ALBERT

Notes: Robust and bright light emitters, semiconductor nanocrystals [quantum dots (QDs)] have been adopted as a new class of fluorescent labels. Six years after the first experiments of their uses in biological applications, there have been dramatic improvements in understanding surface chemistry, biocompatibility, and targeting specificity. Many studies have shown the great potential of using quantum dots as new probes in vitro and in vivo. This review summarizes the recent advances of quantum dot usage at the cellular level, including immunolabeling, cell tracking, in situ hybridization, FRET, in vivo imaging, and other related technologies. Limitations and potential future uses of quantum dot probes are also discussed.

Notes: Biological research has been accelerated by the development of noninvasive imaging techniques and by use of genetically engineered mice to model human diseases and normal development. Because these mice can be expensive, noninvasive imaging techniques, such as high-resolution positron emission tomography (PET), that permit longitudinal studies of the same animals are very attractive. Such studies reduce the number of animals used, reduce intersubject variability, and improve the accuracy of biological models. PET provides quantitative measurements of the spatiotemporal distribution of radiotracers and is an extremely powerful tool in using molecular imaging to study biology, to monitor disease intervention, and to establish pharmacokinetics for new drugs. The design of animal PET scanners has improved significantly in the past decade and can provide adequate image resolution and sensitivity to study transgenic mice. This article reviews the fundamental and technical challenges of small-animal PET imaging, with a particular focus on the latest developments and future directions of detector technologies and system design.

Notes: An enormous literature has been developed on investigations of the growth and guidance of axons during development and after injury. In this review, we provide a guide to this literature as a resource for biomedical investigators. We first review briefly the molecular biology that is known to regulate migration of the growth cone and branching of axonal arbors. We then outline some important fundamental considerations that are important to the modeling of the phenomenology of these guidance effects and of what is known of their underlying internal mechanisms. We conclude by providing some thoughts on the outlook for future biomedical modeling in the field.

Notes: Cell motility is an essential cellular process for a variety of biological events. The process of cell migration requires the integration and coordination of complex biochemical and biomechanical signals. The protrusion force at the leading edge of a cell is generated by the cytoskeleton, and this force generation is controlled by multiple signaling cascades. The formation of new adhesions at the front and the release of adhesions at the rear involve the outside-in and inside-out signaling mediated by integrins and other adhesion receptors. The traction force generated by the cell on the extracellular matrix (ECM) regulates cell-ECM adhesions, and the counter force exerted by ECM on the cell drives the migration. The polarity of cell migration can be amplified and maintained by the feedback loop between the cytoskeleton and cell-ECM adhesions. Cell migration in three-dimensional ECM has characteristics distinct from that on two-dimensional ECM. The migration of cells is initiated and modulated by external chemical and mechanical factors, such as chemoattractants and the mechanical forces acting on the cells and ECM, as well as the surface density, distribution, topography, and rigidity of the ECM.

Notes: Paralyzed or paretic muscles can be made to contract by applying electrical currents to the intact peripheral motor nerves innervating them. When electrically elicited muscle contractions are coordinated in a manner that provides function, the technique is termed functional electrical stimulation (FES). In more than 40 years of FES research, principles for safe stimulation of neuromuscular tissue have been established, and methods for modulating the strength of electrically induced muscle contractions have been discovered. FES systems have been developed for restoring function in the upper extremity, lower extremity, bladder and bowel, and respiratory system. Some of these neuroprostheses have become commercialized products, and others are available in clinical research settings. Technological developments are expected to produce new systems that have no external components, are expandable to multiple applications, are upgradable to new advances, and are controlled by a combination of signals, including biopotential signals from nerve, muscle, and the brain.

Notes: Retinal prostheses represent the best near-term hope for individuals with incurable, blinding diseases of the outer retina. On the basis of the electrical activation of nerves, prototype retinal prostheses have been tested in blind humans and have demonstrated the capability to elicit the sensation of light and to give test subjects the ability to detect motion. To improve the visual function in implant recipients, a more sophisticated device is required. Simulations suggest that 600Đ??1000 pixels will be required to provide visual function such as face recognition and reading. State-of-the-art implantable stimulator technology cannot produce such a device, which mandates the advancement of the state of the art in areas such as analog microelectronics, wireless power and data transfer, packaging, and stimulating electrodes.

Notes: Accurate, fast, and affordable analysis of the cellular component of blood is of prime interest for medicine and research. Yet, most often sample preparation procedures for blood analysis involve handling steps prone to introducing artifacts, whereas analysis methods commonly require skilled technicians and well-equipped, expensive laboratories. Developing more gentle protocols and affordable instruments for specific blood analysis tasks is becoming possible through the recent progress in the area of microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip-type devices. Precise control over the cell microenvironment during separation procedures and the ability to scale down the analysis to very small volumes of blood are among the most attractive capabilities of the new approaches. Here we review some of the emerging principles for manipulating blood cells at microscale and promising high-throughput approaches to blood cell separation using microdevices. Examples of specific single-purpose devices are described together with integration strategies for blood cell separation and analysis modules.

Notes: We review the history of DNA mechanics and its analysis. We evaluate several methods to analyze the structures of superhelical DNA molecules, each predicated on the assumption that DNA can be modeled with reasonable accuracy as an extended, linearly elastic polymer. Three main approaches are considered: mechanical equilibrium methods, which seek to compute minimum energy conformations of topologically constrained molecules; statistical mechanical methods, which seek to compute the Boltzmann distribution of equilibrium conformations that arise in a finite temperature environment; and dynamic methods, which seek to compute deterministic trajectories of the helix axis by solving equations of motion. When these methods include forces of self-contact, which prevent strand passage and preserve the topological constraint, each predicts plectonemically interwound structures. On the other hand, the extent to which these mechanical methods reliably predict energetic and thermodynamic properties of superhelical molecules is limited, in part because of their inability to account explicitly for interactions involving solvent. Monte Carlo methods predict the entropy associated with supercoiling to be negative, in conflict with a body of experimental evidence that finds it is large and positive, as would be the case if superhelical deformations significantly disrupt the ordering of ambient solvent molecules. This suggests that the large-scale conformational properties predicted by elastomechanical models are not the only ones determining the energetics and thermodynamics of supercoiling. Moreover, because all such models that preserve the topological constraint correctly predict plectonemic interwinding, despite these and other limitations, this constraint evidently dominates energetic and thermodynamic factors in determining supercoil geometry. Therefore, agreement between predicted structures and structures obtained experimentally, for example, by electron microscopy, does not in itself provide evidence for the correctness or completeness of any given model of DNA mechanics.

Notes: Discovery of new genes and proteins directly supporting leukocyte adhesion is waning, whereas there is heightened interest in the cell mechanics and receptor dynamics that lead from transient tethering via selectins to affinity shifts and adhesion strengthening through integrins. New optical tools enable real-time imaging of leukocyte rolling and arrest in parallel plate flow channels (PPFCs), and detection of single-molecule force spectroscopy provides an inner view of the intercellular adhesive contact region. Leukocyte recruitment during acute inflammation is triggered by ligation of G proteinĐ??coupled chemotactic receptors (GPCRs) and clustering of selectins. This, in turn, activates ?‚2-integrin (CD18), which facilitates cell capture and arrest in shear flow. This review provides a conceptual model for the molecular events supporting leukocyte recruitment.

Notes: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been used for more than two decades to interrogate metabolite distributions in living cells and tissues. Techniques have been developed that allow multiple spectra to be obtained simultaneously with individual volume elements as small as 1 uL of tissue (i.e., 1 ?? 1 ?? 1 mm3). The most common modern applications of in vivo MRS use endogenous signals from 1H, 31P, or 23Na. Important contributions have also been made using exogenous compounds containing 19F, 13C, or 17O. MRS has been used to investigate cardiac and skeletal muscle energetics, neurobiology, and cancer. This review focuses on the latter applications, with specific reference to the measurement of tissue choline, which has proven to be a tumor biomarker that is significantly affected by anticancer therapies.

Notes: Werner Goldsmith, one of the foremost authorities on the mechanics of impact and the biomechanics of head and neck injuries, died peacefully at home in Oakland, California, on August 23, 2003, at age 79 after a short, courageous battle with leukemia, ending a long and very distinguished career in mechanics, dynamics, and biomechanics, and an almost six-decades-long association with the University of California, Berkeley. He was one of the pioneering, eminent solid and fluid mechanicians who made an early transition to biomechanics, and in rising to equal distinction in their new fields, added great credibility to biomechanics as a discipline in its own right. He was also a distinguished and influential figure in bioengineering education at his own institution, and, more broadly, in the United States and abroad. An emeritus professor for over a decade, he continued to be active in research and teaching until the very last days of his life.

Notes: Therapies for myocardial infarction have historically been developed by trial and error, rather than from an understanding of the structure and function of the healing infarct. With exciting new bioengineering therapies for myocardial infarction on the horizon, we have reviewed the time course of structural and mechanical changes in the healing infarct in an attempt to identify key structural determinants of mechanics at several stages of healing. Based on temporal correlation, we hypothesize that normal passive material properties dominate the mechanics during acute ischemia, edema during the subsequent necrotic phase, large collagen fiber structure during the fibrotic phase, and cross-linking of collagen during the long-term remodeling phase. We hope these hypotheses will stimulate further research on infarct mechanics, particularly studies that integrate material testing, in vivo mechanics, and quantitative structural analysis.

Notes: Purpose - This article aims to show how communities with severe river flooding can develop sustainable flood plans that remediate environmental problems caused by previous river straightening and other structural flood controls. Design/methodology/approach - The article builds on a case study of the nationally recognized Napa River Flood Protection Project (USA), which incorporates an ecological living river strategy and builds on strong community participation to restore a river and its floodplain. After discussing the drawbacks of structural flood control measures, and especially of river straightening, reviews the contents of the Napa Flood Project and the public participation process necessary for its design, approval and implementation. Findings - The key lessons learned from Napa's flood project are that: undoing past structural works is difficult but feasible; ecological criteria can and should be used to design modern flood projects; involvement of a wide and diverse group of stakeholders is crucial to developing and implementing an environmentally sustainable flood management project; and the US Army Corps of Engineers can work with communities and depart from its typical, structural flood control approaches. Research limitations/implications - Information on straightened rivers is extremely limited. Furthermore, this study focuses on flood planning for US rivers, and may therefore be less useful elsewhere in the world where the frequency of river straightening may differ. Originality/value - This case study provides a critique on river straightening, which is a poorly documented but fairly frequent approach to flood control. This article helps to fill gaps in the knowledge of how communities can, and are, addressing environmental concerns associated with flood controls and river straightening.

