Abstract Purpose – The aim of this paper is to discuss the apparent paradox that multinational firms may and sometimes do pursue social benefits as their main objective. Design/methodology/approach – This paper explores the grey area that lays between some consolidated analytical concepts, namely: spillovers, corporate responsibility, social cooperation and non-governmental organizations.…
Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to analyse available multimodal transport route variations for iron ore shipments from northwest Australia to northeast China, focusing on a major iron and steel manufacturer. Design/methodology/approach – The research is focused on a case study and uses an established cost model as a framework, for the first time, in the context of heavy bulk cargo ship…
The impact of extreme events on crude oil markets is of great importance in crude oil price analysis due to the fact that those events generally exert strong impact on crude oil markets. For better estimation of the impact of events on crude oil price volatility, this study attempts to use an EMD-based event analysis approach for this task. In the proposed method, the time series to be analyzed…
abstract Block widths ranging from two to fifteen rows in a marine container terminal are evaluated by a fully-integrated, discrete event simulation model. Experiments consider dozens of yard configurations and four container terminal settings that are designed to reproduce the microscopic, stochastic, real-time environment at a multiple-berth facility. Results show that the quay crane rate i…
Abstract Energy-saving target ratios (ESTR) for 17 APEC economies during 1991–2000 are computed in a total-factor framework. All nominal variables are transformed into real variables by the purchasing power parity (PPP) at the 1995 price level. The data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach is used to find the energy-saving target (EST) for APEC economies without reducing their maximum potenti…
Abstract The article examines the possible implications of climate change for seaport competition and for the local hinterlands of ports of countries that border the Adriatic. The focus is on the effects that further increases in the annual durations over which the Northern Sea Route is navigable will have on costs of shipping between Asian and Europe and, in turn, the effects of this on the v…
abstract An unceasing growth of gas consumption in domestic households, industry, and power plants has gradually turned natural gas into a major source of energy. Main drivers in this development are the technical and economic advantages of natural gas. It is a clean, versatile, and easily controllable fuel. On this basis, natural gas is often considered the form of energy that will be the ‘…
Abstract In this paper we use directional technology distance functions to evaluate the impact of environmental regulations on firms’ performance. Following Fa¨re et al. [Fa¨re, R., Grosskopf, S., Lovell, C.A.K., Pasurka, C., 1989. Multilateral productivity comparisons when some outputs are undesirable: a nonparametric approach. The Review of Economics and Statistics 71, 90–98.], we cons…
G iven its severity, it’s hardly surprising that the recent worldwide recession continues to be the focal point of much analysis. Financial meltdown, together with the crumbling of asset markets and world trade, ensured that few economies escaped its destructive effects. But many bailouts and fiscal stimulus packages later, it would seem that the recovery is finally under way. That stock mar…
ver the last half-century, most of the best-recognized global brands have been headquartered in developed countries. In the last dozen years, new brands such as South Korea’s Samsung and Brazil’s Embraer have carved big names for themselves. Here is how the line-up of the world’s power brands will change over the next few decades. Amid the current global slump, many of the world’s blu…
Abstract Purpose – The arrival of global manufacturers has brought about new challenges such as environmental concerns and sustainability of supply chains. The purpose of this paper is to identify implementation level, major drivers, various practices and performance of environmentally and socially-conscious supply chain management (SCM) in the context of the automobile industry in India.
Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to examine the impact of oil prices on trade’s sensitivity to distance. Furthermore, it seeks to investigate if the nature of trade and the type of goods have a mediating role on the oil prices’ impact on trade. Design/methodology/approach – A set of gravity models are estimated on a unique panel dataset from China Customs Statistics that reports tra…
Abstract Purpose – A program of shipment consolidation (SCL) is the purposeful intervention by management to regularly combine several small shipments so that a larger load may be dispatched on the same vehicle. SCL decisions traditionally have been based upon minimization of total logistics costs (inventory plus transportation). The paper aims to answer the following research question: give…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of a key logistics and distribution variable, case pack quantity, on a consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturing firm’s performance. The paper builds theory with respect to case pack quantity’s dichotomous impact on the retail shelf replenishment process and subsequent impact on market share depending on product …
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relative impact of workplace bullying and risk perception on the mental health among employees in safety critical organisations. The paper also aims to examine whether self-esteem moderates the relationship between bullying and risk perception as stressors and mental health as an outcome variable.
Abstract Purpose – Organizations in India are multicultural in nature. In this context, cultural intelligence is a tool, which can increase an individual’s ability to interact with people outside his/her culture. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of cultural intelligence on task performance as well as to investigate the mediating role of cultural adjustment between the two.
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish an integrated model of Analytic Network Process (ANP) and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), to assist enterprises to process supplier quality performance rating and comparison and find the core improvement direction to create the value of all supply chain members.
