Total Quality Management in Ghana: Critical Success Factors and Model for Implementation of a Quality Revolution

In this study, the authors aim to identify the critical success factors and challenges of total quality management (TQM) implementation and propose a model for the successful implementation of a quality revolution in Ghana. The approach in this study was to review existing literature followed by case studies of 15 firms. Three employees (quality manager/director and any two “ordinary employees”) were interviewed to identify the critical success factors that would be appropriate for the implementation of a quality revolution in Ghana as well as the main challenges of quality management they face. Findings revealed that top management commitment, empowerment and involvement of employees, resource availability, competition and increased customer awareness, and a well-functioning quality network are the major factors that are critical and essential if any TQM program is to be successful. Three main problems—management resistance, employee resistance, and resource paucity—were identified as principal impediments to TQM programs.     

Network Flow Models for Electronic Barter Exchanges

Electronic barter exchange sites are starting to appear on the Internet. In this article, I present three models for direct bartering of items without the use of barter units. The first model allows bartering of items with single instances. The second model barters items with multiple instances. Finally, the third model allows bartering collection of single instance items for other collection of items. In these models, my main objective is to maximize the number of items that are bartered. I also discuss other objectives. I develop a minimum cost network flow based algorithm for the problems described by the first and the second models. I make use of directed hypergraphs and integer programming to solve NP-hard Model 3 problems. I believe that the first model can be suitable for Internet domain name bartering. The second model, on the other hand, can be useful for music or book bartering. Efficient software is readily available for the minimum cost network flow problem and hence can be used for the solution of Model 1 and 2 problems.     

Motor vehicles for Eastern Europe

For 1 1/2 years press items about the Italian and French automotive industries' success in Eastern Europe are multiplying. German producers hitherto did not succeed in really gaining a footing in these markets. The problems as expressed in these events are to be worked out in three steps. To begin with it is necessary to obtain a general survey of the market, for only then the obviously keen competition in this field will become understandable. Furthermore the individual business transactions with East European countries are of importance, and finally the obstacles to be met by the German automotive industry have to be pointed out.     

聚丁烯-1研究进展及应用

等规立构聚丁烯-1是具有多晶变体的聚合物,具有突出的耐热抗蠕变性、优异的韧性、耐环境应力开裂性、耐磨性、耐燃性和优良的可加工性、环保性等,特别适合于制备管材。主要介绍了国内外聚丁烯-1研究进展,探讨了Z-N催化体系、制备条件对丁烯-1聚合性能的影响和茂金属催化剂制备聚丁烯-1的相关研究,以及着重概述了聚丁烯-1管材的应用,结合我国现状简要说明了聚丁烯-1树脂在我国具有的开发潜力。     

See no evil: moral sensitivity in the formulation of business problems

This paper explores moral sensitivity in a learning perspective, and a framework is developed for the understanding of how moral sensitivity can be developed through reiterative problem solving in the face of diverse ethical problems. Factors that may inhibit the individual's ability to conceive of moral issues are discussed, and perspectives from moral psychology are integrated with theory on problem formulation. It is argued that (1) the individual's moral sensitivity is pivotal for ethical problem solving, because problem formulation is paramount for further reflection and behaviour; (2) ethical behaviour must be understood both (a) in terms of the individual's psychological make-up that determines psychological response to moral features and (b) in terms of external constraints on the individual's moral sensitivity; and (3) the development of moral sensitivity can be promoted by actively and consciously pursuing disciplined imagination in multi-perspective formulations of problems.     

一种腔体滤波器悬臂螺旋振子的抗冲振优化设计

针对大功率腔体滤波器螺旋振子刚度小,在载机环境条件下特性响应曲线不稳定的问 题,提出了一种螺旋振子的抗冲振创新设计思路与方法。通过铝材铣制成梯形截面螺旋振子 增加其刚度,采用对称局部环抱的异形结构件对悬臂螺旋振子进行加固以提高抗冲振能力。 优化设计后的振子 顺利通过载机环境试验考核和电性能指标测试。该设计方案已成功应用于大功率跳频滤波器 设备中,效果良好。     

