First issue: International Journal of Procurement Management

The first issue of International Journal of Procurement Management has just been published.

The journal deals with the development of procurement resources, with emphasis on the implications that purchasing and supply management functions have on organisational productivity and competitiveness in the global market. The globalisation of market and operations, including outsourcing, lead to global purchasing and supplier development that are closely related to the success of a company. This perspective indicates the importance of effective procurement and supply functions for organisational effectiveness and competitiveness. In addition, developments in information technology and information systems such as enterprise resource planning and radio frequency identification have a significant impact on the procurement functions and supply management. Due emphasis will be given to research about the impact of IT/IS in the effective management of procurement and suppliers.

There is a free download of the papers from this first issue.

First issue: International Journal of Precision Technology

The first issue of International Journal of Precision Technology has just been published. The journal promotes technological advances in precision engineering that are not accompanied by science and mathematics. The wheel is a technological example that was invented in 4000 BC in Mesopotamia (now present day Iraq). The wheel in the Formula One car today is an engineering example backed by science and mathematics. Technological findings do not have to date to Palaeolithic times, since we have them even today in examples such as ductile mode machining, which is technology rather than engineering since reasons for its occurrence backed by science and mathematics are yet to be established. Mathematics is an exact science; precision technology is not, but precision engineering ought to be. Developments in precision technology can lead to inventions and innovations and the journal encourages such work.

There is a free download of the papers from this first issue.

First issue: International Journal of Design Engineering

The first issue of International Journal of Design Engineering has just been published. The journal includes up to date research findings and achievements in design engineering and related areas, and identifies new technology requirements, needs and priorities in those areas. It offers the reader a wealth of valuable material on theories and practices which underpin successful research and development in design engineering.

There is a free download of the papers from this first issue.

Call for papers: Energy Conservation and the Built Environment

Call for papers: Energy Conservation and the Built Environment

A special issue of International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy

The main purpose of buildings is to provide a comfortable living environment for their occupants, which includes thermal, visual and acoustic comfort as well as indoor air quality. As for modern society, humans spend a majority of their time living and working indoors, so that indoor environment quality and human health (IEQ&HH) are very important factors to implement building development sustainability. As we know, good IEQ will help to maintain the health and comfort of the indoor occupants and under such conditions they will be invariably more satisfied and productive.

Towards a sustainable development strategy, the aim of research performed in IEQ groups is to provide related technicians with valuable advice, methods and tools, helping them to design, construct, operate and maintain buildings to a comfortable and healthy situation, with a minimum use of energy and technical installations.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems bring indoor occupants to a comfortable status. Due to the unprecedented growing scale of building construction, energy consumption has risen sharply for the building environment. The energy required for building heating and cooling is approximately 6.7% of the total world energy. In China, data show that energy consumption accounts for more than 50% total electricity use in the residential sector and 60% total electricity use in the public building sector, both for heating and cooling.

Increasing energy demand and environmental consciousness all over the world have made it imperative that energy sources should be used more efficiently. How to use the least energy to maintain indoor environment quality and the comfort of the occupants is the focus of this issue.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:

• Energy demands and consumption in existing and future buildings Thermal comfort, health and indoor environment
• Natural and mechanical ventilation Renewable energy sources in buildings
• Heat recovery systems in buildings HVAC and refrigeration systems in residential, public and industrial buildings Energy efficient buildings Intelligent buildings
• Evaluation and control of indoor thermal, lighting systems and human factors Facilities management and maintenance
• Policy and legal issues

Important Dates
Submission Deadline: 30 January, 2008
Notification of the Initial Decision: 30 April, 2008
Notification of Acceptance: 30 July, 2008

Call for papers: Behavioural Corporate Finance

Call for papers: Behavioural Corporate Finance

A special issue of International Journal of Behavioural Accounting and Finance

Behavioural corporate finance examines the effects of managers’ and investors’ psychological biases on firms’ corporate finance decisions, such as investment appraisal, capital structure, and dividend policy. The aim of this special issue is to publish high quality, innovative theoretical and empirical papers that promote understanding of behavioural corporate finance, in order to provide a platform for the future research agenda.

Topics for this special issue include, but are not limited to;

• The effects of managers' and investors' biases on capital structure decisions
• The effects of managers' and investors' biases on capital budgeting
• The effects of managers' and investors' biases on dividend and share repurchasing policy
• Inefficient markets and managerial market timing of corporate finance decisions
• The effect of overconfidence on corporate finance decision-making
• Prospect theory, regret theory, and corporate finance decision-making
• Bounded rationality and corporate finance decision-making

Important Date
Papers should be submitted by: 30 September, 2008

Call for papers: Combustion, Fuels and Emission Control in Internal Combustion Engines

Call for papers: Combustion, Fuels and Emission Control in Internal Combustion Engines

A special issue of International Journal of Vehicle Design

Papers are invited for this Special Issue dedicated to research on simulation and experiments in spark or compression ignition engines, with main focus on combustion, use of (alternative) fuels and control of emissions.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:

• Premixed combustion, spray formation
• Heat release, chemical kinetics
• Exhaust emissions and their control
• Exhaust after-treatment systems
• Heat transfer
• Flow in inlet and exhaust systems
• Gaseous fuels
• Alternative and biological fuels
• Fuel injection
• Application of engine combustion models
• Transient operation and dynamic analysis of engines
• Second-law analysis
  

Important Date
Deadline for submission: 25 February 2008

Special issue: Intelligent supply chain management

International Journal of Services Operations and Informatics 2(3) 2007 is a special issue: Intelligent supply chain management.

Article titles:
* Value of RFID in remanufacturing
* B2B e-business reference architecture for tailored logistics
* Applying RFID technology in warranty service information system
* Application of network methods in intelligent supply chain management
* A new technology paradigm for collaboration in the supply chain
* An e-business model to facilitate conflict-solving and cooperation in logistics services

Call for papers: Sustaining Growth in Developing Countries through Energy Efficiency

Call for papers: Sustaining Growth in Developing Countries through Energy Efficiency

A special issue of International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy

It is projected that the population and economic expansion experienced by the developing nations will constitute the majority of world energy growth. With the fact that existing sources of energy will be depleted in the near future, there is a need to find alternative sources of energy. Although there are other sources of energy available, such as renewable and nuclear, there are numerous problems associated with those technologies ranging from environmental issues to technical and safety issues.

Implementation of energy efficiency programmes and technologies not only reduce the energy growth rate but also contribute towards the mitigation of environmental pollution. If such programmes are implemented successfully, the developing nations’ growth will be sustained with minimum impact on the environment and on monetary resources. The challenge is to understand the salient features and energy consumption patterns of individual nations, and to draw a suitable road map that will lead to efficient utilisation of energy.

The objective of this special issue is to provide a means for the publication and interchange of information, on an international basis, on energy efficiency technologies and programmes applied to developing countries.

Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to:

• Energy efficient technologies
• Energy efficient operation and maintenance strategies (O&M)
• Efficient lighting applications
• Efficient HVAC applications
• Codes and standards for energy efficiency and conservation
• Energy efficient programs
• Energy systems design and analysis tools
• Energy efficient power transmission and distribution
• Energy storage
  

Important Dates
Full paper and proposal submission: 31 January 2008
Notification of initial acceptance: 31 March 2008
Revised manuscript submission: 31 May 2008
Notification of acceptance: 31 July 2008
Final paper: 31 August 2008

Call for papers: Modelling and Simulation of Emerging Business Models

Call for papers: Modelling and Simulation of Emerging Business Models

A special issue of International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling

This special issue aims to present the latest thinking on modelling and simulation beyond traditional operations, manufacturing and supply chain boundaries. The increasing diversity of supply chain structures, the emerging business collaboration models, the increasing levels of outsourcing, recycling, after sales and developments in servitization all present challenges to the functionality of existing tools and their application.

Significant work has been done on modelling and simulating “simple” service or production systems as well as business processes and supply chains. Such work examines flows of parts, products or information. However, with business models that have emerged from industry and commerce, there are challenges to the functionality of tools and techniques for model building and the understanding of performance through modelling. Information and product flows may have to be combined, the products may never leave the system and products may be returned from the field.

