bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Delphi study on motivation for ISO 9000 and EFQM
Authors: Saizarbitoria Iñaki Heras , Arana Landín German , Casadesús Fa Martí 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse which are the motivations for implementing two of the most important models for Quality Management practice popularized in recent years – ISO 9000 and EFQM models.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides a qualitative survey carried out using the Delphi methodology, triangulated with the results of other surveys carried out previously, as well as with the information gathered by means of several in‐depth interviews carried out with the experts that participated in the Delphi‐panel.FindingsThe paper finds strong consensus among experts of different backgrounds that external factors cause companies to implement the ISO 9000 standard. On the other hand, reasons for implementing TQM systems seem to be more varied.Research limitations/implicationsThe research in this paper is limited to Spain; studies in other countries should be conducted to compare the results obtained.Practical implicationsIn this paper there is a greater understanding of the motivation to implement ISO 9000 and EFQM based on the opinion of managers, consultants, academic specialists and members of institutions.Originality/valueThe paper finds a new methodology for examining the motivation to implement ISO 9000 and EFQM.
Use of ISO 9004:2000 and other business excellence tools in Canada
Authors: Wilcock A. , Karapetrovic S. , Boys K. , Piche P. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of business excellence tools, particularly the extent of adoption of the ISO 9004:2000 guideline and respondents' perceptions of its usefulness.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper a large empirical study was undertaken to identify the use of business excellence frameworks in Canada. The survey was based on a series of in‐depth interviews with 15 standardization experts who are all members of the Canadian Advisory Committee on Quality Management CAC/ISO/TC176. It was mailed to a sample of small, medium, and large businesses that spanned a wide range of manufacturing and service sectors, resulting in 187 responses.FindingsThis paper finds that the application of business excellence tools by Canadian organizations seems to be a function of both the size and location of the organization. There may be differences in use between organizations within different industry sectors, and those with different organizational structures. ISO 9004:2000 is not widely used, and probably needs a complete overhaul.Research limitations/implicationsThe survey in this paper had a relatively low response rate. The small number of respondents who were familiar with ISO 9004:2000 precluded any statistical analysis of the data. The results are of interest to a variety of quality management researchers, as there is a paucity of literature on ISO 9004, particularly with experimental data.Practical implicationsContributions in the paper extend to practitioners, as the survey included manufacturing and service sectors, both publicly and privately owned, as well as executives, since the study was aimed at top management of the organizations surveyed.Originality/valueThe paper shows that, while the concept of business excellence has rarely been researched from a Canadian perspective, the focus on ISO 9004:2000 makes this study totally unique.
A rational reconstruction of Six‐Sigma's breakthrough cookbook
Authors: de Koning Henk , de Mast Jeroen 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a consistent and crystallized exposition of Six‐Sigma's methodology for improvement projects, which could serve as a basis for subsequent scientific research of the method.Design/methodology/approachThe paper shows that reformulation of imprecise and unscientific formulations of knowledge is called rational reconstruction. Starting from accounts given in the Six‐Sigma literature, a descriptive reconstruction of the main elements of the Six‐Sigma method is made: its business context, strategy, tools and techniques, and concepts and classifications.FindingsThe paper finds that, although, on the face of it, it may seem that accounts given in literature diverge, analysis shows that variations are superficial rather than essential. The analyses result in precisely formulated accounts of Six‐Sigma's method (DMAIC phases, steps, and tools), its business context, and its terminology. Essential anomalies are discussed. Six‐Sigma's claims of being data‐driven and focused on customers and bottom line results appear to be substantiated by its method.Research limitations/implicationsIn this paper the presented reconstruction has a purely descriptive impetus: it structures accounts that the Six‐Sigma literature itself provides, without critical evaluation against theoretical frameworks beyond the Six‐Sigma literature. As such, it provides a basis that is suitable for subsequent scientific research.Practical implicationsThe paper sees that loose and inaccurate expositions of Six‐Sigma's project methodology are supplemented with a precise formulation.Originality/valueAmong a tide of accounts of Six‐Sigma's DMAIC method, this paper provides an account that meets scientific standards of precision and consistency. It allows a substantiation of commonly made claims about Six‐Sigma, i.e. Six‐Sigma is a quantitative, data‐driven approach focused on cause‐and‐effect relations, and offering new solutions instead of standard cures.
