Similarity solutions for the stagnation-point flow and heat transfer over a nonlinearly stretching/shrinking sheet

This paper presents a numerical analysis of a stagnation-point flow towards a nonlinearly stretching/shrinking sheet immersed in a viscous fluid. The stretching/shrinking velocity and the external flow velocity impinges normal to the stretching/shrinking sheet are assumed to be in the form U ~ xm, where m is a constant and x is the distance from the stagnation point. The governing partial differential equations are converted into ordinary ones by a similarity transformation, before being solved numerically. The variations of the skin friction coefficient and the heat transfer rate at the surface with the governing parameters are graphed and tabulated. Different from a stretching sheet, it is found that the solutions for a shrinking sheet are non-unique for m > 1/3

Stagnation-point flow towards a vertical plate embedded in a porous medium

The steady stagnation-point flow towards a heated vertical surface embedded in a porous medium is investigated. The governing partial differential equations are reduced to a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations using a similarity transformation. The shooting method is used to solve the similarity equations for different values of the mixed convection parameter. The features of the flow and heat transfer characteristics are analyzed and discussed. It is found that dual solutions exist for both assisting and opposing flows. The skin friction coefficient and the local Nusselt number increase as the mixed convection parameter increases

The relationship quality in franchise networks: Is it important to performance?

The concept of relationship quality evolved from relational marketing theory, and provided the impetus for a paradigm shift from transactional relationships to more cooperative and service-centred relationships in business-to-business processes. In the marketing literature, relationship quality has been considered a key component in relationship marketing and business-to-business relationship exchange such as buyer-seller, exporter-importer and franchisor-franchisee. In franchising, the key to a successful franchise system is dependent on the effectiveness of franchise relationship management where both parties are characterized by mutual interdependence and cooperation. Despite the importance of this topic in franchising, very little is known about how to develop effective franchisor-franchisee RQ and how it impact performance/loyalty. Therefore, this paper investigates relationship quality in franchise networks towards the firms’ performance and loyalty from a franchisee‘s perceptive. It also discusses three elements of the franchisor-franchisee relationship quality namely: trust, commitment and satisfaction. The paper examines the interactions of relationship quality towards a firm’s performance and loyalty in the franchise network

Boundary layer flow and heat transfer over a permeable shrinking sheet with partial slip

The steady, laminar flow of an incompressible viscous fluid over a shrinking permeable sheet is investigated. The governing partial differential equations are transformed into ordinary differential equations using similarity transformation, before being solved numerically by the shooting method. The features of the flow and heat transfer characteristics for different values of the slip parameter and Prandtl number are analyzed and discussed. The results indicate that both the skin friction coefficient and the heat transfer rate at the surface increase as the slip parameter increases

MHD stagnation-point flow of a micropolar fluid with prescribed wall heat flux.

The steady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) mixed convection stagnation point flow towards a vertical surface immersed in an incompressible micropolar fluid with prescribed wall heat flux is investigated. The governing partial differential equations are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations, which is then solved numerically by a finite-difference method. Numerical results are obtained for the skin-friction coefficient and the local Nusselt number as well as the velocity and temperature profiles for some values of the governing parameters, namely, the mixed convection parameter, material parameter, and Prandtl number. Dual solutions are found to exist for the opposing flow

Stagnation-point flow over a stretching/shrinking sheet in a porous medium

An analysis is performed for the stagnation-point flow over a stretching/shrinking sheet in a porous medium. By using similarity variables, the governing system of partial differential equations are reduced to the coupled ordinary differential equations before being solved numerically using a Maple software. Numerical results are obtained for the skin friction coefficient, local Nusselt number, velocity and temperature profiles. Both stretching and shrinking sheets are considered. The influence of the governing parameters on the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics are analyzed and discussed. Dual solutions are found to exist for the shrinking case, while only unique solutions are found for the stretching case

Power-law fluid flow on a moving wall

The steady boundary-layer flow of a non-Newtonian fluid, represented by a power-law model, over a moving flat plate in a moving fluid is studied. The transformed boundary-layer equation is solved numerically for some values of the power-law index n and velocity ratio parameter ε. The effects of these parameters on the skin friction coefficient are analyzed and discussed. It is found that dual solutions exist when the plate and the fluid move in the opposite directions, near the region of separation. It is also found that the drag force is reduced for dilatant fluids compared to pseudo-plastic fluids