Notes: Purpose - This paper aims to investigate the safety practices in some selected agro-allied industries in south-western Nigeria with a view to analysing the degree of safety awareness; adequacy of safety equipment; extent of enforcing safety rules; effectiveness of safety-related activities and economics of safety programme. Design/methodology/approach - A case study method of investigation, field study guidelines and binary variable were used and information gathered from 36 industries was documented. The data collected were analysed using mean, percentage and standard mathematical models. The analyses carried out on the data gathered are presented on the following: occurrence of accidents, causes of accidents, damages resulting from accidents, accident prevention activities and economic implications. Findings - Three classes of accidents are identified as fatal, serious, and minor. The results showed that minor accident has the highest frequency of occurrence of 304, while fatal accident has the least frequency of occurrence of 17. However, serious accident has the greatest economic implication, accounting for annual average loss of $4.97 millions. Also, nine causes of accidents are identified, out of which faulty equipment is common to all industries. And eight accident prevention activities are identified, amongst which standard operating procedure, good housekeeping and on-the-job training are commonly being practised, while provision of safety handbook and policy is least practised. Originality/value - This paper has described the safety practices in 15 agro-allied industries with an organised safety programme in South Western Nigeria. The study has investigated the extent of enforcement of safety rules; safety awareness; and economic implication of accidents from this sector for the national economy.

Notes: Purpose - The following conceptual exposition is presented in light of the growing number of scholars who indicate need for a comprehensive and coherent approach to disaster reduction, while practitioners seem to be continually faced with dynamic and seemingly contradictory goals and strategies. Design/methodology/approach - This article reviews arguments from an assorted collection of literature in order to increase theoretical understanding of disasters and attempts to integrate various concepts, paradigms and policy proposals. Findings - The discussion points out the strengths and weaknesses of alternative viewpoints about disasters, and suggests that a broad conceptualization of vulnerability may be best suited to assimilate findings for academia and simplify policy guidance for professionals in the field. Research limitations/implications - Because this is a cursory exploration of the casting of vulnerability management in terms of liability reduction and capacity building, additional research on the matter will undoubtedly be needed. Nonetheless, it is hoped that this article may pull together diverse academic frameworks, in order to avert recurring mistakes among those designing and implementing policy. Originality/value - By updating the author's prior work in this area with additional considerations regarding the natural hazards, civil defense, risk management and homeland security schools, this article may be useful for scholars and practitioners interested in reversing the trend of more frequent and intense disasters.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to review research findings on the effects of a variety of disasters, including the events of 9/11, on the general public and members of organizations. Design/methodology/approach - A literature search was undertaken. Three areas were targeted: impact on public attitudes and morale, on organizations and human resource management, and on organizational resilience. Findings - Four conclusions were drawn. First, disasters such as 9/11 have immediate negative effects on emotions and behaviors. Second, with the passage of time these effects dissipate for most people. Third, organizations directly affected by 9/11 immediately stopped functioning. Fourth, fortunately many of these firms bounced back surprisingly quickly. Research limitations/implications - Relatively little research has been conducted on the effects of 9/11, limiting our understanding of it. Practical implications - The people in these resilient firms, those more directly affected by the terrorist attacks, made the difference. Human resource management practices and cultural values already in place were the key factors in bringing about a speedy recovery. These factors can also be developed in other organizations as a precaution. Originality/value - This paper explores important yet still under-researched areas of management and organizational responses to terrorism.

Notes: Literature of trauma in the workplace after an organizationalcatastrophe often focuses on various aspects of a critical incidentwhere data are more readily available because of organizational "pressurepoints" - public relations, technology and the financial impact of adisaster on a corporation. Highlights the fact that external publicrarely express concern or even interest in the mental health of workersin an organization perceived as being responsible for a catastrophe.Provides results from recently published studies that reveal workersexperience some trauma after a critical incident, ranging from milddepression, to the onset of manic disease, to suicidal thoughts.Scrutinizes the impact on departmental and organizational morale,production and sustainability of key projects to comprehend theorganizational behaviour dimension of critical incidents in anappropriate context. Overviews the relationship of organizationalbehaviour to crisis management and analyses the impact of trauma uponworkers at one department of large oil exploration company operating inAlaska. Reaches beyond anecdotal surveys to include an analysis ofemployee turnover in the immediate department of that company after fourworkers had been badly injured in a serious industrial accident. Resultssuggest attention must be paid to stress and trauma by employees whowitness organizational catastrophes.

Notes: Monitoring air, water and soil contamination by means of animals,plants, fungi and bacteria is increasingly in demand for assessingenvironmental quality, environmental impacts, and health and safety. Itis essential that environmental monitoring by bioassays is crediblybased on standardized procedures and on substantial scientific evidencewhich should include background measurements to establish baseline data.Cites case studies involving the use of organisms for monitoring heavymetals and radionuclides in order to demonstrate such proceduralpre-requisites in environmental surveillance.

Notes: Purpose - Proposes to analyze known case studies of information systems failure. Design/methodology/approach - Uses the organizational failure diagnosis model. Findings - Finds that there is the need to assess the organization's "health" prior to information systems development and to raise the organization's actual capacity for systems development to the necessary levels for success. Originality/value - Previous studying of these cases has underplayed the role of technical problems as the surface manifestations of deeper-rooted organizational pathologies causing the failure. The usefulness of the organizational failure diagnosis model is shown in recognizing these deeper-rooted issues and a number of suggestions are made for the prevention of failure.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to review the changes made to civil protection in the UK, both legislative and capacity building, that aim to make the UK more resilient. Design/methodology/approach - Reviews the background to changes in UK civil protection and compares these with the work being done by the broader disaster management community on the meaning and development of resilience to a range of threats. Findings - Finds that the UK approach has been deflected by the terrorist attack of 11 September 2001 and is clearly focused on organisational resilience. This top-down approach does not augur well in terms of promoting a more resilient society. The paper also questions if it is time to take a broader view of what constitutes an emergency. Originality/value - The recent changes in UK civil protection are in many ways welcome. But the promotion of more resilient communities requires a bottom-up as opposed to a top-down approach. Government funding is aimed mainly at institutional resilience. This raises the question of how to promote a broader agenda of more resilient societies able to respond to a broad range of threats.

Notes: Purpose - It is observed that the slow onslaught disasters do not normally catch media attention as these often do not result in human casualties. Inadequate media attention results in insufficient rehabilitation support for the victims. The paper aims at highlighting the problem of ground subsidence in the Himalayan terrain together with the hardships of the victims. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based on the detailed field investigations carried out by the author in the remote Himalayan habitations of Garbyang in Dharchula block of Pithoragarh, Talla Dhumar and Umli-Bhandarigaon in Munsyari block of Pithoragarh and Bagi in Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttaranchal in India. All these habitations are being affected by ground subsidence and the inhabitants of these villages are facing severe resource crisis. Findings - Garbyang village in Central Himalaya is observed to be situated over the varve deposits laid down in the proglacial lake abutting against Chialekh ridge and is witnessing the problem of ground subsidence resulting in the destruction of the once thriving and prosperous habitation. The studies relate the subsidence at Garbyang with the seismicity in the region as also the subsequent toe erosion and downslope mass movement. The other sites discussed in the paper are witnessing the problem of ground subsidence due to the active toe erosion by rivers and streams. Research limitations/implications - There exist no records of the exact date of initiation of the ground subsidence in the investigated areas and these are grossly based on the information provided by the village elders. Originality/value - The article would help in making the disaster managers responsive to the problems the masses are facing due to ground subsidence in this fragile zone and this would result in mustering resources for reducing the hardships of the masses.

Notes: Purpose - To highlight the failure of the tsunami early warning system and the challenges of successfully responding to, and managing a transnational catastrophe of this nature. The paper also highlights unique challenges in the management of this catastrophe and suggests potential strategies for good disaster response and management in this response and beyond. Design/methodology/approach - Primary data collection was by telephone interviews with experts in the South and South-East Asian region, supplemented by a comprehensive literature review of scholarly journals, reports from relief agencies and United Nations situation reports and bulletins amongst others. The scope of the paper is limited to the issue of a warning not been passed onto appropriate authorities in the region, the unique challenges of the relief response and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected communities. Findings - From the study, there is a need for further investigation into the catastrophic warning failure; as reasons proffered by the early warning officials for their inability to pass on a warning to authorities in the affected area appear weak at this stage. The study also found unique geographical, political, economic and social challenges facing the international relief and reconstruction effort. Specifically some of the challenges include the management of the media and information, logistics and coordination, needs and damage assessment, donations and safety and security issues amongst others. In summary, the author found that there is also a need for foreign assistance agencies to be seen to be fair, to build trust and ownership of relief and reconstruction efforts amongst the local populace, as well as use local people as much as possible. Research limitations/implications - The study was conducted only 21 days (three weeks) after the tsunami catastrophe of 26 December 2004, hence it is a snapshot of events in the days immediately after the catastrophe. The relief action is an on-going event and there may be changes as new information emerges from the field. Practical implications - A world wide network of integrated submarine earthquake and tsunami monitoring and early warning system should be set up. Critical warning information in any potential disaster should be shared as inclusively as possible. Relief workers must be seen to be politically and religiously neutral, especially in the civil conflicts of Banda Aceh Indonesia. Finally relief and aid should be given on the basis of sound humanitarian principles such as need, not just on wider economic criteria. Originality/value - The study highlights specific potential challenges which relief organisations must deal with in responding effectively to the disaster, and in assisting to reconstruct the region. The paper proffers specific strategies for effective management of the international assistance effort. Finally, the study adds to the literature on developing countries and is valuable for governments, emergency and relief workers, policy makers in both developed and developing countries.

Notes: Purpose - This paper aims to initiate a conversation within the disaster community about the applicability of "critical reflection" to the professional work of firefighters. "Critical reflection" is a term commonly used within the nursing and teaching professions. Although it has contested meanings, it generally conveys the sense of purposeful enquiry about one's professional conduct, ethics and decision making. Fire fighting labor is no longer blue collar, and firefighters in western fire fighting agencies require increasingly complex capabilities and accountabilities. Could "critical reflection" be added to post-incident debrief as a core professional capability? Design/methodology/approach - The paper draws on the concept of "critical reflection" as it has been developed within the professional fields of nursing and teaching. It then considers the applicability of and importance of this concept to the professional field of firefighting. Findings - The meanings and applications of "critical reflection" vary, but the inclusion of dialogue about it exists within many nurse and teacher education courses. It can be argued to provide professionals with an opportunity to engage in dialogue about their labor, and thereby scrutinise their professional conduct and the ethical dilemmas of their work. Practical implications - This paper calls for a paradigmatic shift in the approach taken by educators who work with firefighters. It argues that instructional methods based on rote learning, chalk and talk, and show and tell training are insufficient as a means of developing firefighters capable of responding and adapting to the complex demands implicit within increasingly professionalized firefighting labor. Future firefighters will need to be adaptive, reflective and accountable; able to demonstrate discursive and inquisitive capabilities; and engage in reflected actions both on and off the incident ground. Originality/value - High originality. This is the first time the intellectual traditions and debates implicit within "critical reflection" have been linked to the work of firefighters.

