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Customer self scanning is a revolutionary experiment that could be the next milestone in the history of shopping, asserts our contributor. The Dutch company Ahold (formerly Albert Heijn) have set up the experiment in their Tilburg supermarket. Customers seem to like it. Chris Hughes went to Tilburg to see how the system is working, along with a number of other technology projects which he describes.

The retail software situation is changing rapidly. A large number of different suppliers are developing software to support their hardware, and a wider range of complete systems is coming on to the market, many of them at prices that make installation realistic. And the availability of fourth generation languages is an added plus.

A former research scientist with the Goddard Space Flight Center, Dr Ian Ramsay, has joined Ferranti Astron Ltd as factory manager at its Kinnoull facility in Dundee.

With the growth in demand for information at every level in retail companies, there has also been an increased demand for speed among data processing departments. One solution is CAFS, the Content Addressable File Store, developed by ICL.

This chapter explores the importance of early autism spectrum disorder (ASD) assessment and diagnosis to facilitate early treatment. This chapter will have a particular focus on ASD assessment and diagnosis within a Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) context. We propose using a Cultural Competence framework to process, analyze, assessment, and diagnosis results/findings. BME assessments/diagnoses can be delayed by up to 18 months longer when compared to Whites.

ASD Assessment aims to assess certain developmental traits in individuals to identify ASD which is a developmental disability. Autism is a spectrum condition which can manifest differently in each diagnosed individual. There are core features necessary for an ASD diagnosis to be made. These include among other traits: poor eye contact, abnormality in body language: for example, gestures, difficulties with social communication and social interaction, often they exhibit repetitive patterns of behavior, have obsessional interests, rigid thinking patterns, and have an aversion to certain sounds and textures and an unusual interest in sensory satisfaction.

What is the future for retail software? David Freestone's view is that suppliers will continue to orientate their software towards specific merchandise areas and types of retailer, instead of trying to be all embracing. And more retailers will make their own systems available to others.

Reports on the International Conference on “Design for Competitive Advantage – Making the Most of Design”, organized by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Advises that UK companies need to design and sell more products worldwide in order to reverse the UK′s economic trend. Details talks from the conference given by speakers from large manufacturing organizations. Stresses the importance of the customer; assessing customer needs; providing suitable products; listening to the customer′s voice and designing products which fulfil those expressed needs; supporting products through the life cycle; adopting a world class approach; reducing lead times and being creative; and how to avoid pirfalls and learn lessons.

The purpose of this paper is to examine leadership styles and their impact on TQM focus within Indian firms.

The empirical data for this study were drawn from a survey of 111 firms in India to examine the validity and reliability of the independent constructs (leadership styles: transformational, servant, adaptive, rational and kinesthetic); and two dependent constructs (TQM focus: continuous improvement and innovation). The data were analyzed employing correlation and multiple regression analysis to identify the influence of leadership styles on TQM focus.

The results of the study revealed that six of the nine hypotheses have a significant and positive relationship with TQM focus; one hypothesis is partial while rest two hypotheses are not associated with TQM focus. It is also found that leadership styles are more inclined to continuous improvement and perceived as dominant TQM practices than innovation.

This study used only two major variables, continuous improvement and innovation, as the outcome of TQM focus, but the outcomes are not limited. TQM focus is also related to other variables such as customer focus, product quality, employee involvement, benchmarking, etc. Future research should be extended by using other variables as the outcome of TQM focus.

The results can be beneficial for the current organization’s leaders to achieve appropriate leadership styles for effective and TQM focus. Moreover, this paper also attempts to inspire researchers to include the TQM focus in studying the effect of the leaders on TQM focus while implementing it effectively in the organizations.