Analysis of capacity constraints on the backlog bullwhip effect in the two-tier supply chain: a Taguchi approach

This paper investigates the impact of capacity constraints and safety stock on the backlog bullwhip effect in a model of a two-tier supply chain. One of the most commonly applied methodologies to study the various aspects of the Beer Game model is the control theoretic technique. It is clear that these control theoretic models are linear and cannot deal with non-linearities, such as capacity constraints. Thereafter, simulation experiments together with Taguchi design of experiments are performed to study non-linear impacts of capacity constraints in a two-tier supply chain. This research gives supply chain operations’ managers and designers a practical way to develop a trade-off between capacity and safety stock at different echelons and to take better decisions about their capacity and safety stocks. Future work should investigate the total cost implications of capacity constraints and safety stocks in a multi-echelon supply chain.     

Resolving International Conflict Jordan and its Neighbours

This article puts on record the first of the 1996 Stockton Lectures at London Business School. It was delivered in February. This year, the Stockton Lectures address the issue of how the business community can help resolve international conflict. Continuously for decades, Jordan has been at the heart of an area of international conflict. Here His Majesty King Hussein, who has led his country since 1952, reflects both on the struggles of the past decades and on his grandfather's vision for peace. He then looks forward to the ways that business can help the people of Jordan to reap the peace dividend.     

Does risk disclosure in prospectus matter in ChiNext IPOs’ initial underpricing?

Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting - Using a unique and hand-collected dataset, we investigate the impact of the risk factors disclosed in the prospectuses on the initial returns for...     

Creating consumer satisfaction in maternity care: the neglected needs of migrants,asylum seekers and refugees

An estimated 190 million people are now living outside their countries of birth or citizenship, and the rate of this migration is expected to remain high. The resulting growing cultural and ethnic diversity in societies adds specific challenges to the requirement of delivering public services such as health care to consumers. Globally, about half of the migrant population are women. Migrants’ outcomes of pregnancy are known to be poor, showing significant disparities when compared with those of native populations. Although these disparities have been noted, knowledge is limited regarding the availability and accessibility of healthcare services, as well as the acceptability of maternity care for women with experiences of free and forced migration. Healthcare research in general, and maternity care research specifically, have often neglected this population. This paper examines the existing international guidelines intended to address inequities in health outcomes, policies which have been introduced at national levels, and the widely used concepts of ‘patient‐centred’ and ‘woman‐centred’ health services. The ideals implicit in those guidelines and concepts are contrasted with the available evidence of many overseas nationals’ experiences with healthcare provisions in general, and maternity care in particular. This is followed by reflections on deficiencies in current studies and on those methodological problems which make research on maternity care for migrant women particularly challenging. The conclusion considers the appropriateness and relevance of guidelines currently promoting equity in maternity care and suggests a future agenda for priority research.     

Capacity building challenges in Malawi's local government reform programme

Since the advent of multiparty democracy in June 1994, the Malawi government has embarked on a local government reform programme involving political and administrative decentralisation to promote democratic governance, local development and effective public service delivery. However, the wholesale adoption of the decentralisation process tends to ignore a critical debate on capacity challenges in local government. The main argument is that the success of the reform programme is contingent upon the availability of adequate capacity in local government institutions. Therefore, this article examines the critical contingencies, namely administrative, technical and economic capacity, in the context of local government reform and decentralisation in Malawi. The major conclusion is that capacity problems, including the lack of appropriately trained personnel and a shortage of funds, seriously hamper effective public service delivery. Thus, there is a need for implementing comprehensive capacity building programmes, including training and development, and financial management strategies to attain the desired objectives.     

Analysing service quality in the UAE Islamic banks

It is generally agreed that service quality in banking is a significant issue facing this industry. The objective of this study is to analyse service quality in the UAE Islamic banks and to compare service quality between the Dubai Islamic Bank and the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. Linear regression results indicate that there was a positive and statistically significant relationship between overall service quality and the SERVQUAL dimensions in the UAE Islamic banks. It was also found that empathy and tangibles were the most important dimensions. ANOVA results showed that there was no significant difference between the level of overall service quality in the Dubai Islamic Bank and the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. ANOVA results also indicate that there was no significant difference in the level of service quality in the UAE Islamic banks based on the customer's gender and nationality. The results indicate, however, that there was a significant difference in the level of service quality in the UAE Islamic banks based on the customer's age, education and number of years with the bank.     

The innovative process in financial accounting standards setting

Most of the literature in the area of accounting change points to the fact that economic advantage and technical considerations are not the only factors influencing the adoption or non-adoption of accounting changes. This paper describes and illustrates the proposition that change in financial accounting standards is a social process that approximates a diffusion and adoption of innovation process.     

The institutional work of a social enterprise operating in a subsistence marketplace: Using the business model as a market‐shaping tool

The void between formal and informal institutionalized practices that coexist in subsistence marketplaces can render them inaccessible to subsistence consumer–merchants. We conducted an in‐depth auto‐ethnographic study of Novo Dia Developments, a social enterprise in Maputo, Mozambique, seeking to make the housing market accessible. Our study extends the extant understanding of the transformation of subsistence marketplaces in two ways. First, our study characterizes the institutional work done by a social enterprise to open up a subsistence marketplace. Second, our study theorizes the business models in use as a mechanism through which institutional work can be organized and performed, by (a) transforming an idea for market change into new market offerings and practices that begin to fill the void, (b) materializing and making visible other institutional voids that need to be filled, and (c) serving as a juncture at which formal and informal institutionalized practices can connect.     

Exchange Rate Volatility and International Trade Flows in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical Evidence

In this article, the authors examine the relationship between the volatility in exchange rates and the volume of international trade in sub-Saharan African countries. Using the gravity equation and annual data for the period 1998–2007, they find a statistically significant and negative correlation between the volatility in exchange rates and the volume of trade. The estimated elasticities show that the responsiveness of the flow of international trade to changes in exchange rate volatility is very small. This suggests that eliminating the volatility in the exchange rates will result in only small increments in the volume of trade. Accordingly, pursuing a policy of exchange rate stability would not be sufficient to significantly increase the volume of bilateral trade in the sub-Saharan African region.