bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Innovation, diffusion and adoption of total quality management (TQM)
Authors: Osayawe Ehigie Benjamin , McAndrew Elizabeth B. 
Published: June 2005

PurposeThe present paper seeks to establish, through literature reports, if TQM is still a management theory in vogue or now a management fad. To achieve this, the innovative change process of TQM is examined, along the dimension of creativity, invention, innovation, diffusion and adoption.Design/methodology/approachThe approach for data collection is basically secondary sources. The literature is extensively reviewed to arrive at the position presented in the paper.FindingsFrom the reviews made it is argued that, although TQM looks faddish in graphical presentation of articles on TQM, it cannot be concluded that it is now a management fad. Though reports on TQM seem to diminish among popular press but academic scholars are still very much engrossed with empirical studies on TQM. This is based on the fact that many organizations still adopt and implement TQM and its diffusion is on the increase globally.Research limitations/implicationsThe main source of literature for the presentation is the ABI‐INFORM database. This might have reduced the generalizability of the findings in the present research. It is encouraged for other sources of literature to be explored.Practical implicationsIt is implied from the present research that TQM is still a management philosophy in practice. Because it is diffused cross‐culturally, it is encouraged for its adopters not to use it as a “canned technique” of management change. Rather the management ideas need to be adapted within specific organizational settings, putting into consideration employees' personality, organizational leadership styles, reward system, and other cultural practices. Implementers of TQM should endeavor to fully understand the antics of the management philosophy and implement accordingly. A clear understanding and training of personnel on TQM philosophy is pertinent for protecting it from becoming a management fad.Originality/valueWhat is original about the paper is the conceptualization of TQM along the organizational change process. TQM is presented as an innovation and its diffusion and adoption processes are sequentially analyzed.
Industrial robotic system programmed from CAD files – an update
Authors: Norberto Pires J. , Godinho T. , Ferreira P. , Loureiro A. 
Published: June 2005

PurposeIn this paper a solution capable of extracting robot motion information from CAD data is briefly presented and explored.Design/methodology/approachThe motion information is added by the user to the CAD file, defining in this way the approach, fly‐by and welding trajectories. So the user programs the robot. An application is then used to extract that information and constitute a pre‐program, which should be tuned with the real robot using a small set of rules. In this way, versatility of robotic cells is improved and its programming is simplified.FindingsThe developed CAD interface is tested using a robot welding experiment on a steel beam used for industrial buildings.Originality/valueThis paper builds on work previously described in “CAD interface for automatic robot welding programming” published in Industrial Robot, Vol. 31, No. 1.
Development of closed‐loop control of robotic welding processes
Authors: Steele John P.H. , Mnich Chris , Debrunner Chris , Vincent Tyrone , Liu Stephen 
Published: June 2005

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to develop closed‐loop control of robotic welding processes.Design/methodology/approachThe approach being developed is the creation of three‐dimensional models of the weld pool using stereo imagining. These models will be used in a model‐based feedback control system. Fusion of more than one sensor type in the controller is used.FindingsThree‐dimensional images can be produced from stereo images of GMAW‐p weld pools. This requires coordinating the image capture with the arc pulse to allow observation of the pool.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a work in progress. The imaging is not being done in real time at this point in time. Future work will address this issue. Also, how the image information is to be used to make corrections within the controller is future work.Practical implicationsClosing the loop on GMAW welding will allow robotic automation of welding to proceed to a much broader degree of application.Originality/valueThis paper demonstrates that stereo imaging of out‐of‐position GMAW‐p weld pools is possible and the useful information can be obtained from these images. It also provides insights into the analysis required within the model‐based controller if one is to close the loop on the process specifically with regard to weld pool stability.
Price as a variable in online consumer trade‐offs
Authors: Karlsson Ted , Pitt Leyland , Spyropoulou Stavroula 
Published: June 2005

PurposeTo determine the impact of price on consumer decision making in online environments.Design/methodology/approachUses a conjoint experiment to investigate the trade‐offs customers make when choosing and to establish their relative weights in online and offline situations.FindingsFinds that customers expect prices to be lower in an online environment than in a traditional sales channel.Research limitations/implicationsDespite acknowledged limitations of experimental design and student samples, the findings have both theoretical and practical implications.Practical implicationsMarketing planners can use the intelligence gained from conjoint studies such as this to improve the design and implementation of online retail experiences.Originality/valueCompares online and offline shopping environments with specific regard to the importance of price in each in the consumer decision‐making processes, a hitherto overlooked issue in marketing research.
Identifying the effects of cannibalization on the product portfolio
Authors: Raghavan Srinivasan Sundara , Ramakrishnan Sreeram , Grasman Scott E. 
Published: June 2005