Notes: Purpose - Given the widespread lack of homogeneity, consistency and quality control in emergency planning, this paper sets out to offer some suggestions, guidelines and models for the processes of drawing up, testing, revising and utilising an emergency plan. Design/methodology/approach - The paper considers some definitions of the term "standard" and discussing the utility of the concept with respect to emergency planning. The subsequent analysis is based on the application of logical and observational criteria to the process of systematically building a framework on which to base a planning standard. Findings - The paper enumerates 18 principles that can be used to judge the quality of emergency plans. The principles are treated as basic criteria to be used when formulating a standard. Next, the paper reviews existing standards in civil protection, risk management, emergency preparedness and humanitarian relief. After a brief discussion of the consultative process used in preparing an instrument for measuring quality, the paper presents a draft standard for an emergency plan. This is broadly focused on the local authority level and on the generic, "all-hazards" approach. Finally, the paper describes a category-based methodology for applying the standard. Research limitations/implications - Standards may be viewed as unnecessarily restrictive and overly prescriptive. However, they can instead be regarded as a useful means of helping to guarantee the quality, content and relevance of plans. Practical implications - The application of a standard to the emergency planning process will help to make plans more functional and relevant and will ensure that their content is adequate for the task of predisposing resources during emergencies. It will also guarantee compatibility between plans made for different purposes or jurisdictions. Originality/value - As few model standards exist in emergency management and planning, this paper offers one of the first attempts to provide a set of generic, comprehensive guidelines for the process of creating, testing, using and revising plans.

Notes: Purpose - To develop a decision model supporting employee involvement in industrial vulnerability reduction. Design/methodology/approach - A synthesis review of some of the relevant extant literature on technological/industrial vulnerability, and their application within a normative decision-making model (i.e. the "Vroom-Yetton model"). Findings - The insights on vulnerability drawn from the literature are highly amenable to a systematic decision-making model for employee involvement. Various aspects of vulnerability, specifically with regard to substantial, social and temporal dimensions may be included in such a model. Research limitations/implications - New insights about the context-dependent aspects of vulnerability are offered by considering these within a contingency decision model. This suggests that vulnerability categories are not absolute, but have to be assessed in relation to a specific decision-making framework. Practical implications - The developed model provides a way of weighting various dimensions of vulnerability and making more appropriate decisions regarding leadership style in a range of circumstances. Originality/value - While decision models exist for assessing risk in organizations, no contingency model for employee involvement in vulnerability assessment has been presented to date.

Notes: Purpose - Over the past 50 years India has been experiencing rapid population growth, causing the migration of a large part of the population to the cities looking for livelihood. This resulted in massive increments of population in the cities that has led to the increase of pollution. Gujarat, being a highly industrialized state, is a case in point. The systems for treatment and water disposal of this state are highly challenged. The north-western state of Gujarat has no effective systems for treatment or disposal of waste water. The purpose of this article is to address this problem, introducing a geographic information system (GIS) approach to record the characterization, analyze the needs and generate a conceptual GIS database in the state. Design/methodology/approach - This paper outlines the background, suggested methodology for the development of a GIS database pollution dependent control of water pollution in the state of Gujarat in India. The present research is to install a document management system that has been developed in providing organizing chart, sorting, querying and retrieving of key data. A computerized laboratory information system on monitoring of quality of ambient air has been developed. Findings - An integrated GIS database has been generated involving creation of pollutant contours, querying and visualizing the query output in spatial and non-spatial form. Originality/value - The authors have created a complete geo-spatial database for the environmental monitoring for the whole state of Gujarat. They have dealt with nearly 36,000 different files from different sources and put them together to create the database. A computerized laboratory information system on monitoring of quality of ambient air has been developed. Front-end application programs have been developed in Visual Basic and the back-end database to integrate the laboratory data and the existing data in oracle database.

Notes: Purpose - Many villages in the vicinity of the hill township of Mussorie in the Indian Himalayas are witnessing signs of an impending disaster. These villages are witnessing active wastage that might take an heavy toll of human interest during the monsoon season and therefore the paper proposes examining this subject. Design/methodology/approach - A detailed study was undertaken in the area of Mussorie. Findings - It is suggested that a series of prevention and mitigation measures (both structural and non-structural) with the involvement of the local community are required for ruling out the possibility of any mishap in the area. Originality/value - This paper highlights the importance of having a disaster management strategies for the region and involving the community with these.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach in viewing the control of safety at crude oil exploration platforms. Design/methodology/approach - The approach utilized in this work is the fusion of artificial neural network and fuzzy logic. The approach is adopted in view of the better presentation of solutions to the safety control problem that neuro-fuzzy exhibits. It is better than the individual application of either artificial neural network or fuzz logic to the problem at hand. The model captures uncertainties and imprecision that are prevalent in the quantification or data gathering stage of safety control measurement. Findings - It was demonstrated that the application of neuro-fuzzy is feasible. The results seem applicable to similar settings with similar system characteristics. Practical implications - Since more confidence is obtained with the use of this more effective tool, there is improvement in decision making based on reliance on the model. Thus, the improved quality of decision made would positively affect lives of workers at the oil platforms or the materials or equipment used for exploration purposes. Originality/value - The work is original in that it is the first time the neuro-fuzzy methodology would be applied to offshore oil platform safety control.

Notes: Purpose - To follow the modern movement of using "positive feedback" to explain companies' behaviour with special focus on historical accidents. Design/methodology/approach - To contribute to the emergence of new complexity theory as applied to management and prove that historical accidents matter, combining and bringing together literature sources. Findings - The concept of unique equilibrium has been seriously disputed - the selection process is shown, as is the path dependent process using probability theory. Practical implications - A location theory as case study is outlined - great for those fond of unique equilibrium. Originality/value - To show another theory, which is dynamic, non-linear, and complex as reality; to apply it to management underlying at the same time the role of historical accidents (random process).

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to consider the analysis of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks provided by the US National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the USA from the points of view of behavior analysis and systems analysis. The 9/11 Commission provides a detailed and provocative account of the structural flaws in the US security systems that enabled the 9/11 terrorists to completely subvert efforts to detect and prevent their attack. This paper considers the role of private-sector organizations in prevention of future attacks. Design/methodology/approach - This conceptual/theoretical paper explores how understanding verbal networks and the nature of verbal rules might contribute to understanding the issues involved in re-engineering work cultures in the face of continued terrorist threats. Findings - An understanding of verbal networks and ambiguous communications aids the re-design of management systems and emergency response processes so that adaptive organizational responses to terrorist threats are enabled. Originality/value - Private-sector leaders might conduct behavioral systems analyses and probe the limitations of their operations and seek to detect weak points and create contingencies that sustain more effective security and emergency response repertoires.

Notes: Looks at major disasters and the steps taken to limit the problems whichhave and may occur, by an adequate training resource. Looks inparticular at oil-rig disasters such as Piper Alpha, Ekofisk, AleksanderKjelland and Ocean Ranger all of which had contributory shortcomingsenhanced by management on-and off-shore. Reinforces the concepts that anemergency response or contingency plan must provide the basis foremergency training, and that training for the 1990s will be insimulators.

Notes: Have disasters become more frequent and more severe? We often assumethat they have but a review of the evidence does not support this view,so far as the oil and chemical industries are concerned. In the 1970sthe size of the chemical industry doubled but the number and frequencyof accidents killing five or more people remained constant. However, inthe 1980s, although the frequency remained the same there were moremajor incidents and more people died. Two forgotten, nineteenth centurydisasters, which resulted, like Hillsborough (1989), from the failure ofcrowd control, are described.

Notes: There is sometimes a divergence of opinion between scientists and thegeneral public on the acceptability of the risk associated with anindustrial project. This divergence has sometimes been attributed to alack of understanding of scientific issues on the part of the generalpublic. Attempts to gain acceptance have therefore centred on publiceducation or information campaigns. Scientific assessment of riskconcentrates on the parameters of probability and severity. Thephenomenon of the issue-attention cycle demonstrates, however, thatperceived risk can vary without the probability or severity changing,indicating that there is a third factor which is a major determinant ofperceived or subjective risk. This is the salience of the issue. Thecomplexity of modern society makes it impossible to evaluate all risksobjectively. In everyday life heuristics, or rules of thumb, aretherefore used to evaluate those risks which have the greatest effect inour personal environment. The process of making the public aware of anissue which needs to be evaluated in this way is referred to as "agendasetting".

Notes: Assesses the capability of dealing with all the issues resulting from amajor incident. Looks at some ways to develop and improve managementcapability and success in introducing and working with an IncidentCommand System. This also helps company staff to heighten theirawareness of the importance of safety and environmental protection.

Notes: Draws attention to contextual variables in the development andmanagement of safety cultures. Examines the relationship betweencorporate culture change and safety management and considers theimplications for safety of the manipulation of values and beliefs aspart of corporate motivation. Considers the extent to which thedevelopment of a safety culture is compatible with the development of acorporate culture. Examines the following areas, the pursuit of order,conflict and contradiction, rhetoric and taken-for-granted assumptions,in order to challenge cosmetic approaches to safety management.Indicates the importance of recognizing that some information defiesdata capture and gives attention to the irrational aspects of systems.Isolates issues for management in the perception and promotion of safetyand offers current examples of good practice.

Notes: Coping style has been examined across a variety of stressful encounters,but surprisingly little is known about coping in the emergency ordisaster context. Examines coping strategies and impact of events inemergency workers who generally have not been exposed to major events inthe course of their emergency role. The profile of scores suggests thatemergency workers are problem-focused and are less inclined to assuageproblems through emotion-focused coping, thus supporting the popularnotion of emergency workers as task-oriented and committed to action.Discusses the extent to which this profile may enhance wellbeing andprevent stress symptoms following emergency events.

Notes: Purpose - The primary aim of this research is to investigate the application of open source geographic information system software, geographical resources analysis support system (GRASS) for landslide hazard assessment. Design/methodology/approach - Five parameters affecting landslide occurrence derived from topographical, geological and land use maps of Cameron highland were used for the assessment. Findings - The results showed that about 93 percent of the study area falls under zone II that is of low hazard, with less than 7 percent on zone III with moderate hazard and only less than 1 percent falls under zone IV, which is of high hazard. Research limitations/implications - The accuracy of the landslide hazard map needs to be assessed by cross-correlation with landslide occurrence in the field. Practical implications - The map produced showed the potential application of GRASS as a tool for producing landslide hazard assessment map. Originality/value - The major outcome of this research is the possible use of open source GIS software in the application of landslide hazard assessment. The capability of GRASS in performing such environmental assessment will certainly attract many researchers and organizations with limited budgets, especially in developing countries such as Malaysia.

Notes: Purpose - Maintaining a high level of situation awareness (SA) is considered one of the most essential elements for safe and effective flight operations. In a study of accidents among major air carriers, 88 per cent of those involving human error could be attributed to problems with SA. In complex domains such as aviation, SA is inherently distributed over multiple people and groups and over human and machine agents. The purpose of this paper is to present an alternative perspective to the hegemony of the cognitive approach to SA that focuses on the systemic nature of SA. Design/methodology/approach - An alternative approach to the hegemony of the cognitive perspective of SA has been presented, that focuses on a systemic or holistic conceptualisation of SA through the application of Somerville's actor network theory (ANT). By advocating a seamless web composed of actors, the actor network approach dissolves the dichotomous relationship between humans and machines and society and technology into a non-anthropocentric framework. This paper further develops this systemic perspective of SA through an analysis of the tragic 2002 mid-air collision over Überlingen, Germany case study. Findings - The application of ANT to this case study brings to light some insights with wide ranging consequences for how we think of SA and accident aetiology. Practical implications - The systemic perspective of SA has far-reaching design implications with regard to complex socio-technical systems. Originality/value - This paper facilitates the perspective that looks at the inter-connectedness of the heterogeneous elements characterized by the technological and non-technological (human, social, organizational, political) elements of complex socio-technical systems.

