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The application of lean and quality improvement methods is very common in process improvement projects at organisational levels. The purpose of this research is to assess the adoption of Lean Six Sigma™ approaches for addressing a complex process-related issue in the coal industry.

The sticky coal problem was investigated from the perspective of process-related issues. Issues were addressed using a blended Lean value stream of supply chain interfaces and waste minimisation through the Six Sigma™ DMAIC problem-solving approach, taking into consideration cross-organisational processes.

It was found that the tendency to “solve the problem” at the receiving location without communication to the upstream was, and is still, a common practice that led to the main problem of downstream issues. The application of DMAIC Six Sigma™ helped to address the broader problem. The overall operations were improved significantly, showing the reduction of sticky coal/wagon hang-up in the downstream coal handling terminal.

The Lean Six Sigma approaches were adopted using DMAIC across cross-organisational supply chain processes. However, blending Lean and Six Sigma methods needs to be empirically tested across other sectors.

The proposed methodology, using a framework of Lean Six Sigma approaches, could be used to guide practitioners in addressing similar complex and recurring issues in the manufacturing sector.

This research introduces a novel approach to process analysis, selection and contextualised improvement using a combination of Lean Six Sigma™ tools, techniques and methodologies sustained within a supply chain with certified ISO 9001 quality management systems.

The primary objective of this research is to explore whether total quality management (TQM) firms execute various quality management practices significantly differently from non‐TQM firms in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) automotive supply chain. The study also aims to analyze differences between different tiers of this supply chain and to examine the relationship between the implementation of quality management systems and adoption of TQM.

A total of 165 datasets collected from ASEAN automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and their tier 1 and 2 suppliers in five ASEAN countries were tested by using cross‐tabulation analysis and ANOVA with post hoc test.

The results show that firms that have successfully implemented the concept of work standardization or process‐approach through quality management systems (QMS) certification have tended to pursue TQM as the subsequent stage in their quality journey. In addition, the study found that all seven TQM practices – leadership; strategy and planning; customer focus; information and analysis; people management; process management; and supplier involvement – were significantly higher in TQM firms than in non‐TQM firms. Finally, the study found that tier 3 suppliers were less likely to implement TQM practices compared with higher tiers (1 and 2), except in supplier involvement.

The study presents an insight into TQM constructs evolution in the ASEAN region, which has gained increased prominence and world impact as a result of international outsourcing. It therefore addresses a significant gap in the literature about how quality management is deployed in this important region of the world.

The purpose of this paper is to propose an approach to evaluate product performance of returned products, using four key performance attributes as the basis for improving sustainability through product recovery.

A fuzzy logic approach is developed to account a trade-off scenario for a manufactured product with recovery options. This approach is demonstrated using a numerical example and is validated using a case study in the automotive parts and components industry.

Product utilisation value (PUV) is found to be a useful index that manufacturers can use to assess product recovery options, as it brings together a number of conflicting parameters into a rationalised value for decision making. In addition, PUV provides a rationalised approach for comparing and selecting the most appropriate recovery configuration option.

The authors only utilise four key performance measures to derive PUV. Further research is needed to modify and incorporate other measures that are important to decision makers to improve sustainability in manufacturing supply chains.

The proposed approach may motivate decision makers to consider sustainable recovery options by comparing PUVs of products for primary and secondary markets. The case study demonstrated the conflict and complexity organisations face in a global supply chain of a competitive industry.

The authors propose an approach to optimise trade-off considerations of selected performance attributes through PUV. This PUV as a benchmark can help improve recovery of the returned products and reduce landfill.

Organization development is focused on implementing a planned process of positive humanistic change in organizations through the use of social science theory, action research, and data-based feedback methods. The role of personality in that change process, however, has historically been ignored or relegated to a limited set of interventions. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a conceptual overview of the linkages between personality and OD, discuss the current state of personality in the field including key trends in talent management, and offer a new multi-level framework for conceptualizing applications of personality for different types of OD efforts. The chapter concludes with implications for research and practice.

