bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A series of pneumatic glass‐wall cleaning robots for high‐rise buildings
Authors: Zhang Houxiang , Zhang Jianwei , Wang Wei , Liu Rong , Zong Guanghua 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThis paper presents the design of climbing robots for glass‐wall cleaning.Design/methodology/approachA systemic analysis of the basic functions of a glass‐wall cleaning system is given based on the research of working targets. Then the constraints for designing a glass‐wall cleaning robot are discussed. The driving method, the attachment principle, mechanical structure and unique aspects of three pneumatic robots named Sky Cleaners follow. In the end a summary of the main special features is given. All three climbing robots are tested on site.FindingsOur groups spent several years in designing and developing a series of robots named Sky Cleaners which are totally actuated by pneumatic cylinders and sucked to the glass walls with vacuum grippers in mid‐air. It was found that they can meet the requirements of glass‐wall cleaning.Research limitation/implicationsThe air source, cleaning liquid and control signals should be provided by the supporting vehicle stationed on the ground. Even if the robots are intelligent, the suitable working height is below 50 m because the weight of the hoses has to be taken into account when the robots work in mid‐air.Practical implicationsThe cleaning robotic systems can avoid workers presence in a hazardous environment and realize an automatic cleaning, furthermore reduce operation costs and improve the technological level and productivity of the service industry in the building maintenance.Originality/valueSky Cleaner robots can move and do cleaning on the plane glass wall or the special curve wall with a small angle between the glasses. The first two prototypes are mainly used for research and the last one is a real product designing for cleaning the glass surface of Shanghai Science and Technology Museum.
Communication methods, information sharing, supplier development and performance
Authors: Carr Amelia S. , Kaynak Hale 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to extend understanding of supplier development theory by investigating the relationships among communication methods, information sharing within a firm, information sharing between firms, and support aimed at supplier development and the effects these relationships have on firm performance.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from a random sample of 231 firms are used to test hypothesized relationships by employing structural equation modeling.FindingsThe main findings indicate that traditional communication methods, information sharing within a firm, and information sharing between firms, and supplier development are significant factors for improving a buyer's performance though their indirect and direct effects on firm performance vary.Research limitations/implicationsThe model tested in this study should be reinvestigated by employing better developed measures of advanced communication methods. Furthermore, when investigating the relationship between supplier development and firm performance, future studies should include mode of supplier development approach – reactive versus proactive – as a variable.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study provide insights into what makes supplier development activities effective for practitioners.Originality/valueAlthough communication/information sharing has emerged in previously published studies as a critical factor in developing suppliers, an integrated research model that investigates the relationships among communication media, information sharing, supplier development activities, and buying firms' performance has not been offered. This is the gap filled by this study.
Towards a design process for materials supply systems
Authors: Johansson Eva 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe objective of this research is to develop a structure for a materials supply systems (MSSs) design process to be used during product development projects (PDPs).Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a qualitative study at a first tier supplier in the automotive industry. Empirical data were gathered over the course of one year and analysed by means of a previously developed MSSs design model and the company's product development phases.FindingsA structure for a MSSs design process has been developed, based on the following four phases: planning, concept development, system‐level design and detail design.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research could further develop the structure discussed in this paper and complement it with engineering tools for use during the design process.Practical implicationsThe results underline the importance of a MSSs design process and emphasise that such a process should cover activities at an early stage of PDPs. Moreover, the necessity of coordinating the specifications of the various materials flows and evaluating the entire MSS before becoming absorbed by detailed design issues is highlighted.Originality/valueThis paper complements the rapidly growing literature on concurrent engineering by emphasising the importance of integrating the materials supply aspects at an early stage of PDPs and designing the MSS in integration with the product and the production system.