Notes: Major disasters make very newsworthy stories - not only because they areunusual events but because of the human interest angle. No matter howhorrific the circumstances, the public seems to be fascinated by otherpeople's misfortunes and the press and broadcasting media know it. Themanner of coverage and reporting often leads to criticism that the mediawere intrusive and lacking in sensitivity, as in the live filming of theHillsborough disaster. The press and broadcasting agencies argue thatthey have a right to report and comment on matters of public interest.Moreover, they feel that matters of discretion and good taste should beleft to them. This calls for good relationships between the authoritiesand the media. The aim should be to give accurate information and assistreporters where possible, provided that the judicial process is notcompromised, operations are not hampered and there is no invasion ofprivacy. In return, there are many ways in which the media can help theauthorities, for example by broadcasting messages, providing photographsand newsreel film to assist enquiries and training personnel asspokespersons. Such co-operation is likely to be achieved throughsensible policies and good, workable press arrangements.

Notes: Emergency planning in the UK is inadequate, disorganized andinefficient. Recent changes have the capacity to worsen the situation byfurther fragmenting the organization while reducing funding at a timewhen it needs to be increased. Suggests reorganization using a centralagency as a controlling and co-ordination organization, and proposesthat this could be achieved without excess additional cost by reducingthe duplication of work currently undertaken.

Notes: The Nuclear Industry Road Emergency Response Plan is a mutual aid schemeinvolving the major companies in the nuclear industry. The arrangementswere developed to provide a response in the event of an incident oraccident involving the road transport of nuclear material by theparticipants in the scheme. The aim of the scheme is to achieve a rapidand effective response to any incident involving a radioactive packagein transit by road.

Notes: Purpose - Aims to report the key results and learnings of a pilot test of an ISO-based integrated management systems approach to security, environmental, health, and safely (SEH&S) at one industry site in the USA. Design/methodology/approach - First, the rationale for and brief overview of a five-step integrated SEH&S management systems approach is presented. Second, a descriptive reporting of the process, results, and implications of the initial steps of the integrated SEH&S approach at a water and sanitation district in the USA is provided. Findings - Provides a description of the process of how an integrated SEH&S approach is implemented and reports results such as the following. First, the major vulnerabilities and risks associated with the water district's major infrastructure assets are assessed. Second, the various risks are evaluated, prioritized, and ranked in terms of their security and environmental, health and safety (EH&S) aspects. Third, recommendations are offered to mitigate major vulnerabilities. Finally, an overall assessment of the applicability of the integrated SEH&S approach to security and risk management is presented. Research limitations/implications - The study was conducted in one organization and involved only the first portion of the proposed integrated SEH&S management system approach. Originality/value - This manuscript should inform executives and managers of the SEH&S functions concerning how their organizations can use the newly proposed integrated approach to address both security and overall organizational risks in a more comprehensive and cost-effective manner.

Notes: Purpose - This paper aims to deal with disaster and recovery systems, introducing the catastrophe matrix as a disaster-preventing tool. Design/methodology/approach - A new model is proposed which is proved to be a classical assignment problem. It is solved based on well-known optimization methods. Research is presented for the danger risk of the system and a fully automated recovery system with a minimum cost is presented. Findings - Research accepts the fact that a catastrophe has already been activated on the system. Research limitations/implications - The difficulty of solving the proposed model of the threat and countermeasures still remains. Originality/value - The proposed models show a new original way to confront dangers and overcome the existing classical models based on risk management.

Notes: Purpose - This paper seeks to review the geophysical threats generated by volcanic activity and reports on the technological and social management techniques available to counter those threats. Design/methodology/approach - The information presented was derived from a review of case studies of response to volcanic eruptions in the USA, Europe and Japan. The studies reviewed included both technical papers from geologists and volcanologists and research by social scientists. Findings - The unique relationship between human settlements and volcanoes was described. This was done in the context of special features of volcanic hazards that set them apart from other natural hazards: time frame, multiple impacts, magnitude of destructive potential and predictability. Based on pairing geophysical threats with human safety concerns, three critical social management techniques were described: public education, access controls and evacuation systems. The social science and geophysical principles that underlie the effectiveness of these techniques are described. Practical implications - The review brings together the results of numerous case studies over the years and highlights the hazard management issues that were common across them. Then, with respect to each of the techniques identified, a critique of issues associated with implementation was conducted that draws upon both the geophysical literature and social science literature. In particular, patterns of citizen resistance to public education, access controls and evacuation are described and approaches to implementation that minimize such resistance are suggested. Originality/value - There are many discussions in the geophysics literature of the types and nature of volcanic eruptive behavior. In the social science literature there are discussions of public education strategies for hazards, controlling access to dangerous locations and evacuation systems. This paper pairs geophysical threats with appropriate techniques for protecting populations, specifically within the unique context of volcanic eruptions. There is also discussion of common problems that have arisen when the different techniques have been used in the past and suggestions for ways to avoid those problems. The paper is aimed at professional emergency managers and planners who are faced with managing dangers to populations from volcanicity.

Notes: Purpose - Survival strategy of the masses has led to the evolution of area-specific, locally pertinent and effective ways of mitigating natural disasters. This vital knowledge base is, however, often ignored and is being fast eroded. The paper aims at highlighting the relevance of these practices that put forth most cost-effective and acceptable means of mitigating disasters. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based on the extensive field studies and in-depth probe of the traditional resource management practices of the people of the remote Himalayan terrain by the author and it reflects his belief in the acumen of the masses. Findings - The paper discusses the relevance of the various disaster management practices of the region. During the course of their habitation in the disaster-prone Himalayan terrain the indigenous people through experience, experimentation and accumulated knowledge devised ways of reducing their vulnerability to natural hazards. Studies show that their understanding was fairly evolved in the areas of earthquake, landslide and drought management and had devised efficient ways of mitigating the effects of these. Research limitations/implications - The paper reflects the author's individual understanding and interpretation of the practices based on his interactions with the masses. Practical implications - Improvisation on the traditional practices of disaster management has a major role to play in putting forth cost-effective and sustainable means of shielding the community against the impact of natural disasters. This article puts forth an alternative approach of interpreting the traditional practices of the masses and would lead to appropriate innovations for better disaster management in the region. Originality/value - This paper represents a useful attempt to reinforce the importance of local knowledge in mitigating natural disasters, which is often ignored and is quick to erode.

Notes: Purpose - Aims to bring attention to the problems faced by rural Bangladeshis. Several objectives for the paper were identified. First, to illustrate that Bangladeshis suffer from acute levels of poverty, a lack of clean drinking water and regular flooding and cyclonic conditions. Second, to establish the failure of western "handout" aid provision to address these problems. Third, to evidence the possibilities for the production of more durable building materials utilising regionally available waste materials and proven solar technologies. Finally, to present strategies in which solar technologies could contribute to the reduction of poverty and improvements in health standards. Design/methodology/approach - The ongoing development and testing of the innovative solar technology concepts reported in the paper were informed by a literature review covering solar cookers and solar kilns. The methodology and detail of the testing of that solar technology is currently considered commercially sensitive. With regard to the poverty alleviation strategies proposed within the paper, their development was underpinned by a methodology combining a thorough review of the relevant literature with input from practitioners in Bangladesh. Findings - Utilising aid moneys for the establishment of solar technology-based small-scale production of vernacular building materials could address poverty by affording access to wealth-generating activities in the sale of goods and clean drinking water from rainwater harvesting. Additionally, such activities would enable Bangladeshi society to be better able to withstand and then recover from natural disasters, by possessing more resistant shelters, and being more economically resilient. Research limitations/implications - The experimental component of the research is ongoing and considered commercially sensitive. No limitations have thus far been identified within this component. The implications of the research regarding solar technologies are potentially considerable in that the innovative approach under examination, if underpinned by positive results, represents a new area of activity and has both social and technical implications. Practical implications - Current aid is not significantly alleviating the problems experienced by Bangladeshis resulting from poverty, arsenic contamination of deep water aquifers and regular flooding. The technology and strategies proposed address the fact that the current vernacular shelters provide little resistance to flooding, and are unsuitable for rainwater harvesting, whilst also allowing participation in wealth-generating activities. Such a combination has the potential to reverse the trend for Bangladesh to increasingly rely on "hand-out" aid. Originality/value - The value of the paper is largely in the area of bringing new possibilities to the attention of the research and practitioner communities dealing with both solar technologies and developing world poverty alleviation.

Notes: Purpose - The paper aims to discuss the causes of the landslide event at Amparav in Kumaun Himalaya (Nainital district of Uttaranchal in India) and attempts to bring forth the importance of mass awareness regarding the past disaster events in their surroundings. Design/methodology/approach - On the aftermath of the landslide tragedy of 23 September, 2004 field investigations were carried out to probe the causes and lapses that resulted in tragedy at a place where a detailed mitigation plan had been implemented. Findings - The investigations reveal that a detailed landslide management strategy was prepared and implemented to protect this zone almost a century ago, with a thorough understanding of the mass wastage processes. Implementation of this plan safeguarded this zone for a long time, but the lack of awareness among the masses led to the violation of the very spirit of this plan. This culminated in the Amparav tragedy that took three human lives, besides the loss of a huge public and private infrastructure. Research limitations/implications - The old study that led to the landslide management strategy could not be assessed and the article is based on information provided by the village elders. Practical implications - The paper is an attempt to bring forth the finer details of the landslide management plan enacted in the region almost a century ago. It suggests the need for detailed surveys and planning in enacting any disaster management plan. Originality/value - This paper would bring forth the importance of documenting the disaster management strategies of the region and sharing the significance of these with the masses so that they are deterred from even unintentionally violating the spirit of these plans.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to make explicit why security needs to be viewed as a core activity and why senior management need to view security from a holistic perspective. Reference is made to various activities carried out by computer hackers and the costs associated with computer related crime. Design/methodology/approach - A literature review was undertaken and a conceptual security model was produced. The key elements of the activities associated with security were highlighted and the links between the activities were made clear. Findings - Organized criminal syndicates and international terrorist groups are increasing their level of activity. Senior managers within companies need to put in place an intelligence and security strategy to counter the activities of criminals and terrorists. Furthermore, senior managers will in the future have to work more closely with law enforcement representatives and industry representatives. They will also have to develop an appreciation of the strategic intelligence objectives of various governments. There is also evidence that senior management need to pay greater attention to identifying future threats associated with advances in internet technology. Research limitations/implications - More attention will need to be given to how facilitating technology such as the internet is providing computer hackers and criminals with ways to either disrupt business activities or extend the range of criminal activities that they are engaged in. Practical implications - Senior management will need to refocus on the capability of staff vis-à-vis corporate intelligence and security work. The learning organization concept can be embraced and can be used to assist staff to identify the advantages associated with effective knowledge management. Scenario analysis and simulation exercises can be used to train staff in emergency work, and disaster management and prevention. Originality/value - A diverse range of topics is covered and integrated into a security-oriented context. Attention is focused on the link between organized criminal syndicates and international terrorist groups, and why senior managers in companies need to be engaged in disaster management recovery planning. The material highlights why senior managers in companies need to develop business contingency plans and embrace the counterintelligence concept.

