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This article examines the phenomenon of RFID (radio frequency identification) technology and its implications for both management practice and research over the next decade.

The article examines RFID, incorporating the latest information and research findings on how the technology is being utilized today and planned for in the future. The article uses both academic and practitioner‐oriented resources to support its findings.

RFID is an emerging technology that is forecast to grow exponentially in use over the next decade. RFID, which uses radio waves to identify objects, is projected to rapidly supplant bar code technology as the principal means of identifying items in the supply chain and in a wide variety of applications. This overview of the fundamentals of RFID is presented to give the reader a working knowledge of the technology.

The article looks over the horizon at implications for management research, outlining how this represents a greenfield opportunity for research directed at a wide variety of topics and settings in the broad management discipline.

The article concludes with a look at RFID's implications for our day‐to‐day business and personal lives, including a number of cutting‐edge applications for the technology.

In this article, the author gives the history of RFID technology, how it works, how it differs from bar codes from a technical and operational perspective, and how RFID provides organizations with a unique opportunity to create value through the use of this new media technology.

Years ago, Henry D. Lloyd defined religion as being the “conscience in action.” The concept of religion is one which is indeed completely individualised in both perspective and importance. However, as Bailey (1983) observed, the very basis for theology lies in the explanatory power of religion when examined through the perspective of psychology. Byron (1988) saw a theological basis to the functions of management and entrepreneurship, linking these activities to the religious duty of stewardship.

Addresses consumer perspectives of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). States that some consumers put up barriers against new technology, while others welcome innovations. Idengtifies that market leaders can pretty much use this technology as they wish, meaning boom time for consumer product firms and pain for privacy advocates.

The purpose of this paper is to examine how corporate executives of companies are using blogging as a new communications channel.

The paper presents an overview of the blogging phenomenon, placing it in context of the larger growth of Web 2.0 and user‐generated content. The paper provides the reader with a primer on blogs and how they can be used effectively by executives, as well as looking at the importance of monitoring the blogosphere for what is being said by and about a company.

Over 50 corporate CEOs were found who are presently engaged in blogging. The research also identifies companies where employees have been fired for blogging and presents best practices in blogging and blog policies.

The principal limitation of the research is that as blogging is a rapidly growing and evolving area, the present results on executive blogging are accurate only for the moment. The implications of this research are that it provides the foundation for surveying not only the status of blogging by managers but also an agenda for blogging research, which might examine blogging behaviours, develop blog metrics and look toward the return on investment of blogging.

The paper reveals the benefits of managerial blogging for both the company and the individual. It also examines issues concerned with human resources, financial disclosure and policy development that have arisen because of the rise of blogging within companies.

The paper represents a timely review of a rapidly evolving social network and its associated communications technology, providing both management practitioners and academicians with insights into managing in a new age.

Narrates the discussion between Juan (a corporate executive of a multinational company) and Audrey (an independent environmental consultant) when they sit next to each other on a flight. Explains, through the dialogue, some of the environmental pitfalls companies can encounter when basing operations in the USA, such as regulations relating to clean air, clean water, emissions, toxic pollutants, land use restrictions, species protection plans etc.). Makes the point that it is individuals who face civil and criminal penalties for breaking these regulations, not the company. Provides an overview of US environmental regulations and recommends that companies can avoid falling foul of the law through education, training and taking legal advice. Mentions ISO 14000 and 14001 environmental standards as a potential way forward, although they do not yet carry any weight under US law.

Today, there is literally a massive rush of traffic rushing onto the Information Superhighway. Millions are logging onto the Internet for the first time, fueling the massive growth of the number of Internet users and sites on the World Wide Web.

Much of the hype associated with the impact of electronic business is associated with the business to business (B2B) model. Analysts believe that enormous cost savings and efficiencies can be achieved through the utilisation of e‐procurement, a component of the B2B model. The role of procurement and the emerging use of large information systems to conduct e‐procurement is analysed and presented with the results of a survey of 38 major Australian organisations. The current direct and indirect procurement practices of the sample organisations will be analysed together with an analysis of the eprocurement drivers and barriers. The main results show that direct procurement is heavily dependant upon traditional practices whilst indirect procurement is more likely to use “e” practices. Small‐medium organisations are more nimble at adopting e‐procurement practices. Technical issues dominate e‐procurement barriers, with cost factors dominating e‐procurement drivers.

The purpose of this paper is to explore RuBee, which is a new form of automatic identification technology that can complement many of the new developments for the use of radio frequency identification (RFID). This is a timely piece, which examines the technology behind RuBee and the uses of this new identification tool.

This technology is explored through a review of the available information on RuBee, examining the emerging standards for the technology from the The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).

Through the use of magnetic energy for communications, RuBee provides superior reading capabilities vs RFID in environments involving metal and water. RuBee also provides many of the advantages found in active RFID, with unlimited life span and far lower costs.

The limitations of this study center on the fact that RuBee is an emerging technology and while the IEEE will be providing a standards framework, much work remains to be done to see how the technology will be applied in appropriate and cost‐effective ways.

This paper will allow executives as well as technologists to examine RuBee as both an alternative and a complement to RFID technology for use in myriad settings.

This article will be of value to both practitioners and academicians in several fields, including retail and health care management as these people consider RuBee, RFID and other automatic identification technologies as a means of providing solutions to business problems and return on investment from technological applications.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the fast‐growing virtual world, focusing on the appeal of these environments for the “digital native” generation and the growth of Second Life.

The paper examines the latest research on virtual worlds and Second Life, examining the corporate presence “in‐world,” as well as the economic, technical, legal, ethical, and security issues involved for companies doing business in the virtual world.

The paper shows that Second Life and virtual worlds hold great opportunities, along with significant downsides, for companies.

The research is limited by the very fact that this is a fast‐developing, fast‐changing area, constantly generating both new opportunities and new issues/challenges.

With projections that 80 percent of all internet users will be involved in virtual worlds by 2011, it is important that executives and academicians be knowledgeable about these 3D internet environments.

The paper traces the development of virtual worlds in the larger context of the growth of online gaming as a form of entertainment and interaction. It takes an objective look at the benefits and pitfalls for organizations looking to engage in Second Life and other virtual worlds.

Epidemiologists are concerned the next deadly global cognition will be a new kind of deadly flu which humans have no resistance. Since the 1960s, their alarm has been focused on a bird (avian) virus (H5N1). This virus is generally harmless in its host species, but it is extremely deadly when contracted by humans. H5N1 mutates quickly and tends to pick up genes from flu viruses that affect other species. The flu is far more contagious and harder to contain than the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus. It is projected that 30‐40 per cent of the population would be infected in a H5N1 flu pandemic, and as many as one‐third would die. The 1918 Spanish flu caused 20 to 50 million deaths world wide. One scientist observed that the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic could have caused civilisation to disappear within a few weeks. Currently, more than 50 million chickens have been slaughtered in eight Asian countries in efforts to curb the spread of avian influenza. This article examines the roots and dangers of the potential avian influenza pandemic, examining the business and social ramifications that could ensue if the worst case scenario occurs.