Search results

1 – 10 of 431
Article
Publication date: 2 August 2011

Christopher A. Wolf, Frank Lupi and Stephen Harsh

The purpose of this paper is to determine which financial record‐keeping system farmers use, as well as what system attributes farmers value and to what degree.

3221

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine which financial record‐keeping system farmers use, as well as what system attributes farmers value and to what degree.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a choice experiment to examine farmer's demand for attributes of financial record‐keeping systems. A sample from the general Michigan farm population is compared to samples from university and agribusiness record system clients.

Findings

Results reveal that university and agribusiness clients are willing to pay considerably more for a farm‐specific record system to backstop their farm management decisions.

Practical implications

The results provide an understanding of farmer demands for farm financial record systems and can be used to position record‐keeping systems to meet those demands.

Originality/value

This paper describes and analyzes farm financial accounting system use and preferences by type.

Details

Agricultural Finance Review, vol. 71 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-1466

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 August 2010

Stephen B. Harsh, Lynn Hamilton and Eric Wittenberg

As the interest in renewable energy increases and the number of federal and state incentives to support renewable energy has also grown in recent years, it seems worthwhile to…

1076

Abstract

Purpose

As the interest in renewable energy increases and the number of federal and state incentives to support renewable energy has also grown in recent years, it seems worthwhile to explore the economics of using small wind energy systems to offset electricity costs on farms. The purpose of this paper is to explore the economics of small wind turbine installations on a dairy in Michigan through case study analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

An Excel‐based capital budgeting model is developed that contains two sub‐modules: one that estimates the value of the wind energy based on the measured wind resource, and an investment module that includes factors such as investment cost, financing parameters, sales of electricity; grants and tax credits and tax information. Cases using 20 and 50 kW turbine systems are analyzed.

Findings

The results of the case studies show that in a favorable wind resource, the federal tax and United States Department of Agriculture incentives as well as state policies such as net metering can make wind turbines a good investment with an internal rate of return of 12.5 percent in this example. However, if the wind resource is not sufficient, even favorable renewable energy policies will not offset the lost value of the power generation, and thus a wind turbine will be a poor investment decision. Farm businesses should carefully consider all factors before investing in a wind turbine.

Originality/value

This paper is the first in recent years to combine capital budgeting analysis, wind resource data and the implications of federal and state policies to determine if small wind turbines are a sound investment decision for farm businesses.

Details

Agricultural Finance Review, vol. 70 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-1466

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 December 2019

Carolyn M. Axtell, Karin S. Moser and Janet McGoldrick

Status is a central aspect of teamwork relationships and successful collaboration in teams, both online and offline. Status group membership and status perception shape…

Abstract

Purpose

Status is a central aspect of teamwork relationships and successful collaboration in teams, both online and offline. Status group membership and status perception shape behavioural expectations and norm perceptions of what is appropriate, but despite their importance have been neglected in previous research. Status effects are of special interest in online collaboration, e.g. via email, where no immediate feedback or non-verbal/paraverbal communication and direct observation is possible. The purpose of this study is to address this gap in research.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental scenario study with two different professional status groups (lecturers and students) tested status effects on causal attributions, intergroup bias and emotional and collaborative responses to perceived norm violations in emails.

Findings

Results overall showed three key findings: a “black-sheep-effect” with harsher negative attributions for same status members, more aggression and less cooperation towards lower status senders and stronger (negative) emotional reactions towards high status senders.

Originality/value

The findings are important for managing professional online communication because negative personal attributions, strong emotions and aggressive behaviours can increase team conflict, lead to mistakes and generally undermine performance.

Details

Team Performance Management: An International Journal, vol. 26 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1352-7592

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 August 2017

Johan Odelius, Stephen Mayowa Famurewa, Lars Forslöf, Johan Casselgren and Heikki Konttaniemi

For the expected increase in the capacity of existing transportation systems and efficient energy utilisation, smart maintenance solutions that are supported by online and…

Abstract

Purpose

For the expected increase in the capacity of existing transportation systems and efficient energy utilisation, smart maintenance solutions that are supported by online and integrated condition monitoring systems are required. Industrial internet is one of the smart maintenance solutions which enables real-time acquisition and analysis of asset condition by linking intelligent devices with different stakeholders’ applications and databases. The purpose of this paper is to present some aspects of industrial internet application as required for integrating weather information and floating road condition data from vehicle mounted sensors to enhance effective and efficient winter maintenance.

Design/methodology/approach

The concept of real-time road condition assessment using in-vehicle sensors is demonstrated in a case study of a 3.5 km road section located in Northern Sweden. The main floating data sources were acceleration and position sensors from a smartphone positioned on the dash board of a truck. Features extracted from the acceleration signal were two road roughness estimations. To extract targeted information and knowledge, the floating data were further processed to produce time series data of the road condition using Kalman filtering. The time series data were thereafter combined with weather data to assess the condition of the road.

Findings

In the case study, examples of visualisation and analytics to support winter maintenance planning, execution and resource allocation were presented. Reasonable correlation was shown between estimated road roughness and annual road survey data to validate and prove the presented results wider applicability.