Notes: Purpose - To analyze recent and future terrorism in the world from the viewpoint of the USA. Design/methodology/approach - Actions companies can take to help prevent and manage the negative effects of terrorist attacks are also discussed. A review of the literature from journals, the popular press and government sources was stressed to provide an official and public view of terrorism. Findings - It was found that "terrorism" is pervasive around the world although maybe more concentrated in the Middle East at present. It is seen as annually increasing in number and severity of events. There were minor terrorist events in the USA in the 1990s, but the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York forever changed the view of terrorism by US citizens. The USA subsequently changed its administrative structure, economic infrastructure, beliefs, behaviors, and relations to others in the world. The USA is seen as the main terrorist target in the world and Al-Qaeda, one of 40 foreign terrorist organizations, is seen as the main group attacking it. Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Sudan, Cuba, Libya, and Syria are seen as the main countries supporting terrorism. The main terrorist weapons are explosives, guns, biological, chemical, radiological, psychological, and to a lesser extent, nuclear. Research limitations/implications - Although future events and subsequent research must bear it out, it appears that cyber terrorism and radioactive explosives may be used more in the future. Executives can improve their odds of withstanding terrorist attacks by understanding past and present aspects of terrorism. Future dealings with terrorists are seen as problematic, but there are actions companies can take, such as adding working crisis management plans, to help prevent and manage the negative effects of terrorist attacks. Originality/value - This paper is an attempt to present and understand "terrorism" from a US perspective so that others in the world can better understand US motivations, actions, and rationale.

Notes: Discusses the development of Price Waterhouse's business continuityplan. Points out the theory that businesses which are prepared for theworst (cites the Bishopsgate and Baltic Exchange in London, explosions)can survive the heaviest blow whereas those which are not, do not. Theperiod of recovery will therefore be shorter and only minimal impact onbusiness will occur.

Notes: Currently, legislation relating to hazardous sites is becoming morerigorous, with the exception of nuclear installations and these arebeing addressed. A particular facet of accidents at nuclearinstallations involving radioactivity is potassium iodate prophylaxis asa counter measure. Effective distribution of stable iodine is important,with early issue to an affected populace critical. Present arrangementsare unsatisfactory in that the Police Service is the principal agencyfor such distribution, with other agencies, for example the HealthService, acting in support. There is limited pre-distribution todesignated sites, but the practice varies throughout the country.Considerable thought has been given to the matter of an effectivedistribution process with the possibility shortly of guidance. It isunclear what arrangements will be in the future for this distributionand the matter will have to be treated with considerable care, bearingin mind the sensitivity of this subject as far as the public isconcerned.

Notes: Co-ordination is seen as a key element in UK disaster-response planning,although the term is used synonymously with co-operation and liaison byboth the Home Office and the organizations involved. This lack ofclarity shows the ad hoc nature of both the legislation and managementpractices governing the response. Argues that, as a result,co-ordination may be an inappropriate goal; co-operation may bepreferable and more accessible. Highlights key elements influencingcurrent trends, together with practical and theoretical issues from themove towards a simplified response. Concludes that co-ordination byfeedback will continue to dominate because it is in accord with pastpractice. This will ensure that co-ordination is both confined tospecific functions and used as a general exhortation, even thoughco-operation may be a more accurate description of the key element in UKdisaster response.

Notes: In February 1990 severe storms hit most of Britain, and in Towyn, aseaside resort in North Wales - the effects were dramatic. The force ofthe sea caused a breach in the sea defences which resulted inlarge-scale flooding affecting in the region of 2,400 properties andcausing in the biggest evacuation to take place in Britain since thewar. The disaster had not been anticipated by the local authority and noone had experience of dealing with this scale of event. As with mostdisasters, a large number of people were involved and scores oforganizations carried out a multitude of tasks under difficultcircumstances. Many of the problems were long-term, especially thosedealing with stress and aftercare. Despite the complexity and scale ofthe tasks the local authority, working with other organizations,successfully dealt with this disaster. Addresses some of the manyproblems faced at Towyn and examines the management systems and networksystems which evolved to deal with this event.

Notes: Between 18 January and 28 February 1991, Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles atIsraeli cities in 19 separate attacks. They caused extensive propertydamage but fewer casualties than anticipated. Statistical evidence ofserious psychiatric reactions to the war experience both immediately andafter a delay of several months is sought, based on official Ministry ofHealth morbidity records for psychiatric facilities over the thee-yearperiod, 1990-1992. Psychiatric admissions data produced no statisticalsupport for the thesis that the Gulf War and missile attacks causedextensive long-term stress.

Notes: Estimating the needs for psychosocial intervention in the wake of massemergencies is closely linked to the sharp controversy over theemotional impact of traumatic events. Briefly reviews some of the majorpositions on this issue to provide background for main discussion. Inthe USA especially, there have been attempts to incorporateepidemiological-community-oriented indicators of impact and not to relyexclusively on clinical diagnosis. There are still questions aboutthese formulas. Despite limitations of the predictive formulas,learning from these attempts in another country could contribute toimproving Israeli emergency psychosocial services, should they again berequired. Such formulations could also be developed through applicationto various circumstances.

Notes: Safety performance on the UK continental shelf is normally of a highstandard, although there are still many "minor" accidents. However, acomparative analysis reveals that major disasters in the North Sea haveforced up fatality statistics, indicating that there is a need forimprovement. The Cullen Report on the Piper Alpha disaster and theensuing Safety Case Regulations are evaluated in light of safetyperformance. While the regulations are a major step in the rightdirection, apparently there are gaps in the provision. Such gaps cannotbe filled solely by following the principles of total qualitymanagement. Problems with the regulations include the fundamentalapproach to public inquiries, the problems of objective versusprescriptive regulations, technological bias, the behaviour ofmanagement and management systems, communication problems, difficultieswith quantitative risk assessment, key concepts within the regulations(ALARP and acceptance), change management, the nature of safetymanagement systems and ignoring the natural environment.

Notes: Purpose - Malaysia, which is in an intermediary phase of development and industrialization, has experienced various magnitudes of disasters ranging from biological, structural collapse, fires and explosions, landslides to meteorological incidents. The first major disaster that could be linked with the development of the country was the collapse of a four-storey building in 1968. This article describes how, by applying a grounded theory approach, examination and analysis of archival data were conducted to identify the phases and latent errors of this landmark disaster. Design/methodology/approach - Grounded theory approach was utilized to develop a substantive theory of socio-technical disaster preconditions. Findings - Data indicated that the disaster had developed in phases as found by other disaster scholars. Regulatory failures were found to be one of the main causes of the disaster. The disaster appeared to be an inevitable consequence of the inability of the laws and regulations to keep in tandem with the rate of development and industrialization of the nation. Originality/value - The discussion of the implications of the disaster will be of particular value for developing nations.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this introduction is to review some of the major issues that arose after 9/11 and set the stage for the articles that follow. Design/methodology/approach - A literature review was undertaken using both academic and mass media sources. Findings - The events of 9/11 have produced potentially positive as well as negative consequences, some anticipated and others unforeseen. Research limitations/implications - Relatively little research has been conducted on the events following 9/11, making it difficult to arrive at solid conclusions at this time. Practical implications - This special issue links the events of 9/11 with the management of organizations, a topic that has received little attention, and hopefully will encourage more scholarship in this area. Originality/value - It is important to more fully understand why 9/11 happened and what measures need to be taken to reduce the likelihood of future terrorist attacks, as well as improve the resiliency of both citizens and their organizational employers in dealing with the aftermath of such attacks should they occur again.

Notes: Examines a progression of theoretical and practical approaches to thejob of strategic leadership and explains why these approaches are bothmanagers and creators of increasingly chaotic and dangerousorganizational/societal situations. Argues that a new paradigm formanagement strategy is required-one which underpins behaviour ofopposing dimensions to the existing mainstream paradigm for managementbut which also harnesses beneficial aspects of the traditional paradigm.

Notes: Observes one local borough's handling of emergency information in casesof crisis. Looks at the organizational aspects and in particular to howspecialized personnel can be brought into play - using a control centreand a liaison controller. Goes on to show how this would be used and thetasks of the principles involved.

Notes: Compares the different types of local authorities within the UnitedKingdom and the various duties imposed on them by statute or morals.Outlines the history of emergency planning in general and shows howlocal authorities become involved. Reviews the facilities and supportavailable to the emergency services from these authorities. Detailsthese in departmental form, including Works and Services; Education;Welfare and Social Services; Libraries; Housing; and EnvironmentalHealth. Outlines the services provided: supply of transport, equipment,plant and personnel; the identification, designation and preparation ofpremises for use as survivor reception, rest, relatives, or mediacentres or as temporary mortuaries; and the provision of trauma andbereavement counselling and co-ordination of volunteer services.Concludes with a discussion of the restoration phase: the setting up andmanagement of trust funds; siting and erection of memorials; andre-establishment of the incident site.

Notes: The UK's Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards (CIMAH)Regulations 1984 implement the European Communities "Seveso" Directive(82/501/EEC). Central to these regulations are requirements formanufacturers in control of qualifying activities which meet certainindicative criteria or involve specific dangerous substances in anindustrial activity to provide evidence which identifies the majoraccident hazards from their activities and which shows that they havetaken adequate steps to prevent such major accidents and to limit theirconsequences to people and the environment. Provides background to apresentation at "Disaster '93" which will outline the environmentalaspects of CIMAH with particular reference to the technical difficultiesand current research work involved in the assessment of major accidentsto the environment.

Notes: A three-person field team devoted four days to gathering data inAndover, Kansas, USA, after a tornado devastated the Golden Spur MobileHome Park on 26 April 1991. They sought to assess the extent to whichthe media's reporting of the local emergency management team's responseto the disaster influenced the team's subsequent decisions. Theresearchers functioned as participant observers in the emergencyoperating centre (EOC), informally interviewed principal EOC members andmedia personnel, and obtained copies of media news stories (televisionand newspaper) which reported on the organizational response to thedisaster. Assesses the observation and interview data as well as thecontent analysis of the news stories and suggests that the EOC teamdevoted a considerable portion of their time to responding to thenegative press they received centring around two issues: pre-impactwarning and post-impact debris clearance. Some of the media's newsstories sought to engage in blame assignation. The EOC members devotedtime to developing strategies to control the media damage and changedsome decisions they had made in response to the media's criticism. Therelevant disaster research literature is utilized to explain theresponse of the EOC personnel and the media. Reliance on normal timeroles explains the EOC response to blame assignation.

Notes: Purpose - This paper aims to examine the roots of public fear and often-distorted reality of risk, and proposes methods by which emergency management agencies can successfully manage fear, should a terror-based event occur within their jurisdiction. Design/methodology/approach - The October 2002 sniper crisis in Washington, DC is used to identify the processes by which public fear is generated, maintained, and managed. Findings - In the USA's post-9/11 era of terror-awareness, extreme actions of groups like Al Qaeda are no longer necessary to spark detrimental anxiety-based social reactions. The two snipers who placed the nation's capital under siege for three weeks with one rifle and a box of bullets confirmed this fact. Washington, DC's duct tape and plastic panic buying spree, spurred by a Terrorism Threat Index increase, illustrated how the mere hint of a future event can induce irrational behavior. Practical implications - Clearly, the emergency management community can no longer simply blame the media for such strong public sentiment. Controlling public fear is a public safety responsibility but fear management must be supported by the Federal government to be effective. There exists a rapidly-growing need for agencies to adopt formal fear management capabilities staffed by appropriately-trained, dedicated officials. In many cases of terrorism, fear is the greatest emergency that must be managed, and irresponsible or inadequate attempts to do so can actually increase public risk. This paper proposes methods by which emergency management agencies can successfully manage fear, should a terror-based event occur within their jurisdiction. Originality/value - This paper will assist emergency managers, administrators at the city, county, and national levels, and others involved in planning for the management of fear during emergencies that can occur in the aftermath of terror-based events.

