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This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/eb014481. When citing the article, please cite: David P. Herron, (1980), “The Use of Computers in Physical Distribution Management”, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Materials Management, Vol. 10 Iss: 8, pp. 479 - 506.

In the last four years, since Volume I of this Bibliography first appeared, there has been an explosion of literature in all the main functional areas of business. This wealth of material poses problems for the researcher in management studies — and, of course, for the librarian: uncovering what has been written in any one area is not an easy task. This volume aims to help the librarian and the researcher overcome some of the immediate problems of identification of material. It is an annotated bibliography of management, drawing on the wide variety of literature produced by MCB University Press. Over the last four years, MCB University Press has produced an extensive range of books and serial publications covering most of the established and many of the developing areas of management. This volume, in conjunction with Volume I, provides a guide to all the material published so far.

Why is it important to use computers in physical distribution management (PDM)? The reason is simple. PDM covers almost all of the activities concerned with distributing a product. Some authorities claim that logically the functions of procurement‐and manufacturing should also be considered as part of the overall process of making goods available to customers at the right place, at the right time, and in the right quantity. These activities and functions are inherently complex, involving many stock‐keeping items (SKIs) different in size, colour and other product characteristics. In addition to multiple items, there are multiple options for producing and distributing these items. Think of the many combinations of plant locations, distribution centre locations, choices of transportation modes, inventory levels, and channels of distribution that the physical distribution manager must consider. Imagine having to compare the many possible alternatives by hand calculations, and you can get some feel for the necessity of using modern computers for planning, operating, and controlling physical distribution.

Inventory management is generally recognised to be of sufficient importance to warrant the appointment of a person to carry specific responsibility for it; possibly along with other areas of the distribution function. Preferably, inventory should be seen as one component of distribution, interacting as it does with all the elements contained therein. This monograph has not been written for the analyst but rather for the person responsible for taking inventory decisions. The aim is to present a general description of the main problem areas and to describe procedures by which the problems can be resolved. Given a broad appreciation a useful dialogue may then be set up with the analyst and more effective use made of the large quantity of data which is invariably available in the distribution field.

This research provides accounting-ethics authors and administrators with a benchmark for accounting-ethics research. While Bernardi and Bean (2010) considered publications in business-ethics and accounting’s top-40 journals this study considers research in eight accounting-ethics and public-interest journals, as well as, 34 business-ethics journals. We analyzed the contents of our 42 journals for the 25-year period between 1991 through 2015. This research documents the continued growth (Bernardi & Bean, 2007) of accounting-ethics research in both accounting-ethics and business-ethics journals. We provide data on the top-10 ethics authors in each doctoral year group, the top-50 ethics authors over the most recent 10, 20, and 25 years, and a distribution among ethics scholars for these periods. For the 25-year timeframe, our data indicate that only 665 (274) of the 5,125 accounting PhDs/DBAs (13.0% and 5.4% respectively) in Canada and the United States had authored or co-authored one (more than one) ethics article.

Logistics costs often represent the single largest cost element in international operations. Yet international logistics is often managed on a fragmented basis, with little or no attempt made to find the optimum tradeoffs of transportation modes, inventory levels, and expected availability of product. In this article, David Herron demonstrates how logistics cost savings of 15% to 25% may be achieved by systematically carrying out such tradeoffs.

The purpose of this study is to build an understanding of how firms operate under the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, the study examines the significance of firms’ survival for their surrounding community, business–community relations during this severe situation and factors helping firms address this unprecedented challenge. The conceptual tenets of stakeholder theory are considered.

A qualitative data collection approach was selected, with face-to-face and online interviews undertaken with owners and managers of 33 firms operating in Singapore.

Firstly, while survival during the current unprecedented crisis is perceived to be most important for the firms’ employees, owners/managers also perceive domino effects on other companies working alongside the participating firms, as well as effects on clients and suppliers. Secondly, increased collaboration with industry, stronger partnerships with suppliers and business partners and closer relationships with staff are highlighted during the crisis. Thirdly, key factors helping firms’ survival in the initial year of the crisis included: a clear goal; a cohesive/nimble staff team; reinventing, adapting and being resilient; and family support and management support.

This study contributes empirically and conceptually to the literature on firm adaptation and firm–community relationships during a severe crisis. Empirically, the findings and related dimensions provide practical guidance concerning the interdependence between firms and their stakeholders. Conceptually, the inductive analysis, which enabled the development of a theoretical framework, illustrates the relationships between the study’s emerging dimensions and those predicated by stakeholder theory, namely, the descriptive, instrumental, normative and managerial.

Purpose – This chapter explores the topic of free speech protections and social media use in academia through an examination of the current legal landscape as it applies to various stakeholders on university campuses in the United States. The authors focus this examination primarily on public universities. Methodology/Approach – Legal research methods were utilized, including an analysis of relevant United States federal and state laws, case law, and secondary sources such as law reviews. Non-legal sources, such as academic journals, were also reviewed, with particular emphasis on topics such as university policies, tenure protections, academic freedom, as well as current events. Findings – The law regarding personal social media communications in a university setting is a series of complex and interconnected legal questions. Courts are still flushing out how free speech protections, personal social media use, and other relevant legal protections (e.g., employment law) may interface in a university-related case. Outcomes of cases are highly fact driven, and legal precedent is still being established. Originality/Value – This chapter offers a comprehensive examination of the topic of free speech and social media use in United States academia by (1) examining legal protections as applied to various stakeholders on a college campus and (2) analyzing the current legal landscape of social media cases involving universities.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the European Regions for Innovative Productivity project that established Innovative Productivity Centres (IPCs) to assist SMEs in the North Sea Region of Europe to develop a process improvement capability. A conceptual framework explains how a process improvement methodology developed for large firms was adapted and shaped to meet the needs of SMEs.

A comparative case study of 23 SMEs within six European countries. A protocol was developed to collect financial and operational data. This was supplemented by observations, secondary data and field notes. An established research model was used to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the process improvement interventions.

The intervention context and structure of the IPCs varied by country which shaped process improvement interventions at two levels: the country and the firm. During diffusion three process improvement variants emerged that were tailored to fit the local context. Developing a process improvement capability depended upon the availability of company resources, establishing KPIs and change agent support.

The research contributes to knowledge and theory on diffusion and institutionalization by examining how SMEs responded to institutional pressures by implementing process improvement practices in different ways. Heterogeneity of both the IPCs and the external change agents were the drivers in shaping the improvement practices.

Aarhus Kommunes Biblioteker (Teknisk Bibliotek), Ingerslevs Plads 7, Aarhus, Denmark. Representative: V. NEDERGAARD PEDERSEN (Librarian).