Forwarding Companies Research Articles

Are you protecting your intellectual property?

Engineers are employed for their ideas and ingenuity. Patents protect their inventions or programs. Accountants are rapidly becoming aware of the value of all such intellectual property rights (IPRs), even to the extent of a few forward looking companies putting IPRs on their balance sheet as assets. The author describes some of the legal ramifications involved in ensuring this intellectual property is adequately protected. The author describes software patents, business method patents, patent costs and valuation of IPRs.

The Use of IT in Freight Forwarding in the UK

A survey undertaken in May 1993 analysed UK companies of various sizes, i.e. small, medium and large, in order to have a representative sample of freight forwarding companies. The response gave a good indication of the impact of IT on freight forwarding, an important part of the distribution system. The questionnaires were generally completed by managing directors, chief executives and information systems managers. The research undertaken concentrates on the movement process of freight and in particular how IT has affected the freight forwarding industry in the UK in terms of the technology used, the effect on staff at all levels within such an organization and a firm′s competitive position in the marketplace.