Trust‐in‐supervisor and helping coworkers: moderating effect of perceived politics
Authors: Poon June M.L. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThis study sought to examine the relationship between trust‐in‐supervisor and willingness to help coworkers as well as the moderating effect of perceptions of organizational politics on this relationship.Design/methodology/approachA field survey using a structured questionnaire was used to gather data from 106 employees of a medium‐sized company that had businesses in the manufacturing, travel, and education industries. Participation was voluntary and employees completed the questionnaire anonymously.FindingsModerated multiple regression results indicated that trust‐in‐supervisor was positively related to employee willingness to help coworkers among employees perceiving low levels of organizational politics but not among those perceiving high levels of organizational politics.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of this study include reliance on cross‐sectional data collected using self‐reports from employees of a single organization. Future research should examine other forms of spontaneous workplace behaviors as outcomes of trust and identify other mitigating factors that may enhance or inhibit such behaviors. Future research also is needed to address the question of why trust predicts helping.Practical implicationsEmployers can realize the benefits of employee helpfulness stemming from supervisory trust only if they can establish a workplace that is not politically charged. Therefore, trust must be augmented with organizational interventions and strategies that discourage a high level of politicking.Originality/valueThis study provides what is perhaps the first empirical test of the joint contribution of trust and perceptions of organizational politics on willingness to help. In addition, the findings of this study extend the organizational politics literature by showing that perceived politics might also act as a moderator of relationships.
Eustress, distress and their interpretation in primary and secondary occupational stress management interventions: which way first?
Authors: Le Fevre Mark , Kolt Gregory S. , Matheny Jonathan 
Published: September 2006

PurposeTo develop an argument for the retention of secondary approaches to stress management (those that focus on the individual within the organization) as first interventions, prior to the employment of primary approaches (those that focus on the organization's processes and structures). This is based on a reconsideration of eustress versus distress and a review of current empirical evidence on the effectiveness of stress management interventions.Design/methodology/approachMajor empirical studies and reviews are critically reviewed and placed within a theoretical framework derived from both early and more recent work in the field.FindingsThere is little empirical evidence on which to base recommendations for organization‐based stress management interventions as first or sole approaches and therefore the value of these as first or sole approaches is questioned. Instead secondary, individual‐focused, approaches are recommended as first‐line interventions prior to the adoption of organization‐based interventions.Practical implicationsIn practice secondary stress management approaches are currently most common. Broader primary approaches appear to have excellent theoretical support and a growing body of supportive literature and accompanying recommendations for employment. We suggest, however, that secondary approaches be employed prior to the introduction of primary methodologies within a client organization.Originality/valueThis paper provides a review and framework for interpreting/understanding the research on the effectiveness of stress management interventions and makes recommendations relevant to practitioners in the field.
Fish or starve
Authors: Marren Patrick 
Published: September 2006

PurposeTo provide the author's opinions about key issues in strategy and the future to the readership.Design/methodology/approachThis article is an opinion column.FindingsThere are good analogies between the survival or failure of societies and the survival or failure of companies.Research limitations/implicationsBased not on rigorous research but on the author's experience of planning engagements across a wide variety of private and public enterprises. (Based largely on reading of Jared Diamond's book Collapse.)Practical implicationsIllustrates critical survival techniques of businesses.Originality/valueExpresses opinions that the author believes have not been expressed in quite this way before.
Does innovation drive profitable growth? New metrics for a complete picture
Authors: Linder Jane C. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeOrganizations intent on driving profitable growth recognize they need innovation, but most measures of innovation are incomplete, focusing only on R&D or new product development. This paper suggests an alternative, enterprise‐level measure that reflects the broadest definition of innovation and focuses on impact or value.Design/methodology/approachIt uses publicly‐available financial data for companies in a variety of industries to create a profitable growth scale, ranking companies relative to their peers. It independently rates companies based on a survey of executives about company innovativeness.FindingsThe ranking based on financial data corresponds well to executives' self‐report information about how innovative their organizations are.Originality/valueSince these two independent rankings of innovativeness align, I argue that executives can use the publicly available profitable growth scale to assess their own innovation performance relative to others in their industry.