Notes: Purpose - In the context of the Indian subcontinent, aims to examine the suitability of using microfinance for natural disaster risk reduction at the household and community level, and also of delivering it in the wake of a natural disaster. Design/methodology/approach - Explains microfinance strategies comprising: diversifying income source; designing new loan products; risk management; sustainability of microfinance institutions post-disaster; liquidity management post-disaster, etc. Findings - States that microfinance should be recognized as one of a series of measures within a disaster risk management strategy. Along with eco-friendly farming it can help overcome poverty in developing countries. Originality/value - Probably the first real attempt to explore the importance of microfinance interventions in natural disasters both at the personal level and generally.

Notes: Purpose - This paper aims to argue that, contrary to popular thinking, technological disasters are potentially predictable, and therefore amenable to risk assessment and mitigation. What is lacking at present is a more comprehensive understanding of the hazards, embedded in complex socio-technical systems, which lead to such disasters. Design/methodology/approach - The paper discusses several factors that contribute to hazard formation and development, including the interaction of human and mechanical components, ambiguity, evolutionary changes, innovation and poor communication in organisational systems. Two case studies of recent disasters in Australia are presented to provide illustrations of the complexity in socio-technical systems and the hazards and risks that they harbour. Findings - The paper finds that to progress, we need two things: better conceptual models and frameworks that reveal complexity and make systems more transparent, and more satisfactory approaches to risk management. Originality/value - The paper concludes with some suggestions as to how the risks might be better understood and managed proactively.

Notes: Purpose - To inform readers comprehensively and sufficiently about the new (July 1, 2004) legal regime of SOLAS/ISPS code concerning security of ports and ships. Design/methodology/approach - The paper estimates the code's impact on vessels' security and on ships' ownership and control as well as on seafarers. Findings - The maritime security measures costing $626 million (and $168 million per year) had to be seen as the third pillar of the international shipping policy and to facilitate instead of obstructing free flow of international sea transport. Research limitations/implications - The very recent implementation of ISPS code made this paper prognostic in nature. Originality/value - This is the first account of the new regime and is of interest to shipowners and ports, US and EU seafarers.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster was due to the ship or the management, using the modern management theory of complexity. Design/methodology/approach - The 75 pages investigation of the court has been studied and codified to the main aspects and mistakes producing the accident. After the mistakes were identified, a procedure adopted in analysis B to show how these could be avoided if a different management theory has been adopted. Findings - The main finding was that management was responsible for the accident on shore mainly and on board and that a special communication mean which is called "dialogue" in complexity theory parlance had to be adopted. Practical implications - Any shipping company and ship can identify itself through the common mistakes mentioned and adopt the proposed theory to improve safety and management's effectiveness. Originality/value - The paper provides a concise analysis of the accident. A new theory is presented and linked to this case study. The study will be useful to management on shore and on board and for IMO of Flag administrations and departments of transport and others.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to extend the earlier application of the behavioral response model which analyzed the behavioral response to September 11, 2001, to analyzing the organizational response of the US Federal Government during the ensuing years. Design/methodology/approach - Qualitative methodology is used in which the organizational response is assessed to determine if that which has been observed parallels organizational chaos typical in natural disasters. Findings - Findings suggest the literature applicable to behavioral and organizational response to natural disasters is quite appropriate to describing the post "September 11" actions of the USA. Research limitations/implications - The argument presented suggests that the organizational response was typically chaotic and is counter-productive in defeating the long-term goals of the terrorists. While the author extends the application of the behavioral and organizational response model to the policy decisions of the US Government, some may debate his conclusion. Practical implications - Government decision makers should consider the implications of the observations shared in the paper to avoid taking the same, perhaps failed, road in the future. Originality/value - The new territory offered herein, is the application of the behavioral and organizational response model to public policy making by high government officials in the USA - analysis of organizational response issues at the highest level of government organization.

Notes: Describes the development of major hazard controls, first domesticallyin the UK and more recently in the European Community. Traces UKdevelopments are traced from the early concerns of the 1960s, theFlixborough disaster and the work of the Advisory Committee on MajorHazards on which the current philosophy for controlling major hazards isbased. Describes in detail the evolution of European Communitylegislation from the Seveso Directive to the proposed new Directive forthe control of major accident hazards (COMAH). The proposed COMAHDirective will be considered in the CEC's Environment Working Group andEnvironment Council over the coming months. If these negotiations aresuccessful in reaching common position by the end of 1994, the newDirective is likely to be adopted by the Council of Ministers in 1995.The UK will have to implement the new Directive within 18 months of itsadoption.

Notes: Describes the emergency management structure created for theInternational Air Tattoo '94 at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.Describes the table-top discussion and live exercise which preceded theevent, to ensure that adequate procedures were in place should a majorincident occur. Discusses lessons learned from the live exercise.

Notes: Examines socio-technical disasters, particularly during the 1980s and1990s, listing the organizational situations in which they occur andsingling out Hillsborough (football) and Kesworth (aeroplane) fordetailed treatment. Deals with various aspects of the socio-technicaldisaster: the disaster sequence; signals and triggers; the extensivedamage to human life and the physical environment; the large economicand social costs; responses to and resolution of crises, among others.After discussing the simple and complex causes of socio-technicaldisasters, urges management to learn from past disasters and makeorganizational changes. Concludes that this type of disaster willcontinue in the 1990s in ordinary organizations which are potentiallysocio-technically disaster-prone.

Notes: Describes a dynamic approach to quality function deployment (QFD) thattranslates customer wants and needs into relevant product and processparameters. Using feedback loops, this new approach incorporates updatedcustomer satisfaction data and dynamically links evolving requirementsdirectly back into manufacturing and related processes. Updated customerrequirements "peg" the key parameters in statistical process controlcharts. Introduces the concept, illustrates the mechanics of theapproach, and describes how it benefited an IBM assembly plant.

Notes: Argues that benchmarking is much more fundamental to strategic thinkingthan other tools relied upon thus far by senior managers in theirdecision-making processes. Argues that for benchmarking to be effectiveit has to be closely linked to total quality management programmes inplace. Strongly recommends that the focal point has to be onunderstanding process and behaviour (i.e. the means/enablers) beforeasking questions about results (i.e. the outcomes). Unless such adiscipline is established, results can only be considered as absolutesand as such are not useful in telling us why differences take place.Benchmarking works inwards by helping organizations set desired goalsand objectives and set about achieving them through continuousimprovement activities. Proposes an implementation strategy forbenchmarking based on 16 steps. In addition highlights some factorswhich are considered to be critical if the practice of benchmarking isto lead to any results. Provides some guidelines on ensuring thatbenchmarking remains a powerful strategic tool.

Notes: The main objective of this research is to study the quality managementpractices of Indian manufacturing organizations. Presents the resultsof a survey conducted among the chief operating officers of medium-andlarge-size Indian manufacturing companies. Presents an analysis of thesurvey results. The survey investigated several qualitymanagement-related issues including adherence to the "quality isfree" philosophy, causes of poor quality, quality performance, efforts toimprove quality and status of ISO 9000 certification among the Indiancompanies. Compares also quality practices in India with industrializednations such as Japan, USA, Germany and Canada.

Notes: Change is an essential business trait. Manufacturing particularly istransforming at an unprecedented pace. Adopting effective managementpractices, capable of keeping pace with the changing technologicalenvironment, is particularly important to success in global markets.Manufacturers employing advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) areoften more flexible than their traditional counter-parts since AMTpermits the integration of product design and production processes.Consequently, this synergistic effect facilitates achievement ofworld-class manufacturing objectives. Despite obvious advantages, sparseresearch exists concerning achieving AMT competitive advantages. Toincorporate AMT organizationally, management must be cognizant of therequirements for successful AMT implementation. Provides managerialrequirements for successfully achieving AMT competitive advantages.Assuming management understands the "how" of doing things right andincorporates the necessary corporate cultural changes to embrace AMT,manufacturing strategic planning can lead the organization towards"what" are the right things to pursue. Therefore, strategic planning isgiven substantial consideration.

Notes: Benchmarking against industry averages or high performance organizationscan be useful for most companies to improve products and processes,including strategic planning, forecasting marketing trends, andinternal operation. Company innovation is also widely recognized as acritical process for company survival and growth. As businessglobalization and competition increase, company innovativeness hasbecome essential for success. Analyses company innovativeness from apractical perspective, in terms of the activities and mechanismsnecessary for companies to seek, evaluate, implement and foster thedevelopment of new ideas. The results provide strong empirical evidencethat company innovation is a major determinant of company businessperformance. Because most benchmarking schemes are industry-specific,focuses on the manufacturing industry. Provides a first attempt atdeveloping an industry-wide average for company innovativeness whichbusiness managers can use to gauge their company's performance along thevarious activities required to innovate. Managers can then focus theirattention on why their respective organizations vary from the industryaverages regarding specific items.

Notes: Design to Distribution Ltd (D2D) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the ICLgroup. It gained this status in 1993, having previously been ICLManufacturing Division. Since 1991 it has strategically penetrated thecontract manufacturing market and now aims to provide a totalelectronics manufacturing service to external customers. It hasdeveloped a total solution capacity whereby it is able to offer itscustomers expertise, advanced manufacturing technology, and purchasingpower to enable them to release their capital and resources toconcentrate on their core competences. D2D have an established totalquality culture and have benefited significantly from the resultantenhanced customer satisfaction and reduced cost of non-conformance. Itconstantly searches for process improvement tools and benchmarking isone tool D2D employs. However, D2D has concentrated benchmarking effortson results-driven studies carried out by consultants. Although thisprovides a useful introduction to benchmarking, the next step for D2D toachieve its goal of worldwide competitiveness is a more process-drivenapproach. Reviews the construction of benchmarking projects previouslycarried out by D2D and suggests a tool to help overcome one of the mainpitfalls of process-driven benchmarking, that of appropriate processselection.

Notes: Purpose - Aims to demonstrate the importance of reporting IS management constructs rather than reporting and ranking the individual management issues; determine whether the ratings of IS management factors differ across organizational and personal variables; and benchmark the position of Kuwait's results on dimensionality and determinants of IS management issues with that of other previous studies. Design/methodology/approach - This field study considered only the opinions of the highest ranked executives of the IS functions within their organizations. A seven-page structured interview guide was used for data collection. Principal component factor analysis was performed on the issue ratings in order to determine underlying IS management factors. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to further assess how well the factors fit the issue data and to test the fit of the resulting factor model. Finally, t-tests were performed to test whether the differences between factors were significant in order to demonstrate the discriminatory value of reporting IS management factor areas rather than individual issues. Findings - The key IS management factors identified by IS managers are the effective management of IS resources such as data, networks and applications; and managers' knowledge of IS. This study also found that most situational variables including nationality are not associated with differences in IS management factor ratings. Thus, the survey results are consistent across different types of organizations and respondents. The exception is organization size and IS department size. Size differences can lead to different opinions on the relative importance of various IS management factors. Originality/value - To demonstrate the importance of reporting IS management factors (constructs) as a benchmarking framework rather than reporting and ranking the individual management issues, and to use the derived conceptual benchmarking model to determine whether the ratings of IS management factors differ across organizational and personal variables.

