Describes the aims, reasons for development, key features, and uniqueness of an online benchmarking and performance improvement resource. The paper begins by describing the historical context within which the Web site has been developed. It describes the growth in the use of business excellence,...

For Jumbo Jet pilots certain information is crucial. They would not take off in a plane whose fuel gauge goes on only when the tank is empty even if they were supplied with plenty of other flight information such as the position of first‐class seats. The key to success for every pilot is to...

Businesses are constantly seeking ways of maintaining their competitive advantage, of meeting customers’ needs and increasing market share. There is now a range of methodologies, such as business process improvement (BPI) available to analyze performance and identify areas of weakness. While...

Recall the recent highly publicized case of a sport‐utility vehicle tire recall, in which a quality system registrar was implicated by the tire manufacturer’s management for failing to identify the problem. This inability to continuously ensure product quality dogs the image of the ISO 9000...

Computing and technology news site CNET.com recently reported on the plight of today’s “tech worker”. In an article attempting to explore the reasons for high turnover and discontent in the industry, one of the most eye‐opening reasons uncovered was that workers were sick of having to...

The establishment of a task force is a common response by businesses seeking to create significant organizational change. Xeptron, a US‐based computer corporation, perceived a need for this approach to improve its reverse logistics management in the Asia‐Pacific region. Reverse logistics...

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a fresh insight into the examination of the comparison between multinationality and firm performance, measured through technical efficiency levels by overcoming methodological constraints and misunderstandings presented in earlier research....

This is a case study discussion drawn from scholarly publishers Emerald, formerly MCB University Press. It discusses the unusual “supply circle” phenomenon in scholarly publishing, where authors (suppliers) are often the same people as readers (customers). It addresses this from the...

By almost every measure manufacturing quality has improved tremendously in the past decade; unfortunately, the same is not true for service. Yet, manufacturing processes represent less than 5 per cent of all business processes. Clearly, the opportunity area for the twenty‐first century is in the...