UK Industries Research Articles

Drivers in the Adoption and Sophistication of Database Marketing in the Services Sector

Database Marketing has emerged as the technological means of achieving competitive advantage through the development and retention of customer relationships, but not all companies in the services sector have been successful in moving beyond operational benefits to strategic use. This article presents key empirical findings on the relationship between the degree of both marketing and information orientation within an organisation and the use and sophistication of Database Marketing. The use of a cross industry sample of four UK industries namely; the financial services industry, the retail industry, the travel industry and the performing arts industry provides generalisable insights into how firms can make the most out of their Database Marketing investments. Our findings suggest that a marketing orientation is important to the adoption and sophistication of Database Marketing applications, but only in so far as it is not already developed in the industry. It is information orientation that is critical, particularly in developing sophistication. Once using Database Marketing, those service organisations with the greatest level of information orientation will be best placed to develop fully the strategic aspects of Database Marketing.

Foreign Manufacturing, Regional Agglomeration and Technical Efficiency in UK Industries: A Stochastic Production Frontier Approach

The paper examines howfar foreign manufacturing investment in UK industries, together with the spatial agglomeration of those industries, affect technical efficiency. The paper links research on the estimation of technical efficiency,with those literatures demonstrating the economies associated with foreign direct investment and spatial agglomeration. The methodology involves estimation of a stochastic production frontier with random components associated with industry technical inefficiency, and a standard error. The paper also explores whether the degree of foreign involvement has a greater impact on technical efficiency where the domestic industry sector is characterized by comparatively high productivity and spatial agglomeration. The policy implications of the analysis are discussed. Cet article cherche a examiner jusqu'a quel point l'investissement industriel au Royaume-Uni, conjointement avec l'agglomeration geographique des industries en question, a une incidence sur l'efficacite technique. L'arti...

Foreign Manufacturing, Regional Agglomeration and Technical Efficiency in UK Industries: A Stochastic Production Frontier Approach

The paper examines howfar foreign manufacturing investment in UK industries, together with the spatial agglomeration of those industries, affect technical efficiency. The paper links research on the estimation of technical efficiency,with those literatures demonstrating the economies associated with foreign direct investment and spatial agglomeration. The methodology involves estimation of a stochastic production frontier with random components associated with industry technical inefficiency, and a standard error. The paper also explores whether the degree of foreign involvement has a greater impact on technical efficiency where the domestic industry sector is characterized by comparatively high productivity and spatial agglomeration. The policy implications of the analysis are discussed. Cet article cherche à examiner jusqu'à quel point l'investissement industriel au Royaume-Uni, conjointement avec l'agglomération géographique des industries en question, a une incidence sur l'efficacité technique. L'article relie la recherche sur l'estimation de l'efficacité technique à la documentation qui démontrent les économies dues à l'investissement direct étranger et à l'agglomération géographique. La méthodologie nécessite une estimation de la frontière de la production stochastique, avec des composantes aléatoires associées au manque d'organisation industrielle technique, et une erreur-type. L'article cherche aussìaexaminer si, oui ou non, le taux d'investissement étranger a plus d'incidence sur l'efficacité technique là où l'industrie nationale se caractérise par une productivité et une agglomération géographique relativement élevées. Les retombées de cette analyse pour la politique se voient discuter. Dieser Aufsatz untersucht, wie Investierungen ausländischer Hersteller in der Industrie des Vereinigten Königreichs sich bei gleichzeitiger räumlicher Ballung dieser Industrien auf technische Leistung auswirken. Der Aufsatz verbindet Untersuchungen der Schätzung technischer Leistung mit Veröffentlichungen, welche sich mit der Darstellung von Wirtschaften beschäftigen, die mit Direktinvestierungen des Auslands und räumlicher Ballung in Verbindung gebracht werden. Bei dieser Methodik werden Schätzungen der stochastischen Herstellungsgrenze mit Zufallskomponenten einbezogen, die mit technischer Inkompetenz der Industrie in Verbindung gebracht werden, sowie einem Standardfehler. Darüberhinaus untersucht der Aufsatz auch, ob das Ausmaß ausländischer Mitarbeit sich stärker auf technische Leistung auswirkt wo der einheimische Industriesektor sich durch verhältnismäßig hohe Leistung und räumliche Ballung auszeichnet. Es werden Implikationen der Analyse für Zielsetzungen diskutiert.

