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The determination of mode-I fracture toughness of brittle structural materials by means of the notched Brazilian disc configuration is studied. Advantage is taken of a recently introduced analytical solution and, also, of data provided by an experimental protocol with notched marble specimens under diametral compression using the loading device suggested by International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) and also the three-dimensional digital image correlation (3D-DIC) technique.

The analytical solution highlighted the role of geometrical factors, like, for example, the width of the notch, which are usually disregarded. The data of the experimental protocol were comparatively considered with those concerning the response of the specific material under uniaxial tensile load.

This combined study provided interesting data concerning some open issues, as it is the exact crack initiation point and the level of the critical load causing crack initiation. It was definitely indicated that the crack initiation point is not a priori known (even for notched specimens) and, also, that the maximum recorded load does not correspond by default to the critical load responsible for the onset of catastrophic macroscopic fracture.

It was suggested that the load considered critical one for the determination of mode-I fracture toughness K_IC is erroneous. At a load equal to about 70% of the maximum one, a process zone is formed (zone of non-reversible phenomena) around the notch's crown, designating termination of the validity of any linear elastic solution used to determine the normalized stress intensity factors (SIFs). Moreover, at a load level equal to about 95% of the macroscopically observed fracture load, crack propagation has already begun. Therefore, the experimental procedure must be monitored with additional equipment, providing an overview of the displacement field developed during loading.

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to develop a measure of competitive advantage by identifying a stipulative definition, composing an operational definition and constructing a measurement variable.

The paper undertakes critical literature review, cognitive interviews as well as a pilot and full study, which were carried out by applying a cross-sectional, self-administered e-mail survey with questionnaire in a fillable text-processing file, in order to develop a valid and reliable measure of competitive advantage.

The results have led to the identification of a conceptually robust stipulative definition, the composition of a comprehensive operational definition and the construction of a qualified variable, making the development of a valid and reliable measure of competitive advantage possible.

The newly developed measure of competitive advantage, exempt from past conceptual problems, could be used for valid measurements in future empirical studies in the field of strategic management. At the same time, authors encourage future tests of the newly developed measure's reliability and validity.

The provision of a conceptually clear stipulating definition and a comprehensive operational definition for competitive advantage could increase practicing managers’ awareness relating to the conceptual nature as well as the latent expressions of competitive advantage.

The findings contribute to the evolution of the strategic management field by providing a valid and reliable measure of competitive advantage that is applicable under any leading theoretical perspective in strategic management and it could better serve the needs of both empirical research and management practice.

Aims to examine the issue of industrial strategy (IS), paying particular attention to the case of Britain. Sets out to assess the possibility and nature of an industrial strategy for Britain, in Europe, and within the global scene, taking into account the world we live in as we see it. Accordingly, the perspective is driven and shaped by a quest for a realistic, feasible and sustainable industrial strategy. In order to achieve these objectives, first examines the theoretical arguments behind much of British, and more generally, Western industrial policies. Following this, outlines and assesses British industrial policy post‐Second World War then compares and contrasts British industrial policy with that of Europe, the USA, Japan and the newly industrialized countries. Then examines recent developments in economics and management which may explain the “Far Eastern” miracle, and points to the possibility of a successful, narrowly self‐interested, IS for Europe and Britain, based on the lessons from (new) theory and international experience. To assess what is possible, develops a theoretical framework linking firms in their roles as consumers and/or electors. This hints at the possibilities and limits of feasible policies. All these ignore desirability which, in the author′s view, should be seen in terms of distributional considerations, themselves contributors to sustainability. Accordingly, discusses a desirable industrial strategy for Britain in Europe which accounts for distributional considerations, and goes on to examine its implications for the issue of North‐South convergence. Concludes by pointing to the limitations of the analysis and to directions for developments.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate empirically managers’ awareness regarding the concept of competitive advantage, the most taken-for-granted concept in the field of strategic management.

Managers’ awareness regarding the concept of competitive advantage was explored by applying a cross-sectional, self-administered, e-mail survey.

The results of quantitative and qualitative data analyses provide empirical evidence that senior managers, who are heavily involved in the strategic management process of their firms, seem to confuse the concept of competitive advantage with the concept of sources of competitive advantage, especially those pertaining to resource-based theory.

The findings establish the hypothesis that senior managers are not aware of the concept of competitive advantage. At the same time, future researchers are encouraged to continue testing the above hypothesis.

The findings as well as the provision of a conceptually clear stipulating definition of competitive advantage from literature could increase practicing managers’ awareness relating to the conceptual nature as well as the latent expressions of competitive advantage.

Since little research, to date, has been carried out in order to investigate empirically the awareness of managers regarding competitive advantage, this study fills an important gap in the empirical literature of strategic management.

Although competitive advantage is the cornerstone concept in strategic management it still remains a poorly defined and operationalized construct. The purpose of this paper is to revisit the concept of competitive advantage, to identify the problems that stem from its current conceptualization from the majority of the literature.

The paper undertakes an extensive literature review, audit of logical inference, syllogistic reasoning and Bayesian expressions in order to examine the problems associated with the current conceptualizations of competitive advantage.

Several drawbacks and fallacies relating to current conceptualizations of competitive advantage were identified that create an urgent need for a more robust definition which could better serve the needs of both empirical research and management practice.

The authors by no means claim that the literature review undertaken in this paper on the concept of competitive advantage and on the problems derived from its conceptualization was exhaustive or absolute. Rather, this paper constitutes an attempt to stimulate efforts and provide directions on the further conceptual development of competitive advantage.

The findings allow practising managers to not necessarily associate competitive advantage with its sources and with the determinants of superior performance.

The findings contribute to the evolution of the strategic management field by identifying, categorizing and mapping potential problems, drawbacks and fallacies, associated with the conceptualization of competitive advantage as currently delineated in the literature, and by suggesting some criteria for the development of a conceptually more robust definition.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the intermingling of new product development and strategy making which are interpreted as co-evolutionary processes where self-organisation and emergence are significant phenomena.

The paper is based on an empirical study of 50 major Austrian innovations in various manufacturing industries developed by small and large firms in the 1980s and 1990s. The theoretical arguments for studying the innovation and strategy process are based on the findings of the complexity science.

The paper shows that emerging opportunities, self-organisation and strategic intentions are equally important for the development of new major product innovations as deliberate search processes and rational decision making. The author identifies three strategy paths concerning the innovation and strategy process which are described as “strategically managed innovations”, “strategically enabled self-organized innovations” and “purely self-organised innovations”.

While empirical studies investigating the emergent nature of strategy and innovation have so far mostly been analysed for very specific industries and firm types, this paper aims to deliver a broader empirical base for the question as to how strategy enables and guides the emergence of product innovations and how the development of new products contributes to the formation of innovation strategies.