Examples of emerging business models include:

• The growing industry for recycling and remanufacturing, which presents challenges for how to model an operation that has uncertain inputs that need disassembling and possibly reassembly. For example, the EU's directive for end-of-life vehicles presents challenges to model operations that have to meet targets on reuse, recycling and recovery.
• Servitization, such as product service systems, where the manufactured product is part of a service offering. In the case of Rolls-Royce's "power by the hour" approach, the manufactured product is owned throughout by the manufacturer to provide a service to the airline. Another example is the approach operated by Xerox for the supply and operation of photocopiers/digital printers. Additionally, integrated product health management systems may monitor the product in service and sensors provide signals to the supply chain that a product needs maintenance, repair or overhaul.
• Increased levels of outsourcing amongst companies, resulting in extended but tightly coupled supply chains. The flow of product and information is potentially more complex than in-house operations.

This special issues looks to provide theories, tools and case studies of the application of modelling and simulation techniques beyond “traditional” manufacturing, operations or supply chain systems. Work can relate to service or manufacturing sectors or a combination of the two and can examine the development of new techniques or the application of techniques for greater understanding of emerging business models. Work can be at any level from operations through to strategic supply chain level. The research may come from any sector and from any field of modelling and simulation.

Papers may include either theoretical or empirical research. Suitable themes in this issue include but are not limited to the following:

• How do we use simulation modelling and analysis techniques beyond "traditional" manufacturing and supply chains?
• What are the challenges and potential solutions for modelling the return, remanufacture and recycling of products
• How can services or servitization be modelled and simulated?
• Can "product service systems" be modelled to understand differences between "traditional" supply chains and service-led supply chains?
• What are the challenges to modelling collaborations between companies?
• How can data from the field or market be incorporated into business models and simulations?
• How can planning and control systems be included in models that stretch beyond "simple" operational boundaries?
• Combined modelling techniques for modelling and simulation new business models

Important Dates
Deadline for submission of manuscripts: 31 January, 2008
Notification of acceptance/rejection to authors: 31 March, 2008
Final (camera-ready) papers submission: 31 July, 2008

Call for papers: Sustainable Development and Environmental Education

Call for papers: Sustainable Development and Environmental Education

A special issue of International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development

All disciplines and all segments of society need to work together, proactively, in seeking long-term solutions to environmental problems. The recent establishment of an International Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development is one example of this new approach. An increasing number of companies currently act and communicate based on their triple performance (i.e. economic, environmental and social).

As educators and scientists we can follow this example by keeping in mind the bigger picture when it comes doing our research and educating our young people. Education plays a major role in achieving changes in attitudes that contribute to environmental awareness in society. The average person is usually somewhat informed about environmental problems. However, not many fully understand the basis of these problems or how to deal with them. One example of rising public awareness is the increasing use of recycled materials, particularly in road systems, paper making and plastics manufacturing. Environmental education is especially critical for young people who will be future decision makers. Papers are sought on all aspects of sustainable development and environmental education.

Original research paper or reviews are invited in the following and related areas:

• Sustainable development
• Environmental education
• Recycling
• Company performance indicators
• Waste water treatment and sanitation
• Pollution prevention and waste minimization
• Case studies
• Environmental management models
• Physico-chemical treatment processes
• Treatment and disposal of solid and hazardous waste
• Water reuse and recycling of industrial waste

Important Dates
Deadline for paper submission: 31 January 2008
First turn of papers review: 31 March 2008
Second turn of papers review: 31 May 2008
Final papers submission: 31 July 2008

Call for papers: Flexible Learning Organisations

Call for papers: Flexible Learning Organisations

A special issue of International Journal of Learning and Change

Many scholars agree that the concept of the learning organisation is not precise due to the fact that each organisation is unique and that organisations should be given the adequate flexibility to de-velop their own and relevant conditions leading to an effective learning organisation. Some of these issues have been discussed in recent literature on organisational and individual learning. During the process of becoming an effective learning organisation, in fact, organisations must be given enough space and time for creativity action and synthesis of their own, customised versions of the learning organisations. This may also generate different tensions and will probably provide even more uncertainty and ambiguity in organisations, thus prevent them from implementing a learning organisation. For the idea of learning organisation to be meaningful, it needs to have practical relevance and value, and the question is how relevant the concept of an effective learning organisation is for business growth and development.

This special issue aims to draw on theory and practice of learning organisations and the process of adaptation of learning in a varied organisational context. The issue addresses how the idea of the learning organisation should be adapted to various internal and external circumstances, contexts, situations, etc. All papers, both theoretical and empirical using qualitative and quantitative methods, on flexible learning organisations are welcome.

Following papers fall in the area of interest of this special issue:

• Experiences from and suggestions for how the learning organisation could be adapted to, for instance, one or some of the following parameters:
• Flexibility as a concept and its relevance to organisational learning
• Governance and bureaucratic processes in learning organisations
• Organic and evolutionary structures and processes in corporate entrepreneurship
• Learning in SMEs and MNCs
• Professional or/and/vs. non-professional (less trained) learning organisations
• International business structures in learning organisations
• Learning organisations related to service innovation
• Learning processes in services or/and/vs. product producing organisations
• Learning through resource leveraging and venture capital formation (rich vs. poor organisations)
• Learning at different growth cycles and industry lifecycles (prosperity and recession issues)

Since the idea of the learning organisation has been defined in many different ways, by different authors, and since this special issue is about trying to find some sort of order in this chaos, it might actually – in this specific case – be a good idea to have a common frame of reference for all submitters. Therefore, it is advisable that everybody is familiar with two of my own pieces, namely:

"A typology of the idea of learning organisation", (Örtenblad, A., 2002, Management Learning 33(2): 213-230) and "The learning organisation: Towards an integrated model", and (Örtenblad, A., 2004, The Learning Organization 11(2): 129-144)

and in some way relate their own work to one or both of these papers.

Important Dates
100 word abstract to anders.ortenblad@set.hh.se by: 1 February 2008.
Please indicate subject: 'Call for papers – Abstract'. All abstracts must be submitted as Microsoft Word documents, Times New Roman 12, single space. They must contain on the first page a title, authors’ names, postal addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and keywords.
Notification of acceptance: 1 March 2008
Full paper due: 1 June 2008
Notification of acceptance: 1 September 2008
Final version of paper due: 1 October 2008

Newly announced journal: International Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design

Computational biology and drug design are complementary disciplines that hold great promise for the advancement of cutting-edge research and development in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences. Research and advances in these two areas influence broad ranges of scientific and engineering fields. International Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design - to begin publication in 2008 - provides a common platform for the cross-fertilisation of ideas, and to help shape knowledge and scientific achievements by bridging these two very important and complementary disciplines into an interactive and attractive forum.

Call for papers: Learning, Learning Organisations and the Global Enterprise

Call for papers: Learning, Learning Organisations and the Global Enterprise

A special issue of International Journal of Learning and Change

Learning, both at individual and collective levels in an organisation - so-called organisational learning - has become a subject of intense research. A variety of fields such as individual psychology, organisation behaviour, strategy and international management have addressed themselves to the issue of how people learn, how this learning is dependent on the culture they are embedded in, how learning at an individual level is translated into learning at an organisational level. The issue also examines whether there are intrinsic patterns among individuals and organisations engaged in learning at different times and different circumstances. These issues are important to managers of both single country and multinational enterprises.

The purpose of this special issue is to explore the effectiveness of individual learning, examine the cultural assumptions behind learning theories, provide empirical evidence from different cultures, establish linkages between individual and organisational learning, identify the role of organisational management to facilitate and enhance the effectiveness of learning, and implications for multinational enterprises. The issue welcomes both conceptual and empirical papers addressing to the above issues, and other issues that may have a bearing on the central issues.

We are interested in papers covering learning in the following areas, with a special emphasis on how learning is related to enhancement of organisational capabilities and change. Some areas of focus include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Review of learning theories
• How does individual learning translate into organisational learning?
• Cultural assumptions of learning theories
• How can organisations facilitate individual learning to facilitate more focused organisational learning?
• Empirical studies on linkages of learning to cultures
• Evidence and implications of differences on organisational learning in managing MNCs
• Underlying assumptions of learning theories on individual and collective psychology
• Effect of a multi cultural context on organisational learning
• What do we know about organisational learning?
• Practical use of understanding of cultural dependence of learning theories
• Is there such a thing as organisational learning?
• New approaches to research design or qualitative analysis

Important Dates
Full paper due: 31 March 2008
Notification of acceptance: 31 May 2008
Final version of paper due: 31 August 2008

Call for papers: Complexity, Leadership and Change Processes

Call for papers: Complexity, Leadership and Change Processes

A special issue of International Journal of Learning and Change

This special issue is dedicated to exploring the importance of leadership in relation to complexity phenomena and change processes. In particular, we invite papers exploring the experience of leading and how traditional views of leadership qualities and behaviour must respond to a new highly dynamic, global, and knowledge based economy. We focus attention on leadership as social process meaning that the action of leading is of crucial interest. What are leaders doing when they are leading? What do they experience when trying to influence others? What are their responses to events and developments that are not planned and expected? How do they deal with the numbers of paradoxes arising in organisations; for instance, the paradoxes of stability and change, production and innovation, control and delegating decision power, ethics and moral?

