新型宽波束圆极化天线--微带介质天线

通过在微带天线中引入介质天线原理，提出了一种以简单方式展宽微带天线波束和提高低仰角增益的新方法，从而发明了一种新型宽波束天线－微带介质天线。该天线具有极宽的波束、较高的低仰角增益和波束范围内有较好的圆极化性能等特点。文中给出了天线的原理、设计公式和实验结果。     

Predicting Private Companies Failure in the Sudan

ABSTRACT

This paper applies failure prediction techniques to a sample of private companies in the Sudan, an African Less Developed Country (LDC). As a first step, the study uses profile analysis and dichotomous classification techniques to test the ability of univariate models in predicting failure in a simple and less complex economic environment. Next, the study replicates Altman Multiple Discriminant Analysis (MDA) to the sample but achieved low failure prediction rates relative to those obtained in the developed and developing economies. The study then re-estimates Altman original model parameters with a significant improvement in failure prediction rates. Finally, using a stepwise MDA methodology, the study develops a three-variable model that improves upon Altman replicated and re-estimated models in classifying companies into failed and nonfailed categories.     

Forecasting the World Economy in the Short Term

(1433) Audrone Jakaitiene and Stephane Dees Forecasting the world economy is a difficult task given the complex interrelationships within and across countries. This paper proposes a number of approaches to forecast short‐term changes in selected world economic variables and aims, first, at ranking various forecasting methods in terms of forecast accuracy and, second, at checking whether methods forecasting directly aggregate variables (direct approaches) outperform methods based on the aggregation of country‐specific forecasts (bottom‐up approaches). Overall, all methods perform better than a simple benchmark for short horizons (up to 3 months ahead). Among the forecasting approaches used, factor models appear to perform the best. Moreover, direct approaches outperform bottom‐up ones for real variables, but not for prices. Finally, when country‐specific forecasts are adjusted to match direct forecasts at the aggregate levels (top‐down approaches), the forecast accuracy is neither improved nor deteriorated (i.e. top‐down and bottom‐up approaches are broadly equivalent in terms of country‐specific forecast accuracy).     

消费者行为研究的社会科学视角与中国本土化研究的主题

多年来社会科学的许多理论和方法被用于研究消费者行为,其中阐述实证主义导向的社会科学理论和方法从外部思考消费者行为,阐释主义导向的社会科学理论和方法更多的是论述了对消费者行为"是什么"的问题,二者应该能够相辅相成。无论以哪种理论和方法进行研究,重要的是将消费者行为研究与中国消费者行为特色结合起来,在中国背景下检验西方理论和模型的适用性,提出符合中国国情的理论模型,开展针对中国情境的特定理论或知识研究。     

Code Integration: Alignment or Conflict?

Companies are increasingly singing up to a range of corporate responsibility codes and other voluntary commitments. Using evidence from the mining industry’s experience with the Australian Greenhouse Challenge, the Minerals Council’s Code for Environmental Management and the ISO14001 Specification for Environmental Management Systems, this article examines whether the outcomes from the adoption of multiple voluntary approaches differ from those outcomes that would be expected if each voluntary approach was adopted in isolation. The article demonstrates that it is feasible for companies to participate in multiple voluntary approaches and to derive benefits such as reduced transaction costs, improved data quality and enhanced implementation. However, there is limited evidence that the voluntary approaches in combination have enhanced environmental performance, economic efficiency, innovation or competitiveness beyond that which would be achieved from each of the approaches in isolation. Furthermore, many of the limitations of voluntary approaches (in particular, environmental performance, acceptability to NGOs) remain. The material presented in this article is based on research conducted by the author as part of his Ph.D. dissertation (see, further, Sullivan, 2005).     