Notes: Purpose - This paper attempts to propose a virtual case-based benchmarking system (VCBS) which incorporates computational intelligence technologies into partners' benchmarking process to support decision-making. Design/methodology/approach - The proposed system consists of three main modules: data repository module, OLAP module and case-based reasoning (CBR) module. The VCBS is a web-based application that enables users to access the system and submit information to the system in anywhere at anytime. The database repository, on the other hand, maintains and acquires the data that are generated in the transactions processes and other workflow processes. It also ensures the entire valuable data which are accessible for the management to make decisions. The OLAP and the CBR modules are considered as the brain of the VCBS. The CBR module is aimed for short-listing candidate, while the OLAP module is utilized for benchmarking the short-listed candidate. Findings - The VCBS is particularly useful in situations where multiple supply chain partners are involved to achieve the common objective to produce the products to the best satisfaction of customer demands with the lowest possible cost. Research limitations/implications - Since data warehouse does not update in real time it only performs update periodically during non-office hours to avoid network traffic. The solution provided to the company may not be the most updated information. Originality/value - The proposed system improves the current practice of partner selection by adopting the computational intelligence technologies into the traditional partner selection process with the assimilation of data repository, CBR and OLAP to form the integrated system for evaluation of potential partners prior to the final decision.

Notes: Purpose - To propose a conceptual framework that facilitates the benchmarking of strategic processes necessary for entrepreneurial survival and success. Design/methodology/approach - Drawing on extant literature on entrepreneurial survival, this paper considers the chaotic and emergent nature of the entrepreneurial organization and how benchmarking can contribute to a newly established firm's chances for survival and prosperity. The paper incorporates the concept of a sustainable competitive advantage in the discussion, and offers organizational culture as being the imperfectly imitable element which will contribute to the entrepreneurial firm's success. Findings - Four key processes are identified that contribute to entrepreneurial viability - cooperation, sharing founder's vision, time management, and developing organizational competencies - and suggestions are offered for developing appropriate benchmarks for these processes. The paper also highlights two instruments that may be useful in this endeavor. Research limitations/implications - The paper draws attention to the usefulness of benchmarking processes and not just metrics in fostering entrepreneurial survival. Key processes are identified, and suggestions are provided for researchers to begin work on developing the necessary benchmarks. Practical implications - The paper not only offers a theoretical discussion of the usefulness of benchmarking processes as opposed to focusing only on outcomes, but also helps the practitioner to implement such benchmarking activities by highlighting practical instruments for this purpose. Originality/value - This paper brings to bear literature from several streams of research. It takes benchmarking from its metric-oriented focus to a more process-focused approach, and applies it in the context of entrepreneurial survival.

Notes: Purpose - This paper aims to examine the use of benchmarking as a management technique in the Australian non-profit sector. Benchmarking has great potential benefit for the non-profit sector, particularly given the reliance of non-profit enterprises on effectively utilizing human capital; thus it might be expected that they would be enthusiastic about techniques such as benchmarking that can assist them in improving their performance. The non-profit sector is a large and important part of the economy in the developed world. Design/methodology/approach - To determine the use of benchmarking in the Australian non-profit sector, the following methods were used: a review of published industry surveys and case studies; interviews with 15 non-profit sector experts; and a review of more than 50 works on non-profit management. Findings - Research showed that benchmarking has been little used by non-profit organizations in Australia to date. This seems to mirror the experience of non-profits in other countries. Research limitations/implications - The paper argues that the limited use of benchmarking in the non-profit sector can be explained by: non-profit management culture; lack of industry and funder pressure; and a lack of targeted information on benchmarking for the non-profit sector. Any efforts to increase the use of benchmarking in the sector would need to ensure that these issues are overcome. Practical implications - A plan of action is suggested for promoting benchmarking to non-profit organizations. Originality/value - The paper assesses the use of a standard management technique in the emerging area of non-profit management. It should be of interest to those researching or managing in the Australian non-profit sector. The paper may also be of interest to the non-profit sector or human capital sector in other countries.

Notes: Purpose - The purpose of this research paper is to provide practitioners and researchers with guidance and ideas for benchmarking employee benefits in companies providing professional services. The research addressed employee benefits in multi-owner accounting firms. Design/methodology/approach - Data from a survey of a large number of multi-owner accounting firms (CPA firms) were analyzed to examine professional employee benefits and to look at the relationship between firm size and benefits offered. Findings - An analysis of survey results suggested that larger firms offer better benefits than smaller firms. Larger firms tend also to be more profitable. Various employee benefit metrics were examined. Research limitations/implications - The survey was limited to accounting firms in the United States, so the findings may have limited value for researchers and practitioners in other countries. Practical implications - The better benefits offered by larger accounting firms may allow them to attract better personnel, possibly accounting for their greater profitability. If this is indeed true, then a good benefit package may well be a key success factor for accounting firms, and possibly for other professional services. Firms seeking to improve their competitive position may, therefore, find it advantageous to benchmark their professional employee benefits against the benefit packages of larger more profitable competitors. Originality/value - This paper examines professional employee benefits in multi-owner accounting firms and identifies metrics that could be useful to practitioners in benchmarking those benefits. The metrics identified and other findings may provide practitioners with ideas for benchmarking benefits in other professional service organizations.

Notes: Purpose - To present the application of a business model for holistic uncertainty management for twenty-first century manufacturing enterprises. Design/methodology/approach - A questionnaire survey is carried out to UK manufacturing enterprises to collect relevant data, and analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis and cluster analysis are performed to infer the results. Findings - It can be concluded that different manufacturing environments suffer different effects of underlying causes of uncertainty on product tardy delivery. The product tardy delivery performance in make-to-order (MTO) manufacturing environment is found significantly affected by a wide range of underlying causes of uncertainty. It is interesting to find that mixed-mode (MM) manufacturing environment has an opposite outcome. Correlation results provide significant evidence that underlying causes of uncertainty do not have linear association with product tardy delivery. This finding reinforces the proposition that the effects of uncertainty are difficult to quantify due to the compound effect. The cluster analyses of the business environmental factors of the manufacturing enterprises in MM, make-to-stock (MTS) and MTO environments found that size of enterprise, product variety, product complexity, number of parts, ratio of buy vs make parts, the use of rough-cut capacity planning, and the use of buffering or dampening techniques in production, influence the effects of underlying causes of uncertainty on product tardy delivery. Research limitations/implications - Only UK manufacturing enterprises are investigated. The results will be relevant to MTO, MM and MTS manufacturing environments. Practical implications - The application of the business model has provided useful knowledge to MM, MTS and MTO manufacturing enterprises on which underlying causes of uncertainty are significantly affecting their product tardy delivery performance. Originality/value - A holistic approach such as the business model has given a solid foundation for the enterprises to evaluate their performance. Using the knowledge of significant underlying causes of uncertainty, the enterprises could then prioritise the effort and devise suitable buffering or dampening techniques.

Notes: Purpose - This paper aims to bring greater clarity to the debate on the merits (or demerits) of relative performance evaluation through a broad assessment of current UK National Health Service (NHS) benchmarking. It seeks to examine whether benchmarking is being used dynamically to disseminate best practice in healthcare, or whether it is primarily a government tool to enforce static competitive performance standards. Design/methodology/approach - Draws on recent literature and government pronouncements. It charts the development of the health care policy discourse that articulated a move from the internal market of the early 1990s to the metrics approach of New Labour. Findings - Benchmarking is one of the private sector-grown "managerialist" tools whose application and significance is rapidly increasing in the UK public sector. Despite its prevalence, the nature (competitive or comparative), the process (based on indicators or ideas) and the outcomes (standards or "best practice") of benchmarking in public services remain unclear. The findings reveal that benchmarking requirements, imposed by government policy, are articulated in terms of comparative ideas - benchmarking with the stated objective of "sharing best practice", but are operationalised and disseminated in the form of indicator league tables with standardised benchmarks for performance. Hence, there is an apparent "articulated policy - implemented practice gap". Concludes that, whilst benchmarking is a highly desirable policy instrument, its practical relevance to health care improvement is still in doubt. Originality/value - The findings are relevant to both NHS policy-makers and to NHS actors who must engage with the processes and outcomes of benchmarking practices.

Notes: Purpose - The pupose of this paper is to present an overview of the main conceptual and methodological issues that underlie our current understanding of benchmarking initiatives in the field of health. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based on a pragmatic review of the literature and policy reports. It outlines some of the major conceptual problems associated with the use of benchmarking indicators and discusses how health policy research and practice is evolving to address the challenges raised, drawing examples from national and international benchmarking initiatives. Findings - Benchmarking has become an intrinsic part of most developed health care systems, yet the impact of benchmarking initiatives on improvements in system performance and their integration within existing policy processes still need to be elucidated. Several methodological challenges remain in the field of benchmarking, many of them related to the selection and quality of indicators used to make comparisons both within and between health care systems. Further research and applications are needed to ensure that benchmarking in health fulfils its objective, namely to further our understanding of where to focus policy efforts in order to improve the performance of health care systems. Originality/value - This paper poses the timely question of whether benchmarking initiatives are in fact guiding health policy towards the improvement of health care system performance. It draws from the policy literature and existing frameworks to offer an outline for the future evaluation of benchmarking initiatives by policy-makers.

Notes: Purpose - To review the application of the principles of benchmarking to the field of laboratory medicine. Design/methodology/approach - Review of the literature on performance management techniques employed in healthcare provision, and specifically in laboratory medicine, including benchmarking. Findings - The review identifies the main performance indicators employed in quality assurance and benchmarking programmes that have been developed in laboratory medicine. Some of these have a clear benefit in improving laboratory performance, whilst others are used for more general management purposes. The emphasis of these programmes is on improving analytical performance, together with pre- and post-analytical performance. The review highlights the fact that benchmarking in laboratory medicine is undertaken largely in isolation from the clinical setting in which it is applied. The benchmarking activities are, therefore, concerned with the process (dealing predominantly with efficiency and productivity) of producing laboratory results and do not probe into the way in which the laboratory services are employed in the care of patients (dealing with outcomes and value). Some examples of health outcomes studies are discussed, which demonstrate the value of the laboratory medicine service. They highlight the complexity of developing a more outcomes orientated approach to benchmarking of laboratory medicine services. These studies would show how the laboratory was used; they give a more holistic view of the role of laboratory medicine in healthcare provision. Originality/value - The review shows how a more comprehensive and integrated approach to benchmarking of laboratory medicine service would provide valuable information on the effectiveness of the laboratory services.