We are interested in the question of what roles of the leader are appropriate under unpredictable demands of knowledge development, creativity, innovation and in new global contexts. Important considerations are those of identity and diversity, power and communication. In relation to this, this Special Issue invites different and original ideas concerning the phenomena of complexity, such as self-organisation, paradox, emergence and human interaction dynamics, both from what has come to be known as the complexity approaches to organisational studies and from other areas dealing with complexity.

We invite submissions which address both theoretical and empirical aspects of complexity, leadership and change processes. Papers constructed to move theoretical and methodological thinking are particularly encouraged. Studies using narrative accounts of own experience, action oriented consultative research and ethnographical approaches are welcomed together with other forms of case studies.

We are interested in papers covering, but not limited to, the following areas, with special emphasis on complexity approaches and the experience of leading:

• Paradigm shifts in thinking about leadership and change processes in complex organisations
• Advances in organisational complexity theory with respect to leadership and change processes
• Leadership as social process
• The experience of participative and explorative attitudes in the performance of leadership
• Leadership in knowledge intensive organisations, research projects and innovation processes
• Leadership processes and ethics in complex organisational settings
• Effects of leadership processes in organisational change programs
• Leadership processes and communication
• The nature of control in leading
• Power and conflict in leadership processes
• The emergence and importance of identity, diversity and values in the actions of leading
• Leader's response to organisational culture, continuity and change
• New perspectives on knowledge creation and learning in the processes of leading
• The experience of leading in multicultural and global contexts

Important Dates
Authors should send a 150 word abstract as an e-mail attachment to the Guest Editor (stig.johannessen@samfunn.ntnu.no) by: 15 December 2007

Please indicate subject: 'Call for papers – Abstract'. All abstracts must be submitted as Microsoft Word documents, Times New Roman 12, single space. They must contain on the first page a title, authors' names, postal addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and keywords. Full papers are most welcome and will be considered in the review process. Abstracts will be subject to a blind review.

Schedule

Full paper due: 1 March 2008
Notification of acceptance: 30 April 2008
Final version of paper due: 30 June 2008

Special issue: Advanced surface finishing technologies for engineered components

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology 27(2/3/4) 2007 is a special issue: Advanced surface finishing technologies for engineered components, with papers selected from the submissions to the International Conference on Surface Finishing Technology and Surface Engineering (ICSFT2006) held in Dalian, China, 24 to 27 September 2006.

Article titles:
* Effective removal of burrs by magnetic abrasive finishing using face electromagnetic inductor
* Rounding process of workpiece in through-feed centreless grinding with large grinding allowance
* Investigations of silicon wafer grinding using finite element analysis
* Characterisation of dynamic properties of coating-substrate system by molecular dynamics simulation
* Influence of micro-patterned laser surface texturing on the tribological performance
* Modelling and analysis of contact force for robotic deburring process
* Influence of rare-earth La2O3 on the properties of laser cladding on 316L stainless steel coatings
* Optimum design and grinding performance of ultrasonic hone-lapping tool with fixed abrasive material
* Identification and measurement of superabrasive shapes
* Study on the finishing mechanism of fluid magnetic abrasive
* Surface finishing of new type RS-SiC ceramics
* Research on aspheric machining system error compensation and experiment eliminate the error wave area
* Research on the properties of ultraviolet-curing resin lapping plate
* Motion simulation of annular polishing
* Study on surface finish mechanism in quick-point grinding
* Technique and theoretical analysis for the finishing of large discal parts
* Preparation and performance study of TiN films deposited by MF unbalanced magnetron sputtering technique
* Investigation of the material removal model for bonnet tool polishing with precession
* An experimental study on mirror-form grinding of free-form surface by the use of coarse diamond grinding wheel
* The development of a wire saw for wafer slicing of single-crystal silicon
* A study of the inverse dynamics of a hybrid polishing kinematical machine tool based on the flexible multi-body systems
* Development of a global–local geometric planning approach to automated part finishing processes
* Study on application of squeeze oil film technology in deep hole surface finishing
* Numerical simulation of compulsive swirling flows field on two-phase swirling flows finishing
* The surface quality of monocrystalline silicon cutting using fixed abrasive diamond endless wire saw
* A novel ballonet polishing tool and its robot control system for polishing the curved surface of mould
* A new ultrasonic vibration machine for honing
* Fabrication and characterisation of ultra fine-grained diamond coatings on the interior hole surface
* A study on the effect of powder on surface quality in EDM finishing
* Evaluation of surface roughness for ELID ground brittle materials
* Study on the topography of the surfaces machined by micro-EDM
* Formation and control of burrs in precision machining
* State control of passivating films in electrolytic in-process dressing precision grinding for silicon nitride
* Simulation of a ceramic ball lapping process under dual rotating plates lapping mode
* Research on machining mechanics and experiment of ultrasonic-magnetorheological compound finishing
* Research on hydrodynamic suspension nanoscale polishing for K9 optical glass
* Auto-correlation study on the surface profile finished by abrasive jet with grinding wheel as restraint

Newly announced journal: International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Multiscale Mechanics

International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Multiscale Mechanics - to begin publication in 2008 - will encourage the sharing of knowledge and discoveries amongst researchers in mechanics working at different length scales. Its scope is broad to encompass mechanics research at the atomistic, micro and macro length scales. It includes experimental, computational and theoretical works in both solid and fluid mechanics.

Special issue: Wetland systems to control runoff

International Journal of Water 3(3) 2007 is a special issue: Wetland systems to control runoff.

Article titles:
* A novel alum-sludge based Constructed Wetland system to reduce pollution effects of agricultural run-off: first results
* Controlling urban stormwater pollution by constructed wetlands: a Canadian perspective
* Water quality monitoring in wetland ecosystems using microbial model communities
* Integrated Constructed Wetlands: concept, design, site evaluation and performance
* Estimation of erosion rate in a small catchment of Loktak wetland, India, using lead-210 (210Pb) technique
* Comparison of the ability of two grasses viz., Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin. ex. Steud and Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash to improve surface water quality in a constructed wetland
* Towards a global freshwater convention: challenges ahead
* Laboratory evaluation of a water-treatment sequence using Moringa oleifera seed coagulant

Newly announced journal: International Journal of Hospitality Knowledge Management

The objectives of International Journal of Hospitality Knowledge Management - to begin publication in 2008 - are to challenge and enhance the existing literature and to provide the platform where new practices are discussed, enabling the development of new techniques for researching as well as managing the hospitality industry. With its international scope and principles of hospitality, it aspires to become a leading journal in the field.

Special issue: 4th McMaster World Congress on Corporate Governance

International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics 3(4) 2007 is a special issue of papers from the 4th McMaster World Congress on Corporate Governance held in Hamilton, Canada, January 2007.

Article titles:
* Corporate governance practices in publicly quoted companies in Nigeria
* Improving the board's involvement in corporate strategy: directors speak out
* Family pyramidal holdings and board of directors
* Merger and acquisition related determinants of executive compensation arrangements' adoption
* Corporate governance in developing economies – the case of Egypt
* An interpretive structural model of corporate governance
* Board of director effectiveness committees
* Accounting standards for employee stock option disclosure

Call for papers: Enforcement and Competition

Call for papers: Enforcement and Competition

A special issue of International Journal of Intellectual Property Management

Raising levels of enforcement called for under obligations contained in Part III of the TRIPS Agreement are fast becoming a bone of contention in international trade. On Monday 9 April 2007, the U.S. government announced it would file two WTO complaints against China over lax enforcement of trade mark and copyrights. These complaints signal that the U.S. is moving beyond its traditional emphasis on harmonization of substantive legal provisions dealing with intellectual property rights. The EU, meanwhile, is in the process of implementing Directive 2004/48/EC (the “Enforcement Directive”), raising the levels of enforcement possibilities for rightholders. Both the US and EU furthermore ‘export’ their domestic norms on enforcement of IPRs through association agreements, bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and free trade agreements (FTAs) in an effort to protect investment and technology transfer to trade partners.