Last‐mile supply chain efficiency: an analysis of learning curves in online ordering
Authors: Kull Thomas J. , Boyer Ken , Calantone Roger 
Published: March 2007

PurposeAs companies extend supply chains via direct delivery to consumers, supply chain efficiency depends upon the usability of the online ordering system. The purpose of this paper is to focus on customer order cycle efficiency gains through the “learnability” of web sites.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyzes empirical data using nonlinear regression from seven firms and over 4,000 customers to examine how order time – an important performance metric – changes within an online grocery ordering environment.FindingsThe evidence supports various forms of power‐law learning for web‐based ordering (i.e. the first few orders involve substantial learning). However, significant differences exist between web sites, and a portion of the ordering time may be irreducible.Research limitations/implicationsThe research lends insight into how web sites influence last‐mile supply chain efficiency via differing learning rates in the order cycle. Perceptual measures were used in order to assess customer beliefs.Practical implicationsOnline order entry serves as the starting point for many supply chain actions. Managers can use this research to benchmark their web site performance and subsequently take action to improve the efficiency and service of their supply chain.Originality/valueThe empirically validated model allows researchers and web‐based businesses to utilize the provided learning rate measure as an ease of use performance metric.
Interview: a retrospective account of Faye Crosby's life and research
Authors: Schmukler Kristina R. , Franco‐Zamudio Jamie L. 
Published: March 2007

PurposeOver the past 40 years Faye Crosby's research, teaching, and mentorship has touched and influenced students, researchers, and academic institutions. Faye's early work focused on gender inequity and relative deprivation, providing her with insight into a surprising phenomenon – the denial of personal discrimination. Armed with the knowledge that individuals are often unaware of personal discrimination, Faye's later work focused on advocating for institutional protections in the form of affirmative action. The focus of this interview is to simultaneously pay homage to Faye's innovative research while highlighting the ways that Faye's motivations, inspirations, and personal experiences have influenced her body of work.Design/methodology/approachThis article is based on an interview with Faye Crosby by the authors in October of 2006.FindingsFaye Crosby's work in the field of social psychology has influenced a great deal of social justice inquiry, including research related to gender equity, discrimination, relative deprivation, mentoring, and affirmative action. She describes herself as a social psychologist and a feminist empiricist. She asserts that her greatest contribution to the field is her ability to organize and categorize research findings in novel ways, elucidating new themes. Faye has published over 150 articles, books, and chapters both individually and in collaboration.Originality/valueThis retrospective account updates previous interviews of the prominent scholar, Faye Crosby, whose life work has been dedicated to social justice and equal access to opportunities.
Leadership, trustworthiness, and the mediating lens
Authors: Caldwell Cam , Hayes Linda A. 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to propose and empirically test hypotheses concerning the influence of leadership behaviors on interpersonal perceptions of trustworthiness.Design/methodology/approachSurvey research is employed to assess the dimensions of leadership behavior and dimensions of trustworthiness and to determine the relationships among the leadership behavior dimensions and trustworthiness dimensions.FindingsFactor analyses support previous research advocating three dimensions of leadership behavior (relationship development, resource utilization, and image management) and three dimensions of trustworthiness (ability, benevolence, and integrity). A structural model (LISREL), testing the relationship among the three leadership behavior dimensions and the three trustworthiness dimensions, shows that image management influences perceptions of all three dimensions of trustworthiness, and relationship development influences the benevolence dimension of trustworthiness. Using analysis of variance, the research finds that younger individuals view leaders as being more trustworthy than older individuals do.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of this study include a survey research methodology and a sample of university students.Practical implicationsThere are consequences to leaders' actions. This study shows that perceptions of trustworthiness can be influenced by leadership behavior.Originality/valuePast research suggests that trustworthiness is an important component of a successful organization. This research supports the hypothesis that leadership behavior affects perceptions of trustworthiness, which is important to researchers and managers interested in how the behaviors of leaders influence other areas of the organization.
Making sense through coaching
Authors: Du Toit Angélique 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe paper sets out to consider the value of coaching to the sensemaking process. It aims to demonstrate how coaching enhances sensemaking and seeks to describe coaching as a sensemaking activity.Design/methodology/approachThe objectives are achieved by exploring the literature of both coaching and sensemaking with the purpose of demonstrating the mutually supportive nature of coaching and sensemaking.FindingsBy analysing sensemaking and coaching activities, the paper aims to demonstrate that coaching greatly supports and enhances the quality of the sensemaking activities of the individual.Research limitations/implicationsCoaching as an academic discipline is still in its infancy and lacking in sound empirical research. It would be value for future research activities to focus on the sensemaking the individual engages with during the coaching process.Practical implicationsAs mentioned above, sound academic research is necessary in order to understand the nature of coaching. This paper goes some way in exploring both coaching as a sensemaking process and also how coaching fundamentally supports the sensemaking process the individual engages in.Originality/valueCoaching has not been explored in relation to sensemaking nor the value that coaching brings to sensemaking. Exploring coaching from a sensemaking perspective helps create a deeper understanding of what takes place within the coaching relationship.