Comparison of codes of conduct for multinational corporations

The conflict between increasing technical and economic integration and a resistance to political integration has led to tension between multinational enterprises (MNEs) and nation states. One result has been a growth in pressures to regulate MNEs, often through codes of conduct. This article compares five codes of conduct prepared by groups ranging from the OECD to the non-aligned countries.While substantial areas of agreement are found, important disagreements over the objectives and provisions of a code of conduct do emerge on a North-South or rich-poor axis. The most important disagreements involve resolution of investor-host government disutes and questions of national treatment of investors.Although the major disagreements between rich and poor countries will be difficult to resolve, the article posits that the process of code development per se is valuable as a means of facilitating the transmutation of symbolic into concrete differences. The development of a reasonably explicit code for regulation of MNEs requires that the parties concentrate on relatively narrow issues areas and permissible behavior rather than symbolism and ideology. While important, and perhaps even interactable problems remain, it is suggested that the process of code development is important, as the relatively concrete differences that result are at least potentially subject to resolution through rational negotiation. Symbolic differences obviously are not.The article also suggests a minimal scope of issue areas to be covered if a code is to be an effective instrument.     

我国期货公司经营效率的DEA评价

本文利用DEA方法的(C2R)模型对我国有代表性的30家期货公司的经营效率进行了分析与评价,通过对输入输出指标数据的分析得出我国期货公司总体规模偏小、从业人员素质偏低和抗风险能力较差的结论;通过对我国期货公司经营有效性、输入冗余率和输出亏空率以及规模收益的评价分析,得出:我国期货公司经营效率水平不高,提高空间较大,总体上正逐步由恢复增长阶段向快速发展阶段转化。     

PP for ‘product placement’or ‘puzzled public’?

This research examines the effectiveness of the European ‘PP’ symbol, recently introduced as a warning of product placement in locally produced television programmes. The authors test whether this symbol counters the pervasive effect of product placement on purchase intention. Study 1 shows that the symbol does not prompt resistance to the influence of product placement. This is because the majority of consumers neither notice nor comprehend the symbol. In Study 2, two training methods are tested to increase the symbol’s effectiveness: (1) verbal label training and (2) a combination of verbal label training and information training. The addition of information training is necessary to increase the symbol’s noticeability, whereas verbal label training helps increase the symbol’s comprehensibility and effectiveness in activating persuasion knowledge and decreasing purchase intention. Finally, the results provide evidence that brand recall is crucial for resistance to product placement, suggesting the importance of brand recall as a moderator of resistance processes.     

我国司法制度改革的问题剖析与途径探讨

我国加入世贸组织对我国的司法制度提出了更高的要求。目前我国司法制度主要存在着司法体制及司法解释制度不完善,司法监督制约机制不健全,司法队伍素质低,司法运行机制尚存在明显的地方化倾向等问题。应从制度上保证司法机关独立公正地行使职权。完善司法机关的机构设置、职权划分和管理制度。保证司法机制的廉洁,树立司法权威,维护司法公正,遏制司法腐败。     

适宜集成的KHN滤波器设计

为了获得高精度的电压模KHN滤波器,以Deboo积分器为原型,先给出一种高精度、易集成的变形Deboo积分器,再借助Meson公式,用变形Deboo积分器设计出极点频率为31.8 kHz、品质因素为1、通带增益为2的通用电压模KHN滤波器.该电路不仅可同时实现高通、带通和低通输出,且极点频率与品质因素能实现正交、精确调节,电路的参数取决于电阻比,两积分电容接地,因而适合单片集成技术.计算机仿真结果与理论分析一致.     

Microcultural Differences and Perceived Ethical Problems: An International Business Perspective

This study examines the importance of microcultural differences on perceived ethical problems. This study also sought to identify the relationship between perceived ethical problems and value orientations as shown in the Hunt and Vitell's (1993) General Theory of Marketing Ethics. The data was collected from 173 Javanese, 128 Batak, and 170 Indonesian-Chinese marketing managers in Indonesia. The results indicate that, (1) Religious Value Orientation is positively related to the perceived ethical problems scores, and (2) there are significant differences among the three ethnic microcultural groups relative to their perceived ethical problems scores. These results imply that acculturation training program for expatriates should include aspects of microcultures and ethical perceptions held by the local managers. The establishment of ethical corporate culture and formalised codes of conduct are recommended for future ethics training.     

The family life cycle concept revisited: a need for new considerations

While the family life cycle concept is widely used in the consumer behaviour literature, its value for explaining variation in buyer behaviour is less than it could be. The major problems with the concept as presently used are that: (1) it was borrowed from sociology without any basic revisions for consumer behaviour use; (2) it is presently generally operationalized as a static classificatory scheme and therefore cannot account for changing family structure; and (3) researchers have failed to link family life cycle to the concept lifestyle - another concept so crucial to explaining variations in buyer behaviour. The present paper focuses on these shortcomings and presents a model designed to make the concept more useful. Furthermore, a way of testing the model is offered. Data are presented which emphasize the need for any model to be able to incorporate the rapid change the American family is presently undergoing.     