Originality/value

The paper describes a concept of floating data for an industrial internet application for efficient road maintenance. The resulting improvement in winter maintenance will promote dependable, safe and sustainable transportation of goods and people, especially in Northern Nordic region with harsh and sometimes unpredictable weather conditions.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 23 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1993

Hannah King

This paper, based on an analysis of print and electronic discussions and on experience at ‘the front lines’ in collection development and reference in an American academic health…

Abstract

This paper, based on an analysis of print and electronic discussions and on experience at ‘the front lines’ in collection development and reference in an American academic health science library, questions the wisdom of permitting visions of the electronic library to drive library budgets and strategic planning. To market these visions, librarians may promise more than they can deliver, given the harsh social and economic realities predicted to intensify over the next several decades. The electrification of the delivery of traditional products and services is inadequate in itself to respond proactively to the needs for new products and services. Identification of new solutions to emerging needs would make long‐range planning efforts more effective. The effort to identify and fulfil needed new roles to librarians and libraries demands new social and organizational concepts, in addition to technical expertise. The paper concludes with a proposed agenda for action.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 11 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1988

Tipped to be a major technology of the next decade, fibre‐optic sensors are already making some waves in the laboratory, as Stephen McClelland explains.

Abstract

Tipped to be a major technology of the next decade, fibre‐optic sensors are already making some waves in the laboratory, as Stephen McClelland explains.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 8 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Article
Publication date: 1 January 1978

The Equal Pay Act 1970 (which came into operation on 29 December 1975) provides for an “equality clause” to be written into all contracts of employment. S.1(2) (a) of the 1970 Act…

1375

Abstract

The Equal Pay Act 1970 (which came into operation on 29 December 1975) provides for an “equality clause” to be written into all contracts of employment. S.1(2) (a) of the 1970 Act (which has been amended by the Sex Discrimination Act 1975) provides:

Details

Managerial Law, vol. 21 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0309-0558

Article
Publication date: 13 September 2011

Stephen J. Mihailov, Dan Grobnic, Christopher W. Smelser, Robert B. Walker, Ping Lu and Huimin Ding

The purpose of this paper is to present a review of research performed at the Communications Research Centre Canada on sensing applications of femtosecond infrared laser‐inscribed…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a review of research performed at the Communications Research Centre Canada on sensing applications of femtosecond infrared laser‐inscribed Bragg gratings.

Design/methodology/approach

By using fibre Bragg gratings induced with ultrafast infrared radiation, inscription of high temperature stable sensors in standard and exotic optical waveguides is investigated for a variety of novel applications.

Findings

Generally, femtosecond laser‐induced gratings are effective sensors that can be applied in situations and environments where most fibre optic sensors are not effective.

Originality/value

The paper is a review of existing work already published in the literature and provides an overview of this technology to the reader.

Article
Publication date: 4 September 2009

Kathy Hamilton

The purpose of this paper is to focus on low‐income families who are excluded from consumer culture. It explores their experiences and responses to material deprivation, social…

2894

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on low‐income families who are excluded from consumer culture. It explores their experiences and responses to material deprivation, social deprivation and stigmatization.

Design/methodology/approach

Given the need for identification and calculation of exclusion thresholds to be supplemented by the voice of the excluded themselves, the study is based on qualitative analysis of 30 in‐depth interviews with low‐income families who encounter consumption constraints in the marketplace.

Findings

While the harsh realities of consumer exclusion cannot be denied, findings also present a more positive outlook as excluded consumers can achieve empowerment through employment of stigma management strategies, creative consumer coping and rejection of the stigmatizing regime.

Research limitations/implications

Research is based only on families with children under the age of 18; future research on older people and exclusion would prove a useful comparison.

Practical implications

The research raises a number of important policy issues in relation to social barriers to inclusion and the role of marketing in contributing to consumer exclusion.

Originality/value

Social policy studies surrounding social exclusion in terms of separation from mainstream society tend to focus on employment. This paper highlights that a social exclusion discourse can also provide a useful perspective to investigate exclusion in relation to consumerism.

Details

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, vol. 29 no. 9/10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-333X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1996

Sandy Cotter

Summarizes the basic principles of Bioenergetics along with its origin in Riechian psychology. Clarifies that Bioenergetics is used at Cranfield not as psychotherapy, but as an…

Abstract

Summarizes the basic principles of Bioenergetics along with its origin in Riechian psychology. Clarifies that Bioenergetics is used at Cranfield not as psychotherapy, but as an aid to personal development for a specific population of high‐functioning individuals, i.e. managers. Places the Bioenergetic body‐mind notion into a philosophical context of human goodness and potential; thus expanding the focus to body‐mind‐spirit. Examines five body‐mind types through the following aspects: how they operate at work; how they were formed; key attitudes; unique gifts; body shape; development path; how they are best managed. Case histories illustrating the different types in various modes of consultant intervention, i.e. individual development, team building and culture change.

Details

Journal of Management Development, vol. 15 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0262-1711

Keywords

1 – 10 of 431