Government “demarketing” as viewed by its target audience
Authors: Wall A.P. 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to assess the strategic rationale and the effectiveness of government “demarketing” campaigns in the areas of smoking, binge drinking and private car usage.Design/methodology/approachA survey of 257 young people in Northern Ireland was carried out, seeking their opinions on the effectiveness of current demarketing campaigns.FindingsGovernment demarketing initiatives are generally seen as ineffective, except for the banning of smoking in enclosed public places. Punishing disorderly behaviour caused by excess alcohol and making private driving more expensive are thought to achieve a certain degree of effectiveness.Practical implicationsThe UK Government has put considerable effort into demarketing campaigns of this kind, with limited success. The need to rethink strategy and implementation is particularly urgent with regard to drinking behaviour and its consequences, because the government appears to be sending out mixed messages through its communications and its actions. Although continued pressure on smokers appears to be bringing results, the effectiveness of individual initiatives is variable. Lessons may be transferable to other areas of demarketing specifically and social marketing in general.Originality/valueThe paper reports the views of young people, who are the main targets of most campaigns of this nature, and are future smokers, drinkers and drivers if they have not established those behaviour patterns already.
Customer community and co‐creation: a case study
Authors: Rowley Jennifer , Kupiec‐Teahan Beata , Leeming Edward 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to provide insights into the development and management of a customer community, informing product innovation and engaging customers in co‐creation of a consumption experience.Design/methodology/approachA review of the state of current knowledge about co‐production, co‐creation and customer communities is followed by discussion of the case study methodology. The case history of a leading player in the UK and international “sportkiting” market focuses on product innovation and customer‐community development. Discussion reflects in more detail on the lessons from the case for application of the principles in practice.FindingsThe case company's innovative product development strategy provides the catalyst for co‐creation of a customer experience. Its marketing actions extend beyond product development and innovation to actively co‐creating experiences with customers, fostering a sense of community among users, facilitating communication within that community, acting on the feedback, and continuously developing and maintaining the community relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe company's marketing strategy can be summed up as “customer community leadership”. This paradigm proposes a new role for businesses in sectors where there is a potential to develop and engage communities. It provides a context for the effective facilitation of customer knowledge management, within which marketing intelligence plays a significant role. The findings offer scope for further research into the nature of this phenomenon and its relevance to co‐creation in other industry sectors, and into numerous aspects of the processes and impacts associated with customer communities.Originality/valueThe case contributes to the literature of co‐creation, demonstrating how it has been achieved through a marketing strategy and marketing mix in a particular customer community.
The impact of Porter's strategy types on the role of market research and customer relationship management
Authors: Valos Michael J. , Bednall David H.B. , Callaghan Bill 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to investigate the influence of Porter's strategy types on the use of customer relationship management (CRM) techniques and traditional market research, against theoretical and empirical evidence that differences in strategy types may result in variation in favoured marketing information sources and procedures.Design/methodology/approachDepth interviews generated a series of scale items, which were combined with others derived from the literature in a questionnaire measuring strategy types, the roles of market research, and the characteristics of CRM systems. Responses were obtained from 240 senior marketing managers in Australia, and applied to the testing of five research propositions.FindingsANOVA found no differences in CRM usage among the strategy types. Variation was widespread, however, in four roles of traditional market research: enhancing strategic decision making, increasing usability of existing data, presenting plans to senior management, and achieving productivity and political outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsFuture researchers using the Porter strategic types should separate “marketing differentiators” from “product differentiators” because they function and compete differently.Practical implicationsAll organisations can benefit from CRM systems, but “marketing differentiators” exhibit a relatively higher usage of traditional market research. This is likely to be because they compete by creating softer product differences, while others do so on harder characteristics such as price or product functionality.Originality/valueThis is the first study to use the Porter types to explain differences between the roles and uses of market research and CRM within organisations.