In the last four years, since Volume I of this Bibliography first appeared, there has been an explosion of literature in all the main functional areas of business. This wealth of material poses problems for the researcher in management studies — and, of course, for the librarian: uncovering what has been written in any one area is not an easy task. This volume aims to help the librarian and the researcher overcome some of the immediate problems of identification of material. It is an annotated bibliography of management, drawing on the wide variety of literature produced by MCB University Press. Over the last four years, MCB University Press has produced an extensive range of books and serial publications covering most of the established and many of the developing areas of management. This volume, in conjunction with Volume I, provides a guide to all the material published so far.

The Promenade image retrieval system is described in terms of its design, development and architecture. Design, development and implementation issues are discussed in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. A preliminary usability study is presented and the data respiting from the preliminary study are analysed and discussed. Efficiency in terms of response time due to network delays, database processing, application processing and image characteristics and display is discussed. Response time results from 40 queries made to the image database are presented and discussed. The results of these studies demonstrate where improvements in the system need to be made in order to improve usability and response time.

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the performance of the alternative IS/IT adoption models used more frequently in the citizen centric adoption of e‐government systems. Such analysis will not only provide a trend about the models and subsequent constructs being utilized in this area of research but also guides us toward laying a foundation for the formulation of an alternative integrated model for citizen centric adoption of e‐government services.

The relevant secondary data from 87 research studies on citizen centric e‐government services were analysed to examine the performance of some of the most frequently used alternative models (e.g. technology acceptance model (TAM), diffusion of innovation|innovation diffusion theory (DOI|IDT), DeLone and McLean IS success model, unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), and theory of planned behaviour (TPB)) of IS/IT adoption in this area of research.

The findings of this research indicate that TAM is by far the best suited model for analysing citizen centric adoption of e‐government services. It was also found that although diffusion of innovation|innovation diffusion theory (DOI|IDT) is the second highly used model, only three of its constructs (i.e. compatibility, complexity, and relative advantage) were in use across various studies. Moreover, it was visualised that constructs such as triability and observability were never used in the e‐government context. Similarly, the constructs from TPB have not been used up to the presence of the model across various studies. All the constructs (i.e. performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence) of the UTAUT model, except facilitating conditions, have been used quite regularly.

This research evaluates the various IS/IT adoption research models being used in e‐government adoption only on the basis of their performances across the existing research studies. The evaluation of the performance of such models may not reflect their true picture only through meta‐analysis.

This paper presents a comprehensive meta‐analysis of some of the most frequently used IS/IT adoption models in the context of e‐government adoption research. Such analysis would help us picking up the most appropriate models and/or their constructs for developing an alternative model for our research.

Mobile health, i.e. m-Health possesses huge potential, especially to the developing countries and remote locations of developed countries. The success of such systems may create a healthier society through eradicating health incidents, which cannot otherwise be addressed with “brick and mortar” type of health systems. The purpose of this paper is to develop an m-Health success model from users’ perspective and validate in a developing country context.

Epistemologically, positivist approach has been adopted for the current research. An initial research model was developed from existing information system (IS) literature, which was then validated with survey data applying partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

The results summarise that continuance intention (CI) of m-Health services is dependent on perceived value (PV) and user satisfaction (STF); PV positively influences STF. Moreover, platform quality, quality of medical advice, and interaction quality have positive and direct effect on PV and STF; finally, CI drives to better quality of health life.

The findings of this study provide strategic implications to health managers and practitioners recognising the determinants of m-Health success and comprehending their relationships. It is underscored that, in order to secure the success of an m-Health system in a given society both human and technology-related components are vital and therefore should be taken care of.

This is the first attempt that develops and validates an m-Health system success model, particularly from the context of a country with low-health profile. Moreover, the contextualisation of the related variables and extension of existing IS success models is theoretically original.