On the other side of the spectrum, the transplantation of these domestic norms to other jurisdictions often create problems in the receiving jurisdiction. Furthermore, consumer organisations, NGOs and SMEs are increasingly pushing for more user rights in the form of exemptions and limitations to exclusive intellectual property rights. (See IViR Studies for the European Commission on The Recasting of Copyright & Related Rights for the Knowledge Economy and on The Implementation and Effect in Member States' Laws of Directive 2001/29/EC on the Harmonisation of Certain Aspects of Copyright and Related Rights in the Information Society). Last, but not least, is the issue of the role (if any) of competition/antitrust law as a means to curb the undesirable effects of the exercise of IPR, but also as a means to regulate the market in technology transfer.

The goal of this Special Issue is to identify and analyse the relationships between raising the standard of substantive intellectual property rights and the enforcement thereof, and the call for providing more limitations and exceptions at domestic, bilateral or multilateral level. Original contributions, including conceptual, empirical, and case studies, as well as technical reports, management reports, benchmarks, and software and book reviews addressing and/or relating to any of the subject coverage areas are welcome.

Papers are invited from but not limited to the following major areas:

• Raised enforcement of IPRs due to TRIPS implementation
• Raised enforcement of IPRs due to FTA/BIT obligations
• Raised enforcement of IPRs due to regional or domestic initiatives
• Transplantation of 'domestic' IPR norms to other legal systems;
• Judiciary development of effective enforcement measures and remedies;
• Shaping statutory exemptions and limitation to IPR;
• Shaping judiciary exemptions and limitation to IPR;
• Antitrust and compulsory licensing as a means to regulate and prevent abuse in the IPR and technology transfer market;
• Management and economics of IPR enforcement

Important Date
Abstract and proposed title: 1 December 2007
Full Paper submission: 1 April 2008
Review notification: 1 June 2008
Revised submission: 1 August 2008
Notification of acceptance: 15 September 2008

Call for papers: The Management and Marketing of Motorsports

Call for papers: The Management and Marketing of Motorsports

A special issue of International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing

Despite its multibillion-dollar annual revenues and global popularity, motorsports management and marketing have received comparatively little rigorous analysis. In particular, motorsports has captivated corporate sponsors so that, for example, sponsorship revenues of NASCAR exceed that of the NFL in the U.S. Yet, published research in the area tends to be sparse and fragmented.

The aim of this special issue is to provide an overview of the global motorsports marketplace. The objective is to focus a small but growing body of literature about motorsports, with the hope of stimulating future research. The goal is to publish a group of articles that will provide management and marketing tools for practitioners. Consequently, the issue seeks submissions, which include both theoretical and applied research, and both empirical results and non-empirical perspectives. Practitioner perspectives are strongly encouraged.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Marketing and managing motorsports in an international environment
• Why does motorsports require knowledge and research specific to its own context?
• The growth and development of motorsports sanctioning bodies
• Marketing and managing motorsports sanctioning bodies (e.g., Formula 1, NASCAR, IRL, CART, NHRA, Rally, V8 Supercars, etc.)
• The history and development of female auto racing drivers
• Motorsports television audiences and broadcast rights negotiations
• Diversity in motorsports
• Business-to-business marketing in motorsports, including corporate hospitality and client entertainment
• Ticket sales and event management
• Marketing promotions and sponsorship activation
• The occupational subculture of motorsports and driver migration
• Tobacco sponsorship and/or ethical issues in motorsports sponsorship
• Fan and/or sponsor loyalty among motorsports fans
• Brand awareness of motorsports sponsors
• Evaluating motorsports sponsorships
• Motorsports sponsorship sales and servicing

Important Date
Deadline for submission: 15 January, 2008

Newly announced journal: International Journal of Business Excellence

International Journal of Business Excellence - to begin publication in 2008 - will promote research and application of new developments in business performance measures, metrics, benchmarking and best practices. Moreover, developing suitable implementation framework is a challenge for successful results with best practices. The journal will aim to help professionals in business, academic educators, industry consultants, and practitioners to contribute, to disseminate and to learn from each other’s work. Global business perspectives and the implications of business excellence are emphasised in developing appropriate strategies, tactics, techniques, tools and operational policies for being successful in achieving the best performance.

Call for papers: Emerging Security Issues in Communication Networks and Distributed Systems

Call for papers: Emerging Security Issues in Communication Networks and Distributed Systems

A special issue of International Journal of Communication Networks and Distributed Systems

In today’s scenario, security plays an important role in protecting data/information from various kinds of (increasing) attacks on computing and communication systems with the support of continuous innovative solutions. It is therefore necessary to provide a means for researchers in this domain to promote quality publications of their work.

The main purpose of this special issue is to bring out work on different perspectives of security issues (and solutions) in the domain of communication networks and distributed systems. Security, defined as ensuring protected communication among computing/communication systems and user applications across public and private networks, is the core for guaranteeing confidentiality, privacy and data/information protection. Insecure systems affect the normal functioning of individuals and businesses that are connected. Based on the recent threats and incidents reported to CERT (CMU), security in networks and distributed systems has increasingly become a global challenge. It is therefore critical to design and develop security solutions from different perspectives including that of end-to-end. Besides these, the growing need of wireless, ad-hoc and sensor networks pose threats of a new dimension. Another related technical aspect concerns the communication speed in networks versus complex and time consuming cryptography/security mechanisms and protocols. In this context, this Special Issue focuses on emerging security issues in communication networks and distributed systems.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:

• Cryptographic techniques and their applications (confidentiality, digital signatures, multiparty computations, etc.)
• Cryptographic protocols (for authentication, key distribution and management, forward and proactive security, electronic voting, etc.)
• Practical implementations of cryptographic protocols in network (wired and wireless)/distributed computing (protocol engineering for secure protocols, meta-level protocols for security,etc.)
• Secure mobile code and computing (language based, proof-carrying code, mobile agents, code signing, etc.)
• Security in communication software (secure software engineering, etc.)

Important Dates
Full Papers Due: 15 January, 2008
Notification of Acceptance: 15 April, 2008
Camera-ready Papers Due: 15 May, 2008

Call for papers: Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare

Call for papers: Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare

A special issue of International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage

This special issue aims to publish research that leverages lean six sigma in clinical and business processes to confront the challenges for quality and cost savings in healthcare systems. The last decade has witnessed lean six sigma being successfully implemented in healthcare institutions across the United States, since the Commonwealth Health Corporation launched its six sigma initiative in March 1998. At the time of its ten-year anniversary, this special issue aims to attract research on lean and six sigma methodologies in healthcare and to share experiences amongst healthcare practitioners and researchers.

Topics in health care include, but are not limited to:

• Lean and six sigma versus other quality initiatives
• Lean and six sigma application (case studies)
• Integration of lean and six sigma strategies
• Selection and use of the tools and techniques of six sigma
• Project selection in lean six sigma
• Critical success factors of six sigma and design for six sigma
• Performance measurement for six sigma and design for six sigma
• Strategic aspects of lean and/or six sigma
• Role of leadership in six sigma
• Six sigma in healthcare supply chain management
• Best practice of lean six sigma

Important Dates
Paper Submission: 31 December 2007
Communication of Results: 31 March 2008
Final Manuscript submission: 31 May 2008

Call for papers: Planning and Control in Robotics

Call for papers: Planning and Control in Robotics

A special issue of International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control

Robots have been increasingly used in areas such as space navigation and exploration, hazard handling, rescue work, medicine and home care. The new generation of robots are more sophisticated, accurate, mobile, intelligent and autonomous. Robot planning and control has become demanding and challenging, and has motivated significant research and technological development in the areas of control, computing, communications and mechatronics.

This special issue will focus on novel robot planning and control methodologies and the applications of robots to new and challenging areas.

Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Intelligent robots
• Mobile robots and robot navigation and exploration
• Robot motion planning and optimisation
• Autonomous robots and multi-agent systems
• Adaptive control
• Predictive control
• Identification and image processing
• Design and control of non-conventional robots
• Applications of robots

Important Date
Deadline for submission is: 31 July, 2008

New book: Science,Technology and Sustainability in the Middle East and North Africa

Science,Technology and Sustainability in the Middle East and North Africa is the latest book to be published in the Globalisation, Technology and Sustainable Development book series, edited by Dr. Allam Ahmed from SPRU – Science & Technology Policy Research at The Freeman Centre, University of Sussex.
The main objective of this book is to critically examine the complex relationship between science, technology and the environment. In doing so, a holistic approach is used to provide an in-depth analysis and state-of-the-art overview of the efforts made by the different countries in the MENA region to tackle these challenges of sustainability and SD.