ASP system utilization: customer satisfaction and user performance
Authors: Lee Sang M. , Lee Hong‐Hee , Kim Jinhan , Lee Sang‐Gun 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to understand effects of ASP utilization on organization performance measured in terms of satisfaction and educational effectiveness on the part of the customer firm.Design/methodology/approachThis study follows the positivist approach. After a research framework was developed and hypotheses defined, based on a thorough ASP literature review, data were collected from small firms which use ASP services. Results were discussed to suggest strategic directions of ASPs.FindingsThe results show that when customer firms perceive good service at a reasonable fee, they exhibit a high level of satisfaction with the service provider. Customer satisfaction is found to be significantly related to organizational performance. Also, the education content of training programs significantly influences educational effectiveness, which in turn contributes to organizational performance by impacting customer service.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of the study would help practitioners and researchers better understand ASP customers. The scope of this study is limited to leading IT adoption countries.Originality/valueBased on the customer perspective, this paper delineates factors of ASP services that support small firms to be more successful.
Information technology investment and operational performance in purchasing
Authors: González‐Benito Javier 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to study the relationship between information technology (IT) investments and performance in the purchasing function. A study is made not only of whether this relationship exists, but also of the mediating role played by both purchasing practices and the strategic integration of purchasing.Design/methodology/approachStatistical analyses of the data provided by 141 purchasing managers of medium and large Spanish companies in three industrial sectors.FindingsThe analyses support the idea that IT investments exert a positive effect on purchasing operational performance. Nonetheless, the results show that this effect arises because IT allows companies to implement certain purchasing practices and, partially, because it facilitates greater strategic integration of the purchasing function.Originality/valueThe results not only reveal the positive effect of IT at the functional level, but they also help us to understand how this effect is produced.
Supply chain performance measurement system using DEA modeling
Authors: Peng Wong Wai , Yew Wong Kuan 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to illustrate the use of data envelopment analysis (DEA) in measuring internal supply chain performance.Design/methodology/approachTwo DEA models were developed – the technical efficiency model and the cost efficiency model. The models are further enhanced with scenario analysis to derive more meaningful business insights for managers in making resources planning decisions.FindingsThe information obtained from the DEA models helps managers to identify the inefficient operations and take the right remedial actions for continuous improvement. More importantly, the opportunity cost (forgone profit) calculated serves as a good reference to managers to make efficient decisions on resource allocations.Research limitations/implicationsResults are based on the deterministic data set. Future enhancement of the study would be to look into the possibility of modeling DEA in a stochastic supply chain environment (non‐deterministic) due to the fact that supply chain operates in a dynamic environment.Practical implicationsThe proposed DEA‐based approach provides useful managerial implications in the measurement of supply chain efficiency. The study proves the usefulness of DEA as a decision‐making tool in supply chain.Originality/valueThis paper provides useful insights into the use of DEA as a modeling tool to aid managerial decision making in measuring supply chain efficiency.
Taxonomy development and assessment of global information technology outsourcing decisions
Authors: Koong Kai S. , Liu Lai C. , Jian Wang Yong 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to provide taxonomy and assessment methodologies for executives of global conglomerates with a selection of variables which can help them evaluate outsourcing decisions.Design/methodology/approachA range of established theories, which addressed outsourcing decisions, are identified. The major determinants of global outsourcing were then formulated into an integrated model. Each of the variables identified was validated using multiple theories. Finally, a weighted score index was used to demonstrate how the variables can be used to evaluate outsourcing decisions.FindingsIt provides an overview of outsourcing theories about the variety of major reasons and their associated determinants as well as attributes that are relevant to decision‐makers. It showed that the individual theories can be integrated into a global taxonomy. This taxonomy can be assessed using a weighted‐index because the inputs and computation processes contain realistic qualitative and quantitative information.Research limitations/implicationsIt is an assessment methodology that requires input and judgment from a variety of experts. Persons having such expertise may be fairly costly and difficult to find.Practical implicationsA very simple, yet comprehensive, and useful taxonomy for executives making outsourcing decisions. The assessment index is a proven methodology that is used by business consultants for a variety of related applications involving decision choices.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills the need for a more comprehensive view and a systematic approach to the assessment of outsourcing decisions. The index of attributes identified and the evaluation technique proposed are a practical approach.