Change in customers\u27 desired value : a grounded theory study of its nature and processes based on business customers\u27 lived experiences in the U.S. automobile industry

This study investigated the nature and processes of changes in customers\u27 desired value from suppliers in order to assist suppliers in anticipating what their manufacturing customers might want in the future. Twenty-two depth interviews were conducted with purchasing-related professionals in nine manufacturing companies within the U.S. automobile industry. Grounded theory guidelines were followed for data collection and interpretive analyses. Findings show that change in customer\u27s desired value contains five dimensions (i.e., level, form, rate, magnitude, volatility). Findings also show that customer desired value changes within a process, depicted by a customer desired value change model. This model describes customer desired value as emerging from customers\u27 attempts to reduce tension driven by a number of forces in their environments. While engaged in three tension reduction strategies (i.e., trying to facilitate learning, trying to improve, trying to extend control), customers altered their desires from suppliers. In order to obtain altered desired value, customers engaged in four additional strategies (i.e., locating, building relationships, motivating, coordinating). Findings demonstrate that change in customers\u27 desired value can be anticipated. The developed theory can be used by suppliers as a diagnostic tool to understand their customers more deeply, enabling changes to be anticipated, acted upon, or influenced

Mine gas and coal dust explosions and methane outbursts - their causes and prevention.

A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering.Ignitions of methane and coal dust have caused considerable loss of life and damage to installations in South African collieries during the past century. The phenomenon of methane outbursts have also resulted in the creation of dangerous conditions underground. The dissertation examines the causes of methane outbursts and the seven main ignition sources leading to methane and coal dust explosions. These ignition sources were derived from an examination of Mines Department inquiries extending back to 1891. the date of the first known ignition of mine gas. Selected incidents were chosen from the official Inquiries for each ignition source and these are dealt with in detail. This includes an investigation into the many factors which developed prior to the individual explosions and the effects of the aftermath such incidents. Precautions to be adopted to prevent methane outbursts and minimise the risk of methane and coal dust explosions as a result of the seven ignition sources are detailed at the end of each chapter.Andrew Chakane 201

An argument for the nationalization of railroad rights-of-way

Transportation is a crucial element in any economy. With such a large portion of the United States\u27 economy centered around transportation, an efficient system of moving goods would be in the nation\u27s best interest. Competitive markets are the most effective mechanism for allocating resources efficiently. An efficient transportation system, therefore, would be one where competition among carriers is the norm. 1 Enormous infrastructure costs prohibit new railroads from entering the market, and prevent existing railroads from competing with trucks for freight transportation revenues. This paper focuses on the lack of competition in the railroad industry and attempts to demonstrate why trains are a superior mode of transportation than trucks. This paper will also show that increasing competition in the railroad industry can reduce freight transportation rates, increase service quality, reduce pollution, and reduce fossil fuel consumption. Nationalizing railroad rights-of-way in the United States would significantly improve competition in the transportation sector. Before discussing nationalization as a socially desirable policy for railroad rights-of-way, it is appropriate to first examine the competitive conditions that exist in the railroad and trucking industries

Observations on the early public health movement in Scotland

The observations which follow represent a.n attempt to arrive at an understanding of certain aspects of the background to the early public health movement which seemed obscure. By all accounts the 18th century in Scotland represented a period of material progress and increasing prosperity. The economic advance continued in the early 19th century, yet the rise in the prosperity of the people did not seem to keep pace with it. The investigations into the conditions of the people in the 1830's, which played such an important part in the sanitary reform movement, indicated an actual deterioration in welfare for many of the common folk. This association of increasing economic power and diminishing prosperity seemed anomalous at first glance: and the fact of a break in the upward trend of general prosperity was difficult to accept without further study.in attempting to understand these difficulties, the first step was to examine events during the 18th century to find out whether the supposed improvement in the welfare of the people during that period was genuine. for this purpose the increase in population which took place during that century was selected for special study, and an attempt was made to discover the causes of this increase. The next step was to look into conditions in the early 19th century to find out whether or not a deterioration actually did take place at that time. Ioor this purpose certain trends of the death rates and the incidence of disease were examined: and the environment and financial condition of parts of the population were investigated. ï+finally an attempt was made to arrive at an understanding of the history of some of the early developments in public health reform in Scotland in the light of such facts as had been elucidated