Foreign Manufacturing, Regional Agglomeration and Technical Efficiency in UK Industries: A Stochastic Production Frontier Approach

The paper examines howfar foreign manufacturing investment in UK industries, together with the spatial agglomeration of those industries, affect technical efficiency. The paper links research on the estimation of technical efficiency,with those literatures demonstrating the economies associated with foreign direct investment and spatial agglomeration. The methodology involves estimation of a stochastic production frontier with random components associated with industry technical inefficiency, and a standard error. The paper also explores whether the degree of foreign involvement has a greater impact on technical efficiency where the domestic industry sector is characterized by comparatively high productivity and spatial agglomeration. The policy implications of the analysis are discussed. Cet article cherche à examiner jusqu'à quel point l'investissement industriel au Royaume-Uni, conjointement avec l'agglomération géographique des industries en question, a une incidence sur l'efficacité technique. L'article relie la recherche sur l'estimation de l'efficacité technique à la documentation qui démontrent les économies dues à l'investissement direct étranger et à l'agglomération géographique. La méthodologie nécessite une estimation de la frontière de la production stochastique, avec des composantes aléatoires associées au manque d'organisation industrielle technique, et une erreur-type. L'article cherche aussìaexaminer si, oui ou non, le taux d'investissement étranger a plus d'incidence sur l'efficacité technique là où l'industrie nationale se caractérise par une productivité et une agglomération géographique relativement élevées. Les retombées de cette analyse pour la politique se voient discuter. Dieser Aufsatz untersucht, wie Investierungen ausländischer Hersteller in der Industrie des Vereinigten Königreichs sich bei gleichzeitiger räumlicher Ballung dieser Industrien auf technische Leistung auswirken. Der Aufsatz verbindet Untersuchungen der Schätzung technischer Leistung mit Veröffentlichungen, welche sich mit der Darstellung von Wirtschaften beschäftigen, die mit Direktinvestierungen des Auslands und räumlicher Ballung in Verbindung gebracht werden. Bei dieser Methodik werden Schätzungen der stochastischen Herstellungsgrenze mit Zufallskomponenten einbezogen, die mit technischer Inkompetenz der Industrie in Verbindung gebracht werden, sowie einem Standardfehler. Darüberhinaus untersucht der Aufsatz auch, ob das Ausmaß ausländischer Mitarbeit sich stärker auf technische Leistung auswirkt wo der einheimische Industriesektor sich durch verhältnismäßig hohe Leistung und räumliche Ballung auszeichnet. Es werden Implikationen der Analyse für Zielsetzungen diskutiert.

Productivity Spillovers From Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence From UK Industry Level Panel Data

This paper examines intra-industry productivity spillovers from foreign direct investment (FDI) in the UK manufacturing sector. The empirical analysis uses panel data for 48 UK industries over the period 1991–1995. A major contribution is empirical evidence on spillover effects in situations where the host country is developed. The results indicate that the very presence of FDI has a positive spillover impact on the productivity of UK-owned firms. The analysis also shows that the extent to which local firms benefit from the introduction of advanced technology depends largely on their own technological capabilities.

7.5.2 What the Lessons Learned from Large, Complex, Technical Projects Tell Us about the Art of Systems Engineering

AbstractThis paper examines the literature to identify the lessons that have been learned from a selection of the thousands of projects that have been conducted over the last 15 years or so. The first purpose of this review is to establish a value‐for‐money argument for the application of systems engineering. The review is also intended to provide guidance on the application and development of systems engineering methodologies. To provide a context, the paper opens with a definition of systems engineering, a description of key concepts and a brief discussion on supplementary methodologies. This is followed by a discussion of the lessons learned by NASA, the UK Ministry of Defence, and the UK and USA software development industries. The paper closes with discussion that concludes that systems engineering is a cost‐effective way of ameliorating schedule, performance and user‐acceptance risk for large, complex, technical development projects. It also concludes that the lessons learned indicate the need for more than good processes; there is a growing need to understand and manage the socio‐political issues associated with creating and successfully fielding a complex, technical system.

Direct toxicity assessment: adaptation and the proactive roles of regulators and operators

Actions by the Environment Agency to advance effluent testing towards more ecological relevance have resulted in the development of innovative standards compared to those currently relied upon for environmental protection. This study presents the method used to understand company responses for innovating to meet these new standards (successful treatment process development) and the scope for the contributions from the regulators. The research uses a case example, the improvement of effluent quality by micronutrient addition (MNA), to examine how manufacturers and water treatment companies are able to accommodate new legislation. The implications for the commercial prospects of UK manufacturing and wastewater treatment are explored, and discussed in the wider context of future legislative compliance. There is a need for UK industries to begin to adapt to direct toxicity assessment (DTA) and this paper offers a technique for process adaptation and the scope for operator/legislator collaboration. Emergent key concepts were: (1) legislators should assess the scope for adaptation of operators before implementing change, (2) opportunities for change include new restrictions reinforced by evidence of methods for adaptation; i.e. if option spaces are made obvious, regulation is implemented more easily, (3) companies should be alert to their vulnerability from processes that are not easily adapted, and (4) both the regulator and the operator have a strategic responsibility to scan for future implementation and directions of legislation.

