Key Knowledge Areas Research Articles

Cryptosporidium

This review discusses characteristics of the genus Cryptosporidium and addresses the pathogenesis, reservoirs, public health significance and current applications for the detection and typing of this important pathogen. By increasing knowledge in key areas of Cryptosporidium research such as aetiology, epidemiology, transmission and host interactions, the numbers of cases of human cryptosporidiosis should be reduced.

Enterobacter sakazakii: biological properties and significance in dried infant milk formula (IMF) powder†

Enterobacter sakazakii is an emerging opportunistic pathogen associated with rare but life‐threatening cases of meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis in premature infants. The bacterium has been isolated at low levels from dried infant milk formulas and is a cause of concern to all manufacturers. The threat posed by E. sakazakii is further compounded by a paucity of knowledge in key areas, specifically its ecology and physiology. This organism now represents a serious challenge to all those involved in the manufacture of infant formula products.

Management development and the supply chain manager of the future

PurposeWith the growing acceptance of logistics and supply chain management (SCM) as critical business concerns, there is an emerging realisation that more investment is needed to develop appropriate managerial skills and competencies for supply chain managers. This paper explores the challenges for management development that arise as organisations seek to bridge the gap between current capabilities and those required for future success.Design/methodology/approachThree constituencies were of interest to our research: providers of education and training, students and participants on programmes, and corporates who purchase programmes. A triangulated research approach was employed in order to capture the views of each of these constituencies. This comprised a focus group, interviews and surveys, and a case study of logistics/SCM development at one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.FindingsThe key knowledge areas and competencies/skills required by logistics and supply chain managers are identified. Preferred teaching approaches are also identified, as are optimum approaches for career development. The subtle yet significant differences that exist among the three constituencies in the various areas and approaches are highlighted. The results thus constitute a tentative skills profile for the logistics and supply chain manager of the future.Originality/valueThe research provides a multi‐stakeholder insight, set in the context of the key business transformations which are shaping logistics and SCM practice, into the development of the supply chain manager of the future. Practical recommendations emerge for all stakeholders in logistics/SCM development practice. Recommendations for further research are also made, particularly for (from a methodological perspective) more case study research, and (from a research focus perspective) research into learning styles and also linking individual, organisational and supply chain learning.

A Gap Analysis Approach to Marketing Curriculum Assessment: A Study of Skills and Knowledge

The need for continuous improvement in a marketing curriculum requires periodic outcomes assessments. Part of the process includes a monitoring of the relevance of a marketing curriculum to a graduate’s work environment. This article describes a process for conducting an outcomes assessment and the results of an actual alumni assessment encompassing skill and knowledge areas. Specifically, a gap analysis approach was employed in which the importance of key skill and knowledge areas to one’s current employment were contrasted with perceptions of their own academic preparation in these areas. Our results indicate that marketing alumni perceive that they are underprepared in skills and over-prepared in designated knowledge areas. The implications of the findings are discussed as well as the utility of the gap analysis in outcomes assessment.

A proposed curriculum for a masters in web engineering

To address the significant technical demand for trained Web Engineers, and to raise the current state of the practice of Web Engineering, a Master's level degree program in Web Engineering is proposed. The most significant research disciplines for Web Engineering are Network Engineering, Software Engineering, Databases and Storage Systems, and Hypermedia. Important aspects of these disciplines are distilled into key knowledge areas for Web Engineering. A curriculum organization is proposed that consists of coursework that covers the key knowledge areas, along with a multi-semester Web design project that synthesizes and applies this knowledge on a real-world Web application. The aim of the paper is to begin a dialog on the characteristics and aims of graduate-level Web Engineering degree programs.

International hotel manager

Compares the role of an international hotel manager to the role of a main performer of a stage show. Summarizes the basic management concepts and emphasizes the importance of key knowledge areas in satisfying various needs of different types of people, hotel managers have to deal with. Four categories of hotel managers are identified and international hotel managers are described. Finally, the pre‐requisites for success in international hotel management are analyzed.

Competency Goals in Training Chemical Dependency Counselors

A report of the results and initial conclusions to be drawn from a survey of twenty-six “experts” in the field of chemical dependency designed to assist in the development of an agreed upon list of competencies and skills required for chemical dependency counselors. The respondents prioritized key knowledge and skill areas and identified the setting in which each competency could best be acquired. The results are intended to be used in the design and implementation of chemical dependency counselor training programs.