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the effectiveness of market discipline on banks’ risk-taking behavior based on how swiftly banks respond to market information. Design/methodology/approach – A simplified incentive model provides the necessary justification for two types of market disciplines: first, monitoring by uninsured market participants, and second, risk p…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate, through metaphor analysis, the complex nature of the work undertaken by waiters and pursers on-board cruise ships. This is an under-researched field and empirical research has produced some interesting perceptions that these groups of workers have of themselves, of others, and of the world in which they work and live. Design/met…
Abstract Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate the differential effect of customer orientation and future market focus on organization inertia and firm innovativeness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the business-to-business service industry. It is motivated by the observation that small and medium-sized service firms’ proxy to customers may lead to incremental s…
The UK’s largest electricity supplier is using the Royal Navy’s spare capacity to help to train nuclear power-station workers of the future. With the UK Government recently inviting applications to build the country’s first new nuclear-power stations for a generation, British Energy has signed a £10 million partnership contract with the Royal Navy’s training partner, Flagship, to deliv…
Abstract Purpose – The organisation-wide drive towards total quality management (TQM) and the call forsound corporate governance require that Maltese internal audit (IA) units benchmark their operations as a first step towards the critical evaluation of their processes and the management of change. The purpose of this paper is to determine the awareness of this process in Maltese IA units, …
Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to examine the antecedent of purchase intention: online seller reputation, product category and surcharge. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses five experimental designs to explore the seller reputation, product category and surcharge effects in Internet shopping. The authors chose one seller of low reputation and one seller of high reputation fr…
Abstract Purpose – Benefits of modularity are being limited by the lack of agreement over terminology. Neither researchers nor managers use the same typology, complicating comparisons of modular strategies. Design/methodology/approach – Presents existing problem, then develops comprehensive and necessary typology. Examples illustrate practical use of the typology, and help reader understa…
Abstract Formative measurement models were first introduced in the literature more than forty years ago and the discussion about their methodological contribution has been increasing since the 1990s. However, the use of formative indicators for construct measurement in empirical studies is still scarce. This paper seeks to encourage the thoughtful application of formative models by (a) highli…
Abstract Data envelopment analysis has gained great popularity in energy and environmental (E&E) modeling in recent years. In this paper, we present a literature survey on the application of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to E&E studies. We begin with an introduction to the most widely used DEA techniques, which is followed by a classification of 100 publications in this field. The main featu…
Introduction Control charts are important tools of statistical quality control. These charts are used to decide whether a process has achieved a state of statistical control and to maintain current control of a process. To use any of these charts, three design parameters must be specified: the sample size n, the sampling period h, and the width of control chart k (the number of standard deviat…
Abstract This article presents the findings of a comprehensive, exploratory survey concerning transportation quality improvement programs. Various quality improvement program dimensions were compared among two groups of respondents: those who experienced market share increases or cost decreases associated with the quality programs, and those who did not. The survey examined firms' general fo…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to examine moves towards cross border trade union mergers. Design/methodology/approach – This editorial outlines the reasons why trade unions see the need to act outside their nation state boundaries. Findings – In the globalised economy if trade unions are to defend and advance the living standards of their members they cannot confine…
Abstract Iran’s influence on a number of cultural, political, and economic areas including religion and philosophy, literature, science and education, as well as statecraft is surveyed. The chapter also discusses how successive Iranian empires contributed to the growth of world trade and commerce. It is shown that Iran has had a great impact on the world throughout its long history and that …
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to study the development and implementation of metadata schemes in Swedish governmental agencies, in order to gain a better understanding of recordkeeping practices in contemporary organisations and of the use of metadata and practical implementation of metadata schemes. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on two case studies. Th…
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents (the medieval guild) of modern day industrial clustering. The paper challenges the notion that work of Alfred Marshall provides the intellectual underpinning of cluster thinking. Design/methodology/approach – The source material uses archival research on medieval guilds and historical texts. In tracing the developm…
Warehouses may be as old as trading outposts in the olden days, but warehousing has since evolved into a highly sophisticated operation that features prominently in the supply chain strategy. Here at last is a timely and comprehensive guide for practitioners to the best practices in warehousing. It provides insights for beginners in warehousing and is a good quick read for someone who wants to …
Warehouse Management provides a complete guide to best practice in warehouse operations. Covering everything from the latest technological advances to current environmental issues, this book provides an indispensable companion to the modern warehouse. Supported by case studies, the text considers many aspects of warehouse management, including: -cost reduction -p…
Warehouses are an integral part of the modern supply chain, involved in sourcing, producing and distributing goods. However, due to the complexities of warehouse operations they can often be one of the most costly parts of the supply chain. Their efficient management is therefore critical for minimizing cost and contributing to an effective and efficient supply chain. Warehouse Management pro…