in client‐consultant teams
Authors: Nikolova Natalia , Devinney Timothy M. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to provide a clearer picture of the nature of power imbalance in client‐consultant teams, which has negative consequences for the development and implementation of consultants' recommendations, and to outline ways how to avoid such an imbalance in the first instance.Design/methodology/approachThis is an empirical paper based on in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with clients and consultants from the strategic consulting sector in Australia.FindingsTaking a differentiated look at the roles and responsibilities of members of client‐consultant teams, the authors propose that power within client‐consultant teams is multidimensional and the outcome of the interplay of its different forms is not predictable. It is further argued that a power balance is crucial for achieving better results from consulting projects.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are not generalizable, due to the small sample and the focus on strategic consulting. The results encourage further research in different types of consulting projects as well as studies based on observation of client‐consultant interactions.Practical implicationsThe paper highlights the main points of concern for managers and consultants and provides some suggestions on how to achieve a balanced relationship.Originality/valueThis paper's major contribution is in providing deeper insight into a hitherto underexplored issue of client‐consultant interactions: the contested nature of power in client‐consultant teams and the reasons and outcomes of power imbalance.