Requirements Engineering for Product Service Systems

In recent years, manufacturing companies and service providers have moved towards offering customer-specific problem solutions. These integrated bundles usually consist of hardware, software, and service components and are called product service systems (PSS) or hybrid products. Since the success of the resulting solution depends on the understanding of all requirements, requirements engineering (RE) has become a key factor. The article analyzes the state of the art of RE for PSS based on an extensive literature review in the domains of product-, software-, and service engineering. For this, criteria are derived from the characteristics of PSS and from the task area of RE in the life cycle of PSS. Based on these criteria we analyze the most established RE approaches for their suitability for PSS. An important finding is that integrated/interdisciplinary approaches for RE are missing. Moreover, the maturity of RE approaches in the three domains varies significantly. All analyzed approaches heavily rely on concepts and solution characteristics of their own domain so that a transfer to other domains is hardly possible. This literature review lays the foundation for successful RE for PSS and especially for future research aiming at combining and integrating RE approaches and models of product-, software-, and service engineering. Such requirement models could connect concepts of single domains and enable an integrated and seamless RE for PSS.     

The Ethical Agendas of Employment Agencies Towards Migrant Workers in the UK: Deciphering the Codes

This article examines the connections between employment agencies, ethics and migrant workers. The article identifies three approaches adopted by agencies towards ethics and migrant workers, namely, ‘business case’, ‘minimal compliance’ and ‘social justice’ approaches. Through case studies of three agencies in the UK, the article explores the potential and limitations of each of these approaches for meeting the needs of migrant workers. The article points to the limitations of both the business case and ‘minimal compliance’ approaches, stemming from tensions between the attempt to put in place ethical approaches towards the employment of migrant workers and the imperatives of the competitive strategies being pursued by agencies. The article points to the potential for social enterprise agencies to effectively meet the needs of migrants. These agencies can focus on more than just the first transition of migrants into the labour market; can formalize transitions within the labour market and link people to jobs that are more appropriate to their skills and experience, as a means of preventing the perpetuation of skill underutilisation.     

Investigating the different approaches to importance–performance analysis

Importance–performance analysis (IPA) is an analytic technique that generates a two-dimensional importance–performance grid, where the values of importance and performance across attributes are plotted against each other. This technique is used to assist service and other firms in prioritizing areas for service improvement when resources are limited. This study contributes to service theory by first performing a comprehensive literature review of four different and commonly used approaches to IPA. Survey data from the ports sector are then used to elucidate the value and the distinctiveness of these four different approaches, and it is also shown how the underlying theoretical assumptions led to somewhat varying, and contradictory interpretations. Subsequently, novel guidelines for integrating results from these four different approaches are proposed. The study advances service theory by detailing the integration of the different approaches to make sense of the importance and performance of diverse service attributes. The integrative approach developed in this paper also provides practitioners with clearer guidance for the application of IPA.     

Data Cleansing Decisions: Insights from Discrete-Event Simulations of Firm Resources and Data Quality

The cost of poor data quality has been measured in the billions of dollars annually. However, deriving coherent data cleansing strategies to improve data quality is challenging because it is often difficult to justify the financial and human capital cost involved in cleaning data. But those who have planned and designed an effective approach to cleaning data report significant benefits. Although extant literature has extensively focused on data quality issues, little attention has been directed toward providing decision-making techniques that help practitioners determine the cost and benefits of adopting data-cleansing approaches. This study advances an approach that illustrates how discrete-event simulation can be used as a decision tool for making data-cleansing decisions, by understanding the interactions among the firms' resources and performance outcomes. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to apply discrete-event simulation for evaluating data-cleansing approaches. The article contributes to an understanding of how various organizational resources interact within, and between, two data-cleansing approaches to drive performance outcomes. Simulation approaches such as the one examined here reveal how the complexity of interactions among such factors can produce results that are difficult to anticipate using other approaches.     