PurposeThe need for studying the effects of cannibalization and its importance has been established in the literature, especially, since an assessment of the expected cannibalization effect of a new product can help in deciding on suitable times for new product introduction and promotions. However, quantitative measures that can be easily monitored and interpreted are not commonly available.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses parametric measures to help identify and investigate the effects of cannibalization. It proposes a predictive framework that may be used to investigate the effects of cannibalization. A case study, with real data from a consumer beverage company, illustrates the practical applicability of the model.FindingsThe parametric measures developed helped to identify the level of product cannibalization at the product, product group, family and brand levels in the portfolio.Originality/valueMarketing strategists who can identify the victims of cannibalization in the product portfolio will be better prepared for the effects of cannibalization.
The benefits, challenges and impacts of radio frequency identification technology (RFID) for retailers in the UK
Authors: Jones Peter , Hillier David , Comfort Daphne 
Published: June 2005

PurposeTo offer an outline of the characteristics of radio frequency identification technology (RFID) and discuss its perceived benefits, impacts and challenges, as they apply to retailers in the UK. The paper draws together a range of information and intelligence about the application of RFID and reflects on the strategic planning challenges it poses to retailers.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws its material largely from trade and practitioner sources and illustrates general themes with specific retail examples.FindingsThe paper suggests that RFID has the potential to deliver a wide range of benefits throughout the supply chain, including tighter management and control, reduction in shrinkage, reduced labour costs and improved customer service. However, retail users will have to address a number of operational and strategic challenges and consumer privacy concerns before these benefits can be fully realised. The adoption of RFID may further increase structural concentration within the retail sector of the economy, and have a major impact on retail operations at shop floor level and on the customers' shopping experience.Originality/valueAn accessible outline of RFID developments within UK retailing, of interest to marketing professionals and academics concerned with marketing practice. A companion piece to the paper by Wyld et al. in this issue.
The use of information technology (IT) by electronic media workers in Delta State, Nigeria
Authors: Adomi Esharenana E. , Obarakpor Esoswo F. , Akparobore Daniel O. 
Published: June 2005

PurposeTo find out the patterns of information technology (IT) use by electronic media workers in Delta State, Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe survey design using questionnaires to collect data is employed.FindingsThese reveal the personal characteristics of the respondents – their sex, age, qualification, ranks/job titles, name of media organization; that all the respondents use IT facilities/components; most of them use computers system daily; a majority do not use internet/e‐mail nor fax machine but a majority use telephone; a good number of them use IT facilities to send message/news to their office; IT facilitates their sending/receiving of news/messages; frequent power outages among other factors militate against use of IT by the workers.Originality/valueThe findings would assist electronic media organizations in developing countries to develop policies that could make media workers better users of IT.
Analysis of users' searches of CD‐ROM databases
Authors: Okpala Angela E. , Igbeka Josephine U. 
Published: June 2005

PurposeThis study investigates the behaviour of searchers of CD‐ROM databases in the Kenneth Dike Library of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The aim of the study was to identify the behaviour of end‐users with different amounts of overall experience in searching electronic databases in order to identify the knowledge of their search systems and syntax, and its effect on their search results, for the purpose of improving user education.Design/methodology/approachAll end‐users who conducted searches during the period of the research were the subjects of the research. A well‐constructed questionnaire, including interviews and observations, were used to collect the requisite data. The variables included in this study are user variables, search process variables and search outcome variables. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.FindingsThe results show that logical operators “AND” and “OR” are significantly used for searching by end‐users; that search results are dependent on search strategy employed by the user. The more sophisticated the search strategy, the greater the result in terms of number and relevance obtained by the searcher. The result also shows that there is no relationship between the level of education of users and quality of search strategy.Practical implicationsThe implication of the study is mainly the importance and necessity of training for end‐users in CD‐ROM literature search.Originality/valueThe uniqueness of the study is based on the fact that certain strategic methods are required for a successful CD‐ROM literature search and that this does not depend on the level of education of users. This paper is therefore important and applicable to all end‐users who are interested in conducting CD‐ROM literature search.
Beyond satisfaction: customer attachment to retail banks
Authors: Aldlaigan Abdullah , Buttle Francis 
Published: June 2005

