Selecting make-to-stock and postponement policies for different products in a chemical plant: A case study using discrete event simulation

We present a guideline for selecting the inventory management policy for a specialty chemical plant that produces products with limited shelf life, by producing multiple grades of bulk chemical and packaging them into a large variety of bottles. The policy for each product was selected based on a cost-benefit analysis, using the multiple objectives of maximizing the on time order fulfillment, minimizing the production (cleaning and shelf life expiration) and inventory costs. To generate realistic cost estimates, we developed a discrete event simulation model that included demand variability, planning and scheduling policies, and operational details. We evaluated three different policies: make-to-stock (MTS), postponement, and combined MTS/postponement. We also evaluated different storage media and optimized the number of storage units for products selected for postponement. A combined MTS/postponement policy, in which postponement is applied to products with low to medium demand and high expiration provided lowest costs without significantly impacting the customer on time order fulfillment. For all other products, a MTS policy is applied to maximize order fulfillment on time, reduce cleaning costs and to reduce number of storage units.     

A Case study: discussion of factors and challenges for urban cultural tourism development

With both qualitative and quantitative approaches, this study examined the success factors of cultural tourism development. It discussed reasons why some cities may find it challenging to sustain cultural tourism development. The findings suggested that the lack of advantageous factors may be because all factors were highly related and that one factor's defect in marketing could easily affect the performance of all other factors. The challenge for cultural tourism development in a less competitive destination may be more related to elementary problems such as governmental leadership and funding rather than the important factors emphasized in theoretical models. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Why Tour Guiding is Important for Ecotourism: Enhancing Guiding Quality with the Ecotourism Promotion Policy in Japan

The Ecotourism Promotion Policy in Japan requires tour guiding to be employed, although it provides little rationale for it. This paper reviews the literature to illustrate why tour guiding is important for achieving policy and ecotourism goals in order to support this requirement. An overview of ecotourism policy in Japan is provided, contributions of tour guiding to achieving the policy and ecotourism goals are described, and approaches to strengthening current practices along with the policy are discussed. It is suggested that non-profit organizations offer training to impart knowledge about guiding roles and interpretation at a national level and that ecotourism promotion councils teach knowledge about ecotour products and tourists at a regional level.     

An Empirical Analysis of the Efficiency of the Osaka Rice Market During Japan's Tokugawa Era

The Dojima Rice Market in Osaka was the first futures market in the world, and an influential role model for modern futures markets. This study examines the efficiency of the original futures market by applying time‐series analysis to data on futures prices from Japan's Tokugawa era (1603–1867). The results of cointegration tests indicate that the futures market functioned efficiently during the first sample period (1763–1780), but its efficiency declined during the second sample period (1851–1864). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 21:861–874, 2001     

Predicting the intentions of tourism major students in a Korean University to acquire foreign language skills

The theory of planned behaviour was used to examine intentions of Korean tourism major students to acquire foreign language skills (FLS) and uncover the beliefs that contribute to that intention. Belief elicitation and belief measurement questionnaires were collected from 38 and 242 students at Woosong University in November and December 2010. Attitudes and subjective norms were found to be significant contributors to the sample students' intention to acquire FLS. Favourable attitudes and perceived social pressure should be maintained by targeting the behavioural beliefs and normative beliefs to heighten the intention level.     

独占机制对创新绩效的影响:知识泄露与竞争对手吸收能力的调节效应

独占机制与知识泄露在企业创新活动中的重要作用日益受到关注。基于问卷调研数据,通过实证手段分析企业独占性机制对创新绩效的影响,及竞争对手吸收能力和知识泄露在其中的调节作用。研究发现：企业独占机制对创新绩效有显著正向影响,知识泄露和竞争对手吸收能力在企业独占性机制对创新绩效影响过程中分别起负向和正向调节作用。研究结论既可帮助企业重视独占机制和竞争对手吸收能力带来的创新效应,也可帮助企业通过有效规避或降低知识泄露风险提升创新绩效。     

Cost-effectiveness analysis of treatment regimens with obinutuzumab plus chemotherapy in Japan for untreated follicular lymphoma patients

Abstract

Aims

Obinutuzumab (GA101; G) is a new treatment for follicular lymphoma (FL) that is anticipated to have greater efficacy than the current treatment, rituximab (R). The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of G plus chemotherapy (G?+?Chemo) against that of R plus chemotherapy (R?+?Chemo) for patients in Japan with previously untreated FL.     

Visualizing the negative space: Making feminine accounting practices visible by reference to Japanese women's household accounting practices

This study explores the nature of feminine accounting practices by examining the household accounting practices of Japanese women in the second half of the twentieth century. Household accounting in Japan provides an excellent research site to understand the nature of feminine accounting practices. The social significance of the Japanese household and the country's cultural emphasis on interdependence mean that accounting has a different meaning in the life of Japanese women, compared to what has been identified in Anglo-Saxon-based studies. The study finds that their accounting practice is characterized by the integration of masculine and feminine qualities, as illustrated by Dillard and Reynolds (2008), and is more enabling in nature. Women use ‘hard’, objective accounting figures both to foster the long-term development of the family and to contribute to Japanese society. Accounting has been a vehicle for women to express their motherhood and construct their identity as women. The distinctive nature of Japanese women's accounting practice and the role this practice plays in facilitating feminine values highlight how important it is to further investigate feminine accounting practice in different social and cultural contexts in order to develop gender research in accounting.     

Real-time analysis on Japan’s labor productivity

This paper analyzes the revision to Japan’s labor productivity, measured using Japan’s System of National Accounts (SNA) data. We draw three main findings from our analysis. First, SNA data has been substantially revised in and after the second comprehensive revisions, as well as at the earlier stage of revisions. We find that the past absolute revisions to the annual growth rate of labor productivity often went beyond 1% point. Second, the annual growth rate of labor productivity has been revised upward by 0.4% points on average. We show that part of its upward revisions reflects an underestimation of employment through an increase in ‘non-response people,’ people who do not respond in the Population Census. Third, revisions to source data such as the Population Census and the Employment Status Survey are helpful to predict revisions to labor productivity growth. Our regression results suggest that labor productivity is likely to be revised upward during expansions or with low real-time estimates of value added. We conclude that the three findings indicate that labor productivity during the 2000s will experience substantial revisions in the future. This conclusion takes into account the fact that the SNA after 2000 has experienced at most one comprehensive revision. The upcoming revisions to labor productivity can be positive rather than negative.     

Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Identify Beliefs Underlying Visiting the Indiana State Museum

Underpinned by the framework of the theory of planned behavior, this study uncovered the beliefs that could influence individuals' behavior of visiting a museum. Interviews and questionnaires were conducted with visitors at the Indiana State Museum to elicit a range of their behavioral, normative, and perceived behavioral control beliefs with respect to visiting the museum and to determine the strength and importance of the salient beliefs. The findings suggest a consideration of the positive outcomes of visiting the museum—such as learning and socialization, and family members' norm in the design of a persuasive communication intervention.