Science,Technology and Sustainability in the Middle East and North Africa
Ahmed, Allam
Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, 2007
ISSN (Print): 0-907776-30-2
ISSN (Online): 0-907776-32-9
160.00 Euros, shipping included

Call for papers: International Journal of Opportunity, Growth and Value Creation

The International Journal of Opportunity, Growth and Value Creation is preparing its inaugural issue. All researchers interested in submitting papers for publication in the area of Opportunity, including, but not limited to issues related to the identification, recognition, creation, selection and exploitation of opportunities, are requested to submit papers to the Editors-in-Chief, Dr. Terrence E. Brown or Dr. Sascha Kraus. The deadline for submission of the inaugural issue is 1 March 2008

Newly announced journal: International Journal of Experimental and Computational Biomechanics

International Journal of Experimental and Computational Biomechanics - to begin publication in 2008 - will encourage the sharing of knowledge and discoveries among researchers in biomechanics. It will include experimental, computational and theoretical works in biomechanics aimed at improving the knowledge base in biomechanics with the eventual hope that this knowledge will help improve the health, and thus livelihood, of humans requiring medical treatment.

Special issue: Industrial ecology and regional development

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal 4(3/4) 2007 is a special issue: Industrial ecology and regional development, with papers presented as part of a stream on industrial ecology and regional development at the 11th Annual Sustainable Development Research Conference, Helsinki, June 2005.

Article titles:
* Multiscalar landscapes: transnational corporations, business ethics and industrial ecology
* Industrial symbiosis for more sustainable, localised industrial systems
* Embedding eco-industrialism into local economies: the search for sustainable business and policy paradigms
* Promoting environmental justice through industrial symbiosis: developing pelletised wood fuel to tackle Scottish rural fuel poverty
* Loop closing, material cycling and government policy: a case study from Texas
* Promoting environmental strategies: a case study of territorial assessment
* Industrial ecology as 'best available technique': a case study of the Italian Industrial District of Murano
* Exchanges: physical, economic, but also institutional

Newly announced journal: International Journal of Knowledge and Web Intelligence

International Journal of Knowledge and Web Intelligence - to begin publication in 2008 - covers the techniques, systems, methods and applications that are helping to transform the World Wide Web from a static data and information repository into an interactive, dynamic, transparent and secure knowledge and service network. The Web has become a ubiquitous tool for finding and sharing information, and conducting business, learning and entertainment. The journal is committed to deepening the understanding of enabling technologies for applying and developing the Web as a global information repository as well as computational, cognitive and social foundations of the Web.

Newly announced journal: International Journal of Aviation Management

International Journal of Aviation Management - to begin publication in 2008 - addresses major management issues facing the air transport industry today. The journal offers practitioners and academics a forum for analysis and discussion in the field of aviation management. Papers cover all the major sectors of the industry: airlines, airports, air traffic control and related organisations.

Call for papers: Commercialization of Biomedical Technologies

Call for papers: Commercialization of Biomedical Technologies

A special issue of International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology

The goal of this special issue is to present critical issues related to the commercialization of biomedical technologies and the effective strategies that apply these concepts to transform inventions into successful commercial products. This collection of manuscripts will discuss key aspects in the development of a broad range of novel and innovative technologies, including medical devices, diagnostics, and therapeutics.

The emphasis of the special issue is on critical challenges in the commercialization process specifically as they relate to biomedical technologies. Particular emphasis will be placed on examples where innovative solutions to these challenges have resulted in processes and products which impact the healthcare field and patient outcome.

Coverage includes but is not limited to the following topics (within the fields of medicine, health, environment, etc.):

• Prototype development
• Intellectual property development and asset management
• Identification and alignment with market trends
• Optimising academic-industrial-government collaborations
• Technology transfer and licensing
• Beta site strategy

Important Dates
Extended abstract of no more than 3 pages due: 31 January, 2008
Preliminary acceptance/rejection notification: 1 May, 2008
Full paper due: 1 August, 2008
Final acceptance/rejection notification: 1 September, 2008
Camera-ready paper due: 15 September, 2008

Call for papers: Wind Power Generation

Call for papers: Wind Power Generation

A special issue of International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control

Renewable power generation, in particular wind power generation, is to the benefit of society and has attracted a great deal of research interests. Wind power generation (WPG) is a multidisciplinary subject and there are currently a few special issues on WPG in power engineering journals, such as IEEE Transactions on Power Systems (August, 2007). However, there is no such special issue appearing in system/control/signal journals. This special issue of will present contributions on WPG by system/control/signal professionals.

The topics will include, but not limited to:

• Modelling and control of wind turbines
• Modelling and control of wind farms
• Wind speed: modelling and prediction
• Power system control with wind power generation
• Energy storage with wind power generation
• Wind power and other renewable power co-generation
• Optimal control and management of wind energy
• Control and noise reduction of wind turbines
• Control and stress-reduction of mechanical part in wind turbine power train
• New and improved control of generators for wind power generation
• New and improved control of power electronics for wind power generation
• Large-scale integration of wind power into power systems

Important Date
Deadline for submission is: 31 July, 2008

Call for papers: Chinese Firms Go Global: Challenges and Opportunities

Call for papers: Chinese Firms Go Global: Challenges and Opportunities

A special issue of International Journal of Chinese Culture and Management

China is emerging as a global trader and global investor. With China’s accession to World Trade Organization (WTO), it has risen to the third largest trading economy (total trade over US$1.1 trillion) since 2004. China’s growing desire for overseas investment has also placed China as 17th in the world among outward investors in 2005 (World Investment Report 2006, UNCTAD). Along with this trend, Chinese firms such as China Mineral and Metal Corporation, Sinochem, Lenovo and Huawei Technology are completing global acquisition projects with the encouragement of Chinese government’s Going Global Strategy. However, it is imperative for Chinese TNCs to acquire skills and expertise to handle the changing management and governance of their operations abroad during their expansion process. Therefore, as far as the further development of Chinese domestic economy and Chinese firms’ strategy abroad are concerned, a number of questions are unsolved. This special issue addresses these questions, which include:

What are the regional and sectoral trends of Chinese ODI?
What are the ownership structure of Chinese firms' ODI?
What are the challenges and opportunities from Chinese firms' Going Global Strategy?
In what way does Chinese government policy affect Chinese firms' ODI?
What are the styles of management and governance of Chinese firms' overseas operation?

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Chinese ODI (Outward Direct Investment)
• Internationalisation strategy of Chinese firms
• Organizational culture and management of Chinese firms
• Re-entry experience of Chinese managers
• Foreign policy of China
• Immigration and overseas Chinese
• Environmental concerns and sustainable development

Important Dates
1-2 Page Abstract: 31 December 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 April 2008
Notification to Authors: 15 May 2008
Final Versions Due: 10 July 2008

Call for papers: Mechatronics in Manufacturing

Call for papers: Mechatronics in Manufacturing

A special issue of International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management

The enabling power of integrated sensing and actuating afforded by mechatronics technology not only has assumed the early role of relieving human beings of rudimentary, dull or hazardous tasks, but also has become an indispensable factor in the fabrication of world’s most advanced products and equipment. The goal of this special issue is to publish new ideas and the most recent developments in manufacturing related mechatronics technology as well as in education on mechatronics. As mechatronics technology is omnipresent in every stage of manufacturing activities from plant integration, automated equipment, process monitoring/control to nanoscale sensing and measurement, its multidisciplinary nature will be well reflected in the scope of this special issue.

Selected papers will be published from the 2nd International Forum of Systems and Mechatronics, 2007 (IFSM2007). One of the main focuses of the conference is to provide the opportunity for scholars from all over the world to discuss their academic programmes, identify research opportunities, and initiate joint research programmes in the area of manufacturing related mechatronics. However, the special issue is not limited to papers selected from this conference. It will accept submitted general papers on the topic, through the same general peer review processes.