On the Applicability of Analytical Techniques for the Selection of AMTs in Small-Medium Sized Firms

The appraisal and selection of investments in advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs) have received a considerable attention in the literature over the last decade. In particular, many articles, after highlighting the major shortcomings of traditional financial techniques when applied to the analysis of AMTs, have proposed alternative approaches, such as modified discounted cash flow techniques, strategic approaches and multi-attribute decision making methods. However, little attention has so far been paid to the applicability of such "non-conventional" approaches to small-medium sized firms (SMFs). This omission is particular critical for two reasons. First, in most SMFs the decision to adopt a given AMT is usually not supported by any technique, but is based rather on an "act of faith" in a new technology on the part of the entrepreneur. Second, there are some non-conventional techniques that seem particularly suitable for SMFs, in that they do not require major financial and strategic competencies or complex information and planning systems. This article seeks to increase the awareness of major non-conventional approaches among the owners and managers of SMFs and analyse critically the applicability of such approaches.     

Approaches to Improving Process Quality in the Service Sector

Abstract

Implementation of Theory of Constraints (TOC) and Business Process Reengineering (BPR) are two quality philosophies or approaches that are being used by several manufacturing organizations worldwide for improving throughput, on-time shipments, and quality, among others. However, the application of these approaches in the service sector are very minimal. In this paper, we illustrate how service organizations, specifically banks and healthcare institutions, can utilize these approaches for gaining a competitive advantage.     

The Evolution and Challenges of the Concept of Organizational Virtuousness in Positive Organizational Scholarship

This study considers the potential for influencing business students to become ethical managers by directing their undergraduate learning environment. In particular, the relationship between business students’ academic cheating, as a predictor of workplace ethical behavior, and their approaches to learning is explored. The three approaches to learning identified from the students’ approaches to learning literature are deep approach, represented by an intrinsic interest in and a desire to understand the subject, surface approach, characterized by rote learning and memorization without understanding, and strategic approach, associated with competitive students whose motivation is the achievement of good grades by adopting either a surface or deep approach. Consistent with the hypothesized theoretical model, structural equation modeling revealed that the surface approach is associated with higher levels of cheating, while the deep approach is related to lower levels. The strategic approach was also associated with less cheating and had a statistically stronger influence than the deep approach. Further, a significantly positive relationship reported between deep and strategic approaches suggests that cheating is reduced when deep and strategic approaches are paired. These findings suggest that future managers and business executives can be influenced to behave more ethically in the workplace by directing their learning approaches. It is hoped that the evidence presented may encourage those involved in the design of business programs to implement educational strategies which optimize students’ approaches to learning towards deep and strategic characteristics, thereby equipping tomorrow’s managers and business executives with skills to recognize and respond appropriately to workplace ethical dilemmas.     

人力资本产权实现方式与公司绩效的内生性因素研究

随着人力资本对经济效益和公司绩效的影响越发显著,人们越发重视人力资本对公司绩效的影响。基于内生性因素视角下对人力资本产权实现方式与公司绩效的影响进行的研究表明,人力资本产权实现方式驱动公司绩效的因素主要有雇佣薪酬、股权性收益、参与权、控制权,公司绩效影响人力资本产权实现方式选择的因素则有增长机会、行业竞争程度、公司规模和生命周期等。研究进一步显示:将人力资本产权实现与公司绩效相关关系具体化,可以找出更具经济效益的人力资本产权实现方式,从而促进公司绩效的提升。     

Delineating retail conurbations: A rules-based algorithmic approach

Retail conurbations may be defined as market areas with high intra-market movement. A limited range of approaches has been used to delineate such retail conurbations. This paper evaluates a simplified version of an existing zone design method used to define labour market areas, the Travel-To-Work-Area algorithm (TTWA), for application in a retail context. Geocoded loyalty card spend data recorded by Boots UK Limited, a large health and beauty retailer, were used to develop retail conurbations (newly termed Travel-To-Store-Areas (TTSAs)) for several UK regions using this algorithm. The output TTSA boundaries displayed significantly greater intra-zone flows compared to existing retail conurbation delineation approaches. There is thus scope for researchers and analysts to broaden the zone design approaches used to develop retail conurbations.     