Industrial Performance, Agglomeration, and Foreign Manufacturing Investment in the UK

This paper examines the relationship between the comparative advantage of UK industries, and new inward investment into these industries. The paper demonstrates that the extent of foreign manufacturing investment in an industry, and the spatial agglomeration of that industry, are significant determinants of industry comparative advantage, thus providing evidence of agglomeration benefits to both domestic and foreign firms. The paper then shows that industry comparative advantage itself, together with a series of industry specific characteristics, are important determinants of new foreign manufacturing investment, thus providing evidence of the dynamic benefits of foreign direct investment in the UK economy.

Agents of trust: business associations in agri-food supply systems

The generation of trust between business partners is a strategic issue for firms in competitive agri-food markets. It is asserted that business associations can be important facilitators of trust between firms. Cross-national comparative research on the UK and Dutch potato industries is conducted to find out how and to what extent business associations perform functions that can facilitate trust. The results show that there are considerable national differences in the intensity and range of such functions performed by business associations. The findings indicate that, in spite of globalization trends, nationally distinct ways of generating trust via business associations continue to exist.

Innovational adaptation in the UK water and wastewater industry: a case study of introducing DTA

Others have asserted the need for wastewater quality guidelines that are environmentally relevant. Many companies within the UK may have to adapt their structure or function in response to the new, toxicity based consents that will be implemented by the Environment Agency in 1999. However, there has been little evidence from wastewater treatment research that UK industries are preparing for a change in effluent guidelines. Indeed, evidence suggests that some effluent dischargers have only a limited idea of what the introduction of toxicity-based consents could mean for them. This paper investigates the key factors identified by UK industrialists of importance to them in adapting to legislative change. The characteristic differences between those companies that consider themselves most at risk from the evolving legislation and those companies involved in the protection of the aquatic environment are presented to show how they may address the transition from chemical specific discharge consents to toxicity based consents as smoothly as possible.

Is occupational dermatitis being taken seriously by UK industries?

Occupational dermatitis is a considerable burden but little is documented concerning industry response to this. A postal questionnaire survey of 1,100 UK companies was conducted to investigate skin care provision. The response rate was 51%. The person primarily responsible for health and safety had a professional qualification in only 34% of responding companies. In all, 75% of companies responded that they were required to conduct COSHH risk assessments and, of these, 71% mentioned skin hazards. Only 27% of companies had a skin care policy but 71% had procedures requiring glove use. Seventy-seven per cent of companies did not conduct regular skin checks. Twenty-six per cent had either been aware of a skin problem in the workforce in the last 12 months or had had to modify work practices. Improvement of skin care in UK industry could be facilitated by the establishment of a minimum recommended training qualification; assistance with compliance with COSHH legislation; and guidelines to design and implement a skin policy, provide worker protection and detect skin problems.

Creating sustainable competitive advantage through marketing information system technology: a triangulation methodology within the banking industry

The intensity of competition has increased within the retail banking industries in virtually all developed economies. Creating a sustainable competitive advantage, therefore, has become of paramount importance. One way through which retail banks have sought to create this sustainable competitive advantage has been the utilisation of information technology to support the marketing function. In light of this, this paper hypothesizes that marketing information system technology can leverage this sustainable competitive advantage ahead of other marketing technologies which bank management have implemented or are thinking of implementing. An analysis of the current use of marketing information system technology, however, reveals low levels of sophistication throughout the UK and Irish retail banking industries. Given this fact, the factors involved in successfully implementing marketing information system technology are presented. Empirical evidence was drawn from 48 postal questionnaires conducted in the UK and Ireland and ten case studies undertaken in the UK, USA and Australasia. Results show that marketing sophistication, organisational size, and previous implementation experience were all critical factors in a successful implementation process.

Government and industry performance: a comparative study

A number of UK industries are heavily dependent on the government as a major purchaser. The Ministry of Defence and the National Health Service are essentially monopsonists for the industries supplying them. As a monopsonist, government can influence the size, structure, conduct and performance of the industries. This paper examines wheather industries relying heavily on government purchases will differ in their structure, conduct and performance-characteristics and whether dependence on goverment can have favourable or adverse effects on industry performance. The hypothesis is tested by comparing the performance of industries dependent on government purchasing – defence, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment – with a control group of other non-dependent industries.