Notes: Purpose - This paper deals with real-time control of urban traffic with an emphasis on public transportation systems. The main objective is the regulation of traffic after the occurrence of disturbances. In a few words, the problem is to find a feasible schedule for some vehicles of some lines subject to certain constraints in order to design a decision support system (DSS) that detects, analyses and resolves disturbances. Design/methodology/approach - This work is achieved in cooperation with a public transport company called SEMURVAL. It consists of developing a DSS for the future transportation network of Valenciennes (city in the north of France). As a consequence, regulators of traffic have to treat a new lot of information and it becomes necessary to assist them in order to keep up with demands and to come up to passengers' expectations and hopes. Findings - From the case study finds that the solution proposed assures that arrival times of vehicles are more regular. Originality/value - The solution proposed presents a good combination of scheduling decisions permitting the good regulation of traffic.

Notes: Purpose - This paper deals with the modelling of an information system for Chinese herbal medicine manufacturing enterprises, describes its structures and functions, and discusses its implementation issues. Design/methodology/approach - A case experience is presented. Findings - Enterprises within this industry have big differences in production and management process and practice. The implementing plan must consider these differences and have adaptable solutions to fit the firm's conditions. It has been found that the information system model proposed here is feasible and can be used not only in other Chinese herbal medicine manufacturing enterprises, but also in other flow-process industries. Originality/value - The issues discussed in this paper are common to many Chinese enterprises today, particularly the small and medium-sized enterprises. The experience described here provides a useful reference for such enterprises' venture into technological and management process innovation.

Notes: Purpose - Scheduling problems in steel plants tend to be difficult and require complex algorithms due to many constraints. An approach is presented where only the main constraints are included in the scheduling algorithm. The schedule is validated using a discrete-event simulation model that includes additional detail. Design/methodology/approach - The combined approach is utilised for production scheduling in a steel mill in Finland. Operational performance of the steel mill is measured before and after software installation. The paper presents the scheduling environment, the software application and the resulting increase of production. Findings - Case experiences indicate that combining optimisation techniques with simulation is beneficial. The optimisation can be kept simpler as validation with a simulation model increases the credibility and accuracy of the resulting schedule. During software development and testing, the simulation model offered a testing environment for the optimisation algorithm. Practical implications - The case implementation was a success that increased production without making trade-offs with other production goals. Company management estimate the productivity increase directly caused by the project to be worth 2,500,000 annually. Originality/value - The paper presents a successful application of simulation for schedule validation in a complex and demanding environment.

Notes: Purpose - To provide a new model to solve the assembly-planning problem of a textile machine in a shopfloor which can help researchers and practitioners. Design/methodology/approach - The assembly planning of a textile machine (repetitive manufacturing system) involves the allocation of operations to cross-trained operators. Workflow is defined as the workloads assigned to the operators. Operators with smaller workloads are selected to be assigned new operations from the list of unscheduled operations. Three different scheduling strategies - random, shortest processing time, and longest processing time - are adopted for the selection of operations to be assigned to operators. Different combinations of these strategies are considered for the selection of both preceding and succeeding operations. A computer simulation program has been coded on an IBM/PC-compatible system in the C++ language to study the performance of real data from the shopfloor. Findings - The relative percentage of imbalance is adopted for evaluating the performance of these heuristics. The RL, SL and LL produced well balanced workload schedules with lesser RPI values for all operators other than heuristics. Research limitations/implications - Non-traditional approaches like genetic algorithms can be applied to determine the robustness of the results obtained by this research. Practical implications - The experiments on simulated and real data clearly indicate that the order of succeeding operations determines the balanced workflows to the assembly of operations among the operators. Originality/value - The allocation of assembly operations to the operators is modeled into a parallel machine-scheduling problem with precedence constraints using the objective of minimizing the workflow among the operators.

Notes: Purpose - Aims to compare performance measurement of a continuous process manufacturing operation under two accounting systems - a traditional cost accounting system and the theory of constraints (TOC) system. Design/methodology/approach - Using a computer-based simulation methodology to capture operational performance, it is found that the TOC-based accounting system presents a more realistic state of performance scenario. Findings - Findings from this research indicate that businesses using a TOC-based system can improve their performance more accurately, and hence gain a sustainable competitive position in the future. Research limitations/implications - This research is limited to continuous process manufacturing operations. Originality/value - The research makes a significant contribution to the knowledge of performance measurement.

Notes: Purpose - Manufacturers across many sectors increasingly operate in high variety environments. Research evidence suggests that variety has a negative impact on performance. However, the research literature is limited on the enablers that allow variety to be managed effectively and efficiently at the "front-end" of an organisation and in quotation processes in particular. Design/methodology/approach - This paper presents case analysis of the quotation processes from manufacturers operating in high-variety environments. Qualitative process modelling tools have been developed to allow representation of process complexities and informal process elements. Findings - Findings are presented on generic mechanisms for absorbing and mitigating the impact of variety on quotation processes. A generic quotation process model is presented comprising four key decisions centres: customization request initiation and information gathering on customer needs, classification of requests, resource control, and identification of information for reuse. Practical implications - The implications of the study for the automation of quotation processes in high variety and mass customization environments are discussed and it is speculated that different decision centres will dominate in different environments. Originality/value - The generic model developed by this research offers insight into the functioning of the core process elements of the quotation system. Reviewing an organisation's structure and the information systems infrastructure supporting these decision centres should lead to the identification of potential system or reorganisation improvements.

Notes: Purpose - To present an innovative approach to the design of a flexible order-picking systems (OPS). The proposed conceptual framework is the first step to the development of an expert system created in a rapid and innovative manner, i.e. based on the integration of simulation, genetic algorithms and factorial analysis. Design/methodology/approach - The impact of alternative policies and configurations of both picker-to-part and part-to-picker OPS is quantified, with the aim of designing and optimising robust facilities capable of minimising global costs and maximising their performances in terms of efficiency and customer service quality. Findings - The importance of validation analysis and both virtual and on-field data collection emerges. Originality/value - Compared with the studies found in the literature, this article presents an innovative approach with original results that will be of use in the design and control of a flexible OPS.

Notes: Purpose - To establish a strategic resource allocation model to capture and encapsulate the complexity of the modern global supply chain management problem. Design/methodology/approach - A mathematical model was constructed to describe the stochastic multiple-period two-echelon inventory with the many-to-many demand-supplier network problem. Genetic algorithm (GA) was applied to derive optimal solutions through a two-stage optimization process. A practical example and its solution were included to illustrate the GA-based solution procedure. Findings - The model simultaneously constitutes the inventory control and transportation parameters as well as price uncertainty factors. Originality/value - The model can be utilized as a collaborative supply chain strategic planning tool to determine efficiently the appropriate inventory allocation and effectively manage the distribution/re-distribution process according to real-time demand.

Notes: Purpose - The effects of cellular manufacturing (CM) on increased delivery speed and resource utilization along with its interaction with volume, mix, routing, and labor flexibilities are not clear for manufacturers and supply chain managers. Aims to focus on this. Design/methodology/approach - Based on real data from a US screen-printing company, a simulation model is designed to determine the influence of volume, mix, routing and labor flexibilities in presence of volatile demand. Simulation of one and two cell configuration is compared with job shop to determine the shortest delivery and highest utilization. Findings - As volume flexibility increases, delivery is faster in presence of CM compared to job shop. Furthermore, added routing flexibility results in 70 percent shorter lead time with low volume flexibility, and 85 percent shorter lead time with high volume flexibility. Additionally, in the two-cell design, assignment of fewer, but more multi-skilled workers shared between cells results in higher utilization and lower lead time. Research limitations/implications - This study contributes to the manufacturing research by revealing the benefits of CM, and the importance of volume, routing, and labor flexibilities reacting quickly to volatile demand in today's dispersed manufacturing environment. Also, this study demonstrates that labor allocation is equally important in manufacturing cells as the equipment and part decisions are. Originality/value - The findings provide manufacturers a guideline on how to best set up CM and operational flexibilities to respond faster to volatile demand. The simulation model is successful in showing that cells and manufacturing flexibilities are strong enablers of faster delivery lead time and higher resource utilization.

Notes: Purpose - To determine whether or not clockspeed is an important variable in outsourcing strategies throughout the development of radical innovations. Design/methodology/approach - An internet-based survey of manufacturing firms from all over the world. Findings - An industry's clockspeed does not play a significant role in the success or failure of a particular outsourcing strategy for a radical innovation. Research limitations/implications - Conclusions from earlier research in this area are not necessarily industry-specific. Practical implications - Lessons learned via previous investigations about the computer industry need not be confined to that sector. Vertical integration may be a more robust outsourcing strategy when developing a radical innovation in industries of all clockspeeds. Originality/value - Previous research efforts in this field focused on a single technology jump, but this approach may have overlooked a potentially important variable: industry clockspeed. Thus, this investigation explores whether clockspeed is an important factor.

Notes: Purpose - The ability of a team from a manufacturer and its partners to formulate strategic plans for supply chains is investigated. The research aims to improve the process of formulate strategic plans for supply chains is investigated. The research aims to improve the process of formulation using the strategic operations and logistics planning (SOLP) process. Design/methodology/approach - SOLP involves researchers facilitating many meetings of the planning team in an action research setting at their premises. Combining knowledge from operations strategy and socio-technical systems (STS), participant observation and semi-structured surveys are used to obtain rich data. Team members derive order-winning criteria and design policies along the supply chain for several product groups, using the process to craft strategies whilst researchers study it. One application included managers from supply chain partners whilst the other was limited to manufacturer managers. Working within the corporate plans of the focal company, the formulation is carried out by middle managers. Findings - Carrying out the process twice at a heavy fabrication business (HFB) in Australia demonstrated that a team of chain managers can formulate strategic operations plans for a complete heavy industry chain. Extensive support, in the form of worksheets and facilitation, is important to formulation and extent of implementation of the plans. A case is made that assistance is probably necessary for full implementation of those plans. Research limitations/implications - Whilst limited to cases in a heavy manufacturer, the research is believed to be applicable to a range of medium-sized supply chains. Practical implications - The need for the team to include supply chain partners and the effect of member's capability and authority is investigated. The extent of implementation and the effect of team attributes on execution is studied. Originality/value - The research demonstrates that a team of chain managers can, with suitable support, formulate strategic operations plans for a complete heavy industry chain. The case sheds some light on the benefits, or drawbacks, of having members of other chain partners present.

Notes: Compares the findings of a survey conducted in Australia and the UnitedKingdom which investigated issues concerning investments in advancedmanufacturing technologies (AMTs). Responses were received from 61companies in Australia (37.9 per cent response rate) and 67 companies inthe United Kingdom (44.7 per cent response rate). Respondents in bothcountries represented around ten different industrial sectors and variedin size from less than 100 employees to more than 10,000 employees.Respondents reported investment in one or more AMTs with aroundtwo-thirds of the investment in the range £250,000 to £500,000 andA$500,000 to A$10m respectively in the two countries. The comparisonshows some interesting similarities and differences between Australiaand the UK. These are in the types of technologies implemented,financial appraisal methods used, training in AMT and productionmanagement, perceived benefits of AMTs, difficulties of implementingAMTs and the respondents' role in formulating various strategies.Discusses the similarities and differences in the above areas in somedetail and argues why some of the differences exist.

Notes: An interview with the Editor in which Gregory Watson was asked to givehis perspective on some of the issues on benchmarking. Addresses thebasics of benchmarking.