Deriving a 12‐step process to create and implement a comprehensive knowledge management system
Authors: Calabrese Francesco A. , Orlando Carol Y. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeEnterprises are supportive of knowledge management (KM) activities if they result in “actionable information” that relates to achieving strategic and operational goals and improved performance. KM individuals and corporate practitioners have evolved multiple approaches to creating the discrete steps required to design, implement and measure knowledge management systems (KMS) that meet the “actionable information” expectation of organizations. However, there is no universally acclaimed standard or best practice readily embraced, the purpose of this article, therefore, is to investigate a process for a comprehensive KMS.Design/methodology/approachThis article describes and analyzes five such approaches to an effective KMS; two are derived from academic sources and three from name recognizable practitioner corporations. The five use eight‐, nine‐ and ten‐step constructs for their KMSs.FindingsThe study found many similarities but were also able to project a 12‐step hybrid approach which combines all the best features of the five analyzed. Furthermore, the 12 steps are then logically distributed among the George Washington University “Four Pillar Framework” promulgated in 2000 and reflecting the four domains of leadership – organization – technology – learning which have consistently shown the capability to encompass all aspects of effective knowledge sharing and collaborative cultures. The 12‐step process is then put through a sensitivity/realism assessment using an actual configuration management application to demonstrate the utility of the process for future uses.Originality/valueUltimately, the various groupings and process steps described also lend themselves to the creation of an analysis and auditing instrument which can be applied to organizational environments to ascertain what exists and what is lacking for an effective KMS.
Political engineering in knowledge security
Authors: Ryan Julie J.C.H. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeKnowledge security requires a balanced approach that incorporates and treats appropriately both tangible security needs and intangible environmental imperatives. This paper aims to investigate the concept of political engineering in knowledge security.Design/methodology/approachThe concept of a knowledge security architect is described.FindingsThe study finds that commercial certification vendors, such as ISC(2) and ISACA, have recognized the need and are offering management certifications for information security professionals. This is not enough. The educational needs of a knowledge security architect would include not only the technologies and legal aspects of information security, but also the political engineering skills and decision capabilities of senior executives.Originality/valueThe paper puts forward the conceptualization of a knowledge security architect as an integral part of the knowledge strategy team.
The starting block: enterprise (business) intelligence – evolving towards knowledge valuation
Authors: Green Annie 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThis paper proposes a logical starting point to valuing knowledge within the context of the business enterprise.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology or approach to knowledge valuation is derived from empirical research based on a framework of intangible valuation areas (FIVA). The key valuation components of FIVA are used as the basis for the evolution of an enterprise knowledge valuation system (KVS).FindingsThe findings of the paper are that, fundamental to implementing a KVS is the leveraging of the current enterprise environment, to uncover the intelligence that currently exists so as to make decisions and act on those decisions. This paper presents the first layer of a conceptual model that supports the development of a KVS that leverages the current enterprise environment and integrates existing systems development methods and techniques in its approach to KVS creation and implementation.Originality/valueThe conceptual model – KVS Building Blocks – integrates fundamental types of models with each other to provide a holistic approach to implementing knowledge valuation in an enterprise environment. The first block in the KVS Building Blocks establishes a journey to identifying the data and information enterprise stakeholders need represented in a language they understand, to build a foundation that supports the capability of enterprise stakeholders to value knowledge within their enterprise.
Taiwanese executive practice knowledge management in mainland China and Southeast Asia (Malaysia)
Authors: Kao Hsin , Kao Peng‐Hsian , Mazzuchi Thomas A. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeMany scholars and practitioners argue about the Taiwanese government policy of investing in “Go‐South” or “Go‐West” approach. Therefore, this paper aims to present data from two groups showing the differences of Taiwanese executives in China and in Malaysia from the point of view of knowledge management (KM) usage.Design/methodology/approachKnowledge management is very important since enterprises are eager to create value through the better use of knowledge in today's globalization trend. In this study, the State of Knowledge Management: An Assessment Questionnaire, which includes 19 KM tools, was used to identify various kinds of KM tools usage frequencies. Data were collected from 200 firms in China and Malaysia. These firms represent several manufacturing industries, including food, textiles, rubbers and plastics, electronics, and metal manufacturing.FindingsThe results show that executives in China have higher scores in 16 KM tools than executives in Malaysia, which means the former executives practice KM more than the later executives. Chinese people in both Taiwan and China share the same traditional values of respect for age, authority, hierarchy, culture, and language. Therefore, cultural and contextual variables differences may not affect the mix of knowledge‐sharing problems.Originality/valueThis paper reveals useful information showing the differences of Taiwanese executives in China and in Malaysia from the point of view of KM usage.