The subject coverage of this special issue includes, but is not limited to, topics that address:

• Mechatronics in mechanical manufacturing
• Mechatronics in electronic manufacturing
• Mechatronics in optoelectronic manufacturing
• Mechatronics in production automation
• Precision positioning and measurement Product and process modelling
• Models in mechatronics education
• Knowledge management in mechatronics education
• Innovation in mechatronics education
• Value engineering in mechatronics education
• International collaboration training in mechatronics education
• Evaluation and accreditation in mechatronics education

Important Dates
Deadline for submission of manuscripts: 31 December 2007
Communication of peer reviews to authors: 31 March 2008
Deadline for revised manuscripts: 30 April 2008

Call for papers: Mechatronics in Fluid Power and Naval Systems

Call for papers: Mechatronics in Fluid Power and Naval Systems

A special issue of International Journal of Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications

Advances in mechatronics has lead to significant innovations and developments in fluid power control. The performance of fluid power components and systems can thus be promoted to new technical stages and applied more widely in many different industrial fields - from system integration, mobile machines, automation process equipment, process monitoring/control to nanoscale sensing and measurement.

The goal of this special issue is to publish new ideas and the most recent developments in fluid power technology as well as in the fields of naval architecture and marine and offshore engineering. Selected papers will be published from the 2nd International Forum of Systems and Mechatronics, 2007 (IFSM2007). One of the main focuses of the conference is to provide the opportunity for scholars from all over the world to discuss their academic programmes, identify research opportunities, and initiate joint research programmes in the area of mechatronics in fluid power and naval systems. However, the special issue is not limited to papers selected from the conference. It will accept submitted general papers on the topic, through the same general peer review processes.

The scope of the issue covers, but is not limited to:

• Applications of fluid power control systems
• New developments of fluid power components
• Energy-saving of fluid power control systems
• Water hydraulic control systems
• Electro- and magnet-rheolorical fluid technology
• Other important topics in fluid power systems
• Decision support systems for collaborative product lifecycle management
• Marine safety
• Design and construction
• Environment, loads and hydrodynamics
• Strength and fatigue
• Vibration and noise
• Manoeuvering and propulsion
• Materials and sandwich structures
• Reliability and risk based inspection
• Corrosion, coating, monitoring and detection
• Stability

Important Dates
Deadline for submission of manuscripts: 31 December 2007
Communication of peer reviews to authors: 31 March 2008
Deadline for revised manuscripts: 30 April 2008

Call for papers: Advanced Mechatronic Systems

Call for papers: Advanced Mechatronic Systems

A special issue of International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology

As the demands for mechatronic devices and systems rapidly increase, the research in these areas, especially for transportation vehicles and underwater measurement, has expanded. The development of modern mechatronic technology has ignited innovation in electric machines in terms of topologies, driving and applications. Progress in robot technology has extended beyond automation of manufacturing industry and has proven to be applicable to such areas as healthcare, entertainment, security/patrol and home life.

The goal of this special issue is to publish new ideas and the most recent developments in mechatronic devices/systems for transportation vehicle as well as underwater vehicles, electrical machines and drive systems for applications to intelligent mechatronics, such as intelligent robots. Selected papers will be published from the 2nd International Forum of Systems and Mechatronics, 2007 (IFSM2007). One of the main focuses of the conference is to provide the opportunity for scholars from all over the world to discuss their academic programmes, identify research opportunities, and initiate joint research programmes in the area of advanced mechatronic systems. However, the special issue is not limited to papers selected from the conference. It will accept submitted general papers on the topic, through the same general peer review processes.

The scope of the issue covers, but is not limited to:

• High speed railway systems and aerospace systems their measurement devices
• Underwater vehicles, communication systems, and imaging systems
• Systems analysis
• PM machine design
• Special machines and their applications
• Motor drives
• Renewable energy
• Intelligent mechatronics for robotics and advanced vehicles (HEV & FCEV)
• Humanoid robots
• Mobile robots and manipulators
• Planning and navigation
• Human-robot interaction
• Visual servo or tracking

Important Dates
Deadline for submission of manuscripts: 31 December 2007
Communication of peer reviews to authors: 31 March 2008
Deadline for revised manuscripts: 30 April 2008

Special issue: Composting of solid waste

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management 7(3/4) 2007 is a special issue: Composting of solid waste.

Article titles:
* Confirming decentralised composting as a definite option in urban waste management
* Utilisation of Municipal Solid Waste Compost as landfill cover soil for reducing greenhouse gas emission
* Composting of Municipal Solid Waste through chemical pretreatment
* Odour emissions from MSW composting process steps
* Mining of compost from dumpsites and bioreactor landfills
* Composting Municipal Solid Waste: the Indian scenario
* Multi-Criteria Decision Making and composting of waste in the municipality of Bacoor in the Philippines
* Environmental audit of Municipal Solid Waste Management
* Alumni of an educational institute as change agents for community-based environmental management initiatives: experience from a Solid Waste Management demonstration project in Hanoi, Vietnam
* Utilisation of municipal solid waste as an amendment for reclamation of coal mine spoil dump
* Sustainability and replication potential of community-based composting: a case study of Bangladesh
* Efficiencies of select vector repellents during composting of Municipal Solid Waste
* Effect on maturity and nutritional parameters during vermicomposting of Municipal Solid Waste
* Experience in improving fertiliser value of compost by enriching with urine
* Post-composting techniques of digested household waste

Special issue: The role of business processes in service-oriented architectures

International Journal of Business Process Integration and Management 2(2) 2007 is a special issue: The role of business processes in service-oriented architectures.

Article titles:
* The role of business processes in service oriented architectures (Editorial)
* An algorithm for matching non-deterministic services with operating guidelines
* An SOA-based architecture framework
* Towards a service composition and enactment platform
* Model-driven and pattern-based integration of process-driven SOA models
* AMFIBIA: a meta-model for integrating business process modelling aspects
* Pricing web services
* Aspect-oriented techniques for web services: a model-driven approach

Newly announced journal: International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation

Most of the research and experiments in the field of engineering have devoted significant efforts to modelling and simulation of various complicated phenomena and processes occurring in engineering systems. International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation - to begin publication in 2008 - provides a multi-disciplinary approach to the development and advances in modelling and simulation, contributing to the understanding of different complex engineering systems.

Call for papers: Approaching Dual Use Technology Development Policy and Strategies

Call for papers: Approaching Dual Use Technology Development Policy and Strategies

A special issue of International Journal of Technology Management

While discussions on dual use technology have been in existence for several decades, approaching dual use technology development and policies is still an important agenda within the scope of the technology policy field. One specific chacracteristic to be highlighted, compared to the past, is that there is now an increased consensus on the necessity for the dual use based technology development.

It is expected that, with the special issue, a forum for discussing the relevance and importance of dual use technology policy will be created, leading to the application of ideas and research findings in the public and business policy fields.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:

• Major trends in dual use development and policies related to it
• Future directions for dual use technology development
• Individual country cases or international comparison cases of dual use technology development
• Historical analysis of dual use technology development
• Long-term quantitative analysis to glean out implications for dual use policies

Important Dates
Full paper due: 30 May 2008
Notification of acceptance: 31 August 2008
Final version of paper due: 30 September 2008

Special issue: Information and communication technologies and management of education

International Journal of Management in Education 1(3) 2007 is a special issue: Information and communication technologies and management of education.

Article titles:
* Information and communication technologies and challenges for the management of education: new managerial perspectives
* An innovative approach to creating business leaders: evidence from a case study
* Complementing education with competence development: an ICT-based application
* Administering a university's growth into the virtual domain: how to avoid the optimiser's curse
* Creating a knowledge-based academic community
* Development of an academic information system for effective education management

Call for papers: Chinese Recording Industry and Music Culture

Call for papers: Chinese Recording Industry and Music Culture

A special issue of International Journal of Chinese Culture and Management

Most research regarding audio-visual cultural products in the large Chinese market have paid attention to the emergence of western multinational players (Big Five) and their strategies of entry into large Chinese market. This Special Issue pays attention to the local Chinese players from Taiwan and Hong Kong that enjoy the cultural linguistic proximity and scale advantages and thrive in the extensive Chinese market. It analyses the cultural product flows within the large Chinese area and examines how the institutions in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong work together to facilitate the process of integration. Furthermore, the way of consuming music in Chinese context is different from how the West conceptualises it – rather than concert going and nightclub dancing as in the West, music is often consumed and reproduced in karaoke parlors.