PurposeThis research paper seeks to investigate the different types of attachment that customers develop towards retail banks.Design/methodology/approachThe approach blends literature reviews, in addition to qualitative and quantitative methods. The primary research programme analyses data from seven focus groups, 39 one‐on‐one interviews and 1,058 individual consumer questionnaires.FindingsIdentifies three forms of positive attachment, based on three different foundations: the credibility of the organisation, compatibility between the values of the organisation and those of the consumer, and interpersonal or relational considerations. Presents a statistically valid and reliable scale that can be used to measure these three forms of attachment. Also identifies other forms of customer‐bank attachment grounded on less positive associations, including inertia and alienation.Originality/valueThe scale can be used to identify customer‐organisational attachment profiles that transcend or complement customer satisfaction, and provide a basis for relationship longevity.
The importance of consumers' perceived risk in retail strategy
Authors: Mitchell Vincent‐Wayne , Harris Greg 
Published: June 2005

PurposeGaining and sustaining a strategic competitive advantage in retailing requires knowledge of the attributes consumers value and use to discriminate between stores and why those attributes are important. Although many store image studies define discriminant attributes, few have attempted to explain either how these attributes lead to the satisfaction of personal shopping motives or how knowledge of these can be used to focus and reinforce a strategic position. The purpose of this article is to propose and examine a method to help retailers understand grocery consumers' store choice processes as a function of the linkages between store attributes, shopping motives and risk dimensions which can help them develop a more coherent and clearer positioning strategy.Design/methodology/approachMeans‐end chain analysis is used to explore how grocery customers build a mental link between store attributes, the consequences of not having those attributes, and the motives for seeking them.FindingsThe findings suggest that shoppers' motives are linked to only four main risk dimensions, namely time, financial, psychosocial and physical, and we present evidence for reassessing store positioning strategies, giving more emphasis to the risks involved.Practical implicationsThe article suggests that the prime heuristics that consumers use to compare grocery stores are the four main risk dimensions. While consumers may think heuristically (i.e. deal in general perceptions of stores rather than comparing stores in every detail), retailers act in detail, and knowledge of how store attributes are related to these risk dimensions is therefore useful to retail marketers in developing and positioning stores. The findings also confirm the usefulness of means‐end chain analysis as a methodology for assessing retail store motivations, because it allows researchers to define all the store attributes which are important to respondents, gain responses in the respondent's language, and examine the underlying motives to which tangible and intangible attributes are related. Furthermore, the constructs/elements elicited can be used to feed into Kelly's repertory grid analysis, which is useful in positioning studies for determining a company's competitive position on one of the four main positioning dimensions.Originality/valueThe work extends the theory of means‐end chains by highlighting the relationship between the terminal values it produces and risk dimensions. The research is relevant to retail marketers in terms of store development and personnel training, and to consumer researchers interested in risk measurement.
Meeting metadata challenges in the consortial environment
Authors: Wisser Katherine 
Published: June 2005

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to focus on the approaches to metadata pursued by North Carolina's Exploring Cultural Heritage Online (NC ECHO), a statewide digitization project. Metadata forms the cornerstone to the project and serves as a vehicle to meet the vision of all‐inclusive access to the state's unique cultural and historical resources.Design/methodology/approachThe article begins with a description of the cultural heritage institution landscape in North Carolina and a discussion of that landscape within the framework of metadata challenges. Four distinct but interrelated approaches are then discussed in the context of the project's missions and goals: working groups, “metadata first”, training and outreach, and “Seek a Metadata Consultation”.FindingsThe described approach demonstrates a commitment to communication, facilitation, and empowerment that is fundamental to the overall mission of NC ECHO: to provide access to the state's cultural heritage materials through an online portal.Originality/valueThe article provides a discussion of the importance of marketing, approval, coordination, and participation in the context of these metadata solutions.
The Columbia River Basin Ethnic History Archive
Authors: Wykoff Leslie , Mercier Laurie , Bond Trevor , Cornish Alan 
Published: June 2005

