Loglinear model for analysis of cross-tabulated coal mine injury data

Mine accidents/injuries can be cross-classified against the variables of interest in a contingency table and their associations can be assessed through aggregate statistics. However, there is a need to develop a coherent and structured procedure for analysis of accident data, which will allow one to identify associations between two or more variables multivariately. In this study, the loglinear model, which has been proposed as a mathematical representation of the contingency table, was applied to accident data from a group of coal mines to assess the associations/interactions between two or more variables multivariately through their main and interaction effects. The case study results revealed that the variables ‘occupation’ and ‘workplace location’ were highly associated with degree of injury. It was also clearly indicated that the workers with more than 20 years of experience exhibited high injury rate patterns. While designing training programs for miners, focused attention should be given to specific categories of workers to reduce accident/injuries at the case study mines.     

FOREIGN TRADE AND THE EXCHANGE RATE IN BOTSWANA

Botswana is a success story of exceptional economic performance, sound development management, and good governance. A great deal of that success can be attributed to the country's export performance and the avoidance of the 'Dutch Disease' syndrome that has plagued other natural resource based African countries. This article documents and analyzes Botswana's trade and exchange rate relationship, during the past two decades, in the context of the country's economic performance, and examines the related issue of the value of the country's currency to determine whether it is overvalued or undervalued.     

Strategies to prevent economic recessions from causing business failure

An average of more than 500,000 businesses failed in the United States during each of the 10 recessions that have occurred since the end of World War II. Yet, scholar and practitioner understanding of how to prepare for and respond to the challenges of an economic downturn remains extremely limited. This article analyzes and synthesizes the information from academic theory and business experience on managing through an economic recession. To assist firms in successfully navigating economic recessions, we suggest a program that involves positioning by investing in multiple markets and geographies, planning by developing a turnaround plan for facing sharply declining sales, promoting by maintaining marketing initiatives, and preparing by acting in anticipation of economic recovery.     

Consumer microwave use of melt-blown material for fat reduction

Consumers, who use their microwave oven to heat bacon, were asked to heat either bacon or sausage on non-woven, melt-blown material and on paper towels in the microwave oven. The consumers were surveyed about their concerns for fat and cholesterol in the diet. The panelists also were asked to evaluate the appearance, greasiness, ease of use and overall acceptability. A survey of the consumers indicated that they were concerned about fat and cholesterol in the diet and purchased items lower in fat. However, 28% of these individuals save and re-use bacon fat. Panelists liked the appearance of bacon heated in the melt-blown pad better than on the paper towels and found it easier to use. Sausage heated in the melt-blown pad was found to be less greasy and more acceptable than that heated on paper towels.     

Servitization and networking: large-scale survey findings on product-related services

This research paper aims at analyzing the impact of servitization on networking in manufacturing industries. Based on a cluster analysis, four types of manufacturers have been identified representing different stages of servitization. By multifactorial regressions, the impact of servitization on service networking has been investigated. Servitization is positively linked with increasing service networking activities of manufacturing companies. This finding implies that problems in realizing service networking do not prevent servitizing manufacturers from establishing inter-firm collaboration for service operations management issues. However, the results indicate that the mere existence of service networks can not guarantee success in servitizing.     

Demographic data banks: A new management resource

A wealth of information from the Census Bureau is now available in forms that can be immediately useful to your company.