The Special Issue deals with issues revolving around the production of the audio-visual product. Examples include the integration of local recording players (e.g. Rolling Stone), the function of local agents, and intellectual property management. It also attempts to theorise how music is consumed differently in China.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Chinese recording corporations
• Overview of Chinese recording industry
• Music agents and intellectual property
• Chinese pop songs, music festival and concert management
• Karaoke (KTV) industry in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China (Cash Box and Holiday)
• Cultural labour in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China; freelancing
• MTV channels in China
• Chinese idols, song competitions
• Chinese (from Mainland China) audience reception of Taiwanese and Hong Kong talents

Important Dates
1-2 Page Abstract: 30 Feb 2008
Submission of Manuscripts: 31 July 2008
Notification to Authors: 15 August 2008
Final Versions Due: 10 September 2008

Call for papers: Research and Innovation Evaluation: Theory, Practice and Experience

Call for papers: Research and Innovation Evaluation: Theory, Practice and Experience

A special issue of International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management

Innovation is increasingly acknowledged as essential for value creation in modern economic systems, and the role of innovation management may be seen as a strategically important catalyst affecting future growth. Up to the mid-1990s, a linear supply-driven view of the innovation process prevailed, according to which reinforcing the scientific and technological resources of a region would automatically generate economic growth. The rationale behind policy intervention was the "market failure argument", where there is a need to support investment in knowledge which would otherwise be under-funded by the private sector because of the public good nature of the output and excessive risks associated to these kind of investments.

However, in the last decade, theoretical thinking has evolved from a linear understanding of the innovation process, where scientific advances stem from the knowledge-producing sector and are progressively transferred to the economic sector, to a more interactive vision, accepting the idea of an open view of the firm’s environment, where innovation arises from complex feedback loops between the market place and the firm, between various units of firms, between the firm and the sources of knowledge, emphasizing the concept of a "regional innovation system" that shifts the focus from the production system to the institutional system of a geographical area.

This new paradigm has required a radical change in the design of the measures, programmes and policies supporting the innovation process. Henceforth, over the last decade, together with the traditional policies and programmes devoted to the upgrading and creation of RTD capacities, and the fostering of technology transfer centres and mechanisms in order to facilitate the process of industrial absorption of technologies created in the academic or public research laboratory, the innovation supporting framework has evolved into a multipurpose, multi-actor policy tool, with a more horizontal focus of its objectives.

Such a change in policy emphasis implies a corresponding change in the evaluation methodology, as the 'traditional' mode of evaluation of one single instrument, based on control and audit concepts, which addresses multiple participants may be insufficient to assess its contribution to innovation capability building and the innovation performance of the individual actors. Differently from the evaluation of the R&D programmes, which is relatively easy to conduct because of the fairly small range of R&D policy instruments that are usually pursued and the similarly limited range of impacts that are typically looked for (i.e., publications, citations, scientific prestige, number of patents), innovation programmes aimed at supporting the systemic and highly decentralised nature of innovation come in many forms, in contrast, and the impacts on industrial performance are similarly diverse. In this new framework, evaluations should be integrated in the planning of a policy measure to be effective and a clear evaluation strategy should be in place at the planning phase of the policy measures design.

This special issue will provide an international forum for academics, practitioners, and policy makers to investigate, exchange novel ideas and disseminate knowledge covering the broad area of innovation programme and policy evaluation. Experts and professionals from academia, industry, government and the public sector are invited to submit papers on their recent research and professional experience on the subject. Interdisciplinary research is also encouraged.

Papers dealing with (but not limited to) any of the following themes are appropriate for consideration:

• The changing role of the evaluator
• Best practices in the application of innovation programmes and policy formulation evaluation
• Impact assessment measures and methods
• Types of evaluation processes
• Evaluation of local and national systems of innovation
• Evaluation of innovation policies as a learning process
• Old vs new practices of innovation policy evaluation
• Measuring the quality of innovation policies
• Implementing and managing the evaluation process
• Scoping the evaluation of an innovation programme
• Peer-reviewing of evaluation practices
• Impact modelling and the design of measurable impact indicators
• Tools, concepts, and good practices in the evaluation of innovation
• How to measure innovation capability building
• Evaluation as a policy tool
• Advanced evaluation techniques and methodologies
• Quantitative and qualitative evaluation approaches
• Case studies using good evaluation practices or exemplar projects of innovation policy evaluation projects

Authors are welcome to address a wide range of questions associated with these themes.

Important Dates
Submission of papers: 1 February, 2008
Feedback to authors: 1 April, 2008
Final paper due: 1 June, 2008

Special issue: Technology based entrepreneurship and the management of knowledge bases

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management 7(3) 2007 is a special issue: Technology based entrepreneurship and the management of knowledge bases, comprising extended and improved versions of papers presented at the 3rd IEEE International Conference on Management of Innovation and Technology held in Singapore in June 2006.

Article titles:
* The dynamics of causality between entrepreneurship and unemployment
* Type of ownership and the creation of new enterprises in Navarre, Spain: differences in financial survival
* A map of the knowledge bases for the chemical industry
* Biotechnology founders and employment systems of start-ups
* Business and research forms of debate: argumentation and dissent as barriers to the commercialisation of innovations in hybrid industry-research organisations
* Barriers to user innovation: moving towards a paradigm of 'licence to innovate'?
* Innovation management in emerging technology ventures – the concept of an integrated idea management
* Understanding mobile-ICT implementation in the workplace: knowledge versus traditional users

Call for papers: Management of Security Technology and Policy

Call for papers: Management of Security Technology and Policy

A special issue of International Journal of Technology Management

Information has become a vital resource for the successful management of an enterprise. The successful management of security technology and policy in a corporate environment is indispensable to its contined growth. The goal of security management in such an envrionment is the continuous safeguarding of business processes and knowledge. This special issue aims to solve the difficult problems that an organisation frequently faces in business environments when it tries address information security issues, by providing practical and various research results.

Topics of interest focus on, but are not limited to:

• Compliance and legal liability
• Strategic management of information security
• Information assurance using security technology
• Policy, procedures, and guidelines for corporate security
• Best practices or case studies on management of information security technology

Important Dates
Due date of submission for manuscripts: 30 March, 2008
Notification of acceptance: 30 June, 2008
Due date of revised manuscripts: 30 July, 2008

Call for papers: Extending the Envelope of the Ride-Handling Trade-off

Call for papers: Extending the Envelope of the Ride-Handling Trade-off

A special issue of International Journal of Vehicle Design

The objective of this Special Issue on simultaneous improvement of road vehicle ride and handling is to create a reference issue for researchers and design engineers involved in extending the design envelope of the ride-handling trade-off imposed by the conflicting demands of ride comfort and handling stability on vehicle dynamics. This is done against a background of early examples of advanced suspension systems entering at the top end of the commercial market, and an expectation of much wider industrial demand for expertise in the field.

General areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Research on suspension, control and tyre modelling, experimentation and technologies to enhance ride and handling of road vehicles simultaneously
• Modelling technique development of road vehicle dynamics to support development of simultaneous improvement of ride and handling
• Development of experimental methods to facilitate simultaneous measurement of ride and handling
• Study and improvement of the correlation between numerical simulation and laboratory/road/track testing of vehicle ride and handling

Important Dates
Submission of draft manuscript: 30 June 2008
Feedback to authors and notification of acceptance/rejection: 31 December 2008

Call for papers: Technological Capability Development in the Middle Eastern and North African Countries

Call for papers: Technological Capability Development in the Middle Eastern and North African Countries

A special issue of International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development

The issues of technological capability development and learning have been studied in different economic settings, such as Latin America, Asia, and Africa. However, there is still a scarcity of empirical studies on these issues within the context of countries from the Middle East and North Africa.

In effect, it seems that, over the past few years, many of the North African and Middle Eastern countries not only have experienced a rapid economic growth, but also have been engaging in structural reforms of their economies by opening up their economic space. Simultaneously, they have shown a willingness to promote technological development. Many firms and other organisations have been engaged in active learning processes either in the private sector or in large state-owned enterprises. Whole new industrial sectors have emerged around new technologies or from different geographic spaces. Additionally, there is a profound modernisation process taking place in some traditional industries.

At the same time, several small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) appear to have been going through a modernisation processes on the basis of active and voluntary innovation policies. It appears that even regions that have been undergoing some political turmoil have shown increasing entrepreneurial activities in many new industrial sectors. Industrial clusters have also been consolidated when not created ab novo from government policies. Moreover, these countries seem to be experiencing a whole new range of policies: support to industries and to entrepreneurial activities, venture capital, research networks, intermediate/liaison organisations, protection of intellectual rights, training and formation, support to foreign investment, promotion of technology parks/poles and industrial clusters, linkages between industry and university research, and so forth. Many of these initiatives, even if they do not appear to be original, are new to the countries and some of them appear to be quite successful.