Influence of the binder system on current and future demands for base materials
Authors: Hoevel Bernd , Valette Ludovic , Aoyama Tomoyuki 
Published: September 2006

PurposeTo give an overview of the problems that can occur with base laminate materials when converting to lead‐free soldering and to give guidance on possible solutions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper contains a number of correlations between different physical measurements and their impact on real‐life processing conditions. The problem areas are highlighted and the corrective actions that need to be taken with base materials are described.FindingsResults suggest that conventional FR4 resins might still be suitable for standard lead‐free applications that require only a few reflow cycles. However, with the growing complexity of board designs and the increasing number of solder cycles, better thermally resistant products are necessary. Other key resin parameters such as adhesion or toughness are also essential to enhance reliability.Originality/valueThe value of the paper lies in its provision of guidance on critical base material properties. It describes the change in physical properties that laminates will experience when moving to the higher temperatures needed for facilitate lead‐free assembly. Selection criteria for base materials are given that will help to minimise the impact of these higher temperatures.
The influence of temperature on the efficiency of electroplating from various ionic liquids
Authors: Lambert Stuart 
Published: September 2006

PurposeTo study the influence of temperature on the electroplating efficiency of various metals from ionic liquids.Design/methodology/approachCopper, silver, nickel and tin, in the form of metal chlorides, were dissolved in a number of ionic liquids. After using cyclic voltammetry to establish an optimum current density to electroplate each metal, basic electroplating processes were carried out at varying temperatures onto stainless steel. The mass deposited was used to calculate the efficiency of the process.FindingsIt was found that, generally, temperature influences the efficiency of electroplating from ionic solutions. While some solutions showed continuing improvements in plating efficiency as the temperature increased, others exhibited an optimum plating temperature. One solution examined showed the need for a certain temperature to be reached in order to induce the formation of a different metal complex before electroplating was achievable.Research limitations/implicationsThe low currents used in the electroplating experiments have a large influence on the errors in the efficiency, especially at lower temperatures.Originality/valueConsideration of the use of ionic liquids in electroplating for printed circuit board manufacturing is relatively new. Knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of metals in various ionic liquids will allow potential plating solutions to be better understood in terms of their suitability for PCB fabrication.
Rationality and the language of decision making
Authors: Peacock Mark S. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThe purpose is to show the importance of language in economic activity and encourage economists to pay more attention to language than hitherto.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines John Searle's work and consider its implications for economic theory. It discusses Searle's “background” and its role in the explanation of intentional phenomena. It analyses the implications of the background for the notion of rule‐following and illustrates the role the background plays in decision making by examining conversation‐analytical studies of decisions involving responses to invitations.FindingsSearle offers a novel interpretation of rules which contrasts to that found in economic theory. The decisions I examine manifest a “preference structure” independent of the preferences of individuals. These can be called “background preferences”. Personal and background preference rankings can conflict with each other. This leads to a possible interpretation of the phenomenon “weakness of will”. The paper concludes with remarks on why language is a neglected phenomenon in economic theory.Originality/valueSearle's work is slowly coming to the attention of a few economists. However, most contributions to the debate so far are at a very general level and do not tackle concrete issues of economic theory. By looking empirically at decision making, this paper shows the relevance of Searle to an issue at the heart of economic theory.
The entrepreneurial myth, globalization and American economic dominance
Authors: Wellington Donald C. , Zandvakili Sourushe 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThe paper aims to point out that the seemingly new and novel has ancient historical precedents.Design/methodology/approachThis is an interpretive essay. It begins with an historical examination of the role of entrepreneurship in the economy and points out that its function has been largely reactive rather than one that is a fundamentally causative prime mover.FindingsThe role is described with noteworthy illustrations that are recurrent and extend over centuries, if not millennia, in time. Their conspicuous quality is a moral repugnance. The role continues into the present.Practical implicationsThe underlying causal factors have changed, but the indifference to general public welfare is a continuing feature.Originality/valueProvides a critical examination of the role of entrepreneurship in the economy in a historical perspective.
Information and communications technology: a non‐income influence on economic well being
Authors: Gani Azmat , Clemes Michael D. 
Published: September 2006

PurposeThis paper tests the hypothesis that more information via higher levels of diffusion of ICT: a non‐income influence, leads to an improvement in societal well being using data from a large sample of low‐income countries.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical procedure utilises a pooled cross section time wise autoregressive model to test the effects of information and communications technology (ICT) on economic well being.FindingsThe findings here provide strong support that the diffusion of the new ICT positively contribute to societal economic well being.Practical implicationsThe implication of the findings is that low‐income countries, in particular, should quickly move to seize the opportunity to develop their ICT infrastructure given its beneficial welfare effects.Originality/valueThe paper examines the effect of ICT on well being.