Approaches to studying networks: Implications and outcomes

Concerns have been raised about lack of clarity in conceptual consideration and difficulty of applying the network concept as an analytical tool. These concerns can be associated with reliance on quantitative techniques, designed to look at structural characteristics, when qualitative approaches will reveal other aspects of networks. This paper builds on previous work and considers implications and outcomes of different methodological approaches for network research. Using a Ptolemaic/Copernican analogy it illustrates that both approaches are required to grasp and understand the complexity of networks and the associated activity of networking but that each deals with different aspects and features.     

Predicting Consumer Behavior and Media Preferences: The Comparative Validity of Personality Traits and Demographic Variables

It is common practice for organizations selling a product to divide potential consumers into segments to allow them to target those most likely to buy their products. Two broad approaches to market segmentation can be delineated. The most common approach relies on segmenting by demographic variables (e.g., age, gender). The second approach (known as “psychographics”) identifies market divisions in terms of psychological variables such as values, attitudes, and personality traits. There has been little research comparing the efficacy of the two approaches. Based on analyses of over 45,000 participants, the present research empirically compares the effectiveness of the two approaches among segmentation variables ranging from cell phones and lottery tickets to newspapers and television shows. Overall, both approaches explained surprisingly small amounts of variance in consumer behavior. Nonetheless, for the variance that was predictive, the relative contribution of demographics and psychographics varied dramatically across consumer behaviors; for some behaviors (e.g., electronic purchases), demographics had superior predictive potential but for others (e.g., television shows) psychographics were more useful. Therefore, an approach that integrates both methods is recommended.     

Can consumer interests really be incorporated into new marketing approaches?

In this paper a crucial guideline for new marketing approaches is examined using viewpoints found in critical theory. The first part of this paper discusses the function of goods in modern, late-industrial, and consumer society. The situation in which consumers interact is also briefly described, followed by an analysis of the social engineering of marketing approaches. Finally, some requirements for non-manipulative marketing perspectives are suggested.     

Consumers' Perspectives on Mandatory versus Voluntary Provisions of Food Safety Regulations in India

This article aims at analyzing the perceptions of consumers on approaches of food safety regulations—mandatory versus voluntary—though a primary survey of 620 urban respondents belonging to six districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. A structured questionnaire was administered personally to randomly selected samples for assessing the consumers' responses on choices of food quality attributes—search, experience, and credence—and their views on who is responsible for food safety provisions. The study establishes the empirical relationship between consumers' food safety concerns in purchase decisions with the approaches of food safety regulations. The relationship between the approaches of food safety provisions and choices of quality attributes with socio-demographic profiles of consumers was also analyzed. The results of this study provide practical implications for policy makers at the right stage when the government is in the process of implementing the Food and Safety Standards Act in the country.     

How (not) to market socially responsible products: A critical research evaluation

Growing awareness of their obligations towards society leads an increasing number of companies to produce socially responsible products (SRPs). In order to develop suitable marketing and communication strategies, it is essential to have a realistic picture of consumer priorities, and in the light of these findings, of the viability of classical academic marketing approaches, such as Kotler's societal marketing concept. This study provides a qualitative evaluation of the contradictory research literature on consumer interest in SRP and an assessment of the usability of classical marketing approaches. It contributes essential insights to the ongoing academic debate about a conceptualisation of SRP marketing approaches. Also, it will allow practitioners more ease of access to this debate. Findings show that a majority of consumers prioritise conventional product features and demonstrate low interest in SRP. Consumer research which states otherwise is revealed as methodologically flawed. Most classical marketing approaches are shown to be unsuitable for SRP marketing and communication since they fail to take into account the widespread lack of consumer interest and/or focus on consumer features irrelevant to marketing SRP. Directions for future research on SRP marketing and communication strategies are outlined.     

WTO反补贴案件中条约解释方法实证研究

文法解释方法、整体解释方法、目的解释方法和历史解释方法是专家组和上诉机构解释WTO各涵盖协定的具体方法。本文考查专家组和上诉机构在反补贴案件中对四种解释方法的运用,并通过对反补贴案件DSB报告的实证研究来归纳四种解释方法在运用于SCM协定时,诸如字典及其含义选择、上下文范围确定等方面的特点。