Finally, policy-making bodies are also engaged in profound transformation and large initiatives in order to draw scenarios for the future, design priorities for public action and resource allocations and to develop new tools for policy implementation. It seems also that international organisations (such as the European Union, the World Bank, and UN organisations) have played an active role in promoting industrial and technological development in these countries, as well as igniting the need for a broader reflection. Although an assessment of these issues has yet to be produced in these countries, it seems interesting and fruitful to seek to examine all these efforts that have been made and the means devoted for that.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to scrutinise these transformations and focus on empirical material and original studies from countries of the Middle East and North Africa. We would like to disseminate research findings and conclusions among academics, corporate managers, investors, and policy makers not only in these countries, but also internationally. In effect, the active changes and policy initiatives that have been taken in these countries seem to be the outcome of an intense and global reflection on the role of technological and economic development in international relations; in particular, the European Union has been attentive to strengthen the linkage between these countries and the EU economic space. Although it is still early to assess these efforts, it is already necessary to study, publish, and disseminate the initiatives that have been taken so far.

Contributions are solicited on all these on-going transformations taking place in the Middle Eastern and North African countries along, but not limited to, the following lines:

• What are the socio-economic conditions in these countries that relate to this urge for technological development, learning and innovation?
• What are the economic sectors most affected by the technological transformations and what impacts could be expected in terms of economic performance?
• What are the characteristics of the innovation and technology development policies?
• Which kind of new institutions have been specifically created in order to support innovation and technological development?
• What are the characteristics of the technological capability development and innovation processes at the level of firms in different industrial sectors?
• What kinds of instruments are available today to evaluate technological capabilities in specific countries?
• What are the characteristics and the role of institutions and supporting organisations (e.g. universities, technical centres, entrepreneurial initiatives) in speeding up companies' innovative projects?
• What has been the role of international organisations and what type of cooperation has been engaged for technological development?

Articles may be oriented toward case studies of policy-making, specific case studies of technology innovation in firms, or they may focus on broader issues and describe the innovation and technology development landscape in a country or group of countries. This Special Issue will not favour socio-cultural investigations; neither will it accept very broad macro-economic assessments, unless they are grounded upon some industry and firm-level empirical work (surveys, interviews, and case studies).

Important Dates
Extended abstract submission (max. 500 words) due: 31 January 2008
Full paper submission due: 31 March 2008

Call for papers: Entrepreneurial Behaviour in Family Businesses

Call for papers: Entrepreneurial Behaviour in Family Businesses

A special issue of International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management

The role of family businesses is gaining importance because of their overall impact on society in generating economic wealth. However, the value creation perspective has been largely lacking from the family business research. The aim of this special issue is therefore to target the dynamic side of the family businesses.

Some recent theoretical and conceptual developments within the family business research support the view that it could be possible to advance knowledge on the entrepreneurial processes within family businesses. From the point of view of long-term survival, the family forms a special resource in the company, the “familyness” (Habbershon & Williams, 1999). As an ongoing relationship, the family forms an arena for carrying over the inherent and hidden knowledge of the business and its operations. The notions on familyness and portfolio entrepreneurship, among others, provide some guidance towards a more dynamic perspective on the behaviour and management of family businesses. Families and individual family members may have different roles in regard to the business – from investors to important actors.

Furthermore, the progress taking place in the theory of psychological ownership seems promising in understanding the process of opportunity recognition, innovation, growth and value creation. Family businesses are dynamic systems filled with economic and non-economic goals both at individual and collective levels. All this calls for new perspectives and ideas in theory development and empirical research. Therefore the specific purpose of this special issue is to encourage, develop and publish excellent research that integrates dynamic aspects of family businesses with regards to entrepreneurial behavior and value creation.

Potential topics/questions suitable for review articles include but are not limited are:

• Conceptual understanding of entrepreneurial family business
• Creation of value and growth of family businesses
• Opportunity recognition and innovation within family businesses
• Familyness as a ground for innovation and value creation
• Value creation perspectives in family business management
• Allocation and development of resources in family-owned businesses portfolio
• Psychological ownership and opportunism within family businesses
• Entrepreneurship embedded in ownership discontinuities in family businesses
• Family business life cycles and entrepreneurial behavior
• Management and control of differentiating goals in family businesses

Important Date
Paper Submission Deadline: 15 March, 2008

Call for papers: Integrating the Automotive Supply Network: The Implementation of Promising Practice

Call for papers: Integrating the Automotive Supply Network: The Implementation of Promising Practice

A special issue of International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management

Practitioners and researchers have come to realise incremental improvement initiatives such as TQM, Lean and Six Sigma are key elements in boosting automotive industry performance. The management of change, therefore, has increasingly become a way of life for OEMs and suppliers grappling with widening market segmentation whilst competing with 'China price'.

However, critics of the industry, many of whose western giants are now saddled with crippling debt and plunging share prices, question why more radical changes that could enable further supply inte-gration are widely discussed but so rarely implemented successfully (Economist 2007). As once 'predictable' merger and acquisition activity has gone into reverse at firms such as Ford and Daimler-Chrysler, many commentators increasingly view volume manufacture in terms of a future dominated by Toyota and other more recently emerging eastern automakers.

This special issue seeks to examine the implementation of what it terms 'promising practice' over the next 10 to 20 years, where it is evident that some major and unavoidable changes are likely to occur in world automotive supply network strategy and structure. As process and product technology increasingly reflects the needs of a more customer-centric and carbon-light 21st century supply network, the editors ask: How must the world auto industry react? And, what systems or processes need to be implemented to ensure OEMs & suppliers maintain a viable business model for the future?

Papers to be included in this special issue should be focused on, but not limited to, the following subjects:

• Supply strategy
• Supply integration, communications, and system interoperability
• Impact of integration on society and the economy
• Leveraging promising practice and system adoption
• Through-life support and sustainability
• Outsourcing and risk
• Cultural barriers to integration
• Power dynamics and governance
• Globalisation and extended supply networks

The editors believe it is time to add new contributions to the public discussion on the topic by highlighting the key issues surrounding the integration of automotive supply chain in the context of sustainability and social responsibility. The objective is to build a picture of sustainable integration of automotive supply networks in as wide a context as possible. Solutions from different countries and companies should be compared and contrasted with the description and analysis of specific cases.

Important Dates
Deadline for (extended) abstract submission: 31 March 2008
Response by guest editor: 30 April 2008
Deadline for full paper submission: 31 July 2008

Newly announced journal: International Journal of Systems, Control and Communications

One of the most dramatic technological developments in the era of information is the deployment of communication networks. This on-going revolution has raised and continues to raise fundamental challenges in the fields of science, engineering and industrial technologies. It requires new solutions, formulations and techniques for scientists and engineers from the communities of systems engineering, control and communications. International Journal of Systems, Control and Communications - to begin publication in 2008 - deals with these three strongly related areas, especially on control systems whose components are interconnected via communication networks, wired or wireless, and on communication systems strengthened by control techniques.

Call for papers: Managing Intellectual Property

Call for papers: Managing Intellectual Property

A special issue of International Journal of Intellectual Property Management

This special issue focuses on managing intellectual property (MIP) of the firm. MIP, in a broad sense is about the internal context of firms generating, protecting, and disseminating IP products and services through the management of IP people and IP information. With the increasing globalisation, unsurprisingly, IP has preoccupied many practitioners and policy makers. However, only sporadic studies have been conducted to examine the managerial issues of IP, such as the motivations of IP generation, IP information analysis, protecting IP resources from within, and decision-making processes of IP commercialisation. This shows that the academic interest has lagged behind the broad realisation of MIP. A systematic examination of these managerial issues is hence long overdue and warrants greater attention. This special issue is to respond to the compelling need and to gather wits on this research orientation. It therefore serves as a forum to investigate this homogenous field centred on IP.

We welcome theoretical and empirical papers with original contributions, scholarly or professionally relevance and/or methodologically plausible arguments towards a critical understanding of this increasingly important issue – that of managing intellectual property.

The objective of this special issue is to publish papers on a variety of issues relevant to managing intellectual property. Papers are particularly welcome on, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Classification of IP companies
• Managing IP human power from within
• Managing external IP resources
• Managing IP information
• Managing IP secrets
• Competitive analysis using IP information
• Portfolio management of IP
• Decision-making on intellectual property dissemination - donation or licensing
• Intellectual property Insurance

Important Dates
Key Dates for Submission
Abstract and proposed title: 1 December 2007
Full Paper submission: 1 April 2008
Review notification: 1 June 2008
Revised submission: 1 August 2008
Notification of acceptance: 15 September 2008