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A capacitor is a basic electronic passive component. Thick‐film technology allows manufacturing of capacitors covering the range of small and medium capacitances and they have been investigated in depth already. Low temperature co‐fired ceramics (LTCC) technology makes it possible to fabricate buried capacitors, which leads to increased packaging density, but such components’ properties are not well known. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of investigations on thick‐film and LTCC capacitors made in various technological variants.

Thick‐film and LTCC capacitors were made in various technological variants. Different capacitor inks, metallurgy of electrodes and component constructions were investigated. Basic electrical properties and stability were determined. An electrical equivalent circuit of such components was developed based on frequency and temperature characteristics.

Simple electrical equivalent circuits of self‐made thick‐film and LTCC micro‐capacitors were developed based on measurements in frequency and temperature domain. Good fitting accuracy was obtained. The bulk material section of model is predominant in the low‐frequency range. Interface region and serial resistance influence are revealed at higher frequency, affecting mainly dissipation factor value. Also, temperature and thermal ageing have affected strongly on that part of the model.

The paper usefully examines the electrical properties and electrical equivalent models of thick‐film and LTCC micro‐capacitors.

Capacitors are frequently used in electronic circuits. Thick‐film technology allows fabrication of such components in the case of small‐ and medium‐capacitance values. They can also be manufactured in LTCC structures. The paper seeks to investigate the electrical properties of thick‐film and LTCC capacitors for as‐fired and long‐term thermally aged test structures in a wide frequency and temperature range.

Sandwich and interdigitated planar capacitors were fabricated on alumina or LTCC substrates using standard screen printing and laser shaping. Various dielectric inks and electrodes materials were used. The crystalline phases in thick‐film dielectric films were identified.

Planar and sandwich LTCC and thick‐film capacitors were designed and fabricated. Different technology variations were tested. X‐ray analysis indicated that both used commercial compositions, compatible with LTCC substrates are based on barium and titatium compounds. The difference in their dielectric constants probably are related with kind of crystalline phases, presented in these compositions and crystalline phase/glass ratio.

This paper presents results of investigations made on thick‐film and LTCC microcapacitors.

This paper aims to present systematic studies of a wide spectrum of geometrical and electrical properties of thick‐film and LTCC microresistors (with designed dimensions between 50 × 50 μm² and 800 × 200 μm²).

The geometrical parameters (average length, width and thickness, relations between designed and real dimensions, distribution of planar dimensions) are correlated with basic electrical properties of resistors (sheet resistance and its distribution, hot temperature coefficient of resistance and its distribution distribution) as well as long term thermal stability and durability of microresistors to short electrical pulses.

Fodel process gives better resolution than standard screen‐printing and leads to smaller dimensions than designed, smaller absolute error and better uniformity of planar sizes. Microresistors made in full Fodel process show much weaker dimensional effect and exhibit noticeably smaller distribution of basic electrical properties.

Presents systematic studies of a wide spectrum of geometrical and electrical properties of thick‐film and LTCC microresistors.

To understand the differences in perceived barriers to e‐auctions both in US buying organizations that have adopted e‐auctions and in both those that have not.

Four propositions were developed based on the literature and case studies in eight companies that used e‐auctions for sourcing. Measures were developed for lack of e‐auction knowledge, lack of supplier participation, information security concerns and importance of supplier relationships. Survey data were gathered from 163 US National Association of Purchasing Management members. GLM‐MANOVA was used to test the propositions.

E‐auction adopters perceive information security to be less of a concern than non‐adopters. No significant differences were found between adopters and non‐adopters on the buyer's e‐auction knowledge, lack of supplier participation, and the importance of supplier relationships.

The small sample size limits statistical power, so small differences may not have been detected. The results may not generalize beyond the sample.

Supply managers should focus on reducing information security concerns within their organizations to facilitate adoption.

No published studies have explored the differences between adopters and non‐adopters of e‐auctions to identify barriers.