GREEN STAKEHOLDERS: INDUSTRY INTERPRETATIONS AND RESPONSE*

This paper argues that industrial responses to ‘green’ pressures may fruitfully be explored using a stakeholder framework. However, the common view of an objective configuration of stakeholders is replaced with one that favours an interpretive perspective. Managers are viewed as crucial mediators of stakeholder influence; how they identify, define and construct stakeholders is an important feature of the meaning of greening and an industry's subsequent response. A qualitative study of managers in four UK industries ‐ supermarkets, automotives, power and chemicals ‐ is reported. the effect of a small number of stakeholders ‐ campaigners and regulators ‐ is examined in some detail, distinguished differentially according to their perceived legitimacy and the threat they pose to industry. Also examined is the large group of traditionally powerful stakeholders ‐ customers, creditors and employees ‐ who fail markedly to impact on industry's greening. the implications of the findings for pro‐environmental change and stakeholder theory are discussed.

Locational advantage and US foreign direct investment in UK manufacturing

The relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and international trade is examined with specific reference to US FDI in the UK. Four complementary hypotheses are tested on a cross-section of UK industries. There is evidence of US FDI being located in UK industries which have a revealed comparative advantage and that large market size effects are important. On the other hand, little evidence was found for the protection jumping and industrial concentration hypotheses.

Among the Ashes: Trade Union Strategies in the UK and German Steel Industries

AbstractThe trade unions in the steel industry have faced two waves of restructuring, the first centring on closures, capacity reductions and mass redundancies, the second involving fundamental changes to patterns of work organization, labour utilization and industrial relations. Overall, the trade unions involved have failed to develop an adequate response to management‐led change, relying instead on traditional methods and lines of interest representation. The challenges embodied in such developments as teamworking and craft restructuring are considered, together with union responses and the structural and ideological constraints on those responses. Contrasts are drawn with more successful union involvement in comparable changes in the German steel industry. In the conclusion, the authors review the dilemmas facing the UK unions in the steel industry and the main areas for a new agenda.

Performance of structural change indices: analysis using real and simulated data

This note reports the results of a computer simulation exercise with two commonly used indices of structural change: the Michaely/Stoikov index and the Lilien index. The performance of the indicators in measuring structural change is compared. The base data used in the simulations are employment numbers in 23 UK industries 1948–85 The effects of different levels of aggregation and different differencing periods are noted.

Realising our potential from the science base: Technology interaction and the food industry in the UK

In May 1993 the UK Government published a ‘White Paper’ on science; this document calls for increased exploitation of science and technology by UK industries, and the establishment of six new Research Councils. As of 1 April 1994, publicly funded UK food research, formerly the remit of the Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC), comes under the auspices of the newly created Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). This Feature explains the philosophies behind and goals of the new BBSRC.

Construction planning and information technology in the UK and US construction industries: a comparative study

The current applications of planning techniques and information technology are compared within top UK and US contractors and the viability of developing integrated systems within the framework of construction planning is assessed. The results are based on a questionnaire survey conducted amongst both the top 100 contractors in the UK and the top 400 contractors in the US. This survey reveals that there is a great similarity between the different planning techniques employed by both UK and US contractors and that information technology is applied more vigorously in the US. However, it appears that many aspects of information technology are well within the reach of most of the companies surveyed and that many recent developments could be used to develop integrated systems as an aid to the planning of construction projects.

The treatment of heavy metal effluents by crossflow microfiltration

The application of crossflow microfiltration for the treatment of industrial wastewaters containing toxic heavy metals is described and the performance quantified and compared with technologies which are traditionally used for the treatment of such wastewaters. Case histories of the treatment of wastewaters generated from the metal plating industry and a battery recycling plant are given together with the operational performance of the full scale crossflow microfiltration plants which were subsequently installed. Metals of particular interest are cadmium, mercury and chromium where removals down to the ppb range are currently being requested. Heavy metal bearing effluents have traditionally been treated by the adjustment of the pH with lime or caustic soda to precipitate hydrated metal oxides. Sometimes a sulphide compound or other materials are added which cause the production of heavy metal compounds with lower solubility products. Removal of the heavy metal precipitate is then usually accomplished by settlement, occasionally followed by sand filtration [1]. With the advent of more stringent environmental legislation regarding the quality of the final disposal stream, the use of crossflow microfiltration is becoming an attractive to the more conventional methods of treatment. The performance of settling tanks, settling tanks in conjuction with sand filters and a crossflow microfiltration system was assessed by pilot trials on a mixed planting effluent. The tests were carried out by Cory Environmental at their West Thurrock treatment plant in London. This plant is a toxic waste plant which receives and treats industrial wastewaters from UK industries. Tests were also carried out at a lead-acid battery breaking, lead recovery and refining plant, the waste water from this plant required treatment before disposal into the River Thames. The crossflow microfiltration system is based upon the concept of using a dynamic membrane to form the filtration medium. This membrane is laid down on the internal wall of a woven fabric cloth and may be formed by either the solids naturally present in the feed suspension or by the deposition of materials such as diatomaceous earth, metal hydroxides or kaolin. In this application the heavy metal precipitate provides a suitable membrane without the introduction of filter aids.