Relationship value, relationship quality and loyalty among Malaysian franchises

Franchising is an increasingly popular way of conducting and expanding business in the global environment. In a franchising business, the franchising relationship quality is considered important in ensuring success, since franchisors-franchisees are considered as business partner. Studies on franchisee-franchisor relationships from the franchise perspectives are very important and there has been a lack of research on the franchisee motivations for entering into the relationship mainly from Malaysia context. Therefore, this study will attempt to examine the relationship between relationship value, relationship quality and loyalty among Malaysian franchisees. A total of 400 questionnaires were mailed by using random sample to a local-home grown franchisee. The result of this study expects to develop an understanding of relationship quality among Malaysian local home grown franchisees. This study also contributes to the field of relationship marketing especially in managing business-to-business relationship

Ketagihan internet di tempat kerja

Internet merupakan medium Teknologi Maklumat dan Komunikasi (ICT) yang paling pesat berkembang sejak ia diperkenalkan pada tahun 1974.Dalam tempoh 22 tahun sahaja Internet telah menjangkau sempadan geografi dan mewujudkan dunia maya yang kaya dengan pelbagai maklumat.Penggunaan Internet yang bebas tanpa kawalan dalam semua sektor pekerjaan bukan sahaja telah memberikan impak yang positif tetapi turut membawa bersama gejala negatif yang akhirnya menjadi beban kepada masyarakat di seluruh dunia.Ketagihan Internet merupakan masalah baru yang mula menular daripada masalah inidividu kepada masalah organisasi.Fenomena ini telah menyebabkan kemerosotan produktiviti dan keuntungan kepada organisasi di seluruh dunia.Kajian ini meneroka permasalahan ketagihan Internet di tempat kerja dengan objektif untuk mengenalpasti simptom-simptom yang wujud dalam kalangan pekerja di sektor awam.Sejumlah 300 responden yang berkhidmat dalam bidang akademik dan pentadbiran di Universiti Utara Malaysia telah dikemukakan borang soalselidik mengenai tahap ketagihan Internet mereka di tempat kerja.Sampel kajian ini diperolehi menggunakan kaedah persampelan rawak bersistematik.Ujian statistik deskriptif digunakan untuk memerihalkan bilangan dan peratusan ciri-ciri demografi dan penggunaan Internet yang berkaitan dengan tahap ketagihan Internet.Ujian Khi-Kuasa Dua dan Ujian-t juga digunakan untuk mengenalpasti perkaitan dan perbezaan di antara tahap ketagihan Internet dengan ciri-ciri demografi dan penggunaan Internet responden.Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa tahap ketagihan Internet dalam kalangan kakitangan Universiti Utara Malaysia kini berada pada tahap rendah.Walaupun begitu terdapat tanda-tanda tahap ketagihan ini semakin meningkat. Majoriti golongan yang menunjukkan peningkatan ketagihan Internet adalah lelaki yang belum berkahwin dengan purata umur 33 tahun dan berpengalaman menggunakan Internet kurang dari 6 tahun.Kakitangan yang terlibat dengan ketagihan Internet kebanyakannya adalah kakitangan akademik dan kumpulan sokongan pentadbiran yang mempunyai rutin kerja yang melibatkan penggunaan komputer serta menjadikan World Wide Web sebagai aplikasi utama mereka.Kebanyakan kakitangan ini menggunakan Internet untuk berkomunikasi, mengisi masa bosan, melepaskan tekanan kerja dan mendengar muzik.Beberapa masalah yang sering dihadapi akibat penggunaan Internet yang terlalu lama ialah keletihan, kesakitan pada anggota badan, hilang minat untuk melakukan aktiviti luar, hilang tumpuan kerja dan mempunyai masalah dengan pihak atasan mereka.Kajian ini jelas menunjukkan bahawa gejala ketagihan Internet akan menjadi masalah besar dalam organisasi yang memerlukan perhatian serius semua pihak.Gejala ini jika tidak dibendung akan meningkatkan jumlah kakitangan yang menghidapi masalah psikologi yang akhirnya akan menyebabkan kerosakan kepada organisasi sendiri