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The purpose of this paper is to build a curve that can portray quality level, with standard deviation, as a function of the production process related to elements such as operating time and cumulative units produced.

The Cobb-Douglas multiplicative power model will be introduced to represent the proposed function in simultaneously describing the learning process for productivity and quality. The experimental devices consisted of reflective mirror, path paper, iPod Touch and pen. They were arranged as shown in Plate 1. The students were instructed to draw a line with a pen along the middle of the rail line on the path paper through the mirror indirectly. The iPod Touch acted as a stopwatch to monitor the time taken to complete each experiment. The path paper is shown in Figure 1. This statistical analysis is completed by computer programs, SAS.

This study presented an experiment in which subjects drew a line on a path while looking through a mirror. This study uses the Cobb-Douglas model to regress the S as a function of 0.3366×x ₁−0.347×x ₂−0.011.

All units produced are acceptable in quality, disregarding the magnitude of standard deviation in the produced quality level. Like Porteus (1986) with the fixed probabilistic distribution is assumed. The fatigues are ignored in presented curve. In fact, operators are easy to get tired for attending quality and productivity simultaneously. The initial value of operating time or standard deviation for the first unit is estimated from a subject having been trained for a sufficient period of time; however, this consideration does exist in the present experiment.

The economic order (production) quantity model with learning effects in a production system could be considered. The other implication could be in a wider framework, such as multistage and multivariate of production development production systems and supply chains.

For a life cycle application, the criteria considered in resolving the production problem should not only be limited to the costs involved in the production process, but also the quality-related costs incurred after the goods are delivered to customers.

Previous works regarding the learning process never mention the quality-related learning process. However, this study aims to achieve the above goals in finding the relationship of quality vs production volume and production time simultaneously.

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate and compare the moderating effects of the two basic business process change paradigms – business process reengineering (BPR) and total quality management (TQM) – on the business value generated for firms by their information and communication technologies (ICT) investment.

Using data collected through a survey of 271 Greek firms, moderated regression models founded on the Cobb‐Douglas production function are estimated, which have as the dependent variable the firm value added (objective measure of business performance), and as independent variables the yearly labour expenses, the value of the non‐computer capital, the value of the computer capital and BPR (TQM) measures.

From the above models it is concluded that both BPR and TQM have considerable positive moderating effects of a similar magnitude on the relationship between ICT investment and firm value added. Also, different BPR and TQM activities have different moderating effects on ICT business value; process simplification, process improvement and the creation of a horizontal interdepartmental process are the BPR activities with the largest moderating effects, while measurement of employee satisfaction and simplification of work methods for quality improvement are the TQM activities with the largest moderating effects.

The basic limitation of this study is that it is based on data from Greek firms. Another limitation is that only one business performance measure, although quite important and theoretically fundamental (i.e. firm value added), is used.

Both BPR and TQM are important ICT “complementary factors”, which, if combined with ICT, can increase the business value it generates. Therefore ICT should not be used simply as a tool for automating existing business processes, but for creating and supporting new business processes and practices, such BPR and TQM.

This study investigates and compares the moderating effects of the two main business process paradigms – BPR and TQM – based on reliable measurement of both through validated multi‐item scales, and also on theoretically sound models, founded on the Cobb‐Douglas production function.

The purpose of this study is to compare the competition and productivity of the US freight rail transportation industry for the past 41 years (1980 ∼ 2020), which consists of the two periods, before and after the abolishment of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in 1995.

This study investigates any relationships between the market concentration index values and labor productivity values in the separate two periods, and how the existence of a regulatory body in the freight transportation market impacted the productivity of the freight rail transportation industry by using a Cobb–Douglas production function on annual financial statement data from the US stock exchange market.

This study found that, after the abolishment of the ICC: (1) the rail industry became less competitive, (2) even if the rail industry had an increasing labor productivity trend, there was a strong negative correlation between the market concentration index and labor productivity and (3) the rail industry’s total factor productivity was decreased.

This study is to find empirical evidence of the effect of the ICC abolishment on the competition and productivity levels in the US freight rail transportation industry using a continuous data set of 41-year financial statements, which is unique compared to previous studies.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze regional correlation contributions of urbanization rate and tourism revenue, based on the dynamic panel data from 2000 to 2010 of 31 provinces in China.

Based on the Modified Cobb-Douglas and fixed effect regression models, the study analyzes the dynamic panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2010. The paper conducts tests on the correlation and the economic influence between urbanization rate and tourism revenue in different regions.

The empirical results show that on the national scale, the urbanization rate has a positive contribution to the increase rate of tourism revenue with 3.1 percent. The influence of urbanization on tourism revenue in different regions has considerable non-equilibrium characteristics. In the central region, the correlation contributing potential is even stronger than in the eastern and western regions. Different regions have significant regional disparities in the tourism growth pattern.

On the national scale, the urbanization rate has a positive correlation contribution to the development of tourism economics. Urbanization has made remarkable achievements, and has played an important role in propelling the development of tourism industry. In the process of deepening the urbanization trend, the urbanization rate has a positive contribution to the increase rate of tourism revenue with 3.1 percent.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for measuring retail productivity. It intends to identify all the constituents of retail productivity exhaustively, along with their measures and integrate them with a comprehensive model.

The paper summarizes the significant empirical works from the literature along with their study methods and identifies the gaps. The proposed methodology is a combination of various exploratory methods consisting of secondary data analysis, group interviews, depth interviews, observation and questionnaire survey.