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the three state digital archive collaboration between the Washington, Oregon, and Idaho state historical societies, and Washington State University, a multi‐campus university.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses the three major aspects of the IMLS Leadership project: the process of the museum/library collaboration, the technical aspects of the building, the digital archive and the metadata scheme, and the effort to engage the archive user with the past through interactive tutorials.FindingsBuilding a contextually coherent digital archive from numerous geographically remote collections is possible to do given current meeting technologies and funding for travel. Project staff and partners need to be explicit and forthcoming about institutional and professional interests involved in collaborative projects. User focus groups found the site to be very engaging.Originality/valueThe paper describes the collaboration process, technically how the archive was built, and the development of the history tutorials and discussion board.
A holistic approach to quality success in developing nations
Authors: Wankhade Lalit , Dabade B.M. 
Published: June 2005

PurposeRecently, Nobel Prize‐winning research in information economics has revealed that information asymmetry is instrumental for quality uncertainty, which is more crucial in developing nations. In this backdrop, aims to explain market mechanisms for various informational ambiences. Also, the paper aims to deal with quality management progress in developing countries. Factors responsible for quality success are identified and correlated.Design/methodology/approachSystem thinking is attempted in order to study information asymmetry repercussions on quality paradigm.FindingsQuality success, particularly in developing nations, depends on many factors and there is a need to assimilate these related strands.Originality/valueImplications for holistic quality success are offered.
Effects of reengineering on the employee satisfaction‐customer satisfaction relationship
Authors: Burke Ronald J. , Graham Jim , Smith Frank 
Published: June 2005

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the correlations between measures of employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction before and after a major process reengineering initiative.Design/methodology/approachData were collected in 130 branches of a large financial services organization using employee and customer surveys.FindingsScores on some employee satisfaction factors were predictive of customer satisfaction at both time periods. Other employee satisfaction factors were found to have a stronger relationship with customer satisfaction in one period but not both.Research limitations/implicationsThis study needs to be replicated to determine the generalizability of the findings.Practical implicationsWork demands which probably increased due to the reengineering initiative were predictive of customer satisfaction following the reengineering effort.Originality/valueOrganizations need to consider the effects of organizational changes in their efforts to provide high quality customer service.
Product and brand
Authors: Wigley Stephen M. , Moore Christopher M. , Birtwistle Grete 
Published: June 2005

PurposeTo explore the factors crucial to international fashion retailer success and evaluate how internationalisation could be controlled efficiently by a firm.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a qualitative approach in the form of case studies of two international fashion retailers. This involved structured interviews with management to explore their knowledge and experiences supported by secondary research such as company and media reports.FindingsDefines the critical success factors especially contingent to their businesses, emphasising the importance of brand management, product development and differentiation to international fashion retailers.Research limitationsAn exploratory study which model needs testing using quantitative methods.Originality/valueUnderstanding of how fashion retailers successfully internationalise will increase company efficiency.
Consumer‐based brand equity: improving the measurement – empirical evidence
Authors: Pappu Ravi , Quester Pascale G. , Cooksey Ray W. 
Published: June 2005

PurposeThe present research aims to improve the measurement of consumer‐based brand equity. Current measurement of consumer‐based brand equity suffers from limitations, including: a lack of distinction between the dimensions brand awareness and brand associations, the use of non‐discriminant indicators in the measurement scales and of student samples.Design/methodology/approachBased on the recommendations of extant research, the scale constructed to measure consumer‐based brand equity in this study included brand personality measures. Brand associations were measured using a different set of items. Unlike many of the previous studies that had used student samples, the present study used a sample of actual consumers from an Australian state capital city. Confirmatory factor analysis employing structural equations modelling was used to measure consumer‐based brand equity in two product categories and across six brands.FindingsResults support the hypothesised four‐dimension model of consumer‐based brand equity across two product categories and six brands. Brand awareness and brand associations were found to be two distinct dimensions of brand equity as conceptualised in the marketing literature. The present study contributes to the understanding of consumer‐based brand equity measurement by examining the dimensionality of this construct.Originality/valueThe principal contribution of the present research is that it provides empirical evidence of the multidimensionality of consumer‐based brand equity, supporting Aaker's and Keller's conceptualisation of brand equity. The present research also enriched consumer‐based brand equity measurement by incorporating the brand personality measures, as recommended by previous researchers. While earlier studies were conducted using US and Korean samples, the present study also used a sample of Australian consumers.