Develops an original 12‐step management of technology protocol and applies it to 51 applications which range from Du Pont’s failure in Nylon to the Single Online Trade Exchange for Auto Parts procurement by GM, Ford, Daimler‐Chrysler and Renault‐Nissan. Provides many case studies with regards to the adoption of technology and describes seven chief technology officer characteristics. Discusses common errors when companies invest in technology and considers the probabilities of success. Provides 175 questions and answers to reinforce the concepts introduced. States that this substantial journal is aimed primarily at the present and potential chief technology officer to assist their survival and success in national and international markets.

Virtually all businesses must perform financial planning and budgeting. The paper presents a normative design framework for developing a management information system to support these activities. The design sustains planning processes across organizational levels. The system may be evoked with either a modeling or budgeting orientation which supports bottom‐up, top‐down, or in‐side‐out planning. An analysis function forges alink between top‐down and bottom‐up planning. This linkage provides flexibility in developing alternative business plans. The normative design provides a standard for creating and evaluating alternative system designs, to determine the most appropriate system for a particular business situation.

Focuses on time reduction in meetings through the use of group decision support systems (GDSS). Reports on some criticisms of GDSS, in that it increases time taken to reach a decision, and addresses this issue. Refers to Grosch’s Law, the Satisficing Model, and the 80/20 rule (or Pareto Principle). Applies the 80/20 rule to the number of papers published by a number of authors. Plots a chart of the figures and finds that 77 per cent of papers are written by 23 per cent of authors. Links back these findings to GDSS and suggests that by controlling openness, some control can be exercised over the length of time it takes to reach a decision. Indicates that the use of electronic meeting systems will increase and, consequently, further research should be carried out in reducing uproductive meeting time.

The results of recent surveys of businesses indicate that cash flow is the single most important problem they face. The business press has noted that “cash‐flow planning is one of the more difficult and vulnerable areas in business management,” and that “businessmen can't understand why…they [are] running out of cash.” In fact, it's safe to suggest for companies of any size that cash is the lifeblood of the firm, and that a company's cash‐planning practices can be a critical early warning device of impending financial trouble.

The final report of the Butter Regulations Committee has now been published and it is earnestly to be hoped that Regulations based on the Committee's Recommendations will at once be framed and issued by the Board of Agriculture. It will be remembered that in an Interim Report the Committee recommended the adoption of a limit of 16 per cent. for the proportion of water in butter, and that, acting on this recommendation, the Board of Agriculture drew up and issued the “Sale of Butter Regulations, 1902,” under the powers conferred on the Board by Section 4 of the Food Act of 1899. In the present Report the Committee deal with the other matters referred to them, namely, as to what Regulations, if any, might with advantage be made for determining what deficiency in any of the normal constituents of butter, or what addition of extraneous matter other than water, should raise a presumption until the contrary is proved that the butter is not “genuine.” The Committee are to be congratulated on the result of their labours—labours which have obviously been both arduous and lengthy. The questions which have had to be dealt with are intricate and difficult, and they are, moreover, of a highly technical nature. The Committee have evidently worked with the earnest desire to arrive at conclusions which, when applied, would afford as great a measure of protection—as it is possible to give by means of legislative enactments—to the consumer and to the honest producer. The thorough investigation which has been made could result only in the conclusions at which the Committee have arrived, namely, that, in regard to the administration of the Food Acts, (1) an analytical limit should be imposed which limit should determine what degree of deficiency in those constituents which specially characterise butter should raise a presumption that the butter is not “genuine”; (2) that the use of 10 per cent. of a chemically‐recognisable oil in the manufacture of margarine be made compulsory; (3) that steps should be taken to obtain international co‐operation; and finally, that the System of Control, as explained by various witnesses, commends itself to the Committee.

This paper explores the development of a knowledge base within the European Public Health and Environment Network (EPHEN) research group at University College London, which had a pressing need to change the way its work activities were conducted. It is intended to provide some insight to managers, group members within EPHEN, as to how this development can bring about changes to service delivery and practice that empowers service users and involves them in the process. It seeks also to identify possible difficulties that might be anticipated. Also a public Web site will be integrated into the system to promote health awareness, especially as EPHEN’s primary concern is to encourage public health in society.