Critical consumer issues in St. Lucia: an examination of consumer challenges and related learning among rural adults according to income levels

Consumer education is a relatively new and growing interest in St. Lucia. Neither the government nor the National Consumer Association has established a consumer education programme to address the growing consumer concerns in the country. The purpose of this study was to examine critical consumer issues, related learning challenges and strategies among rural adults in St. Lucia according to income levels. Rural adult consumers are most disadvantaged in terms of levels of education, income and access to resources, which may help to prevent and mediate consumer concerns. The specific research questions examined were: (1) What is the nature of problems experienced by rural St. Lucian adult consumers in the marketplace? (2) How do rural St. Lucian adult consumers solve the challenges they encounter in the marketplace? (3) What is it like for rural St. Lucian adult consumers as they go about trying to learn to solve the consumer issues they face? and (4) What do rural St. Lucian adult consumers perceive to be the requisites for effective decision making in the marketplace? Data were collected using a questionnaire comprising of 29 questions divided into four sections (problems, strategies, solving consumer problems and making effective decisions) and two biographical questions. A total of 500 rural adult consumers were surveyed verbally through door‐to‐door contact. The findings of this study revealed that middle‐income rural adult consumers experience more problems in the marketplace than those with each lower or higher level of income. Middle‐income rural adult St. Lucian consumers in particular seek more information and are comfortable with using more strategies than the lower‐ and higher‐income rural adult consumers. This research gives us a better understanding of the problems faced by rural adult consumers based on their income. Research results will be useful to the government of St. Lucia and the National Consumer Association when they decide to establish an adult consumer education programme for St. Lucia.     

The Misuse of Measurement in Economics

This paper is concerned with the problems that arise in economic analysis when ordinal variables are taken to be cardinal variables in models that require variables to be cardinally quantified for manipulative purposes. The main conclusion is that, in many important cases, this practice results in constructions that are without meaning, significance and power. Such a result applies, for example, to the efficiency wage model if effort, as many believe, is capable of only ordinal measurement. Similar problems arise (i) with the use of proxy variables, and (ii) even when prediction is the only goal.     

企业内部控制失效及对策

随着我国社会的不断发展,部分企业需要建立起相应的国际化管理体系,其基础是要建立现代化的内部控制体系。部分企业内部控制的完善程度距离理论要求相差甚远,资本市场舞弊案件仍是屡屡出现。现着重对企业内部控制失效的原因进行分析,从而找出对策,促进企业内部控制整体水平的提升,最终达到提高企业核心竞争力及抵抗风险的能力,使其能从容地应对各种问题。     

Agency and Control Problems in US Corporations: The Case of Energy-efficient Investment Projects

Private sector corporations in the United States fall short of their potential to increase shareholders'1 wealth in a number of ways. One example is the failure to undertake profitable energy conservation investments. Explanations of this phenomenon include agency and moral hazard problems, imperfect information and incentives, myopia, and X-inefficiency. Data from a survey conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency and from interviews with corporate executives are used to explore these hypotheses. Good overall corporate performance is found to be associated with longer internal payback requirements for energy investments. Suggestions for improving corporate decision-making in this area are proposed.     

Structural constraints on organizational change: A longitudinal analysis

The results of a longitudinal study assessing the impact of internal constraints upon both organizational responsiveness to the environment and efforts to change structures for symbolic signaling of policy are presented. The causal model used is developed from a theoretical elaboration of Williamson, Thompson, and Meyer. The implications of the analysis for the signaling metaphor of organizational change are emphasized. The data indicate (i) that the varying resistance to change observed within core dimensions of organizational structure may be largely due to durable capital investments, (ii) that within capitalized dimensions of organizational structure, the resulting resistance to change leads to a longitudinal persistence of centralized decision making, and (iii) that failure to incorporate such constraints in analyses of organizational change leads to misleading results.     

Coordination in shared facilities: A new methodology

Shared facilities are a good example of the difficulties inherent in coordination problems and the benefits to be derived from creative solutions. Traditional methods employed by engineers and others, because they ignore an important aspect of the problem, can yield solutions that appear successful but which significantly underutilize these facilities. This article is intended to be an introduction to the types of problems that can arise and to a new method for systematically studying these problems. The method is illustrated with the results of a study done for NASA, on the coordination of the use of a Space Station, which produced a new computer‐assisted institution that outperforms existing institutions.