A regression‐based conceptual model including each of the output and input variables of retail productivity. It also provides conception logic and measurement method for each of the variables. It identifies the control parameters too and proposes to handle them in the model. The empirical validation provides the significance of various input parameters.

The empirical validation is restricted to one retail format and one vertical (medium‐sized stores and apparel‐life style vertical). However, it provides significant input regarding the way to utilise retail productivity and the strategic directions to improve store level productivity.

The most significant usage of the model is the standardization of retail productivity concept as a performance measurement tool and its applicability in individual retail stores (micro level). Hence, it is possible to determine the reasons for performance of retail stores and develop appropriate as well as effective strategies. The identification and elaboration of the various parameters of retail productivity would help retailers to redefine and focus on key decision areas.

The paper presents the exhaustive framework for retail productivity with data from the Indian retail sector that is applicable at micro level. It provides direct measure of value component (services) in retail output determination.

The purpose of this paper is to empirically identify key factors of UK food supply chains (SCs) that significantly contribute to CO₂ emissions (CO2e) taking into account the life cycle assessment (LCA). The UK food supply chain includes imports from other countries.

This research develops a conceptual framework from extant literature. Secondary data obtained from ONS and FAOSTAT covering from 1990 to 2014 are analysed using Multilinear Regression (MLR) and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) to identify the factors relating to CO₂ emissions significance, and the efficient contributions that are being made to their reduction in the UK food supply chains.

The study results suggest that Transportation and Sales/Distribution are the two key factors of CO₂ emissions in UK food supply chains. This is confirmed by two multivariate methods, MLR and SFA. MLR results show that transportation increases UK CO₂ emissions by 10 tonnes of CO₂ emissions from one tonne of fruits and vegetables imports from overseas to the UK Sales and Distribution reduces the UK CO₂ emissions by 1.3 tonnes of CO₂ emissions due to improved, technological operation activities in the UK. In addition, the SFA results confirm that the key factors are sufficient to predict an increase or decrease in CO₂ emissions in the UK food supply chains.

This study has focused on the LCA of the UK food supply chain from limited data. Future studies should consider Sustainability Impact Assessment of the UK food supply chain, identifying the social, economic, regulatory and environmental impacts of the food supply chain using a re-defined LCA (all-inclusive assessment) tool.

This research suggests that food supply chain professionals should improve efficiency, e.g. the use of solar energy and biogas, and also integrate low-carbon policies and practices in food supply chain operations. Furthermore, governments should encourage policies such as mobility management programmes, urban redevelopment and privatisation to enhance better transportation systems and infrastructure to continuously reduce CO₂e from the food trade.

Although logistics play a major role in CO₂ emissions, all logistics CO₂ emissions for other countries are not included in the ONS data. This research reveals some important insights into the UK food supply chains. Logistics and other food supply chain processes of importing countries significantly contribute to CO₂ emissions which are yet to be considered in the UK food SCs.

The goal of this paper is to identify core IT value drivers in firms and to model them as an IT production function to help disclose and measure the IT value creation process and to guide managers in seeking adequate ways of employing the IT resource.

Based on a critical review of the literature on the resource‐based view, an IT value framework based on the constructs IT capability, resource, and routine is developed and then formalized as an IT production function.

Organizational routines are decisive for turning firm resources into an IT capability and in turn into better business process performance. Shows how the IT value creation process in general and routines in particular can be measured and formalized.

As the interaction between IT and business units is crucial for IT value generation, organizational routines provide for important knowledge flows that turn firm resources into value generating capabilities. Proposes a concrete method to measure and evaluate these routines and thereby contribute to making the IT resource controllable.

The main contribution is the identification and analytical formalization of the role of routines for IT value creation. Shows how insights from the resource‐based view, microeconomic theory (Cobb‐Douglas/CES production function), and Granovetter's strength of ties argument can be used to describe, measure, and guide IT value creation and to develop an IT production function.

In the new retail era, the supply chain synergy produced by quality integration has become the new direction of service supply chain research. The purpose of this paper is to study how to promote the sustainable development of the retail service supply chain (RSSC) by comparing and analyzing the optimal quality behavior, optimal returns, and the combination of conditions and strategies of the participating members of the RSSC.

From the perspective of quality function development and service quality concern, this paper considers RSSC as a two-level supply chain structure composed of functional service provider and retail service integrator. In this paper, a dynamic optimization model of quality input-cooperation-coordination of RSSC is proposed under two quality cooperation modes of decentralization and integration. This paper adopts the differential game method to compare and analyze the optimal quality behavior, optimal income, forming conditions and strategic combination of the participating members of the RSSC in different situations.

(1) Compared with quality dispersion, quality integration has more significant Pareto improvement effect on quality behavior and optimal revenue of RSSC. (2) In the case of quality integration, the optimal revenue obtained by the service sharing model is generally better than that obtained by the retail alliance collaboration model. (3) Benefit distribution ratio and quality cost allocation determine the optimal quality behavior of participating members of the RSSC, and also become the key factors for participating members to choose the collaborative mode in the case of quality integration.

Based on the quality function development of RSSC, this paper introduces the concept of steady service quality, and discusses the relationship between the quality cooperation stability and the mode selection of RSSC. This provides a theoretical basis for how to build a RSSC with efficient operation and stable quality.